When I wake up it is still dark and I'm freezing. I didn't mean to fall asleep but I guess Carter did to.

I started to get up and Carter moved. I shoved him a little bit and he woke up rubbing his eyes and stretching.

"Sorry I was going to wake you up but then I fell asleep." He said.

"It's okay I'm just freezing."

"Well let's go back inside."

"Okay." And he opens the window letting me go through first. The way I was sitting and how I was wearing Carter's suit jacket only the bottom of my dress is wet but Carter was soaked. He shivers and I feel awful. We will probably both get sick.

"Here's your jacket back. We should really get going before someone realizes we're still gone."

"I didn't think of that. Well here I'll walk you out of here then we can go to our rooms."

"Alright." He put his arm around my shoulder and we walk in silence back to the entrance of the secret part of the castle which is just a loose wall that we can climb behind into the next room which has no doorway.

Once we were through the wall I said,

"Well I'll see you at breakfast then. Thank you for such a wonderful night."

He leans in and kisses my cheek before saying,

"You also, I'm glad we could spend it together." And he ran off in the other direction.

I break into a run, half to warm me up and half because I know if someone realizes I'm gone questions will be raised and Carter and I could possibly get in big trouble.

I tip toe past certain rooms and when I finally arrive back at my own the sun is just starting to come up. I close the curtains, quickly get undressed and redressed into my nightgown, jump on my bed a couple times because I move a lot when I sleep. And lay down. I fall asleep again and it is probably for only an hour or two. And jump when Melinda knocks on my door. I pretend to sleep as she pokes her head and and whispers my name a couple of times. I quietly fake stir and rub my head against the pillow while I do to make sure my hair is somewhat messy.

"Miss Katarina it is time to get up my dear. Breakfast will be in an hour."

I yawn, for real this time. "Alright. Thank you Melinda." She nods her head and closes the door.

Whew. I think to myself, but then the door reopens.

"Oh and I was just wondering Miss Katarina, did you have a fun time with Mister Carter last night after the party? It seems you were gone quite awhile."

Oh no.

"Well-"

"Don't worry Miss Katarina, your secret is safe with me." She smiles and closes the door. I love Melinda. I smile then too, over the years we have had a lot of secrets between just her and I.

I got up and decided to take a quick shower. When I got out I brushed my hair and put on a simple dress. I decide to just let my hair stay damp and down. While sitting in front of the mirror I saw the charm bracelet Carter had given me last night and decided to put in on.

When I was finally ready I open my door and start the walk to the dining room. When I got there my mother, friends and family were there- but not my father. I sigh, he must be dealing with something important.

Since I am now the oldest in the castle I usually sit close to the head of the table, but since my older sisters and their families are here the order of things were all messed up so I decide to just to sit with Carter, Rosie, and Matthew.

Carter seems like he is doing better now though he is quite pale. He will probably get sick for sure.

When I sit down Rosie and Matthew say hi to me and we pretty much eat in silence probably because we are all so tired. Every now and then Carter would slip his hand under the long table cloth and touch my hand. I looked at him and his eyes seemed worried. I wonder why. I thought. I figured we would talk later though.

After breakfast Christy came up to me,

"Hey we're going into town later on, planning to spend the rest of the day there, do you and your friends want to come with us?" I look at Carter, Rosie, and Matthew. They all have huge smiles on their faces and are shaking their heads up and down vigorously.

I laugh, "Sure. When?"

"Around 2 o'clock."

"Alright we'll meet you by the gates."

"Okay." And with that Christy ran back over to where Andrew was.

Rosie looked like she was about to burst, her face was all red and I think she was holding her breath,

"I'm so excited! We almost never get to go outside the wall! And now we get to go out there for the rest of the day doing who knows what!"

"I know! I think the last time I went outside the gates was a couple months ago!" Matthew said

"Oh wasn't I there?" Carter asked

"I can't remember the last time I was outside the castle gates." I sigh, I almost never get to go outside the gates, especially when I was younger because my mother and father said it was unsafe.

"I'm sorry Kat."

"It's alright." I put a smile on my face even though I didn't mean it. "We can't dwell on the past. It's what's happening right now that matters." I finish my food quickly and add,

"Well I'm off to go get ready." I walk out of the dining room and half walk/half jog to my room.

