"Can I pretend I'm sick and miraculously heal tomorrow when King Syrus arrives?" I questioned, as my brothers and I finished breakfast. "Or maybe since we are a family you all should join me and support me as I learn this new job," I said. They quickly shook their heads, all smiling a little too much.

"Sorry princess, you're on your own for this one," Alakay grinned.

"I'm not a princess. I'm your queen and if I ordered you to accompany me then you will," I said glaring at him.

"But you won't," Alakay smirked.

Benedict shook his head. "Sam, it can't be that bad. Sure it may not be what you thought you would be doing, however, from what we have heard you are taking it in stride and picking up much quicker then some expected," he encouraged.

"Really?" I asked. They all nodded. Sighing a little I let myself relax. "So what are you all doing while I prepare for the royal visit?" I asked.

"I'll be heading to the castle library. I've been informed a handful of new reading materials have arrived and I'd like to take a look. Do you want to head to the castle together after breakfast?" Louis asked.

"Sure, at least I'll know you're in the castle if I need to be rescued," I grinned.

"Benedict and I are heading to The Lion's Den to practice our darts," Alakay said grinning. "Last time he beat me and so I need some redemption," he glared at Benedict who held up his hands. Alakay turned to Shepherd. "You want to join us so I can have a witness in my victory?" he asked.
Shepherd's mouth opened slightly and he didn't look like he knew how to respond. "Actually... I already have plans," he said quietly. The four of us raised our eyebrows waiting for more. "I may have met a family that recently moved to Jarrow from Merah and I promised their daughter I'd show her around today," he said.

"What?" we all exclaimed. Shepherd had a girlfriend?

"How did this happen? How in the world did the quietest of our group get himself a girlfriend before any of us?" Alakay asked. Shepherd pointed to me arguing I had a boyfriend. "She doesn't count, she's the queen," he said, waving his hand to dismiss me. "Now answer us!" he said leaning in.

Shepherd rubbed his neck as he looked at us. "We aren't in a relationship. I ran into her and her mother when they were trying to find the bakery a few days ago. Since they were new to town I thought it'd be nice to show her around so she's more comfortable here," he explained.

"Next time I have free time with you all, you're introducing us!" I grinned. I glanced to where most of the other Dragon's had already cleaned up and left. "I would love to stay and hear more, but I need to get to the castle," I said standing up. "I'll meet you at the stable in five minutes," I said to Louis before heading to my room to grab what I would need for the day at the castle.

"Do we really need to go so far?" I questioned Jone as we sat comparing different designs of silverware.

Jone sighed, shaking her head. "Samantha, this is your first time hosting royal members as the queen. We must show that you are well educated and ready for what you are expected to do," she said. "Now, swirls or solid?" she asked, holding up two designs.

"Jone! Who cares what silverware we use? Although this is my first time hosting it's not like it's a matter of state. They are King Philip's family. It's more of a family gathering than anything," I argued.

"That may be true. However, it never hurts to put our best foot forward. Also, since they are King Philip's family it is the best time to practice as you won't have much to lose," she said. Then pushed the silverware in front of me.

"Although my Aunt is highly allergic to nuts. So if you aren't careful you may end up losing her and that wouldn't look good in the gossip circles. 'First time queen kills a neighboring queen for lack of education'," Nikolai said, walking into the room.

Jone gasped and turned to argue the point that Nikolai had jokingly made. Then turned with a raised eyebrow. "You weren't supposed to be here for another hour. We still have more to do before we work on the formal greetings," she said.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your plans. However, my father sent me to find Samantha. There are a few matters that he wants her input on and I've been tasked with bringing her to the council chamber," he said, walking over and pulling me to my feet. "I'll have her back as quick as I can," he said, not waiting for a response before pulling me out of the room.

"Wait! This isn't the way to the council chamber... Nik, what's going on?" I asked as we continued to walk further from the council chamber.

He grinned and took my hand. "I'm saving you. The whole castle could hear your cries of agony. So, actually I'm doing the castle a favor by keeping you quiet," he chuckled, as I punched his arm.

"I'm not that bad!" I argued. He raised an eyebrow and I sighed. "Okay, I am... so what are we doing?" I asked.

Nikolai shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't really think that far ahead," he said as we walked the halls. "Did anyone tell you that you are getting strong?" he asked, still rubbing the spot where I'd hit him.

"It's called working out. You should try it sometime," I smirked.

"Hey! I work out!" he said, flexing his muscles.

I patted his flexed muscles and gave him a smile one would give a child. "Oh yes, very nice," I said. Smiling as he glared at me. "Some of us actually work out and don't just do it for show," I said.

"I work out! Just ask Sir Gregory!" he shot back.

"Hitting a stationary bag while Sir Gregory gives you false encouragement," I grinned.

