3 Chapter Three: Do You Remember Our Promise?

The sun was slowly rising when Lynn got up. Barely receiving a few hours of sleep, she sat up stretching her arms above her. Blinking the sleep away, she stood and put on her light wear for the day.

She walked out of the room and noticed her father and uncle were already awake talking to one another. Moving her eyes away, she moved to grab an apple for her breakfast. Walking out the door, she heard the two adults follow her outside.

"Here," her uncle handed her a wooden staff as he held another, "do your usual warm up and then we will spar. Your father had been excited to see your progress."

Lynn nodded and headed to the clearing to stretch her legs and arms. Keeping her mind calm and her breathing in check, she stood and looked over at her uncle and nodded.

She watched her uncle stand 6 feet before her and readied his stance for an offensive attack. Lynn mimicked the form and waited as she held the staff with both hands at her right side. She watched her uncle rushing toward her and she stood her ground watching his movements.

Lifting his staff, her uncle aimed at her left abdomen, but Lynn blocked it and jumped back before rushing forward to strike her uncle's left side. Her uncle blocked the move and tried to push her to stumble back, but Lynn used her feet to kick at the inside of her uncle's knee.

As her uncle lost his balance momentarily, Lynn took advantage by moving back to gain momentum as she rushed forward aiming the staff in front of her to strike. Her uncle blocked but was pushed back enough to fall back.

She aimed her staff at his face only to feel her legs swept from under her. Falling hard against her side, she let out a grunt before rolling quickly to a stand. Her uncle was already rushing toward her when she stood, forcing her into the defense.

Blocking the hits, she was being pushed backwards and she knew that her uncle had the advantage. She watched as she blocked the hits her uncle was attacking and caught the pattern.

As her uncle went for a hit on his third strike to her right shoulder, she forced whatever strength she still had to attack his staff before banging the hilt against his chin. An angry grunt escaped her uncle's lips before the back of his hand smacked her across the face.

It stung. It always stung.

Both were breathing hard and though her uncle had more experience than she did, she was proud of herself for being able to land a hit almost every time they spar.

"Burley!" Her father shouted as he stomped over to them, "how dare you lay hands on my daughter!"

"Brother," Burley spoke up as he stood straighter rubbing the wound on his chin.

"Is this how you train her?! Is this how you train the rest of the children?" Lynn could see the veins at her father's temple pulse. She had only seen it a handful of time and each time did not end well for anyone.

"She must learn to feel these types of pain," her uncle explained logically, "you of all people know torment and torture are possible outcomes when fighting the enemies."

"I do not care," she could tell her father was going to let his anger win, so she fell back on what worked.

"Papa," Lynn started with a soft voice, "will you please get me an ice pack before you go?"

Her father turned to her so quick that she thought he broke his neck. His eyes were wide and he looked like he was trying to comprehend what he heard from the closing and opening of his mouth.

"Please?" she touched her right cheek where the pain throbbed.

She saw her father sent a look to his brother before heading into the home. Lynn looked at her uncle to see him staring at her. Tilting his head to her, she reciprocated it as her father came back outside.

Grabbing her chin in his fingers, he lifted her head as he placed the flower printed ice pack against her cheek gently.

He was looking at her face to capture the scars he saw littered on her skin. Letting out a sigh, she tried to pull back, but her father held her tight. His eyebrows scrunched up as his lips thinned.

"Thank you," she placed her hand against her father's hand against the ice pack. Letting a soft squeeze, she pulled away replacing her father's hand on the ice pack with her own.

Turning away, she went over to the bench near the side of the fields and sat down. She watched a few words being said between the brothers before they both headed out.

Looking out into the fields, now filled with weeds that once held beautiful flowers, she closed her eyes.

[["The flowers are so pretty mama!"

"They are, aren't they."

"It is more pretty than the castle garden!"

"Oh sweetheart, that can't be true."

"It is mama! Even Garret said so."

"I'm sure he'd agree to whatever you say."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"It's nothing dear. Close your eyes darling. Use your nose to see instead."

"But my nose doesn't have eyes."

"Just close your eyes. Go on."

"Okay."]]

Lynn opened her eyes and let out a soft smile.

"Wow."

Lynn turned quickly getting ready to be on offense but saw that it was just the prince standing and staring at her.

"My Prince," Lynn bowed before straightening up.

"I, I haven't seen you smile in a long time," Garret admitted with a smile walking toward her.

"Is there something you need, my prince?" she questioned still holding the ice pack against her cheek.

"I," the smile fell, "I told you to just call me Garret, remember?"

Lynn thinned her lips. Of course she remembered, but it wasn't safe anymore. Things were different; they were different.

"My apologies," Lynn bowed again, "I don't feel it is appropriate for me to call the Prince by his first name and not his title."

"Appropriate?" she watched his brows furrowed before he shook his head walking towards her once more, "I don't care Lynn. Please just call me Garret. Do I have to beg? Wait, are you joking like last time?"

She couldn't stop the small smile gracing her lips. He remembered that moment too.

