Faith

Chapter Three

"Not marble nor the gilded monuments
Of princes shall outlive this pow'rful rhyme,
But you shall shine more bright in these conténts
Than unswept stone, besmeared with sluttish time.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword, nor war's quick fire, shall burn
The living record of your memory.
'Gainst death and all oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom.
So till the judgment that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lovers' eyes".

"Shakespeare's sonnet fifty-five?" Hunter looked at the woman sitting upon the classical sofa by the fire place. "very good my young brother. you have studied well". She smiled kindly at him "it is but my favourite Cassandra, talks of destiny and even through what sorrow or hope... love is still there regardless".

"Does this mean you are ready to be loved by someone?" Cassandra closed the book but still left her index finger between the pages to mark the page. "Maybe but I'm still not even prepared for my own destiny".

"Hunter, you have a great destiny; we all do but we must discover it. I know I am still finding mine but I'm close"

"How do you know?" He looked up at her from him sitting on the rug found by the fireplace in the library of the castle. "I just do brother, so will you. When you do it just takes over your entire being and then..." she smiles at him and remains quiet as his anticipation rises "...and then what?"

"That is for you to find out" she places the book on the table beside the sofa and shifted her dress skirt to look without creases.

Cassandra quietly stands and leaves the room, leaving her brother to dwell on her last words.

'What does she mean by that?!' The thought runs through his mind. To find and feel that feeling she felt could take years, finding his destiny could take even longer. Hunter stands from floor and walks over to the window, the sun outside has began to set and soon Hunter will be in complete darkness so he decides to go back to his room. He isn't really in the mood to have dinner with his family; so before he goes back to his room he decides to stop by the kitchen for something to eat. Hunter slowly walks down the stone hallway leading to the kitchen, upon his arrival he sees that there is only one servant in there, the girl that gave him his cloak. He watches her for a little while taking in her features and her movements as she glides around the kitchen. Hunter steps forward accidentally knocking a bowl off the table, Maria finally noticed the princes presence and turns around and faces him.

"Can I help you, your highness?" Maria says while picking up the bowl that fell onto the floor. "I was just looking for something to eat" Hunter says looking around the room. "After your family has finished eating I can retrieve leftovers and bring them up to your room if you'd like?" She says with a blank expression on her face. He looks at her expressionless face and can't help but grin, once she notices his grin her body begins to move in a state of awkwardness. He looks at her movements again and again can't help but smile, letting a small chuckle leave his lips. "What is so funny?" She regains her straightforward position and glares at the Princes actions. His chuckle ceases as he coughs before talking. "I couldn't help but laugh at your stature, I mean in no disrespect but you can't compose yourself when I'm around can you?"

"And what is that supposed to mean...your highness?" The last part she said quietly so that she cannot come off rude. "Do not worry your frail little mind on such matters but, the answer to your question beforehand is a yes. I shall have whatever leftovers are from supper. I will be counting the minutes". A slight smile creeped onto his face as he left the kitchen and Maria rolled her eyes as soon as he turned his back. She did a small curtsy in respect and continued to her work.