Cassandra

Chapter Five

Cassandra POV 

I am jumping up and down with joy as the first ray of sunshine lits my chambers. I barely slept last night thinking about what is going to happen today. I believe that this day is going to be the best day of my life. 

I hear a knock on the door and seconds later Maria comes in my chambers. She has a beautiful smile on her face which is making her cheeks more pink than usual. I notice that she is wearing a new gown of blue color and have her hair done neatly too. She has brought me my breakfast, bread and orange juice. Her face lights up when she sees me already awake. 

“How long have you been awake princess”, she says now pouring the juice in a glass and keeping a plate under it as she motions the glass towards me. 

“Maria, I have told you a thousand times, don’t call me princess, it is so formal”, I say sticking my tongue out which makes her laugh. I push my blanket aside and sit up now. Taking the glass from Maria, I gulp it down in one go. Maria frowns her eyebrow and presses her lips in a thin line. 

“Princess..I mean Cass…you should drink it slowly..breakfast is the most important meal of the day…”, she is going to say something more when I interrupt her

“And it doesn’t look ladylike if you do so Cassandra”, I speak in my Mother’s voice and smile at her. She brushes my hair and nod. 

“I know dear…it’s an exciting day for you today”, she looks at me with the kindness and compassion in her eyes. I sometimes doubt that if she is my real mother and the queen is just someone who runs the palace. She treats me like her own daughter and cares for my interest more than my actual mother. 

Somedays I wish that I wasn’t born as a Princess, but as Maria’s daughter. But then again, I don’t know what would have been my fate in that house. I brush that thought away as today is going to be much more eventful for me. 

I take the bread in my hand and start to undress for the bath. Maria has already started pouring hot water in the tub and making sure it is as per my liking which is mostly Lukewarm water. 

I enjoy my bath and get ready to leave. Maria has packed everything I would need there, My Clothes which aren’t the royal once since I have to hide my identity there, my dairy, my sword, some medical items which I have no clue what purpose they serve and some food and water for the journey. 

The bag isn’t heavy and I could lift it on my own but she has told me to let the servant left it for me during the journey. There is no use of fighting with her on this, as I know I would agree at the end. 

As I am checking my bag, I hear a knock on the door. Maria goes to open it and I immediately close my bag in case it’s my Mother. But I am glad it’s Daddy and my brothers. 

“Cassandra, you look all prepared for today”, he says with a smile on his face. He is dressed with his armor on and I know it must be training time for my i***t brothers. All of them follow Daddy, even Louis is here today. 

“Why did you pack all the stuff Cassandra, you will be back by tomorrow….. my mistake…maybe by today’s evening itself”, he has a smirk on his face, which would have gone had I tackled him down on the ground if Daddy wasn’t here. 

“Louis…I would like you to leave now if you don’t have any compassionate words to say to Cassandra”, Daddy has an authoritative tone and unless Louis wants to be flogged, he would listen to him. 

After Daddy, if there is someone I look up to as a knight it is Louis. He might be a prat from time to time but when he is on the field, he quickly gets everything under his control. He doesn’t have to practice for it, as I do, it’s in his blood since he was born. I see him bow down and leave my chambers not before he puts something on the side of the door. 

I am about to go pick it up when I see I am being surrounded by other idiots. Henry looks like he will burst into tears at any moment, while George and William are looking at me with a smile on their face. 

“I believe you could do it… when you set your mind on something… you achieve it”, Willam has got me caught off guard with his kind words and maybe I would be the first one to burst in tears. Now that I think about it, this time apart would make me miss my silly brothers. 

George comes near me and whispers in my ear,” And tell me if there are any gorgeous ladies there.” I shake my head and nod. 

Henry is standing there unable to say anything so I take him in my arms and brush his hair. 

“Promise me you will train harder and make Daddy proud”, I say to him looking him in his eyes and he nods trying to hard to control the tears. I myself couldn’t stop myself at this rate and I decide to leave as quickly as possible. 

“Cassandra…”, I hear Daddy’s voice, “ I have no doubts that you would be one of the strongest knights there… but in case…you ever feel like you want to come back.. remember.. I would come for you as soon as I can”, he takes me in his arms and pats my back. I could feel tears at the side of my eyes and I blink them away soon. I know Daddy is strong but if I become weak now, I won’t be able to go. 

“I would Daddy. But your daughter is really a strong girl and won’t give up any time soon”, he smiles listening to my words and signals the guys to leave the chambers, following them outside. 

“You will leave in ten minutes. Your ride is prepared. Come down soon”, he leaves shutting the door leaving me with Maria who looks really sad.

“Maria...I would come back soon. You don’t have to worry for me”, I say taking her hands in mine. 

“It would be lifeless without you here. You bring the light and cheer at every place you go.” She says looking in my eyes. 

“And I am like your mother... I would be worried even if you were just going one mile away from me”, I take her in my arms and the tears which were hidden so strongly behind my eyes start to flow. 

I never thought that going away from my Daddy and Maria would make my heart hurt like this. I know it is just some days, but being away from my loved ones even for a minute seems so tough now. 

But my duty lies in the journey ahead of me and I have to prove to myself and others that I could protect them.