Edgar walked silently from the door as Merida sobbed on the edge of her bed. She had money strewn all over her bed but even he could see that it wasn't going to be enough. Higgs had written Elizabeth and she supposedly met up with Lord Clarvins, but he wouldn't budge. She at least found out what the percentage of interest was for the four years and when Higgs found out, he pretty much confirmed that there was no way he could come up with that at month's end, let alone year's end; especially in lump sum. Seeing Merida trying to scrounge every little piece of coin she could find was heartbreaking to Edgar had even found out that she had tried to go to the bank for a loan. Of course, since she wasn't a citizen nor of nobility, they wouldn't give her anything. Seeing her sobbing on the bed and realizing that he was hurting her, he knew what he had to do.

The door opened and Edgar looked at the old man.

"Can I help you?"

"May I please speak with Lord Clarvins?"

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No, but please tell him that um... Mud is here."

"Mud?" the man said, lifting an eyebrow.

"He'll know what it means."

The butler allowed Edgar to stand in the foyer as he went to go get Patrick. Edgar looked around at the dingy manor. He could tell it hadn't been used in a while from the musky smell as well as all the windows being open to try and air out the place.

"I'm surprised." Edgar turned at hearing Patrick's voice. "I honestly didn't expect you."

"How can you say that when you won't budge on anything we propose?" Edgar growled, clenching his fists.

"I'm not exactly as heartless as you make me to be. Come, let's chat, shall we... Edgar."

Edgar made a face at the way he mocked hi name and followed him along. They sat outside at a small table where a maid was laying out tea.

"Are you here to plead?"

"I'm here to get things done."

"Oh." He said with a condescending laugh. "So scary.

"Stop it... Look, there's no way they can pay that kind of money in one go. Why can't you split it?"

Patrick sighed. "The problem with splitting it up is the interest."

"Then drop the interest."

"I bought you to work for me, not to have a child or a friend; a worker. I paid for you and hardly got to get my money's worth out of you. You were overpriced anyway."

"How is that my problem?"

"It is now, isn't it?" Edgar frowned. "The fact of the matter is that you were mine and they took you, thus they stole from me. Now, I could go to the law and make a big deal out of it but I don't feel like doing that. So, either they pay or you stay."

"So... if I come back voluntarily... you'll drop the debt?"

"Yes." He sipped some tea. "As I said, I'm not as heartless as I seem."

"But you're making me leave my family! My mum and-"

"You consider that woman a mother? My, my, how far you have come. Let me guess, Lord Northumberly is like a father to you? I mean, Ms. Dunbrough does seem like she would give the world for you to not be taken away from her... give the skin off her body if it would repay the debt. Yes, she does have a motherly quality about her... but Lord Higgs doesn't seem to want you as much as she does."

"You don't know anything about them." Edgar hissed.

"I know enough. If Higgs Northumberly wanted you to stay so badly, don't you think he would borrow money from as many people as he possibly could? Get a loan of some sort? I'd even accept placing a down payment of some sort as long as the other part was before the end of the month and the rest in full, but I don't see him doing anything about that."

"He can't do that right now."

"Then why hasn't he sent someone? To be honest, I'm surprised at Ms. Dunbrough as well. Her usual gusto is quite lacking."

"She's... she's doing what she can..." Edgar said, trying not cry at her desperation. "She's doing everything she can..."

"This may come as a shock to you, Edgar, but life isn't fair for everyone. There are times in life when you have to accept that you can't do anything about the situation."

"Can't... can't I just work for you and live with them? Please! Please, Lord Clarvins..."

"I'm not going to torture you." He said with a frown.

"It has nothing to do with that! You know that! You're only doing this to get back at what happened at the party and for Mr. Higgs being with Lady Hinkley!"

"So?"

"You can have the old rat-faced bimbo! Steal her! Trade me for her!" Edgar stood up and leaned on the table, his blue eyes wild in desperation. "What if I found a way to break up Mr. Higgs and Lady Hinkley and have her running back to you? If I have her break Mr. Higgs' heart then wouldn't it beneficial for you to watch him suffer as you take Lady Hinkley back and show her off? Isn't that punishment enough?"

"It's quite tempting, but no." he said with a fleeting smirk. "It would take too long and knowing Elizabeth, it would be very hard to get her away from Lord Higgs so easily... Why do you have her so much?"

"It doesn't matter!"

Patrick stood up. "Due to your education, I won't make you a scrub boy or work in the stables as a stablehand. The only other offer I can really give is that if Lord Higgs can provide me the receipts of how much he paid for you schooling, I can deduct that from the initial price and adjust the percentage accordingly, but that's it. Until I am paid, you are legally my bought and paid for worker."

"Lord Clarvins." Patrick turned as Edgar stood up and turned, bowing to him. "I am in your services, milord."

"You're giving up?" he said, lifting an eyebrow."

