#meriguffin

Shae eyed the young woman and horse curiously. He’d never known someone who could bond with an animal so quickly.

           “You have a way with the beasts, donnae you, Merida.”

Merida backed away from the horse and turned to look at Shae, who had gotten a full fire started.

           “I guess…I’ve always had a love for horses. I’ve always been able to connect with them easily.”

       Giving the large bay one final pat on the tip of his nose, she walked over to Shae and sat down next to him.

However, the horse had other plans.

     He followed Merida, nipping at her shoulder and hair.

Shae laughed as Merida tried to push the horse away.

           “I said, go away! You’re free! Go. Run free…SHOO!” Merida tried to fend off the horse.

Ignoring her, the large bay continued to nuzzle and nip at the fiery princess, much to her annoyance.

     And Shae just laughed at her!

           “You could help, you know.” She groused, staring up at him.

Shae wiped at his eyes.

           “But he likes you so much, Merida.”

     “You’re the one who said to set him free…now you wonnae help me get him to go away.”

Shae bit back another laugh.

           “Hey now! I simply told you exactly what the Fae will tell you once they get here. I didnnae know he was going to become so attached to you in one day! Hahaha!”

Merida glared at him,

           “Some help you are…”

Stifling his laughter, Shae stood and took ahold of the horse’s mane, gently.

  Giving the massive beast a tug, Shae pulled the horse’s attention away from Merida.

           “Come on, laddie. Time for you to do as the lady says and go.”

Shae led the horse to an open field and patted at his nose.

           “You really are a good horse, you know…taking on two riders; complete strangers…and no training…it’s all pretty unbelievable, really…”

           “A miracle, even.” Shae stroked the stallion’s neck.

After allowing Shae to shower him with some attention, the horse bowed his head and munched at the grass as Shae’s feet. Shae kept talking to the large bay quietly, as he ate.

           “To tell you the truth, I wish you could stay with us too…you’d be a great help to us on our journey home. And I know you fancy the lass more than me, but at least you didnnae buck me off…” he paused and ruffled the horse’s mane, teasingly.

           “I’m thankful for that, just so you know…and between you and me, I fancy her company quite a bit too…” Shae blushed, lightly.

           Why was he telling the horse this?    

A few minutes passed, and Shae led the horse farther into the field, hoping he’d catch on and start off on his own, but the large bay just continued to graze peacefully. Shae brushed his hand down the horse’s side and over his legs, checking for any abnormalities on the stallion.

           “You’re a fine one, arennae you, boy?” Shae stated, appraising the horse’s breeding.

   Then, without warning, the large bay laid his ears flat and swung his head around quickly, biting at Shae’s hand and arm.

           Shae jumped back!

                       “Hey! Easy laddie! I’m not the enemy here!”

Shae heard a laugh behind him and turned to see Merida standing close by watching the two of them.

           “If someone was running their hands all over you like that, I’m sure you’d have the same reaction, Shae. And I still donnae think he likes you very much.” She said with a smirk.

           ‘Depends on who’s hands they were…’ he blushed as he looked over at her.

Shae eyed her curiously,

           “I thought you stayed by the fire.”

Merida shrugged and walked over to the two of them. She reached out and patted down the neck and shoulders of the bay as she spoke to Shae.

           “You were taking too long, so I thought I’d come over and make sure everything was alright. Make sure everything was under control or see what the hold-up was…” she paused and smirked at him,

           “I wasnnae disappointed in what I saw.”

Shae made a teasing face.

           “So, it’s funny if he bites me, eh? Heaven forbid he nips or picks at you any…”

Merida stuck her tongue out at him,

           “Donnae be so sensitive, MacGuffin.”

Placing his hands on his hips, he looked at her incredulously.

           “Me sensitive?! You’re the one who griped about ‘im nipping at you. He was just wanting your attention. He actually tried to bite me!”

           “Maybe you deserved it!” she teased.

The stallion snorted at Shae and the man backed up, slightly,

           “Hey, donnae be sore at me…”

The large bays ears flattened again,

           “Donnae you dare bite me again! I’ll whap you in the nose.” Shae warned.

Snorting indignantly, the bay ignored the pair of humans and went back to grazing. He turned and, as he did, his long tail swished and whacked Shae right in the face. Shae scrunched up his face and swatted the horses tail away.

           “Hey!”

Seeing the incident, Merida laughed. Angus had done that to her on more than one occasion, so she understood Shae’s frustration.

The horse whinnied and trotted further away from them.

           Shae swore he could almost hear the horse laughing…

After watching the bay leave to graze, the pair decided to leave him be. They headed back to their camp, and as they walked, Shae took hold of Merida’s hand.

  Merida smiled at him, and Shae returned the look.

      They made it back to their camp and sat down next to the fire to keep warm.

Shae tossed another piece of wood on the fire and Merida rubbed her arms to stave off the cool night air. The fire helped but she still felt cold and the friction warmed her extremities.

           Shae raised a brow at her.

                       “Are you alright?”

She nodded.

           “I’m fine…just a little cold. The fire’ll start to warm me up here in a bit.”

Shae frowned.

           He could feel the slight chill in the air and didn’t want her to get a cold from the cool evening weather.        

           Moving over to her, Shae wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to his side.

           Merida raised a brow at the action, but didn’t complain…

Although, she did ask:

           “What are you doing, Shae?”

He blushed but didn’t let her go.

           “You said you were chilled…I’m just trying to help. Cannae have you catching a cold, now can we?”

Merida chuckled,

           “No. That wouldnnae be good, would it?”

     “No, it wouldnnae…” Shae stated.

Merida smiled up at him, touched by his concern. He continued to surprise her with his attention and affection he’d shown her recently.

    She thought back to earlier that day and when he’d kissed her after he’d rescued them from that room of guards.

  He’d tried to deepen their kiss, which Merida had wanted…

           …truly, she did.

But, it had frightened her, as well.

   Even though it was Shae and she trusted him explicitly, all she’d seen in her minds eye was the guard who’d tried to force himself on her.

She felt foolish for the fear, but it was so vivid and at the forefront of her mind. It upset her to think about…not just for obvious reasons, but also because of Shae…

           It wasn’t fair to him!

Merida mentally shook herself out of those thoughts. She could contemplate her problems later…right now, she just wanted to enjoy a peaceful night with Shae.

           …Her mind could torment her later…

   Leaning into him, she laid her head against his chest and cuddled into his side.

She sighed contentedly, and the pair fell into a comfortable silence as they rested by the fire. They sat in peaceful, contemplative quiet for a few minutes, just enjoying each other’s company and warmth.

           About ten minutes or so passed and then the bay came back into view, nearing the campsite. The large equine stayed at a distance and eyed the pair cautiously. Shae watched the stallion as he pawed at the ground and eyed Shae maliciously.

   …At least, Shae could have sworn it was a malicious look…

He raised a brow as he watched the horse’s particular behavior.

           “Your admirer is back, Merida. And I donnae think he likes me holding you like this.”

The horse snorted in confirmation.

   Merida giggled.

           “He’s jealous.” she said quietly.

Shae blushed, but appreciated her candor. Clearing his throat, he said:

           “Well, I guess he’ll just have to get over it.”

The stallion snorted indignantly once more, and Merida laughed.

The bay shire made his way cautiously back over to the pair. Sniffing tentatively at Merida’s hair, the massive horse began to nuzzle at her shoulder affectionately. He nipped gently at her dress, but Shae shooed his nose away. The stallion snorted up at the large man, but Shae simply shoved at his nose a little harder.

           Merida waved her arm as if she were simply shooing a fly away.

                       “Go on, laddie. Back away now.” She said calmly.

The horse flattened his ears but did as he was told and took a step or so back.

           Fed up with being ignored and swatted away, the stallion gave up trying to get Merida’s attention. Swinging around and whacking Shae once again with his long black tail, the bay wandered back out to the large open field.

Shae sputtered and picked the excess horse hair off his face. He glared at the animal as it trotted away.

           “I think your horse friend is giving up on us…” he muttered.

Merida hummed and closed her eyes.

                       “Oh, donnae count on it. He’s a stubborn one, I can tell. He’ll probably stick around…”

Shae chuckled and gave a nod.

           “Aye…at least until our Fae friends make ‘im go away,”

    Merida made a soft noise of agreement. She was sad to lose the horse. He’d been a huge help to them today! But she also understood that they Fae had rule…and she’d adhere with what Keira asked of her…until they there back at DunBroch, at least.

The pair fell into silence once again and they rested in the quiet night.

           After a short time passed, Shae debated with himself on whether or not he should go foraging or hunting for food. But when Merida cuddled closer, he decided he’d rather stay right where he was. Closing his eyes, he settled back, enjoying the peaceful night and the company.

           Merida was quite content, as well. She couldn’t help but smile when she felt Shae sigh happily against her.

Merida nuzzled her cheek to his chest.

           ‘This…I could really get used to something like this.’ she thought with a grin.

All was calm and basically perfect for the pair and Merida was enjoying every moment.

It was almost as if the events of the last day or so hadn’t even happened.

But that wasn’t the case at all…

           Lifting her head, she looked up at Shae and stared at the cuts, bruises and gashes along his face and forehead. His tartan was torn in various places and, even though he didn’t complain, she knew he must have some broken or bruised ribs and other bones…

They’d been beaten down…

           Shae had beaten repeatedly because of her…

                       …she’d been assaulted…almost raped…

…if Shae hadn’t have…

           ‘NO!’ she shook her head.

She wouldn’t allow herself to dwell on that right now!

           She was safe. She was with Shae. She was in his arms in this moment! And they were both alright…if not a little battered and bruised.

    But Merida had to wonder…

           …would the world ever be ‘normal’ again…

    …Or what would her normal be from now on?

    As she pondered on all these things, she heard a sound that pulled her from her thoughts.

           She held her breath!

     She was suddenly on alert.

Could Artair and his men have caught up to them already?

Another light snapping sound caught her attention and she turned her head to the noise. She looked out towards the field where the stallion had wandered off to, but she couldn’t see anything.

  But, that didn’t mean that there wasn’t something out there…

Feeling Merida move and her body tense slightly, Shae shifted too. Thinking something was wrong, he gripped at her waist, protectively.

           “Did you hear something, Merida?” he asked, suddenly alert himself.

She nodded, and quickly clarified.

           “I did, but I’m not sure if it’s anything to worry about or not. Could have just been my imagination.”

           “What was the noise you heard?” Shae asked.

    “Just the snap of a twig or a branch…probably just a bird…” she shrugged.

Shae frowned.

           “You donnae know that. Could be trouble.”

Merida hummed in agreement but gave another shrug.

           “Aye, it could be…Or it could be Keira and the others. I keep expecting them to pop up any moment now.”

Shae glanced down at her, a puzzled look on his face.

           “The Fae? But, how? We had quite the head start and a horse! There’s no way they could have caught up to us that fast.”

Forgetting that they were supposed to be on alert, Merida laughed instead.

Shae had overlooks an obvious answer and it struck her as amusing.

With his own caution gone now, as well, he raised his brow in confusion at the sound of her laughter.

           “What’s so funny?” he asked.

Merida pulled herself away from his chest and sat up to look at him. She still had a cheeky smile on her lips and a glint of mirth in her eyes. His brows furrowed slightly as she shook her head at him,

           “Shae, darlin’…they can shape-shift! They could fly here if they wanted too.”

Shae blinked a few times as he looked at her, his brows furrowing deeper. His look of confusion amused her even more.

           “What? It’s true!” she said with laughter in her words.

“Did you just call me ‘darling’?” he asked abruptly.

     Merida’s mirth abruptly ended, and her face flushed bright red!

Doing her best impression of a fish out of water, Merida could only sit and stare as she tried to think of something to say to him.

           “Uh…I…uhhh…” she stammered unsure of what to say.

    As she stumbled over her words, the corners of Shae’s mouth turned up, ghosting a smile at her flustered state. His brow rose higher as he waited for an answer.

Merida caught the spark of something in his eyes and it sent a shiver down her spine.

It was obvious her little verbal slip didn’t bother him any. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it! Or, at least, he enjoyed the reaction he’d gotten out of her.

    As they stared each other down, Shae’s small grin grew and turned into a cheeky smirk.

           “You called me ‘darling’.” He said, giving a nod.

Merida felt her heart beat speed up. Licking her lips, she said,

           “Actually, I believe I said ‘darlin’’.

Shae’s smirk grew.

           “Details.”

Merida took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart.

           Why did he have to look at her like that?

She steeled her nerves and questioned him,

           “And, so what if I did?”

She paused again and watched for his reaction.

    “Why? Does that bother you?” she asked.

His eyes darkened slightly, but she was close enough that she noticed.

           “No, Merida. It doesnnae bother me, at all.”

She raised a brow at him.

           “No?”

His smirk broke into a smile,

           “No, it doesnnae. You just caught me off guard, is all.”

Hearing that, Merida gave a smirk herself.

           “Threw you off a bit, did I?”

Shae chuckled.

           “Aye. Not everyday a man hears that from a beautiful woman…especially not a man like me.”

Merida’s smile dropped slightly. She leaned towards him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and neck

           “Would you mind if I called you it again?”

Shae looked at her in shock, his mouth opening slightly.

           “…N…no Merida…I donnae…you may…” he stammered slightly.

Her smile returned.

           Feeling bolder than she probably should have, Merida leaned forward and touched the tip of her nose to his.

           “Well then…Shae, darlin’… I suggest you just get used to it.” She winked at him.

Shae felt his cheeks warm at her teasing.

     His mouth went dry and his heart sped up too!

           ‘Too close!’ his subconscious warned.

