The sun was just starting to rise over the hills and the morning air was filled with the sounds of men and there horses, readying for battle. I looked over to where my father stood talking to his general, a man I had never particularly liked. I figured it was probably because he didn't like me. My father looked over at me and smiled. He quickly finished talking to his general, and then came over to me.
"Father? Please, let me ride with you. I can fight, and then I will at least be doing something." I looked up at him hopefully.
"No Rachel." He shook his head. "You must stay here. The people need someone here to lead them." He hugged me. "If I die, you must lead the people for me."
"Yes Father. Just promise me you won't die."
He smiled at me. "I can promise you that I will try my best, but I cannot promise that I will come back. You know that."
I know, but I don't want to loose you. I already lost mother, I don't want to lose you too."
He looked at me, his eyes sad. "I'm sorry Rachel."
"Can't you at least tell me why you have to go? Who is this prince and why is he attacking us?"
"I cannot tell you now." He sighed, a faraway look in his eyes. "Perhaps one day you will know." Just then Cedric came up behind him.
"Sire, we are ready to leave."
"Thank you Cedric." He hugged me close. "I love you Rachel. And I am very proud of you." Then he turned quickly and walked over to his horse.
"Good bye." Cedric bowed, and then gave a slight smile. "I'll do my best to protect him."
"Thank you." I hugged him goodbye and then watched them ride out the gate. I stood there for a long time, until finally I could no longer see them.
~
Finally I turned and went into the castle. I wondered around for a while, wondering what to do. I finally decided to make sure everything was ready for when they came back. I hurried to the kitchen and gave orders for food and drink to be readied and set out in the dining hall. Then I went around and made sure there were people ready to tend to any wounded. It wasn't long before everything was ready and I had nothing more to do. When I couldn't find anything else to do, I went out to talk to the lookouts. I sat talking to them for a while, but found I could not keep still. I began wondering around the castle again.
"Rachel!" It was Caitlin. "There is no point wondering around, making yourself sick with worry. Why don't you just get one of the eagles to go scout out the battle and bring you news."
"Of course! I don't know why I didn't think of that." I turned and hurried off. As soon as I had sent an eagle off, I began wondering around again. I couldn't stay still, and constantly searched the sky of any sign of him. Finally I saw him flying down to me. "Well? What news of the battle? Is my Father alive?" I held out my arm for him to land on.
"Your Father is still alive." He said. "I cannot tell who will win though, for there have been deaths on both sides, and both sides are fighting well."
"And Cedric? Is he still alive?"
"Yes. He is still alive. He is staying close to the king and has stopped many a soldier trying to kill the king."
"Thank goodness." I said, with a relieved sigh. "Thank you." He nodded and then flew away. I turned and set off to find Caitlin. I found her in the stable, grooming Sparkles. I picked up a brush and started grooming Destrier. "I have gotten news of the battle."
"And?" She asked, looking up at me.
"Father and Cedric are still alive. We have lost men, but so have they."
"I told you, you didn't need to worry." She said smiling.
"But the battle is not over yet." I said, shaking my head. "Anything could happen."
"Worrying is not going to do them any good."
"I know. I just can't help it. I've already lost my mother. I don't want to loose my father too." Caitlin was silent. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I forgot about your parents. I should be thankful I still have my father." We stood there for a while, brushing the horses in silence, lost in our own thoughts. Destier brought me back with a sudden whinny.
"Rachel, I can hear hooves. The army is coming back."
"Caitlin. Destrier hears hooves." I turned and ran out the stable. I could hear Caitlin running after me. I got to the courtyard just as the horses started coming in. I hurried toward them scanning their faces. Looking for my father. I couldn't see him. Where was he?
"Rachel?" I turned around. Cedric was leading a wagon toward me.
"Cedric? Where is my Father?" He looked down at the ground and then back up at me.
"I'm sorry Rachel." He said quietly. I nodded stiffly.
"There is food and drink in the hall. Once the soldiers have unsaddled they can go there. Any wounded will be taken to another room." I called to the servants to come carry the wounded away. Then I walked among them, seeing to it that they were all alright. "Cedric?" I said, as I walked up to where he was unsaddling his horse. "Where is the General?"
"He got captured." He said, without looking up at me. "Just before we retreated." I nodded.
"And how are you?"
"All right I guess." He said with a shrug. "Just a few scrapes. Nothing compared to what some of the others got."
"Well, go get something to eat and drink, then get yourself cleaned up." I turned to walk away.
"Rachel?" He called after me. "I'm sorry." I just nodded before making my way to the stables. I sat, curled up on a pile of hay. I couldn't cry. No tears would come. Just this horrible emptiness. How could he be gone? My only family. I sat there for a long time, trying to make sense out of it all. Finally I shook myself and got up.
"My father wanted me to lead the people for him, and that's what I'm going to do."
