Chapter One:

Realizations

Talen woke with a start, "OH SHIT, Sparhawk is gonna kiiiiiillllll me!!!!!"

Getting out of bed and running around the room getting ready that was Talen's only thought. Today was Princess Danae's birthday. She was turning 18. As Champion and Protector it was his job to escort her around all day and make sure it was perfect. And he had slept in.

"Shit" Damn Sparhawk is gonna be mad. As the queens consort, her Champion and Protector, also the Preceptor of the Pandion order he was the most powerful man this side of the empire. And he was Danae's father. And really not someone who you wanted to be on the bad side of.

Talen started laughing, I'm insane, he had just remembered when he had broke somebody's nose for insulting the princess. Sparhawk had made him do triple practices for a week, then told him to go and break as many bones in the guys body as he could in under 15 minutes. Sparhawk had timed him, at the age of 15 he broke both his arms one leg and all his ribs. Talen was very proud of that achievement. Now he wondered who it was that was going to have 15 minutes to break all the bones in his body.

I'm going to be late, crap!!!!!!!! He was going to be late for the princess, oh no. Talen could deal with a couple broken bones, but having the princess mad at him was worse, she would ignore him or suggest replacing him. It drove Talen through the roof. How could he be replaced, he would kill anyone who tried. He couldn't bare to have her mad at him. This thought drove Talen through his room, getting all his equipment together for later, he grabbed his sword belt and buckled it on. He hated running with his sword, it was really awkward, but he had no choice. He ran as fast as he could towards her apartments, which were on the other side of the castle, only stopping to pick up her present. He arrived at her door and stopped, straightened his clothes and attempted to do something with his hair, but failed miserably. He shrugged and knocked on the door.

When it opened he almost died. She was standing there in and Extremely revealing nightgown.

"Hey Talen!!!!" she said excitedly as she hugged him.

AAAAAAAHHHHHH, Talen was blushing deeply "Princess, do you think you can put some clothes on.... please."

"What?... you think I'm ugly." She asks, pouting with tears welling in her eyes

"No. your extremely beautiful, and that's sorta the problem"

"Well thank you." She leant forward, giving Talen an all to inappropriate view, and whispered "Glad you liked it." He swallowed, "mhm" she laughed and spun away.

He smiled, he loved her laugh, it always made him smile.

There was a rough cough behind him. His smile faded, he knew that cough.

He turned slowly to find himself facing Sparhawk. Damn.

"Hey Sparhawk" Talen said nervously

"What were you just doing with my daughter?" OH SHIT

Talen was way to nervous to notice the grin on Sparhawk's face

"Uh, n…n...nothing Sparhawk, I guess s...s…she was just happy to see me"

"Mhmm, I'll talk with you later" Sparhawk said, still grinning.

Talen gulped, still to nervous to notice the grin "Yes sir." I'm a dead man walking

Sparhawk turned and walked away, laughing when he got halfway down the hall.

His daughter had some big plans for Talen, that boy wouldn't know what hit him.

Sparhawk laughed again.

Sparhawk's laughed boomed out again and made Talen jump.

What am I in for now, oh god that can not be good.

Talen tried to calm down. Ok, ill deal with that later, princess now.

He settled down and knocked on the door before he entered her room. She was dazzling.

Her dress was cut low and tight, a beautiful piece of art. He reminded himself to give the man who made it a raise. As he looked at her and she smiled he felt a sharp pain in his chest. This was one of the last times she would need him. Today she would choose a husband. And Talen had to give them his blessings and pass on the title as champion to whomever he may be. At least Talen got to stay Protector, he may get to see her once and awhile, he wouldn't be totally replaced by her husband. This brought back memories from the past few months. The young noblemen who were all looking for a wife would come and gather to spend time with the princess. She spent time getting to know all of them so that she could make her choice when the time came. After the first week of this she had come back for her studies and had told him that it was ridiculous to go through all this and that she already knew who she was choosing. This cut Talen deep, as all the noblemen so far had showed nothing but distaste to him, he was just a peasant who happened to make a good knight, nothing more. With all of them he would soon be removed, and it seemed that was to happen if the princess had already chosen. After this Talen had savored every moment he could have with her knowing that soon there would be none. The months seemed to go by so fast an now was the day that he would lose her. It had finally come, what a day, all full of cheers and parades he had to smile through, but inside he just wished to sit in the practice yard and train. Long grueling hours of swordfight to take his mind off it all, not a smile. This was turning into the worst day of Talen's life. He didn't have days or weeks anymore, only mere hours.

"So how do you like it?" the princess said interrupting his thoughts

"Its beautiful…your beautiful" Oh god why did I just say that. "I….I…I mean its very pretty princess" Talen stuttered quickly.

The princess frowned. "Talen?"

"Yes"

"I think I like beautiful better, and what have I told you about calling me princess when we are alone, I do have a name you know, can you say it, D-A-N-A-E?" she says slowly

Talen smiled, "Yes Danae, the dress is beautiful."

