Elixir

By TheMaskedGirl

"Who are you?" the redhead sneered. Her accent was thick and she could be easily recognized as Scot. She adjusted the quiver of arrows on her shoulder.

Ralph eyed the bow she was holding and fixed the position of Jack who was slung on his right shoulder. "Uhm..."

"Are you bandits?" she continued. "Did you kidnap that boy? And you are English, aren't you?"

"We didn't mean to stare at you. And I am Ralph, this is Rapunzel and this is," he pointed to the man on his shoulder, "Jackson. To answer your other questions, no, no, and yes," Ralph answered. "Actually, we're trying to-"

"You're English and I don't associate with English people." The redhead flipped her messy curls and stepped back inside her carriage. She was about to close the door when Rapunzel stopped her.

"We need your help," she told her. "You don't seem to live here and-"

"You bet I don't. But an English seeking for help... now that's something. But unfortunately for you, and I will repeat for you seem to have not understood the first time I said it, I do not associate myself with lowly peasants known as the English," she told them. She raised her head proudly. "I am Merida, Princess of DunBroch. I am a Scot."

Ralph shrugged. "Obviously. The accent and the attitude are enough proof," he murmured.

"Excuse me?" the fierce woman asked, her red eyebrows raised. She stepped back down.

"Nothing," Ralph answered loudly.

"But please, we need your help," Rapunzel pleaded. "Jackson needs our help. Perhaps you can let us ride in your carriage."

"What do I get if I help you?" Merida asked. She narrowed her blue eyes at them.

"I-I…" Rapunzel looked at Ralph for help. He just looked at her blankly. He didn't know either. "Nothing," she said resignedly.

Merida rolled her eyes. "As expected from the English," she sneered.

Ralph was not someone who would easily get annoyed, but they were in a hurry. Their situation was a matter of life and death. He placed Jackson on the ground. "Look, miss, we have no time for chitchat. It's either you lend us your carriage or we take it by force. It's your call," he said in his scariest voice. He glared at the princess.

Rapunzel looked at Ralph in surprise, but the Scot didn't even flinch. "Try me," she drawled. She took an arrow from her quiver and readied her weapon, but before she could show off and shoot the tree behind Ralph, he took her bow and broke it in half. Her arrow clattered to the ground. She gasped and stared at her broken weapon.

"Now," Ralph growled, "will you lend us your carriage?"

She looked at Ralph with tears in her eyes. "I hate you!" She went back inside the carriage and slammed the door.

Ralph, who had realized his mistake, dropped the broken bow and looked at his large hands. He looked at Rapunzel then back at his hands, thoroughly ashamed. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

The blonde placed a comforting hand on his arm. "I know you didn't mean to do that. Come on, let's just look for another ride."

He shook his head. "No. They already know about us. We've already risked too much," he said. He needed to protect Rapunzel.

"What are you going to do?" she asked worriedly.

"Just stay here and watch over Jackson," he said and walked to the front of the carriage.

"Where do you want to go, princess?" her coachman asked in their native language. She wanted to bring just Angus, but her parents insisted that she bring along a carriage and a coachman.

"Give me a minute," she answered.

Merida curled up in a ball inside the carriage and sobbed. Her father gave that bow to her before she left. It was supposed to help her find herself and realize what she truly wanted. But now it was broken. If she had only let them use her carriage, she would still have her precious bow. If only she hadn't tested them.

"English people are evil," she whispered. "They were right."

She could hear them talking outside. Ralph was regretting what he did and rightfully so, but it still didn't change her new perception about the English.

She went to England not just to look for herself, but also to prove her people wrong. "The English aren't as bad as you think," she had told them. But she was wrong and they were right, as expected. She was always wrong.

She heard the man tell the girl with the long hair, Rapunzel, if she remembered correctly, to stay put. She tensed. Without her bow, she was defenseless. She left her sword back at home. She was going to die, like her people had predicted. She shut her eyes and thought of the worst. She would fight back, but it would be useless.

"Look, your princess and I made an agreement. She will lend us her carriage for the meantime," the large man said.

She stifled her sobs and listened closely.

"No. You no friend wit' 'er," the coachman said. He had a hard time speaking in English and his accent was thick.

"If you did, why didn't you step up and help her?"

There was silence. Merida knew her coachman wasn't very good in speaking in English. In fact, none of her people were. She was the best in her kingdom and she wasn't that good.

"Just do everything I say. Don't tell anyone about this or I will kill you."

The coachman gasped. He wasn't good in English, but he understood what kill meant.

"Leave the princess to us. We'll take care of her. Now go!" the big man said with a growl.

Merida looked up and saw the coachman peeking at the tiny window. He looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry, princess. Please forgive me," he said in their language.

She nodded bravely and whispered, "Go."

A few minutes passed and suddenly the door of carriage opened and Ralph stood outside. He was carrying the almost dead boy. He looked scary even without trying.

He carefully placed him inside and ushered the girl in. He didn't even talk to her. She felt the carriage creak when he sat down in front. It started moving.

Several minutes passed and the girl still didn't look at her. Merida was starting to get ticked off. If they were going to kill her, she'd rather die now. She was rather impatient.

She didn't know why she stayed in the carriage. She could have easily jumped out and screamed for help, but something told her not to. She didn't know, but deep inside her heart, she was willing to give them a chance and to prove her wrong.

Then, the girl talked. "I'm sorry about the bow," she said.

Merida looked up. The girl was looking straight at her with teary eyes. "Ralph didn't mean to break it. He was just nervous and scared. I was too."

The princess was about to cut in when the blonde continued, "We owe you an explanation as to why we did this. I-I'll start from the top. But before anything else, I'd like to introduce myself properly." She smiled at her. "I am Rapunzel Corona." She offered her hand.

Merida didn't know what made her do it, but she reached out and shook her hand. "Merida. Just call me Merida."