A/N - WOW!! *starry eyes* People actually REVIEWED!
Picard: A great accomplishment, I can assure you.
Oh shut up Piers.
Picard: Hey!
Anyways, I'm aware that Garet is a touch OOC in this fic, but it works for that "Han Solo air" that I'm trying to give him. Sorta. And did anybody notice? I changed the title! The Princess and her Guard was such a stupid one...and yes, Isaac is as boring as hell...but he doesn't play a major part yet so it doesn't matter! And you guys have probably already noticed, thoughts are in 'these.' Ne questions? *grins* Good! On with the fic!
Disclaimer: Oh yeah, like I would REALLY be able to create the game, I can barely play Golden Sun without the guide for gods' sakes.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh...*wanders off singing the opening of Chobits* Let me be with youuu...
~~~~
She ignored all the stares she was getting from passerbys. She ignored the fact that the mud she was stomping through was splashing on the hem of her cloak. She ignored all previous pretenses of secrecy that she was hoping to maintain.
She tried to ignore the rain, but failed miserably as her hood was off and it was already soaked through her hair. Princess Jenna of Vale stormed straight past the guards at the palace gates, up the long winding path, in the process getting herself even more wet as she stomped through puddles, and gave the guard at the door barely enough time to emit a startled, "Princess?" before she snapped "Move!", shoved him aside and in a fit of superhuman strength, yanked the huge wooden doors open.
Very un-princesslike.
But then again, the fiery Mars adept was in the worst of moods, and when it was like that, almost nothing could calm her.
Jenna stormed across the marble floors, not even noticing the grand furnishings of tapestries, chandeliers, and the great stairways around her. As she walked, or rather, stomped, puddles of water dripped off her hair and her cloak and behind her, several servants hurried forward to mop up the water.
'Why are all men IDIOTS??' she thought angrily as she ascended the stairs. 'Each and every one of them are sexist pigs.' She had sneaked off quite happily to Vale, expecting to relax a bit from the stiffness of the Palace, chatter to the waitresses at the local taverns in town maybe, but it turned out disastrous. Several drunks had stumbled into the tavern, trying to pick up some women for their own lecherous pleasures, and unluckily, their eyes had fallen on Jenna.
'Hey baby, how about a sweet time tonight?' she wrinkled her nose in total disgust. 'Perverts!!!' In the end, she had kicked one in the stomach and flipped the other two to the ground. But her hood had fallen off while doing so and cries of "Look, it's the Princess!" quickly echoed around the room. She had had to make a break for it to escape. Jenna truly hoped that word of that didn't get to the Palace. She did NOT want to hear Felix's speech on "Why Royalty must always be Escorted" AGAIN. 'Then,' Jenna thought in annoyance, 'I run into someone ELSE. Yes, I am SO graceful.'
"I bet that guy thought I was a total moron," she muttered outloud. "I WAS being rude. He was cute too..." she thought wistfully, recalling his handsome face and burnished spiked hair. By now, Jenna had reached the second landing, where her rooms were located. "If I see him again, I should apologize." She sighed. Overall, it wasn't that great of a day, since she had gotten lost trying to find her way back to the palace. 'Why do all men think below the belts?' she wondered in annoyance. 'That is except for Isa--'
"Ow!" For the second time of the day, she slammed straight into someone, too preoccupied in her thoughts to look where she was going. "Hey, why don't you watch where you're--"
"I beg your pardon Princess, are you alright?"
'--sac. Oh great.' "--going," Jenna finished weakly, looking up into Isaac's blue gaze. "I'm so sorry Isaac---Captain, I didn't look where I was going. I was caught up in thinking about something..." she trailed off helplessly. 'Wonderful Jenna.'
With a brief smile, Isaac nodded at her. "No need to apologize, I was at fault." He blinked as he took in Jenna's disheveled state: soaked hair, soggy clothes, mud on her cloak and cheek. "Princess, you're soaked. You could have said something if you were going to go outside. And at least brought an umbrella."
Jenna blushed furiously. Of all times to run into him! "I was ah..." she thought quickly for an excuse. "In the garden! I was in the garden and I uh, got caught in the rain!"
He nodded. "I see. Yes, it is quite a downpour outside, I just got back...do be careful next time Princess." He smiled slightly then walked past.
Jenna nearly melted. 'He smiled at me TWICE!' she thought in complete euphoria. 'Maybe Isaac DOES care about me--'
"Your Highness! There you are!" A young maid came running up to her, past Isaac, a large stack of letters in her arms. "These came in for you today Your Highness! My, but you have so many suitors!"
Behind her, Isaac turned. "Those are a lot of letters," he said, his eyes twinkling. "Do you have enough paper to answer them? Shall I run down to town and get some more for you Princess?"
Jenna turned even redder if possible. "No...thank you," she stuttered. "I have enough." With that, she fled from the scene to her own private chambers, the letters clutched tightly in her arms.
~~~~
After a good soak in the hot bath, Jenna slid into a simple dress and leaving her hair loose, she flopped heavily on the bed. Looking at the pile of love letters from all her hopeful suitors, she groaned. "Ugh...not these again...and the get even more and more persistant if I ignore them..." Sighing, she grabbed the nearest one and out of a mixture of curiosity and boredom, tore it open.
"My dearest beloved princess..." She reached for another. "You are the angel of the day and night, the princess of the sky and stars...say the word my lady and I'll fetch you the moon...your nose is like the most perfect blossom???" Exasperated, Jenna threw the letters up in the air. "Was that supposed to be a compliment??"
