Garrett's Journey

The journey had been a long one, but to him it was worth it. Prince Garrett had been chosen by King Conchobar of Kells to escort to beautiful Princess Linette back to her homeland of Kandar. When he had accepted the duty of escorting her home, he had never realized that it would be so far away.
Her homeland was situated on a small island far across the ocean from the island that housed the kingdom of Kells. Unfortunately for him it pulled him away from his duties as a Mystic Knight. For all he knew when he finally returned to Kells, Maeve could have taken over the entire island.
Garrett shuddered at the thought of Maeve ruling Kells. In fact he didn’t even like the thought of Maeve ruling Temra. She was a ruthless and evil woman. Definitely not fit to lead a land such as Kells and her knew that the other Mystic Knights would never allow it, no matter how hard she tried.
“Prince Garrett?”
He turned his head to the side. The princess stood near him, looking as beautiful as she had the first time he had seen her. The wind whipped her light brown hair around her shoulders and into her soft brown eyes.
Garrett smiled at her, as he bowed. “Princess.”
“I just wanted to let you know that according to the ship’s captain, we should be arriving on Kandar in another day.” Her sweet voice was like music to his ears.
Garrett nodded at her. “It will be good to set foot on dry land again.”
She quietly walked up to him. She could feel him shiver as she laid her hand on his arm. “Is there something the matter, Prince?”
Garrett shifted his weight to one side so he could look at the princess. He could feel his lips curling into a smile, but quickly stopped himself. “I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“About Kells and my duties as a Mystic Knight.”
She looked at her feet. “I apologise for pulling you away from your duties, Prince Garrett.”
He reached out to lay his hand on her shoulder, but decided against it. “You need not apologise. I was chosen to escort you safely home and that is what I shall do.”
Linette glanced back at him. “You are very kind, Prince Garrett.” She could feel her cheeks begin to redden and decided to look out over the ocean.
Garrett watched her for a moment, then also averted his eyes. He knew that she was a beautiful woman, but he was a gentleman. He would never take advantage of a woman or her affections. That was not his way.
Suddenly Garrett realized that he had the perfect opportunity. Linette had practically thrown herself at him only days before. He could feel himself smiling at the way she had feigned light-headedness. He knew she had done it on purpose, but regardless of her fragile condition, he led her to her cabin and left her there to rest.
Linette had been awfully disappointed that he had left, he knew that. Still, Garrett was a Prince, and he would not let anything interfere with his duties to return he to her home. Not even the thought of romance.
He knew that it wasn’t just his desire to be as much of a gentleman as possible, that kept him from accepting her advances. Ever since he had met Princess Deirdre of Kells, he had felt different. She had spurned him, true, but nonetheless, he was determined to prove to her that he could be a gentleman and be a good husband. He would do nothing to ruin any chances that he might have with her in the future.
“I am feeling a bit queasy. I think shall return to my cabin and rest.” Linette raised her hand to her forehead.
Garrett wanted to roll his eyes, at her attempt to get him alone again. Instead he nodded at her and offered his arm. “I’ll help you.”
She smiled wanly and accepted.

“Stay in your cabin and rest, Princess. I shall inform you if there are any changes in our schedule.” Garrett bowed low to her and left. As he had turned to leave, he could see the frown developing on her face.
He sighed a deep sigh relief as he returned to the upper decks. The day was beautiful and warm. The kind of day where he wanted to be left with his thoughts. His thoughts of Deirdre. He wanted so badly for her to acknowledge him as a possible husband. She was a strong spirited woman and had no intentions of marrying, him or anyone else, but he was going to try anyway. When he returned to Kells.
Garrett suddenly frowned. He remembered the way Rohan looked at her and smiled. There were times when he wanted to teach Rohan the proper ways to treat a lady of royalty. But Rohan was Draganta and a respected member of the royal court, even if he was nothing more than an orphan.
A seabird circled over the bow of the ship. Garrett looked up and watched it circle, then dive into the blue ocean waters. Within moments, it came back up with a small fish in its beak. Having secured its lunch, the bird flew away into the distance.
“Land Ho!” shouted one of the crewmembers.
Garrett turned to see the line of an island in the distance. This must be Kandar, he thought. Suddenly he realized that he had looked so forward to getting away from Princess Linette. He had to admit that he had had thoughts about her, but since he had already made up his mind about Deirdre, he would never act upon those thoughts. As long as he kept them in his head, nothing would go wrong.
“Excuse me, Prince Garrett,” came a voice from somewhere near him.
He glanced to the side. A scruffy looking man stood to the right of him, bowing. “We should land at Kandar by late this evening, weather permitting.”
Garrett nodded and the man scuttled off. Apparently none of the crewmen on the ship were used to royalty. Garrett had noticed that they seemed to have no problems talking to Linette though. He had always heard stories that women on ships were bad luck, but the men on this ship seemed to act as though he was the one that would cause them troubles.
Garrett narrowed his eyes as he watched the crewmen perform their tasks. He sighed and decided to inform the princess of their progress.

