The Difference Between Real and Pretend

MERIDAS POV

I close the barn doors behind me, breathing heavily. I wonder what Jack Frost made of my exit.

I think back on when I first saw him.

***

"Faster, Angus!" I yell gleefully, as my companion races through the forest. Up ahead lays a lush, green field of grass. It's on a hill, and I bet if I stood in it, I wouldn't be able to see the forest.

It startled me to see a boy standing in it.

I can't hear what he's saying, but he's yelling something into the air. I muffle a snicker. He yells again, then give up.

Soon, he takes off sprinting, carrying a big stick. He takes a giant leap in the air, only to fall flat on his face. This boy has less grace than me. He kicks his foot in the ground, probably in anger.

I've seen seen enough. I turn to leave, until something catches my eye. A glint of something white.

The boy throws his hands out, making bursts of white poofs. Only, they aren't white poofs.

This boy is literally making snow appear out of his hands.

I decide he must be some sort of witch. Should I approach him?

Suddenly, he collapses on the spot. I tug at Angus's reins, and together, we trot over to where the boy collapsed.

Up closer, I can see he's around my age, maybe a little older. He has bright, white hair. He wears a weird blue shirt, brown pants, and oddly enough, no shoes.

I got to admit, he's easy on the eyes too. I'm not looking too closely though.

His foot is lightly bleeding, making dark red stains contrasting the bright, white snow. I jump down from Angus, to see if he might regain consciousness. When I poke his cheek a few times, but he doesn't stir,

In a split decision, I sling his arm around my neck, and wrap my arm around his torso. Luckily, he's pretty slender, so it's easy to heave him on top of Angus. Angus neighs a little, and I can imagine him being annoyed. I pat the side of his face reassuringly.

"I won't let him hurt us," I whisper to Angus. I begin to grab his reins to lead him away, but before I do, I kneel down and grab the boys stick, a half-shaped moon on the top.

***

"Merida!" My mum calls sharply, breaking me out of my thoughts. I sit in my bedroom with her, as she tries to go over the history of our kingdom. Again. Joy.

"Yes, mum?" I ask meekly. She sighs loudly.

"Just because yer not tah be wed, doesn't mean yuh can stop learning about yer kingdom!" Mum says, a little sternly. Yeah, it's true. When we called off the marriage, I had hoped that it would also call off the princess lessons. Unfortunately, it didn't. At least Mum wasn't as strict as she used to be.

"Muuuuuuum," I groan.

"Fine. That's enough fer the night," Mum gives in, and I grin in victory. She narrows her eyes. "Don't think this is over! Yuh still have much more tah learn!"