Normally, she would be flattered, and maybe even be tempted to write back teasing replies to some of them. Although she was royalty, Jenna was also a 17 year old girl. Most girls of her age would be wooed, courted, perhaps even married. And given her looks, it wasn't a surprise that she had so many suitors. Her body was trim and slender and from her head tumbled long locks of a brown-red color, almost cinnamon, which was always tied up to keep out of the way.. Her eyes of the same color, always changing and showing her emotions, were set in a pleasant face with smiling lips. That and the fact that she was the Princess brought many suitors to the Palace grounds. Most were kicked out by the guards on Felix's orders, but their letters were always delivered. So, Jenna was used to these charming words.
Bored, Jenna watched the letters float down to the bed. She rolled over on her back and one by one tossed the letters up and as they fell, let loose a tiny flare. As the ashes floated down to her face, she let her thoughts wandered wildly. 'I wonder what it would be like to get a letter from Isaac...' a dreamy smile came over her face. 'It wouldn't be stupid like those letters...My dear Jenna, I've always loved you...' "Ah, that's so embarassing!" Giggling, she accidently let the current Flare get too big and yelped when the shower of ashes hit her face.
"You're going to burn up your bed someday."
Jenna turned quickly to see Felix looking at her with a half smile on his face. "Gosh, what's wrong with knocking?"
"Nothing," commented Felix dryly. "I just like to see what my sister is doing that she shouldn't be." He sat on the bed next to Jenna, making her bounce a little. His face turned serious and he looked carefully at her. "You'll be leaving for Kalay in two days."
"What?" Jenna asked, startled. "That soon? How did you get more guards together so fast?"
Felix sighed. "Captain Isaac and I both think that it would safer if you go as soon and as secretly as possible. Guards would slow you down on your journey and make uncesscary noise." He grimaced. "Therefore...you will only be accompanied by one other."
"One..." Jenna's heart pounded. Could it be? Could it possibly be? She and Isaac were going to go to Kalay together, ALONE? She mentally danced with joy and beamed. 'Together! Alone! With Isaac!!!'
Her brother was still talking. "Well, Isaac said there might be two...a wind seer of some sort accompanies the man..."
"What?" she asked sharply.
"We've hired a mercenary of sorts to guard you---"
Jenna's shoulders slumped. "A mercenary?" 'No...Isaac?'
"Yes. Apparently, he's an old friend of Isaac's. Well, I'm going by his judgement...he's said to be very skilled---"
Jenna, too busy lamenting the loss of Isaac, did not hear another word. Only when a sword was thrust under her face did she start.
"Here," said Felix. "I picked it up in the armory for you. Take it instead of your staff. I'm sure it will be more helpful."
Jenna took the sword, watching the light glint off it's blue-sheened blade in awe.
"It's a Pirate's Sword. It's light enough for you to carry it but quite powerful. In times of need, it unleashes an attack called Dreamtide."
She smiled up at her brother. "Thank you Felix."
He smiled lightly back at her, then looked at the pile of letters still left at the foot of her bed. Getting up, he walked to the door, then turned. "By the way, would you like someone to fetch more paper? Those are a lot of letters."
Quickly dodging the pillow winging its way towards him and laughing at the yell of "Felix!!!" he slipped out of Jenna's room.
~~~~
The next day dawned bright and sunny. Birds were chirping happily in the trees and the sun peeked cheerfully over the clouds. And Garet?
Garet had another hangover.
"Stupid birds..." he muttered, clutching his head. "Do they always have to be singing?"
Ivan shook his head, smiling a bit. "I TOLD you to stop eating those pies, Garet."
"But they tasted so good...and I didn't know there was alcohol in those too!"
"Sure, sure..."
The two were walking through the Palace grounds of Vale, vainly looking for the entrance that Isaac had told them to go through. Shading his eyes, Garet looked around him. "Why do they have so many entrance doors? Can't they keep just one?"
Ivan shrugged, then pointed to the left. "It should be over here."
"How do you know?"
"The entrance for servicemen are always a little bit to the back on the left side."
Blinking, Garet followed Ivan's lead walking through the trees and grass. "How did you know that Ivan?"
"I picked it up," said Ivan, looking straight ahead. "By Jupiter, I hate palaces."
Putting his arms behind his head, Garet grinned. "I dunno, I think I'd get to enjoy the luxuries. Did you see the size of the main hall? What I would give live in a place like this! Oh, it's Isaac! Hey!!" Cutting off whatever Ivan was going to say, Garet bounded forward and stopped in front of a slightly irate looking Isaac.
"Where were you two?" said Isaac. "I was beginning to think you had changed your mind!"
Garet rubbed his head sheepishly. "Sorry, I woke up late..."
Isaac sighed in exasperation, his bangs blowing back slightly. "Alright, now come, my liege is waiting--"
"Wait, Isaac!" Garet held up his hands. "Can you wait just one minute? I need to go see someone." Then, without waiting for a response, Garet rushed off.
Isaac growled. Ivan sighed. "I'm sorry Isaac, he does that a lot."
"Yes," muttered Isaac. "I know."
~~~~
"Garet, I didn't know you were back in Vale! It's so good to see you!"
Smiling, Garet bent down to let his older sister hug him, then swung his little brother onto his shoulder. "How are you doing, Kay, Aaron? How's palace life?" His two siblings, like him, had the same reddish hair, though Kay's was lighter and Aaron's darker. A couple years ago, Garet had asked Isaac as a favor to find jobs for the two while he was away so he wouldn't have to worry. And true to his word, Isaac did. Kay was now a scullery maid and Aaron a stableboy.