But Shae wasn’t listening to his conscious. As a matter of fact, he wasn’t listening to any rational part of his brain!

      She had flustered him…now he wanted to return the favor.

Pushing past his nerves and the awkwardness of their position, Shae decided to give her a taste of her own medicine.

           He loved the fact they could go back and forth like this so easily now…

                       …they really had made “Progress”, as he had dubbed it…

Gripping at her waist tenderly, Shae pulled her body close to his. He raised a brow at her challengingly when he saw her eyes widen and her lips part in surprise.

His cheeky smile returned quickly,

           “Careful, love.” He whispered, accentuating the last word,

                       “Donnae start something you cannae finish.”

Merida felt her own cheeks flushing at the closeness of their situation. Shae was holding her close and they were still nose to nose. All it would take is one little move forward…

           …But Merida refused to give him the smug satisfaction of winning.

Still, sitting so close their breaths intermingled in the cold evening air and Shae could feel every exhale of hot air out of her slightly parted lips. They eyed each other, both waiting on the other to make a move. Each desiring it!

           But it never happened.

Another snap of a breaking branch or twig caught both their attentions and they looked towards the noise. The rustle of leaves put them on edge and both Shae and Merida jumped to their feet!

           Not that they had a weapon to help them should it be a danger of some sort…

After a few seconds of tense silence, the pair were joined by a small hare, hopping out from the under-brush to join them by the fire. Shae and Merida rolled their eyes, and both let out heavy sighs. The tense moment over, they looked at each other and smiled before laughing at the silliness of their behavior.

           “Well, that was one scary creature, I must say!” Merida giggled.

Shae laughed,

           “Aye! I was terrified!”

Merida shook her head as they moved to sit back down next to their side of the fire.

           “I think our exhaustion is making us jumpy, Shae.”

He agreed as he sat down and leaned back to relax once again.

           The previous tense moment between them had passed and Merida nor Shae felt like re-hashing it. Even though they both secretly wanted that kiss!

 Instead, Merida joined him back on the ground. She leaned into his chest again, this time tucking her head under his chin.

   Shae sighed contentedly, closed his eyes, and wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close. Merida offered him her own happy sigh.

After a few long minutes of silence, Merida’s mind reminded her of what had started that rather intense interaction earlier. The question of the Fae!

They still needed to be on alert for their friends in case they did show up.

Finally, Merida voiced her concerns to Shae,

           “I just hope the Fae were all able to get away from that fight alright. I donnae want anything to happen to Keira and her family. Or her people.” She paused and gave a heavy sigh,

           “I’d never forgive myself…”

  Even though he had his eyes closed, Shae could sense the frown on Merida’s face. Tightening his hold on the arm he had draped around her, he gave her a reassuring hug.

           “I’m sure they’re fine, Merida. Keira and the others are quite crafty…and way more resourceful then we could ever know. We shouldnnae worry.”

Merida gave a short laugh.

           “Arennae you the one who’s always advocating to expect the worst?”

Shae chuckled and opened his eyes to look down at her.

           “Aye…usually. But I know the Fae can take care of themselves…and they’re a careful but crafty bunch.” He said with a wink.

           “You really think so?” she asked, raising a brow.

Shae nodded,

           “Absolutely! Let’s just give them a bit. They’ll meet up with us in no time. Donnae you worry…”

Merida smiled softly up at him. Sitting back up she shook her head and watched as he raised a curious brow at her.

           “Did I say something wrong?” he asked.

Still smiling, she shook her head again,

           “No…you’re just…you.”

Shae’s brow furrowed deeper.

           “What does that mean?”

She didn’t give him an answer.

Instead, she leaned forward and placed a soft kiss to the underside of his jaw. Shae looked at her with a grin.

           “Now what was that for?”

Merida shrugged,

    “I told you…for just being you.” She paused then added,

           “And for trying to cheer me up.”

Shae’s cheeks flushed red and he smiled.

           “You’re welcome, Merida. Cannae have you worrying, now, can we?”

She laughed.

           “You really are something else, Shae MacGuffin?”

Shae raised a brow at her, unsure of what she meant. He was still grinning at her when he asked,

           “What do you mean by that, Merida?”

She pursed her lips, as if she were wondering how she could explain it. Finally, she answered as she held his gaze, tenderly.

           “You have a very big heart, Shae MacGuffin.”

Shae’s blush darkened.

           “Merida…” he whispered her name, unsure of what to say in response.

Using his pause to her advantage, Merida leaned forward once more and kissed him soundly on the lips. Shae hummed in appreciation and cupped her cheek tenderly, holding her in place.

  At least they’d finally gotten to that kiss they’d missed earlier.

    It was a slow and sweet kiss. And it lingered on for a long while.

           Not that either of them cared.

Merida couldn’t help but smile into the kiss as Shae gave out a soft groan.

   They had to part briefly for air, and Shae used the moment to move his hand to the back of her neck. He then pulled her back into his embrace and into another soft, sensual kiss.

           Lost in their own world, neither were aware that they were being spied upon. It wasn’t until a harsh cough sounded behind them, that the two parted.

           “A-HEM!” a voice ‘coughed’ sharply.

With bright flushed cheeks, the pair parted abruptly and looked towards the intruder.

           …well…intruder(s), actually…

Iaighe stood by the fire with her arms crossed. A look of annoyance and disgust was on her face.

    Keira and Gelphyck stood closest to the human’s. They each had knowing and sly smiles on their faces. Glemtick sat on a log across from them with a goofy, sappy-looking smile on his face.

And the twins, Tahvay and Teavah, stood behind him with a little blush of pink on each of their cheeks.

Shae and Merida just sat there, both dumbstruck and flustered at being caught in such an intimate and romantic moment.

           …especially for two people who weren’t even together romantically…

                       …not officially, anyway…

‘This looks pretty incriminating…’ Merdia thought her cheeks still flushed a dark red.

           ‘It’s no wonder Keira is always teasing us about being mates…not that I would mind anymore…’            

Quickly, Merida stood up and cleared her throat.

           “Keira! We’re so glad you all made it out of that fight alright. Shae and I were just talking about when or if you would catch up with us.”

Iaighe cocked a brow at them,

           “That the strangest way of ‘talking’ Iaighe ever see…”

The twins giggled and Glemtick sniggered at the flustered humans.

           “Yep, yep, yep! Hard to talk when lips pressed to mates…”

Shae stood as well and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

           “We actually were wondering about where you all were…before you…uh…found us…”

Keira grinned and sent Merida a wink.

           “Well, glad to know friends were…‘ahem’…so worried about us.””

    “Fae understand. Filled with worry and concern, Princess and Warrior took comfort in each other.” Gelphyck gave them a sly grin and then added,

           “Makes sense…”

Feeling embarrassed, Merida frowned and tried to explain again.

           “It’s true Keira! We really were talking about you and the others and hoping you all were alright. And when you were going to catch up with us and things like that…” Merida rambled on before looking at Shae and blushing again!

           “It’s just…one thing led to another and…well…” Merida stopped and looked down, not meeting Keira’s gaze.

Glancing up, Merida groaned internally when she noticed Keira’s smug grin!

   Merida’s face flushed as red as her hair!

       Why was she so embarrassed by this?

It wasn’t like she hadn’t kissed him in front of others before!    

    ‘Shae and I shared a damn kiss in front of all the clans before. Why is this so different?’ she wrestled with herself.

           ‘But that was just a kiss on the cheek, and neither of you wanted it then. Now, you cannae wait to kiss him again! Or be near him, or cuddle, or even make lo-…’ her subconscious chastised.

           ‘STOP RIGHT THERE!’ she scolded herself.

Feeling confused and still greatly embarrassed she looked up to her Fae friend pleadingly. When their eyes met that time, Keira could sense her friends’ discomfort.

           Merida was acting strange and even Shae seemed overly tense.

The older Fae female’s gaze bounced back and forth between her two human friends, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

She wanted to speak to them, but with the younger ones around she was sure neither Shae nor Merida would open up to her.

She had an idea that might help, but now it was time to get the others to drop the issue of what they’d witnessed. She needed to save her friends from even more embarrassment.

Smiling to hide her concern, Keira turned to her sister’s and Iaighe.

           “Okay, okay. Enough teasing now. Time for work.” Keira stated and motioned towards the others.

           “Girls go fill waterskins at river. We’ll prepare meal for dinner now too. We all need food and rest. Iaighe, make some salves or something for our friend’s wounds, please. They look like they need it…”      

The twins nodded and obeyed quickly, Iaighe eyed her cousin with furrowed brows. She opened her mouth to say something to Keira, but the elder Fae shook her head and stopped the younger female from questioning her.

Catching the hint, Iaighe snapped her mouth shut and followed after the twins without another word. She’d gather ingredients while they filled the waterskins.

Keira turned to Glemtick and said,

           “Make sure provisions ready. Need food for seven.”  

Glemtick nodded then bounded away to start his task.

After the younger ones had dispersed, Merida sighed heavily and thanked her friend. She placed her palms over her heated cheeks.

           “Thank you, Keira. I donnae know if my cheeks will ever turn back to normal…”

   Keira smiled at her friend.

           “No worries, Princess. I know you not like the attention on you. Besides, I believe you…though, others may not…”

Merida’s cheeks reddened a deeper shade.

           “I was being serious Keira. We really had been talking about you and your people.”

Merida looked away with a sigh when Keira smirked at her.

           Merida realized then, it was no use to argue…

She glanced back at Shae for help or advice, but he simply shrugged.

Shae had remained quiet during the whole exchange and so had Gelphyck, who had also stayed behind.  Both men glanced at each other and Gelphyck walked over to Keira and stood beside her.  

           Merida’s eyes rose in shock when Gelphyck suddenly took hold of Keira’s hand, leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Now it was Keira’s turn to blush brightly. Turning sharply, she swatted at his chest and hissed in a flustered tone:

           “Amadán! Cén fáth go ndearna tú sin?![1]~ [Idiot! Why did you do that?!]” she growled.

Gelphyck grinned and nuzzle her cheek, much to her chagrin.

           “Ní féidir leat an banphrionsa a chur ar an eolas faoi a laoch má tá rud éigin ann chun tú a thabhairt ar ais. Chomh maith le sin, bhí tú ag dul in iúl dúinn mar sin féin. Bhí mé díreach ag cabhrú leat chomh maith.[2]~ [You can't tease the princess about her warrior if she has something to get you back with. Besides, you were going to tell them about us anyway. I was just helping you along.]”

While Gelphyck and Keira had their little exchange in their own language Merida looked at Shae with a mix of shock and confusion. He caught her gaze and smiled knowingly at her. He stepped beside her and whispered,

           “I think those two have something to share, as well, Merida. Looks like we’re not the only ones who’ve grown closer.”

Merida blushed again but smiled softly up at him.

Gelphyck had heard the exchange between Merida and Shae and he turned to look at them with a smug grin.

           “Warrior not wrong. But Keira and Gelphyck always close…but now both have grown very close…”

He gazed lovingly at Keira who blushed brightly but returned his smile.

           She looked at Merida pointedly.

                       “Gelphyck and I are mates now…” she told her friends truthfully.

Merida’s eyes widened once again and even Shae had the decency to look a little shocked.

           “Like…mate mates?” Merida squeaked with a blush on her cheeks.

The two Fae glanced at each other, then nodded in response.

   Shae’s cheeks flushed, and Merida’s blush darkened momentarily.

Gelphyck noticed their reactions and eyed the two humans with a raised brow.

           “Princess and Warrior not approve of union?”

Realizing how rude they were both being, Shae and Merida shook their heads in answer to Gelphyck’s question.

    Merida put her hands up and shook her head as she said,

           “Oh no! It isnnae that, Gelphyck…” she paused and glanced at Shae for help. He smiled sheepishly at the Fae couple in front of them.

           “We’re both very happy for you two! It’s just…well, it’s a little shocking to us.”

Merida nodded,

           “Aye. We didnnae even know there was something between the two of you. You didnnae seem like you were together or even in love…”

Keira laughed and explained,

           “Well, Gelphyck and I were betrothed many years ago. Our father’s make arrangement in ages past, seems like. With all the things in recent days, we just decided to make our Union official.”

Gelphyck kissed the back of Keira’s hand tenderly.

At the mention of an arranged marriage, Merida bristled slightly. However, she relaxed as she watched the tender display of the Fae couple before her.

   Unfortunately, she couldn’t stop herself from asking:

           “You agreed to an arranged marriage, Keira?”

Shae tensed, afraid the question would insult their friends. But Keira didn’t take offense at all. She did share a laugh with Gelphyck at the question, though. Finally, she answered,

           “No. I not want arranged marriage. In fact, hated Gelphyck first time we met.”

“My attitude not any better.” Gelphyck admitted with a smile and a shrug.

           “But over time we learn to like each other. Eventually, like turn to love and now…” Keira tapered off as she smiled softly at Gelphyck.

    Merida and Shae were still in a state of disbelief.

           “But…there wasnnae ever any indication about you two before?! No sweet smiles or knowing looks! No hand holding! And definitely not a kiss between you two!” Merida pointed out.

The Fae couple grinned at their human friends.

           “Signs there…and Fae very affectionate with each other…” Gelphyck stated.

                       “When appropriate and right time.” Keira corrected.

Gelphyck nodded,

           “Keira and Gelphyck together with Princess and Warrior at bad time or bad place. Always something chasing, always something wrong…”

Shae looked back and forth between the two Fae skeptically.

           “But Merida and I were at the Revelry. You would have been safe there. I never noticed either of you two acting particularly lovestruck during the celebration.”

         “We dance together that night.” Keira offered.

    “Snuck away for privacy at some point too…if Gelphyck remember right.” Gelphyck grinned smugly.

