Well, this is my first "Brave" fanfic! (YAY!) So, as it's my first, I decided to start by remaining close to the film material. As in, building off of what we've already seen/seen most of. This gives me a chance to focus on young Merida (adorbs beyond all reason), a bit of their Mummy/Daughter relationship (because it's amazing), Elinor/Fergus fluff, and even some Daddy/Daughter time between Fergus and Merida! 3 Just some really good, heart-felt family time!

I'm excited and proud to produce my first chapter! More to follow soon! :D

The hooves to Queen Elinor's white steed were pounding heavily atop the grassy Highland grounds. Each thundering strike sent a crippling shudder up through the woman's gripping legs and body. Her breath came out in shallow pants as she continued to urge her horse further. A single bead of sweat trailed down the side of her temple, causing a tendril of her long, brown hair to crinkle in a gentle wave.

Even her mind was racing, fighting to keep at bay the frightening memory of Mor'du and his surprise ambush on them, moments ago and pushing aside gory images of the result of what his ambuscade could have done to her husband and his men. She repeated a silent prayer to the Heavens as she rode, "Còrd ceadaich e fhèin bi snasail!"*

And through this all, Elinor could even sense her young daughter growing stiffly scared in her embracing grasp. The mother quickly glanced down at the wee redhead and saw her looking back over their path from her shoulder while gripping the cloth to the violet gown. Elinor wanted nothing more at the moment than to calm Merida – tell her that she was alright and the nightmare was over. Her father would surely slay that awful beast and return home with it slung over his horse and himself hardly scathed. But as they both neared Castle DunBroch, the queen had to strive to keep the tears welling in her brown eyes from completely falling away.

Usually so calm and collected, Elinor was now in utter turmoil. She could not honestly admit that she was certain Fergus was safe; that he and his men weren't in terrible danger, being skilled fighters and all. Remembering the soulless look that she caught in Mor'du's good eye shot a chill down her spine, making her (regrettably) doubt herself in the confidence she once had in the king's strength. She wrapped her arm tighter around the small princess and buried her nose briefly into her fiery locks, feeling her warmth and knowing that, at least, she was safe.

"Còrd, Dia! Glèidh a' rìgh!"*

Another leaping bound and the freckled Clydesdale had reached the bridge to Castle DunBroch. They crossed it to its halfway point when Elinor thought she heard the faint call of a man a ways back, not to mention a second set of horse hooves thudding behind her.

"Mummy, look!" cried Merida, pointing back beyond her mother's shoulder. The queen quickly cocked her head and caught sight of one of her subjects (she recognized from his tartan) catching up to her on his own horse. In fact, it was one of their men from their picnic!

"Hoy!" he called, waving his left arm in the air when he noticed his queen's gaze upon him. His brown steed nimbly jumped out from the entrance to the Highland forests and into the clearing before the overpass. "My Lady Queen!"

Elinor immediately pulled back on the reins and brought her horse to a halt, hooves skidding fiercely on the cobble-stoned bridge, "Steady there, Enya!"

The chestnut haired man also brought his horse to a stop beside the queen and princess. He was panting, his usually fair face was flushed, and he had a large, ragged tear in his moss colored undershirt. "My Lady Queen," he repeated, catching his breath. "Thank the Heavens I caught up to you!"

"Lennox!" Elinor addressed him hurriedly, "What news do you bring? The king and the others?"

"Mor'du has fled, your Majesty," Lennox frantically wheezed. "Scarred and injured, through. The king saw to that. Many of our men are wounded – nothing serious, thank God – but the king!"

Elinor gasped, her eyes growing wider and clutching tighter her wee daughter.

"King Fergus has been severely crippled, m'Lady! The beast, Mor'du – he swallowed his leg! Clean off at the knee!"

"Daddy!" Merida gasped, horrified. Tears instantly swelled in her aqua eyes and she pressed her face into her mother's shoulder, whimpering. The queen immediately held her with both arms, one hand running through her tangled hair and whispered, "There, there, sweetheart…"

Elinor furrowed her eyebrows together, ultimately bringing her entire face into an anguished contort. There was nothing else she could confidently say to soothe her child.

Lennox, feeling overwhelmingly ashamed at making the princess cry, quickly added, "Keep the heid, now! I've been sent to alert the healers of the king's condition, and to send back as many men as possible to help schlep him back to the castle!" he paused, making sure his next statement was heard by the princess, "If we hurry, our king will be easily saved!"

Merida sniffled as she unshielded her face from her mother's shoulder and glanced wide-eyed at the bedraggled warrior.

For the queen as well, her gaze landed back onto Lennox with worry and despair in her amber eyes. "He needs me," she uttered firmly. She briefly looked down at Merida, making contact with her glistening, teary blue eyes, before turning back to her subject. "Lennox, the king needs me by his side. I will go to him. Do as you were told and fetch the healers and men, but take the princess back to the castle with you on your way."

"Of course, your Majesty."

"What? B-But, Mummy! I want to be with Daddy too!" whined the little girl and further gripping her mother's dress. "I-I'm brave! That manky ol' bear doesn't scare me!"

The queen, however, could certainly feel the small child shaking in her arms. She gripped her a little tighter for comfort and shook her head, "No arguments, Merida. I need you to stay where I know you'll be kept safe. And I will bring your father back."

Merida hesitated but soon succumbed, wiping her eyes clean with the back of her hand. "You promise?"

"I promise," Elinor confirmed with a reassuring smile. She pressed her forehead to Merida's and stared into her gaze yet again. "And you must promise me that you will still be a strong and brave lassie at home, while I'm gone. Alright?"

The redhead nodded seriously, "I will."

Elinor smiled, "That's my guid bairn." She then cupped her face and kissed her gently on her forehead. The queen then picked up the wee princess and handed her over to Lennox, whom he sat securely in front of him, on his steed.

"Put Maudie in charge of her until I return."

Lennox dipped his head respectfully. "Aye, I shall. Can you make it back well enough on your own, your Highness?"

"Certainly! Now be off; make haste!" the queen commanded with a wave of her hand. She regained the reins to her Clydesdale and with an assertive shout, turned to gallop back the way she had come, to the picnic site. She caught sight of Merida waving anxiously to her mother as she and Lennox rode off to the castle, but only managed to smile in return.

Enya was a fast and sturdy mare with a well-trained sense of direction, and so Elinor trusted her to get them back to the campsite in good time. This gave her a free moment to reflect on all that she had been informed of. Fergus! Oh, Fergus! Her dear, beloved husband! How could something so terrible happen to a man always bursting with boisterous confidence? Elinor had witnessed him battle against scores of oversea invaders with no other weapon than his unfailing sword. But in an ambush, with more than one arm to his aid, he had been dealt such an awful misfortune at the paws of that wicked demon bear!

His leg – his entire leg – completely gone? The thought of her ginger-haired king writhing on the grassy clearing, blood pouring out from his stump of a leg, and calling out her name, was almost too much for her to bear. A day that had originally been so peaceful, so joyous – their daughter's birthday – had turned dreadfully dark and horrifying within an instant.

The queen prayed Lennox returned at god's speed with the men and healers. As she did, a single tear ran down the side of her cheek and didn't even bother wiping it away.

Scottish Gaelic to English translation:

"Còrd ceadaich e fhèin bi snasail!" = "Please, let him be alright!"

"Còrd, Dia! Glèidh a' rìgh!" = "Please, Lord! Protect the king!"

Anyway, that's all for now! This was originally going to be a oneshot, but soon decided that it would have been WAY too long. I;m not even sure I could keep your attention for that long! D: Stay tuned for more! 3