Please rate and review! I hope it made sense.
I was coming down from the riggings of the main mast. Before I jumped down onto the deck, I saw the Infanta Catalina of Castilla, León and Aragón standing on the starboard side, looking to the north. Not wanting to disturb the princess, I kept my post above her. Just as I was deciding that I could sneak down without being noticed, one of the old monks traveling with her came by. He bowed humbly before standing next to her. I listened in without shame.
"Good day Madame. Beautiful day is it not?"
"Yes, it is. The captain informed me the wind in finally in our favor. We will make good time towards Plymouth."
The monk smiled warmly. "Yes, but it is still a few days' travel."
Her eyes broke from the horizon to look at the monk. "I know. I'm just very nervous. England is very different from Spain and I was told I must become a good English wife to this prince."
The monk regarded the young princess in front of him for a moment before saying simply, "Remember your name."
Catalina's face contorted in concentration. Finally, in broken and heavily accented English, she said, "They shall call me Katherine."
The monk chuckled. "Very good your highness, but that is not what I meant. What is your name where you grew up?"
Again Catalina's face contorted, this time in confusion. "I am the Infanta Catalina de Castilla, León y Aragón."
The monk nodded solemnly. "Never forget that name, Madame. For in that name are your roots, your heritage, and your family. From all those things comes strength. If you ever need strength, those are the memories from which you will draw it from."
As the monk was speaking, her eyes grew wide. In a very hushed tone that I barely heard she said, "Sir, of all people, you should know that all strength comes from God." She blessed herself and she mentioned our Father in Heaven.
The monk only smiled again, not fazed by the princess' worry for his soul. "Who was the first person that taught you about God, your prayers, and all of your basic religious knowledge?"
"My mother and father."
"And where are they?"
"Spain, but I still don't understand. Strength comes from God."
The monk was very patient with the princess. He tried explaining his statement from a different angle. "Yes, you are correct, all strength come from God. But, what if no one ever taught you about God? Strength would still come from Him, but you wouldn't have the gift of knowing it. Because your parents taught you, you must be forever grateful to them. It is from that gratefulness, as well as your love for them, that you can pull strength from memories of them in times of dire need. Memories of them and your beloved country, Spain, are full of memories of God, and as you said, 'all strength comes from God'."
Catalina seemed to understand. She thanked the monk for his wisdom and he parted her company to return below deck. The princess remained looking to the north for a minute. Then she did something strange, something I have never seen anyone else do for over thirty years since. She curtsied towards England, turned, and walked to the port side. She stood there gazing back south towards Laredo, the last Spanish place she had seen. The princess did that every day the weather allowed. She would go to the side of the ship that was turned to the north, acknowledge it, and turn her back to it. The only time she remained facing England again was when she disembarked from the ship and into the country.