           Keira rolled her eyes and pushed him away teasingly. Gelphyck chuckled then turned to Shae with a teasing smirk,

           “Warrior not pay attention or notice because he too busy watching Princess that night.”

Keira nodded and offered her own smirk,

           “True. After Warrior and Princess start dancing at Revelry neither one notice anything else that night…”

           Shae and Merida blushed.

Merida started to say something more to the Fae couple, but stopped when she heard the sound of feet approaching.

           The four adults turned towards the noise and were greeted to the sight of a very annoyed and wet Iaighe stomping their way. The twins followed her, laughing and giggling wildly and a poor, sheepish looking Glemtick dragged behind them.

Keira raised a brow at the sight and Gelphyck forced back a laugh. Merida looked at Iaighe in concern and worry while Shae simply watched on, curious to the reasoning behind the sopping wet girl.

Keira wanted to know too and was the first adult to speak.

           “What happened to you?” she asked curiously.

Iaighe growled at the older Fae female before casting a dark glare back towards Glemtick.

           “Ask him.” She groused, jerking her thumb his direction.

Glemtick shrank back, trying to stay out of her path!

Before anyone could actually ask Glemtick what had happened, Iaighe stopped in front of Merida and Shae and pointed an accusing finger at them.

           “And you!? You broke Fae rule! One of our Circle rules!”

Shae and Merida winced. They knew she was talking about the horse they’d absconded with. Shae tried to diffuse the situation, but Iaighe simply glared at the human man threateningly. Merida also tried to help.

           “Iaighe, Shae and I are sorry for breaking the Fae rule, be we needed him to get away quickly.”

           Iaighe huffed,

                       “No excuse!”

“But it was our only way of traveling fast, Iaighe.” Merida urged the younger Fae, but she wouldn’t listen.

Tahvay and Teavah, who had also run across the horse with Iaighe jumped to the human’s defense.

           “Princess right, Iaighe! They not travel like us. Not have magic. Horse only fast option for them.” Tahvay argued.

           “Long journey not good on human legs and feet…” Teavah added.

 Iaighe snapped back at them, unwilling to listen.

           “No animal slave in Fae Circles! Not allowed!”

      “But…we not in Fae Circle…Nope, nope nope…” Glemtick offered quietly.

Merida could have kissed the Fae lad! He’d found a loophole!

Iaighe opened her mouth to retort but realized Glemtick was right!

           And, so did the others.

Keira gave Iaighe an understanding smile. She walked over and placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder.

           “Princess and warrior need horse for journey, Iaighe. Fae use magic for long journey or help from forest to move caravals. Human friends not have those options.”

Iaighe still looked upset but nodded in understanding.

           “Iaighe not like it…but Iaighe understand.”

Shae nodded thankfully to the young healer.

           “Thank you for understanding, Iaighe. I promise no harm will come to the horse.”

Iaighe huffed and crossed her arms warningly.

           “Warrior better keep promise! Iaighe might regret saving Warrior’s life…”

Keira gave Iaighe a harsh look at her outburst, but Shae simply laughed at the young healer’s candor.

           “You and Kosha had a lot in common, Miss Iaighe. You both have that same fight in you.”

Iaighe relaxed at the mention of Kosha and gave Shae and appreciative smile.

           “Kosha was Iaighe’s mentor in lots of things. No wonder they seem similar to Warrior…” Keira pointed out.

           Hearing this Merida pulled out Kosha’s medallion that she was wearing around her neck.

           “Then Iaighe should have this.” Merida said as she started to hand the medallion over to Iaighe.

But the young Fae stopped her.

           “No.” she said tersely,

                       “Kosha give to you for reason. Princess must keep for now…”

Merida worried her lip,

           “Are you sure, Iaighe? By rights it belongs to your family…”

“But Kosha give to you. When need fulfilled then medallion come home. Magic strange that way.” Keira explained.

           Shae chuckled humorlessly,

                       “Tell me about it…”

Just then, Tahvay interrupted anymore talk among the group.

           “Okay, okay. Now that is over, can we eat? Please? Tahvay hungry from long day!” pleaded the older twin.

           “Glemtick too! Yep, yep, yep!”

Glemtick you always hungry…” Teavah teased.

The Fae male pouted and looked to Gelphyck for help. The other male simply laughed and held up his hands in defense.

           “Don’t look at me. I agree with twins on this…”

Glemtick frowned at Gelphyck and the others had a quick laugh at poor Glemtick’s expense.

           “Gelphyck supposed to help brother!” Glemtick groused.

Iaighe grinned,

           “Gelphyck know when best to keep quiet. Glemtick not learn that yet.”

Glemtick stuck his tongue out at her.

           “Iaighe is mean!”

That little outburst caused another round of laughter to circle the group once more.

Before Iaighe could respond, Keira stepped in,

           “Alright everyone, time to prepare meals and rest! We make camp and eat.”

The twins eagerly took to the task of helping Gelphyck and Glemtick finish preparing the food they’d brought and scavenged. Shae went to help them, as well and Merida helped a begrudging Iaighe distribute the waterskins around the group. Soon enough, all seven friends were seated around the fire, eating and drinking their fill.

           After eating, Iaighe worked with Teavah to mix up some salve for the cuts and bruises on their friend’s bodies. Keira mixed a few medicinal draughts for them drink to help with any internal injuries they might have sustained, as well. As they sat around the fire, the small group began to share stories between them.

           The Fae women were interested in what had happened to their human friends after the Mist’s had moved them from the small alcove they been holed up in after the Viking attack. Only Iaighe and Keira had visited them and watched over them then, but at least they’d been able to keep tabs on them.  The past few days however, no one had had any contact with either of them.

           Shae readily admitted it was his fault that they’d even been moved in the first place. He’d fallen asleep during his turn to stay up and the Mist’s had moved them. But Merida pointed out that it worked out well for them. She explained the Mist had moved them to a beautiful clearing and glen deep in the woods. And the pair described the waterfall and lake and how serene their time there was.

           Without going into too many intimate details Shae and Merida explained how they’d worked through the hostility and bitterness between them…

           …And that they were so much closer now…

       “It wasnnae easy for me to admit it, but I needed Merida’s help and her strength to help me let go of my anger. When I was finally able to ask for help, well…something changed between us…” Shae admitted softly, gazing into her eyes.

     Merida smiled at him and took one of his hands in hers.

           “We’ve just been learning together and growing closer ever since…” she added looking around the small group.

           “Growing quite close, Iaighe think.” Iaighe smirked.

Merida and Shae flushed,

           “Well…it’s…” she paused and looked at Shae. He looked back at her with a complete loss for words. Merida gave a soft sigh and small smile,

           “It’s…complicated…”

     “Obviously.” Keira added with a chuckle.

After enduring some good-natured teasing from their Fae friends, the conversation soon turned to the twins and Iaighe. When Merida learned the girls had befriended her brothers she wanted to know how they were doing and if they were alright!

           The younger Fae told Merida her brothers were doing well and that they were anxious for her and Shae to return home. Tahvay told them that Tearlag had more-or-less taken the boys under her wing to keep them placated and protected until Merida and Shae return to DunBroch.

           During the course of the conversation, Teavah also let it slip that Tahvay had developed a little infatuation with Prince Harris.

           Blushing brightly Tahvay tossed a handful of dry leaves at her twin.

                       “Teavah?! Why you say that?!”

Iaighe took a sip of water,

           “Because it true…”

Tahvay’s jaw dropped open, appalled by Iaighe’s blunt answer.

     She was about to start an argument with her cousin, but Keira stepped in and silenced the girls before it got out of hand.

           She separated the two of them like a mother would do to small children and sat between them.

           That reminded Merida of her own mother and curiously, she asked about the rest of DunBroch.

           “Tahvay, do you or Teavah or Iaighe know what’s happening in DunBroch? I mean, Shae and I have been gone about a week, now. Surely they’re worried about us?”

           “Or out looking for us?” Shae added, also curious about how the search was being handled.

At Merida’s question the three younger Fae became quiet and somber. The three looked back and forth with each other, unsure of how to answer. They looked to Keira for help, but she shook her head and said,

           “Twins and Iaighe know me than Keira do. Princess want to know, so tell…”

Merida felt her heart race at the sad looks on the younger girls faces.

Finally, Teavah spoke up. Her voice was soft and timid as she answered Merida’s question.

           “No search party for Princess or Warrior…not anymore…”

Shae and Merida blanched!

           “What do you mean they’re not searching for us anymore?” Shae asked quietly.

Tahvay sighed and answered,

           “Think you died. Harris tell Tahvay they have funeral pyre and death rights for both of you.”

The human pair looked aghast at the news!

           “But…but why?! How could they think we’re dead?” Merida turned to Shae, her face paling in shock.  

    The young girls explained about the dead wolves, the torn and bloody cloak and their horses returning to DunBroch with no riders. Merida’s brothers had told them that the adults seemed to think that Shae and Merida had run off together, gotten overwhelmed by wolves and drug off into the wilds and the horses had escaped and came back to DunBroch on their own.

           Merida and Shae sat in silence listening to the girls explain all of these events. With each revelation Merida felt her stomach turn a little sourer.

  After they’d finished, Tahvay gave a weak smile to Merida, trying to ease her worry.

           “At least brothers know sister and Warrior alive. Tearlag not supposed to but she let brothers know for peace of mind…”  

Merida looked at the younger Fae girl gratefully.

           “That’s very kind of Tearlag, but why the boys and not my mum…or da’? Or even Shae’s da’?”

        “Tearlag already taking risk breaking rule by telling brothers. Might be worse telling parents…” Iaighe explained.

           Merida frowned but didn’t argue with her.  

As he was listening to all this Shae pondered on something Tahvay had said:

           The clans had assumed that he and Merida had run off together.

All it took was a little kiss on the cheek for winning an event and some horribly timed rumors and the worst had been assumed about the two of them. Even if they found a way to break the curse and get back home, Merida’s reputation would be ruined.

           It would be expected of them to wed now, especially after showing up, back from the dead!

Not that Shae minded the thought of having Merida as his wife, but the fact that it would no longer be their choice…

           …he knew she would resent it…and possibly him for it…

       “Shae? You’re lost deep in thought, there.” Merida’s soft voice pulled him from his thoughts.

His head shot up and looked around the group that was now staring at him in concern.

           His brow furrowed, and he looked at the Fae girls, curiously.

                       “You said the boys shared the rumors of our disappearance with Tearlag, correct?” he asked

The three younger Fae nodded, but it was Tahvay who spoke.

           “Yes…brothers tell stories and rumors to Tearlag.”

Iaighe scoffed.

           “Rumors from clans that you both ran off together…to be…”

She paused, and the usually gruff young Fae girl blushed. Merida looked at her curiously,

           “Ran off to be what, Iaighe?”

“Mated…er...mates…at least Iaighe think is what Hubert meant…”

Merida blushed again, but Shae only nodded gravely. He was afraid the was what they’d meant…

Not that there wasn’t something between the two of them now, but there wouldn’t have been when they were declared dead…

           “Oh, my poor mum and da’! They must be sick with grief!” Merida cried.

Then she turned to Shae and took his hand,

           “And your da’! Oh, he must be beside himself too! He just laid his wife and two young sons to rest…for him to think he’s lost you too…”

Shae squeezed her hand gently,

           “We’ll have quite the tale to tell when we get back to DunBroch. And a lot of people to try to convince to save your reputation and name, Merida.”

She frowned at him,

           “I donnae care about some stupid rumors, Shae! Hang ‘em! I only care that we get back home to save our people and protect our families!”

           She turned to the three younger girls and asked:

    “If the boys know we’re alive then why donnae they tell everyone?!”

Keira shook her head and laid a hand on Merida’s shoulder.

           “They cannot.”

Realizing what Keira was saying, Merida pursed her lips.

           “Let me guess…the magic wonnae let them?”

Tahvay nodded.

           “Tearlag make them promise not to tell…though it not really matter…”

Shae raised a brow,

           “What do you mean Miss Tahvay?”

    “Children believe easier than adult’s…even if brothers tell…would families listen?” she asked.

Shae frowned.

   He hated to admit it, but the young girl was right! He and Merida shared a worried look.

           “Going to be a big shock when Princess and Mate come back home! Yep, yep, yep!” Glemtick chuckled.

           Gelphyck shushed the other male.

                       “Don’t think Princess and Warrior happy with this news.”

He turned to the two humans with a curious look on his face.

           “Friends alright? Look like you swallowed bowl of boiled toads…”

Amused by the anecdote Merida and Shae both gave him small smiles. Shae was the first to speak up though,

           “No…it isnnae alright, Gelphyck. We need to find a way to break this curse, so we can get home! We have to warn the people about the coming invaders AND we need to let everyone know we’re NOT dead!”

         “What about the other clans Shae? Surely the games are over…the clans would have left by now.”

     Iaighe shook her head.

           “Other’s clan’s not gone yet. Games postponed for mourning…Clans leaving soon, not yet…at least, don’t think so…”

Taking in this news, Merida bit at her bottom lip. She motioned to Shae to get his attention.

           “If they havennae left DunBroch, then we have a chance at taking out Artair and his men. All the clans fighting together will make it hard for the Angles to take out our people.”

           “Not if we cannae warn them first…or get there to help…” Shae pointed out.

“Princess and Warrior know Southern Warrior’s plans? That useful!” Gelphyck grinned.

           Merida shook her head.

                       “Unfortunately, no. We donnae know their plans. We do know that Artair sent Myrddin and some of his elite soldiers to scout ahead first. The rest are probably on their way now!”

           Iaighe sighed and looked at Keira worriedly.

