The Highland Games

The girls had carried their gear over from Arendelle cause I hadn't been sure how much space Hilde had used setting up the trip. Turns out I hadn't needed to worry as there was plenty of space for Mal and Ruby's riding gear, and the mermaid's gifts. They even saved us a bunch of space since Hilde had packed water supplies for the desert we wouldn't need now.

Hilde's preparations had even included a potion for Ruby's stomach that both she and Maleficent were glad of. I had another pair of her golden charisma potions as well she'd made for the trip.

"You're sure six won't be a problem?" I asked my tall, winged minion. "You only carried four of us last time." And she'd been exhausted by the end of it.

Maleficent shook her head and laughed, stretching out her black, feathered wings behind her. "No problem my lord, 'tis a much shorter trip, Grimhilde made a stamina-enhancing potion for me, and I can always land to rest if need be this time."

She made excellent points, so I gave her a kiss and a smack on the ass for luck, then stepped back to give her room to change. One fountain of green fire later, and my dragon was ready to go. Ruby crossed her fingers and downed the sparkly blue potion before heading off with Cass and Rapunzel to mount on the other side, while Elsa huddled close to me, wide-eyed at Mal's draconic form. "She's magnificent. Also very scary..." Correct on both counts, even if I was a dragon myself now.

The three of us climbed up on our side, and soon I was snuggled between Hilde and Elsa as Maleficent launched herself into the sky. Traveling by dragonback was a hell of a thing.

.

The flight up into the highlands was pretty uneventful. It would have been horribly boring, but Hilde and Elsa made great distractions. At one point Maleficent wheeled to the side for some reason. I couldn't exactly ask her why though. Hilde had shown her the route she needed to take with her mirror before we left. I guess I needed to add Conjunction to my shopping list, a telepathic link for the whole harem could certainly be useful in other situations as well.

It wasn't long after that she began descending, and I could soon see the castle ahead. On the ground, I slid off with Hilde and Elsa clutched against me. The platinum blonde princess flinched but didn't say anything as we rushed towards the ground. Hilde just relaxed into my side, knowing I was more than strong enough now to bear both women's weight. After landing on my feet, I set them both down, and soon after Mal's other passengers walked around to us as the dragon was engulfed in green fire once more before shifting into the form of a magnificent black horse. No argument from her this time it looked like.

"Okay, lets go through this one more time to be sure. The Queen is visiting, having heard of the tourney and wanting to see it. Cass is along as the head of her personal guard. Elsa is another visiting noble and Rapunzel is her handmaiden. Mal and Ruby are our steeds. I, of course, am Prince Guy of Fawks. Any questions?"

Elsa raised her hand, and I nodded at her. "Won't it look strange that three of us don't have mounts?"

I shook my head. "Maybe, but the idea is to say that the Queen used magic to get the three of you here once the two of us rode close. If it comes up, which it might not." As that seemed to be it, I pulled the riding gear out of storage and began to saddle Mal with Hilde's help while the others put on Ruby's after she stripped and shifted to wolf. Then I double-checked that my bow and the arrows Hilde had prepared were in good condition before mounting and tossed back one of the golden potions. Being extra convincing could be really useful soon.

Maleficent had seen where the tourney was being held from the air, so she set out on her own at a slow enough pace that those on foot could keep up. Cass rode Ruby ahead on point, though I doubt there would be a problem. Best to look official anyways, I supposed.

The roar of the crowd was audible long before we breached the trees. They certainly sounded excited about something as what sounded like three different groups cheered, the third group the loudest. We made our way into the clearing in time to see the flame-haired princess make her declaration, which got its own reaction. We got a lot closer to the action than I expected before people started to notice us. They were pretty captivated by her skill though, to be fair. Three excellent shots, guided by fate as much as skill, I'd bet, put her in the lead. Much to her mother's chagrin, I'm sure, from the looks exchanged between them. Then the yelling was aborted as the pair looked up to see us, as the crowd surged past as groups from all four clans got between my people and them.

Soon King Fergus stumped out in front, along with the other clan heads. Merida looked like she wanted to as well, but her mother was holding her back. Cass and Ruby had slowed for us to catch up and now rode beside me. The huge wolf bearing a rider seemed to get a lot of attention. I swept down from Mal and joined Hilde and Elsa as the three of us approached the king. Merida must have broken free from her mother, because both of them joined Fergus before we got there.

I gave the big man a partial bow as Hilde and Elsa each gave him a nod. "Greetings King Fergus! I do hope we are not intruding on this happy occasion. Please let me introduce to you her highness Grimhilde Queen of Germonia, and her highness Princess Elsa of Arendelle. I am Prince Guy of Fawks at your service."