“Princess Linette?” he asked quietly at the cabin door.
“Yes?” her soft voice answered moments later.
Garrett relayed the information about the arrival to her. She thanked him and continued with whatever she had been doing before he had arrived.
He was thankful that she hadn’t opened the door. He didn’t think he could come face to face with her, especially with the way he was feeling. He missed Deirdre sorely, but knew that she was probably overjoyed that he had left.
Garrett sighed heavily as he made his way to his cabin. Rest was in order. He needed to try to get his mind off Deirdre for a short while and sleeping seemed to be the only way that he could do that. There was still the entire journey to be made back to Kells and he knew without anything to do but think of his princess, he would go mad.
He pushed to door to his cabin opened and entered. The small cot looked inviting, but he feared that he would not be able to rest as he wished. Thoughts of Deirdre flitted in and out of his mind. Every once in a while Linette would enter his thoughts. Two beautiful princesses, one who wanted to be with him and one who didn’t want anything to do with him.
Garrett laughed quietly. Of course the one he wanted to be with the most who be the one who would choose an orphan boy over him. Why did Deirdre have to be so interested in Rohan? What could she possibly see in him? He wasn’t that handsome, nor was he an exceptional warrior.
“Draganta, ha!” Garrett said it aloud before he realized it. Rohan wasn’t really such a bad person. Garrett suspected that if it hadn’t been for Deirdre, they probably would have gotten along better. Then of course there was Angus, the thief.
Angus had been the first one of the four Mystic Knights he had met. He definitely wasn’t much of a warrior. He began to wonder how someone like Angus could have ever become a Mystic Knight. He could understand how Deirdre had been granted the armour and weapon. She was a warrior without equal in the land of Kells.
Garrett smiled as he remembered how she had battled so fiercely against him when he had been controlled by Queen Maeve. He winced at the memories of the time he had been under Maeve’s control. She had set him against the Mystic Knights and the land that he had brought a peace treaty to. Those few days had been terrible. Deirdre was the person on the face of the earth that he would have wanted to harm. But yet he had been so intent on doing so.
He winced at the memories and tried to brush them aside. Deirdre had never trusted him fully since that day. He understood why, he just didn’t want to think about it.
After a while, Garrett fell into a restless sleep. His dreams were filled with odd visions. He could see Deirdre running for her life from some frightful creature, but he couldn’t help her. He could feel himself trying to chase after her to help her. He watched, helpless to do anything, as the creature grabbed her and disappeared from sight. He could hear as he screamed her name, but it was too late, their was nothing left of her. Nothing but her whirlwind crossbow lying on the ground.
Garrett awoke suddenly, his body bathed in a cold sweat. The thought of Deirdre being captured by an unknown creature sent shivers down his spine. He couldn’t bear the thought of Deirdre being harmed.
“Prince Garrett?” a voice at the door called to him.
He realized it was Linette.
“One moment.”
Garrett pulled himself to his feet and ran his hand through his hair. He hadn’t bothered to pull it back for a couple of days. Momentarily he wondered what Deirdre would think.
Garrett groaned. He had to stop thinking about her.
Princess Linette smiled at him as he opened the door to his cabin.
“We’re here. I know my father will be pleased to meet you.” She grabbed his hand, pulling him into the small hall that ran between the cabins.
Garrett noticed that she pulled him rather roughly up against her. “Excuse me, Princess, but I need to get my things.” He pushed away from her and entered his room. As he turned away he noticed that angered look on her face.
“Why do you refuse me, Prince Garrett?” She stepped into his cabin, hands on her hips. She stood defiantly, looking at him.
Garrett sighed as he gathered his things. “Princess Linette, my interests lied only with returning you safely to your homeland.” He turned to look at her. “Nothing else. I am a gentleman and I will not take advantage of a woman, no matter how much she forces her advances on me.” He stared at her, his jaw set in anger.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “If that is how you feel you need not leave the confines of this ship.” With that, she stormed out of the cabin.
He could only watch her go. Normally he would have followed, apologising for his actions, but he knew that, in this case, he meant what he said. He wanted nothing to do with her, as far as intimate relations.
Garrett headed updeck to see what the destination of the ship would be now that they had landed at Kandar.
The ships captain informed him that after taking on some cargo, they would be returning to Kells. Garrett smiled happily and thanked the captain. He then offered them assistance in loading the cargo, which they gladly accepted.
As Garrett helped them load the cargo on the ship, he noticed many young woman watching him. Since he had discarded his tunic, desiring to keep it as clean as possible, he was completely bare chested and he knew that the young woman were enjoying the view. Garrett spent much time in physical training, so his body was well-constructed and his muscles rigid.
He bent to lift an exceptionally heavy box. The woman “Oooohhhed” and “Ahhhhhed” over his abilities. Garrett just smiled. He wished silently that Deirdre could have seen him perform such tasks. Maybe he she had, she would be more interested. He sighed as he continued to load the cargo.