"How is it giving up when it's a lost cause? That's just strategy, is it not? A fighter knows when he's been beaten and unless a leprechaun is around to hand us a pot of gold twice a week for the month, there is no way we can pay this. You won't budge, you won't compromise, and you're playing dirty with the interest. If that's all that's going to happen, then I'd rather you not torment my mother any longer. Release the debt from Lord Northumberly and I will stay to be your slave, as you bought me for."

Patrick was actually impressed. "My, my, you're more eloquent than I anticipated... and smart. I know you didn't learn that from school, so I guess having Ms. Dunbrough as a mother isn't all bad... I will write a letter to Lord Northumberly to inform him the debt is closed."

**********************

A few days later, Merida marched into the drawing room, where Higgs and Elizabeth were speaking, and slammed down a piece of paper onto the desk.

"Ms. Dunbrough?" Elizabeth asked, seeing how the maid was fuming.

"Two days. I couldnae find Edgar for two days and do ye want to know why?" She scooted the paper to him. "I hope ye're happy." Higgs tried to write something but she threw her hand up. "Save yer ink. I dinnae want to hear or read what ye have to say, Laird Northumberly. Doesnae do any good."

She stormed off, slamming the door behind her as Elizabeth picked up the paper.

"Would you like for me to read it?" Higgs gestured for her to read. "It is from Patrick. It says, "Greetings Lord Northumberly, I am writing you to inform you that the payment will no longer be necessary regarding the child, Edgar, that has been in your home for the last few years. He has voluntarily given himself back to me in exchange to dropping the debt entirely. As a bonus, if you send me the receipts of his schooling, I will pay you for time you have invested in him. A debt for a debt."" Elizabeth made a face.

IS THAT THE END?

"No... it's um... there's more but it's quite insulting."

READ IT.

She cleared her throat. " "I'm actually quite surprised at you. Ms. Dunbrough was so fond of the boy that he even considered her like her mother and sadly, you like a father. Ms. Dunbrough seemed to try to do everything that was feasibly possible in order to keep Edgar there. If the boy hadn't come himself, I feel like I would have gotten a knock on my door from her... but your lack of motivation almost insults even me. It's quite clear both of them were relying on you (and your wealth and status) to come up with a solution to this issue. Your father is still influential, as well as your mother. I honestly believed I would see them as well, or hear of them visiting my own parents, but I did not. It seems I (and the boy) were mistaken on your level of affection for him, and I'm sure it's now quite clear to Ms. Dunbrough how little you valued him. That woman would kill for him but you can't even pay for him? No matter, though, the debt is paid and I don't recall any other grievances between us. Sincerely, Lord Patrick Clarvins."

Higgs sat in silent, his ire climbing and higher and higher, making it harder and harder for him not to break off his own fingers from clenching so hard.

"I'm so sorry for all of this, Mr. Higgs-"

CALL FOR MARLOW.

Elizabeth called for Marlow and a few minutes later, she came into the room.

"You called?"

MERIDA ISN'T IN THE HOUSE, IS SHE?

"No, she left soon after she gave you that letter."

DO YOU KNOW WHERE SHE COULD BE?

"I believe she said she needed to kill someone? Something? I think she went to the forest to blow off some steam."

I APOLOGIZE, MY LADY, BUT I MUST TEND TO THIS MATTER. He said, standing up.

"Of course... Although..." Higgs turned back to her. "Would it be too much trouble to stay here again for the night? I don't think I gave the names much time, so I'd like to try again."

YES. MARLOW, PLEASE ARRANGE A ROOM FOR LADY HINKLEY.

Marlow bobbed a curtsy and led Elizabeth to another room as Higgs went to go find Merida.

*****************

It had been way too long since Merida had a bow in her hand. With the invention of muskets, the simplicity of using a bow and arrow seemed moot when hunting, but it sure felt so damned good in her hands as she felt the power of every arrow leaving the string. It was a present from Mr. Higgs for their second year 'anniversary' as an employee of his home. She asked to have it made since there wasn't a weaponry or smithy for miles. For her, it was a two-fold gift: she could use it to blow off steam and keep up her archery skills, and it was used to hunt for wild game for dinner. A twig snapped and she turned, bow knocked, finding Higgs standing there eerily in the dark forest.

"Ye have nerve coming here. I ought to send this arrow right through ye."

YOU COULD TRY, BUT THE DULLAHAN CAN'T BE KILLED.

"Good, then that means I can shoot ye until I'm satisfied and not feel the guilt of yer death."

WE'LL GET HIM BACK, MERIDA.

"Oh, will we now? Why are ye so concerned with getting him back now? Ye didnae seem too concerned with keeping him from getting taken in the first place."