"What do you do? Huh? What makes your Dragon training so special?" he pushed.

Stopping our walk, I pulled my hand from his and crossed my arms. "The obstacle course. We do the obstacle course until we bleed. You couldn't even make it through once," I said.

"Oh yeah? Then I guess I know what we're doing," he said grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the exit. "Just in case you haven't figured it out we are going to prove that I work out and can beat you on the obstacle course," he said. Laughing I let myself be pulled along to the compound.

"Have you seriously never done it? I feel like it's something that you and Louis would have done at some point growing up here," I said, as we walked into the compound.

Nikolai shrugged his shoulders. "We've heard about it, but never got an invitation to try it out. You Dragon's are pretty secretive about your training," he said.

We were walking to the obstacle course when a throat cleared behind us. Turning we saw Erik strolling towards us. "What are you two doing here? I thought Sam had a day filled with choosing tableware and practicing her curtises," he said.

"I happen to have mastered the curtsy thank you very much!" I said glaring at Erik. "We're here for Nikolai to try and prove he works out. He says he can easily beat me on the obstacle course," I grinned.

Erik raised an eyebrow. "Does he now?" he asked, turning to Nikolai. "Do you really think that was a wise choice? She has been running this course for nearly three years now," he said.

Nikolai chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm starting to doubt it. It was in the heat of the argument, so I can't back down now though..." he said.

Erik laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, you really should be careful what you say to Sam. I'll watch to make sure she doesn't throw you off the tower or anything," he said.

"Now that would just be mean! An accident may occur on the rope swing though... those things can be tricky," I grinned, running ahead. "I thought you all had a day off," I laughed as I noticed a handful of Dragons now standing around.

"We heard there was a little competition going on," Brooks said leaning his arm on Pierson's shoulder.

"You better win this, Sam. I get a free dinner or two if you win," Pierson grinned.

Shaking my head, I smiled at the Dragons. "You heard them Nik. You gotta lose," I said bouncing from foot to foot.

Nikolai looked around at the growing crowd. "Yeah... I thought this was just you and me," he said.

Laughing I sauntered over to him. "You scared?" I asked.

He shook his head glaring at me. "Don't think just cause you're my queen I'm going easy on you. You're going down," he said, walking up to the starting line.

"Alright you two. Every obstacle must be completed. At the wall you will break into a sprint towards the finish line since you can't accomplish the wall on your own. Luke is going to shadow Sam to make sure she's not cheating," he said pausing to eye me down. "Then Ares is going to shadow Nik to make sure he knows what he is supposed to do," Erik said.

"How did you guys organize this so fast?" Nikolai asked.

"This may not be the first Dragon versus civilian obstacle course we've had," Erik said. "Now are you two ready?" he asked.

"Yes!" I said eagerly, bouncing from foot to foot.

Shaking his head Nikolai nodded. "Let's do this," he said.

"Go!" Erik shouted without counting down or warning. Being used to Erik's ways I was able to take off. Glancing over my shoulder I saw that Nikolai stumbled as he got his footing.

I quickly jogged to the first obstacle. Dropping down to my belly I quickly started my crawl. "I thought you were shadowing me," I called to Luke who was jogging to the other end of the obstacle.

"Shadowing, not doing the course with you," He said. "Now hurry up! Nikolai's catching you," he called nodding to where Nikolai had caught up and was crawling towards me.

"Catch me if you can," I taunted Nikolai as I jumped to my feet and ran for the net to the logs. I had just reached the top of the net and glanced back. My eyes widened as I saw Nikolai already half way up the net. Shaking my head I turned my attention back to the logs. I didn't need any new bruises before meeting the king tomorrow. "I'm pretty sure you lied about not doing the course," I said as I reached the top of the slanted ladder to find Nikolai already more than halfway across the logs.

"Nope, I just happen to work out," he smirked.

At the tower he caught up. I may have done the tower all the time, but his upper body strength and height gave him the addvantage. "I thought you were going to cream me," he taunted as he started his climb down seconds before I did. We were neck and neck as we raced for the ropes. His long legs carried him just a little faster than me.

"Come on Sam! You got this!" Luke said, giving me an encouraging smile. "I also don't want to have to buy Ares dinner," he chuckled.

Shaking my head I took a breath and sped up. Catching up to Nikolai just as he grabbed the rope. "Hold on tight," I said, leaping to grab mine. We were side by side as we swung. Looking to the log I judged my jump and as I landed on the log I heard a splash. Turning quick I saw bubbles where Nikolai had fallen in. Sliding off the log I stood and laughed as Nikolai came spitting out of the water.

"Sam! Run!" I heard a bunch of Dragon's yell.

Laughing, I waved my hand. "Don't worry! I got this!" I said starting to run towards the finish line with a grin on my face. The grin quickly turned to shock as I felt two arms wrap around my waist. Tripping on a rock the two of us stumbled to the ground, his arms still wrapped around me.

