Chapter Seven: I Will Be Selfish

"Again!"

Lynn got up from the ground. Shaking her soreness, she held her training sword in front of her. Her father attacked her without holding back. Both don in their knight gears, attacked, defend, and parry. The clash of swords could be heard in the clearing as her father slash at her hard. Her arms did their best to hold against her father's strength, but she was losing her stride.

Letting the sword fall to the side with the impact of her father's blade, Lynn made the decision to drop her sword. Aiming a high back at her father, her foot landed on his shoulder and from the grunt, she at least was happy to know it made good impact. However, it barely moved her father who was built like a Viking. He tried to grab her with his free hand, but Lynn dodged backwards away from her sword.

Was leaving her sword the best decision?

Her father rushed toward her again and Lynn honestly had no idea what she was going to do. Her father swung his sword in a long sweep to his left and Lynn dropped down hearing the metal from the sword against the back of her armor. Rolling towards her father's right, she ran to her sword a few feet away.

'Come on! Can't beat him without the sword,' she thought to herself. She could hear her father's footsteps rushing from behind her and she jumped for her sword, somersaulting into a turn in time to stop the strike from her father.

"Good," her father smiled before letting out a deep sigh and shook his head, "… you still must be better."

"You have strength over me, father," she stated as her father pulled his sword back to his sheath.

"So will they," he admitted offering a hand to her. Lynn grabbed it and was hauled up to her feet. Sheathing her own sword, she could feel the soreness all over her body. The sun was starting to set and she let out a deep sigh dropping her shoulders.

"We have a month time to prepare," her father placed his arm around her shoulder as they walked toward her home, "we would need to work hard. I will not be there to watch, to help you," she felt his hand squeeze her shoulder as they stopped at the front door.

"Lynn," her father continued and bent down to look her in the eye, "the other kingdoms will be giving the rule to the battle. I worry some would not be equal."

She nodded because she knew that was true. It wouldn't be easy and it wouldn't be simple. Reaching her hand over her chest to place her hand on top of his on his shoulder, she smiled.

"I will do my best to make you proud," she said gently to have her father let out a laugh and a smile.

He patted her shoulder three times before standing up again. Opening the door, he entered and she followed. She didn't expect the smell of baked fish entering her nose making her mouth water. Her stomach agreed with a growl. Walking pass her father, she was entered to kitchen to stop short when she noticed who was there.

Standing beside a woman plating the table was the prince.

"My prince, my lady," her father spoke up behind her and she blinked back into reality.

"Lynn!" Garrett bounced over to her and wrapped his arms around her.

"What are you doing here?" she smiled hugging him back.

"Well, I know you and Sir Christian had been training very hard and will still continue to before we have to go to the other kingdoms, so…" Garret looked at Lynn scratching his cheek, "I asked Lady Rebecca to help me make food for you."

"Just my daughter?" Christian questioned with a quirk of his lips.

"Of course you too Sir Christian!" Garret said quickly reddening up.

Her father stared at Garrett for a few seconds before walking towards Lady Rebecca.

"Your dad still freaks me out," Garrett said under his breath.

"Don't worry Garret, I'll protect you," she smiled kissing his cheek. He grinned and grab her hand as he walked her toward the table.

"You may sit here, my prince," her father spoke up from where he sat pointing to the chair before him.

"Uh, thank you Sir Christian," Garret thanked, glanced at her, then walked to sit where he was stated to sit.

Lynn sat at the chair at the end of the table and offered the chair next to the prince to Lady Rebecca.

"It is alright Sir Lynn," she declined.

"Please Lady Rebecca, you spent your time cooking, please join us," Lynn explained with a smile.

Lady Rebecca smiled back and glanced at her father to see a nod, before sitting at the designated seat in between both Garret and Lynn.

Passing the meals around the table, her father spoke up before the first bite.

"I know you love my daughter for a very long time," he started to have both Lynn and Garret staring at him, "wouldn't you agree my lady."

"Childhood love. Sir Christian," Lady Rebecca stated, "I have not seen Prince Garret so happy since your daughter left."

"I have not been happy since I've returned as well," Lynn added looking over at Garret who breathed out a smile. Such a beautiful smile.

It was quiet for a moment as they ate their meal on their plate. Lynn ate her bites with a soft smile. She really is happy now that she could express her love freely for as long as she could. She glanced up and caught green eyes. Garret's cheeks tinged pink and he smiled to her. She smiled back before looking back down at her meal.

"I know I made many mistakes," her father spoke up, "the biggest mistake I made was denying my daughter, my only heir, her happiness."

Lynn looked at her father with wide eyes. Her father regret what he did? Placing her silverwares down, she waited for her father to continue. She was not the only one waiting for more.

"If my daughter fails and you are to be wed to a royal princess," her father aimed his eyes at the prince, "would you forget my daughter?"

"No," Garret didn't hesitate, "I love Lynn and I would never love anyone like I do her," he stated and Lynn saw the twitch against her father's lips, "I don't want to be with anyone besides her."

It was quiet for a moment and Garret looked away swallowing and taking a deep breath.

