Chapter 12

"Some one help me!" Pressing myself against the sturdy tree, I find the nearest branch and use it to swing at the wild dogs. Their barking and howling fill the air and their sharp teeth snap towards me, dripping with saliva. If help doesn't come soon, I will be their dinner.

"I'm coming!" A boyish voice calls out, over the sound of the dogs. I do my best to fend off the dogs until someone fights his way through the horde, slicing away until he reaches my side. He shields my small body from the wild dogs, his sword swinging and slicing as they lunge at us. I try to see who it is that saved me but his face if blurred, as if my mind isn't ready to let me see my savior.

"Are you okay, Princess Allisara?" I nod yes when he looks at me, doing my best to keep my tears from falling. I don't want this boy seeing me cry.

"Take my hand then. When I give the signal, we run." He instructs me, his right hand stretching out behind him as he stabs at a lunging wild dog, killing it before our eyes. I reach for it; my small hand being grasped in his.

"Now!" With another swing of his sword, he fends off a smaller wild dog giving us an opening. We run, weaving through trees and bushes. I know I am slowing the boy down as he is older than me, but he keeps pace with me and helps me when I trip. The wild dogs are hot on our trails but gun fire sounds and the tips of the tents come into view.

My parents are there, standing with the Palace Guards and I release the boy's hand, my little legs racing into my mother's outstretched arms where I finally cry.

"My little Princess, you were so brave..."

I jolt awake throwing what ever was covering me off as I look around the room, disoriented from the dream. No, not a dream.

"A memory." I whisper sadly, running a hand through my messy hair. Early morning light filters through the windows, making me smile as I look around the Library. It is peaceful here. Quiet. I know with my love of reading I will find myself here many times as my escape while I get used to the idea of being a Princess.

Looking around the room, I find the book I was reading set aside and smile, Sky must have moved it for me. I smile, thinking about the dream and wondering if Sky might know the boy that saved me. I know that I will eventually remember him, but I hat to know that I had a friend who took care of me and I sadly do not remember him.

The sound of what I can only describe as a chain saw causes me to jump and search the room for the source. When it sounds again, I realize that Sky is sleeping across from me and with his mouth slightly open. The sound comes again and I burst out laughing, realizing that the sound is Sky snoring.

"What's so funny?" His groggy question causes me to laugh harder as the sounds I make wake him.

"You snoring." I say through laughter, wiping my eyes as tears slip bye.

"You look so peaceful and cute although you sound like a chain saw."

"I am not cute; I am manly and brave." He mock gasps, pretending to clutch as non-existent pearls. Any attempt at calming down my laughter is gone as his action causes me into a laughing fit. He just rolls his eyes and throws a pillow at me.

"So what are we doing today Alli?" Rolling his eyes at me, Sky pulls out a water bottle from a basket I did not know he had as my laughter comes to an end and throws it at me. Happy for my quick reflexes, I catch the bottle with ease and take a long drink from it.

"We need to evict all of Trilavantas' men." I sigh out, looking towards the window and catching a glimpse of snow falling. Today is the promised day, if the rest of the men loyal to Juden do not bend the knee to me today, they will be sent away.

"We can do that after a shower." His chuckle has me smiling as I finish the bottle of water. I have another four days to get my Palace in order before meeting with all the Royal Army Generals. Hopefully Arian will have all the necessary information gathered by then.

"I'll ask one of the Maids to have Arian gather all the Guards and Squires in the Dinning Hall while we shower and prepare ourselves." Shrugging, I stretch my sore muscles and make a mental note to return to bed. Library couches are not the best place to sleep it seems.

"You okay?" Sky asks, his green eyes watching me with amusement.

"Yes. Just no more sleeping on couches."

"Amen to that. Next time I am carrying your ass to bed so I can sleep properly." Sky stands from his sofa as I reach for the nearest pillow, throwing it at his face and watching him fall back stunned.

"You did not just do that!" Shock covers his face and a feeling of unease runs through me. I have a feeling that if I don't leave now, I will be in for some form of payback. Without waiting to see what he will do; I race towards the Library doors and notice that they are locked. Cursing, I manage to unlock them just in time to doge Sky and rush into the hall ways.

"This isn't over Allisara!" He calls out behind me as I race down the halls towards my room, laughing and passing the Palace workers who chuckle and cheer me on.

Staring at myself in the mirror, I wait for Sky to finish showering so that we can make our way to the Dinning Hall where Arian has gathered the Guards.

