The morning after Merida had come home had been filled with incessant questioning from her little sister. 'What was the king like?' 'How was the palace?' 'Did you dance with anyone nice?' It was nice to see her sister so excited about something but Merida did not want her sister to think that this was going to change anything, it wasn't. They still got up at dawn and had breakfast together, and they still had to go out and do the chores of the farm, more so now because they had a day without tending it. The only thing this would change was that Merida was hoping to get her younger brother into school, and after a few months, she would buy a fruit tree.

She had to be careful with how she spent the money because if she was too flashy about it she would invite robbers to her house. After three days Merida had almost been able to push the King out of her mind. He was handsome and their conversation had not been stagnant, but she would not put herself in a position where she would get herself killed, not while these children still depended on her. Merida's neighbors seemed disappointed that she had not been called upon by the king. Merida had fertile ground that she spent all hours of the day working on. If she had more help this land could be very profitable and many wanted a chance at it.


When the carriage arrived for her and her siblings her heart sank. He had been hoping this was all behind her, but she knew it was not and the king was serious about pursuing her. "I will not leave my farm unattended, it is my livelihood." Knowing the king would not be happy if the carriage returned without Merida in it, one of the knights offered to stay with her farm and watch over it while she had her audience with the king. The other knight would be sure to inform the King of this change. So the three siblings got changed into their best clothes, Merida wearing the dress she had worn the night of the ball, and they traveled to the palace.

Annabeth, the youngest of the siblings, was watching excitedly as the world flew by her. She had never ridden in a carriage and this was all very new to her. When she saw the palace she squealed with excitement. Madoc, the teenage boy, showed much less excitement as he analyzed everything. He was a quiet young man who wanted to learn what the world had to offer him but he had not been given much opportunity. Madoc wanted to learn everything he could from this but he also felt the need to protect his sister. He knew of the King's reputation and did not want his sister to become a victim of the king.

When the carriage stopped Annabeth flew out with excitement, looking at all of the flowers in the garden. Though they grew things on their farm they never grew anything this elegant or beautiful. Merida quickly got out. "Annabeth, bow when you see the king."

"Oh, oh, sorry." The little girl said as she bowed to the king. "It is a pleasure to meet you, your highness." She seemed to stumble over her words like it had been something she had been practicing but still wasn't prepared for it. Merida and Madoc also bowed, though Madoc did not say a word. "Thank you for welcoming us to the palace," she said as she began to stand up again. It was not that she was opposed to the king, but she was opposed to a change in the lifestyle she had been fighting so hard to protect.