Bravely(16)

Elinor’s voice cut through the noise, although she didn’t seem to have raised it in volume. “How about you give us the season to discuss and when the weather is good, we’ll send word with what we decide.”

“Unacceptable,” Wolftail hissed. “We leave with your sons tonight or proof of your daughter’s marriage betrothal with another clan, or the next time you see us, it will be with the rest of the army. That brings us no pleasure to say.”

Merida could see Elinor and Fergus exchange a look she knew well. Despite the ruined feast, her parents weren’t taking this seriously; they assumed the men were blustering and would forget all about DunBroch on the long dangerous journey home through the snow.

A DunBroch solution.

This was all reminding her of the DunBroch solution that had convinced Merida to go off on her travels: Spain. Spain, a far-off country an ocean away, a place supposedly so warm and dry that all the trees and animals and people looked different, having changed their ways to live with the sun’s fierce attention. Elinor had decided to visit. As a young queen, she’d organized the domestic trade routes that still supplied the kingdom with both cabbages and the Cabbage, and now, in her middle age, she had more worldly aspirations. She would travel all the way to Spain, she decided, and return back home with a collection of foster girls to learn about Scotland.

That’s my ambitious queen! Fergus had roared.

Elinor drew up plans. She studied maps. She consulted merchants, career soldiers, and Fergus on the different configurations of travelers and ships and provisions required for such an undertaking. Merida got quite excited for the trip, because of course she would go along. What an adventure.

Then, weeks of planning stretched into months, until finally Merida realized: Elinor wasn’t going. She was just going to talk about going. Merida’s excitement had been for nothing.

It had been the last straw, after a few too many years of DunBroch solutions.

Now, as Merida saw her parents exchange that telltale look, she knew Feradach was right about her family. He was right. She couldn’t believe how they kept proving it again and again, in only a day’s time.

But he was still wrong about the way of fixing it.

Merida squeezed her hands into fists.

“Oh, Merida,” sighed Leezie. She could tell Merida was going to do something even before Merida could tell, and she had learned to accept this Meridaness, just as Merida accepted Leezie’s Leezieness.

Merida stood up.

She spoke loudly so that her voice could be heard all through the Great Hall. “I’d like to propose a plan.”

All faces turned up to her. Elinor’s face went immediately worried. Fergus simply looked like someone had stuffed bees in his cloak. The Dásachtach’s men looked mystified, as if watching someone with bees stuffed in their cloak.

Wolftail shielded his eyes. “Who’s up there?”

“I am Merida of DunBroch,” she called down. She used her most royal, confident voice. “The princess you’d like to see married. I can tell you why my parents will not agree to marry me off, even though it would make their life easier. Many years ago, they agreed I could choose my own hand, and so they won’t ask me to marry against my wishes. And the triplets are simply not prepared for battle, so that’s right out, too. But if you’re truly here about loyalty rather than coercion, then we’re in agreement! DunBroch believes in kinship, as you can see.”

She gestured to her parents, who arranged their faces to look less like taxidermied animals and more like royalty. They inclined their heads.

Wolftail now lowered his head and bunched his cloak on his shoulders in such a way that his hackles appeared to bristle. “Then do you have a counter proposition?”

“The goal is community, right? Family?” she said. “Well, I’ve been traveling all over DunBroch this year and I’m more than willing to travel further in the name of community! If it’s acceptable to you, I’ll go to three territories on diplomatic passages to improve relationships with our neighbors.”

The same plan that she had decided on earlier that day. How wonderful it would be to use one solution to fulfill another. Cross the angry warlord off one list, cross the frightening gods off another.

Wolftail growled, “That will not satisfy Lord mac Alpin. Travel’s not enough. We traveled here on a diplomatic passage, after all, and I think you’ll find we’re no more friendly with DunBroch than when we arrived, are we?”

Merida went on, “But that’s not all. At the end of the journeys, I’ll choose one of the kingdoms to join. Not as a wife, mind you, but as family. As kin.”

Elinor’s mouth dropped regally open in shock. Fergus went even redder. Leezie said, “Oh, Merida!” again. The Dásachtach’s men murmured among themselves.

Eventually, Wolftail said, “Lord mac Alpin will never believe that is as tight a union as marriage.”

Merida whispered, “Stand up, Leezie.”

Leezie stood. The men blinked in surprise at the sudden appearance of another girl, and with even more surprise as Leezie waved at them. They were taken aback, as people always were, by her Leezieness. She was still in her festive headdress and she still looked as if she could use some help.

Merida put a firm arm around Leezie’s waist. “This is Leezie Muireall, daughter of Jonet. She’s been with us just four years, since her mum died, but she’s my sister. Not by blood, but in every other way. My heart near to broke when I found out she was getting married, because we’re that close. I’d live and die for her same as any of my brothers.”