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1: What does their bedroom chambers look like?

Merida’s chambers is fit for the princess that she is. When she was younger her mother would decorate what she believed fit, but the princess detested her chambers being filled with girly belongings and when she got older had some say in what would happen.

She preferred basic and clean over cluttered and full of rubbish. This was more so that she could find her bow and arrows quickly when she needed an escape from her mother. When her princess lessons became more frequent and she was to do book research in her chambers a table was placed in the open space next to the window.

As every bedroom in Dunbroch castle there was a fireplace. This was so when it got late at night it was easier to heat the room, especially in Winter. Merida also preferred neutral colours decorating her chambers over pink other normally associated with female colours.

I have modelled Merida’s chambers off of the Woodstock Deluxe Bedroom at Thornbury Castle Hotel. [x] [x]

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2: Do they have any daily rituals?

7am the usual morning line-… oh, wrong princess.

Every morning is the same, Merida is awaken by a maid at six am (although she would be horrified at this, every single day, because Merida is one of those girls that would much rather sleep in till midday) and get bathed, dressed and sent down for breakfast with the rest of her family.

Even at the age of twenty she is still going through princess lessons although they aren’t at all what she desires to do with her day. She doesn’t know what else there is for her to learn now that she has been learning since childhood. She takes her lessons by her mother and then lessons with her father when he can give her time away from his kingly duties.

Merida would practice what she has learned and when excused by her mother (or if she gets fed up and sneaks out) she would then do what she loves to do the most and jump up on Angus and race through the glen to get away from the castle life and just be free. The princess would make sure to get in some archery practice so that she doesn’t lose her practically perfected aim. She also would ensure that she goes alone. She hates that her mother tends to have a guard or someone watching her every move.

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Even though she’s impatient when it comes to rules, Merida is still a Princess and, on special occasions, she loves to wear the arrow-shaped pin that her parents gave her on her birthday.

Disney Princess, Panini Sticker Album

(via reubalachmoved)

[reubalachmoved]

Merida is a free spirit and sometimes she likes going to the forest by herself, to feel one with nature and to listen to her own heart more clearly.

Disney Princess, Panini Sticker Album (via reubalachmoved)

[thievingxnori-blog]

There was a smile that pulled at his lips as the less said chilly. It was a well meant smile cause the lass made the word sound rather cute. “Fall is a nice season indeed.” he agreed, he preferred the switch between autumn and winter himself as well as the switch from winter to spring most. “Perhaps I’ve gotten rather immune to the cold.” He smiled. 

When the lad introduced herself he smiled. “Ah, pleasure to meet. Nori of Ri, not from Dun’Broch.” He gave an incline. “Somehow your name rings a bell though.” Nori knew already she was the daughter of the head of the Dun’Broch clan but didn’t see a point to immediately point it out when the lass did not do so herself. 

[tainistear-blog]

“Wish ah was,” sometimes it got really cold in the castle back home. The fires were always burning with logs but she kept getting freezing. Of course her hair helped but not much. Tilting the tankard of ale up to her lips she took a drink to warm herself up. “Aye, it might.” Merida had a feeling many would know that the Leader of the Clan’s daughter was called Merida. Especially after that bear incident. Merida had caused a witch to turn her mother into a bear and when she nearly lost her mother (and her brothers) because of her stubbornness, rumours swirled around the Kingdom and then… further out. “Still, it’s nice tae meet ye too.” She laughed as she lifted her tankard towards him, “Nori o’ Ri,” she nodded her head. “Whit’s it like where yer from?”

[bunchofrpmemes]

Bold all that apply:

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My muse knows how to…

bake a cake from scratch | ride a horse | drive stick | speak a second language | dance | catch a fish | play an instrument | throw a punch | build a deck | ice skate | unclog a drain | program a computer | change a flat tire | fire a gun | sew | juggle | play poker | paint | fly a kite | sculpt | write poetry | change a diaper | sing | shoot a bow and arrow | ride a bike | swim | sail a boat | do a back flip | play chess | give CPR | pitch a tent | flirt | stitch a wound | read palms | use chopsticks | write in cursive | use an electric drill | braid hair | make a campfire | make a mixed drink | do sudoku puzzles | wrap a gift | give a good massage | jump-start a car | roll their tongue | do magic tricks | do yoga | tie a tie | skip a rock | shuffle a deck of cards | read Morse code | pick a lock

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When it comes to children Merida is inclined to believe that she’s a much better friend than she would ever be a mother. She thrives on being a big sister to the wee devils but when it comes to the relationship with her mother that is scarred and just slightly hanging by a thread. This has hindered her ability to believe that she would be a good mother because in her mind she hasn’t had a good mother figure to show her how to be a mother.

