The Archer Princess

Chapter Five. The Secret.

*Cassy's POV*

"What in the name of Dürin is going on out here?"

I turned at the sound of my father's stern voice and smiled at him as he walked over to us, he probably only came outside after he had heard Caspian and Dastan fighting.

"Nothing, we just have a visitor. He said he wanted to talk to you, father." I said when my father came to stand in front of me

"Oh really?" He asked.

"Father, this is Dastan Elizar from the Iron Hills." I explained as I gestured to the dwarf warrior who grinned kindly at my father as he offered his hand for my father to shake.

"Elizar? You're Tobiaz's son?" My father asked as he shook Dastan's hand firmly.

"Yes sir. I am his youngest son. It was actually my father who sent me here to talk to you." Dastan told my father who was smiling at him.

"Well, lets get inside and have something to eat, you also need to dry off and change into some dry clothes." I nodded in agreement with my father and motioned for Dastan to follow him inside whilst I took his horse's reins and began leading the horse towards the stables.

By the time I got into the house I realised that Dastan was in the family room with my parents and I had no idea where my brother was. I walked into the room that Caspian and I shared and after seeing that my brother wasn't in the room I quickly peeled off my wet clothes and dressed in a pair of brown breeches and a plain black tunic before I pulled my waist length, dark, damp hair into a loose braid over my shoulder.

I then began to tend to the wound that the Orc had inflicted upon my stomach. I gathered some bandages, water and a cloth and quickly cleaned the gash before I bandaged it.

"Iell nìn?" I looked up when I heard the elvish words for 'daughter' leave my mother lips.

My mother was standing in the doorway, her emerald eyes boring into my purple orbs as she motioned towards my now bandaged torso.

"A naneth nìn." I greeted my mother with a smile.

"What happened, sweetheart?" She asked as she walked into the room and took a seat beside me on my bed.

"Its nothing. Its merely a scratch." I said trying to convince my worried mother that I was fine.

"If you say so. But I will look at it later." She smiled. "Come on, your father wants us all in the family room, he wants us all to hear what his guest has to say."

I smiled to myself, thankful that I wouldn't have to eavesdrop on the conversation like I had been. "Lead the way."

My mother chuckled quietly before she took my hand in her's and pulled me out of the room gently. When we reached the family room, I saw Caspian sat on the chair opposite of Dastan. I couldn't stop the small smile that worked its way onto my face when I saw the glares that the two of them were sending each other whilst my father watched them with an amused expression whilst my mother sat down beside him. I walked further into the room and took the only available seat left which was beside Dastan. I tried not to laugh when Caspian glared darkly at Dastan as if warning him not to even look at me.

"Why have you been sent here?" My father asked him.

"Lord Dain needs you back in the Iron Hills." Dastan spoke firmly, his gaze never wavering from my father's.

My eyes widened. My father couldn't leave! We needed him here.

"Why?" My father asked, a frown appearing on his aging face.

"Orcs. They've begun coming down from the mountains and have been attacking small towns and villiages. Basically, Lord Dain thinks they're planning an attack and its a lot worse than he thinks considering I was attacked by Orcs in this forest and this place is supposed to be away from danger. Lord Dain needs as many dwarven warriors as he can get to come and help him and his people and you're one of the best fighters we have. We need your help." Dastan explained with a grim look on his young face.

"Exactly! Why would you expect me to leave my family here when you've said yourself that Orcs are beginning to enter this forest! I will not leave my family here to suffer against the Orcs just to help Dain. I'm sorry but Lord Dain is going to have to find someone else because I can't go, and not even because he's a good friend of mine... I just can't." I stared in surprise as my father jumped to his feet and left the room.

"I'll go and talk to him. Dastan, you are welcome to stay here for a few weeks or for however long you need." My mother smiled at the dwarf.

"No! He is not staying!" Caspian protested wildly making me grin at his actions.

"Caspain Marcus Mandaria! Dastan is a guest and he shall stay for as long as I say, so shut up and deal with it!" My mother scolded with a firm look before she turned to go and find my father.

I remained sitting and laughing as I watched Caspian's expression to turn from angry to shocked, to angry again when he looked at Dastan.

"If you do anything that I deam unfit then I will string you up from a tree and let the Orcs find you, do you understand?" Caspian warned the dwarf with a firm glare making me try to hold in the laugh that was threatening to spill at seeing my twin try and threaten a dwarven warrior.

"Perfectly." Dastan replied before he stood up and smiled at me.

"Well then, now that that is sorted I'm going to bed, good night, brother." I said to Caspian who smiled and wished me a goodnight before I turned to Dastan with a smile to match his. "And goodnight, Dastan."

"Sleep well, Cassandra." He grinned as he took my hand and placed a light kiss to my knuckles just to anger Caspian who growled.

"Do you have a death wish?" Caspian hissed at him.

I smiled wider and left the two of them to their arguing as I turned and made my way to my room. I collapsed onto my bed and replayed what Dastan had told my father in my head. Orcs were coming down from the mountains and were attacking people more than they already do... and my father wasn't going to help... I had a bad feeling about the next few weeks.