Merida of Nirvati (ONGOING Revision)

CHAPTER 2: MERIDA

"RUN!"

"Faster, Merida! I'm gonna catch you!"

The rapid breathing and the sound of her heartbeat echoes around her system as she runs as fast as she can. She is catching her breath but she will not let him get her. This is a matter of life and death for her. She must not be caught in his arms or else it would not turn out well.

She laughed and said, "Stop it, Tarik! This is not funny anymore!"

"You are the one who started this first, Merida! Now live with it!"

She gives it her all in running but is still careful not to hurt or bump the people as she runs toward the end of the town. People greet her but she is so busy running away from her friend Tarik that she cannot greet them back. She thought in her mind that she would just greet them later after she was done running. She was almost at the wall of the end of the town when a strong arm encircled her waist and pulled her tight.

"Let me go!"

Tarik laughed at her, who was busy trying to escape from his grip but instead of letting her go, he tightened his arms around her waist and said, "Gotcha!"

He put her down and looked at her. "It is too early and you're already thinking of escaping. That's not a good idea, future Queen. "

She rolled her eyes because of what he said. "And it is also not a good idea to tease me this early."

"I know but it's fun seeing your face like you were so disgusted by the idea of being the Queen."

"I am disgusted. That's the truth."

"You don't want to be the Queen."

"That's a statement. What you said is a statement and yes, I don't want to be the Queen. You know me. I am not fit to be one and will never try to be one."

"You cannot run away from that, my dear friend. You are born for that."

She stared at him. "I wish I wasn't born if that's the case."

With what she said, he quickly held her shoulder trying to reassure her that it was okay. Whatever she feels is valid and she has the right to feel that way. He knows when she is not okay and at that moment, she is not. He knows that bringing up those things makes her sad. He knows he is at fault for that. He should have known better.

"I'm sorry, Merida. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Father said to live the life you want and want the life you live. That is what I am doing right now. I don't mind getting scolded by my mother countless times. I don't mind being stuck in my room getting grounded for disobeying. I don't mind hearing hurtful words because I escaped the lesson. I don't mind getting hated by my mother. I don't mind. I just want to live a life without expectations and standards. Is it that hard to understand?"

"Hear me out, Merida." He lifted her chin and looked at her eyes. "Things will never be easy for you. There are a lot of things that might happen in the future. Uncertain things are coming along the way. The responsibility of being the future leader is hard. We know that and I know you are doubting yourself but I want you to know that I'll be here for you until the end. I will help you. I will be there to pick you up when you stumble and fall."

"Do you think I can do it?"

He nodded. "I believe in you. I've been with you since we were young and I know that you can do it. You may doubt yourself but not those people who know you for who you are. "

The people watching them caught Merida's attention. She greeted them with a big smile and told them that everything is fine. They were just talking about something. The people continued what they were doing after what she said. They walk back to the town center where her brothers are surely waiting for her after she runs away from them.