                       “Lailoken~[3] back in Highlands is bad.”

Shae and Merida looked at the Fae girl in shock!

           “Lailoken?” Shae’s brow furrowed.

    “But…but he’s just a myth isnnae he?” Merida stuttered.

Keira sighed and leaned back against a log.

           “Lailoken is magician’s other name. Myrddin is one and Lailoken is another…”

Shae and Merida both paled at the name.

           Lailoken was the name a very old, very infamous draoidh [magician] who once roamed and ruled the Highlands. He was said to be insane and ruthless!

            But he was just a myth…a boogie-man that mothers used to get their children to behave…he couldn’t be a real person…

                       …could he?

      “Wait! Myrddin and Lailoken are one in the same?” Merida asked in bewilderment.

The Fae all nodded solemnly, confirming Shae and Merida’s fears.

        “Tearlag banished Lailoken long ago from Highlands. Put up wards and other barriers against him and his magic.” Teavah explained.

       “That why we were so shocked to hear his name earlier…Tearlag’s wards not easy to break…impossible even…” Tahvay added.

     Merida looked around the group.

           “Okay can we have an honest answer, please? You said earlier that Tearlag kept fretting over a darkness from the south… when I asked if she knew him, Keira avoided the question. And now you say she banished him…just how does Tearlag know him? I know she’s an old witch, but…she cannae be THAT old?! The legends and stories of the mad magician are ages old!”

     The group of Fae went quiet, unsure how to answer the princess. Finally, Gelphyck spoke up.

           “Tearlag…is quite old, actually. Ancient. As old as the land itself…older even…” he paused to take a breath,

           “Has gone by many other names too…keeps changing…adding…as she grows wiser.”

“What other names has she gone by, Gelphyck?” Shae asked quietly.

           “Witch, Mother, Nature, Keeper, Divine…Goddess…”

Merida cocked her head,

           “Goddess?”

                       “Morrigan[4]~.” Iaighe answered specifically.

Shae and Merida sat in complete shock and silence at the revelation. The Witch who had cursed them, who had bound them together was actually the goddess Morrigan!? It couldn’t be!

     After a few minutes of silence Merida shook her head, breaking out of her stupor.

           “That…is a LOT to take in…” she whispered.

Shae nodded, also dumbstruck. He looked at Gelphyck and raised a brow,

           “You still never explained how she knows Myrddin, though…”

Gelphyck looked at Keira questioningly. Finally, she sighed and answered.

           “They once lovers…a very long time ago…”

Shae coughed into his fist to hide his embarrassment and Merida looked down, flustered.

        “So, is Myrddin a god in disguise too?” he asked.

The whole group shook their heads.

           “No! No, he just a very powerful, very talented draoidh. He found way to prolong his life with magic and alchemy. Tearlag fell in love with him ages ago and bestowed additional power to make him stronger and younger long time too…” Gelphyck said.

           “But he let power become too important. He stopped loving Tearlag and tried to take over Highlands by force.” Iaighe interjected.

           “Heartbroken, Tearlag banished him from Highlands. Put up wards and barriers to stop him from returning…worked for many ages too…” Keira finished the tale.

           “So somehow, Lailoken…er, Myrddin…or whoever he is, figured out a way to break through her defenses? This isnnae good…” Shae frowned.

Merida stood and gripped his arm, ready to go marching into the night.

           “All the more reason we need to leave tonight and head to DunBroch! We have to get there and warn everyone!”

           “Merida…we’re still under the curse! Besides we cannae walk to DunBroch in one night! Even without the spell keeping us from going home, it would still take us at least two or three days journey to DunBroch from here.” Shae argued.

           “Well, we cannae do nothing, Shae!” she shouted at him.

He knew she was upset. So was he, but acting rashly wasn’t going to help anyone.

    Sensing tenseness developing between the two humans, Glemtick spoke up and said,

           “Fae could help. We warn humans or stop other clans from leaving, maybe? Fae travel fast, and with magic! Yep, yep, yep!”

Merida shook her head,

           “I donnae know…we cannae ask you to put yourselves in any more danger for us.”

The Fae girls laughed off Merida’s worry,

           “Princess need not worry! Fae know what to do, besides Glemtick right. We get there fast with magic.” Iaighe grinned.

           “We buy time for Princess and Mate to make journey.” Tahvay stated.

Merida pursed her lips in thought,

“Well, that is right. You all made it here a lot faster than we did…if you go back to DunBroch and warn every one of the coming danger, then at least they would have a chance to prepare for battle.”

She paused and glared into the fire defiantly,

           “I refuse to let Artair and his men slaughter our people.”

     Keira sat quietly for a few minutes before she agreed with the plan.

           “Fae probably not able to warn clans outright. Human’s and Fae not usually get along…but Fae can stop other clans from leaving…will buy Princess and Warrior time to get home…”

She turned to her sisters, Iaighe and Glemtick.

           “You four, go to Princess home. Keep clans together! Stop them from leaving.”

“We could let Prince’s know…they could help too…” Tahvay suggested.

Merida laughed lightly,

           “Mischief and my brothers go hand in hand, Keira.”

The Fae woman grinned back.

           “Good. Get prince’s help too. They could try to warn others, but adults probably not listen. Usually won’t to children…”

Merida pursed her lips,

           “Hopefully, you’re wrong about that this time, Keira.”

The three younger girls looked to the older Fae woman in concern.

        “What Keira going to do?” Teavah asked innocently.

Keira looked at Merida and Shae.

           “Stay with Princess and Warrior. They need rest. Long journey home for human’s. And they still not break spell…might need some help with that…”

Merida raised a brow.

           “I didnnae think you were allowed to help us break the spell…” she pointed out.

Keira turned to Merida with a shrug and a half-smile,

           “Might need little push…”

  Iaighe scoffed,

           “Princess and Warrior need big push!”

Keira laughed at the young healer.

Gelphyck turned to the others and said,

           “Gelphyck stay with Keira until human’s leave on own journey home.”

Iaighe rolled her eyes,

           “Gelphyck not leave mate’s side regardless…no need to give hollow excuses to us…”

Keira laughed and went to hug her siblings affectionately.

           “Be safe, cinn óga~[5] [young ones]. I will be close behind, don’t fear.”

The three sisters hugged and then Keira gave Iaighe her own short hug and goodbye. Glemtick took hold of Gelphyck’s forearm in a tight grip.

           “Be safe deartháir~[6] [brother]. Light guide your path home.” Gelphyck told the other male.

Merida watched the exchanges with a heavy heart.

           Oh, how she missed her own brothers!

Deciding to give them her own goodbye, Merida ran over to the girls and hugged them all herself!

           “Please stay safe! If something happens to any of you I wouldnnae ever forgive myself!”

           “We will be safe Princess. Fae are cunning and crafty!” Tahvay said with a grin.

Merida choked a laugh. She took ahold of Iaighe’s hand and gave it a squeeze,

           “Thank you so much for this! You donnae know what it means to me!”

“Princess would do the same for us…” Teavah smiled.

Merida stepped back and watched as each of the girls transformed into some sort of bird of prey. They all took to the sky, leaving the group behind.

           Upset at being ditched, Glemtick yelled out a string of curses in his Fae tongue before transforming into his very large and powerful wolf body. With a melodic howl, he bounded out into the forest and out of sight.

After watching the four disappear into the night, Merida turned to Keira with a worried expression.

           “Is it alright for them to travel so late? I just realized they never even took time to sleep!”

Keira waved off her concern.

           “It alright, Princess. Fae go long time with no sleep. They’ll be fine.”

        “Glemtick just can’t go long without food.” Gelphyck teased.

Merida and Shae both laughed but Keira just rolled her eyes and swatted at him playfully.

           “Not nice, Gelphyck.”

He grinned.

           “Still true, though…”

Another round of laughter echoed in the small group and this time even Keira joined in.

          The now smaller group eventually fell back into silence and an air of calm came over them. Keira and Gelphyck took up a spot on one side of the fire, across from the pair of humans. They watched as Shae and Merida settled in comfortably with each other. Shae leaned against a fallen log and Merida sidled up beside him, laying her head on his shoulder. The two Fae eyed them curiously.

The human pair seemed so content and happy in each other’s presence. It was such a drastic change from the last time they’d seen them…

Keira nestled herself comfortably against Gelphyck’s chest and he’d wrapped his arms around her from behind, cocooning her against his body.

           “Is cosúil go bhfuil an Banphrionsa agus an Trodaí i bhfad níos gaire anois[7] ~ [The Princess and Warrior seem a lot closer now.]” Gelphyck observed to his mate.

Keira nodded her head, but kept her voice low,

           “Sea, ach ní bhraitheann rud ar bith fós. Má tá siad fíor i ngrá, ansin ba chóir an litriú a bhriseadh[8] ~ [Yes, but something still doesn’t feel right. If they’re truly in love, then the spell should be broken.]”

           “B'fhéidir go bhfuil sé níos casta ná sin, mo ghrá. Tá a fhios agat conas is breá le Tearlag rudaí casta ... [9]~ [Maybe it’s more complicated than that, my love. You know how Tearlag loves to complicate things…]” Gelphyck nuzzled her neck tenderly.

           Keira sighed.

  Gelphyck was right.

Tearlag had a bad habit of being very mysterious with her spells and how to break them. Keira could only hope that their human friends could figure it out too!

Gelphyck kissed her cheek sweetly and whispered to her,

           “Nó b'fhéidir go bhfuil siad ró-chasta orthu féin[10] ~ [Or maybe they’re making it too complicated themselves].”

Keira sighed once more.

           That could be true too!

In the short time she’d known her, Keira knew that the princess could be more than a bit head-strong. And the warrior was no better! That man was as stubborn as any mule that Keira had ever dealt with.

The two of them together would make for a hard challenge.

Maybe if she could get them separated so she could speak to Merida alone? Gelphyck could have a talk with the warrior…

She knew she couldn’t outright give them the answer to breaking the curse, but a little direction wouldn’t necessarily be cheating.

           …and gods! Their human friends could use some guidance, that much was obvious!

Keira watched as the pair began to talk quietly to each other. Shae’s arm encircled Merida’s waist and she still had her head propped on his shoulder.

As she continued to stare over at the human couple, Gelphyck began to feel a little bored…and frisky.

With his mate distracted, he began working his way down his Keira’s neck and shoulders with soft kisses and little nips. Reaching a particular sensitive spot on her neck, Gelphyck bit at her flesh with a little extra force. It was semi-rough, but not unpleasant. And it was enough to pull Keira out of her thoughts and back into reality.

The actions and thought of more to come were arousing but at the moment, completely inappropriate!

           She turned her head to glare at him and hissed quietly,

                       “Amadán! Cad atá á dhéanamh agat? Tá siad ceart thar ann! Ní féidir linn é sin a dhéanamh anseo?![11] ~ [Idiot! What are you doing? They are right over there! We can’t do that here?!]”

Gelphyck chuckled lowly,

           “Cén fáth nach bhfuil, grá? D'fhéadfadh sé smaointe dá gcuid féin a thabhairt dóibh ... cuidiú leo, tá a fhios agat ...[12]~ [Why not, love? It might give them some ideas of their own…help them along, you know…” he said cheekily, placing an open-mouth kiss to her shoulder.

Feeling his breath and lips on her skin caused her body heat to rise and heart-rate to spike. Keira eyes flashed with want and she bit at her bottom lip to stifle a moan.

           If the princess and warrior had not been a few feet across from them, then Keira wouldn’t have had any reservations about giving in to her mate. But since their human friends were only a few feet away, then that just wasn’t going to happen!

            So, Keira elbowed Gelphyck to his gut, hard, to force him to stop his ministrations. She didn’t want Merida or Shae to catch on to what had been happening only a few feet away from them! So far, it seemed they’d been completely oblivious to Gelphyck’s shenanigans.

           Speaking of Gelphyck…

Since the blow to the gut came unexpectedly, Gelphyck grunted loud, in pain!  

           “UGH!”

His outburst startled the two humans out of their own dazes, and they looked towards the Fae couple curiously.

           “Gelphyck, are ye alright?” Merida asked in a concerned voice.

Sheepishly, Gelphyck grinned and rubbed at his sore ribs.

           “Gelphyck fine, Princess. Just had to be reminded that this not time or place for…”

He paused and chuckled,

           “…uh…romance…”

Hissing, Keira turned and elbowed him again!

           “Amadán! Ná cuir in iúl dóibh cad a bhí á dhéanamh agat! Ní gá a fhios acu! Agus ní gá radharc a bheith acu~[13] [Moron! Don’t tell them what you were doing! They don’t need to know! And they don’t need a visual!]”

Merida didn’t need a translation to hear the embarrassment in Keira’s voice. Glancing up at Shae, she noticed the light flush on his face. Apparently, he’d picked up on Gelphyck’s meaning too. Blushing herself, Merida looked away, trying to avoid Keira’s gaze.

   After a bit of an awkward silence, Merida finally spoke up.

           “Ahem, well…I mean, if you and Keira would like some privacy, Gelphyck, I’m sure Shae and I can make ourselves scarce for a while…”

Shae coughed into his fist,

           “Aye…a long while…” he added with a smirk and slight blush still on his face.

Merida made an appalled noise and swatted at him!

           “Shae MacGuffin! Donnae be so crass!”

Keira groaned in embarrassment, but Gelphyck simply laughed.

Shae shrugged, looking at Merida innocently,

           “You’re the one who offered for us to leave so they could…”

      “I KNOW! Alright?! I know that I said…now, I take it all back…” Merida interrupted, blushing profusely.

Gelphyck laughed again at the human woman’s discomfort.

Keira had finally had enough.

