5 Chapter Five: My Heart Is Promised

One by one, royals from other lands introduced themselves to the royals of this kingdom. Bowing and offering skills and insights of their daughters, the prince she was placed to protect would smile and bow.

Laying a kiss on the hand of the princess before stepping back. Repeat.

When the last of the royals greeted them, the king and queen sat down behind the long table. Garret, Prince Garret took a few seconds before he too turned and headed behind the table. He glanced at her as he passed and she caught his eyes before he turned away from her.

She watched him sit down softly and stared out into the floor before him. She turned away and looked out watching the interactions of the other royals and the looks from princesses to one another and towards the prince.

She let out a deep breath through her nose and waited for the guillotine to her self-sacrificing heart.

"I hate this," she heard the Prince say beside her, but he wasn't facing her. Was he speaking to her?

"Any princesses caught your eyes, my son?" the queen questioned with a smile.

"No," the quick response made the smile fall on the queen's face and Lynn grinned trying not to laugh behind her mask.

"None?!" the queen said through gritted teeth behind a smile, "do not try me, son."

"I am not trying to try you mother," the prince said with a straight face and a cold tone, "I already told you that this was unnecessary since I have already promised myself to another."

'What?!' Lynn found her eyes widen. She felt her heartbeat quicken and she had to force deep breaths in and out of her. Stupid, foolish prince. She couldn't help the smile she was wearing as she glanced at the queen and the prince.

"Is that so," the queen leaned towards her son, "if she is not a princess then it would not matter."

"I don't understand why I must marry a princess. For money? For pride?" Garret questioned upset as he narrowed her eyes at her mother.

"For peace you stupid boy!" the queen let out a frustrated noise as she leaned back with a scowl on her face.

"Even if I am unhappy," Garret questioned quietly as he looked at his plate.

The queen did not respond as she pasted on a smile and looked out at the crowd. Lynn had always known from the moment they pushed her away, that it was for him, for Garret. Marrying a princess from another kingdom guaranteed resources, safety, and security to not only the royals but also both kingdoms.

It had always been this way.

Glancing at her prince, she saw the way his eyes were staring at his plate and the hand fisted at his side. She blinked her eyes away from his display and looked out into the crowd.

Kings, queens, and princesses all in one area, it sounded like a disaster to her but what could she do? She was not a princess, she was not royalty, and she was nothing but a knight for the royals to do as they pleased.

The sound of heels on the floor caught her attention and she saw the royals from the kingdom in the east walking towards the royals.

"Prince Garret," the princess with long brown tresses spoke up, "may I spend some time with you, so that we may find common interests within one another?"

She spoke calmly and she was very pretty. Lynn thought back to when Garret had greeted her and kissed her hand. The princess had a soft smile in place as she looked down bowing. Lynn wondered if this was the first time the princess was in the presence of a prince.

"Why?" Garret questioned with a sigh as he leaned back.

"Garret!" the queen looked at him with wide eyes and a scowl.

"In case you choose me, I suppose," the princess stuttered out looking down as her shoulders dropped.

"I already made my-" Garret was going to wave off the possibility, but the queen interrupted him.

"Of course, he will my dear. You are brave to ask. Garret, show her the gardens," the queen stated it clearly and loudly with a smile.

"Fine," the prince gritted out as he stood and straightened himself. Always a prince he was.

"Shall we Princess Antella," Garret held his elbow out and the princess shyly took hold of it. Lynn glanced at the king and queen who were conversing with the princess's parents. She looked away when she was addressed.

"Will you not join us Sir Lynn?" Garret questioned and Lynn just looked at him, "are you not my protector?" his lips slowly curled at the corners and Lynn let out a smile. With a nod, she followed a few steps behind them.

She had not seen the gardens since she had left. Were the flowers that they planted still alive and growing in this Spring weather? Were the roses trimmed and were the birds still flying around in the garden? Were the words that they carved into the trees still there? How does the garden look now?

In her musing, she didn't realized they had entered the gardens. Berating herself for not being more aware and getting lost in thought, she focused on what is at hand. Garret walked Princess Antella through the gardens explaining what the flowers were.

"These flowers are my mother's favorite," he said plucking a flower with orange colored petals and a thick stalk.

"It is quite beautiful," Antella said with a smile and thanked Garret when he handed the flower to her.