The ship set sail early in the morning the following day. The sun has not yet peeked over the horizon to welcome the new day. Garrett watched as the small island drifted out of sight, leaving nothing but a darkened blur on the horizon. He regretted the way he had acted toward Princess Linette, but it couldn’t have been helped, he silently reminded himself. She had been rather overbearing in her advances toward him. Even though Linette had great beauty, that was all she had. She was not a warrior, nor could she sing, or play the harp. All qualities of Princess Deirdre.
Garrett realized that he compared every woman he saw with Deirdre. To him the Princess of Kells was the ideal woman. Strong, physically and mentally, beautiful, talented, spirited. All things that he found separately in other woman. Never all in one. Just Deirdre, the Princess of the Kingdom of Kells. Just the woman that he loved more than anything in the entire kingdom of Kells.
Yes, he loved her. Garrett supposed he had for a very long time, but never really realized it until he had to leave her. But now, he was on his way back. He would show her that he loved her and that he truly wanted to marry her. Deirdre would listen to him. He knew it.

Days passed while the ship made it’s way across the choppy blue ocean. The ship lurched and bounced as the wind blew the sails from one side to the other. The weather was much worse on the return journey that it had been when he escorted Linette to her home. He wondered momentarily if this could be some repayment for the way he had acted toward the Princess.
He shook his head, knowing that it was only the weather. Then the rains came. Torrents of water came from the heavens, threatening to send the ship to a watery grave. And Prince Garrett of Regart with it. He was determined to assist the crewmembers as much as he could, hoping that in some small way he could help them reach the shores of Kells. Though he knew that the fate of the ship was in that of the hands of Manannen Mac Lir, the god of the sea.
The ship lurched violently. Water poured of the decks, threatening to wash them all overboard. Garrett grabbed at the riggings, trying to steady whatever he could. Then suddenly, as the storm had started, it was over.
The crewmembers began shouting thanks to the various deities, making sure they all received gratitude for saving their ship and comrades. Garrett smiled and stood tall, knowing that his destiny was clear. He was going to make it Kells. He was going to be with the Princess.

The ship docked later that day at a small island. After the power of the storm, they needed to make minor repairs. The cargo below deck had been shifted terribly off balance and needed to be put right. Garrett offered to take care of that job, but the crewmen told him that he should rest and maybe get a good meal in one of the inns. Grudgingly, he agreed, but told them that he was willing to help, should they need it.
The port town was small, nothing more than a fishing village as far as he could tell. Garrett found an inn and had a hot meal. He sat for some time, watching the people of the village go about their daily business. He wondered what is was like, not having to perform specific duties, not having to have others depend on you for their lives. Then he realized that these people still had those responsibilities, but just not in the manner that he did. Being a Prince was not all that it was cracked up to be. He had many duties to perform and many of them were dangerous. But still there were it’s advantages.
He smiled to himself as he thought of Deirdre once again. The best advantage of being a prince, he thought, was getting to marry the lovely princess. He sighed as he wondered what their wedding would look like. He pictured her in a lovely white dress, since he knew that she was still a maiden. She would never let a man take advantage of her. She would sooner kill one, than let them take her maidenhood. The thought entered his mind of being with her, intimately.
Suddenly Garrett sat up. He had stop thinking about her in such ways. It was time for a bath, he decided. A cold bath.