My hair in a simple messy updo with loose curls framing my face and a simple white gold tiara upon my head. My attire is simple, a white off the shoulder shirt that is fitted to my body, a red corset that hugs my frame and shows off my small waist, and a white shall attached to two rings that I wore on each hand directly above the first knuckle on each of my middle fingers. I chose a pair of black jeans to go with the outfit and a pair of riding boots that end just below my knee.

This is the second time I will be addressing these men. The first was to demand their loyalty. Thanks to Sky and Arian, eighty percent of these men have proved their loyalty to me. The other twenty will be sent to the Army, retired or imprisoned depending on the information Arian and his men have gathered.

Deciding to distract myself from my thoughts, I decide to look around the room. The first thing I notice are the many picture frames sitting on his dresser and fireplace mantel. I can see the story of his life from him helping in the Royal Garden with his father beside him, his first day of Squire training in the Royal Guards squad. I chuckle and continue looking at each individual framed photo. A little history book about his life as he displays an easy going smile in each picture. The same smile I get when we talk, laugh or when he sees me emerging into a room. But his eyes always hold a deeper meaning, one I am not sure I am ready to learn about.

In these last three days, Sky with his easy going smile has become my rock in this unsteady environment. Someone I can turn to and talk with as I work on gaining control over the Palace.

"Sorry for making you wait." Pine scented shower gel flows through the open bathroom door that Sky is leaning on. Turning to greet him, I take in his appearance as he focuses on buttoning his crisp white shirt with the Royal Guard insignia on it. His dark blonde hair is damp, the tendrils curling slightly as small droplets of water fall onto his exposed skin, skin that covers well defined muscles.

"I...um...its okay." I manage to stammer out, turning away quickly to hide my blush. I return my focus on his pictures, doing my best to get the image of his half naked body out of my mind. The last thing I need right now is to make a fool of myself in front of the Guards.

I can hear Sky moving about his room finishing getting ready for our big confrontation. My mind wanders to the scene earlier and I find myself shaking my head to dislodge the thoughts. Studying the pictures, I notice that Sky is always staring at the camera, his eyes full of laughter and mischief. I find myself smiling, wondering what kind of child Sky was like until I find an image hidden behind two that show a stoic looking Sky. In this one he is standing beside a girl who can't be no older than five.

She is wearing basic training clothes that I have noticed the Squires wearing in previous images. Her hair is braided back but due to her being covered head to toe in mud, I can't tell what colour her hair is. Her eyes are closed as she laughs, a front tooth missing. Sky stands beside her equally muddy, their arms wrapped around each other. Where the girl faces the person taking the picture, Sky is staring at the little girl with a soft smile and a tender look in his eyes.

"What are you looking at?" He calls out, his voice close.

"A picture of you with a girl." I can feel him behind me, his face just inches from mine as his scent fills the small area. He smells good.

"Is she your sister?" I ask, feeling like I know the girl in the photo.

"No, the first girl I fell in love with and the only one I stayed in love with." His voice is low and husky, brushing against my ear.

"Oh." Is my response. It feels like something is clenching my heart, a slight pain I didn't like feeling. A sigh escaped his lips after a few seconds of silence and he slowly backed away, running a hand through his damp hair.

"What happened to her?" I ask, curious to know if there is a happy ending between the two.

"She was taken from me by a power hungry bastard. Her memories taken away. I am still waiting for the day she remembers me." His voice is filled with hate and longing, one I envy.

"So she is like me then?"

"Yes." He turns to look at me, his emerald eyes staring into my violet ones with such intensity I feel like my heart might crack. My mouth feels dry and for what seemed like eternity we just stare at each other until the clock on the wall chimes the time. Eleven in the morning. The Guards will be gathering soon as we asked Arian to have them in the Dinning Hall by this time.

"W...we better get moving." I say quietly as I turned to leave, catching his nod as I make my way through his door. I look across the hall to where my room is, taking a deep breath. Sky insisted he move into my wing to better protect me after my first time addressing the Guards. At first I agreed, but now knowing that there is a woman in his heart, I feel like it is inappropriate to have him so close at hand. When we train a few female Guards, I will have the ones chosen for my own Squad move into the vacant rooms meant for Ladies in Waiting. It will be easier to be protected by them.

With a small sigh, I walk towards the Dinning Hall, lost in my own thoughts. I know Sky is trailing behind me, protecting me like he has done the last three days. Once I have my own Squad it will give him free time to perform his duties as Captain of the Guards.