"Oh just fine, it's not so hard. And the money's good too." Kay smiled fondly up at her brother. "It's so lucky for us that you got Captain Isaac to find us these jobs. Whenever I go down to town, everyone's so jealous!"
"Yep, I feel better knowing you two are safe here while I'm away. And Aaron, are you taking care of the horses down at the stables?"
"Yeah!" Aaron looked down adoringly at his brother. "I brush the horses everyday!"
"But Garet, what are you doing at the Palace? You've never been here before..."
"Ah...business matters Kay." Garet placed Aaron down on the ground. "I need to meet with the prince---"
"The Prince?" exclaimed Kay. "Oh Garet, you're so lucky! He's so kind and handsome!" When her brother raised an eyebrow, she continued, "He is really, truly he is! Prince Felix has such long brown hair and such GORGEOUS eyes...he's like a Prince Charming!"
"Right..." Garet said. "Well, I have to get going, matters to take care of."
"I hope you get to see Princess Jenna!" Aaron piped up. "She's really nice, she always gives me sweets when she comes to ride."
"Is that so?" Garet grinned. "Well, that's good to hear--"
"Are you still a mercent Garet? Kay said you were a merc-mercan-something. Can I be a mercan too?"
"A mercenary, Aaron," she said. "And no Aaron, you can NOT. It's not a good thing you know." Kay looked up at Garet. "Honestly, must you still do that type of thing? It's so dangerous Garet...you could get killed as a mercenary!"
Garet smiled ruefully. "A guy's got to have a living Kay...and I'm not much good for anything else." He gave them both a last hug, then quickly left the kitchen. Taking a breath of fresh air when he got outside, he sighed.
"Why do you always let people call you that?"
Turning his head sideways, he glanced at Isaac, leaning against the kitchen wall. "Give it up Isaac," he said quietly.
"You're not a mercenary Garet!" Isaac said forcefully. "You started doing this for your family!"
"Look," he said flatly. "Techinically, I AM a mercenary. I hire my services as a bodyguard to whoever pays the most money."
They began walking together back to the entrance. "You should have come with me when I started my training as a soldier," Isaac said quietly. "Then you and I would both be at the top right now."
"I had a family to take care of, remember? Just drop it."
"But still--"
"I said drop it!!" Unintentionally, Garet raised his voice. Then, ashamed of yelling at his friend, Garet bowed his head. They walked in silence through the entrance, and down the halls, both their boots echoing on the marble. "Well," he said suddenly. Garet grinned at Isaac, who looked back questionably in return. "Let's go see this liege and princess of yours."
~~~~
Jenna smiled happily at the young mage in front of her. She had been just introduced to him, and already, she could tell that she was going to enjoy his company. "So you are a wind seer?" she asked.
Ivan nodded with a slight smile. "Yes. I'm a Jupiter adept Your Highness. I can see things in the wind that most people can't."
"Please, just Jenna, Ivan." She grinned. "If we are to be travelling together, it'd be too formal if you called me that all the time."
Ivan bowed. "Jenna, then, if it pleases you."
She rolled her eyes and muttered, "Well it's my name whether it pleases me or not..."
Felix coughed slightly, then asked, "You are not the bodyguard I am hiring, are you Seer Ivan? I imagined him to be slightly bigger..."
Ivan laughed. "Oh no, Prince, Garet is the one. He should be here any minute, Captain Isaac went to go look for him."
With a start, Jenna remembered the conversation with her brother last night. 'That's right, Felix said Isaac was friends with him...' At that precise moment, loud voices could be heard coming nearer to the room.
"Garet, I TOLD you not to wander off again!" Jenna blinked. It was Isaac's voice...except sounding...exasperated? She blinked again. Isaac was never exasperated.
Then, a new voice, louder than Isaac's normally soft and calm one, brash, and bold. "Good Mars, I said I was sorry!"
"You made that girl drop the whole set of dishes!"
"All I did was smile at her!"
"What in the name of Venus did you smile at her for???"
"What, now I can't smile at people??"
Felix raised an eyebrow. Ivan sighed, putting a hand to his temple. Jenna blinked. Was that ISAAC's voice? Calm, quiet, wouldn't-ever-yell Isaac?
Two figures stormed into the room. "Garet, at least wait for a formal introduction!!!"
Yup.
Isaac looked like he was trying to regain his composure. "Your Highnesses," he said swiftly, "This is Garet Jerra, the one who I told you about."
Felix stepped forward to shake the young man's gloved hand. "Ah, Garet, I'm glad to see you. I am Prince Felix. I hope you're aware that I'm entrusting my sister to you..."
Jenna ignored the rest of her brother's words and from behind him, she tried to look at the newcomer as discreetly as possible. From what she could see, he was a good head taller than Isaac, with hair the color of burnished copper, standing in tall spikes. His shoulders were broad and under the leather tunic he wore, Jenna could see his well muscled arms. Over his chest was a wide strap that held a large and heavy looking sword at his side.
Just then, he spoke, "I understand perfectly, Your Highness. Am I allowed to see my charge before tomorrow?"
"Ah yes...Princess Jenna, my sister." Felix stepped aside and Jenna looked at her guard in the face for the first time. As she looked over his face, chiseled and manly, then at his fiery copper, eyes, she thought in surprise, 'Why, he must be my age! A mercenary at the age of 17...' Then suddenly, she frowned. 'Wait...spiked hair...' Her eyes widened.
