The Princess's Secret [completed]

14: Not So Joyfull Return...

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Caspian.

Morning came almost too quickly, and Isidro awoke him, tapping his shoulder. “My King, it is time to move.” Caspian nodded and cautiously sat up.

Jamaal emerged from on of the other rooms carrying Tamar, who looked much more alert than she had last night. She watched as Isidro and Hiram packed their bags with fresh supplies.

Hershel stood off to the side, spine straight as a rod and hands clasped behind his back. He looked awkward.

“Hey kid,” Hiram called over his shoulder. The young warrior’s gaze shifted to him. “-think fast.” The knight said, suddenly spinning around and whipping an apple at him.

Hershel took a step back in suprise, drawing his sword- the apple struck the blade, slicing in two.

He blinked, glancing down at it as Hiram chucked another apple at him. He saw it just in time and twisted to the side, neatly slicing the flying fruit a second time. This time he kept his gaze on the knight.

The two warriors stared at each other a few moments. Hiram was first to break eye contact, grunting his satisfaction and turning back to packing. “He’ll do.”

Jamaal and Isidro exchanged a look, smirking. Caspian frowned. His men were up to something, and it wasn’t simply testing their new recruit. Note to self; pay closer attention to those three.

“We’re ready. Let’s go.” Isidro tossed a bag at Hershel, who caught it, then went to Tamar and gently picked her up. Caspian quickly stood, determined not to require assistance.

Hiram stayed nearby just the same as the group moved out the door. He slipped his hood over his head before stepping out, hiding his identity.

Matilda’s servant had readied their horses and was waiting with them by the door. Caspian accepted the reins and was about to mount his ‘borrowed’ steed, when a hand on his arm stopped him.

He turned to find Matilda standing there. “Be safe, my king.” She said quietly, tugging him into an embrace. “Do right by the girl.” She whispered in his ear so only he heard.

“I will do my best.” He promised and was released. She nodded curtly, then turned to assist Tamar, who was adjusting herself on the saddle of her own ‘borrowed’ steed. He mounted, gritting his teeth at the motion.

He lowered his head, fiddling with the reins as he tried to recover control of his expressions. By the time he was able to look back up, Matilda had moved to speak to Herschel.

He strained to listen, but couldn’t make out her words. He watched as a flash of surprise went through the young warrior’s eyes. The kid nodded slightly to whatever she was saying, and she quickly hugged him.

Herschel glanced over at Caspian, standing stiffly despite the embrace. The king just smirked at his discomfort. Much to the kid’s relief, Matilda moved on to hug each of The Three as well.

Everyone mounted and they headed off, eager to get back to the castle. Isidro led the way, with Caspian and Tamar close behind, then came Jamaal, Herschel, and finally Hiram. The Three were subtly keeping a close eye on the young warrior, he noticed.

When they neared the main city and the guard towers came into sight, Caspian lowered the hood, deciding it was better for his people to see his return than have to be told of it.

Within moments people were calling out greetings and hurrying about to tell their neighbors about his return. The king smiled, returning their greetings with a nod.

A parade quickly gathered, escorting him in, and more guards came to help control the crowd, keeping them out of his path and out of reach.

But this didn’t dampen their joy, and some began beating hand-held drums. The music rose in strength as quickly as their numbers grew.

Caspian glanced at his royal bodyguards. Their expressions were tense, entirely focused on returning him to the safety of the castle as quickly as they could. Something about their body-language made him uneasy.

He made eye contact with Jamaal, who shook his head slightly, a grim expression peeking through.

Something was definitely wrong. Glancing at the crowd, he understood the reason for their silence. They didn’t want to alarm the people.

Caspian forced a smile back to his face. Let the acting begin. He glanced at Tamar. She looked a bit overwhelmed, but was trying to cover it by staring straight ahead.

Herschel was doing the same, eyes flickering around him though, as the number of royal guards grew. Caspian could imagine how it would feel, being surrounded by what used to be enemy soldiers.

The crowd followed them all the way to the castle gates, where the guards barricaded them out. The moment to gates closed behind and blocked them from sight, the smile on Caspian’s face dropped off.

“What’s the problem?” Isidro immediatly demanded from one of the knights, dismounting.

“Our border was attacked, sir. Our men drove them off, but we still suffered some casualties, and one of the border towers was destroyed.” The knight reported.

Isidro slowly nodded. “Good job. Were reinforcements sent?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good.”

Caspian dismounted and joined them. “What are the damages to the men?” He asked. The knight straightened slightly as the king addressed him.

“Two dead, four injured, two more minor injuries, sir.”

Hiram growled behind him, punching the air. Caspian clenched his jaw, feeling the same anger come over him as he turned to Isidro. “Gather the knights of the round table, I want a meeting in the barracks within the hour.”

“Yes sir.”

“Hiram, take care of Herschel, put him in a suitable barracks and assign a master to him for the time being.” Caspian continued, almost without a pause.

“Yes sir.” Hiram nodded to the newcomer, who followed him towards the barracks.

“Jamaal, bring Tamar up to one of the rooms and assign one of the women to her.”

“Yes sir.” Jamaal answered, moving to help her off her steed.

Caspian finally turned to the knight who was still standing there. “Map it out for me.” He ordered, already walking towards the barracks where the meeting room was.

“Yes sir.” The knight said, hurrying after him.

Caspian could feel his wound stabbing at him, and gently held a hand to his side to ease the jarring as he walked. There was no time to heal, not anymore. The times of peace had been shattered. He only prayed that it was replaced by mere skermishes…