Crown of Petals {c}

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Cassandra wondered how long it would be before she was struck with wanderlust to go beyond the borders of the Whispering Woods. The thoughts were entertaining, but she knew she would not act on them without permission. She was content to remain within Meridell until her parents recalled her sister and herself back home. Hopefully there was not a rebellion taking place, or some sort of court plot that would endanger them. It would have been nice to have been presented with a reason for why she was here. Even a lie would have given her something to assuage the worry that plagued her. Now all she could do was wander around this town and hope to keep herself occupied however she could that was within reason.

The flowers certainly presented her with beautiful scenery, though. Everywhere she turned, the aroma of the flowers emanated from the air. Cassandra believed that this garden could almost compare to the one her parents cultivated in Avalon. She wished she had her sister’s company with her, but perhaps it was a good thing they spent a little time apart. The two of them had always been together as far as she could remember. This was certainly a new opportunity to meet new people, which she was excited to do. Cassandra made a note to herself to bring a book here with her the next time she visited. Reading a book beneath the comforting aroma of the flowers would be rather relaxing.

Her expression morphed into one of brief surprise when she heard the familiar voice of her bodyguard. Cassandra had not expected him to be here, and she sincerely hoped he was not following her. She resisted the urge to sigh as he bowed low before her. If he intended to keep their presence downplayed, then he was not doing an apt job of it. Her lips quirked into a slight smile as he asked her if she needed anything. “Nothing but your company, since you are already here,” she replied. Blue eyes flickered to the patch he now wore over his eye and she could not help but feel somewhat responsible for the wound. Her fingers twitched to reach out and brush over the injury gently, and before she knew it, she had already done so.

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Cassandra wished such an injury had not been taken on her behalf. Of course, that was what a bodyguard was meant to do. How could she not feel guilty, though? The arrow had been meant for her or her sister, but he had blocked the path of the arrow without thought to his own wellbeing. Was her life worth that much more than this? No, she certainly did not think so. Being born to privilege did not make her of more value than another being. She was very blessed to count Seth among her closest confidantes and friends. Cassandra did not have that many to begin with, but she would rather have one trusted friend than dozens that did not truly care for her. Her lips quirked into a weak smile as Seth placed his hand over her own.

“Of course I am. It should not have happened at all,” she murmured. Goddess, she wished she had been taught proper healing magic to have helped tend to the injury. It was a blessing that the arrow had not sunk all the way in to pierce his brain, or it truly could have died in an instant. Her heart clenched at the thought. The important thing was that it had not happened, and all of them were alive and well. The loss of an eye seemed little when compared to the loss of a life. No amount of reassurance from Seth or herself would rid her of the guilt. Such things took time. Emotions were a complicated affair that even the most brilliant of mind had trouble understanding.

“I am quite content with our living situation. Meridell is not Avalon, but it is quite beautiful and similar in appearance. I need nothing, I assure you.” As if she was about to ask anything more of Seth when he had saved her life. Anything that was wrong could be assuaged in time when she grew accustomed to the idea of being away from home. Cassandra tilted her head when she heard Seth let out a piercing whistle. Blue eyes warmed the moment a bird landed on his palm as he presented it to her. She cooed gently at the small creature, reaching out with her free hand to stroke it’s feathers gently.

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That was an apt way to describe Merridell. Cassandra wondered how long they would remain here, though. A few weeks? Months? Surely no longer than a few months, right? She nearly blanched at the possibility of being here for years. Illusia was surely a beautiful country to live in, but it was not her homeland. A temporary respite from whatever turmoil was occurring back home. At least the three of them had comfort in this familiar place. It seemed life would not be going along the path she would like, but she would endure as a princess should. There was one nice point about living here, though. Cassandra did not have to worry about an arranged marriage for now. When had Seth become so wise over the years? She could remember playing with him while she was a young girl and now here they were.

“You have certainly grown more wise, Seth. A contrast to the boy that used to follow me into the forests to explore for treasure,” Cassandra mused gently. Her lips curled into a thoughtful smile as she gently moved her hand from his cheek. Since his hand was still atop her own, she merely twined her fingers through his. It was a gesture she had done when times over the years. His friendship had always been a constant to her during her seventeen years of life. At least she had Seth had her sister with her in this strange, new land. A walk through these gardens would be a rather nice way to pass the time.

“I did make one new friend. Seyka is her name, and I met her in the library while we both irritated the librarian. He is a beastman, and we had quite a difficult time in resisting the impulse to scratch his ears. His reaction was quite endearing.” No doubt Julian dreaded the next time the two of them decided to visit the library. With a gently tug of their joined hands, Cassandra lead Seth forward to walk. “And what of yourself? Have you met anyone, or are you going to watch every step my sister and I make?”

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Cassandra merely glanced at Seth with a rather deadpan expression. Was he really reciting those words by heart? She merely shook her head as she sighed. It would be nice if he did not take his duty so seriously, but she did not fault him for that. It was comforting to know that he cared about her and her sister enough to do so. A desire that went beyond his duty of being a personal bodyguard. “That should not deter you from making a friend here. You need to socialize with more people beyond my sister and I. I am sure a male influence would be appreciated, even if I do not mind practicing more male appreciated activities. Will you do so? For me?” Wide, blue eyes were turned on him with a slightly pleading edge that he could not possibly refuse.