Queen Elinor, having forgotten her daughter, now stood next to her husband and elbowed the shocked, speechless man in the ribs. "What?! Oh right. Right! Welcome to the highlands, your majesties. What brings you to Dun Broch?" I noticed the Queen rolled her eyes at that. I guess she expected something more kingly.

Hilde gestured towards the archery butts. "I had heard about the tournament and hoped to make it in time to witness the event. Princess Elsa and Prince Guy were visiting me at the time, and so came with."

King Fergus puffed up a bit with pride there. "Ah, yes. Once in a generation thing, won my own bride in the last highland games." He glanced over at the other clan heads then as they began grumbling among themselves, probably about Merida winning her own hand. "Well, shame you missed most of it, but you are still welcome to join in the festivities."

"If I may ask, who did win the games? We just arrived in time to witness the Princess's fantastic archery skills."

Queen Elinor huffed a quiet. "Don't encourage her." as Fergus pulled his daughter close.

"Well, about that... Seems she won her own hand, bit unprecedented that." More grumbling, this time from the crowd as well.

I gave Merida a wink to show her I'd seen her smile when I mentioned her skills. "If I may King Fergus, all of the clans have had their representative shoot?" He nodded. "And the Princess is in the lead?" Another nod. "Well, what about someone from another clan? I would be honored to represent the Kingdom of Fawks and try for the hand of such a worthy warrior princess."

Dead silence then. Well that shocked the lot of them apparently. Fingers crossed no **** would come of it. Fergus reached out, looking both hopeful and frustrated, leading me aside by the shoulder a few paces. Then in a quiet voice, for him. "Lad, I'd love to see her with someone who appreciates her fiery spirit, which I see you do, but I've barely got the clans united behind me, and things look bad as it is. It's the succession you understand? Each of the clans is looking to have their scion be the next king, and Merida's just spat in their collective faces. If you should somehow win, there is no way they'd accept a foreign king." I was really glad the accent had turned out to be quite mild, or that might have been really hard to follow.

I nodded, trying to look reasonable. "Sure, I understand. A very volatile situation." He nodded along as well, looking somewhat relieved. "I have my own kingdom to rule after my father passes, so I am in no way trying to wrest control here, understand? If I won I would be wanting your daughter to come with me." He looked like I'd just punched him in the gut. "You have other children, no?"

It took him a moment to gather his wits. "Aye, three boys. Take her with you? Hmmm... The boys would be their own problem, triplets, you see. Would have to decide which one leads somehow. Still plenty of years that problem could be put off though, and settle the clans more firmly in the meantime. Hmmm. You wouldn't try to tame her now, would you? You said you wanted a warrior?"

"I swear on my father's name, I have no desire to curtail her nature. The brash maiden that would fight for her own hand is exactly who I want." Just not the way you expect.

He looked like he really liked hearing that. "Do you think you have any chance? She centered two shots and split the third lad's arrow. I knew she was good, but to see that. What a son she would have made." He swelled with pride again. Her mother may have been pissed, but this guy really just wanted what was best for his daughter. It almost made me regret taking advantage of him.

"I happen to be the best archer in all of my kingdom, sire." And the only one... "Just give me a chance."

Slapping me on the back hard enough to stagger someone who wasn't a dragon, he then turned and stumped over to his wife and the other clan heads.

Hilde and Elsa walked up to me while Fergus argued with the others. "So did he agree?"

I smiled at the ravenette. "He's on board. Now it's a matter of whether he can convince the others."

Cass led Ruby and Maleficent over to us, and Merida herself slipped over without her mother's notice as she was involved in the argument. "Did ye really mean what ye said about my shooting?" Apparently her accent was heavier than everyone else's for some reason. Still not that bad, thankfully.

I gave her the same slight bow as her father. "Of course, Princess. I did not come seeking a fawning simp of a girl, but a fierce warrior."

She seemed to like that. "And ye think ye can match my shots do ye?" She asked playfully.

"If your father gives me a chance I believe my skill with a bow might shock you."

"Will here he comes, and he looks right happy about something."

The big man clapped me on the shoulder again, grinning ear to ear. "I see you've met Merida already. Well they're in agreement lad. Beat or match my lass and her hands is your." He turned to his daughter. "If you aren't gonna fight it? It would mean going with him to his kingdom, but you'd have gone with the winning clan anyways."

"I won among the clans!" She said defiantly. "I wouldnae be going anywhere. But I like him and it would be an adventure. If he can beat me I accept."

Well that was that. Now all I had to do was beat three bullseyes. No sweat.