A/N: This story would NOT leave my head. I don't know if any of you will enjoy it, but here it is!

The heat of the mid-day sun beat down upon Quinn Fabray as she continued to forge a new blade. Sweat coasted down her forehead and started to soak her clothes. The flames from the fire pit along with the sun began caused her cheeks to be flushed and threads of her blonde locks to escape from the holds of the ribbon she had used to tie her hair up. Hammering the steel into shape she paused only to wipe away the sweat trickling down her face. As she wiped her hand across her forehead, black char took its place.

It had to be the hottest day of the summer and yet other townsmen were walking about doing their shopping. She envied how they at least got the cooling wind that she knew was there, while she was stuck building the armor and the swords for the King's knights and others who so desired them. She wished she could be out there, but her mentor would have her head if she left during business hours.

Finally with the last stroke of her hammer, she was able to toss the blade into the barrel full of water. Sighing, she sat down on the brick steps on the fire pit. Fishing a cup of water out of a bucket; she touched it to her lips and poured some of the cool water down her throat and threw the rest of it over her dirty, sweaty face. It was refreshing.

It was when she was going for some more water that it happened: over the townspeople's voices, she heard the laugh from an angel. Looking up she saw gorgeous brown hair flowing in the breeze, chocolate orbs full of happiness and laughter that already captivated her body and soul. Her skin a soft tan and Quinn would bet anything it was soft and warm.

Standing up, Quinn walked to the opening of the shop and leaned against the wooden panels. She couldn't take her eyes off the girl. The girl, with the common clothes, and yet a sense of royalty that even the King desires. She had to know who the girl was, but she couldn't leave the shop to go find out. And besides, who would want a blacksmith when she probably had knights falling in love with her, hell, probably even the prince himself.

Her smile quickly faded when she saw two lurking men whisper to each other and then disappear down an alley and out behind the buildings, following the lovely brunette. Without a second thought, she grabbed her sheath holding her own sword and tied the leather belt around her waist as she ran after them. Turning the corner, she froze when she saw that one of the men had his arms around the girl's abdomen as the other ripped apart the top of her dress. "Get off of me!" She cried as she flailed her arms and kicked her legs, trying with all of her might to get them off.

The men only chuckled at her failed attempts. Before they could make another move, Quinn withdrew her sword and pointed it at the man, who had his hands on her chest. "Get the hell off, or lose your hands, Karofsky," Quinn threatened in a low, dangerous voice.

Karofsky faked innocence and put his hands up in mock surrender. "What are you going to do, Fabray? Kill us?"

"If I have to," she replied, pressing the sword hard against his neck.

"I wouldn't," the other man said behind her.

Crap!

How could she have been distracted by Karofsky to not remember his sidekick, who still had a tight hold on the brunette? Glancing back she saw he had a knife positioned against the girl's neck, ready to slit her throat. Her eyes flickered to the small girl in his arms, her hands trying to pull his arm from her neck. The girl's eyes were pleading with Quinn's. Turning back to Karofsky, she moved the position of the sword from his neck.

Thinking she was backing off, Karofsky's grin grew and he and Azimio let out a chuckling laugh. Smiling playfully, Quinn quickly pressed her sword against the crotch of his pants, hard enough that if he made a move his pants would be ripped and his man parts cut off. "You kill her, I dismember you and then we'll see who has the upper hand. Now release her, or say goodbye to your boyhood."

Gulping, Karofsky looked back at Azimio and nodded tightly. Azimio dropped the girl unto the ground and she cried out in pain, her left ankle now swelling up. "Aw, why'd you have to hurt her?" Quinn asked as she brought her sword up aimed it at Azimio this time. Glancing down, she saw how terrified the girl was. Sighing she sheathed her sword and got dangerously in his face. "Get the hell out of here before I do something you'll wish I regretted."

Nodding, the two men took off at full speed. Shaking her head, she knelt down in front of the girl who was trembling. "It's okay; I'm not going to hurt you. You're safe now," Quinn said in a soft, warm voice, "here." Quinn took off her black tunic, leaving her in her drenched white shirt. Quinn slowly and gently wrapped the tunic around the brunette to cover her back up. "Can you walk?" She hesitantly asked.

"No. I don't think so. My ankle is too swollen." Even in pain, the girl spoke like an angel.

Nodding, Quinn reached out. "Is it okay, if I carry you, then?" The brunette nodded and Quinn put her arm beneath her legs and her other around her back and picked her up. The brunette wrapped her arms around Quinn's and held on while Quinn walked back to the market place.

"What's your name?"

"Quinn. Quinn Fabray."

The girl smiled at the name and leaned up to place a soft kiss on Quinn's cheek. "Thank you for saving me, Quinn Fabray," she muttered so only Quinn could hear it.

"I'll always save you." Quinn blurted before realizing what was coming out of her mouth. Her cheeks went red with embarrassment and the girl in her arms only giggled at her. "I-I mean…it was no problem at all. Those guys are assholes, so they had it coming either way. They will pay for hurting your ankle though. One way or another they will." Quinn promised. "Um, you haven't told me your name yet…"

"That's true. But what is a name anyway? It's not something that defines you, or who your family is."

"So what should I call you, "girl who gets into trouble"?"

The girl giggled at Quinn's playfulness and was about to answer when men in armor approached them. "There they are!" Men quickly surrounded them and one took the girl from her arms, while two others threw her against the side of the carriage; one holding Quinn's arms behind her back and locking them into a pair of irons, the other patting her down and removing her sword.