When I get there I lock the door and grab my sword. I hold it and slice the air. Sometimes I don't like being a princess. I almost never get to do things my friends do.

You don't mean that. A voice in my head said to me.

I know it's just what I feel sometimes.

Oh come on. This voice was starting to annoy me.

Fine I don't mean it. My thoughts were interrupted as there was a knock at my door.

I quickly hid my sword and sat down on my bed opening a book to a random page,

"Come in!" The person wriggled the doorknob and shouted,

"Um it's locked." Carter's voice, I put the book down and went and opened the door.

"Sorry." I moved aside and let him in

"It's fine. So I take it you were practicing?" He looked at me skeptically.

"Yeah. How can you tell?"

"Well you locked the door and the book on your bed is one you have read already and you don't like re-reading books."

"Well Mr. Holmes I didn't realize it was you at the door." I laughed as I closed the door.

"So what's wrong?" A look of concern filled his eyes as he sat down on my bed.

"Why do you assume something is wrong?"

He smiled and motioned for me to sit down next to him, "Kat you ate silently after we mentioned the last time we went outside the gates. Then you practically jumped out of your seat when you finished eating and speed walked out of the dining room with everyone staring at you."

"Was it really that noticeable?"

"Yes." He laughed

"Oh my goodness." I put my hands on my head and laid back on my bed covering my face with my hands.

Carter laid down next to me and I felt him wrap his arms around me, but I still didn't move.

"Oh the life of a princess." He sighed, "You know I used to know a princess one time that wasn't even allowed to go anywhere in her own castle without being accompanied by a guard?"

I moved my fingers apart to where I could see his face over mine smiling, but obviously trying to look completely serious.

"That's complete rubbish." My voice was muffled as I talked because my mouth was behind my hands. "You've lived here all your life."

"I have not!" He put a hand on his chest mockingly like I offended him.

"Yes you have. I was born 3 months after you. In the same room. In the same castle. With the same people. Our mothers were pregnant at approximately the same time. The only other princesses you've met are either from my family, Andrew's, or Philip's!"

"No!"

"Yes!" I moved my hands away from my face at this.

"I believe your memory is clouded. I met the most beautiful princess I have ever seen, Lavea of Camelot, just last night!" He looked like he was thinking. "Or was that a dream?"

I laughed, "That's not even the princess's name from Camelot!"

"Oh you're right. My memory must be clouded," he looked me in the eyes, "because the most beautiful princess I have ever seen is laying right in front of me." He bent down and kissed me, soft and light.

When he pulled away he whispered in my ear and said,

"You may not be able to do certain things, but you have an honor beyond belief. You are the heir to the throne as of last night. And you are my best friend, which is an honor all in itself." He pulled away and I smacked his arm. He bent down and kissed me again, harder this time. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled his chest to mine, holding him close. As we kissed I have no idea how much time passed but sooner or later I pulled away breathless and said,

"We should start getting ready to go." He nodded and got up holding his hand out to help me up as he talked.

"I take it you don't want people knowing you're the princess."

"Exactly." I get up and went to my closet.

"I was thinking about this." I held up a faded red long skirt and a white blouse

"I think that would work."

"Alright."

"I walked behind my wall for getting dressed and walked back out to see Carter playing with the book that was still laying on my bed.

He looked up and nodded,

"Yeah that will work." He paused, "You know this book sounds really boring."

"It's not. It's about a girl that travels to distant lands and meets the love of her life in the process."

"Ewh. A love story?" He made a gagging face.

"And adventure."

"Still I don't like love stories."

I came up and sat next to him taking the book from his hands and placing it on the other side of me. I turned back to him and held his hands, kissing his cheek.

"Not any love stories?"

"Not the ones in books." He turned his head and kissed me on the lips.

I pulled away after a minute and walked over to the closet, grabbing some worn sandals and putting them on.

I turned to look in the mirror and saw Carter get up and stand behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and put his head on my shoulder having to bend down a little in the process. He looked at me and said,

"You know, you are the most beautiful person I have ever known."

He turned his head and kissed my neck lightly, squeezing me a little tighter.

"And you are my best friend." I grabbed his arms and moved him around to the front of me holding his torso in my arms and I put my head on his chest. He held me also and stroked my hair soothingly.

