Amelia's Serpent

Chapter 7. Thinking

That night is was a night of the blue moon, I couldn't sleep, I was busy thinking.
Thinking about my dad, the war, the soldiers...

Food.

The rations were starting to grow smaller each day. It made me worry.

I tried thinking of something else and looked at Venice lying in a small puddle, "At least I have water." I whispered.

Finally I started to fall asleep when I heard some rustling by my tent.
I loaded an arrow in my bow and peeked out.

That's when I saw Cassiopeia riding a pure black steed, this time she wasn't as dressed up, she wasn't wearing her crown, just her blue dress with the stars embroidered in it.

I got up and told Venice to stay, hopped on Sam and followed her. I swear this girl is more rebellious than me.

And that's saying something.

I followed her from far enough away that two horses could fit between us, and she walked through the small clearing, into the woods, and back where I first saw her.

She dismounted and sat on the same log and pulled out her whittling knife.
"Come and sit Amelia."

"... How'd you know it was me?"

"I heard you tell Venice to stay, you should probably work on your whispering."
She looked back at me dismounting Sam, smiled and patted the log, gesturing for me to sit.

I snickered a bit and sat down.
"What brings you here Cass?"

"Hm, Cass,
Nice."
She was staring pretty intently on the twig she was carving into a spear.

"Oh right,
I just come here to think, the full moon gives good light and the woods smell fresh."
She seemed a little more laid back then usual.

"Well, what do you think about?" I asked.

"Lots,
My dad, my name, war, whittling..."

"What on your mind tonight?"
I didn't realize how many questions I was asking, but after all I was here to listen.

"My birthday.
Soon I'll be ready for coronation, but I don't wan't to be Queen. I don't know what a Queen does, or what a Queen's like.
And I can't even manage a war, let alone taxes and, castles, and servants..."

At this point she was attacking her sick fairly aggressively.

All I could say was,
"Well you'll be a Queen,
And I guess that means be yourself."
She stared at me for a second, then replied,
"The sun's coming up, we should head back."

We both hopped on our horses but ride back as slow as possible,
I don't think either of us wanted to go back to our lives.

And I couldn't help but do that thing that I hated so much, thinking.

When I was small my dad always said I was his princess, and when he entered war and started to ignore me I just started telling myself to get over it,
"Face it, Your no princess."
I'd tell myself,
But now, knowing Cass, I don't think being a princess was as great as it sounded.

Suddenly I realized we had reached the camp as everyone was starting to wake up, so I said goodbye to Cass and quickly went to get armor on.

When everyone lined up for orders the general seemed ... Off.
"Take today off soldiers, rest up. No more training. Tomorrow we beat this thing, no matter how many lives we lose." his voice started to sound angrier. "I'll defeat it by myself if I have to!"

When everyone dispersed I went back to Darla's Blacksmithing tent.

"You hear what the general said?" I asked.

"Yeah, sounds like a suicide mission to me." She leaned on her small counter and looked at the forest.
If it were me I'd hunt it while its asleep.
She stood and sighed.
"But Im no general.
What can I do for ya'?"

...
"You got any more of those arrows?"

"Yeah why?"

"Because tonight..."
I threw a couple of gold coins on her desk to pay her back, only a little.
"We're ending this."

She looked at me with a surprised face, but it quickly hardened.
"I'll get my Gryphon."