[ Merida's got the easy part, somewhat. She's got three strangely silent little brothers hovering on the edge of her bed and gaping at her slowly darkening wound and Maudie on the verge of tears.
But she doesn't have to deal with the way Elinor's face grows pale, and how her husband has to hold her back when she suddenly starts forward, voice accusatory and hurt and demanding that Nathaniel fix this. But then it turns pleading, please, no, not her baby, not her only little girl, she's far too young for this, it's too cruel.
Marriage was one thing.
A death either way?
She doesn't cry, at least. Not in front of him, and not while Fergus is weeping into his beard.
They have to accept it, to potentially save their daughter's life. But it's painful. If nothing else, Elinor demands a promise. That, should Merida survive this Joining (and she will, she knows her daughter), Nathaniel will look after her and protect her to the best of his ability. ]
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But she doesn't have to deal with the way Elinor's face grows pale, and how her husband has to hold her back when she suddenly starts forward, voice accusatory and hurt and demanding that Nathaniel fix this. But then it turns pleading, please, no, not her baby, not her only little girl, she's far too young for this, it's too cruel.
Marriage was one thing.
A death either way?
She doesn't cry, at least. Not in front of him, and not while Fergus is weeping into his beard.
They have to accept it, to potentially save their daughter's life. But it's painful. If nothing else, Elinor demands a promise. That, should Merida survive this Joining (and she will, she knows her daughter), Nathaniel will look after her and protect her to the best of his ability. ]