——————————🏹——————————

Merid, (Y/n) and Elinor peeked over a boulder and looked up at the castle. They took notice of all the guards on the balconies. Elinor shook her head.

"Mum, do you have a better idea?" Merid whispered.

...

Elinor was down below and ripped off a door that led into the castle.

"That'll do." (Y/n) commented.

...

The three managed to sneak into the castle and made their way outside of the throne room where they could here shouting. Inside, all four clans were fighting each other and shouting.

"No more talk. No more traditions. We settle this now!" MacGuffin bellowed.

"Your the King. You decide which one of our daughters your son will marry." Macintosh demanded.

"Non of your daughters are fit to marry my son." Fergus shouted.

"Then our alliance is over! This means war!" Dingwall declared.

...

Merid and (Y/n) watched the whole display from a crack in the door.

"They're gonna murder each other." (Y/n) exclaimed.

"You've got to stop them before it's too late." Merid told his mum.

Elinor looked taken aback, and gestured to her bear body.

"I know, I know! But how do we get you through there and up to the tapestry with the lot of them boiling over like that?" Merid whined.

Elinor shrugged and Merid groaned while     (Y/n) facepalmed. Elinor suddenly perked up and pointed at Merid.

"No, no way." Merid said.

"You have too. You're the only one who can stop them now." (Y/n) argued.

Merid paused for a moment. "Come with me." He stated.

"What?!"

"Come with me." He repeated.

"But, I'm a maid. They won't listen to me, and besides it's not what's done." She said.

"Oh, who cares! I want you to be by my side. I always feel better when I'm with you." Merid confessed.

(Y/n) glanced over to Elinor and she gave her a nod in approval.

"Okay."

...

Merid and (Y/n) walked calmly through the crowd and the room died down.

"What are you two doing?" Fergus asked incredulously.

"It's alright dad." Merid cleared his throat. "I...Um...I have...well you see, I..." Merid stuttered.

"We have been in conference with the Queen."(Y/n) said.

"Is that so?" Dingwall said, making his way over to the two.

"Aye, it is." Merid glared at him.

"Well, where is she then?" MacGuffin asked, also walking over.

"She, uh..."

"How do we know this isn't some trick?" Macintosh chimed in.

"I'd never..."

"And what is this girl doing here?"

"This is highly irregular."

The three lords were closing in on the two.

"What are you playing at?"

"Where is the Queen?"

"We will not stand for any more of this jiggery pokery."

Fergus was now glaring at the men as they continued to crowd his son and (Y/n).

"That's right. Let's see her."

"Shut it!" Merid bellowed, and they all fell silent.

Fergus let out a surprised laugh.

Merid cleared his throat. "Well, I uh..." he then noticed his mum was making her way towards the staircase. She motioned for him to keep going.

Lord Macintosh looked behind him to see what he was looking at, and Elinor froze pretending to be a bear statue.

"Once there was an ancient kingdom." (Y/n) started.

"What is this?" McGuffin asked.

"That kingdom fell into war and chaos and ruin." She continued.

"Och, we've all heard that tale. Lost kingdom." Macintosh said.

"Aye, but it's true. I know now how one selfish act can turn the fate of a kingdom." Merid explained.

"Bah, it's just a legend."

"Legends are lessons. They ring with truths." He said.

Elinor paused when she heard Merid repeat her words.

"Our kingdom is young. Our stories are not yet legend. But in them our bond was struck." Merid continued.

"Our clans were once enemies. But when invaders threatened us from the sea, you joined together to defend our lands. You fought for each other. You risked everything for each other." (Y/n) said.

"Lord MacGuffin, my dad saved your life, stopping an arrow as you ran to Dingwall's aid." Merid jumped in.

"Aye, and I'll never forget it." McGuffin agreed.

"And Lord Macintosh, you saved my dad when you charged in on heavy horse and held off the advance." Merid continued.

"And we all know how Lord Dingwall broke the enemy line." (Y/n) added.

"With a mighty throw of his spear." Macintosh bellowed.

"I was aiming at you, ya big tumshie." Dingwall joked, and the whole room laughed

"The story of this kingdom is a powerful one. My dad rallied your forces and you made him your king." Merid stated.

"It was an alliance forged in bravery and friendship and it lives to this day." (Y/n) announced, and the whole room cheered.

"But I've been selfish. I tore a great rift in our kingdom. There's no one to blame but me. And I know now that I need to amend my mistake and mend our bond." Merid said sadly

He gave (Y/n) a painful look of sadness which she returned, but she knew that it had to be done to keep the kingdom from falling. She kept her head down as Merid continued.

"And so, there is the matter of my betrothal. I've decided to do what's right and..." Merid paused when he saw his mum waving her arms to get his attention. "And...and..." Elinor made a snapping motion with her paws. "And...break tradition."

The room gasped, and (Y/n) looked up in shock. Elinor kept signing things to him.

"My mother...the Queen, feels...uh, in her heart that I...that we be free to...write our own story...follow our hearts...and find love in our own time." Merid finished, smiling and sending his mother a grateful look.

Elinor smiled in return and had a proud look on her face. Merid turned to (Y/n) and smiled at her and took her hand in his. She smile back at him and squeezed his hand in return.

"That's...beautiful." MacGuffin commented, wiping his eyes.

"The Queen and I put the decision to you, my lords. Might our young people decide for themselves who they will love?" Merid asked.

"Well, since you've obviously made up your minds about this," Lord Macintosh said, "I have one thing to say. This is..."

"A grand idea!" His daughter cut in. "Give us own say in choosing our fate."

"What?"

"Aye, why shouldn't we choose?" Dingwall's daughter asked.

"But he's the prince." Her dad argued.

"I did not pick him out. It was your idea."

"And you...You feel the same way?" Lord MacGuffin asked his daughter.

She responded, but no one understood what she was saying.

"Well, that settles it. Let these lasses try and win his heart, before they win his hand. If they can. Although, they will have quite the competition on their hands." MacGuffin glanced over to (Y/n), who shyly giggled.

"I say wee Dingwall has a fighting chance."

"Fine then. Seems for once we agree. It was my idea in the first place." Macintosh said.

The three lords bowed to Merid and (Y/n), and they did a small bow in return.

"Just like you're mum." Fergus said, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "And you lass, you have the heart of a Queen." He winked at her and she blushed a deep red.

Merid smiled and looked around the room, but panicked when he saw a guard poking his mum who had resumes the statue position.

"Uh...everyone to the cellar! Let's crack open the King's private reserve to celebrate!" He announced.

Everyone cheered and exited the room.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Psst, being the tiny glasses." Fergus whispered to a nearby servant.

Once everyone was out of the room, Merid and (Y/n) started laughing happily. Merid picked up (Y/n) and twirled her around in joy, and they made their way back over to Elinor. She placed her paws on each of their cheeks and looked at them with pride.

"Oh, the tapestry!" (Y/n) suddenly remembered.

——————————🏹——————————