Meet Me At the Halfway Point

Trust In Me.

-Middle Of Summer-

The castle dining hall roared with applause, as all clan members were pounding their fists onto the tables, cheering with delight watching the maids bring in more food and, most importantly, more alcohol. Merida looked around gleefully at her surroundings, seeing her people coming together for festivals and celebrations such as these made her proud to be Scottish. While Merida was sitting up on the main table that stood facing the others, the Princess was getting antsy to get up and move around. Merida looked to her left and saw the Queen was busy talking to someone, and on her right was the King in the middle of an arm wrestling contest with the other clan leaders. She pushed her chair back and grabbed her gold goblet and made her way to the sideline of the dance floor. Merida enjoyed watching the couples dance instead of her being forced to participate, but this late into the night she didn't have to worry about being asked again.

The rites of summer festival always begins earlier in the day for the DunBroch Kingdom, tents and decorations are all set up in wide enough fields that the whole kingdom is welcomed to attend. Throughout the rest of the day, people play games, dance to music, and have tables full of food to delight everyone. Then the Festival comes to an end with the honorary bonfire at sunset. The only small thing that Merida disliked about the whole festival was how it was the Princess duty to lead in the "first dance of the summer" every year with the son of the honored clan guest. After the first dance a line will start forming to dance with her, and being a Princess, Merida couldn't say no until her mother came to rescue her. Then once the King bids goodnight to the townsfolk, the royal party inside the castle begins.

Merida clapped with the rest of the crowd when the song ended and another song began; however, her smile fell as she spotted her three wee brothers across the dance floor trying to steal something sweet from someone's plate. She was about to intervene when a voice came from behind.

"Princess Merida!"

Merida turned to see not only Young MacGuffin approaching, but the rest of the clan boys as well: Young Dingwall and Young Macintosh were following behind.

"Oh, hello everyone- been awhile since I saw ya all three together," raising her cup to them as a form of greeting.

"The three o' us were just around talking, 'n' wanted to come over and share some news Young Dingwall just told me." Said Young MacGuffin eagerly. "Go on 'n' tell her then," shoving Young Dingwall ahead of him.

Of course the Young Dingwall's face always looked like he was in a lazy daze, taking his time, smacking his lips before speaking. Merida raised an eyebrow at him, wondering if it was really important to hear what he had to say.

"Well, it all started a few weeks ago when we were preparing to set sail," Young Dingwall began.

"Oh really?" she said, trying to seem interested.

"Yes 'n' one specific morning, the maid brought me a horrible breakfast-  I asked for black pudding, baked bean, 'n' potatoes with cabbage. But all I got was haggis, and oatcakes- I hate oatcakes."

"Soooo...ya went that morning without breakfast?" Merida asked.

"No, I still ate it, but I had a horrible stomach ache afterwards."

Merida's jaw dropped just a slightest then Young MacGuffin elbowed Young Dingwall forcing him to stop.

"Forget about breakfast and get to th' point!"

"Oh right- well one servant said that they met with a traveler in th' marketplace that had a cure for stomach aches, took a sip me-self 'n' did the trick."