Ch. 3: Learning the Truth

Celeste splashed her face with the cool water running through the river, her mind running wild with what Edward had told her.

"You're father was murdered." 

As soon as the words had left his lips, she froze, then did the only thing she could think of. Go to the river and wash the tears away before they could fall.

That sentence kept echoing through her head. It had confirmed both her fears, and her suspicions. Her father had warned her before he left all those years ago. And now she knew why.

Just thinking about that night, 4 years ago, made her remember it as if it was happening today.

~~Flashback~~

"Celestia, come here." Her fathers voice rang clear from the house to the field where she was laying in the grass, watching the clouds go by and laughing as the grass tickled her face.

"Coming Father!" She called back, sitting up and dusting off her dress, before pulling up her skirt and running back to the house.

She thought she saw a sad look on her fathers face, but it must have been her imagination because as she got closer she only saw the genuine smile he always had when he looked at her.

"Come, my little Star. It's time to prepare for supper. Come help me with the stew will you?" Celeste smiled and immediately went to the well they had, drawing enough water to boil for the stew.

They worked together, occasionally throwing a piece of a vegetable at each other and laughing. It was no different from any other supper they had prepared together.

But once all the food was in the pot and cooking, Caine turned serious. "Celestia, we need to talk about something. Come sit down."

Celeste sat, unsure of what had her father looking so worried, but she knew it had to do with him leaving. He was always like this every time he left.

"You're leaving again... aren't you Father?" Caine sighed, nodding. "I am." "But why! They already have enough men to fight this war! You've already suffered enough! What if you don't come back!?"

"CELESTIA!" Celeste couldn't stop the reactive flinch as Caine's voice boomed through the house. She lowered her head, fidgeting with her skirt as she fought furiously not to cry.

Caine sighed again, his hand reaching out to stroke his daughter's ash brown hair, lifting her face gently to look at his. He couldn't stop himself from staring into her young face, an almost exact resemblance of the woman who he had once loved and had given him the blessing that now sat in front of him.

"Celeste, my star, you know I have no say in the matter. My duty is to my King, and to protect you. And I can only do that by obeying my orders. I promise, after this, I won't leave you, ever again."

Celeste nodded her head, getting up and hugging her father tightly. Caine knew he was being selfish, and that she was well on her way to becoming a well formed lady, but he couldn't let go of the little girl he so loved.

Many of the female children Celeste had grown up with, were already having children of their own, but Caine hadn't wanted that for his child. He had wanted to watch her grow, and mature into the woman he knew she would one day be.

"Celeste... I need you to promise me something," Caine started as Celeste pulled away from him, wiping her tears on her arm. "Do you remember that cabin in the woods we would stay in when we would go hunting in the winters?"

"Yes Father, I remember." Celeste's voice sounded confused as her father brought up the wood cabin. They had stayed there many times when she was younger, her father teaching her how to hunt just as he would have taught his son if he had one.

"Celeste, listen very carefully. If I don't come back, or if soldiers appear outside your door, claiming I have died in battle, I want you to stay in this house for one week. I want you to sell all the animals, except for your horse, in that time, and make sure you are not watched. After one weeks time, I want you to stage a fire. I don't care how, as long as everything that has no value, burns.

"Take only what you need. Your mother's mirror, our portrait we got at the carnival, and your mothers portrait, your hunting bow and knife, and all the gold you can. Then, at midnight on the last night, you're to set fire to the house and ride as fast as you can to the cabin. Make sure you are not followed, and have the horse ready before you leave. Can you do this Celeste?"

Celeste looked confused and frightened, and wanted to ask her father why he would tell her to do this. But when she saw the same fearful expression on his face, she immediately nodded. "Yes Father. I can do that."

Caine felt immediate relief, but he was still scared for his daughter. He had protected her all his life, and he knew the thought of her being alone and defenseless terrified her. He knew he would not be able to ease the ache of being alone, but he could help her to be a little less defenses. Standing, he went over to the mantle, and grabbed the box that rested above it.

Celeste watched her father carefully as he walked back to her, having never been allowed to open that box, so not knowing the contents within. "This Celeste, is the first dagger I was ever given. My father's father hand it hand crafted for him by King Stephan the III. And when your grandfather, my father, became a man, his father gave it to him. Just as my father gave it to me. Now I'm giving it to you."

As Caine spoke, he pulled out the dagger, a small 9 inch blade of shining steel that had been sharpened to a deadly razors point over the years, and a simple silver handle wrapped around with leather, with a ruby crest on the pommel. Along the blade, the family name had been carved.

Celeste tentatively reached for the blade, holding it in the palms of her hands. "I leave in two weeks. I'm that time, I will teach you all I can on how to use that dagger to defend and protect yourself. It won't save you in a sword fight, but it will still give you the comfort of something to protect yourself with.

"Celeste, in giving you this dagger, I'm passing on the tradition your great grandfather started. You are a woman now. But you are also just as much a man. And one day, I want you to pass on that dagger to your own child." Celeste looked up at her father, the sadness of the thought of losing the only parent she had ever had in her eyes.

Carefully placing the dagger down, she threw herself into her father's arm, sobbing softly. Caine held her tightly to him, his own chest heaving as he fought so hard not to sob as well, but he was not ashamed of the tears that fell from his eyes.

He knew this would be the last time he would leave, but he had hope that he would be able to return. But somewhere, in his heart, he knew it would never happen.

~~Flashback end~~

Celeste was startled from her memories by the snapping of a branch from behind her. Reaching her hand into her bossom, she pulled the very same dagger her father had given her out of its sheath, carefully holding it to her chest. "Who is there?" She called as she slowly rose, not yet turning to look.

"Celeste... are you alright?" The breath returned to Celeste's lungs as Edward's voice rang through the forest from behind her, turning as she replaced the dagger in its sheath, hidden between her breasts close to her heart.

"Why did you follow me?" Celeste's voice came out hard and cold, striding towards him before pausing and seeing that he was limping towards her as well. She remembered that he had not intended to hurt her with the information her heart already knew, and softened her gaze upon him.

"You shouldn't be out here yet. Your ankle has not healed." Coming over she carefully took his good arm, helping him back to the cottage. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to startle you with my words." Edward's voice held sincerity and sadness as he spoke.

Celeste remained quite as they walked, only stopping once the cabin was in sight. She turned to him, admiring his features for a moment. "Did you know him?" Her eyes searched his, wanting answers to the questions in her heart. He held her eyes for a while, admiring the hazel flecks within the blue, before shaking his head. "I did not."

They both paused as a shining light hit them both, turning to admire the sunset in front of them. The rose and gold hues blending into the purple and pink clouds painted a beautiful picture, and both of them couldn't help but admire it.

"Edward, I also have a confession." Celeste's voice was quiet and soft. Turning to him, the colors of the sun shining on her face, he couldn't stop but admire her beauty.

"What is it?" Edward's voice was also soft, awestruck for a moment as he realized her face was greatly familiar to him, but couldn't remember how. But he stopped wondering as her next words drove fear to his heart.

"I know you're the Crown Prince. And I know that you're in hiding."