Garet, looking at the princess in front of him, blinked. 'Wow, she IS good- looking...' Then he looked again more closely. 'Beautiful...cinnamon...colored hair?' His eyes widened.
Felix, Isaac, and Ivan looked on, completely nonplussed as Garet and Jenna both suddenly gasped then simultaneously yelped, "You're that person from yesterday!!!"
The Prince frowned slightly. "Excuse me?"
Garet recovered first from the slight shock and grinned at the girl. "Weeeeeell, if it isn't Miss Why-were-you-standing-in-the-road herself! Now it all makes sense, as a princess, you must be used to people bowing down to you, huh?"
Jenna, about to apologize for her rude behavior, changed her mind, and glared. "Well, exCUSE me Mr, but it's not my fault that you were standing there! Even an IDIOT would know not to do that because people can run into you if they're in a hurry!"
"Hey!" Garet cried, offended that she was comparing him to an idiot, "I wasn't standing there, I was just resting my eyes! A guy has the right to stop for a second to rub his eyes!"
"Not if he becomes a hazard to all pedestrians!"
"Pedestrians WALK, you, my dear princess, were CRASHING."
"I was not crashing!"
"No, not crashing, only running headlong into people then calling them an idiot and running back off!"
"Like I said before, I wouldn't have run into you if you weren't standing in the middle of the road!"
Ivan sighed and rubbed his temple. Felix stared, confused and Isaac leaned and whispered something into his ear. "I don't think they remember that we're here my liege."
Felix looked at Jenna and Garet still yelling at eachother with some slight misgivings. "Indeed..."
~~~~
"Good morning Princess, O High and Mighty One!" Garet's light salutation rang mockingly in the morning air and Jenna grimaced. Dawn was just rising and nearly all of the Palace except for the three travellers were still asleep. It was too early for this.
"Good morning Sir Guard, O Bumbling Idiot!" she replied, just as cheerfully. "Oh, good morning Ivan." This she addressed to the wind mage who walked out from the stable leading a chestnut mare.
Ivan smiled politely at her and picked up the small bundles on the ground and slung it over the horse's back. "Good morning Jenna. Will that be all?"
Happy that he had remembered to call her by her name, she smiled. "Yes." Bending down, she picked up the long wrapped bundle that was the Shaman's Rod and held it close to her. Today, Jenna had on her simple travelling clothes: a light pink dress with the lower part being leather and a leather vest for the torso. It laced up in the front and behind her hung a short purple cape. She had strapped the Pirate Sword to hang by her side.
Garet and Ivan wore similar clothes; Garet's were the same as yesterday except now with thicker and longer leather gloves. Ivan wore a simple purple tunic with a green cape. He held a long staff, nearly as tall as him in one hand. "What?" Garet exclaimed in mock horror. "No huge wardrobe for us to cart around? No personal hairdressers to do your hair? My, my Princess, however are you to keep up with the latest fashions?"
Jenna barely managed to keep from strangling him. "Oh quite easily, after all, I can just go into the nearest town and make you carry around all the lovely clothes I can buy, can't I?" 'There, that should shut him up,' she thought.
"I'm sorry Jenna," Ivan said apologetically. "But I'm afraid that we won't be able to do that, much as I'd like to see Garet used as a shopping cart. If we are to get you to Kalay quickly..."
"Ah, what a pity." Garet sighed, smirking a bit. "Looks like you'll be stuck with your dreary travelling clothes, Princess."
Jenna clenched her teeth. 'Am I going to be stuck with this guy until we get to Kalay? Argh! Why can't he just drop the title already??'
"I hope you're used to travelling fast Princess, because--"
"That's it!" Jenna exploded. She stomped up to a surprised Garet and yanked him down till his face was right next to her, and so she was glaring into his crimson eyes. "Look!" she snapped. "From now on, my name is Jenna, alright?" She waited as his eyes showed surprise, then a different emotion that she couldn't quite place. Then, suddenly aware how close they were, she let go.
"My name is Jenna...and you're Garet."
Then, quickly, to cover her embarassment, she said, "And if you call me anything else, I'll burn your hair off."
He stood there looking down at Jenna with dark eyes that confused her in their swirling emotions. Then suddenly, Garet smiled. It transformed his face from the smirking individual from before, to almost a boyish face that was bright and happy.
"I'll hold you to that promise...Jenna."
~~~~
A/N - WHEW!!! It's finally done!! Man, guys, I hope you knock yourselves out reading this boring chapter, cause I sure did writing it! I'm so sorry, I know this chapter was REALLY slow and boring, but please bear with me! It'll pick, up, I PROMISE! But the Garet and Jenna moments were cute, no?
Felix: .....I don't like what you're insinuating.
Dfire: ^_^ Of course you don't Felix dear! *shoves him back into random- character-land*
A few notes....
To all you readers, I truly apologize if any of the characters are OOC, I'm trying my best but sometimes, I have to tweak it a bit. And I THINK Garet's last name is Jerra...not sure. And if you guys don't remember Garet's siblings, you see them in Vale. Actually, Kay's too nice in this fic...she was supposed to be really mad at him cause he moved a pillar onto her flowers. Heh. And yeh, Felix talks too much too. *shrugs* Just turned out that way. WAY too many Jenna thoughts in this chappy. Well whatever...hope you guys enjoyed it nonetheless!
Questions/comments/concerns? REVIEW!!
