For the Love of A Princess

Prince Garrett and Princess Deirdre stood in the throne room of the castle of Kells. They stared at each other waiting for the other to say something or make a move. They had been standing in the throne room for most of the day trying to hammer out an agreement. Her father had arranged a marriage between when they were both no more than days old. Deirdre had never even met this man that she was destined to be wed to, but now that she had met him, she wished that he would just go home. And Prince Garrett? He wanted to marry Deirdre. He couldn't understand why she didn't want to marry him. She was beautiful and had a fire inside her that would make him quite happy in the years to come, but for some reason she didn't see the same in him.
Deirdre stared defensively at Garrett. She didn't want to marry him. She didn't love him. She didn't even like him. Rohan was much more interesting and much less of a braggart. Suddenly she realized she was thinking of Rohan again. She couldn't seem to keep her mind off of him. He was quite handsome and very charming, in fact she had always thought that of him. They had known each other for several years and she had always had an interest in him, but she didn't think that he would ever be interested in her.
"Why do you not want to marry me?" Garrett asked her.
She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. As she turned away from him to take a seat next to the throne, her turquoise blue dress flowed around her ankles. She looked quite stunning in the dress she wore, in fact it was her favourite. Not because of the colour, but because the way it made Rohan smile when she wore it.
"I don't love you. How hard is that to understand?" She seated herself and glared at him.

Unknown to both of them, Rohan and Angus watched from the small window of the chambers of the Druid, Cathabad. They had a perfect view of the throne room and the argument between Garrett and Deirdre. Rohan had worried about the Princess ever since Garrett had started badgering her about the wedding. He could see that she wasn't sleeping well and that she spent most of her time worrying about her father's wishes.
"What do you think's going to happen?" Angus whispered to his friend. He knew that Rohan was in love with Deirdre, but also knew that his friend was too much of a gentlemen to ever say anything to the red haired Princess.
Rohan looked at the thief. "I don't know. Hopefully though, Garrett will back down and stop this onslaught of questions."
Angus turned to look at his friend, seeing the lines of worry on his face. He wanted his friend to be happy more than anything else, but he knew that if Deirdre married Garrett, that wouldn't be.

Garrett approached Deirdre. "You can learn to love me."
She sighed again and leaned back against her chair. "I don't want to love you, Garrett."
"Why not? What's wrong with me? I'm handsome, charming, a good warrior..."
"And a braggart!" The Princess jumped from her seat.
Garrett stared at her. "Well, so what if I am? At least I have something to brag about." His voice rose.

Rohan jumped forward. He wanted to go to the Princess’ aid, but knew that he needed to keep his place. It was her fight, not his. Plus, he knew that she could handle herself quite well. She had proven that in many a battle.

"There are others who can brag as well as you." Deirdre stepped away from he seat and from the Prince.
He followed her, then stopped in his tracks suddenly. "Rohan. It's Rohan isn't it."
Deirdre whirled around. "Rohan? Why do you say that?"

Angus’ eyes widened as he listened to the princess. Rohan leaned forward trying to make sure that he had heard his name and not another.

"Because, you spend more time around him than you do me. I've seen the way you look at him when you think no one else sees." Garrett's voice became quiet.
Deirdre stared at the Prince. She couldn't believe he had said that to her. Rohan? Why would she want to marry Rohan? Then she realized that he was right. Rohan was the man that she most wanted to be with.
"Admit it, Princess." Garrett whispered.

Angus shoved his friend in front of him. This was an important moment for both Rohan and Deirdre. If Deirdre would finally admit how she felt, then Rohan would know and he would no longer have to hide his feelings for her.

"Admit what?" Deirdre challenged.
He approached her. "Admit that you do not want to marry me because of Rohan."
She looked him in the eyes. "So what if that was the case. What then?"
He sighed and looked down, then back at her. "Then I will sign the treaty and dissolve the betroathal." Before Deirdre could speak though, Garrett said more. "You need to be truthful, Princess, not only with me, but with yourself."
She glanced away, then slowly turned around. She didn't know what to do.

At that moment, Rohan wanted to go to the aid of the Princess. He wanted to tell her that he cared for her, that he loved her, but he couldn’t move from the spot where he stood. He needed to know more. Rohan also knew that if Deirdre found out that he had been eavesdropping on her conversation with Garrett, she would never let him forget it.

"I don't know what I feel, Garrett. All I know is that I do not wish to marry. You or anyone else."
Garrett sighed and bowed to her as he left the room. Deirdre sat on the chair next to her father's throne, a throne which would one day be hers. She knew that she needed to be wed before she became Queen, but Garrett was not the man she wanted to rule with.
"Princess?" Rohan's voice came from behind her.
She turned to look at him. He smiled at her. Rohan had such a soft and kind smile. She loved his smile.
"Rohan." She stood from her chair and walked across the throne room to stand in front of him.
He could see she was upset from her argument with Garrett. "I heard voices and wanted to make sure you were well."
She nodded and smiled as he lay his hand on her shoulder. His touch was gentle. She secretly wished that he would touch her face, ever so gently. But she knew that such an action would only cause turmoil within her, within Rohan. within the kingdom. Such a union would never be approved.
"Do you want to talk?" There was a genuine concern in his voice. He cared greatly for her, but feared that she would never open up to him. They had been close since they were young, but she never confided in him.
She looked up at him. His brown eyes were deep and full of kindness. A light breeze ruffled his reddish brown hair. "Why can't it be you?" With no further words, she left the throne room. And Rohan staring after her.
Angus came in the throne room. He didn't see the princess anywhere, but did see Rohan standing in the middle of the room, his eyes fixed on the main entrance.
"Rohan, are you all right?"
The knight slowly turned to look at his friend. "Did you hear what she said?"
Angus shook his head.
"Why can't it be you? That's what she said." Rohan could feel his heart skip a beat.
A smile split Angus' face. "Hey, that's good right?"
Rohan said nothing, he just nodded. "Yeah, I guess so." He smiled as he thought of the possibility that there was a future for him and Deirdre after all.