Anne's POV

Anne cried as she ran, still holding on to Mother's arm.

There was Arthur, and he had seen her. And one of Arthur's guards was with him.

Worst of all, Arthue and his guard were between her and the town gate and the two guards she had been running to find.

Arthur and his guard slowly walked towards her and mother.

Anne raised Charles' sword and prepared to fight. Arthur's guard also had a sword.

"Stay behind me, Mother."

At that moment, a horse and rider became visible as they passed through the gate and galloped in their direction. Were her eyes deceiving her? Was that...

Andrew rode up behind Arthur and his guard. He swung his sword and knocked the guard's sword out of his hand, sending it flying through the air to land several feet across the street. 

 Arthur pulled out a knife and started running towards Anne.

Anne raised her sword and prepared to stab Arthur. If she could stab Charles, she could definitely stab Arthur.

Just before he reached the end of her sword, Andrew slammed his sword down on Arthur's hand holding the knife. The knife fell to the ground and Andrew kicked it away.

Arthur yelled, falling to his knees and clutching his hand.

Arthur's guard started running towards the knife, which was lying in the street. A man who had stopped to watch the fight and was standing by the knife picked it up, looked at the guard, then threw the knife behind them. It clattered at the feet of two of Anne's guards who were running towards them.

Andrew was staring at her. He calmly put his sword back in its sheath. Anne realized she was still clutching Charles' bloody sword, and she dropped it. Andrew stepped towards her and she threw herself against his chest. He put his arms around her, holding her close.

After a moment he said, "Should I go after Arthur's guard?"

"No!" she pulled away enough to look into his eyes. "Please don't leave me." She never wanted him to leave her ever again.

Andrew's POV

Andrew had never seen that look on Anne's face before. "I promise I won't leave you." Then, he noticed the blood on her dress. "Are you hurt?" His heart stopped.

"No, but I need someone to go fetch the doctor for Charles. He was stabbed in my house."

Andrew called a man over and told him to go get the doctor.

Andrew turned back to Anne. "Charles? Your friend? He was injured?"

"I stabbed him." Anne stared blankly at Andrew's chest.

"You stabbed him?"

"He betrayed me. He helped Arthur escape for money." Anne looked like she was about to cry.

He pulled her closer. He felt sick at seeing her pain. Then he felt her shoulder shaking. She was sobbing.

"It's all right. I won't let anyone hurt you or your mother ever again."

"Mother?" she pulled away and turned around. She held out her hand to her mother, who came to her and they embraced.

He heard a few shouts from down the street, and he hoped that meant Arthur's guard had been captured. Arthur was still lying on the ground.

Andrew didn't know what to do. Anne was wiping her face with her hands, breathing deeply and no longer crying.

How dare Charles betray Anne? He was the only person she trusted. Andrew was glad Anne had stabbed him.

"Should I go and help them find charles?"

"No," she said quickly, stepping towards him. She hugged him again. "I need you here. With me."

He held her tight and whispered in her ear, "I wasn't sure you wanted me."

"Of course I want you. You make me feel safe."

His heartbeat faster. It wasn't exactly the reunion he had expected, but it was almost better than the one he hoped for.

She lifted her head, and he pulled away enough to look into her eyes. She placed her hand on his chest, over his heart. "If you don't mind living in our little town, would you be the captain of the guards? I need someone I trust, someone who is brave and good."

"I would love to be the captain of your guards."

"Thank you."

He leaned down and kissed her lips, and she kissed him back.

Andrew looked down at Anne. "Are you sure you're not hurt?"

"No. But I am glad you came when you did."

"If you stabbed Charles, you must have been doing well on your own."

He immediately regretted his words, as tears filled her eyes.

"It was horrible. I didn't want to hurt him. He was my friend." Her voice broke. "Or so I thought. He let Arthur hurt my mother. But it was still very hard to stab him." She pressed her forehead against his chest.

He rubbed her back. "I wish I had been here to protect you. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead as she hugged him tight.