Dont' have any? Review anyways! New chapters come faster if you REVIEW!!!
(This is so fun, ne?)
Picard: A great accomplishment, I can assure you.
Oh shut up Piers.
Picard: Hey!
Anyways, I'm aware that Garet is a touch OOC in this fic, but it works for that "Han Solo air" that I'm trying to give him. Sorta. And did anybody notice? I changed the title! The Princess and her Guard was such a stupid one...and yes, Isaac is as boring as hell...but he doesn't play a major part yet so it doesn't matter! And you guys have probably already noticed, thoughts are in 'these.' Ne questions? *grins* Good! On with the fic!
Disclaimer: Oh yeah, like I would REALLY be able to create the game, I can barely play Golden Sun without the guide for gods' sakes.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh...*wanders off singing the opening of Chobits* Let me be with youuu...
~~~~
She ignored all the stares she was getting from passerbys. She ignored the fact that the mud she was stomping through was splashing on the hem of her cloak. She ignored all previous pretenses of secrecy that she was hoping to maintain.
She tried to ignore the rain, but failed miserably as her hood was off and it was already soaked through her hair. Princess Jenna of Vale stormed straight past the guards at the palace gates, up the long winding path, in the process getting herself even more wet as she stomped through puddles, and gave the guard at the door barely enough time to emit a startled, "Princess?" before she snapped "Move!", shoved him aside and in a fit of superhuman strength, yanked the huge wooden doors open.
Very un-princesslike.
But then again, the fiery Mars adept was in the worst of moods, and when it was like that, almost nothing could calm her.
Jenna stormed across the marble floors, not even noticing the grand furnishings of tapestries, chandeliers, and the great stairways around her. As she walked, or rather, stomped, puddles of water dripped off her hair and her cloak and behind her, several servants hurried forward to mop up the water.
'Why are all men IDIOTS??' she thought angrily as she ascended the stairs. 'Each and every one of them are sexist pigs.' She had sneaked off quite happily to Vale, expecting to relax a bit from the stiffness of the Palace, chatter to the waitresses at the local taverns in town maybe, but it turned out disastrous. Several drunks had stumbled into the tavern, trying to pick up some women for their own lecherous pleasures, and unluckily, their eyes had fallen on Jenna.
'Hey baby, how about a sweet time tonight?' she wrinkled her nose in total disgust. 'Perverts!!!' In the end, she had kicked one in the stomach and flipped the other two to the ground. But her hood had fallen off while doing so and cries of "Look, it's the Princess!" quickly echoed around the room. She had had to make a break for it to escape. Jenna truly hoped that word of that didn't get to the Palace. She did NOT want to hear Felix's speech on "Why Royalty must always be Escorted" AGAIN. 'Then,' Jenna thought in annoyance, 'I run into someone ELSE. Yes, I am SO graceful.'
"I bet that guy thought I was a total moron," she muttered outloud. "I WAS being rude. He was cute too..." she thought wistfully, recalling his handsome face and burnished spiked hair. By now, Jenna had reached the second landing, where her rooms were located. "If I see him again, I should apologize." She sighed. Overall, it wasn't that great of a day, since she had gotten lost trying to find her way back to the palace. 'Why do all men think below the belts?' she wondered in annoyance. 'That is except for Isa--'
"Ow!" For the second time of the day, she slammed straight into someone, too preoccupied in her thoughts to look where she was going. "Hey, why don't you watch where you're--"
"I beg your pardon Princess, are you alright?"
'--sac. Oh great.' "--going," Jenna finished weakly, looking up into Isaac's blue gaze. "I'm so sorry Isaac---Captain, I didn't look where I was going. I was caught up in thinking about something..." she trailed off helplessly. 'Wonderful Jenna.'
With a brief smile, Isaac nodded at her. "No need to apologize, I was at fault." He blinked as he took in Jenna's disheveled state: soaked hair, soggy clothes, mud on her cloak and cheek. "Princess, you're soaked. You could have said something if you were going to go outside. And at least brought an umbrella."
Jenna blushed furiously. Of all times to run into him! "I was ah..." she thought quickly for an excuse. "In the garden! I was in the garden and I uh, got caught in the rain!"
He nodded. "I see. Yes, it is quite a downpour outside, I just got back...do be careful next time Princess." He smiled slightly then walked past.
Jenna nearly melted. 'He smiled at me TWICE!' she thought in complete euphoria. 'Maybe Isaac DOES care about me--'
"Your Highness! There you are!" A young maid came running up to her, past Isaac, a large stack of letters in her arms. "These came in for you today Your Highness! My, but you have so many suitors!"
Behind her, Isaac turned. "Those are a lot of letters," he said, his eyes twinkling. "Do you have enough paper to answer them? Shall I run down to town and get some more for you Princess?"
Jenna turned even redder if possible. "No...thank you," she stuttered. "I have enough." With that, she fled from the scene to her own private chambers, the letters clutched tightly in her arms.
~~~~
After a good soak in the hot bath, Jenna slid into a simple dress and leaving her hair loose, she flopped heavily on the bed. Looking at the pile of love letters from all her hopeful suitors, she groaned. "Ugh...not these again...and the get even more and more persistant if I ignore them..." Sighing, she grabbed the nearest one and out of a mixture of curiosity and boredom, tore it open.
"My dearest beloved princess..." She reached for another. "You are the angel of the day and night, the princess of the sky and stars...say the word my lady and I'll fetch you the moon...your nose is like the most perfect blossom???" Exasperated, Jenna threw the letters up in the air. "Was that supposed to be a compliment??"