"And Nikolai wins!" Erik said. Standing above us. "You can also get off of Sam now," he said, taking a more overprotective brotherly tone.

Ignoring his last comment I wiggled free of Nikolai's arms and stood. "What? I was in the lead! How did Nikolai win?" I questioned.

"His hand crossed the finish line," Erik said pointing to where Nikolai's fingers lay just over the finish line.

Nikolai chuckled standing up. "Not only do I work out, but I beat a Dragon on the obstical course," he said.

I shoved his shoulder causing him to laugh more. "You cheated! There is no grabbing of the other competitor!" I argued.

Erik shook his head. "There was never that rule. You simply thought it. Luke and Ares said that you guys were close the entire way. If you hadn't stopped to gloat at log you may have won," he said.

"I'll call it a draw. Just admit that I workout," Nikolai said.

Crossing my arms I glared at the guys around me. None of them were being supportive at the moment. "Fine! You workout and you have real muscles," I said.

Nikolai smiled. "See that wasn't so hard," he said, side stepping as I tried to smack him. "We should head back to the castle. I need to change before this gunk seeps into my skin," he said.

"That's why you don't fall," I giggled, running away as he tried to slime me.

"What are you doing?" Nikolai chuckled, walking into the seating area of his chambers.

I grinned as I puffed out my chest. "I'm playing dress up," I said snatching his sword before he could. I quickly buckled it around my waist. I had found one of his over coats and even a crown laying around and now had them on. "Do you think I could pass as you?" I asked. Walking over I gave a deep bow. "Hello, it's a pleasure to have you here. I'd like to formally introduce myself. My name is Prince Nikolai Maximus Petrova the Third," I said in a deep voice.

"How'd you learn my middle name?" he asked.

"Isabella. She was mad at you the other day and yelled your full name while ranting," I grinned. "You still didn't answer my question, do you think I can pass as you?" I asked.

"No," he stated.

"Rude!" I said crossing my arms. "I can be manly!" I said trying to make myself taller and broder.

He shook his head. "No, you can never be manly. You may be strong, but you will always be my beautiful Sam," he said.

I blushed ducking my head. "Shut up," I said.

He reached forward and pulled me close. "Even all dressed up as a man you still radiate beauty," he said. He then reached down, unbuckled his sword from my waist and lay it on his couch. "Shall we see how long we can go until we are caught?" he asked.

Grinning, I nodded. Carefully placing his crown back on the shelf I tossed his coat on top of the sword and grabbed his hand.

It had been nearly an hour and we had some close calls, but hadn't been spotted yet, well at least by anyone that would try to stop us.

"Let's go to the dungeon!" I said with large eyes.

Nikolai chuckled. "The dungeon?" he asked.

Nodding, I smiled up at him. "Yes, I have been here a little over three years and haven't seen it yet," I then gasped. "Wait! Do you not have a dungeon? We have to! Where am I going to throw Alakay when I get annoyed at him?" I asked.

Shaking his head he guided me deeper into the castle. "As you wish. I have a serious question," Nikolai said as we walked hand in hand. Glancing at him I raised an eyebrow. He took a deep breath. "Are you ticklish?" he asked.

Laughing, I gave him a quizzical look. "Wait, that's your serious question?" I asked.

He nodded. "Isabella brought it up. She said I need to find out so that once we are married and sleeping together I don't accidentally tickle you and then have you punch or kick me while sleeping," he said.

"You have a weird sister," I said, wondering how that conversation had even come up.

"I see her point though. I don't want to accidentally make you hurt me. You'd feel bad," he said.

"Would I? You tickled me. I fight back when that happens," I said as we started to walk again.

"So that's a yes. You are ticklish?" He questioned.

"I never said that," I said. I saw the look on his face and I quickly pulled my hand from his. "Nikolai, stop whatever you are thinking," I said.

He grinned moving towards me. "I think I need to figure out where you are ticklish," he said jumping towards me.

I squealed as I quickly ran down the hall hearing his laughter and footsteps following. "Leave me alone!" I called over my shoulder. I was glad that I was still in pants because it made running from Nikolai a lot easier.

His laughter only grew. I tried to round the corner quickly to give myself more space, but the stone on the hall floor was slippery and I felt myself heading for disaster as I went tumbling towards the floor. I never hit it though. Two strong arms steadied me before I could crash. Looking up I saw an older man, vaguely familiar, standing in front of me.

"I'm so sorry! I could have injured you," I said.

The older man smiled kindly at me. "I'm just glad I was here to save you. Who are you running from?" he questioned looking concerned.

I turned to the corner just as Nikolai came running around. He fumbled to a stop, his eyes growing wide. "Uncle Syrus, you're early!" he said.