Standing up, she smoothed her vest and motioned to Merida.

           “Actually, Keira would like to speak to Princess, privately. If friend is willing, that is…”

Merida looked up at her friend curiously but nodded. She stood and followed Keira towards the forest.

           “Donnae you lassies go too far, now.” Shae called after them in a teasing tone.

Smiling and rolling her eyes in playful annoyance Merida called back,

           “Donnae worry, Shae darlin’, we wonnae!”

Gelphyck and Keira looked at the princess in surprise.

           “’Darling’?!” they echoed in confusion.

Blushing, Merida grabbed a hold of Keira’s arm and pulled her along before they could ask any more. Even Shae had the decency to look slightly embarrassed, but there was a look of desire in his eyes as he watched them leave.

           “Come on, Keira. You wanted to talk privately, remember…” Merida muttered pulling the Fae woman with her.

Keira cast a look towards her mate and he seemed to understand her meaning…

           It was time to get to the bottom of things.

   --------------------|} à->>>---------[(<+>)]------<<<-ß{|-----------------

 The two females didn’t travel far from the camp. Close enough to still see the shadows and glow from the fire, but far enough away to be safe from eavesdropping ears and prying eyes.

           After witnessing the kiss between them earlier, sensing the affection between them AND just now hearing the term of endearment come from the princess’s lips, Keira was ready to get to the heart of the matter. She stopped in her tracks and turned to look Merida square in the eye. The princess was taken aback by the intensity in the other woman’s gaze.

           Keira grabbed Merida by her shoulders.

                       “Explain. That. Kiss.” She said sharply.

Merida flushed darkly,

           “You donnae waste time, do you?”

Her Fae friend frowned.

           “Merida stalling. Answer question.”

Merida grimaced,

           “Keira, Shae and I already explained…”

Keira shook her head,

           “Not good enough. More you not telling me. You called him ‘darling’, heaven’s sake! Keira need to know whole story. Explain!”

Merida sighed heavily. Keira wasn’t going to let it go, so she might as well tell her…

She motioned for Keira to sit.

           “This is going to take a while…you might want to sit down…”

  --------------------|} à->>>---------[(<+>)]------<<<-ß{|-----------------

 After the two women disappeared into the thickness of the trees, an awkward silence fell over the two men left at camp.

Gelphyck pondered on the relationship between the Princess and her Warrior, and Shae kept glancing in the direction the two women had walked off in.

He worried for Merida’s safety when he wasn’t around to protect her. It was irrational, he knew, but given the woman in question, it was no wonder he worried.

           Gelphyck watched Shae’s expressions change from thoughtful to concerned to dreamy and back to thoughtful in the span of only a few minutes!

Gelphyck had to bite back a laugh.

           The Warrior was in love…

                       …even if he was too stubborn to admit it…

           “Warrior should calm down. Princess and Keira not going far. Warrior worry like first father over new babe at birth…acting silly really…”

           Shae glared over at the Fae man. He wasn’t being silly! He was being…well…

                       …silly…

But that didn’t mean he was going to let Gelphyck get the better of him.

Gruffly, he said,

           “I’m simply on guard in case Artair and the other Angle warriors catch up to us.”

Gelphyck rolled his eyes.

           “Uh-huh.”

Shae huffed at the Fae man,

           “There’s nothing wrong with being cautious.”

Gelphyck eyed Shae, inquisitively. He tilted his head to the side.

           “Sometimes one can be too cautious.” The Fae man said quietly.

Shae’s head snapped up and he looked at Gelphyck. Seeing the look in the Fae man’s eyes, Shae realized he wasn’t just talking about the enemy…

He looked out into the darkness where the women had walked. Was the attraction between Merida and him THAT obvious?

           ‘Um…you think?’ his mind jeered.

     Shae frowned.

Gelphyck patted the ground next to him.

           “Fae have good ears to listen…” he said with a small grin.

Shae’s frown deepened.

           “Men donnae talk about feelings…”

Gelphyck gave him a pointed look.

           “Gelphyck see that kiss earlier…tension between Warrior and Princess so thick could be sliced with dagger. Warrior must realiz: that not cautiousness…that fear.”

Shae opened his mouth to retort the other man, but realized he was right!

           He hadn’t had anyone to talk to about any of this, except himself. And that was a headache all on its own…

Sighing heavily, Shae moved over and sat down next to the smaller Fae man.

           “Just remember that you offered to listen to all this…” Shae muttered quietly.

And Gelphyck simply chuckled.

  --------------------|} à->>>---------[(<+>)]------<<<-ß{|-----------------

  As Shae and Gelphyck settled in so Shae could finally unload all his emotions, Merida was finishing up telling her side to Keira!

       Merida paced back and forth, shaking her head and waving her hands wildly!

           “Oh Keira, I just donnae know what to do!”  Merida sighed, exasperatedly.

Keira looked at the human woman incredulously,

           “I think answer obvious…tell Warrior how you feel.”

Merida paused and bowed her head.

           “I…I cannae do that…” she said quietly.

Keira raised a brow,

           “Why not? It obvious Warrior feels something for princess too! Especially if what you told me about the last few days is true!”

           ‘It’s a wonder the spell hasn’t been broken already!’ Keira thought.

Merida flopped down next to her friend.

           “It isnnae that simple, Keira. I…I donnae know what he feels for me. Or if he feels anything at all!”

Keira rolled her eyes.

           ‘She’s kidding right? Is she really THAT blind!?’

Keira pursed her lips and stared at Merida with a hard glare. She wasn’t sure if this was the right moment to ask her friend this, but she had to know…

After a few moments, Keira asked her:

           “Do you love him?”

Merida’s head snapped up! She looked at Keira with indecision in her eyes But. Keira could see that the indecision wasn’t on whether or not Merida was in love with Shae, but on the ability to admit it out loud!

Merida opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. She floundered, unsure of how she should answer her friend.

           Keira asked again,

                       “Merida…do you love him? It not hard question…simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’…”

Merida took in a deep breath and stared at Keira.

           Strong emotions hit her hard and she felt her eyes well up. But she refused to cry over this!

           It was ridiculous!

She rubbed her tired, watery eyes and ran a hand through her tangling curls.

Why?! God’s, why was it so hard to admit it out loud? She’d admitted to herself enough in the last few days, she knew it was true!

           ‘Because, if you admit it out loud, then you mean it! It becomes truth! And your heart is even more vulnerable then it already feels…’ her subconscious argued with her.

That was it!

           If she spoke the words aloud then they became real…everything would become real…

           …was she really ready for that?

                       …What if Shae rejected her…

                                   …what if he wasn’t ready to move on…to move forward…

Merida groaned and buried her face in her hands.

           “Damn him! Damn him for always being in my thoughts! Always being on my mind…always being…there!” she groused.

Keira moved beside her and touched her shoulder gently.

After a few moments of silence, Merida raised her head and taking a deep breath, sent a quick prayer to the gods.

           “Damn him and damn it all…I do…” she sighed shaking her head.

Keira raised a brow,

           “Merida?” she squeaked out the name.

She wanted to check to make sure Merida hadn’t lost her mind…

           But Keira was too late.

Merida had lost her mind! And her heart! And it was all due to the infuriating man in question.

She turned and looked at her Fae friend with a strange look. It was a cross between love, confusion, defeat and being lost…

           It worried Keira slightly.

                       “Damn it Keira, I do love him…”

           “I love Shae MacGuffin.” She said with a half-chuckle.

Then she shook her head,

           “Do you want to know the worst part of all this? I told him I was in love with him…twice! But I couldnnae ever tell it to his face…well…not his conscious face!”

Keira looked at her in confusion and Merida elaborated,

           “I told him while he was sleeping or unconscious. I’m too much of a coward to tell him any of this out loud!”

She motioned to her friend.

           “Look how hard it was for me to admit it to you!”

She paused and bit her bottom lip.

Keira used this moment to ask another question,

           “How long has Princess been in love with Warrior?”

Merida gave a soft laugh and pushed her hair out of her face.

           “I…I think I started falling in love with him a while ago…but…but I couldnnae admit it. And then…when I was finally able to admit it to myself…in my heart… I…I just couldnnae say it aloud…I couldnnae bring myself to say it to him…not when I knew he was listening, at least…”

Keira’s smile broke out over her face,

           “But now you must tell Warrior! End this confusion! End pain! Keira told you once before Warrior make good mate. Now Princess’ll see for herself!” Keira winked.

Merida flushed and swatted Keira away.

           “But I cannae do that, Keira! I cannae tell him! I shouldnnae even have told you!”

Keira’s smile fell.

           “But why?! Why can’t Princess tell Warrior her feelings? It about him too. He need to know!”

           “It isnnae that simple, Keira.” Merida was getting angry and frustrated now.

“Seems simple enough to me!” Keira argued.

Merida stood and walked away from her friend. She bowed her head before quietly speaking to the Fae woman.

           “Keira, I donnae think I told you, but Shae was betrothed before.”

Keira’s head tilted to the side

           “Betrothed?”

Merida nodded somberly.

           “Aye…her name was Shannon…” Merida paused, unsure of how much she should tell her. It was Shae’s memory to share, after all, not hers.

           But if Merida told Keira everything, it might help her friend understand her hesitation.

           “She was murdered.”

Keira made a soft noise of shock.

           “The poor man…”

Merida sighed heavily once again,

           “It was worse then that,” she paused briefly, considering her words,

                       “Those men your people call Sea Warriors…we call them Vikings.”

Keira nodded, still listening intently,

           “Those men invaded Shae’s home. They took his betrothed and…they…they raped her. Then they murdered her!”

Merida looked away, tears beginning to well in her eyes.

           “And if that wasnnae enough, they murdered his mother and his two youngest brothers, too!”

A few tears streaked down her cheeks, but Merida wiped them away quickly. It hadn’t been her family that had been attacked…but she couldn’t help her empathetic emotions.

           “Oh, Keira! Shae’s lost so much! Loved ones…his betrothed…”

She turned and looked at Keira with such intensity that the Fae woman took a step back.

                       “He loved her! He loved her, and they took her from him…”

Merida shook her head,

           “How can I ask him to love me? He still loves her…he still mourns for her, I know he does…I’ve heard him in his sleep…”

She sighed,

           “How can I tell him how I feel? He might not be ready to move on…it hasnnae even been a full year. It’s too soon, isnnae it?”

        Keira listened to everything Merida told her, taking it all in. Now she understood more about the other woman’s hesitation and frustration. But couldn’t Merida see that the Warrior felt the same way for her?

           How could the princess be so blind?

Merida had been open about how close she and Shae had grown. She’d told Keira about the passionate kisses they’d shared and the loving looks and gestures between them. Merida had even told her about the vow Shae had made to protect Merida and be by her side at all costs.

           If he wasn’t in love with the princess, then he was a damn good actor! And Keira doubted the warrior could fake emotion like that…

           No, he was in love with Merida, just as much as the princes was in love with him….

But, by the gods, why were the two of them too stubborn to see it?! Why wouldn’t they say anything to each other about it?!

           It was infuriating!

Keira hadn’t known about his betrothed until just now, but it was clear to her that he was ready to move on…or at least, he was willing to try…

           Now how to get either of them to see it!

Keira took a deep breath and walked over to Merida. Gently, she placed her hands on her friend’s shoulders.

           “Merida should still talk to Warrior. Maybe he is ready to move on…if right one comes to him…”

Keira paused and looked Merida square in the eye,

           “Someone to be his help-mate…”

Merida looked at Keira with unsure eyes and shook her head.

           “I donnae know, Keira…what makes you think I could possibly be the ‘right one’, for him?”

Keira wanted to shout in the human woman’s face but settled for tightening her grip on Merida’s shoulders.

           “Because, Princess there for Warrior in darkest of times! You showed your heart to him, laid it bare, even when words fail…if he not see that, then he blind and complete idiot!” Keira stated with conviction.

Merida gave a watery chuckle that turned into a full-blown laugh!

           After she calmed herself down, Merida shook her head and rubbed the streaks of tears out from under her eyes. She took a deep breath and gave Keira a look that was a cross between determined and terrified.

           “Alright, I make no promises…but I’ll try to talk to Shae about all…this…”

  --------------------|} à->>>---------[(<+>)]------<<<-ß{|-----------------

 Shae breathed out a deep sigh and leaned his head back against the log, finally glad to have all that weight off his chest. Gelphyck looked at the large man with a serious look of concern.

           “Warrior shouldn’t keep all that in! Might explode next time!” the Fae man said.

Shae chuckled,

           “Aye…I know…”

Gelphyck leaned forward and eyed Shae curiously.

           “Why does warrior not tell mate these things?”

Shae flushed and rolled his eyes,

           “Gelphyck, I told you before, Merida and I arennae mates.”

        “But Warrior want to be.” Gelphyck said with a sly grin.

Shae’s blush darkened.

           “I didnnae say anything of the sort!”

Gelphyck shrugged impishly,          

           “Warrior not have too…it was implied.”

Shae ran a hand through his hair.

           Was his attraction to her that obvious? Surely, if Merida couldn’t see it then it wasn’t really…or maybe she did see it and didn’t say anything to him…

           “Warrior love Princess.”

Shae started and looked at Gelphyck with furrowed brows. It was a statement, not a question.

           “I donnae think I said that…I said I cared for her and that we’ve grown closer over the last few days…”

Gelphyck’s eyes narrowed at the tall human male.

           “You kissed her.”

Shae blushed,

           “I…aye…I did…”

                       “Multiple times.” Gelphyck corrected.

     The blush darkened.

           “Yes…”

Gelphyck continued,

           “You said you like holding her.”

Shae rubbed at the back of his neck.