Normally, she would be flattered, and maybe even be tempted to write back teasing replies to some of them. Although she was royalty, Jenna was also a 17 year old girl. Most girls of her age would be wooed, courted, perhaps even married. And given her looks, it wasn't a surprise that she had so many suitors. Her body was trim and slender and from her head tumbled long locks of a brown-red color, almost cinnamon, which was always tied up to keep out of the way.. Her eyes of the same color, always changing and showing her emotions, were set in a pleasant face with smiling lips. That and the fact that she was the Princess brought many suitors to the Palace grounds. Most were kicked out by the guards on Felix's orders, but their letters were always delivered. So, Jenna was used to these charming words.
Bored, Jenna watched the letters float down to the bed. She rolled over on her back and one by one tossed the letters up and as they fell, let loose a tiny flare. As the ashes floated down to her face, she let her thoughts wandered wildly. 'I wonder what it would be like to get a letter from Isaac...' a dreamy smile came over her face. 'It wouldn't be stupid like those letters...My dear Jenna, I've always loved you...' "Ah, that's so embarassing!" Giggling, she accidently let the current Flare get too big and yelped when the shower of ashes hit her face.
"You're going to burn up your bed someday."
Jenna turned quickly to see Felix looking at her with a half smile on his face. "Gosh, what's wrong with knocking?"
"Nothing," commented Felix dryly. "I just like to see what my sister is doing that she shouldn't be." He sat on the bed next to Jenna, making her bounce a little. His face turned serious and he looked carefully at her. "You'll be leaving for Kalay in two days."
"What?" Jenna asked, startled. "That soon? How did you get more guards together so fast?"
Felix sighed. "Captain Isaac and I both think that it would safer if you go as soon and as secretly as possible. Guards would slow you down on your journey and make uncesscary noise." He grimaced. "Therefore...you will only be accompanied by one other."
"One..." Jenna's heart pounded. Could it be? Could it possibly be? She and Isaac were going to go to Kalay together, ALONE? She mentally danced with joy and beamed. 'Together! Alone! With Isaac!!!'
Her brother was still talking. "Well, Isaac said there might be two...a wind seer of some sort accompanies the man..."
"What?" she asked sharply.
"We've hired a mercenary of sorts to guard you---"
Jenna's shoulders slumped. "A mercenary?" 'No...Isaac?'
"Yes. Apparently, he's an old friend of Isaac's. Well, I'm going by his judgement...he's said to be very skilled---"
Jenna, too busy lamenting the loss of Isaac, did not hear another word. Only when a sword was thrust under her face did she start.
"Here," said Felix. "I picked it up in the armory for you. Take it instead of your staff. I'm sure it will be more helpful."
Jenna took the sword, watching the light glint off it's blue-sheened blade in awe.
"It's a Pirate's Sword. It's light enough for you to carry it but quite powerful. In times of need, it unleashes an attack called Dreamtide."
She smiled up at her brother. "Thank you Felix."
He smiled lightly back at her, then looked at the pile of letters still left at the foot of her bed. Getting up, he walked to the door, then turned. "By the way, would you like someone to fetch more paper? Those are a lot of letters."
Quickly dodging the pillow winging its way towards him and laughing at the yell of "Felix!!!" he slipped out of Jenna's room.
~~~~
The next day dawned bright and sunny. Birds were chirping happily in the trees and the sun peeked cheerfully over the clouds. And Garet?
Garet had another hangover.
"Stupid birds..." he muttered, clutching his head. "Do they always have to be singing?"
Ivan shook his head, smiling a bit. "I TOLD you to stop eating those pies, Garet."
"But they tasted so good...and I didn't know there was alcohol in those too!"
"Sure, sure..."
The two were walking through the Palace grounds of Vale, vainly looking for the entrance that Isaac had told them to go through. Shading his eyes, Garet looked around him. "Why do they have so many entrance doors? Can't they keep just one?"
Ivan shrugged, then pointed to the left. "It should be over here."
"How do you know?"
"The entrance for servicemen are always a little bit to the back on the left side."
Blinking, Garet followed Ivan's lead walking through the trees and grass. "How did you know that Ivan?"
"I picked it up," said Ivan, looking straight ahead. "By Jupiter, I hate palaces."
Putting his arms behind his head, Garet grinned. "I dunno, I think I'd get to enjoy the luxuries. Did you see the size of the main hall? What I would give live in a place like this! Oh, it's Isaac! Hey!!" Cutting off whatever Ivan was going to say, Garet bounded forward and stopped in front of a slightly irate looking Isaac.
"Where were you two?" said Isaac. "I was beginning to think you had changed your mind!"
Garet rubbed his head sheepishly. "Sorry, I woke up late..."
Isaac sighed in exasperation, his bangs blowing back slightly. "Alright, now come, my liege is waiting--"
"Wait, Isaac!" Garet held up his hands. "Can you wait just one minute? I need to go see someone." Then, without waiting for a response, Garet rushed off.
Isaac growled. Ivan sighed. "I'm sorry Isaac, he does that a lot."
"Yes," muttered Isaac. "I know."
~~~~
"Garet, I didn't know you were back in Vale! It's so good to see you!"
Smiling, Garet bent down to let his older sister hug him, then swung his little brother onto his shoulder. "How are you doing, Kay, Aaron? How's palace life?" His two siblings, like him, had the same reddish hair, though Kay's was lighter and Aaron's darker. A couple years ago, Garet had asked Isaac as a favor to find jobs for the two while he was away so he wouldn't have to worry. And true to his word, Isaac did. Kay was now a scullery maid and Aaron a stableboy.
