Author's Note:
Two more chapters after this, and we're done. Hence my update, since I'm edging towards finishing my shorter stories.
Hope you like it!
Chapter 3:
|| Emotion ||
xxx
Horace heard a quiet knocking on his chamber door, and called out to the person so they could enter.
He was mildly surprised to see Cassie, dressed simply in a green dress, her long hair free from any bindings. If he hadn't known any better, she reminded him of when he first met her as Evanlyn.
"Horace, you've been locked up in your room for the last few days, would you mind coming with me for a walk?" She asked, smiling.
He glanced down at his hand, a mass of papers he was to look through. As a knight, he rarely touched paperwork, however each year he seemed to be more involved with apprentices and squires, when he wasn't involved in some secret Ranger mission.
But she had that look in her eye that suggested it wasn't wise to refuse her, and she did look quite beautiful.
"Alright, but you have to tell Sir Richard about the work that isn't finished."
She nodded in agreement and led him outside, resisting the urge to take his hand. She still wasn't sure how he felt about it.
They ended up at one of the more secluded gardens, mostly because it lacked in stone pathways for nobles and castle folk to walk and offered some privacy.
Sighing with pleasure, Horace fell back against the lush green grass. Cassie sat beside a tree, letting her legs stretch out and grinning at the small amount of freedom she had from being outside.
"Richard is determined to give you a lot of work, I thought you were my Champion, not his." She commented dryly.
He cracked open an eye at her. "Hey, you're the Princess, why don't you tell him not to give me so much?"
They both laughed, enjoying each other's company.
"Horace, would you mind if you were my partner for my dad's birthday?" Cassie asked unexpectantly.
"It's a bit late to ask, I mean, I could be taking Jenny." He answered after some thought.
She frowned and reached out to swat him on the leg.
"Fine, I wasn't taking Jenny, Gilan beat me to it, and I sort of assumed I would take you anyway." Horace confessed, watching as she visibly relaxed.
"Now it sounds like I'm your second choice." She pointed out.
The knight relaxed, enjoying the feeling of the cool grass against the nape of his neck, but didn't bother replying.
His lack of response worried her and she peered down to observe his expression, but his face was a blank mask, and his eyes were shut.
Horace, naturally, was a simple person who didn't bother bantering or wasting his breath if he didn't need it. But the time spent with Will and Halt had changed his morals somewhat, and he was especially charismatic when they spent time alone, as if he was afraid to open up in front of other people.
"Horace?"
"Mhm?"
The Princess swallowed, not used to feeling as if she were at fault.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Horace opened his eyes again and took in her downturned lips and worried bright green eyes.
He sat up and shuffled closer to her. "Well not exactly."
"That doesn't sound too good." She replied, laughing to hide her nervousness.
"Well, it's just I've been thinking..." He paused, letting his gaze fall to his feet. "You'd ask Will to go with you if you could, but you can't since Alyss will be taking him."
Cassie was taken aback by his statement, her surprise evident in her eyes. "Will has been with Alyss for years, you can't think I'd want them to be apart."
He shuffled his feet. "No I'm sure you're not like that." He answered sincerely.
"Then why would you say something like that?" Her voice was beginning to take on an edge to it, and neither liked the way the conversation was heading.
Horace dared to glance at her, his eyes pools of blue as he wondered if they were heading into uncharted, and dangerous, territory.
"We both know that you wish he wasn't with Alyss." He muttered.
Cassie sat back in disbelief, simply because it was coming from him.
He seemed to realise that he had actually hurt her and made an effort to try and comfort her, his hand reaching out. But she turned away.
"Just because that was true once, a few years ago even, doesn't mean it's true now." She said in a low, controlled voice.
Horace mentally slapped himself. When she wasn't making enough noise to rouse the Celts, he knew it was bad.
"I'm sorry Cass, I just-,"
"What? Assumed?"
The knight sighed and held his hands up in a gesture of confusion. "I was stupid." He admitted. "I wasn't thinking."
With a huffing sound, Cassie replied, "You're so dense sometimes; couldn't you have just asked me?"
He frowned and was going to protest against her insult, when he realised she had a slight smile on her face, and her eyes were dancing with mischief. At least she wasn't as angry anymore.
"I'm sorry." He repeated, more forcefully.
She waved a hand in his direction. "Alright, I get it. It's behind us now, okay?"
"Well," she raised an eyebrow at his protest, "I'd rather not keep it behind us. I mean, we still didn't talk."
Cassie folded her arms. "What do you mean?"
Horace deliberately met her gaze and blinked. "I'm asking you, how you feel about Will." He stated bluntly.
Her face flushed the slightest shade of pink, but thankfully he didn't seem to notice.
"We're friends." She said firmly. "I mean, in the past, well you know, I had feeling for him, but even if we felt the same way, it would have never worked out."
"But, if you loved each other enough, wouldn't you try and work through the boundaries?" He asked curiously.
Cassie blinked in surprise at his question. "I suppose so." She let out a short breath, her expression darkening. "It doesn't matter though, I mean he has Alyss, and I'm happy for them, really."
There was the slightest hint of doubt edging his mind as he watched her, visibly sadder from their conversation. He wasn't convinced.
"Look, I better get back to work on Richard's stuff." Horace told her.
Startled by his abruptness, her mouth fell open. "Wait, I didn't do something wrong again, did I?"
The desperation and worry in her voice made him chuckle, so he leant down and placed a hand on her head reassuringly.
"Nope, promise. But I do need to finish that work."
Resigned to the fact that she couldn't change his mind, she smiled and waved farewell.
As he strode off, she continued to sit, hugging her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.
She didn't feel that the conversation had gone in the best direction and it was unnerving. He seemed, more emotional than usual, and it worried her. Usually that only happened when he was offended, or angry.
Horace wasn't inclined to lie to her, but then again, there was a first time for everything.
A/N:
Majesty is the only story where they're together, the rest is working towards it, and I thought they were long overdue on a heart-to-heart, even if it wasn't perfect.
Richard was the guy who taught Cassie the sabre. I assumed he was of a high enough rank for my devices.
- Love Mae.
