Cassandra didn't have any lessons right now, and she took full advantage of that fact to get out of the castle itself and into the larger courtyard. It made her feel free and alive whenever she could get out of the castle and into the green areas either inside or outside the castle walls. But of course, she was only allowed to go outside the castle walls if she had an escort.
Even so she loved the feeling of air and plenty of space around her. Not that the castle was small or crowded, it just felt that way, in particular since she was almost always surrounded by people. But out here in the outer courtyard there was more open space and further between the people even though the castle still had plenty of occupants here. The open space reminded her of when she and her cousins had run around together and had had shooting competitions against various random targets. They were too old and too busy to spend that much time with her now; they were both training to be knights, while she was learning how to be a proper lady and princess.
Cassandra sighed. Then she leaned back her head and turned her face to the sun. Sometimes she wished she could be a knight, too, but she knew it was an impossible dream.
"You certainly have a lot of faith in people stepping around you." A shadow fell over her.
Cassandra opened her eyes and looked up at the person sitting astride a small horse, leaning ever so slightly forward and looking down at her.
Cassandra could see it was a Ranger, simply by the longbow held casually in one hand, but it wasn't Crowley; the voice and horse was wrong for that. And having had her face turned towards the sun she now had trouble seeing any detail.
"Who are you?" she said, finally giving up on identifying the Ranger against the glare of the sun.
"I suppose it's been too long since I was last here, if you no longer know who I am, your highness." He swung off the horse, coming down to her height. "But I suppose you think we are all like Crowley, anyway," he finished gruffly.
Cassandra broke into a smile. "Halt. Sorry, I didn't recognise you at first; the sun's glare cast you in a silhouette."
"That was the idea," he replied.
Cassandra's smile widened a little as she realised she had just been given one of those hidden Ranger lessons Crowley sometimes gave, too. She was pretty sure her father didn't approve of those, which was why they were not obvious lessons, but more like random little things here and there.
"I'll keep that in mind," she said, and she thought she saw a hint of a smile on Halt's face.
"What brings you to stand around in the middle of the courtyard all by yourself?"
Cassandra sighed again. "I needed some air; sometimes the castle just feels so stifling and stultifying."
Halt nodded his understanding. "I think those two may be much the same, but it is true castles can feel that way after enough time spent inside them."
The two of them were walking towards the stables together, and Cassandra felt glad to have the Ranger's company, despite the fact she had gone out here to be alone for a bit. Somehow the company of the Rangers never felt like an intrusion or a disturbance. They were simply there; quiet and calm. They walked in silence for a while, while Cassandra tried to formulate a question.
"Halt?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"You just did," he pointed out. "But you can ask another one."
She smiled slightly at that. "What's it like to always be travelling around out there?"
Halt was silent for a moment as he considered his response. "Most of the time it's quiet and calm; just me and Abelard." He patted Abelard's neck as he spoke. "It's sleeping under the open sky on warm, clear nights, or in a small tent on the colder and wetter nights. It's cooking over a camp fire, or eating cold rations while I keep watch. It's being constantly vigilant and ready for whatever might happen; I don't have any backup other than my horse, so I can't afford to relax too much.
"It's freedom of movement and I go wherever my duty takes me."
Cassandra felt a slight pang in her heart at that; she wished she could go wherever she wanted, too.
"Sounds wonderful," she said quietly.
"It certainly has its perks," Halt replied. "But there's also a lot of danger involved in the job," he cautioned her. "We usually travel alone; so if anything happens we are also on our own. Being a Ranger is a hard and dangerous job, but for those of us who enjoy life under the open sky and in the forest, it is perfect. We Rangers usually prefer being on our own rather than surrounded by people."
"Sounds good to me," Cassandra mumbled.
They had reached the stables and entered together. A stableboy came forward to take Abelard's reins, but Halt shook his head.
"I'll take care of him myself," he told the boy. The boy nodded, cast a quick look at Cassandra, who did her best to pretend not to notice, before the boy went back to whatever he had been doing before they came in.
Halt quickly got Abelard unloaded and removed the saddle and bridle, so he could rub him down. Cassandra sat on the stall wall separating the stalls watching him.
"Do you always take care of Abelard yourself?" She took great care in trying to remember the names of the Rangers she met as well as their horses, knowing that a Ranger was strongly tied to his horse.
"Usually," Halt replied. "Unless I'm in a hurry; then someone else can do it."
"You're not in a hurry today?"
Halt shook his head. "Just going to a routine meeting with the King," he replied.
Cassandra smiled a little at that. She didn't know anyone other than Halt and Crowley, who would talk about her father so casually as if he wasn't their King at all, but just a random person they happened to know and serve. It was refreshing, she thought, to have someone around who didn't seem all that impressed with her father or his title, though they still always treated him with respect. She idly wondered what would happen if her father ever lost that respect, though she didn't think it likely; Halt and Crowley had both served him loyally since before he became King and she knew they had been responsible for saving her father and grandfather from Morgarath's evil claws.
Neither of them spoke as Halt carefully rubbed down Abelard, but Halt did give Cassandra the apple he usually gave to him, and she rubbed the horse behind one ear as he took the apple from her open hand. She liked how Halt included her and didn't make her feel like she shouldn't be here or was in the way.
Halt finished with Abelard and held out a hand to help Cassandra down from the stall wall.
"Going to the castle proper now?" Cassandra asked as they left the stables.
Halt nodded. "As I said I do have a meeting with the King; as one of his advisors I do have those regularly."
Cassandra giggled at his dry and matter of fact tone, and Halt raised an eyebrow in her direction. She stifled her laughter and merely smiled at him.
"Halt?" she asked as they were almost on the steps up to the castle.
"Yes?"
"Would you care to accompany me outside the castle walls for a ride later?" She suddenly felt a bit nervous he would say no, but he merely inclined his head slightly in her direction.
"It will be my pleasure," he replied, as he held open the door for her.
Cassandra's face lit up in a bright smile and she gave him a quick hug before realising that probably wasn't very lady like. Smiling a bit sheepishly at him, she gave him a little wave of her hand as she turned to go to her chambers. "See you later, then."
Halt merely nodded. He stood in the entrance hall for a little while looking after the young princess wondering if perhaps she didn't spent a little too much time cooped up inside the castle walls. He would have to mention it to Crowley later. But for now he better announce his presence to the King; in all likelihood someone had already told him Halt was here and it didn't do to let the King wait too long. A little was okay though. As far as Halt was concerned it was good for everybody to be kept waiting every now and then, even Kings. Especially Kings.
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Halt made sure to take Cassandra on a long ride around the nearby country in the afternoon, going both fast and slow, and letting her feel the sheer joy of riding her horse, while he kept watch of potential dangers. Of course, he knew you would have to be pretty suicidal to attack the princess while she was in the presence of a Ranger, but it was Halt's philosophy that it was best to be prepared for the worst. He was almost disappointed that no one tried anything.
But Cassandra fell asleep that evening with a smile on her face remembering the wind in her hair and on her face, and Halt's quiet, calm presence next to her, secure in the knowledge that the King's Rangers would always be there to protect her and keep her safe.