"Oh just fine, it's not so hard. And the money's good too." Kay smiled fondly up at her brother. "It's so lucky for us that you got Captain Isaac to find us these jobs. Whenever I go down to town, everyone's so jealous!"
"Yep, I feel better knowing you two are safe here while I'm away. And Aaron, are you taking care of the horses down at the stables?"
"Yeah!" Aaron looked down adoringly at his brother. "I brush the horses everyday!"
"But Garet, what are you doing at the Palace? You've never been here before..."
"Ah...business matters Kay." Garet placed Aaron down on the ground. "I need to meet with the prince---"
"The Prince?" exclaimed Kay. "Oh Garet, you're so lucky! He's so kind and handsome!" When her brother raised an eyebrow, she continued, "He is really, truly he is! Prince Felix has such long brown hair and such GORGEOUS eyes...he's like a Prince Charming!"
"Right..." Garet said. "Well, I have to get going, matters to take care of."
"I hope you get to see Princess Jenna!" Aaron piped up. "She's really nice, she always gives me sweets when she comes to ride."
"Is that so?" Garet grinned. "Well, that's good to hear--"
"Are you still a mercent Garet? Kay said you were a merc-mercan-something. Can I be a mercan too?"
"A mercenary, Aaron," she said. "And no Aaron, you can NOT. It's not a good thing you know." Kay looked up at Garet. "Honestly, must you still do that type of thing? It's so dangerous Garet...you could get killed as a mercenary!"
Garet smiled ruefully. "A guy's got to have a living Kay...and I'm not much good for anything else." He gave them both a last hug, then quickly left the kitchen. Taking a breath of fresh air when he got outside, he sighed.
"Why do you always let people call you that?"
Turning his head sideways, he glanced at Isaac, leaning against the kitchen wall. "Give it up Isaac," he said quietly.
"You're not a mercenary Garet!" Isaac said forcefully. "You started doing this for your family!"
"Look," he said flatly. "Techinically, I AM a mercenary. I hire my services as a bodyguard to whoever pays the most money."
They began walking together back to the entrance. "You should have come with me when I started my training as a soldier," Isaac said quietly. "Then you and I would both be at the top right now."
"I had a family to take care of, remember? Just drop it."
"But still--"
"I said drop it!!" Unintentionally, Garet raised his voice. Then, ashamed of yelling at his friend, Garet bowed his head. They walked in silence through the entrance, and down the halls, both their boots echoing on the marble. "Well," he said suddenly. Garet grinned at Isaac, who looked back questionably in return. "Let's go see this liege and princess of yours."
~~~~
Jenna smiled happily at the young mage in front of her. She had been just introduced to him, and already, she could tell that she was going to enjoy his company. "So you are a wind seer?" she asked.
Ivan nodded with a slight smile. "Yes. I'm a Jupiter adept Your Highness. I can see things in the wind that most people can't."
"Please, just Jenna, Ivan." She grinned. "If we are to be travelling together, it'd be too formal if you called me that all the time."
Ivan bowed. "Jenna, then, if it pleases you."
She rolled her eyes and muttered, "Well it's my name whether it pleases me or not..."
Felix coughed slightly, then asked, "You are not the bodyguard I am hiring, are you Seer Ivan? I imagined him to be slightly bigger..."
Ivan laughed. "Oh no, Prince, Garet is the one. He should be here any minute, Captain Isaac went to go look for him."
With a start, Jenna remembered the conversation with her brother last night. 'That's right, Felix said Isaac was friends with him...' At that precise moment, loud voices could be heard coming nearer to the room.
"Garet, I TOLD you not to wander off again!" Jenna blinked. It was Isaac's voice...except sounding...exasperated? She blinked again. Isaac was never exasperated.
Then, a new voice, louder than Isaac's normally soft and calm one, brash, and bold. "Good Mars, I said I was sorry!"
"You made that girl drop the whole set of dishes!"
"All I did was smile at her!"
"What in the name of Venus did you smile at her for???"
"What, now I can't smile at people??"
Felix raised an eyebrow. Ivan sighed, putting a hand to his temple. Jenna blinked. Was that ISAAC's voice? Calm, quiet, wouldn't-ever-yell Isaac?
Two figures stormed into the room. "Garet, at least wait for a formal introduction!!!"
Yup.
Isaac looked like he was trying to regain his composure. "Your Highnesses," he said swiftly, "This is Garet Jerra, the one who I told you about."
Felix stepped forward to shake the young man's gloved hand. "Ah, Garet, I'm glad to see you. I am Prince Felix. I hope you're aware that I'm entrusting my sister to you..."
Jenna ignored the rest of her brother's words and from behind him, she tried to look at the newcomer as discreetly as possible. From what she could see, he was a good head taller than Isaac, with hair the color of burnished copper, standing in tall spikes. His shoulders were broad and under the leather tunic he wore, Jenna could see his well muscled arms. Over his chest was a wide strap that held a large and heavy looking sword at his side.
Just then, he spoke, "I understand perfectly, Your Highness. Am I allowed to see my charge before tomorrow?"
"Ah yes...Princess Jenna, my sister." Felix stepped aside and Jenna looked at her guard in the face for the first time. As she looked over his face, chiseled and manly, then at his fiery copper, eyes, she thought in surprise, 'Why, he must be my age! A mercenary at the age of 17...' Then suddenly, she frowned. 'Wait...spiked hair...' Her eyes widened.
