Battle Cry | Mericcup (REWRITE)

Chapter 4

"Pull the sails!" The voice of the king ordered.

Merida's eyes fluttered open. She was still hiding below deck. It was dusty and it smelled like a rotten cheese, but she managed. Curious how far they'd been, she peaked on a hole and see no castle. She also noticed that the sun was already up. It was probably around nine in the morning. They must have drifted far from the shore by now and turning back will take a while. Merida decided to go upstairs to see his father, hoping that her presence will not make him mad.

She slowly went her way up to the dock. She passed a few men who were surprised to see her that they were planted on their feet. Merida reached the dock and saw how busy the men were. There were men pulling the sails just as the king ordered. The king was barking orders when he turned to see Merida. His eyes widened and went over to her, grabbing her shoulder.

"What in the world are you doing in here, lassie?" He exclaimed. He was clearly surprised and worried. He looked over to where the castle should be and sighed. "We're too far. Returning you home will cost some time."

"Dad, let me explain." Merida said.

"No." His voice was stern. Merida shivered.

"Is this really a good idea?" She thought to herself. Her father walked over to a room below. He gestured for Merida to follow. It must be his office because there were maps on top of a table with a chair big enough to fit him.

King Fergus went over to sit and gave Merida a stare that sent shivers down her spine. "Well?" he started.

Merida did not know what to do. Should she say anything? Merida opened her mouth but hesitated. "Explain yourself, Merida." Her father said while resting his chin on his clasped hands.

"Dad, I-I had to." Merida started.

"You had to?" The king's voice boomed. He was clearly upset. Why wouldn't he? He has the right to be upset because Merida sneaked in and it could be dangerous. "Do you even know what you are in to? We are sailing to war, Merida. This is serious, lassie." ¨He continued.

It had been a long time since Merida had made her father upset. The last time was when he locked her in her room because she was begging to save her mother that was she turned into a bear. He was clueless. Just as he was at the moment they were in the ship. "I cannot stand the castle, dad. Mum keeps making me do this and that. I'm seventeen and I have not even explored the world beyond the castle. I want to at least have a taste of freedom!" Merida exclaimed.

The king rubbed his fingers on his forehead. "You could have told me. We could have taken a trip. But, lassie, we are heading to a war."

Merida's shoulder dropped. He was right. She should have just told him. Why didn't she? Maybe it was because she was too hungry for freedom that when an opportunity opened, she instantly grabbed it without thinking what her actions might cost.

"Look, Merida. I have no other choice but to let you stay. And that is what you are going to do. You will stay in this ship while we handle the Vikings. There will be soldiers manning this ship and you will stay put." King Fergus said. "After this, we will-"

The king was not able to finish his sentence when there was a loud bank outside. He quickly stood and went for the door. Merida followed but her father stopped her. "Stay here. Stay below deck."

He did not let Merida speak. Instead, he hurriedly headed on the deck. There was another loud bang and she could hear her father barking orders again. "Load the cannons!" He shouted.

Merida hurriedly went below deck to grab her bow and quiver, taking one arrow and loading her bow. She went up to the deck and spotted a part of the other ships burning. The king was too busy giving out orders that he did not notice Merida.

When Merida looked over to the horizon, she noticed that there were no ships nor any sign of the Vikings. As suddenly as she realized that, there was a ball of fire coming from above that missed them just a few meters. The ship shook. Merida looked up. She swung her bow on her back and climbed the main mast. She loaded her arrow and aimed at the sky.

"Merida! What are you doing?" The king yelled. "Get down from there!"

Merida focused her eyes on the sky. There was a large figure gliding the sky. Then another fireball was shot at them. This time, it almost did not miss. Merida released her arrow, but the figure dived down. That was when she noticed a black beast with wings.

"It's a dragon!" Merida screamed.

"Shoot them down!" The king yelled to his men. The cannons were fired, but the dragons dodged it with ease. That was when Merida noticed that there were people riding on each of the dragons' back.

"Vikings?" Merida asked herself. "Didn't the Vikings consider dragons as pests?"

There were probably three dragons flying. Merida was too busy trying to shoot the dragons when she did not notice that the black one with green eyes was coming towards her. She released her arrow and the dragon quickly dodged it. Merida fumbled to grab an arrow, but she was too late. The dragon's paws grabbed her away from the ship. She yelled for her father. She tried to thrash, but it was no use. The dragon's grip was tight.

"Merida!" King Fergus yelled as he grabbed his sword. "Put my daughter back down! You ride on your dragons, afraid to fight a man. You cower behind the beasts. Get down here, you coward, and face me!"

"Dad!" She yelled again.

"Burn the ship!" The man riding the dragonーwhere Merida was capturedーordered.

"No!" Merida yelled turning her head to her captor. He has his helmet on which made for Merida impossible to see his face. The dragons and their riders fall back as soon as the fire started. Merida watched the ship burn as she dangled helplessly on a dragon's paws. She was defeated. She felt defeated.