Garrett sat in the middle of a small stream, scrubbing his chest violently. He had never realized the salty sea air permeated things so much. He smell like a fish. And a rather old one at that.
He had already washed his clothes and they were drying on a bush near the stream. He had time. The sun would dry his clothes, but it would take a while. He wanted to be as clean as he could be before landing at Kells. Deirdre was his first thought, and he knew how Deirdre felt about cleanliness. He had heard hear mention often enough to that smelly thief Angus.
Garrett belted out the chorus to the song he was singing. He never thought of himself as one to sing for others, but when it came to being alone with his thoughts, singing was one thing enjoyed. Even is he wasn’t very good. But he didn’t care, no one was listening, other than the gods. At least he was practising, hoping to sing alongside his precious princess one day.
He smiled as he remember her playing the harp and singing softly. Her voice reminded him of the sweetest summer’s breeze. The words rolled off her tongue like the spring rains, awakening the wildflowers in valley. He sighed and realized that his drinking song wasn’t something that she would be interested in hearing. He needed something new. Something that a lady would appreciate.
Unfortunately after being confined to a ship for so long, all he heard were drinking songs. The crew members of the Meridian were all men who had nothing better to do than sit around singing drinking songs. Garrett wasn’t used to that kind of people, but he had to be there. How else was he supposed to return to his beautiful princess?
“Prince Garrett!”
The prince whipped his head up, water flying everywhere. One of the crewmen was coming toward him.
“We’re going to be leaving within the hour, my lord.”
Garrett nodded and thanked him. The dirty little man bowed and hobbled back toward the town. Only a few more days, he thought, then I will be back in Kells.
He pulled himself from the cool waters and ducked behind the bush where his clothes were drying. He quickly dressed himself, noting that the sun didn’t dry things as quickly as he had hoped. Then again, he was going to be at sea for a few more days, and things were likely to get wet again.

The ship left the dock of the small island not long after midday. They were on their way to Kells, once again. Garrett looked forward to seeing the Princess, though he feared that she may not be happy to see him. He knew that when he left, she was more than happy to see him go. The others were also happy to see him leave Kells. Garrett wondered why. He had never really done anything to them to make them despise him so. The entire incident with Maeve was an accident, not premeditated. Deirdre knew that, as did the others, but for some reason he got the feeling that they still blamed him for what happened.
Garrett sighed. He wanted them to like him. In fact he needed them to. Garrett had never had any real friends, only the ones his father thrust upon him. Those few turned their backs on him as soon as they found lives of their own. He had hoped when his betroathal to Deirdre came around that she would be more likely to be interested in him. But instead, it had all turned out like it had with the others. She hadn’t liked him and eventually he had to concede to dissolving the betroathal.
But now he was returning to Kells. He was a changed man. His time with Linette had made him realise that he had truly desired marriage to Deirdre and not just to be away from his home. True, Garrett had always been one for adventure, but the thought of being with Deirdre, pushed away all his desires for a life of danger. All he wanted was to be with her and be happy.

Night fell on the blue waters of the Eire Sea. The moon shone brightly over the tiny waves, the stars pointing the way to the kingdom of Kells. He knew that they were within days of Kells. He could feel it. In fact he almost smell it. He smiled as he headed to his cabin. He was tired and needed sleep. Though his thoughts would remain on Deirdre no matter how much he slept.

“Prince Garrett!”
The prince’s eyes flew open. For a moment, he thought he had heard Ivar’s voice calling for him, but as his eyes adjusted to his surroundings, he realized that he was still on the boat.
“Yes?”
“We are approaching Kells, my lord.”
Garrett sat up on his cot. Kells, already? He couldn’t believe it. He jumped out of bed and gathered his things together. His time with Deirdre was close at hand. He smiled as he thought of her in one of her beautiful court dresses. He hoped she was wearing the blue one.

Within a couple of hours, they had docked at Kells. The lush green hillsides brought back many a memory. The times he spent with the people he considered his friends flooded back to him. He could barely contain his excitement at returning to the place that he considered home. Even though Regart was his home as far as birth was concerned, Kells was where his friends were.
He smiled as he thanked the ship captain and disembarked. The small fishing community was bustling with activity. No one approached him or welcomed him back, but he hadn’t expected anyone to. That would come when he entered Kells castle.
Garrett hoisted his pack over his shoulder and started down the main road toward the castle. He was home. And he wanted to see Deirdre. He hoped that he could convince her to reconsider their previous arrangement. He wanted more than anything to be with her. She was all he wanted. She would complete him.
He walked for hours before he finally saw Kells castle. All he could do was stop and gaze at the stone structure. It was as beautiful as it was when he left. Apparently while he was gone, Maeve hadn’t caused too much damage. Garrett was glad of that. Kells castle was the most charming castle he had ever been to. He knew that most of that charm was because of a certain princess.
He sighed happily and gathered his wits about him. It was time.