The proof is in the pudding as far as she’s concerned. She’s been a great older sister to the triplets. She loves being around children and children love being around her. Merida is always hanging out with the children on the Kingdom. She gets into all sorts of trouble with them – and in most cases is the reason they cause trouble. But, she knows when it comes to having her own children that she can’t just be friends with them. She has trouble with authority figures, let alone being the authority figure. Sure this might change in the future and she’ll be a brilliant mother, and respect authority, but as of right now this is how she feels and considers the prospect of motherhood.

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The name “Merida” means “someone who’s honoured and valued.” A true Princess’ name, don’t you think?

Disney Princess, Panini Sticker Album (via reubalachmoved)

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2: Do they have any daily rituals?

A princess rises early and that’s the case every morning for Merida. No matter the age if she’s under the ceiling of DunBroch’s castle then the princess is awoken with the birds and the bugs so that her mother can start schooling her as soon as possible. After bathing, getting dressed, eating breakfast, her morning lessons and spending time with her brothers, Merida then goes to the stables to tend to Angus. She doesn’t like any of the other stable hands dealing with any of his daily routine. She likes to do it all by herself, and has done since her father showed her how to do it when Angus was but a foal. After that she might go out for a ride on Angus. It doesn’t matter if Queen Elinor has more planned lessons, she needs time to escape and the opportunity to be free. On the days that her father has hunting with the male clan members Merida tends to tag along. This may give the Queen butterflies in the stomach, but it makes the princess even fierier as she loves it. It’s a way for her to bond even more so with the King. If she was born a Prince then she would have gotten to tag along regardless – so why should she not be allowed to do so? She was disobeying gender stereotypes already as it was. In her daily routine she makes sure to practice her archery. Although her aim is true, she knows that it’s through constant practising and performance that she will keep it that way. She doesn’t want to slip and then one day when she needs her aim to be true, it isn’t. She would feel like such a disappointment after using her archery skills to show off in the past. Half of Merida’s activities are monitored by a guard that is sent there after her from her mother. She hates it. She understands that Elinor just wants to make sure that she’s safe and sound – but it seems like she never gets time to herself. Thankfully, however, Angus is faster than her guards and their horses, so she tends to slip away at any given opportunity.

[reubalachmoved]

[tainistear-blog]

New headcanon for how I’m going to run this blog.

Okay, so you know that via this headcanon, I treat Merida as Princess of DunBroch, a Kingdom, and ignored the fact that she would one day become Queen because the family had male heirs, but I realised that I’ve been going through this all wrong. Merida, could come to rule DunBroch, over the triplets – and why? Because DunBroch isn’t only a Kingdom. First, and foremost it’s a clan. And, Scottish clans were ran differently than royalty. Clan chiefs, which is what Fergus was before the other chiefs/Lords gave him the title of King, wasn’t about heirs, or who was born first, it was about who was strong enough to lead the clan, and rule over the clan members. This often led to heirs being bet out from someone who wasn’t even part of the royal family if someone showed enough strength that they would be a better leader. And, even more so – male OR females could be clan chief. Unlike in Ireland where it had to be a male, Scottish clans also let a woman lead. This is what I think I’m going to base Merida’s future off of. It’s not going to be if she’s going to be QUEEN, like Elinor wants, she’s going to want to be the clan of DunBroch’s chief. Merida doesn’t want to be Queen, she’s not ready for the responsibility, but it’s understandable. Elinor rules. She is basically what every Disney Princess/Disney Queen is. She is not the chief, she is not the strength and power that Fergus is that makes him the chief. She’s the intelligence, righteous force behind Fergus and keeps him in line. She’s the diplomat. Merida doesn’t want to be that. She wants the sword in her hand, the arrows flying from her aim and the chance to show that she can lead. Clan leaders can be elected, so unless there’s full support from the people in the clan then the first born son (or daughter in this case, as its normal if the male heir cannot lead, and the triplets are so young) may not be adopted as head of the clan. The clan’s chief. So if MacIntosh, Maguffin and Dingwall clans riot then there can be a war and disruption – exile and dare I saw it, brute force to get what we want, just like we saw in Once Upon a Time. This is why I’m going to take it this way – Merida will fight to be chief of her clan, but not to be Queen of her Kingdom. I’m running Merida as a daughter who lives as part of a Scottish clan, not as the Princess of a Kingdom.