"If I may ask Sir Christian," he sat tall, "I would like to marry your daughter."

Lynn felt her breath leave her as her eyes widen and her hands clenched tight to her knees. She felt her face flush and she bit her bottom lip wondering what her father was going to say.

Heart pumping and palms sweaty, she felt her shoulders tighten.

"You would go against your parents, the king and queen?" her father questioned with narrowed eyes and thinning of his lips.

"I love my father and mother," Garret stated sternly, "but I also know that what they want from me is not what I want. I love Lynn and want to live my life with her, not some princess that I do not care for."

"You would be selfish then," her father clarified leaning back against the chair.

"Yes, for my happiness and hers," Garret stated and Lynn could feel he meant it.

"You'll throw the Kingdom away for my daughter, although you are the only person able to care for it once your father steps down," Christian stated clearly and Lynn felt the itch on the skin around her gem.

Glancing at Garret, she could see he wasn't holding himself as straight as he was before. What her father said was true. It was a lot to give away to be with her and she does not believe it was right for her to also be selfish either.

But this was the chance for all that to be voided, isn't it? If she were to win the trials through the kingdom, then she would be with her love. Would her father not be happy for her?

'He denied you that happiness before,' her thoughts reminded and she felt her shoulders drop. It was true, after all.

"I approve of your love for my daughter my prince," her father sighed and looked at the prince with sad eyes, "but know that my loyalty resides with the king."

"If, if my father doesn't approve of Lynn and I," Garret wondered after a brief silence, "what, what would you do then?"

"Yes father, what would you do?" Lynn questioned because she was curious. Afterall, this was a subject she thought she would never be able to speak about, let alone with her father.

"I'd do what I think is best for the kingdom," her father rubbed his forehead and let out a deep breath.

"Of course," Lynn replied softly and returned to eating her meal. She wasn't surprised in the least. Her father was always loyal to the kingdom and would give up his life for it.

Her mother, sweet and kind, always told her that her father was always needed because he was strong, even if her father didn't want to. When she asked her mother what she meant, she would always smiled and hold her close.

[["The king had requested me," she heard her father say.

"At this hour?" her mother questioned holding onto her father's arm and she felt her eyes welled up.

"I must, my love," she watched her father kiss her mother and Lynn quickly ran away from her bedroom door to her bed.

She waited for a kiss goodbye, but she heard the front door open and close. Frowning and wrapping herself with her blanket, she looked toward her door with furrowed brows. Her mother's footsteps came to her door and pushed it open. Her mother offered a smile and walked toward her to sit on the bed.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, your father is needed," her other explained touching her hand.

"He didn't say goodbye," she chewed her bottom lip and pulled her knees to her chest.

"He was in a rush," her mother touched her head and she felt her mother scoot closer.

"I don't want her to go," she whined as tears ran down her eyes.

"Your father would do anything for this kingdom Lynn," her mother wiped her eyes.

"But I want papa home. I miss him so much," Lynn covered her face as her voice wavered.

"He must do what the king asks of him, my dear," her mother held her in her arms.

"Even to leave us?" her small voice questioned as she rocked with her mother.

"Yes," her mother replied with a sigh and hummed the lullaby she remembered as a child.]]

She closed her eyes for a moment to listen through her mother's lullaby. She had not heard that song in 9 years.

"Lynn," her father spoke up and she glanced to him, "After dinner, go bathe. We will train more tomorrow."

"Yes, father," she replied with a short nod as she returned to finish her meal but looked back toward her father when she was addressed again.

"You truly love the prince," her father stated looking at her and she glanced at Garret who was also looking at her with a smile.

"I truly do," she admitted and felt her cheeks flush slightly when she heard Lady Rebecca's soft laugh behind her hand.

"Hm," her father sounded and she saw the blush splashed against Garret's cheeks.

"Childhood love," Lady Rebecca sighed, "quite lovely and so rare these days."

"My lady," Christian spoke up looking at her, "… there is no such thing."

"Oh Christian," Lady Rebecca shook her head with a deep sigh, "I've seen the way they look at one another since they were babies," she smiled, "true love is difficult to find. Soulmates, have you."

She looked at Garret who looked at her at the same time and both of them ducked their heads to move a piece of meat around the plate. Redness filled the surface of their faces and the smile seemed set to stay on their lips.

"Enough embarrassing the kids," Rebecca clapped her hands grinning, "now, what would you like for dinner tomorrow? A cute little dinner date maybe? Oh, my prince, you should make Lynn's favorite dessert. I'm sure she'd give you a kiss then?"

"Lady Rebecca," Garret reached out to try to cover her lips, but Rebecca kept laughing.

"You still like strawberry cheesecake, Lynn?" Rebecca quirked her lips.

"I, I do," Lynn nodded slowly.

"Wonderful!" She exclaimed and leaned toward the prince. There were mumbles between both and Lynn blinked over to her father who looked at her. He shook his head huffing out a laugh and Lynn felt her heart ease. She felt her lips curl. The dining table was filled with laughter once again.