Walking through the garden like this was a pleasant experience for her. Spending time with Seth like this felt like a rare gift these days. Cassandra had spent much of her time trying to keep herself busy, or she would grow mad with worry about what was going on with her parents. It was easy to fall into her usual friendship with the older male, though. He meant so much more to her than a bodyguard or servant or something else like that. Those were merely roles he filled and did not encompass who he was as a person. It was moments like these that made her feel happy and content that she did not have to wear her usual mask when presented to a court that expected the world of her.

“Then you have plethora of life experience,” she replied with a teasing smile. Her brow did quirk at his own teasing remark in return. A brat? Well, that was a rather unflattering choice of words to describe her with! “I would hardly call myself a brat. I merely know how to get what I want and rarely allow anyone to dissuade me. You have always fallen to my wishes amiably enough. As for beautiful? Thank you for noticing.” Without much thought, Cassandra pressed a kiss to his cheek with a giggle.

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Cassandra was content enough with the promise that Seth would at least try. There was nothing more she could ask of him, and she was confident he would make an effort. Perhaps she could bring him to the library with her next time to meet Julian. Surely Seth’s more quiet nature would be welcomed by the rather temperamental beastman. She would have to be on her best behavior if she did so, or such a meeting had a chance of not going well. Her eyes wandered over the seemingly endless expanse of flowers again. Whoever took care of this garden did a wonderful job. The scenery left her feeling homesick, but the familiarity of it was also a reassurance. Hopefully their home would still be there and whole when her parents called them all back.

Polite manners and masks were not what she wanted right now. Cassandra wanted Seth to relax and drop such courtesies when there was no one else to watch them. He was certainly letting his guard down as he always did in her company, but there were still a few walls. Some built from years of habit that were always difficult to push past. No, she did not blame him for that. They all had habits that were hard to put aside even when there was little danger of being caught. She knew her action had certainly caught him off guard, but she did not regret it. Cassandra pretended not to notice the flush of color to his cheeks as his words caught in his throat. She dared not to giggle, though.

“You are worthy of my time and I will not hear anything saying otherwise,” she replied. Her lips curled into a slight smile before diverting her attention back onto the flowers. Cassandra really did not wish to push him too much with her more forward actions. Perhaps a change in topic would be better? “I do wonder what the rest of Illusia is like. I would like the change to visit Asgard while we are here. I wonder how different this country is from Avalon.” Her country seemed to be nothing but an endless forest, but that was not the case with Illusia.

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Cassandra knew her stubbornness was far from her most endearing trait, but it was one she admired in herself. She was certainly no weak-willed maiden content to do whatever was asked of her. Playing the part of a demure princess was one thing, but that hardly meant she was without a mind of her own. Well, as much as she could have one while she was still unbound and relatively free. The idea of being forced into a political marriage nearly made her stomach twist in anxiety. Such a thing had never settled well with her, especially since she felt she had more than ample time to do so. Centuries, if one were to be technical. She did not wish to think on such far away things, though.

Her head tilted to the side when she felt Seth’s hand slip from her own. Blue eyes followed him curiously as he walked forward to capture several flower petals floating along the breeze. Cassandra moved to sit beside him beneath the tree he had chosen to rest again. What was he doing now? “Of course things will be different here. I have heard the rumbling of rumors that change seems to be falling upon Illusia. I am not too eager to see what kind it is,” she answered with a slight furrow of her brow. Her gaze fell onto the leather cord he had produced and watched with rapt attention as Seth began to form a crown of flower petals. It reminded her of the times they had done so as children.

“Perhaps not, but I do not wish to stay within Meridell forever. I do not believe anyone would recognize me in Asgard, since this is my first time outside of Avalon.” Cassandra would wear a cloak and cover her face if she had to, but she was determined to see more of Illusia at some point. She bowed her head slightly as Seth placed the crown of flowers upon her head and she smiled brightly. It was the first crown she had worn in quite awhile, but this was more grand than any of the jewels she had been gifted back home.

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Cassandra always had to be careful of what she wished for. Her lips twisted into a bitter half smile for a moment before she quickly masked the expression. The desire for freedom had been met with her parents sending her sister and herself away with no explanation and little warning. It weighed on her mind so constantly, but she did not wish to mar this moment with her bitterness. Her expression became more subdued and more distant as she placed herself into the more comfortable mask of a courtier. Seth had not meant anything by his comment, but that did not stop her emotions from railing against the warning. It was maddening to be treated like a child when she was not. Even her closest friends sometimes forgot that.

“Thank you,” she murmured in gratitude. Her mood had been dampened, but she tried to push that away. The garden was peaceful and she was in good company. What reason did she have to be truly upset? Cassandra allowed her fingers to tangle in the fabric of her summer dress as she smiled a little more brightly. Crowns of flowers often spoke of childhood days spent running through beautiful gardens and with close friends. They were memories she doubted she would ever forget even with her long lifespan. Certainly they would carry her stressful times such as these when she had little else to look forward to.

“Day to night, dark to light, fall the sands of time. Let the years like the gears of a clock unwind. In your mind, walk through time back to better days. Memories, like a dream, wash tears away…” Cassandra trailed off. There was more to the song she was working on, but it helped to pass the time. Song and music were two hobbies she doubted she would ever tire of. Now if only she had remembered to bring her lyre with her, but the suddenness of the move had caused her to leave several of her more dear possessions behind.