           “I guess I did tell you that…”

Gelphyck kept prodding,

           “Want her to be your mate”

Shae growled at the other man,

           “I never said that!”

The Fae man raised his brow,

           “Like Gelphyck say earlier…it’s implied.”

Shae sighed in defeat. Gelphyck patted his shoulder good-naturedly.

           “Gelphyck not understand why Warrior not just tell Princess his feelings…”

Shae’s head snapped up as if remembering something.

           “I’ve tried, Gelphyck! God’s know, I’ve tried! The timing was horrible, but I tried to tell her today! At the stronghold…but it was horrible, horrible timing! She’d been assaulted and hurt…I couldnnae stand to see her in such a way…I wanted her to know that I lov…” he paused and cleared his throat,

           “That I care for her and donnae want to see her hurt or in pain…”

“Warrior protective of Princess, especially around other males…” Gelphyck stated, a small smirk on his lips.

           Shae looked away, embarrassed.

                       “Yes. I get very protective of her…jealous even…”

Gelphyck nodded in understanding. Then he said in an even tone:

           “Warrior in love. Tell Princess. Simple as that. Consultation over.”

Then he clamped his hand on Shae’s shoulder in a friendly manner. Shae looked at him like he was crazy.

           “What do you mean, ‘simple as that’?”

Gelphyck shrugged.

           “You in love with Princess. You going crazy over worry about it…tell her…end of craziness…simple.”

Shae looked at the Fae man incredulously.

           “I cannae just tell her that! Besides, what if she doesnnae feel the same way?”

Gelphyck shrugged again,

           “Look, warrior not going to know until he say something to princess. And he better do soon because…”

A noise stopped Gelphyck from saying anything else. He looked towards the dark forest. Shae followed the other man’s gaze.

           Keira and Merida stepped out of the underbrush laughing quietly, and with the large bay shire plodding along behind them. Merida looked up and caught Shae’s gaze, giving him a soft smile.

Shae felt his heart beat speed up. It was ridiculous! A simple look shouldn’t make him weak in the knees! And yet, that was all it took from the fiery lass.

           Gelphyck was right! He’d already admitted in his head and heart that he loved her…why couldn’t he say it out loud?

           ‘To be fair, you did try. Merida just stopped you from saying anything there at the keep…’ the logic side of his brain

‘Yeah! What was that about?’ He wondered.

           ‘It was poor timing, you dolt. Besides, she’d just been assaulted. I doubt you’d be very receptive to a confession of love if you’d been in her place…’

           “Earth to Shae? Are you still with us?” He heard Merida’s voice call to him.

Shaking himself out of his stupor, Shae looked at her with a dumbstruck look.

           “Everything okay Warrior?” Keira asked with a grin.

Shae cleared his throat.

           “Guess I’m just a little tired.”

The Fae woman nodded,

           “Probably a lot tired.” She said with a smile.

He looked over at the bay with a curious look,

           “You mean Keira didnnae make you free him? I thought she’d run ‘im off like they did to Angus and Keavy before.”

           Keira frowned,

                       “Fae sorry about that. If known how much trouble you’d get in then we would have let you keep your mounts. Just rule in Fae circle…no animal slaves…”

           Shae nodded,

                       “You’ve said that before.”

Gelphyck came to his mate’s side and wrapped his arm around her,

           “Well, Glemtick was right before. Not in Fae circle, so no need for Circle rules…Princess and Warrior keep this mount for travel home.”

           “If the stallion will even let us get back on him again.” Merida laughed.

Shae grinned at her,

           “Oh, has your charm worn off the wild beast then, fair maiden?” he teased.

Merida smirked at him playfully,

           “Maybe it’s because I’ve another wild beast I’m trying to charm…”

She left the statement open, but the look she gave him sent a shiver down his spine! He wanted to pull her into his lap and kiss her senseless! He wanted to tell her over and over again how much he loved her! But he didn’t move from his spot on the ground.

Finally, Merida offered her hand to him, which he took gratefully. She tugged him to his feet and he looked down at her with a raised brow.

           “Keirda and Gelphyck are going to watch over us so we both can get some rest, Shae. Tonight, we donnae have to take turns staying up.”

           Shae nodded dumbly.

                       “Okay…”

Merida rolled her eyes and blushed.

           “I just thought…since we both seem to sleep better when we’re closer together…maybe we could share a pallet…if you want, that is…”

Shae noticed the blush on her cheeks darkened and he cleared his throat. At first, he didn’t know why she was asking him that way, but then it dawned on him…Keira and Gelphyck would be watching over them…they wouldn’t be alone…

           It had become second nature to Shae to hold Merida or to sleep next to her…if they changed up their arrangement now, Shae wasn’t sure he would be able to sleep at all…

Blushing too, Shae rubbed at the back of his neck, sheepishly.

           “I…I think that would be a fine idea, Merida.” He answered quietly.

He glanced towards Keira and Gelphyck and to their credit, neither seemed to care about the arrangement between the two humans. Maybe they thought it was normal…

           Keira helped Merida lay out some extra blankets and linens that the Fae had brought. They made a nice cozy pallet for the two bound companions.

           “Keira made sure Princess and Warrior have plenty of linens to make pallet for trip home.”

           “You never did get us any weapons.” Shae reminded the two Fae.

Gelphyck shook his head.

           “No, we bring weapons for friends. Just wait until you leave for journey. Rest now. Long, long journey ahead. Fae won’t be around to help after tonight.”

           The humans looked at their Fae friends in concern.

                       “You’re going to leave us, Keira?” Merida asked.

Keira nodded.

           “Keira and Gelphyck must join other Fae. Help protect Merida’s home with young ones.”

           “But what if we need your help? What if we get lost?” Merida asked her.

Keira laughed.

           “Princess and Warrior not need Fae help now. Have Diarmid[14]* [free man] now to help. Just keep heading north. Eventually get home…assuming magic lets you…”

           Shae looked at Merida with a raised brow.

                       “Diarmid?”

She blushed,

           “Yeah, Keira and I named him on our way back to camp. You donnae mind do you, Shae?”

He shook his head and smiled.

           “No, I think it’s a good name for a stallion like him.”

Awkwardly, the two humans laid down on the pallet side by side. Normally, it wouldn’t be awkward, but since they had others around them, they knew it wouldn’t look right to be excited to lay down together. Even if it was just to sleep…

           Not that Keira or Gelphyck cared…but it was the principle of the matter…

                       …Or so Shae told himself…

Getting comfortable on the pallet, Shae rolled over, facing away from Merida. He hated to do that, but it was strange enough sleeping next to Merida with an audience watching them. He didn’t need any teasing because he liked to cuddle…

Shae forced his eyes closed and tried to shut his mind off. He tried to shut out the noise of the night.

           He laid unmoving and uncomfortable for a long while. After some time passed, he felt some of the blankets shift under and behind him. He felt Merida place a soft hand on his shoulder and lean up, over his side. Gently, she placed a sweet kiss to his cheek and whispered,

           “Sweet dreams, Shae.”

Then she laid down for sleep…

           Shae clenched his jaw, unsure of what he should do!

His eyes caught Gelphyck’s through the flames fire and the Fae man glared at him.

            Shae felt ashamed!

He shouldn’t be embarrassed just because Keira and Gelphyck were there!

           Turning over as deftly as he could, Shae draped his arm over Merida’s hip and pulled her close to his chest. He gave her a gentle kiss to the shell of her ear before burying his face into her fiery, untamable curls. He whispered softly to her as they both drifted off to sleep,

           “Bidh mi a 'bruadar, mo leannan. [15]~ [Sweet dreams, my darling.]”

  --------------------|} à->>>---------[(<+>)]------<<<-ß{|-----------------

              The large ramparts loomed overhead as the entourage of soldiers filed through the castle gates. Children, women and elders ran to greet the warriors upon their return home. The man leading the brigade of soldiers continued his trek up to the castle foyer, but his men stopped behind, each one greeting his own family with hugs and smiles.

           He smiled too, seeing all the happy and relieved faces on the re-united families.      

Suddenly, a loud and boisterous voice called out.    

           “DA!”

He stopped in his tracks and looked up to see beautiful, wide, wonder-filled eyes beaming back at him. That same pair of eyes disappeared a moment as the little head they were attached to, turned and shouted behind the door,

           “Hey, everyone daddy’s back!”

He could hear the chorus of cheers and happy sounds coming from behind the door as his own family flew out to meet him! The warrior removed his helmet and knelt to the ground, arms open wide.

           Three small bodies tackled him to the ground, hugging, kissing and welcoming him! He laughed happily and returned every embrace.

           Shae MacGuffin had never felt so glad to be back home! It had been a longer tour than he’d expected, and he wanted nothing more than to be right here with his family. He kissed each of his children on their heads, happy to have them safe in his arms again!

As the father and children rolled joyously on the ground, another member of the family stood close by, watching and waiting patiently.

Finally, Shae was able to calm his excited children and stand back up. He picked up his youngest daughter, Kayleigh~[16] ,and held her in his arms. Her twin brother, Aidan~[17], picked Shae’s helmet up off the ground and slipped it over his head, giggling. Shae laughed and shook his head at his son. His oldest daughter, Abiagael~[18], took his hand in hers and pointed to her mother. She giggled,

           “I think mum wants to say ‘hello’ too, da’.”

Shae looked towards the door and felt his heart flutter! His beautiful wife stood in the doorway, smiling down at her family. Her aqua eyes caught his and he felt his breath hitch! After all these years, she still left him breathless!

His eyes dropped to her rounded middle and a deep sense of pride and awe filled him. She had told him before he’d left on the campaign, they were expecting again, and he had been torn on going or not…

           He’d been there for her with every one of the pregnancies and it killed him to have to leave her for this one. Luckily, the campaign didn’t last past her due date. He’d be here to help her before the birth, at least.

Realizing he’d been just staring at his wife the whole time, Shae shook his head. Placing his daughter back on the ground gently, Shae moved towards his wife. Taking long strides, he crossed the yard and up the stairs in what seemed like just a few steps. He took her hand and kissed it.

           “By the god’s, you look more beautiful every time I see you…” he murmured.

Blushing at his compliment, but not addressing it, she smiled playfully up at him when he stood back up.

           “I was wondering if you were going to make me waddle all the way out there, just to say hello.” She teased.

Shae chuckled and shook his head.

           “It was all your fault! You bewitched me. I couldnnae move.”

Merida raised a brow at him, her smirk not diminishing. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

           “Well, you can move now.”

Shae grinned back and wrapped his arms around her waist, careful of her plump belly.

           “Aye…that I can.”

In a heartbeat, Shae closed the gap between them and kissed his wife. He pressed his lips to hers, firmly, taking solace that she was real, and in his arms once again. Six, almost seven, months of being without his wife, without his family, had almost driven him mad! Without thinking, he pressed harder into her and she moaned softly into the kiss.

           Hearing soft giggling behind him, he suddenly, remembered the audience they had. Shae softened the embrace and pulled back slightly, laying his forehead against Merida’s.

           “Sorry, darlin’…I couldnnae help myself. I’ve just missed you so much!” He whispered to her.

    Breathless, Merida bit her lip and brushed her fingers over the scars on his lip and across his jaw. She caressed his bearded cheek, tenderly.

           “I know, my love. It’s been too long…”

           “And you’ll just have to wait a wee bit longer now too, my dears.” Another voice sounded from behind them.

Shae pulled away from his wife’s face but kept a protective hold on her waist as he looked towards the direction of the voice.

Queen Elinor’s wrinkling smile greeted him,

           “It’s good to see you back safely, m’Lord.”

Shae bowed his head and smiled at his mother-in-law,

           “And I’m glad to see you well, Your Majesty.”

Elinor tsked,

           “I’ve told you to stop calling me that, Shae!”

He grinned.

           “Old habits, m’Lady. Besides, you greeted me formally, first.”

Elinor shook her head and looked over at her daughter who shrugged,

           “I suppose I did, didnnae I?”

Before anything else was said, Merida explained her mother’s presence.

           “Shae, mum came to stay with us until the baby is born.”

Shae’s brow furrowed,

           “Is there a problem?”

The two women shook their heads. Elinor spoke first,

           “Oh, no Shae. No problems.”

“Mum just wanted to be here in case you couldnnae get back in time for the birth…”

Shae started to open his mouth and say something to the two women but was interrupted by two small voices.

           “Daddy, I’m hungry!!”

           “Yeah, can we go eat? We welcomed you home enough!”

He felt the rough tugging on his kilt ends and belts and looked down. The twins gripped the fabric tight and pulled, getting his attention. Shae laughed and scooped them both in his arms, causing the twins to burst into a fit of giggles themselves.

Abiagael walked up to her parents and grandmother.

           “Sorry. I couldnnae keep them distracted any longer…”

Merida smiled at her daughter, stroking the strawberry blonde curls tenderly.

           “It’s fine darling, we need to get to dinner anyway.

Shae nodded in agreement as the family headed inside the castle.

           “I’ll be very happy with a belly full of warm food and strong drink. After six months on jerky, hard rolls, and watered ale, any food sounds delicious!”

           Dinner came and went quickly. Shae regaled the dinner party of tales from the Highlands and finished with the somber news from the Southern lines. Afterwards, Elinor had volunteered to put her grandchildren to bed to allow the Lord and Lady of the castle their much-needed moment of privacy. The parents said goodnight to their children and both silently thanked Elinor for her selflessness. As she ushered the children out of the hall, she eyed the couple knowingly.

           “I know what it’s like to be the waiting wife, sitting at home, worrying.”

Then she winked at them,

           “I also know what the best part about returning home is too…” she muttered loud enough for them to hear as she left the hall too.

