Destined

Chapter 1

  I watched as my sister Hannah said goodbye to our parent as we stood outside our castle. The carriage was prepared to take the two of us away, and a part of me thought I might never be back. I was happy to help my sister, but I still didn't much like the idea of traveling to the Winchester court. At least Hannah had something to look forward to when she got there; there were very few bad things to be heard about Prince Dean.

  "I'll miss you both, I love you," Hannah finished, hugging our mother and climbing into the carriage, arranging her lovely light gray wings carefully around her. I walked up to our parents, my own raven black wings straightening.

  "Castiel. We will miss you dearly," Mother said. I bowed my head.

  "And I you. But Hannah will be with me," I said. Mother nodded, smiling, but Father merely watched the two of us. Mother had always been the more emotionally connected of the two of them, but I didn't mind if I didn't receive special treatment from Father. The man was a king, after all, and he had many things to think about, very few of them including me. I wasn't even his oldest.

  "Yes, she will also be there. Oh, come here," Mother said, pulling me into a hug. I hugged her back, smiling, but suddenly also fighting back tears. When we broke apart, I turned to Father.

  "I am sure you will make us proud, Castiel, just like your sister," Father said, holding out a hand to me. I took it and shook it.

  "Thank you, Father," I said. Father nodded and I bowed before turning and stepping up into the carriage with Hannah. The two of us waved goodbye out the window as the carriage started to move, and I quickly wiped tears from my eyes.

  "Brother, what's wrong?" Hannah asked. I took a deep breath.

  "I simply cannot help but feel as if I will never see our home again. It is silly, I know," I said, my wings ruffling slightly. Hannah reached across and took my hand.

  "You shouldn't worry so, brother. As soon as I am married and settled, Mother and Father will send for you," she said. "You will return. Of course you will." I let out a small smile and squeezed Hannah's hand gently before taking out my book and opening it, hoping to keep my mind off of everything.

  I had heard many things about the Winchester court over the years. I'd heard about how wild they were, and how barbaric they could seem to other kingdoms. This might seem to make them weak, but I'd also heard tales of their power and wrath. After the death of Queen Mary, the king had tracked her murderer himself and beheaded him on sight. Many people had tried to bring down the Winchester kingdom, but all had failed. I was glad Father had decided upon the course of action that he did. I might not like the sound of these people, but I could learn from other people's mistakes, and I did not want to fight the Winchesters.

  "Do you think Prince Dean will be kind to me?" Hannah asked suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts as the carriage trundled along.

  "If he isn't, I will kill him myself," I said. Hannah smiled.

  "I'm glad you are going to be there with me, brother," she said. "I'm very nervous, especially knowing that there's going to be a grand ball before we have even been there a full day." I returned her smile, my protective feeling for her surging up. I knew I would do anything to make Hannah happy.

***

  After a few days of travel, Hannah and I were looking out the window at the castle we were approaching, the sun high in the sky.

  "Brother, I do not think I'm prepared for this," Hannah said. I took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

  "Everything is going to be just fine, Hannah. Trust me. They are going to adore you," I said. Hannah looked like she was about to say more, but before she could, the carriage stopped. I let go of my sister's hand and we both folded our wings neatly against our backs, Hannah's wide eyes fixed on the large crowd of people there to greet us.

  As the two of us stepped out of the carriage, four people began walking out to greet us. When we reached each other, we all bowed. I saw that one of the party was King John, and beside him was his second wife, Kate, the mother of the youngest Winchester, Adam, whom I assumed was the young man standing behind them, although it might have been Samuel. Which left Dean, I supposed, standing on the king and queen's left. He was tall, with long brown hair, and his hazel eyes seemed warm and inviting.

  "Prince Castiel. Princess Hannah. You are very welcome here," King John said. "Our family eagerly awaits this union." I glanced at Hannah, and seeing that the look on her face was one of quiet terror, I spoke myself.

  "My family and I share your eagerness, we are honored to be connecting ourselves to you in such a way," I said, my wings folded tightly against my back in nervousness. The four Winchesters were rather imposing at this moment, as kind as they probably were.

  "Yes, we are all honored. But please, you must be tired after your journey. Samuel, why don't you show them to their rooms?" Queen Kate said. I blinked as the man I'd taken for Dean nodded and gestured for me and Hannah to follow him. I took another quick glance around at the other boy - was that Dean? But no, it had to be Adam; he was too young to be Dean. Hannah and I exchanged looks as we entered the castle, and I could tell by the look on her face that we were both thinking the same thing. If this was Samuel, then where was Dean?

  "Is something wrong?" Samuel asked.

  "I simply... I was wondering where Prince Dean was," I said. Samuel let out a short laugh, shaking his head.

  "He's probably still sleeping. Dean doesn't exactly take this seriously." Samuel glanced at Hannah. "I mean, not that he doesn't care about it, he..."

  "We understand," I said a bit coldly, shaking my wings slightly. Doesn't take it seriously? The man was getting married, he should show some interest in the woman he was entering into such a relationship with. Samuel looked a little awkward as they approached a young woman with bright red hair walking the opposite way down the hall.

  "Charlie!" Samuel exclaimed, smiling. I frowned at the name, unsure what to make of it.

  "Hi, Sam. Are these the people from across the lake?" Charlie asked. Samuel looked around at us quickly.

  "Oh, right. Forgive me. Prince Castiel, Princess Hannah, meet Lady Charlotte Celeste, or as she prefers to be called, Charlie. Charlie, the Prince and Princess from across the lake," he introduced. Charlie smiled at us.

  "Well, you two look nice. I like the wings," she said to me. Then she looked at Hannah. "And the face." Hannah blinked, confused.

  "I'm sorry?" she asked.

  "Your face. I like it," Charlie said. Hannah let out a smile, and I was glad to see it.

  "Don't scare them away, Charlie, we like them," Sam said with a laugh. Charlie rolled her eyes.

  "Fine. Would you like me to take her majesty to her rooms? She might feel more comfortable with a fellow woman," she said, winking at Hannah. Hannah looked rather bewildered by the action, making Charlie laugh quietly.

  "Would you like to go with her, Hannah?" I asked. Hannah looked at me.

  "I think I would like that," she said. I nodded.

  "We'll see you boys tonight at the ball, then," Charlie said, linking her arm through Hannah's and leading her down a hall that branched off the one we had just been walking down. I watched them go for a second, wondering if I had really been ready for us to go our separate ways as a wave of homesickness washsed over me. Samuel and I started walking again, not speaking until we reached the door to my rooms.

  "Here they are. Someone will come to prepare you for the ball in a few hours," Samuel said. I nodded.

  "Thank you, Prince Samuel," I said.

  "Please, call me Sam," he said. I nodded again.

  "Very well. Thank you, Sam." Sam bowed slightly and turned around to walk away. I stepped through the door to see a lavish room on the other side. Everything seemed very old and regal with large heavy curtains, a giant bed, and thick rugs. There was a bookshelf full of books, which I appreciated, but as I looked around, the homesickness came again. I knew I had no right to complain next to Hannah, she was getting married, but... I wasn't ready for this. Uprooting myself to live in a strange land with strange people for an unknown amount of time... I wasn't ready for this at all.