Cassandra's hands felt wonderful against his burning skin. He was just enjoying the softness of her touch when she stopped and began to grind something.
Aisling watched all this with tears hanging from her eyelashes. She had stopped sobbing and was trying to recompose herself. Soon Philip was announced at the door. A servant had told him that his cousin was hurt.
"What happened Aisling?" he demanded as he walked in.
"Oh Philip!" she said as she ran to him and buried her face in his shoulder, she tried not to cry but the tears came unbidden.
"What's this? Has the sunbeam been overshadowed by a cloud of sorrow?" He looked at Cassandra for answers as he stroked his cousin's hair.

Cassandra jumped as Philip rushed in and quickly drew her hand away from Timothy. "Excuse me, Your Highness," she said, standing and flushing slightly, "I was tending to my Lord Timothy's wound." She paused for a moment, then added, "I believe he was wounded by a man sent to assassinate you."

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Elizabeth entered the room. "I agree with Cassandra.."

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Cassandra started again at Elizabeth's entrance, then regained composure and looked at Philip.

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"Assasinate me! But who..." then looking at his sister and then down at his cousin he said "Let us leave that for tomorrow, Aisling needs to be in bed."
"Oh but I.." she began to protest.
"I insist as your cousin, and your Prince. Dearest," he said taking her face in his hands "Timothy will be fine, he's been through worse. Go to bed and don't worry anymore about thy mother, or thy brother. They are both in God's hands."
Aisling nodded slowly, she turned to blow a kiss to Timothy before allowing Philip to take her to her room.
Timothy was relieved that Philip was there to sooth Aisling. When he tried to move to return his sister's gesture a spike of pain shot through his back and he groaned loudly.

Elizabeth looked at her cousin when he groaned. "Timothy, it is best not to move when you are injuried."

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Cassandra heard Timothy's groan and sat back down. "Don't," she said, putting his arm down, "You'll only cause yourself more pain. You need to sleep." She took the mixture and added a bit of water, then said, "Drink this. It'll help you sleep."

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"Thank you" he mouthed before Cassandra poured a nasty tasting liquid down his throat. He swallowed hard and within minutes had fallen into a peaceful sleep.
Aisling said goodnight to her cousin and crawled into her own bed where her sleep was less restful than her brother's.

Cassandra touched his cheek for a moment, then came to her senses and rose, gathering her things. She returned to the front, where her father and their court were waiting for them. "I apologize, Father," she said. She mounted her horse, put on her hood, and they rode off into the night.

The next morning, they arrived at the Palace and Cassandra dismounted. In the morning light, her crimson riding cloak looked terribly dark. She lowered her hood and entered the doors, walking up the stairs to her room. She dropped her bags on her bed and looked around. Her room. She had a burgundy canopy bed of dark wood, a small table beside it on which to place candles at night, a rack for her weapons, a bookshelf with different volumes on various topics, and a stand upon which to read them and place candles. She left the room and went to their sitting room. Her father looked up at her as she sat on the couch, then looked down at the letters that had accumulated and said, "We have recieved a letter from the Baron of Montalaine. He implies that he wishes you to meet his son."

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "No thank you," she sighed.

"Why not? He is a fine young man who has proven himself in battle, and earned an honorable reputation -"

"And boring, and ceremonial, and imcompetant at archery, and - oh, Father, he's not for me," she said, putting her chin in her hand after making hand gestures.

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When Aisling and Timothy awoke they both inquired after Cassandra only to learn that she had left the night before. Timothy was feeling much better after Cassandra's healing so they decided to proceed as planned. Philip accompanied them on horseback while Timothy had to endure sharing a litter with his sister.
They had been traveling all day and it was nearing nightfall when Philip pulled his horse up beside their carriage and said "We shan't reach Gavenshire tonight, but I do believe we could rest for the night at Grenwood." he threw Timothy a knowing glance that escaped Aisling as she was overjoyed to see Cassandra again!
They sent some gaurds ahead of them to see if they could be accomadated at Grenwood Palace.

Cassandra had been walking down the main corridor when she heard a knock at the door. She answered, which was unusual because servants usually did such things, and learned that Aisling, Timothy, and the Prince Philip were requesting to stay the night. She gave permission and sent four guards with them. When they arrived, she heard it from upstairs and came down, greeting them in the hallway. "It is a pleasure to see you again," she said, reaching the corridor.

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Aisling curtsied hurriedly and said "Cassandra! When we heard thou had departed without a word to us I was in despair, but seeing thee again makes my heart sing."
Philip nodded to Cassandra while Timothy bowed and kissed her hand.

"I thank thee," Cassandra said, smiling at Aisling, then nodded at Philip and smiled softly at Timothy. "Dost thou feel better?" she asked.

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"Aye" he replied "thanks to thy healing skills."

Cassandra nodded and smiled graciously, saying, "I shall lead you all to your quarters." Her father entered then, and she said, "They have arrived, Father." He nodded, and she led them up the staircase and down the corridor to different rooms. She first led Philip to his room, then Timothy to his. "And here is your room, sir," she said, holding the door open. "If you are uncomfortable or need something, you may call to a servant and he or she will see to you."

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"What about me?"

Darius asked as he limbed behind the corner, he had followed Phillip as he had convinced the king that letting Phillip away without someone loyal was a mistake. This was of course a way to also leave his normal duties to a foreign country to relax, but still he would keep his guard up on Phillp`s security.

"My arrival is not informed for that I must apoligize, but I am here to watch over Phillp and I am not saying that your guards are unreliable, but I have my own way of handling things Lady Cassandra... so please may I have a room?"

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!