She raised an eyebrow "Is that all?"

Talen smiled wider, "Well I don't know, there are no words to describe how beautiful you are." Talen started to grin

Danae blushed, "Why thank you Talen." She leant forward and kissed him on the lips.

Wow, she had just kissed him, he was dreaming, she kissed him.

"Hm, but I wasn't planning on putting it on for awhile yet."

"But aren't you wearing it to the parade and for the ceremony?'

"Yes, I am"

"Then why wouldn't you put it on now?"

"Because Talen, they parade isn't starting yet." She said in a matter of fact voice

"Well not yet, but you don't want to cut it too close do you?"

Wow that kiss must have been a little much if he hasn't gotten it yet.

"Talen, why don't you sit down"

"Why." Talen said, becoming suddenly very weary.

"Because Talen, the parade isn't starting for almost another 6 hours."

Talen felt ready to puke, Oh god "I'm so sorry, I didn't meant to wake you up, I'm so sorry, did I interrupt anything, so sorry" Talen jabbered on apologies for another minute before Danae could step in. "No Talen, its fine, I was already up and I was just about to have a bathe."

"Oh, then I'll get out of your way." Talen said, blushing deeply as the picture thrust themselves to the front of his mind.

"No, its fine, and you should take a nap. You seem to be a little mixed up right now so just go rest on the couch, I'll get you when I'm done."

"S…sure" Talen stuttered , fighting back the increasing amount of visions that were coming to him. Talen flopped down on the couch, forgetting all formality or dignity, burying his head in the pillows in the effort to control the visions.

"Ummmm, Talen?....fine I'll do it myself!" Danae smiled, this should be fun. She leant forward and started to undo his swordbelt. Almost immediately he jumped, falling backwards over the couch with a dull thud, sword clattering away. 'Hm, he must not have had it buckled on to tight then, I barely touched it.' thought Danae. Talen finally got up, staggering a bit.

"W…w…what were you doing?"

"Well your sword was digging a hole in my couch, so I thought since you weren't answering or making any move to fix that I would." She said in a justified voice

Talen blushed even deeper than before. Danae wondered how red he could get, it was starting to get entertaining. "T…t…that's fine, I can do it myself."

"Then hurry up, I need some help undoing the dress." Talen went deeper, Danae smiled, this was very entertaining. "Sure." Talen managed to get out.

"What are you thinking???" Danae asked a smile playing at her lips.

Talen went deep cherry red, "N…n…n…nothing." His blush spreading down his neck.

"Hurry up Talen, I need my bath."Danae wondered how far it went smiled and laughed, then started to blush as her thoughts went a little farfetched. She turned quickly, hiding it from Talen.

"Y…y…y…yes, I'll be r…right there."

Ugh what a terrible stutter, she would really have to do something about that. Talen dropped his sword off in the corner and hurried back, tripping over the table. He reached up and started to undo the lace at the top, slowly and carefully making his way down. Her skin pale white, it looked so smooth he ached just to brush it. Then he found he did, his hand slipped off the lace and brushed across her shoulder. It felt smoother then he ever would have thought, and so soft. Then he realized what he was doing, the apologies running from his mouth.

"Sorry I didn't mean to, I'm sorry, so sorry."

"It's fine Talen." Something in her voice made him stop, he wasn't quite sure what it was. He continued to undo the lace, now distracted by the strange tone. He didn't realize he was at the end of the lace and his hand fumbled, slipping slightly underneath her dress. She gasped and he jumped back quickly. The apologies now tumbling from his mouth.

"I'm sorry, so sorry, sorrysorrysorry ismsormrsy." Oh god, now he couldn't even talk straight, this was it.

"That's alright Talen, there's nothing to be sorry for." He stopped, there it was again, something in her voice that he just couldn't place. And…was that a blush? A deep blush…like…no that cant happen.

"I'll just go to the couch." He mumbled.

"Ok." She couldn't believe she was blushing. He didn't even touch anything, just her back. She blushed again. HOW. How did he make her blush. This shouldn't happen, HER!!! She was a GODESS. HOW DID HE MAKE HER BLUSH. She was almost screaming in hysterics. She started to break down, He couldn't make her blush, she couldn't really fall in love with him. He was a mortal. He would die. He was mortal. She hurried the rest of the way to the bathroom, he couldn't see her like this. She got in and broke down.

She was in love with him, and he would die. He was a mortal and she immortal. He would die, and she would be cursed to live on forever without him. She cried harder, how could this happen? Of course she was choosing him, but she truly loved him, a mortal. He would die. She couldn't bare the thought. She stopped crying, she would cherish every moment with him…and she would find a way, one or another…..

Please review, this is my first story so any opinions are welcome.

If you guys think its any good then review, ill start the second chapter after i get the first few reviews.

Thanks everyone, enjoy the story. :P