"Thank you." I whispered

"For what?" His voice was soft and gentle.

"For always making me feel better. Like you did just now."

"Oh that's my job."

"Well you're really good at it."

"And you give the best tips."

"Thanks." I pulled away smiling and turned toward the mirror taking off the charm bracelet he had given me and grabbing my brush gently pulling the knots free in my hair. I then grabbed a hair tie and brushed my hair into a ponytail. After I had tightened it I turned back to Carter and saw him staring at me,

"What?" He shook his head like he was in a daze and said,

"Sorry. I was just always fascinated by how girls do their hair." I laughed and laced my fingers in his and walked toward the door pulling him with me.

"I'll try and explain it when I find a way how." I laughed again and added, "Now it's your turn to go and get ready."

"Are you coming with me?"

"If you want me to."

"Well then I guess I'll see you there." He opened the door and bolted outside running in full sprint toward his room.

"Carter!" I closed the door behind me as I ran after him, laughing all the way.

~°~°~°~°~°~

When I finally reached his room I was out of breath. I wriggled the doorknob but it was locked so I knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Carter's voice rang from inside.

"Kat!"

"Kat who?"

"Katarina!"

"Katarina who?"

"Katarina Delerosse!"

"Oh!" He paused, "Sorry doesn't ring a bell."

"Carter open this door!" This was staring to get irritating.

"Who's Carter?"

"Ugh! Carter!"

"Yes?"

"Open this door!"

"Say please."

"Please."

"Please what?"

"Please open this door!"

"Who is it?"

"Kat! Now can you please open this door?!"

"Oh well why didn't you just say so?" He opened the door and I smacked him.

"Ow."

"You're ridiculous. Completely and absolutely ridiculous."

"Why thank you." I walked into his room and sat down on his bed. His room wasn't super fancy as some of the other rooms in the castle. A nice bed, a dresser with a mirror, a closet, bathroom, but what I always loved about Carter's room was the swords upon his wall. He had 3 sets, each with 2 swords crossing each other. The normal person would just assume they were for decoration, but I knew each sword was sharpened and oiled, ready for whatever and if ever Carter needed them. I also knew there was a fourth set under his bed.

He went over to his dresser and pulled out a pair of worn pants. He ducked into the bathroom to change. I turned to one set of swords and touched them gently. This set was always my favorite. Both sheaths were black with red designs on them that shined in the light. The handles were made of dark oak and were wrapped with a strong leather grip.

But what fascinated me most was the holder positioned on the wall. When my father found out that Carter had a fascination with swords, he had had the holder handcrafted for Carter's birthday. It was steel with black and gold designs that swirled around. I reached my hand up and gently started following the designs with my fingers and jumped when Carter said,

"You can take them down if you want." These swords were both meant be used at the same time. And when Carter and I had first started learning the art of swordplay he let me use these. I took one down and unsheathed it. The blade was polished steel, handcrafted in the castle's armory. It was double sided and I winced when I felt all the past cuts it had left on me when I first started learning. I quickly re-sheathed it and put it back on the wall. I turned around and saw Carter staring at me.

"What?" I felt me cheeks redden.

"Nothing. You were just always so gentle with swords."

"Because I was afraid it would cut me."

"Well yes, that and you respect the blade as the chief swordmaster always says in his classes."

"Yes," I thought for a moment, "I think that's a good way of putting it."

He smiled and opened his dresser back up pulling out a worn shirt and tossing it on the bed. He turned away as he pulled his shirt off and revealed his light complection and carved muscles. He turned back around to grab his shirt off of the bed and I felt my cheeks turn red hot as I saw his abdomen. He looked up and I quickly redirected my eyes to the set of swords behind him on the wall. He walked over to me and I forced myself to look at his face as he wrapped his arms around me in a warm embrace. I all of a sudden felt very small against him. It wasn't even my first time seeing Carter shirtless, we grew up together remember, but it was the first time with me feeling like this.

When he pulled away I ran my fingers down his abdomen and felt butterflies in my stomach. I stepped back and watched as he pulled his shirt over his head. He turned back to me and said,

"Do you want to go get some lunch before we go meet them by the gates?"

"Yeah sure."

So we walked in silence, hand in hand, to the dining room.