Forgotten Vale

Chapter 4

As soon as Ashton and Lucas were asleep, Pippa and Peter discussed the matter of the castle.

"Do you want to go?" Peter asked her.

"Not really," Pippa replied. "But I also know that if I don't go, I'll spend the rest of my life wondering what would have happened if I did."

"But if you do go to the castle, will you be content with the duties and training you have to go through?" Peter asked worriedly.

"I don't know Peter," Pippa admitted. "I'm not sure of anything anymore."

Peter took Pippa's hand in his own and rubbed it consolingly.

"Whatever decision you make, know that I am with you all the way," Peter said. "We may not be blood siblings, but we are still siblings in our hearts."

"Thank you," Pippa said, smiling at her brother. "I know now what I must do. My only question is: will you come with me?"

"I will go wherever you go," Peter replied. "That's a promise."

"Are you sure about that?" Pippa asked. "That's a big commitment, Peter. Not that I would hold you to it."

"You're my sister, I want to protect you," Peter explained. "Besides, I don't like the looks of that kid, Ashton."

Pippa grinned and said, "Peter, you don't even know him!"

"I know enough about boys his age to know that I don't want him around you," Peter retorted. Pippa rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"It's getting late, I'd better go to bed," Pippa said. "Goodnight Peter."

"Goodnight Pippa."

In the morning, Pippa got up early to prepare breakfast for the boys. She was used to cooking for two, so she had to remind herself to double all her recipes. When she finished, she set a simple platter of bacon and eggs, plus a side of fresh bread, on the dining table. Peter helped her set everything else out. Pippa was surprised that they had enough silverware.

By the time everything was ready, Ashton and Lucas were still fast asleep.

"The food's starting to get cold," Peter grumbled.

"Hush," Pippa scolded him as she watched the boys sleep. Lucas had his mouth wide open, snoring loudly. While Ashton slept quietly with a peaceful, angelic expression on his face.

"I'm going to go pick some flowers for the table," Pippa told Peter as she tore her eyes away from the sleeping boys. She then bounded out of the house and towards a nearby meadow. After picking several wildflowers, Pippa returned to the house and put them in a vase.

"Good morning," Lucas yawned as he stumbled into the kitchen.

"Good morning," she replied cheerfully. "I trust you had a good sleep?"

"Yes, absolutely wonderful," he said sleepily. Pippa watched him as he settled down at the dining table. It was strange knowing that he was her brother. But when she thought about it, they were very similar appearance-wise. They both had blonde hair, blue eyes, and high cheekbones. Lucas was several inches taller than Pippa, but their builds were basically the same. Pippa was smaller and more petite, but they seemed to share a similar fragileness.

A few minutes after Lucas had gotten up, Ashton followed suit. His already crazy brown curls were even worse after sleeping on them.

"Good morning," Ashton greeted everyone as he sat down next to Lucas at the dining table.