"This one here," Garret continued forward and Antella followed close behind, "is my father's favorite."

Garret plucked the flower with ivory petals and purple spots at the ends. Handing it to Antella, he continued to another bush.

"This one is special," Garret stood in front of the sunflowers and just stared.

"Why is this one special? Is it your favorite?" the princess questioned and Lynn looked away.

"Yes," he said gently, "and it was hers."

There was a silence and Lynn moved her eyes all over the gardens for a distraction, but all she found was memories of their childhood. The marks on the trunk of the trees, the aroma of flowers, the chirping of the birds, and the warm spring day were all making her feel nostalgic.

She needed to focus.

"Who is she?"

She is here to protect the Prince.

"Someone very special to me."

Don't get distracted.

"Please explain, Prince Garret."

Protect his life over yours.

"She was my best friend."

Your feelings do not matter.

"She is the one I sworn my heart to."

It is for the greater good.

"You must truly love her."

Don't say it, please don't say it.

"Ever since the day we met."

Lynn felt an aching, a longing in her heart and she had to let out deep breaths to steady herself. Glancing back to the two others in the garden, she noticed the tremble of the princess's lips and the lowering of her head.

Looking at Garret, she saw those eyes, beautiful and sad looking at her as if to convey how he felt. Was the aching hers or his? Pain comes in so many different forms, don't they?

"I will always love her," Garret stated not looking away from Lynn, "I can love no one else."

Princess Antella let out a sob and covered her mouth as she ran. Lynn glanced to where she had left to find her exiting the gardens. She did feel sad for the princess. She did nothing wrong and she was a sweet girl.

If Lynn were never a part of Garret's life, Antella would have won his heart. She was sure of it.

"What I told her is the truth," Garret said softly as he stood beside her now looking to where the Princess disappeared.

"Garret," Lynn looked at him and sighed, "you should not love me."

"Because you're not a princess?" Garret frowned, "you know I do not care for titles."

"But-" Lynn tried.

"I love you Lynn, I always will," Garret admitted holding her hand, "one day we will be together."

Lynn let out a soft laugh and couldn't stop the smile on her lips. What a stubborn prince.

"We should return," she pulled away from him, "you should prepare for your mother's anger," she joked at him.

"My ears will burn for the rest of my life," Garret sighed with a smile on his lips.

They both walked out of the gardens and back to the main hall. Lynn felt a chill run up her spine and she blinked at that sensation. The look on the faces of everyone was of anger, pity, and loathing. What happened in the past few minutes that lead them to this?

"My son," Garret's father stood and walked toward them, "Princess Antella stated you are not ready to love," his eyes glanced at Lynn and she felt her face heat up, "because you could not love. Is that correct?"

"My heart belongs to another," Garret, brave stubborn Garret stated his words like they were facts, "making me wed any princess here today would only result in an unholy union."

"I see," he paused before them and took a long look at both his son and Lynn, "a proposition then."

They look at one another before looking at the King who looked back at them calmly.

"My son has a big heart," the King announced, "when he loves, he will love completely."

Lynn felt something wasn't right. How was the king going to fix this? How was he going to continue auctioning his son like a prize to his audience?

"My son had agreed," the king looked at Garret with a twinkle in his eyes, "because you have come to us, we will come to your kingdom. We will bring our best warrior to fight your best. Whichever kingdom defeat our best warrior will win my son's heart."

There were murmurs and Lynn looked around wide eyes. Was the king serious? How was this any better? She looked at Garret whose lips were pursed, and eyes were hard as he stared his father down.

"And if our warrior win, I will be able to marry whoever I wish," Garret spoke up walking over to his father with a grin when he saw the tick of his eye, "I agree to this condition. I promise that if your warrior wins, I will protect and care for your daughter with everything I have."

The murmurs occurred again and Lynn wasn't sure how she felt. In one hand, she was excited because her father was definitely the best in their kingdom and she knows he could win many battles. Another hand, they would be in the other kingdoms and it would be whatever rules they wish. That in itself is terrifying.

"We accept," a group spoke up and others soon agreed. Not one kingdom backed down. That made her nervous.

"Wonderful," the king called out and let out a hearty laugh.

Lynn did not laugh. She was worried and soon, she understood why.