Betrothal (a merricup story)

One- great, I'm going to get married.

Merida DunBroch stared out of her window morosely. Her bow had been kept away, thanks to her mother. Queen Elinor was determined to make sure that she would not be escaping today to go horse riding or archery practice. She huffed, thinking of what fun she could've had riding her horse, Angus, shooting arrows instead of enduring hour after hour of boring lessons.

"A princess does not slouch." Elinor said, walking in. She glanced at her mother out of the corner of her eye. "I've got good news, Merida." She said. Merida looked at her, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"The lords of the neighbouring tribes- they've all accepted!" Elinor smiled.

"Accepted what, now?" Merida asked.

"They've accepted the offer of your hand in marriage." Elinor said. "Isn't this marvellous?"

Merida stood up, eyes wide. "Marriage?! Why didn't I hear of this beforehand?!"

"You should be happy about this! It is a great honour." Elinor said, disappointed by Merida's reaction. "You are the princess of this kingdom, and I expect you to act like one. You will make your choice out of the suitors. They will arrive in three days."

"Three days?!" Merida exclaimed. "But- I don't- I'm not ready for marriage! Can't this wait for- I don't know, another ten more years, maybe?!"

"Merida! Don't be ridiculous. They will arrive in three days, and that is final."

*****************

"Argh! How could she do this to me?!" Merida raged, slamming a cushion down on the ground. Rapunzel stared at her helplessly. She knew better than to try and stop her best friend during one of her times. "Arrive in three days- why didn't she tell me sooner?!" Merida raged, pounding her fists into the cushion mercilessly.

"Probably because she knew you'd try to run away?" Rapunzel suggested. Merida glared at her. "What? You would've." She muttered.

Merida shrugged. "True." She said, giving one final punch to the cushion. "But still! It's my life she's talking about, how could she have just decided this by herself?!" She said angrily.

"Calm down, Meri." Rapunzel said gently, taking the abused cushion away from her. "Beating up a cushion won't help anything. Why don't you just talk this out with her?"

Merida groaned. "You jest. Mother would never listen, I've already tried before!" She sighed. "This is hopeless." She said, lying on her back on the floor.

Rapunzel lay down next to her. "Don't say it's hopeless. You never know, you might meet someone you like." She smiled. Merida looked absolutely repulsed by the idea. "Oh, come on, Meri, don't act like its such a bad thing!" Rapunzel said, laughing at her expression.

"I have no intentions whatsoever of getting married." She made a face at the word. "I absolutely do not want to get married, not to mention, I'm too young!" She said, snatching the cushion back and hugging it to her chest.

Rapunzel looked at her best friend. "I know you don't want to get married, Meri." She said. "But, look on the bright side, even if you choose a suitor now, I doubt you'll be forced to get married immediately."

Merida narrowed her eyes at Rapunzel. "Whose side are you on, Rapunzel?"

"Yours." Rapunzel said. "I'm just saying, keep an open mind, always stay optimistic."

"Like you did before you met Jack?" Merida asked.

Rapunzel blushed at the mention of her fiancé's name. Her father was a lord, and he had chosen a group of suitors for his daughter's hand in marriage. After all of the trials, only one of them truly caught her eye, a white haired boy with deep blue eyes. Jack Frost. He seemed to truly like her, and they were now betrothed to one another. "Yeah, kind of like that." Rapunzel said.

Merida sighed. "I only hope I'm as lucky as you are....or all the lords decide not to come after all." She said.

"Cheer up, Meri!" Rapunzel said. "Come on, I'll braid your hair."

Merida looked at the long blonde braid behind Rapunzel. "Goodness, how you can manage to braid all of that hair of yours, everyday, and still want to braid my hair?" She asked. "Don't you get tired of it?"

"Nope." Rapunzel said, sitting up. "Now turn around, so I can braid it properly this time." Merida sighed and did as she said.