So thanks to all this MacBrave love going around my mind betrayed me and a headcanon of these two adorable idiots popped into my head.
Macintosh starts to slowly court Merida, teasing her, flirting with her and trying to get her to take a ride, maybe have a picnic? And Merida, being the stubborn lass that she is, ignores her attraction to him and keeps trying to blow him off by her own kind of teasing.
Finally, Macintosh will corner in the hall and present her with a challenge she could never refuse. An archery challenge between her and himself, and if he wins she has to take a ride with him at sunset for an evening picnic. And if she wins he’ll stop bugging her and step back. She snorts a laugh of course, because there was no way he could ever beat her, so sure, why not? If he wanted to embarrass himself, why should she care?
So, he goes first and he has decent aim and hits the bullseye, but not right in the center…maybe a few inches off and she of course laughs as she takes her spot, knowing she could beat it with both her eyes close. And as she takes her aim, Macintosh slowly sneaks up behind her and right before she releases the arrow…he blows softly in her ear. She yelps and her aim is way off and hits nowhere near the center. Her mouth drops and then angrily whirls around, gives him a shove.
“That’s not fair! You cheated!”
“Oh, aye…I wouldn’t have won if I didn’t, we both know that.” He then takes a step closer to her and tilts up her chin with his fingers. “Meet me at the stable in an hour, my queen…for you owe me a date.”
And then gives her a wink before he saunters off…leaving her completely speechless for the first time since he’s known her.