Gemini|| #Wattys2019

Chapter 8

A few hours later, the sun was rising and I've barely gotten any sleep. I can't stop thinking about my dream of Castiel. Or the smudge of blue sprinting through the night. What was it? Who was it?

Moments later, Franz enters the tent.

"M'lady, are you awake?"

"Are you kidding? I hardly slept."

"Sorry to hear that. Maybe you can get some rest on horseback." An audible groan leaves my lips as I remember how much longer we have to go before reaching our destination. I contemplate whether or not I should speak with Castiel like I said I would last night. Maybe he forgot and I'll be off the hook.

Did you sleep well?

How does he have such, unfortunately, perfect timing?

Hey Cass... no actually I didn't. Because I keep picturing him as some evil villain, but he doesn't need to know that.

Sorry to hear that. Nightmares? It's like he reads my mind...

What? No! I'm just not used to sleeping on the bare dirt... I'm not lying, I'm just not telling the whole truth.

Right, my apologies. You're a princess who has never been away from her palace for more than a few hours. His words bite, even if he is only joking. I stop packing my things for a moment while I recover from shock at hearing Castiel say such things. My silence must give me away because he instantly takes it back. Sorry, m'lady. I didn't mean it like that...

No Cass, you're right. But that's why I'm doing this. That's why I'm following through. I'm tired of being kept in my father's cage. For a second, we're both silent. Then his voice returns.

You know, Aurelia... Sometimes cages are meant to protect you, not imprison you. The seemingly innocent comment sends chills up and down my spine. Like it's some kind of warning. Or... some kind of threat. I'm about to ask what he means when Franz interrupts by collapsing the tent directly on top of me.

He laughs, boisterously.

"Forgive me m'lady, it was an accident." He doesn't even try containing his laughter.

"That grin on your face says otherwise, Commander." A smile grows on my own face to match his. I climb out from under the heavy fabric of the tent with all of my things packed neatly in my satchel and in a matter of seconds, my ominous conversation with the prince is pushed to the back of my mind.

Setting down my bag, I begin helping Franz pack away the tent. Our entire campsite vanishes by the time the sun is completely above the horizon. Like it never existed.

We quickly get the horses saddled up and fed, then we prepare to ourselves for the rest of our journey. After two nights with my hair in the same braid, random strands have fallen free. I release the rope braid and run my hairbrush through a few times before tying all of it into a ponytail on top of my head. Even like this my hair still reaches the backs of my thighs.

"Are you ready, Princess?" Franz comes up behind me and lays a hand on my back.

"Yea, I'm good." I step away from him and mount Piper. He does the same with Castor. We set off once more along the beaten forest path. At first we're silent as I entrap myself in my own thoughts. Then finally I'm the one who breaks the quiet.

"Franz I want you to help me train."

"What?" His head snaps to face me.

"Yes. I want you to further my training. I know how to fight and use a blade but if last night has taught me anything it's that I'm not as brave as I'd like to believe. I want you to help me change that." The words spill from my mouth at a rapid pace. My eyes fall on his and I stare him down. A grin takes form on his face.