Cult of the Lamb : The Man in the Forest

Chapter 10: Blind Fury

Nightmares bombarded her rest, waking her repeatedly and adding to her misery. She had only just entered a deep sleep when the temple bell jolted her awake. Tears of frustration pricked at her eyes, and she groaned. Lydie was already awake, sitting up in her bed as she fastened her hair ribbon.

"How was your visit?" She asked when Merida begrudgingly sat up.

"Fine." She answered shortly, straightening up her fleece.

"That didn't sound genuine."

"Shut up, Lydie." Merida growled as she stood.

"Woah, what did I do?" Lydie glared. Merida rolled her eyes and left the bedroom. The pounding hangover only fueled her agitation, she wanted nothing more than to be left alone. She went to the kitchen to have a glass of water and a bit of bread to settle her stomach. Merida stood in the kitchen, munching her bread while she waited for her mother to finish her sermon. Aym entered and glanced at her on his way to the sink.

"Good morning, Merida."

"Morning..." She said with a feeble wave of her hand.

"Your Mother said you were out drinking last night." He spoke in a casual way while filling a glass of water.

"Sure was." She sighed, not at all in the mood to give explanations.

"Is everything alright?" He asked, leaning against the counter. "You seem tense."

"I'm fine."

"Merida, you don't need to hide it."

"I'm fine." She repeated more sternly, "I slept like shit, and I have a hangover. That's all."

"Very well... You know you can talk to me, don't you?"

"Can I?" She asked coldly. Her temper was running wild, everything seemed to coax a lash. "Because every time Lydie tries to talk to you a fight breaks out."

"That is different, Merida." He sighed. "She is pressing an issue, not confiding in me."

"Why are you so against her dating?"

"I am not against it, I don't believe Cassius is a good fit for her." Merida set her glass aside and crossed her arms. It may have been the irritation driving her, but she decided to test a theory.

"I made out with a guy last night while I was drunk." She said flatly, watching him with narrowed eyes. As she suspected, a flicker of anger registered on his face. He had reigned it in quickly, but she noticed it nonetheless. "See! You'd get pissed off no matter who it is!"

"I am not angry." He sighed wearily, "I do not like the idea of you two growing up, it is natural for a parent."

"Yeah, but you don't get to police who we date because it makes you uncomfortable!" She growled.

"As I said, I dislike Cassius. He was disrespectful, and I do not approve of either of you having sex before marriage."

"What?! You're a fucking hypocrite!" She burst. "You got Mama pregnant before you proposed!" Aym was taken aback by her outburst, a look of mingled confusion and affrontement took over his expression.

"I love you, I only want what's best for you..."

"Just stop! Stop treating us like children! Let Lyddie get married!" She set her glass down roughly, paying no mind to the water sloshing onto the counter. "I am so fucking sick of listening to you fighting with each other all the time! Mama is too! Get over it!"

"Merida-" She cut him off with a yell of frustration.

"Forget it!" Merida stormed past him and grabbed her staff as she left the home, slamming the door behind herself. The temple was packed with Followers, Mir̃alai paused her sermon to look over at the noise. Every other Follower had done the same. Hundreds of eyes were on her, but she was too furious to care. She pushed past the Followers, ignoring their exclamations of protest.