A.N. Emerging from the mists like a cryptid, I present a new chapter. Quarantine is a hell of a time, huh? I am not even going to try to explain myself, but I do hope you enjoy this.

Disclaimer: You know it; do I have to say it?

OooOooOooOooO (Castle Dun Broch, Dinner that Evening)

The four teens, having been unable to convince anyone that the curse was real and beginning to feel as though that was a side-effect, watched anxiously as the meal progressed and the sun sank lower in the sky outside. It had taken several hours for the teens to discuss the new information they had gained, and several minutes more for them to realize that they didn't have nearly enough to even try to sketch out a plan. There was also nothing new that would constitute proof to the King, or anyone else.

So now, they sat at the far edge of the table closest to the door, with the triplets close by. This had been Ainsley's suggestion, allowing them an escape route if things went as they had the night before. There was no heavy drinking tonight, as Queen Elinor had laid a moratorium on it, but the men were still largely back to their boisterous state as they worked their way through the meal. In fact, the young ones were the quiet spot of the room, lingering on the outskirts in worry.

"We have ta do somethin'," Valan finally said, breaking a silence that had stretched for almost an hour. "We cannae jus' wait an' hope fer the best!"

"And wha' would you suggest, o wise one?" Merida snapped back. "We cannae convince anyone, an' fer all we know, tha's a part o' the curse. We cannae break the curse without knowin' the spell, an' we don't."

Valan sighed and spread his hands, but he was prevented from answering by the beginning of the transformation. As all of the adults fell and began convulsing, the teens ran, waving the children on ahead of them. Ranulf moved a large wooden bench in front of the doors in a desperate effort to contain the beasts.

This done, the group retreated to their sitting room, ready for another long night, hoping to make it to the dawn.

OooOooOooOooOooO (With the Witch)

The Witch watched this unfold with satisfaction, and then she turned back to her familiar, who had returned a few hours ago. "Ye tol' tha' brat that this was my doin', right?" She demanded.

"Yes, mistress. I'm sure she's very sorry now."

"Sorry?! Tha's no' good enough! I wan' her ta suffer; I wan' her ta bleed an' weep an' feel some o' the pain she caused me!" The hag turned back to her cauldron, swiping at the steam emanating from it and muttering to herself. She laughed and cursed by turns as the crow watched nervously. "Perhaps I can help wi' tha'. Speed things up a bit."

The crone began moving around the cottage, gathering ingredients and cackling to herself. "This'll fix her."

"Are you casting another curse?" Inquired the feathery creature.

"No, I'm just… stirrin' up some wind." Herbs and small tokens fell into the cauldron, sending up swirls of smoke and color. "Tha' ought ta do it."

Satisfied, she blew on the smoke, which wended its way out the window and into the night.

"Of course, that'll bring one o' the parts o' the cure closer, but no mind. She an' her little friends won' live tha' long," she pondered.

"Oh, the cure?" The crow feigned mild curiosity. "It must be awfully clever. What is it?" A feral grin lit the witch's face as she turned to him.

"I am proud of it; they'll never figure it ou'. Far too complicated, an' they don' even know they need it." The crow hopped closer at this, trying to seem nonchalant.

"May I hear it, mistress?"

"Oh, all righ'. I have been wantin' to show it off. Here it is." She took on a slight glow as she began her recitation.

Ruby as life of those beyond the shore

Pale as sea's beauty in ugliness moored

Azure as the fire of the ancient kings

Verdant as new leaves where the sweet bird sings

The tartans will tell each item's bearer

No touch from others except its wearer

Bring these all together, and the curse will end

Combine their power, and let all wrongs mend

The music, the vessel, the stone, and the blade

Brought together as one in moonlit glade

Surrounded by stones on solstice night

This is the one chance to make all things right

She blinked, coming back to herself. "Quite the riddle, aye? Far better than any o' my other works. Even if they heard it, they would never understand."

'Want to bet?' Wondered her companion, committing the phrase to memory. He would have to find an excuse to leave in the morning to relay the message. However, in his eagerness and worry, he missed her next words.

"An' they won' last 'til the solstice now. The enemy is comin', an' he won' be as merciful as me. Death flies on swift wings for the princess an' all o' the clans. Time is runnin' out."

