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 Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 10:28 pm
In the smoke, Garrat drew his sword, but was unable to see and would not dare strike in case it hit the wrong target. He did feel some people brush by him and he wondered if one of them was Nathaniel. When the smoke cleared, it was obvious that the prince had run off and was undoubtedly trying to enjoy the festival with the residents of the village.
Upon the Queen's gesture, Garrat sheathed his sword and mounted a horse and began his search for the young man. Knowing him, his curiosity wouldn't cause him to traverse very far right away. At the very least, retrieving the prince was just going to be annoying. As he looked above the heads of the crowds, he would approach any black-haired villager he saw. For a while, he could not find Nathaniel among them.
Finally, he spotted the prince entering one of the tents and stopped the horse at its entrance before following on foot. While the prince was ready to sample some odd food, Garrat tapped his shoulder. "Your Highness, I suggest you come with me," he said once he got his attention. He had a mind to scold the prince for recklessly running off like that, but it was unwise to do so in front of merchants.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 8:17 am
And there was Garrat, right on time. Of course Nathan flinched a bit at the feeling on his shoulder, but only because Garrat's voice seemed stern. So, turning around Nathan had a happy smile and held up a piece of some kind of pie on a spoon and his face lit up with excitement. "Try this, Garrat!" He exclaimed before going anywhere. "And look, I got you something else too!" He smiled as he pulled out a blue little charm bracelet. It wasnt too flashy and it was essentially just made out of three little threads of string. But they were each woven so carefully and braided with such finesse that it couldn't help but look beautiful. Of course, Nathan didn't quite understand that the only other people around wearing such a thing were girls and young women. "The lady in that tent over there showed me how to make it " he announced happily, completely ignoring Garrat's suggestion. Almost as if he was trying to show Garrat all the fun they could, they didn't have to leave just yet~.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 1:22 pm
Garrat wanted to get back to the carriage already, but Nathaniel just looked so happy. However, they had no time for this. "Your mother is worried for you. We can engage in festivities another time," he urged, ignoring the pie and the bracelet. "Please consider returning to her side." A small part of him told him to take his time, but he was sure it would look strange if he did so. Besides, the royal family (or at least the Queen) had intended to visit the villages as an entire family.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 6:03 pm
Garrat had seen through the ruse and didn't want the bracelet. He groaned and waited for Garrat to mount the horse he had brought. "Do we have to go, Garrat?... " he asked with a sad frown. "Mother won't know! Let's go to that tent!!" He started perking up and began trying to pull his knight but the knight was much bigger and stronger than him, so he didn't really go very far.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 8:27 pm
Garrat sighed and was ready to drag Nathaniel to the horse, but he found himself ultimately unable to resist the prince's eagerness. "Fine, but we can't stay too long," he said as he followed Nathaniel to the tent. He was sure that the Queen, in fact, would know, but perhaps she wouldn't mind if her son had a little time to enjoy himself. After all, Garrat would be accompanying him, so Nathaniel would be able to return to the family safe and sound.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 11:34 pm
The utter joy shown through with Nathan's huge smile as he slipped on the bracelete around Garrat's wrist, with of without his permission. It was like a man finally had been proven innocent after a 20 year long case! He was so excited, "Great! We won't be too long, I promise" which essentially he was going to spend as much time as possible. He even started running ahead in a tent with goats in it. Of course, after prolonged exposure, Nathan started to sneeze.
Of course the fun couldn't last forever, and especially since up above, another rain cloud was rolling in from the distance...
Before Garrat could rightfully carry the prince and drag him back by force, it seemed that Nathan had put something in the horse's side satchel and was now becoming very obediant to whatever Garrat said. "Are you hungry? There's still more we can try!...." He asked, clinging to his soldier's arm.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 12:09 am
Garrat hid the bracelet under his sleeve, as he didn't have the heart to take it off, and reluctantly followed Nathaniel around. Well, he probably wasn't that reluctant. He had to admit that he did enjoy the prince's childishness, even though some might say that he was too old for such. The naysayers probably never had to be stuck in a room most of their lives.
When Nathaniel implied a suggestion to get some food, Garrat shook his head. "Your mother must have been wondering what took us so long. It is time we must go," he said adamantly, leading Nathaniel to the horse and helping him up onto it. "We mustn't keep her waiting."
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 11:44 am
Young Nathan sighed as he helped up on to the soldier's mare. The fun was over and it was time to go back to the family. He knew he'd hear it from his mother. When Garrat mounted on, Nathan noticed that he had hidden the bracelet he got him. Slightly discouraged, he leaned Garrat and waited as they rejoined the family.
Maybe he doesn't like it, and he's only still wearing it so he doesn't hurt my feelings. The prince thought. But at least he go to spend time outside with his friend. He wished the time out here wouldn't end as the rain gently sprinkled down, but the sun remained. Soon, a glittering rainbow twinkled high in the sky. "Ohh, Garrat look!! " pointed the happy prince. The weather certainly had its odd turns this week.
Seeing the rainbow made Nathan smile and he suddenly hugged his friend around the waist. "Thank you... " he muttered happily. Surely the prince must've had an off switch for how cute he was being. He was just so warm and filled with joy that he couldn't explain it himself. Some women and men pointed at the odd seen but most were paying attention to the rainbow and others were still bartering and trading thier goods.
