بخش 01

Come out!

Come on out.

I’m coming to get you.

Where are you, you little rascal? I’m coming to get you.

Where is my little birthday girl?

I’m going to gobble her up when I find her.

I’m going to eat you. I am.

Fergus, no weapons on the table.

Can I shoot an arrow? Can I, Can I, Can I, Can I?

Please? Can I?

Not with that. Why not use your very own?

Happy birthday, my wee darling!

Now, there’s a good girl.

Draw all the way back now to your cheek. That’s right.

Keep both eyes open.

And, loose!

I missed. Go and fetch it, then.

A bow, Fergus? She’s a lady.

A will-o’-the-wisp.

They are real.

Merida, come along, sweetheart.

We’re leaving now. I saw a wisp.

I saw a wisp. A wisp?

You know, some say that will-o’-the-wisps lead you to your fate.

Aye. Or an arrow.

Come on, let’s be off before we see a dancing Tatty Bogle.

Or a giant having a jigger in the bluebells.

Your father doesn’t believe in magic.

Well, he should. Because it’s true.

Mor’du! Elinor, run!

Come on, you!

Some say our destiny is tied to the land as much a part of us as we are of it.

Others say fate is woven together like a cloth.

So that one’s destiny intertwines with many others.

It’s the one thing we search for or fight to change.

Some never find it.

But there are some who are led.

The story of how my father lost his leg to the demon bear Mor’du became legend.

I became a sister to three new brothers.

The princes. Hamish, Hubert and Harris.

Wee devils, more like.

They get away with murder.

I can never get away with anything.

I’m the princess.

I’m the example.

I’ve got duties, responsibilities, expectations.

My whole life is planned out, preparing for the day I become Well, my mother.

She’s in charge of every single day of my life.

Aye, Robin, Jolly Robin, and thou shalt know of mine.

Project!

And thou shalt know of mine!

Enunciate. You must be understood from anywhere in the room, or it’s all for naught. This is all for naught. I heard that! From the top.

A princess must be knowledgeable about her kingdom.

She does not doodle.

That’s a C, dear.

A princess does not chortle.

Does not stuff her gob!

Rises early.

is compassionate…

patient, cautious,

clean.

And above all, a princess strives for, Well, perfection.

But every once in a while,

there’s a day when I don’t have to be a princess.

No lessons, no expectations.

A day where anything can happen.

A day I can change my fate.