"Now, can you stop being so formal with me, it's weird," Garret frowned touching her hand that was holding onto the ice pack.

"I have to," Lynn said softly watching the way the Prince's eyes roamed her face like her father had. Was he looking at the small litter of scars on her face too?

"No you don't," he let out a short laugh, "you could call me whatever you want and no one can stop you because I said so."

"That's not true," she let out a grin before it fell, "the king and queen overrides even you, my prince."

"Hey," his other hand cupped the other cheek, "I want you to call me Garret. My name is Garret and only Lynn, my best friend can ever call me by my first name."

He looked so serious that it caught her off guard for a moment. In that moment, she laughed. She hadn't laughed in a long time and she couldn't help holding onto him as her whole body shook with her laughter.

When she felt the laugh ease, she realized they are holding one another. Her eyes widened and she tried to pull away, but Garret held tighter.

"I missed you," she heard him say and she closed her eyes. She couldn't say it back because it would just make things harder.

"You should go back to the castle before someone notice," she whispered gently.

He pulled away and looked at her and Lynn felt like her emotions were naked. She could never really hide how she felt for him.

"Do you remember the promise in the garden?" he said quietly as his hands wrapped around hers.

"Yes," she whispered softly and he smiled brightly.

"Good," he kissed her forehead bent down a little and waited.

[["I guess I have to go back."

"Oh, okay! See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah! See you tomorrow!"

"Wait Garret!"

"Hm? What is-" "Did you just, did you just kiss me?!"

"Oh, was I not supposed to kiss the prince? Sorry. I didn't know. My mama and papa kissed me on the head when they go somewhere. Sorry, I should've known not to."

"No! I mean, I didn't expect it."

"Was it okay?"

"Um… uh, yeah."

"Okay!"

"What are you doing?"

"It's not nice if you're the only one getting a kiss."

"Oh, you want me to, uh, okay." "Is that okay?"

"Thank you Garret! See you tomorrow!"

"Yeah! See you."]]

Removing her lips from his forehead, she didn't try fighting the smile against her lips. He let out a soft laugh and continued to hold her hands.

"Aren't you heading back my prince," she said to receive a frown, "Garret."

"I really don't want to," Garret let out a sigh and ran his thumbs against her hands, "I really miss you. I miss this. I miss you saying my name," he mumbled the last part avoiding her eyes.

"Eh? I missed that last part," Lynn furrowed her brows.

He leaned his forehead against hers and the closeness was familiar. It made her feel like she was young all over again. He smelled of roses and honey; it filled her nose and she found her eyes closing.

She always liked the way he smelled. It reminded her of her mother, of comfort, of love. She opened her eyes slowly so she can see the man before her. She felt herself flush noticing the prince was staring at her.

"Is there something on my face?" she whispered as she frowned.

Garret didn't say anything and Lynn furrowed her brows as she pulled her head back. He blinked his eyes as if startled before he pulled away removing his hands on hers.

"Uh, sorry," he cleared his throat and sent an apologetic smile to her.

She sent a smile back and they just stared at one another.

'You can't be close to him, not like before,' she reminded herself. Her smile fell and she looked toward the field. He would be married to a princess and you would watch him fall in love, raise children. You would be his protector for life.

"I'm happy for you," she said softly as a soft wind flew by.

"For what?" he looked at her tilting his head.

"You will be wed and have a happy life, like how you should," she turned to him to see a frown on his lips. His arms were crossed in front of him as he looked away from her.

"But it's not what I want," he bit out with a snarl facing the fields.

"You don't have a choice," she let out a sigh.

"Of course I do! And so do you Lynn! We don't have to always listen to them," he grabbed her right hand into his hands, "we could do what we want. What we choose."

"Will it be for the best though?" she questioned looking for an answer.

"Best for us," he admitted aiming his green eyes at her.

"What is it that you want?" she wondered searching his face. He looked away for a moment before squeezing her hand and keeping eye contact with her.

"You," he said with conviction that Lynn gawked at him. What? What did he just say?

"Stop it," she whispered out pulling her hand away from him, only to have him tighten his hold.

"Please Lynn," he was looking down, "I can't lose you."

She shook her head and force her hand out of his hold.

"You cannot want me. Do not want me," she frowned narrowing her eyes at him.

"But I do," he frowned back.

"Don't."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Stop it. Just-" Lynn pressed her hand against her forehead.

"Why?" he questioned fisting his hands with a frown, and Lynn let out a sigh.

"You should go," she said looking away, "… I will see you at the ball."

"Lynn-" he tried getting closer and she turned to him and let out a smile.

"Please Garret, I just need to think," she tried giving him a short hug and kissed his forehead once again, "see you later."

He sighed dropping his shoulders and let out a smile as he kissed her forehead.

"See you then."

They pulled apart and though Garret hesitated, he eventually left her to her own thoughts. She sighed and noticed the ice pack laying on the ground.

Grabbing it, she returned it to the cooler and went to retrieve the wooden staff. She needed to think and she usually thinks better after a good training session.