Once it started, I became powerless to resist. For three weeks I held her at night, and she slept restfully. At first I barely slept a wink, but gradually I became accustomed to it, and sleep came easier. Always light, always awake at the slightest provocation, but I could still sleep.

We settled into this routine. It was the same as always, but night after night she'd pull me into her bed. Her hand always seemed to find some scar from a training accident, or to tread dangerously beneath the hem of my tunic. I want to beg her to keep going but I always stayed silent, betrayed only by the subtle changes in my breathing.

Once a week Roth volunteered to keep guard over her during the day, and I gain a few hours to visit with friends or go into the city that lay sprawled around the castle. I don't mind. It's usually just a day in the court which was pretty boring, though lately I kept seeing the generals whispering amongst themselves. I had my suspicions the war wasn't going as good as they want us to know. How can it be, when we're sending our sons and daughters to die?

But I took the time off. It's breathing room from my improper feelings for Sam, but as I walked through the streets I couldn't get my mind off of her. She knew. She has to know. She's not as innocent as she feigns around her mother. Gods, but she's told me the bawdiest joke I'd ever heard.

Her birthday was coming up. What do you get a princess, anyway? I've asked myself that every year, and every year I get her something to help her learn her way as a ruler. Last year a book on military tactics. Some day she might be called upon to lead us into war. Now that was a scary thought!

This year was different, of course. I wanted something to express what she meant to me, but I couldn't get anything that might hint that my affections were anything other than friendly. I pause in front of a stall. What if I did get her something romantic? Or at least a little bit borderline. If she reacted badly I could say that I hadn't understood and if she reacted well...

Gods, what was I thinking? I couldn't possibly court the princess of our realm. For all that I dressed like a man, I still wasn't one.

I looked back towards the castle, and that's when the alarms sounded. I rushed towards the wall and climb my way up to the top to see what was coming. Stretching as far as I could see was an army. How had they gotten this close and we'd not known? What had happened to the army that was supposed to stop them. I had to get back to Sam.

Running pell mell along the wall, I charge as fast as I can towards the castle. I'm near a side entrance when the sound of the city gate collapsing reached my ears. As soon as I'm inside, I bring down the barricade for that entrance and then bolt through the castle, stopping only long enough to grab my sword. Sam and Roth met me halfway to the throne room and I threw my arms around her without a second's thought.

"No time for that." Roth thrusted my bow into my hand. The sounds of battle have already entered the castle. We shared a look as the first of the intruders entered the corridor. On reflex I send an arrow into this throat. A shift occured inside me and I froze, watching as the blood pooled under him on the castle floor.

Roth shook my shoulder and I snapped out of it. There more were more of the soldiers, too many of them for the both of us to take on, but he shoved me towards the stairs. "I've got this. Get her out of here."

"Roth-"

"Go! Now!"

It was an order and one I had to obey. I took the stairs three at a time, yanking Sam behind me. I simply don't allow myself to panic. I don't know what they would do if they found the Princess. I have to keep her alive.

When we were children we spent so much time up here, hiding amongst rows of armors and behind heavy curtains. I'd always had a knack for discovery and there were probably miles of hidden tunnels in the castle walls. We ran towards one of our childhood hiding places.

"My parents! We have to get to my parents!" Sam turned to reopen the secret door but I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the door.

"My job is to protect you. If we try to go for them the enemy will only capture or kill you. Reyes will protect them. We have to rely on her." Her protests make my heart ache. I know the pain of loss, I know the empty nights where your mother no longer visits. But I don't let Sam go.

This tunnel opened onto the rear wall. I darted forward and knocked an arrow into the string of my bow. A soldier went down, clearing our path. I have to fight an urge to vomit over the edge of the wall. Instead, I pulled Sam carefully, trying to keep us both down. The tide of the battle had turned against us, if we'd even had it to begin with. The Princess's hand tightened in my own. I drew upon that to fuel my resolve.

Between us and the safest exit from the castle stood a tall knight in steel armor.