I AM NOT THE NATIONAL BANK, MERIDA! GIVING CLARVINS THAT MUCH MONEY IN ONE GO WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE! I LOVE EDGAR AS MUCH AS YOU DO-

"Dinnae ye lie to me like that." She said, glaring at him. "Ye have tolerated Edgar's presence but ye have never loved him like I have. Whether it was because it made me happy or because ye felt ye owed Edgar for bringing me back to ye when ye were in yer own pits of hell, love was never the reason ye let him stay."

I ADMIT I WAS STANDOFFISH, BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE HE WANTED ME TO BE A FATHER TO HIM. I CAN BARELY BE HUMAN AND I HAD TOO MUCH OF MY OWN TRAUMA TO FEEL WORTHY OF THAT ROLE. I MAY NOT HAVE SHOWN ITMUCH, BUT I DO LOVE HIM AND IT'S HARD TO TELL IN THIS FORM HOW IRATE I AM, BUT I AM.

"Ye ken what yer problem is, Mr. Higgs?" Merida said, knocking the bow again. "Ye say a lot of things but most of the time I dinnae ken ye really understand what it means. Ye talk of love and loyalty and sacrifice and pain, but it only has to do with ye and what ye can get from others to quell those things in ye. Ye act like it's the circumstances around ye or the people around ye that make ye unable to do certain things, but it's just an excuse. Ye're too lazy to pull up your britches and walk through the mud to help anyone but yerself." She shot the arrow past him, knocking another one. "For four years, I waited on ye to make a move because I wanted to make sure that ye were ready; I didnae want to break yer fragile feelings. I sacrificed my time and energy on a man who couldnae even take it when it was revealed to him how selfish he was. Ye led me along to drop me for a woman who was going to be easier. It was safe for ye, but what about me? I'm left with feelings I just cannae shake, watching ye be happy while I die inside everraday." She shot another arrow, this one close to Higgs' arm. "Even afore I started to love ye romantically, I always loved ye as a dear friend, a close companion. I would do anything for ye and I have done many things for ye. Ye speak a lot about how ye value that but... to be honest, there are verra few times that ye've returned the favor. I dinnae keep accounts about how many times I've done something for ye and ye havenae for me, but ye cannae sit there and tell me that I havenae given up more of myself to make sure ye were happy or safe or whatever the case my be. I would give my life for ye, but I dinnae ken ye would go to that length for me.

"Edgar was like my own bairn. I didnae birth him, but he was mine and I loved him. I tried everrathing I could to keep him from having to feel guilty and going back and an he hadnae left, I was going to offer myself as exchange for Edgar and work off his four years... I was going to add my petty savings to whatever ye could give as a down payment of some kind... anything to keep my boy with me. But what did ye do? An ye did anything, I sure as hell didnae see it. I thought that when ye almost let him die way back when that it was just a strange coincidence, but this just confirmed everrathing I ever thought. Ye didnae send Edgar off to school to make him educated, ye sent him off to not deal with him."

Merida walked closer to Higgs and knocked the bow again, pointing it straight at his heart.

"There are many, many blunders that I have and still overlook, but this... the way that ye act and the way that ye lie isnae something that any beast or curse or creature has made ye do. Ye chose this as yerself, as Higgs Northumberly... and that I cannae forgive. You want to prove something? Then go get my boy back. I dinnae care how or how much or how long, ye bring him back to me or I willnae stay here any longer."

Higgs was a little caught off guard. YOU CAN'T REALLY MEAN THAT.

"Like blood bleeds a wound, I do. Ye have Lady Elizabeth to break yer curse, so what do ye need me for? To coddle ye? As the one ye've chosen, isnae that what Lady Hinkley is for?"

SO YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE IF I DON'T GET HIM BACK FOR YOU? IS THAT THE ONLY REASON YOU'VE STAYED SINCE THAT TIME?

"Ye cannae have yer cake and eat it too, Higgs!" she screamed. "How fucking selfish are ye going to continue to be?! I dinnae talk so that ye willnae listen! When my mouth opens and speech comes out of it, ye damn well better hear what I have to say! Letting Edgar stay wasnae a condition to keep me here with ye! I've given myself to ye 100% since I grabbed ye up in the marketplace and ran all the way home that first night! Why do ye ken that everrathing I do is contingent on something? Yer indecision and fear has caused all this to happen and ye stand there trying to blame me? I've shown my loyalty, I have said everrathing I can to make ye understand but it's not getting through to yer thick, dumb, stupid head! So why dinnae ye show me for once why I should stay? Show me loyalty?" Higgs didn't say anything. "Get out of my fucking face afore I see how many arrows it takes to kill a Dullahan."

Higgs turned and left, leaving Merida in the forest. She had done everything she could and he had done nothing in return, not on the grand scales she had done for him. It was his turn to prove himself and Merida was afraid she would have to leave this wonderfully magical world behind.

+++++++++++++++++++

you can't take and not give, higgs. that's called stealing and there are instances where that just won't do