OooOooOooOooO (Castle Dun Broch)

Crashes and growls kept the teens awake all night. It seemed that most of the bears were trapped in the dining hall, but some had been elsewhere when they transformed, and it seemed that those few were attempting to make up the damage the others were missing. Sometimes, they were as close as the next room, and those moments were met with tense silence and a tight grip on weapons. Although the idea of sleeping in shifts was brought up again, no one put much effort in, refusing to even lie down. Occasionally, one of the teens would attempt to start a conversation, but these always petered out without response. No new information or ideas made for an unpleasant and frightening night, but the dawn brought little relief.

OooOooOooOooO

"King Fergus, please. Ya have ta believe us. We're no' jus' tellin' stories fer fun."

"I don' have ta do anythin'. 'M the king, an' I'll do wha' I please. This was entertainin' enough the firs' time, but 'm tired of it. Leave off."

"Da. 'M no' tryin' ta be funny, I swear. Ya didn' even drink las' night. How can ya explain wha' happened? Look around!"

"Tha's jus' wha' happens when the clans are together, Merida. Perhaps yer mother was righ' an' you should jus' get this over with," the big man snarled. Merida stepped back in shock at her father's tone, and retreated back into the line made by the other teens.

"In fact, tha' sounds perfect. If you're goin' ta keep bringin' this up, get out. Spend the day with yer suitors. Ye seem chummy enough with the lads now, an' tha's what ya wanted, right? When ya come back, I don' want ta hear no more about bears; is that clear?"

Merida, fighting tears, nodded. The other heirs looked between her and her father in shock for a moment, confused by this anger and resistance in the king. He was stubborn, certainly, but he had never seemed so unreasonable before.

"Well, go on. Go!" The burly man shouted. "An' don' let me catch ya here before supper."

The princess wanted to flee, but she forced herself to curtsy and sweep from the room in a manner that would have made her mother proud. The "suitors" scurried after her, stopping to bow one by one on their way out of the hall.

"It has ta be the curse," Ranulf affirmed as soon as the door closed behind them. "He wouldnae be so cruel otherwise." The other two young men nodded in agreement, but Merida just kept walking.

"We don' know tha'. We have no proof, as he keeps pointin' out." She looked back at them. "Well, are ya comin'? We have ma foolish pageant ta put on."

OooOooOooOooO

The four made a big show of heading to the stables together, and Valan even stopped in the kitchen to make them a picnic for the day. The lords were beside themselves with pleasure in this development, and they all took to ribbing each other and bragging, as they often did. The triplets were confused, but Maudie was watching them too closely for another escape, so they were forced to let the teens go.

Fergus watched the group ride away from the castle walls, and he grimaced as Elinor followed him.

"It's good ta see her gettin' ta know them," the queen mused. "Perhaps this wasnae such a waste after all." She leaned over to give her husband a kiss on the cheek with a soft smile. "Our little girl is growin' up."

The king growled under his breath as he thought of the nonsense she had been spilling that morning, proving that she might not be as grown up as they had hoped. He was all for immaturity, but this was becoming ridiculous. The riders turned out of sight, and he let out a sigh. He turned to his wife, ready to explain, but Elinor's hand in his distracted him, and he allowed her to lead him back inside. He didn't see the crow that flew into Merida's bedroom window as he turned away, and the sounds of the fighting lords covered up the cawed cursing that followed.

OooOooOooOooO (At Sea)

A bulky, intimidating man stood at the tiller of a ship, watching his crew row along as the sails creaked overhead. He grinned and fingered the hilt of his war-axe as he considered his options. His men were hungry for battle and loot, but he was weary of defenseless towns and pitiful warriors. He longed for a challenge. Easy victories brought wealth, but he wanted glory.

Suddenly, the wind changed, nearly spinning his ship and its fellows. At first, the man fought with the tiller in an attempt to right their course, but then he looked down at the primitive map beside him and considered where this new path would take them. A bloodthirsty smirk crept across his face, and he drew his axe as he released the tiller, content to let this mysterious wind lead the way.

"To war!"

OooOooOooOooO

A.N. Well, there you have it. The curse reversal (feel free to take guesses in reviews if you like), some more stubborn Fergus, and a mysterious new figure. I make no promises about further updates, but I will try.