*Blushing bright red, Merida shook her head. Her face contorted in disgust and she shivered.

           “I really wish she didnnae say things like that…I donnae need to picture my parents doing…that!”

Shae chuckled quietly, watching his wife’s reaction. Standing up from his place at the end of the table, he walked down to her and leaned over her chair. He took her hand, lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of it tenderly.  

           “Then donnae think about them.” He pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her waist again.

                       “Picture two other people doing…that…” he whispered with a smirk.

His smile was infectious and soon, Merida was smiling along too. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she bit at her lip, teasingly.

           “Well, right now, all I want to do, is this…”

Tugging at his neck, she pulled him down into a sweet, chaste kiss. That led to another. And another. After the second one, Shae was smiling against her lips.

           “You know <kiss>, I’ve heard that this…<kiss>…can lead to…<kiss>…that...<kiss>…”

After his last word, Merida kissed him again. But this time longer and more passionately! Not able to resist any longer, Shae deepened their kiss. Merida smirked into the kiss, parting her lips slightly. Shae accepted the invitation. Slowly and sensually, their tongues danced together. Groaning low and deep, Shae brushed his hand up the length of her throat and along her jaw.

Parting slightly for air, Shae used the moment to pick up his pregnant wife, turn, and set her down on the top of the dining table.

           “Shae!” she gasped.

He grinned devilishly at her,

           “Now for the real dessert…”

Before she could protest, Shae’s lips were attached to the sensitive column of her throat, kissing, sucking, and nipping away at the flesh.

He heard her start panting and he grinned. She gripped at the back of his head, tugging slightly at his hair.

           “Shae…<pant> do you really want to…<gasp> want to <moan> make love…on the <pant>…dining table in the <gasp>…the Family Hall?”

Smiling and pulling away from her neck, he placed a tender kiss to his wife’s lips. He broke the kiss and looked down at her, his emerald eyes almost black with want! He leaned forward and kissed the sensitive spot behind her ear, whispering to her as he did.

           “Oh, Merida…if I had the chance…I’d make love to you in every corner of this castle…” His voice was thick with desire and Merida shivered at the prospect. It was an exciting thought…

           But she shook her head. They hadn’t been so licentious in their lovemaking in years. Plus, she didn’t need to have any kind of conversation with her mother on the appropriateness of where she and her husband made love. Brushing some of her unruly locks out of her eyes, she worried her lip and looked up at him.

                       “As…enticing as that proposition sounds, my love, I donnae think the staff would appreciate the shock of finding the Lord and Lady in such a compromising position.”

He groaned and buried his face into her hair that had cascaded down her shoulders,

           “None of their damn business…” he muttered.

He kissed at her neck again, working his way up her throat, following the line of her jaw up to her ear. He grazed the lobe with his teeth and Merida gasped.

           “Gods!”

He had her panting again.

           “Shae, <gasp> before this does turn into that…maybe <moan>, we should get back to our, oh…own bedroom…”

Shae’s breathing had shallowed too, and he pulled back from his wife momentarily. He caressed her face tenderly.

           “You’re right, love. Let’s get upstairs, then.” He answered with a wink.

Reaching out with one arm, he wrapped it around her lower back. His other arm he snaked down and slipped it under her knees. Standing up fully, he pulled Merida up, bridal style, in his arms. And he took off, up to their room.

           Momentarily panicked, she gripped the back of his neck tightly!

                       “SHAE! What are you doing?! Put me down!! You cannae carry me like this! I’m as big as a horse!”

Shae laughed!

           He leaned down and silenced her with a quick kiss.

                       “Hush, woman! You underestimate my inhuman strength! Besides, you’re not as big as a horse. And even if you were, I’d still bet I could carry you.”

She slapped at his shoulder,

           “Oh, you!” she huffed.

Taking the steps two at a time, Shae reached their room quickly. He kicked open the door, then crossing the threshold, swung back and closed it with his foot. Shae crossed over to their bed, and laid his wife down, gently. Taking a step back, he stared down at the woman who held his heart in her hands. Her swollen belly just made her look even more radiant in his eyes. After a few moments of staring at her, he shook his head out of its stupor. She gave him a teasing smile,

           “Did you forget what you were doing, Shae? Need a little reminding?” She asked, sitting up on the bed. She reached for the ties to her dress and began unlacing them, watching for his reaction. He wet his lips.

           The top of her outer dress came loose and pooled at her waist, exposing the top of her cleavage and shoulders. Her low-cut chemise still covered her breasts and the length of her arms. She fingered the laces teasingly as she looked up at her husband, expectantly,

           “I do believe it’s your move, Lord MacGuffin…”

      Hearing her challenge, Shae’s brain finally remembered how to function! Scrambling, he fumbled with the kilt tie at his shoulder! It kept slipping from his grip and he growled, impatiently. Frantically, he pulled to loosen some of the fabric around his torso. He wasn’t in the mood to be patient anymore...

           Merida watched him in amusement.

                       “I donnae think you’re getting very far there, Shae.”

Shae huffed as he finished unbuckling his sporran belt. He tossed it haphazardly to the floor and looked at her in annoyance.

           “You could help, you know…”

Merida laughed at his frustration.

           “You used to enjoy helping me undress…” he muttered, fumbling again with the buckle on his shoulder.

Merida laughed harder! Tears formed at the corner of her eyes.

           “Maybe I’m just enjoying seeing you struggle, my love.”

He pouted, and she continued to tease,

           “They say patience is a virtue, Shae.”

He paused and looked at her, his eyes dark with lust and want.

           “Whoever said that obviously never had to spend almost seven months away from their very desirable and voluptuous wife!”

His statement stopped her laughter, cold. She cleared her throat and pushed herself up from the bed. Sauntering up to her husband, as best a pregnant woman could, she gripped the tie and unfastened it with ease. Merida let go of the metal ring and let it drop to the ground.

            It hit the floor with a muffled thud as the top of Shae’s kilt followed after. The kilt was still held in place by one more tie at his hips, and his leather armor still adorned his chest and shoulders. Merida splayed her hands across her husband’s broad chest.

           “Is it my move now, darlin’?” she asked.

Shae didn’t answer her with words.

           Taking her by surprise, Shae kissed his wife passionately! Frantic and frenzied he kissed her, touched her, and caressed her. Careful of the plump orb he was gently caressing, Shae worked to undress his wife. He divested her of her outer dress and allowed it to pool on the floor. He raised her chemise over her belly, and fell to his knees, kissing the bump tenderly.   “I love you…” he whispered to both the mother and unborn child in her womb.

He looked up and saw tears in Merida’s eyes. He stood quickly and wiped them away,

           “My love is something wrong?”

She laughed quietly and shook her head,

           “No, Shae…it’s just…I feel so…happy…and blessed.” She took his face in her hands and laid her forehead against his.

           “I love you, mùirnean[19] [darling]~.”

This time, she leaned up and kissed him. This one was slower and more tempered, but just as passionate! Shae moaned quietly into the kiss, losing himself in his wife’s ministrations.

He was vaguely aware when she had switched their positions, but didn’t think anything of it…

           …until she placed a firm hand on his shoulder and pushed him down onto the bed.

Shae stared up at her, shocked and undeniably aroused at his wife’s show of forcefulness. After slipping out of her underskirts, she sat and straddled his lap. Gripping the tartan fabric at his hip and fingering one of the buckles to his leather armor, Merida leaned into him, whispering teasingly,

           “I believe we both still have too many clothes on, Lord MacGuffin.”

Shae grinned wolfishly, slipping one of his hands up the back of her chemise and pulling it higher.

           “I do believe you are right, Lady MacGuffin.”

She bit her lip, seductively. She unclasped the first buckle of his armor, slowly.

           “Then maybe we should do something about that, m’lord…”

He gripped her waist with his other hand, his thumb caressing the bare skin of her hip.

           “Aye…we should…” he breathed.

Shae swallowed the lump in his throat, anticipating the next move. Merida released the second buckle more quickly. She leaned forward and kissed him softly.

           “You hesitate, love? Normally, my balmorals would have been abandoned long ago…”

Not wanting to be a brunt of the joke, Shae lifted her chemise over her head with a swift tug. Now straddling his lap without a blouse or covering, Shae eyed his wife, appreciatively. Only her smallclothes hid her most intimate details. Leaning forward he kissed the base of her throat, near her collarbone.

           “I’m savoring. In case this is dream, I want it to last as long as I can make it last…”

Merida laughed! Loosening the final buckle, she tugged on the armor, freeing the chest piece. Shae raised his arms, so she could lift the shoulder pieces off, too. After discarding his armor on the floor, Merida ran her hands over his naked torso. One of her hands brushed over his pectoral and caressed a nipple, while the other hand ran down his chest to his navel.

             “You’re not wearing your tunic.” she observed.

Shae closed his eyes and moaned.

           “Aye. It was too dirtied to keep wearing.”

Merida leaned forward and kissed at his neck, nipping at flesh gently. She reached for the fabric tied at his waist and her husband’s breath hitched.  

           “You could have washed it.” She grinned against his skin.

He panted, waiting anxiously. He could feel her hands roam over the tartan teasingly.

           “Merida…” he groaned.

She stopped, and he growled. He opened his eyes and gazed into his wife’s aquamarine eyes. Silently, he questioned her hesitation. She smiled slyly and leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, her large bare breasts brushing against his chest sensually. Leaning closer caused her round belly to press against his abdomen, which just aroused him more!

    Suddenly, he felt the fabric loosen at his waist…

           “I believe it is your move, Lord MacGuffin…” her lips brushed against his with every whispered word.

           Without hesitation, Shae wrapped Merida in his arms and kissed her passionately. Removing the last vestiges of the barriers between them, Shae made love to his wife. Tenderly, passionately, wantonly, they moved together as one. Cautious and careful of their unborn child, Shae caressed, kissed and fondled every inch of his wife he could!

           He threaded his fingers through her hair, frantically grasping onto her for dear life, as he battled her for dominance! He kissed the column of her neck and down her chest, between her breasts. She gasped and panted, gripping the back of his head and pulling at his hair, roughly.

           “Shae!”

He was lost in the passion and desire of his lover. The world seemed to stop around him. All sight and sound fell away. Soon, there were only two, that formed into and became one…

 #########

 The moments of passion and frenzy had slipped past and had left them both in a complete state of euphoria. The lovers laid on their sides, facing each other. Shae cuddled close to his wife, holding her tenderly.

They kissed languidly, now. Neither were in a hurry to face the morning. Or face the responsibilities of the day…

           Shae hummed in contentment as the kiss lingered on. He cupped his wife’s face and she, the back of his neck. Merida broke the kiss briefly, for a breath of air. Shae used the opportunity to trail a line of kisses down her neck. He kissed at the hollow of her throat and she giggled. He lifted his head and kissed her soundly again. She moaned softly, into it.

           “You giggled…” his voice was thick with sated exhaustion.    

                       “Why?” he questioned.

Merida cupped his bearded jaw and cheek and kissed his lips chastely.

           “Your beard tickles…”

Shae laughed!

           “HAHA! It’s never bothered you before.”

She ran her thumb over his lips, grinning up at him.

           “You’ve been gone almost seven months, love. The only people who’ve kissed me are our children. None of which have facial hair, nor would be kissing my neck.”

She leaned up and kissed him more fully,

           “I’ll just have to get used to the feel of it again.”

He smiled roguishly,

           “I might have to use this ticklish confession to my advantage later…”

Merida raised a brow at him.

           “If you want to keep up our familial relations, I wouldnnae do that if I were you.” She cautioned.

Shae gave a mock shocked expression.

           “You would deny your loving husband of a little bit of teasing, AND withhold our continuation of marital exercises? What kind of things did you get in to while I was away?” he teased.

Merida rolled her eyes.

           “Shae…” her tone was warning…

“Hmm?” he looked at her innocently.

She gripped the back of his neck tighter and pulled him down to her, their lips brushing slightly.

           “You better just shut up and kiss me.”

He grinned,

           “I can do that.”

Closing his eyes, he kissed his wife, slowly, once again.

  Splaying one hand over his chest, Merida played with a thick patch of blonde hair on his torso. She pinched and rolled bits of hair through her fingers, before smoothing them out and gently caressing his chest. She trailed her hand down and across his upper body, lightly dragging her nails along the skin.

           Shae moaned, reveling in his wife’s touch!

Reciprocating the caress, Shae slowly stroked Merida’s sides and back with his fingertips. As his hands passed over her skin, he could feel the small ridges of goose flesh rise with his touch. His wife squirmed and moaned at the sensation. *

He circled his hands to her front and tenderly cradled her swollen middle.

He broke their kiss, gradually, and lazily opened his eyes to look at his wife. She savored the moment with her eyes still closed.

           “Mmm…I think I’ve missed this more than making love…” she murmured happily, opening her eyes too.

Raising a brow in question, Shae chuckled lightly.

            “What do you mean, love?”

She cupped his face with one hand, gently caressing his cheek and lips. The other found one of his under the covers and she threaded their fingers together.

           “Just being here, with you…as your wife and friend…laying together like this…” She paused and blushed,

           “I donnae know how, but you always make me feel so many emotions just by looking at me or touching me. You can make me feel beautiful and desirable, even when I look like I’ve swallowed a small cauldron.”

Shae chuckled again and brushed his thumb over the round swell in her front. Merida smiled up at him, pinpricks of tears beginning to form in her eyes. She continued,

           “When we’re alone like this, you revere me like I’m made of glass or alabaster. Something precious and easily breakable. But outside these walls, you acknowledge my strength and my prowess. You never treat me as though I’m weaker than you, Shae, even though I love to feel safe and protected in your arms. You let me hold my own, and we share this marriage equally.”

