Destined

Chapter 7

I woke up a few hours later to the sound of a knock on my door. I dragged myself to my feet and rubbed my eyes, running a hand through my hair, trying to make myself more presentable. I opened the door to see Hannah standing there, looking worried. The second the door opened she took a step inside and hugged me.

  "I'm sorry Castiel, I'm so sorry," she said, her face buried in my shirt. I kissed the top of her head.

  "It's okay Hannah. I'm sorry I ran away. I promised I'd be with you and I broke that promise," I said. Hannah shook her head.

  "It's okay, I don't mind. It was a little awkward after you left, though. Charlie asked a lot of questions. I didn't tell her anything though, I promise." We let go of each other.

  "It's okay, Hannah, really," I told her. "You don't have to apologize. I hope I didn't make you look bad in front of Dean." Hannah let out a small laugh.

  "Dean showed nothing but concern for you after you left. He didn't ask nearly as many questions as Charlie did, but I could tell he wanted to. He's more interested in you than he is in me," she said. She was smiling as she said it, but the smile faded in the silence that followed, both of us suddenly realizing she was right.

  "Perhaps he does not know how to approach you," I suggested weakly. It didn't take a very perceptive person to tell that Dean Winchester had no problem approaching women. Hannah flapped her hand in the air dismissively. 

  "It doesn't matter. I'm perfectly willing to wed Dean whatever his feelings towards me. I'm even more content now that I know I'll have friends like Charlie by my side. I'll be perfectly happy, Castiel. And so will you, wherever you end up," she said. I smiled at her. Hannah had always known what to say.

  Hannah and I talked for a long time after that, enjoying each other's company, until a servant appeared, telling us that dinner was served. I took a deep breath before standing up, trying to prepare myself to face the Winchesters. The story must have made it through the entire castle by now. Hannah stood up and linked her arm through mine.

  "I'll be with you, Castiel. I promise it'll be okay," she said. I smiled at her and we both walked out of my room and down the hall.

  I couldn't tell as we ate if everyone really kept staring at me or if I was just paranoid. I didn't join in the conversation much - but that was normal. I never really had anything to say. I viciously avoided eye contact with Dean, although I could feel his eyes on me almost the entire time. If Sam knew why his brother was so interested in me he didn't show it, making polite conversation with his parents and Hannah. Adam spent most of his time flicking his eyes between me and Dean. It seemed clear to me that Dean hadn't told Adam anything, but Adam could still tell that something had happened. We were halfway through the meal and King John was in the middle of a sentence telling of a battle he'd fought many years ago when suddenly Dean interrupted him.

  "I hope everything was all right this afternoon, Cas," he said. The table fell silent, everyone watching us as I finally met Dean's eyes.

  "I..." For Dean to interrupt his father had been terribly rude and I didn't like that the pressure was now on me to say something. "Everything was well, I thank you for your concern."

  "It didn't look... well," Dean said. I felt my face turning red. Hannah looked distressed for me, but she didn't know what to do any more than I did. 

  "I assure you, I am perfectly fine. I... was a bit overwhelmed. I'm afraid I do not take well to personal questions," I said, hoping that would silence the subject. No one spoke.

  "I..." Everyone now turned to Hannah, who locked eyes with me before looking back to the king and queen. "I must confess I am feeling slightly poorly. The excitement of the day must have reached me. I'm sure after a full night's rest I'll be well again. I beg of Your Graces that Castiel and I might be excused? I would very much appreciate his company on the way back to my room." I felt relief flood over me as the Queen nodded her consent. I had to work to control myself and keep from running as I escorted Hannah from the room.

  "Thank you," I said as soon as we were out of earshot, smiling.

  "Of course. I told you I wouldn't abandon you," she said. We didn't speak again until we reached Hannah's room.

  "Goodnight, Castiel," Hannah said, kissing me on the forehead.

  "Goodnight Hannah," I replied as she entered her room and closed the door. I went to my own room quietly, thinking. I was glad Hannah had helped me, but I was sure this wasn't over. Dean hadn't gotten the answers he wanted, and I didn't think he would rest until he got them.

***

  Dean was absent from breakfast the next morning, and no one spoke of what had happened the previous night, for which I was thankful. I spent most of my morning reading in my room, although I was running out of books. There were only three left after the one I was in the middle of.

  It was slightly after noon when there was a knock on my door. I was starting to hate hearing those knocks. I shut my book and opened the door to see Dean standing there. My breath caught in my throat, a little afraid. I really didn't want to talk to him about what happened.

  "Hey. Come with me, I have something to show you," Dean said. I blinked, slightly confused,  but I appreciated that he wasn't already asking me questions. I let my guard down a little, stepping outside my room and closing the door behind me.

  "Alright," I said. Dean grinned and led me down the hall. We didn't talk as we walked, Dean leading me outside the castle and stopping at a rather large field within the walls. I looked around, confused, not seeing what I was supposed to be seeing.

  "What am I supposed to be looking at? I don't understand," I said, looking at Dean.

  "Wait here, I'll be right back," Dean said, starting to walk away from me.

  "Where are you going?" I asked.

  "Just wait here," Dean called over his shoulder. I sighed, crossing my arms as Dean disappeared around the side of the castle. I certainly preferred this to being asked a long list of questions I didn't want to answer, but I wasn't particularly keen on surprises and mysteries, and I especially wasn't keen on standing in a field by myself for an undetermined amount of time. I don't know exactly how long I was standing there, but I was just about to give up and go back inside when I glanced around and saw Dean coming back around the castle... leading a horse. My breath froze in my lungs as panic started to overtake me. The horse was beautiful, with a shiny black coat and silver mane and tail, but... I took a step back, then another, the color draining from my face. Dean stopped walking a few feet away from me, let the horse go, said something to it, and walked up to me, leaving the horse standing there. My wings shrank towards my back so tightly it hurt.

  "Dean, what... what are you doing?" I said, unable to hide the tremor in my voice, not taking my eyes off the horse. I didn't like the fact that it wasn't tied to anything. If something spooked it... I shuddered.

  "I saw how you reacted to Charlie wishing we could've ridden instead of walking yesterday. I thought I could try to help you with your fear. This is my horse Chevy, and she's very gentle, I promise you have nothing to worry about," Dean said.

  "Dean, I don't... I..." Chevy took a few steps closer to the two of us and I took another step back, but this time the heel of my boot caught on a stone and I began to fall backwards. My hand reached out and latched onto Dean's shoulder and I flapped my wings to keep myself from falling. Dean put a hand on my back helping to steady me, but I still didn't take my eyes off of Chevy.

  "Dean please take her away," I said. I couldn't think straight. It was amazing how a crunch was a sound that was so short, yet it filled my head in one continuous sound now.

  "Cas, it's alright. Chevy is perfectly gentle, she won't hurt you. Just walk up to her. You don't have to touch her, just... be close to her. I'll be here, I won't let anything happen to you," Dean said. I barely heard him.

  "What if she spooks, if she spooks what do I do, I don't..." I wasn't even sure if I was talking to Dean directly or not. It wasn't until I heard Dean's grunt of pain that I realized I still had a vice-like grip on his shoulder. I let him go.

  "I'm sorry, I have to go, I have to..." I started backing up, reluctant to take my eyes off Chevy. Dean started to say something, probably in protest, but I didn't listen, simply turning around and using what little shreds of calm and self-control I had left to keep myself from sprinting.