Nobody knew where he had gone to or why he had left the house so quickly. The only thing the sentries had seen was that he rode his horse at full gallop into the night. The king feared that his youngest son had betrayed him and rallied his army to pursue the prince.
Prince Connell MacDowell, youngest son of King Angus MacDowell, knew a war was brewing between his clan and the clan beyond the Northern Ridge. The two clans had fought for the land since the Golden Age, each claiming rights to the Warm Pools.
In the center of an oak tree grove were three pools created from an underground spring, which were thought to possess healing properties. The MacDowell clan had controlled the pools for six generations, but the Northern clansmen were becoming more determined to reclaim their place as owners.
Connell knew he had to do something to end this timeless feud and asked the king of the Northern clan for the hand of his youngest daughter. Connell believed that this would bring peace to the clans and unite them as one. The only problem was that King Angus believed the idea to be a plot to remove the MacDowells ' from the Warm Pools.
Connell and King Angus argued violently over the prince ' s decision. The king ordered his guards to seize the boy, but he ducked past them and fled from his father ' s house. He jumped on his horse and disappeared into the darkened forest.
He made his way to the clan of the Northern Ridge and explained the situation. Connell knew that there was a good chance that the Northern king would become suspicious and have the young prince killed. He told the king that his father would probably be following him, but that he was by no means bringing war to their lands. Suddenly, the sounds of hooves and bellowing men filled the air. King Angus and his guards were approaching the gate, each ready to fight.
The Northern king gathered his men, lit torches, and marched out to meet their eternal enemies. Prince Connell ran out between the two kings and begged them to talk things out first, then if they couldn ' t come to an agreement, they could have their war. Though they were both quite reluctant, the kings agreed to talk.
They sat around a large fire where they drank pints of ale and ate fish cakes wrapped in rounds of flat bread. Prince Connell explained to them how a wedding between their clans would grant everyone a place in the grove. He talked about the clans merging into one group, with each king retaining rule over his own territory.
The two rulers listened quietly, seriously considering the idea, when the princess walked out to Connell ' s side and pleaded for them to approve the marriage. King Angus could see that his son truly loved the princess and she loved the prince. Finally, with a few more stipulations and a few more pints of ale, the kings agreed to the marriage.
The following spring, Prince Connell, his blushing bride, and the members of both clans, joined together to celebrate the end of years of fighting and the beginning of a peaceful world, in the middle of the grove.
