Merida wove her way through the crowd of people gathered on the docks, trying to force her way between groups of men. She wanted nothing more than to find the oldest sons from the three tribes, but the excessive amount of people standing around and chatting were making it difficult. Finally, she shoved her way out into an open spot, and stumbled right into the arms of Wee Dingwall.

"Oh!" Merida cried out as she caught herself against his chest. "Um, I mean, thank you." She pushed herself up and away from the young boy and brushed off her dress. When she looked up again, she discovered that not only had she stumbled upon Wee Dingwall, but Young Macintosh and McGuffin also.

"Oh, it was no problem, Princess," he said, bowing and kissing her hand.

Merida giggled nervously and pulled her hand away. "Um, yes well. I just wanted to thank you for agreeing with me, about choosing who we should marry, and for trying to fight Mordu, and trying to avenge my mother even though it was unnecessary, and…for everything." When she had finished her speech she took in a deep breath and waited for their response.

"We were happy to, Princess Merida," they all responded at once, and then shot each other stony glares.

"Oh dear," Merida cried, as a thought hit her. "I just realized, you all know my name, and I haven't had the pleasure of learning yours."

"Quite right," Young Macintosh said. "I am known among my friends as Dallan the Bold." He struck what he believed to be an impressive pose and glanced at Merida, only to find that she and the other boys were looking at him incredulously. He deflated and self-consciously pushed his wavy black hair out of his face. "But you can call me Dallan."

Young McGuffin stepped forward, bowed to Merida, and began saying something that no one could understand. The young man's accent was truly confusing.

"How about just saying your name, big guy," Merida said kindly, hoping that if he only said one word they would be able to understand.

"Riley," the oversized youth said with a small nod.

"Riley, very good," Merida said with a pleased smile. She turned to Wee Dingwall. "And you?"

"My name is Neason, fair princess," he said, taking her hand and kissing it yet again. He then went on to kiss her entire arm repeatedly.

While this was happening, Dallan and Riley began shoving each other jokingly. Riley, underestimating his own strength, accidentally pushed Dallan into the water.

"Dallan!" Merida cried. She yanked her arm away from Neason, desperate to get away. She rushed to the edge of the dock and pulled Dallan out of the water.

"I'm fine, Princess," he assured her with a chuckle. He pulled himself to a standing position and smoothed his dripping hair out of his face. He glanced down at his arm, where the blue paint was running in streams and dripping off of his fingertips. He looked back up at the other teens and laughed again. "I was never in any danger. I'm an excellent swimmer."

"Oh is that so?" Merida asked. She shot a sly grin at the other boys and clasped her hands behind her back, trying to look as innocent as could be.

"Of course," Dallan said. He placed his hands on his hips and smiled proudly.

"Alrighty then," Merida grinned. She brought her hands in front of her and stepped towards Dallan. With one good shove from the princess, he was back in the water. Merida threw her head back and laughed out loud, and Neason and Riley were quick to join in. When Dallan bobbed back to the surface, he too laughed.

"Good one, Princess," he chortled as Merida pulled him back onto the dock once again. "Excellent use of the element of surprise."

"Why thank you," Merida grinned, inflated by the compliment. "And please, Merida will be just fine." She looked around at the three young men. "All of you, call me Merida."