Merida galloped on her horse, Angus, with her red hair freely flying in the wind. It was Saturday. The day she was free from her princess duties and could spend her time however she chose. On her shoulder was her quiver and in her hands a bow and arrow respectively. She quickly slipped the arrow over the notch and fired an arrow. It struck true to the red and white painted target that her father had helped her set up many years ago.
Merida was nineteen years old now. Her body full and womanly. She wore a green crop top that covered her ample C-cup breasts but exposed her taught navel and curvy hips. She wore skin-tight brown riding pants and brown riding boots. On each of her forearms she had brown arm bands, sewn by her mother, to help protect against burn marks from the arrows. Her red hair was still wild and full atop her head and Merida's petite face and hazel eyes were full of the same childlike wonder they had been years ago.
She had still not found a suitor, much to her mother's dismay, but had spent almost all of her free time riding, shooting, and secret to both of her parents, building. Merida needed her own place. She felt stuffy and restricted in the castle, so she had created a space just for her. It was a small log cabin nestled in the forestry of the kingdom. It was her place and her place alone.
Angus slowed to a halt as the cabin came into view. Merida hopped off her steed and tied him to a post. The log cabin was small in comparison to the vast castle where she spent her weeks, but it was cozy and warm. The living room had a giant bears head above the stone fireplace. Surrounding the fire were piles of cedar ready to burn and a small coffee table, love seat, and lengthy cushy couch that her father had helped her secure under the guise that it was redecorations in the servants quarters.
Beside the fire and couch was what drew Merida to build her log cabin at this location. A huge glass window that looked out onto a crystal lake that seemingly danced in the wind of the forest. Merida would spend her evenings on her days off here and watch the sun set and then rise in the morning. It had been the most magical thing Merida had ever experienced.
She flopped herself onto the couch and ran her fingers through her hair, straitening it back on the head of the couch. She looked out to the lake, a breeze send a tide of ripples from shore to shore. She sighed, relaxed and alone once more. Or so she thought.
At first she was unsure, but now she was positive that a man was standing out by the lake, alone. He was dark skinned and wore an emerald robe that barely contained his broad shoulders. He seemed to be pondering the lake. Merida had never seen him before, in fact, she had never seen anyone out here before. Where had he come from?
Merida leapt off the couch and ran to the backdoor. She stepped out, the crisp breeze blowing through her and called out to the stranger, "Hello?"
The man did not seem startled by Merida's sudden appearance, "Hello!"
His voice was friendly, and he smiled at her from the lake.
"What are you doing all the way out here?" she asked.
"I am lost," he said, "I have come looking for a castle. And a princess."
Merida was confused. She was the only princess anywhere nearby, and her castle was at least an hours ride from the lake.
"Which princess?" she called out coyly.
The man stayed by the lake and called back, "A princess Merida. Do you know her?"
Merida contained a giggle, "I might. Why are you looking for her?"
"I hear she still seeks a suitor. I thought I may try my chance at charming her,"
Even from a distance Merida could tell he was quite handsome. He was unlike any of the suitors who had been sent from the islands to court her.
"Perhaps I can help you," Merida gestured for the man to come into the cabin with her.
When Merida had ushered the gentleman inside, she could see his features more defined. His eyes were a greenish-silver and his hair was black. His skin was dark, darker than she had ever seen before, and his emerald robes reflected the sunlight like shimmering water, almost the same color as her own evergreen crop top.
"You are quite beautiful yourself," he said, "Perhaps there are more diamonds in the forest than in any castle,"