Shae choked back his own emotions as tears formed in his eyes. He squared his jaw, so he wouldn’t break down while listening to his loves confession.

           “That’s quite the feat, you know. Not a lot of marriages are built on the same kind of mutual trust and love ours is, Shae. I just want you to know, I donnae take any of it for granted…”

           “…I love you…” He interrupted

She smiled through glassy eyes,

           “And I love you.” She whispered.

Unable to hold himself back any longer, Shae leaned forward, kissing his wife deeply. He felt tears streak down his cheeks, followed by her soft touch wiping them away. The kiss lingered and escalated, the embrace turning even more passionate!  

Lost in his wife’s touch and embrace, Shae didn’t hear the knock sounding on the chamber door. A voice cut through the door crack.

           “My Lord, you are needed!”

Shae heard the call faintly, but ignored it, focusing on his wife.

           The pounding became louder and Merida pulled away from her husband.

                       “It sounds important, Shae.”

He pursed his lips and huffed,

           “The only thing important right now, is you…”

Another pound at the door and a louder shout followed,

           “My Lord! Please!! This is urgent!”

She gave him a stern look and Shae sighed, defeated.

           “Fine…” he threw the coverings off himself and grabbed his tartan kilt off the floor. She watched as he wrapped it around his waist unceremoniously and stalked to the door. Merida pulled the coverings up, over her body and wrapped the linen sheet around her. After she was decent-ish, Shae jerked open the chamber door.

           “You ought to be flogged for interrupting the Clan Lord and his wife in their private chambers!” he bellowed before looking to see who it was.

           His brother Connell stood on the other side, his face, ashen and wilting. Shae’s demeanor instantly changed.

           “Connell, what’s wrong?” his voice lowered, not wanting to worry his wife.

His brother took a shaky breath,

           “Riders from the South, m’Lord. Heavy caravan; Lion’s Crest.”

Hearing the distress in her brother-in-law’s voice, Merida inched up beside Shae, touching his arm lightly. He glanced over at his wife, apologetically.

           “That doesnnae sound good…” she whispered.

Turning back to his brother, he donned a hard look and set his jaw. Shae blinked before commanding his brother.

           “Ready the men that you can. Have Brendan take a small group to the southwestern knolls and set up a defense at the old ruin there.”

Shae turned, pacing about the room, gathering his leathers and clothing. Merida bowed her head to Connell. He nodded and moved to leave but stopped as Shae called to him.

           “Connell, have the rest of the men gather in the courtyard. I’ll divvy up the soldiers once I get there and speak to the elders.”

Connell nodded once more and whispered to his sister-in-law,

           “I’m sorry for this…”

She gave him a knowing look as he took off down the hall. She turned and watched Shae move about the room. He was hurried but not frantic. Ever the stoic warrior, he dressed and armored himself quickly and efficiently.

           Watching his hands move so deftly, she laughed. Shae paused, looking at her with questioning eyes. She bit her lip to stop the tears threatening to fall. She waddled up and pulled at his shoulder tie,

           “You fumble and fiddle your way around when undressing yourself and wife for an intimate evening. But you’re so calm and steady whenever you get ready to lead, or to go to battle.”

           Shae bowed his head, touching his forehead to hers and whispering to her.

                       “It’s because you frighten me more than battle ever will…”

Merida laughed tearfully.

           “I donnae know if I should be flattered or offended.”

Not answering her, Shae leaned down and kissed his wife deeply. He left his forehead against hers.

           “I’m sorry about this, love. I donnae know how trouble always finds us first.”

Merida chuckled humorlessly,

           “Just the lucky ones, I guess.”

He kissed her chastely again.

           “I have to go now.”

She took a breath, pursing her lips.

           “I wish I could fight beside you…”

Shae cupped her belly protectively,

           “You know you cannae. Not with the bairne…”

Merida waved off his concern,

           “I’m not an idiot, Shae. I wonnae put our baby at risk.”

Shae sighed, thankful.

           “But I still hate this.” she whispered.

She squeezed her eyes shut tight before pounding her fist against the dresser. Tears fell down her cheeks as she stared at the ground.

           “Dammit! It isnnae fair! I just get you back in my arms and now this!?”

Shae pulled his wife into his arms and kissed the top of her head,

           “It’s going to be alright, Merida. I’ll be back soon. Maybe the caravan is just a band of traders, or even deserters fleeing north for sanctuary…”

Merida huffed,

           “You donnae believe that, Shae. If you did, you wouldnnae be organizing the men…”

Shae sighed heavily, pulling his wife tighter, but mindful of the baby.

           “I. Will. Be. Back. I promise you that, my love.”

He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head once more. Merida lifted her gaze to his and pulled him down to her, kissing his lips, hard.

           “I love you…” she whispered.

“And I love you.” Shae kissed his wife one last time.

           “Go!” she choked out, afraid of crying again.

Shae nodded and took off towards the courtyard. She watched him race down the stairs and out of sight. She caressed the swell of her stomach tenderly, feeling the life inside move under her touch.  

           “You’d better come back to us, Shae MacGuffin. Or I will kill you myself…”

 --------------------|} à->>>---------[(<+>)]------<<<-ß{|-----------------

 “You’d better come back to us, Shae MacGuffin. Or I will kill you myself…”

           The line from Dream-Merida’s lips hung in the air and echoed in Shae’s sleepy but waking mind. Feeling even more tired than when he went to sleep, he groaned lightly and rolled over onto his back. The woman who had invaded his dreams lay beside him, her arm pillowed her head and she was facing away from him. Her breathing was still light and even. He hadn’t awakened her with his restless sleep.

           This had been second dream he’d had where he and Merida were married and had children. This dream delved more into their private lives, their future…and their romance…

           …could these be premonitions and not simple dreams, Shae wondered.

He sighed and closed his eyes.

           “Warrior not sleep well?” Keira’s voice echoed in the dark.

Shae turned his head towards her voice but didn’t answer. Careful of the sleeping woman next to him, Shae forced himself to sit up. He shook his head, letting some of the images from his dream fade in the waking light…

           Not that he wanted to let go of any of those images or dreams!

They’d been a major impact on many of his decisions regarding Merida. And regarding his feelings for her. He bowed his head and rubbed at his temple. He could feel a headache coming on…

           “Warrior need water?” Keira asked quietly as she came to his side holding out a water skin.

           Shae took it from her, gratefully and thanked her.

                       “Aye, that’ll be good, Miss Keira. I just donnae want to wake Merida.” He said quietly, eyeing the sleeping woman beside him.

Keira frowned.

           “Princess not have restful sleep either. Warrior seem to have good dreams, though…just not long sleep…”

Shae huffed out a laugh,

           “Well, I can agree that is wasnnae long enough…”

Keira raised a brow,

           “But not good dreams?”

Shae blushed,

           “No. My dreams have been pleasant, as of late…”

Keira sat quietly, waiting for him to elaborate. Shae cleared his throat,

           “Ever since my fever broke, I’ve had very good, very nice dreams…”

Keira gave him an odd look.

“That good to hear.”

           “Merida is usually in them…” he confessed, though he didn’t know why.

Keira became quiet once more.

           “In the last few I’ve had, we’ve been married and have children…I donnae know if it’s just some strange coincidence or the gods are giving me premonitions…or what is going on! I’m not sure what any of it means…”

Keira gave him a half-smile.

           “Does Warrior want it to mean something?” she asked.

Shae sighed and ran a hand through his hair,

           “I…I’m not sure what I want anymore…” he breathed.

Shae bowed his head and looked over at Merida tenderly. He reached out and brushed his fingers through her curly locks gently, so he didn’t wake her. After a moment of silence, he spoke to Keira again.

           “All I do know is that the Dream-Me doesnnae ever want to wake up. Because when I wake up, I have to face the reality that Merida isnnae my wife…those children in my dreams donnae actually exist…and that’s not a life I’ll ever get to live…”

Keira frowned at him.

           “Warrior doesn’t know that! Life full of surprises! If you love Princess, tell her! Might be amazed at what could happen…”

Keira gestured towards him and Merida with a small grin.

           “Warrior marry Princess… ‘dream’ children become real…that life becomes attainable…”

Shae shook his head, still unsure.

           “I just donnae know…”

Keira had an idea of where this uncertainty was coming from. She decided she need to give them both that extra little push to help them along. She just prayed the gods wouldn’t mind her meddling…

   Moving closer to him, Keira sat beside Shae and place her hand on his shoulder.

           “Merida tell Keira about Warrior’s lost love…and Keira sorry Warrior had to face such pain.” She paused and thought about her next words carefully.

           “But shouldn’t warrior at least try to love again, if love so close and easy to grab onto?” as she spoke her eyes wandered over to Merida’s sleeping form.

Shae breathed out a laugh,

           “You sound an awful lot like my Shannon, Keira…I feel like she’s been trying to tell me the same thing for a while now…”

He pursed his lips in thought,

           “Is it possible to find two perfect loves in this life?”

Keira shrugged, but the soft smile on her lips gave him hope,    

           “Keira not know, Warrior. Do know that no love is ‘perfect’, but the finding part…that up to you…and sometimes the gods…”

Shae took in a deep breath and turned to look back at Merida who was still sleeping soundly. She made a soft noise in her sleep and it melted his heart.

           In that moment, Shae made up his mind!

“God’s have mercy on us…I’m in love with her…” he whispered quietly into the night.

Keira smiled softly at him and nodded encouragingly,

           “That good first step, Warrior. Now the hard part…”

He chuckled and looked at the Fae woman curiously.

           “And what’s that, Miss Keira?”

Keira’s smile turned to a look of sympathy,

           “Telling her that when she’s awake…”

And Shae simply chuckled softly in agreement.

  --------------------|} à->>>---------[(<+>)]------<<<-ß{|-----------------

  Okay so not as many pages as I’ve been putting out, but originally this was all part of chapter 18 lol!

 I hope everyone enjoyed the little rest here with Keira and the other Fae because we’re starting Act 3 of our little story! And boy! Is it going to be another rollercoaster!

 Everyone pull up your big boy/girl pants and get ready!

 I’m not going to promise anything as far as time wise goes on how soon to expect the next chapter. When ever I give myself dates or time frames I never meet them anyway and it just disappoints you all ☹

           And I don’t like doing that!

So just know that I’m going to be working on it as quickly and as often as I can, so I can get it to you in a timely manner and you don’t have to wait until next year for it…but again, no promises…

           No 2-year hiatuses either though! LOL!

 Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this rather bizarre little rabbit-trail of a chapter, but I really wanted to use it to establish more character building, so if anyone feels OOC I apologize.

           We’ll be back to our normal gloom and doom in chapter 19 LOL!

Hope you all are ready!

 Peace and Blessings Upon You!

Gam3rg1rl13

   [1] “Idiot! Why did you do that?”

[2] You can't tease the princess about her warrior if she has something to get you back with. Besides, you were going to tell them about us anyway. I was just helping you along.

[3] Lailoken was a semi-legendary madman and prophet who lived in the Caledonian Forest in the late 6th century. As a wild man and seer living in the forests of what is now southern Scotland, Lailoken is often identified with Myrddin Wyllt, the Welsh forerunner of the Arthurian wizard Merlin.

[4] Morrigan – Irish/Celtic Goddess: She is associated with fate and known as a goddess of war and death, but also fertility and numerous other things. She appears as a crow on the battlefield in legends. She is also linked to the Valkyries. Additionally, she is described as a triple goddess, called ''the three Morrigan''. Some scholars link her to the character Morgan le Fay in the Arthurian legends. In some versions of the Arthurian legend Morgan le Fey and Merlin are lovers.

[5] cinn óga : Irish translation of the words “young ones”

[6] Deartháir:  Irish word for brother

 [7] Is cosúil go bhfuil an Banphrionsa agus an Trodaí i bhfad níos gaire anois translates to: “The Princess and Warrior seem a lot closer now” in English via Google translate

[8] Sea, ach ní bhraitheann rud ar bith fós. Má tá siad fíor i ngrá, ansin ba chóir an litriú a bhriseadh translates to: Yes, but something still doesn’t feel right. If they’re truly in love, then the spell should be broken.

[9] B'fhéidir go bhfuil sé níos casta ná sin, mo ghrá. Tá a fhios agat conas is breá le Tearlag rudaí casta ... translates to: Maybe it’s more complicated than that, my love. You know how Tearlag loves to complicate things…”

 [10] Nó b'fhéidir go bhfuil siad ró-chasta orthu féin translates to: Or maybe they’re making it too complicated on themselves

[11] Amadán! Cad atá á dhéanamh agat? Tá siad ceart thar ann! Ní féidir linn é sin a dhéanamh anseo?  Translates to: Idiot! What are you doing? They are right over there! We can’t do that here?!

[12] Cén fáth nach bhfuil, grá? D'fhéadfadh sé smaointe dá gcuid féin a thabhairt dóibh ... cuidiú leo, tá a fhios agat ...  translates to: Why not, love? It might give them some ideas of their own…help them along, you know…

[13] Amadán! Ná cuir in iúl dóibh cad a bhí á dhéanamh agat! Ní gá a fhios acu! Agus ní gá radharc a bheith acu translates to: Moron! Don’t tell them what you were doing! They don’t need to know! And they don’t need a visual in English

[14] Diarmid: Gaelic name meaning “free man”

[15] Bidh mi a 'bruadar mo leannan. Scots-Gaelic phrase meaning : “Sweet dreams, my darling”

[16] Kayleigh: Scottish- means: warrior

[17] Aidan: Gaelic – means: Little fire, ardent

[18] Abiageal: Irish spelling of Abigail- means: brings joy