Merida of Nirvati (ONGOING Revision)

CHAPTER 4: MOTHER KNOWS BEST

"Didn't I tell you not to be late?"

"I'm sorry Mother."

She looked at her. She scans her from head to toe and a disgusted look is all she gives. The Queen might have not liked what she had worn. It was a royal blue dress that flowed down to the ground enough to cover the boots she was wearing. Her mother will be fuming mad if she found out she is not wearing heels. She could now hear her mother saying it is not ladylike to wear such a thing and is not fit for a future Queen.

"Have you forgotten what I told you?"

"To always look presentable and perfect in front of people."

"Good thing you remember. But I don't think you are doing that right now. Who made that dress?"

She was contemplating whether to answer it or not but she chose the latter. "I can't remember. Just let it go. Whatever I wear doesn't matter. Also, aren't we here to talk about something important?"

The Queen stood up from her throne and walked down toward her daughter who seemed to be anticipating what they were going to talk about. The Queen wanted to know what her daughter thought of what happened last night. She knows her daughter is aware of what happened. She would love to hear what the future Queen thinks of it. "You heard what happened last night, right?"

"Yes, Mother. I also felt the strong shake of the ground. I was scared for quite a while because I was thinking of the Vati. If they felt it. If no one is harmed."

"What do you think of it?"

"If I were to speak the truth, I am not sure of what happened last night. I was in my room. I was doing something." Merida lied. The truth is, she was throwing things. She was mad. She was livid. She was not sure why she reacted that way. All she could remember was she snapped in the middle of the night. It is like something wants to get out of her. Something wants to come out and be free. Just like how much she wanted to be free from her future responsibilities.

Luana picked up the glass from the nearest table and drank. "If my instincts are right, I could feel that something has awakened. I may not be sure of what it is but I could feel it. I could feel that one of these days, something will happen. I'm afraid it might be from Trigon. We do not want to have any problem with them. No war."

"Trigon has been a good town for the past years, Mother. They have given so much respect to our town and never touched even a single Vati. There is also no sign of them lurking near the border of our town. It is impossible that it came from them. Maybe somewhere."

"I hope so, my dear. This is not something I wanted to happen before I passed you the throne." Luana glanced at Merida and went back to her throne then sat down. "I was thinking of passing it to you as early as possible. You wouldn't mind, right?"

She was about to answer when her mother spoke again. "I forgot, you loved running away from your responsibility. Silly me," the Queen mockingly said.

She laughed until she realized that her daughter was just looking at her. "I didn't mean to hurt you but isn't that what you always do, my dear? I may not have said anything for the past couple of months but I saw how many times you escaped and ran away. On how you ditched Crato from all your lessons while he waits for you until the middle of the night. I have my eyes everywhere."

Merida clenches her fist trying to remain calm as what her mother said. She might be her mother but she still needs to remember that her mother is the Queen. She needs to respect her. Let her say everything she wanted to say. Hear whatever the Queen says. She tried so hard not to snap but the laugh her mother gave annoyed her. It was her last straw so she said what she wanted to say.

"You don't need to pass it when you don't see me as the Queen. I will not force you to do it. You can have the throne all you want, Mother."

A quick change of ambiance scatters around the chamber. The tension is growing as the two both glare at each other trying not to hurt anyone.

"I may not like the responsibility that will be given to me but I know I'll try my best to be fit for that. I will try to prove that I deserve it even if it's not something I wanted to have."

"I bet you are so pissed at your mother right now. I don't mind, Merida. I know that you can be a responsible Queen. You also have the power. You are way advantageous to everyone here including me. You have more power than I have. I can heal, I can cause pain using my mind but that is the only thing I can do. I only have two. The third one was probably to be able to hear your thoughts. To my surprise, you can even block me from reading you."

Merida shook her head. "I don't believe you."

"I don't believe you either. I cannot trust you with Nirvati. You still have a lot of learning to do. You lacked because you keep on escaping instead of focusing on your main purpose in this world. You are born for Nirvati. Vati is your people. You were born to serve them. Why can't you understand that?"

"I will never understand Mother! Never! Wanna know why?"

Luana remained silent so Merida decided to vent her feelings. This time, she will be heard by her mother. It's now or never. "I will never understand why you do not let me be part of the important event in the town. I will never understand how you cannot trust me. Your flesh and blood. I will never understand why you are so strict with me instead of being gentle. On why you choose to misjudge me rather than seeing what I can do. Correct my mistakes if I did commit. Why is it so hard to please you, mother?"

"I did not tell you to please me."

"You didn't! You didn't but you let me feel that I needed to. I need to beg for everything! I need to prove myself. I need to be perfect! I am not that kind of a person, I have flaws mother. I am not perfect. I still need to learn from my mistakes. How can I learn from those if you will not allow me to be involved with the things that are connected to Nirvati? Why speak for me? Why am I not allowed to do my part? Why?"

"Because you are not yet ready."

"When will I be ready?! When I'm buried six feet under the ground?"

Luana was thinking of a way to console her daughter but she cannot think of any. She doesn't know how to comfort her daughter. She doesn't know how to act like a mother towards her. All she knows is that she is the Queen and she is doing what is right for Merida. She is preparing Merida to become the Queen of Nirvati. She is trying to help her daughter realize how important it is to serve the people. Her life should revolve around Vati. She was born for them. Luana and the past Queens of Nirvati were born for Nirvati. Vati is their people. They need to serve them until their last breath.

"Stop saying silly things. You may now go back to your room. You can also roam around Nirvati to have a good relationship with the people. Talk to them. Help them in any way you can."

"That is how this talk ends with?" Merida wiped her tears and turned her back. Before she reaches the door, she stops and leaves some words for her mother to realize and knock some sense out of her. "You may not trust me to become the future Queen but at least try to trust me as your daughter."

Both have felt the relief of not seeing each other. The tension inside is too much to handle. Merida felt like she was holding her breath the entire time she was inside. Her mother's presence and words hit something but she will not let it discourage her. She will stand her ground. She will still follow what she believes. She is still Merida. No one will ever control her. No one will speak for herself. This time, if her mother would take the chance to speak for her, she will not let it happen. She now realized how her mother tries to stop her from having the throne by trying to point out her flaws. By trying to hurt her with her actions.

Indeed, she does not like the idea of being the Queen but if it will be given to her, she will do everything she can to protect her people. She will try her best to prove that she deserves to be the Queen. She is not just Merida but she is Merida of Nirvati. She may not live with the principles of Nirvati but she is a Vati. She will serve them until her last breath.

Now, her focus is to find out what happened last night. She cannot calm down not knowing what caused the ground to shake. It seems like something or someone has been awakened from a deep sleep. Someone got free from prison. She will not let that hurt her people.