A Highland Love Story

Chapter 6

The day had come for the arrival of the unwelcome suitors from the three clans—Macguffin, Macintosh, and Dingwall. Merida stood in her chamber, her heart heavy with dread as she donned the dress that symbolized tradition and duty, rather than her own will. It was a dress that she resented for what it represented—submission.

With a heavy sigh, she made her way to the throne room, where the visiting clans had assembled. The castle's grandeur couldn't mask the tension in the air, and Merida's fiery hair seemed like the only vibrant spark in the room.

The first clan to present themselves was the Macguffins, headed by Lord MacGuffin. He stood tall, his sons beside him, looking more like giants than men. They were a mountain of muscle and hair, their voices booming as they introduced themselves.

"Lord MacGuffin and my sons," Lord MacGuffin announced. "We come here to offer our son as suitors for the hand of the fair Merida."

The second clan, the Macintoshes, presented themselves with confidence. Their leader, Lord Macintosh, was a man of fierce pride, and his sons exuded the same bravado.

"Lord Macintosh and my sons," Lord Macintosh declared. "We present ourselves as worthy suitors for the hand of the fiery-haired Merida."

Lastly, the Dingwalls arrived, led by Lord Dingwall. Their appearance was more comical than intimidating, but their ambition was unwavering.

"Lord Dingwall and my son," Lord Dingwall announced. "We stand ready to compete for the hand of the lass Merida."

With each presentation, Merida's heart sank further, and the feeling of entrapment tightened its grip on her. She couldn't see herself with any of these suitors, and the thought of her life being decided by someone else filled her with despair.

But then, a voice broke through the solemn proceedings, causing a stir in the room. It was the voice of King Fergus.

"Wait, hold on," Fergus called, raising a hand for attention. "There's one more suitor to consider."

Merida's eyes widened in shock as her father's words hung in the air. The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by murmurs of confusion and protest from the clans.

Fergus continued, "I'd like to introduce a new suitor—a warrior of great skill and honor, Y/N."

The room erupted into chaos as the clans voiced their disagreement. They refused to accept the notion of an outsider competing for Merida's hand, and their protests filled the air.

"Another this is unorthodox" said Lord Macintosh. "Aye" said Lord MacGuffin "Ya can't have two people from the same clan.

"Y/N not from DunBroch, making him fair game" shouted Fergus " Or are you lads scared of a little competition"

Y/N stood near the entrance, looking surprised. He had not anticipated being introduced in this manner.

"I know I ain't scared, unlike the Dingwalls" said MacGuffin. "How about you stick your head deep in Macintosh's dirty hair?" said Dingwall.

"At least I have hair, an it is not in pretty little buns like MacGuffins is" said Macintosh.

The shouting and arguing grew more intense, and it seemed as though a brawl would erupt. That's when Y/N and King Fergus made eye contact, sharing a nod that spoke of a silent understanding.

They charged into the brawl, hoping to break it up. This caught the clans off guard, and for a brief moment, but soon joined the flight.

Y/N had gotten Macintoshin a headlock while a dingwall was biting at his ankles. Fergus was wrestling with a man who looked almost as tall and muscular as the hall itself. MacGuffin was choking Dingwall from behind while the Triplets, eager to cause trouble, emerge from the floorboards to whack MacGuffins feet with a hammer.

However, the brawl came to an abrupt halt as Queen Elinor walked into the brawl, her walk emanating with authority. She grabbed the ears of the clan leaders, Fergus, and Y/N, dragging them out of the chaos.

In the aftermath of the brawl, Merida was left feeling a mix of emotions. The clans' opposition to Y/N's inclusion had been evident, but his wish to be by her side had not wavered. She couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.

She stood tall among the crowd and shouted, "I choose swordsmanship as the competition for my hand."

The choice had been made, and Merida was stubborn and wanted to carve her own path, no matter the challenges that lay ahead. The fight for her own destiny had just begun, and the path to freedom was anything but easy.