The Archer Princess

Chapter Six. Farewell Father.

*Cassy's POV*

The next day I awoke long before the sun had risen and as part of my usual routine I washed, got dressed and retrieved my weapons from beneath my bed before silently exiting the house. I followed the dirt path into the forest and towards the nearby clearing that had a slow stream flowing through it.

I heard noises from the clearing and frowned... no one besides me ever came to the clearing, especially this early.

I swiftly notched an arrow onto my trusty bow and readied to fire at whoever was lurking about at this time. I stepped into the light and moved towards the figure that was sat near the stream, their head lowered in what could be described as sadness.

I recognized the figure as my father as I stepped closer and immediately lowered my bow with a worried look.

"Father?" My timid voice broke through the silence that hung over the clearing.

"Cassy? What are you doing out here?" He asked as his head snapped in my direction.

"I could ask you the same thing, father." I said as I walked over to his still sitting figure. "Are you alright?" I added.

"Yes, I believe I am. Its just that I can't decide what I should do... should I go with Dastan or not?" He replied, his purple eyes filling with sadness.

My gaze softened in understanding as I lowered myself to sit beside him.

"I'm going to be honest with you; I don't want you to go - I'll miss you too much. But if you think that Dain needs you like Dastan said then you should go and help. I know you want to - you miss fighting, its in your blood." I said.

"When did you become so good at talks?" He chuckled.

"Who knows?" I grinned as I hugged him from the side.

"I guess I should go and pack what I need." He sighed as he hugged me back tightly.

"Yeah. I'm going hunting." I told him.

"Be careful, baby girl." He told me as he kissed my cheek.

"I will. I'll be home in an hour." I told him.

"Good. Don't be any later." He replied as he jumped to his feet.

"I won't." I said as he pulled me to my feet.

"Thank you for the talk, Cass." He said with a small smile.

"Anytime, daddy." I told him - I was a daddy's girl and I loved it.

"Love you."

"Love you too."

And with that he walked back the way I came towards our house as I proceeded to go deeper into the forest to hunt.

I was glad he could go back to working for Dain like he wanted to but I was scared about him leaving us for Durin knows how long. What if more orcs attacked? Could Caspian and I fight them off on our own?

I shook my worries from my head and focused on tracking the deer that I was hunting.

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An hour later I walked back to the house with the dead deer slung over my shoulders. My mother was out in her garden tending to her vegetable patch when she saw me.

"There you are, my dear!" She said as she got to her feet, brushing her dirtied hands on her apron.

"Morning mother. Sleep well?" I asked with a smile as I placed my hunt down onto the grassy floor.

"Indeed I did." She smiled. "And you?"

"Yes I slept pretty well." I replied.

"Your father said you went hunting. I was expecting you back later than this." She said.

"Yes, well I tracked the deer quicker than usual so that's why I'm back now." I explained.

She nodded, acknowledging what I said before I helped her carry the dead deer to the wooden table so that we could skin it and gut it so that my mother could prepare it for dinner.

"Your father told me that he has decided to go." She told me.

I nodded, "Are you upset?" I asked.

"Yes, I mean I am going to miss him so much but I know that this is something your father has to do - he is and always will be a warrior. I love him and I want him to do the things he wants to do in life." She explained and I smiled a small - almost non-existent - smile.

"He'll be back before you know it." I reassured her with a hug.

"I hope so."

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It was a few hours after noon when I was helping Caspian pack the things father would need for his trip to the Iron Hills.

It didn't take us long to strap the bags to my father's horse along with a bag of food to last him some of the journey.

I stood on my mother's right hand side while Caspian stood on the left as we said goodbye to our father.

I knew my eyes were watering but I refused to let the tears fall.

"I am going to miss you all so much." My father said as he looked at the three of us.

"We will miss you too, Marcus." My mother said, her tears already falling down her cheeks.

"Stay strong, my love." My father told her as he pulled her against him in a tight hug.

I smiled sadly at the two of them. And my father turned to Caspian. "Look after your mother and sister. You are the man of the house while I am gone."

Caspian nodded and quickly hugged my father. He was trying desparetly to hold himself together.

Then my father turned to me. "Remember to practice with your bow everyday. Its up to you to hunt for the family now." I nodded.

"I love you daddy." I said as the tears finally fell and he quickly pulled me against him in a tight hug.

"I love you too, my little Archer Queen. I love you so much." He said into my hair before he pulled back and planted a lingering kiss to my forehead.

"Be safe." I told him and he nodded before pulling my mother in for a loving kiss.

"I love you, my one. I will return soon." He told her before turning and mounting his horse.

I smiled sadly at Dastan as he sat up on his horse. "Keep him safe?" I asked quietly so only he could hear.

"I promise." He smiled.

I stood by my mother and brother as we watched my father and Dastan ride out of the clearing and into the woods.

"Lets go inside." My mother suggested.

Caspian and I nodded and we turned and followed her inside.

I miss my dad already...