Garet, looking at the princess in front of him, blinked. 'Wow, she IS good- looking...' Then he looked again more closely. 'Beautiful...cinnamon...colored hair?' His eyes widened.
Felix, Isaac, and Ivan looked on, completely nonplussed as Garet and Jenna both suddenly gasped then simultaneously yelped, "You're that person from yesterday!!!"
The Prince frowned slightly. "Excuse me?"
Garet recovered first from the slight shock and grinned at the girl. "Weeeeeell, if it isn't Miss Why-were-you-standing-in-the-road herself! Now it all makes sense, as a princess, you must be used to people bowing down to you, huh?"
Jenna, about to apologize for her rude behavior, changed her mind, and glared. "Well, exCUSE me Mr, but it's not my fault that you were standing there! Even an IDIOT would know not to do that because people can run into you if they're in a hurry!"
"Hey!" Garet cried, offended that she was comparing him to an idiot, "I wasn't standing there, I was just resting my eyes! A guy has the right to stop for a second to rub his eyes!"
"Not if he becomes a hazard to all pedestrians!"
"Pedestrians WALK, you, my dear princess, were CRASHING."
"I was not crashing!"
"No, not crashing, only running headlong into people then calling them an idiot and running back off!"
"Like I said before, I wouldn't have run into you if you weren't standing in the middle of the road!"
Ivan sighed and rubbed his temple. Felix stared, confused and Isaac leaned and whispered something into his ear. "I don't think they remember that we're here my liege."
Felix looked at Jenna and Garet still yelling at eachother with some slight misgivings. "Indeed..."
~~~~
"Good morning Princess, O High and Mighty One!" Garet's light salutation rang mockingly in the morning air and Jenna grimaced. Dawn was just rising and nearly all of the Palace except for the three travellers were still asleep. It was too early for this.
"Good morning Sir Guard, O Bumbling Idiot!" she replied, just as cheerfully. "Oh, good morning Ivan." This she addressed to the wind mage who walked out from the stable leading a chestnut mare.
Ivan smiled politely at her and picked up the small bundles on the ground and slung it over the horse's back. "Good morning Jenna. Will that be all?"
Happy that he had remembered to call her by her name, she smiled. "Yes." Bending down, she picked up the long wrapped bundle that was the Shaman's Rod and held it close to her. Today, Jenna had on her simple travelling clothes: a light pink dress with the lower part being leather and a leather vest for the torso. It laced up in the front and behind her hung a short purple cape. She had strapped the Pirate Sword to hang by her side.
Garet and Ivan wore similar clothes; Garet's were the same as yesterday except now with thicker and longer leather gloves. Ivan wore a simple purple tunic with a green cape. He held a long staff, nearly as tall as him in one hand. "What?" Garet exclaimed in mock horror. "No huge wardrobe for us to cart around? No personal hairdressers to do your hair? My, my Princess, however are you to keep up with the latest fashions?"
Jenna barely managed to keep from strangling him. "Oh quite easily, after all, I can just go into the nearest town and make you carry around all the lovely clothes I can buy, can't I?" 'There, that should shut him up,' she thought.
"I'm sorry Jenna," Ivan said apologetically. "But I'm afraid that we won't be able to do that, much as I'd like to see Garet used as a shopping cart. If we are to get you to Kalay quickly..."
"Ah, what a pity." Garet sighed, smirking a bit. "Looks like you'll be stuck with your dreary travelling clothes, Princess."
Jenna clenched her teeth. 'Am I going to be stuck with this guy until we get to Kalay? Argh! Why can't he just drop the title already??'
"I hope you're used to travelling fast Princess, because--"
"That's it!" Jenna exploded. She stomped up to a surprised Garet and yanked him down till his face was right next to her, and so she was glaring into his crimson eyes. "Look!" she snapped. "From now on, my name is Jenna, alright?" She waited as his eyes showed surprise, then a different emotion that she couldn't quite place. Then, suddenly aware how close they were, she let go.
"My name is Jenna...and you're Garet."
Then, quickly, to cover her embarassment, she said, "And if you call me anything else, I'll burn your hair off."
He stood there looking down at Jenna with dark eyes that confused her in their swirling emotions. Then suddenly, Garet smiled. It transformed his face from the smirking individual from before, to almost a boyish face that was bright and happy.
"I'll hold you to that promise...Jenna."
~~~~
A/N - WHEW!!! It's finally done!! Man, guys, I hope you knock yourselves out reading this boring chapter, cause I sure did writing it! I'm so sorry, I know this chapter was REALLY slow and boring, but please bear with me! It'll pick, up, I PROMISE! But the Garet and Jenna moments were cute, no?
Felix: .....I don't like what you're insinuating.
Dfire: ^_^ Of course you don't Felix dear! *shoves him back into random- character-land*
A few notes....
To all you readers, I truly apologize if any of the characters are OOC, I'm trying my best but sometimes, I have to tweak it a bit. And I THINK Garet's last name is Jerra...not sure. And if you guys don't remember Garet's siblings, you see them in Vale. Actually, Kay's too nice in this fic...she was supposed to be really mad at him cause he moved a pillar onto her flowers. Heh. And yeh, Felix talks too much too. *shrugs* Just turned out that way. WAY too many Jenna thoughts in this chappy. Well whatever...hope you guys enjoyed it nonetheless!
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(This is so fun, ne?)