The King and Queen were already heading back to the castle. Surprisingly, after the unexpected "thievery" in the beginning, the only thing upset in the parade was Richard's horse because now Manureva and Rosa were both riding him, while Richard rode with his mother. When Rosa saw Garrat, she smiled happily and waved to him while the princess just rolled her eyes and laughed. Nathan saw her and had a bit of an impulse question to ask," Garrat, do you like Rosa?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:05 pm
Garrat found it hard to ignore the attention he and Nathaniel were getting, but perhaps he was just overreacting. Only a few people saw them and it isn't likely that anyone would accuse the two of being a couple, as much as Garrat would have liked for them to be.
Once they reunited with the royal family, Garrat ignored Rosa's wave. He had no problems with answering Nathaniel, though. "No, I'm not very fond of Rosa," he told him, though he had to quiet his voice a little so only the prince could hear. "For one thing, her beauty does not match her heart."
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:46 pm
Nathan couldn't help but giggle at Garrat's answer. He would be the type of man to love a woman for her heart and not the chest in front of it. He liked that about Garrat, though. Another chivalrous quality. Before the prince could ask another silly question, his mother intervened and caused the young prince to shrink from her scold. "Nathaniel, how many times have I told you not to run off on your own like that?" she started. The Queen sighed, " Garrat, take him home. It will rain soon and I don't want him outside while it does..." she ordered. Nathan lowered his head in shame and pouted, "B-but-!"
"Not another word out of you." the King bellowed. Nathan looked down and clung to Garrat. He wanted to stay outside a little longer but knew, when the King spoke, no one talks back to him. So he didn't press the argument anymore. Thunder boomed in the distance behind the royal carriage.
Trying to keep the happy mood he had once before, he put a smile on, "Garrat, did you have fun today? I had fun... Were you worried you'd get in trouble from mother?" he asked. Generally, when the sickly prince pulled these stunts, Garrat would always be asked to get him back and the Queen would scold Nathan for running off in the first place. But there have been some occasions when the King and Queen both questioned soldier's actions and protection skills (when he was much younger). "Do you ever get worried, like mother and father do?" he asked up to his friend.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 9:26 pm
Garrat would have flinched with Nathaniel, but managed to keep his composure. Without much delay, he sped the horse a little toward the castle before pondering Nathaniel's questions. There wasn't much he could say on the matter that Nathaniel probably wouldn't already know, so the knight stayed quiet.
Once the royal family was out of sight, Garrat turned the horse to take a different way back to town. He remembered seeing a merchant claim to have something that can keep out the rain. Perhaps they could acquire one so Nathaniel could spend more time out while there was rain.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 9:43 pm
Nathan raised his eyebrows as he took notice to the new path they were going. He was certain that Garrat would obey his mother and father and taken him straight back to the castle. "Where are we going?" he asked looking up at his knight. A sly happy grin creeped across Nathan's face. "Are you kidnapping me?" he teased, so excited to not go home. "Lets go on the other side of the lake!" he begged and clung tightly to his friend as they trotted, being sure not to fall off the horse. The was, essentially, nothing on the other side of the lake. Nothing but a forest that no one ventures through. So, the other side of the lake, was forbidden to enter for all the children. But Nathan, being so curious, couldn't help but want to just what was there. That's why he wanted to use the boat. But since it was getting colder and the rain could fill the boat (supposedly), using it was out of the question now.
"Or, do you have something else in mind?" he asked with an ecstatic smile.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 10:45 pm
"Wouldn't it be more fun to join the festivities?" Garrat said. "We can go to the lake on another day, but festivals don't come around very often." Arriving back into town, he stopped the horse among others before dismounting and helping Nathaniel. "Choose among the tents. There's plenty of time and a little rain can't ruin the joy." When Nathaniel had chosen, the knight followed him closely.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 11:45 pm
Nathan hugged his knight excitedly and pulled him into a tent. "Garrat, you're the best!" He smiled and skidded through the dampening dirt and happily entered a tent that bad a few parrots in it. Nathan reached out and wanted to pet one, only to get his fingers snipped at. The tent had more jewelry in it and seemed like a gypsy's closet.
He had moved on to another tent. This one had more things that the prince was so interested in. But unfortunately, it made it look like he was suffering as his eyes immediately watered and reddened. Being stubborn, he ignored his allergies and walked forward. It was a tent filled with animals, most of which were cats and dogs. "Help me find a pet, Garrat!" He sniffed his runny nose. He wanted a pet so badly, but just from the reaction his body was giving alone should've been hint enough for him to give up on a pet. With a sweet smile, he wiped the tears from his irritated eyes. The old man running the tent offered something that was in a large basket. "Uwahahaaa!!" When Nathan foolishly checked it without asking what it was, he leapt backwards and jumped behind Garrat to hide from a cobra that flipped its hood threateningly and stayed inside its warm basket. He shook violently in sheer terror at the man's cruel joke. There just didn't seem to be any pets anywhere for the young to love and care for. The birds that were in there seemed to love Garrat more than Nathan and although he'd love to have a cat, petting their fur made him break into a terrible rash.
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 2:59 am
Garrat glared at the shop owner, but did nothing. He cluld not waste time scolding the man. Looking over the birds, he noticed a black bird, which he recalled to be a starling. "Nathaniel, look at this one. He seems friendly," the knight said, leading the prince to the starling. The bird was looking at the two with great curiosity and appeared to show concern for Nathaniel's current state. "It's a starling. I heard these are very intelligent birds. Would make for a good companion."
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