Part 9
'There you are!' Rohan's voice startled Angus, who was sleeping with his back against the rind of a great oak.
'I thought I'd find you here..' Rohan sat himself next to his best friend. He still looked weary from the long journey he'd made with Maeve. Spending four days and nights on the back of the dragon Pyre had taken its toll. But Kells and Temra were peacefull now, so Angus could get all the rest he needed.
They both sat there for a few moments, looking out over the green meadows devided into squares by stoney hedges. Tiny red dots lighted up between the the green grass from the cornpoppies that had started to blossom just this week.
Rohan sighed deeply. 'I can understand why you keep coming here Angus. If any place is fit to sort out your thoughts it would be here.' Angus turned his head towards Rohan and lifted one eyebrow. 'What thoughts may I have to sort out then?'
Rohan looked at Angus's suprised face and grinned: 'I know you too well to know that you didn't just come here to rest, old friend.' Rohan's grin suddenly disappeared and he continued: 'You're planning on leaving, aren't you?'
Angus didn't answer but looked at his fingers that played with one of the cords of his tunic. Then after an awkard silence Rohan said softly: 'I do understand. I'd do the same.' There was nothing for Angus here, Rohan knew. He himself knew who his family was, he even had a kingdom now, one he'd be too busy reigning he would hardly have time to spend with Angus.
The knights no longer excisted. Angus was no more than a former thief now. With no profession and no title there was little to nothing to do for him here.
'There's something else I wanted to talk to you about, Angus. You know I will be coronated next week right?' A smile played around the former knight's lips. 'No really? I completely forgot!' Angus rolled his eyes.
'Well..' Rohan wanted to build up some suspension. Angus knew, he always indeliberately did that when he wanted to tell him something exciting. 'Well?', Angus pulled at Rohan's arm. 'Tell me already!'
'Connoher king gave me permission to marry Deirdre. The ceremony for the wedding and the coronation will be held at the same day!' Rohan was beaming, but Angus felt as if someone had just slapped him in the face. 'You and Deirdre?', he asked. 'Why yes, I couldn't believe it at first either! Apparently the king's thoughts changed about me being his son-in- law ever since I was given the title of crownprince of Temra. Naturally you will be the best man and..'
Rohan rattled on about the prospect of the island, how eager Deirdre was to marry him, about the important guests that would attend their wedding.. but Angus's mind had wondered off.
His thoughts took him back to that day when Deirdre took his face in her hands, when she kissed him.. but he refused her. What a fool he had been! He knew he should be happy for Rohan, his best friend, but he couldn't help wondering what might have happened if he hadn't send Deirdre away. It woulnd't really matter though, he'd leave this island after the wedding anyway..
'Garrett was slightly upset, though he didn't really show it. The king had send his father a letter about the matter, and they both agreed to call off the engagement of Deirdre and Garrett. He'll be returning to his own country shortly.I do pity him. He told us there were dozens of maidens waiting for him at home, but obviously he was desperately trying to pose as his arrogant selve, trying to hide the fact that..'
Angus interrupted Rohan: 'He's leaving us as well?' Rohan frowned: 'Well naturally, but..' 'Where can I find him?', Angus stood up, wiping the grass from his breeches. 'He's probably in the castle. But what..?'
Rohan found himself talking to the great oak. Without explaining himself Angus had made for the castle. It was time for Garrett to live up to his promise.
**************************************************************************** ******
'From here, Sire.' Garrett was taking the directions his third lieutenant had given him. He narrowed his eyes to focus on the horizon of the seemingly endless ocean. Steep dark rocky shores were faintly visible at port-side.
He turned to the lieutenant, his face beaming. 'Let someone call for Angus, tell him his homeland is in sight!'
'There you are!' Rohan's voice startled Angus, who was sleeping with his back against the rind of a great oak.
'I thought I'd find you here..' Rohan sat himself next to his best friend. He still looked weary from the long journey he'd made with Maeve. Spending four days and nights on the back of the dragon Pyre had taken its toll. But Kells and Temra were peacefull now, so Angus could get all the rest he needed.
They both sat there for a few moments, looking out over the green meadows devided into squares by stoney hedges. Tiny red dots lighted up between the the green grass from the cornpoppies that had started to blossom just this week.
Rohan sighed deeply. 'I can understand why you keep coming here Angus. If any place is fit to sort out your thoughts it would be here.' Angus turned his head towards Rohan and lifted one eyebrow. 'What thoughts may I have to sort out then?'
Rohan looked at Angus's suprised face and grinned: 'I know you too well to know that you didn't just come here to rest, old friend.' Rohan's grin suddenly disappeared and he continued: 'You're planning on leaving, aren't you?'
Angus didn't answer but looked at his fingers that played with one of the cords of his tunic. Then after an awkard silence Rohan said softly: 'I do understand. I'd do the same.' There was nothing for Angus here, Rohan knew. He himself knew who his family was, he even had a kingdom now, one he'd be too busy reigning he would hardly have time to spend with Angus.
The knights no longer excisted. Angus was no more than a former thief now. With no profession and no title there was little to nothing to do for him here.
'There's something else I wanted to talk to you about, Angus. You know I will be coronated next week right?' A smile played around the former knight's lips. 'No really? I completely forgot!' Angus rolled his eyes.
'Well..' Rohan wanted to build up some suspension. Angus knew, he always indeliberately did that when he wanted to tell him something exciting. 'Well?', Angus pulled at Rohan's arm. 'Tell me already!'
'Connoher king gave me permission to marry Deirdre. The ceremony for the wedding and the coronation will be held at the same day!' Rohan was beaming, but Angus felt as if someone had just slapped him in the face. 'You and Deirdre?', he asked. 'Why yes, I couldn't believe it at first either! Apparently the king's thoughts changed about me being his son-in- law ever since I was given the title of crownprince of Temra. Naturally you will be the best man and..'
Rohan rattled on about the prospect of the island, how eager Deirdre was to marry him, about the important guests that would attend their wedding.. but Angus's mind had wondered off.
His thoughts took him back to that day when Deirdre took his face in her hands, when she kissed him.. but he refused her. What a fool he had been! He knew he should be happy for Rohan, his best friend, but he couldn't help wondering what might have happened if he hadn't send Deirdre away. It woulnd't really matter though, he'd leave this island after the wedding anyway..
'Garrett was slightly upset, though he didn't really show it. The king had send his father a letter about the matter, and they both agreed to call off the engagement of Deirdre and Garrett. He'll be returning to his own country shortly.I do pity him. He told us there were dozens of maidens waiting for him at home, but obviously he was desperately trying to pose as his arrogant selve, trying to hide the fact that..'
Angus interrupted Rohan: 'He's leaving us as well?' Rohan frowned: 'Well naturally, but..' 'Where can I find him?', Angus stood up, wiping the grass from his breeches. 'He's probably in the castle. But what..?'
Rohan found himself talking to the great oak. Without explaining himself Angus had made for the castle. It was time for Garrett to live up to his promise.
**************************************************************************** ******
'From here, Sire.' Garrett was taking the directions his third lieutenant had given him. He narrowed his eyes to focus on the horizon of the seemingly endless ocean. Steep dark rocky shores were faintly visible at port-side.
He turned to the lieutenant, his face beaming. 'Let someone call for Angus, tell him his homeland is in sight!'