"You thought you could take her?" one of the men asked as he turned her around and punched her. Falling from the force and the unexpectedness, Quinn roughly landed on her knees. Townspeople formed a circle around them, all wanting to witness the scene in the square.

"N-no, I wasn't…" She was cut off when the man kicked her in the stomach. Stifling her cry, she felt her blonde hair being grabbed and forced up. The man had his hand ready for another hit.

Just then she heard the brunette cry out, "Stop it! Stop it, now!" Looking up, Quinn saw the girl through her bloodied vision. Everything was getting so blurry and things began to spin. Damn, that was quite a hit, Quinn thought. Fighting hard to keep her sight straight, she saw the brunette exit the carriage and limp up to the man. "I said "stop it". What exactly do you think you're doing to her?"

The man fumbled for an answer and said, "She was trying to take you."

"No, you idiot! She was the one who saved me from being attacked. And who ordered you to treat her this way, anyway? Hmm? I certainly didn't."

"We're the King's men, we're supposed to protect you, your majesty."

That certainly got Quinn's attention. Her head snapped up and she looked at the girl confused. There is no way…

A horse came galloping up and pushed the crowd aside. "Rachel!" A loud voice called out to the brunette. The horse's rider was a black man, very well dressed and had a pin on his vest. Jumping down from his horse he ran over and picked her up, hugging her in a very fatherly manner. "Rachel, are you alright? What in heaven's name were you thinking? Going into the market place all by yourself! You could've gotten really hurt."

Putting her down, he took the sight in before him. Quinn's left side of her face was bruised and bloodied, and the way she was still crunched over on her knees told him she had suffered a blow to the abdomen as well. "What's going on here?" He asked.

The guard who had beaten up Quinn took point. "We found the princess in the arms of this girl here. We only did what was necessary to get the princess to safety and out of harm's way," he said proudly.

The horseman turned to look at him and asked, "And you judged a situation without knowing the facts, Ron?"

"The princess was hurt! We only-"

"That's why she was carrying me!" Rachel argued. Her eyes looked at Quinn and her heart broke. Quinn had just saved her virginity and possibly her life as well and this was her reward? It wasn't right.

"Well, how did you get hurt, Rachel?" The tall, powerful, black man asked.

"I was doing a little bit of shopping and these two guys followed me. They cornered me and grabbed me. One ripped open my dress," she carefully lowered Quinn's tunic to show the ripped seam, then quickly covered herself, "the other held onto me. I was lucky Quinn showed up when she did. She fought them off and the guy dropped me, and I landed on it wrong…" she revealed her less swollen ankle, "Leroy, she saved my life."

The black man, Leroy, nodded and looked down at the bloodied girl one more. "Is this true, girl?" With all of her energy, Quinn nodded and stuttered out a "yes, sir". He looked at the guard who placed the irons on her and motioned for him to remove them. Soon enough, the heavy weight that connected and weighed down on her wrists were gone. Slowly, she brought her hands out in front of her and rubbed her sore wrists. "Return her belongings." Her sword was thrown next to her and she made no move to get them.

"What is your name, girl?" Leroy asked, crouching down in front of her.

Meeting his eyes, took everything she had and she willed herself to hold contact. "Q-Quinn Fabray."

"And how do you manage to have a sword like that?" He sounded impressed, and she smiled on the inside.

"I made it, My Lord. I am a blacksmith at the shop down the road," she replied.

"Quite impressive. Perhaps you can make me a blade similar to your own? It's fine work, I am at most impressed."

"Thank you, My Lord."

He smiled, stood and reached his hand out. Quinn reluctantly took it and allowed him to help pull her up. Wincing at her ribs, he then bent down to pick up her sword and hand it to her. "You saved Rachel's life. Surely there is something I can do for you in return?"

She was startled. She didn't save Rachel for some stupid reward. No, she saved her because she wanted to know her, to befriend her, to be able to love her the way her heart desired. But now, there's not a chance in hell for any of that to happen. She was a commoner, a peasant, a blacksmith, a nobody. She didn't deserve the princess. The princess deserved someone better, the prince, the duke, anyone is better than her. So she shook her head. "I didn't do it for some reward. And the reward I want, you can't give. But thank you, Sir."

Leroy nodded and motioned for the men to move out. "I do thank you for saving her, Ms. Fabray. She is like a daughter to me, and I know the King highly appreciates it." He gave a slight bow then got on his horse and began to ride back to the castle.

It was then just Rachel and Quinn. The crowd had left when they realized nothing else was going to happen. And the carriage driver pretended to be busy. Rachel took a step closer to Quinn. "Quinn? I'm so sor-"

Quinn held up a hand to silence her. "Just don't. I'm glad you're in safe arms now, and I'm glad I got there in time. But you don't have to say anything."

"Quinn…"

"I should go get cleaned up and explain to my boss, why I'm unable to continue working today." Grabbing the side of her ribs, Quinn bowed to Rachel and turned to walk away.

"Will I see you again?" Rachel called out.

Turning around, Quinn cracked a small smile. "I wish you could, and maybe if the situation was different, but it's too dangerous for you to come here again. And you're better off without someone like me in your life. But perhaps you might see me in your dreams? I know you'll be in mine every night." After she said that, she walked back to the shop and Rachel reluctantly got into the carriage to go back to the castle.

A/N: Like it? Hate it? Do I continue?