Oh yeah, I don't know when this takes place but we're just going to say "a long time ago." It's no specific culture or time period, it's just based around medieval fairy tales.

Also, this may be kind of a boring chapter, because it's kind of an "and time passed" chapter. I don't want this to be too rushed, but I don't want it to be too slow, either. Please let me know what you think of the story's pacing.

"Do you want to take a break?" Beck asked, swinging his branch with style before stabbing it into the ground.

Jade let out a puff of air as she tried to catch her breath. She thought she was getting better at their sparring, but every time she managed to do something right, Beck kicked it up a notch. They were always going at breakneck speed, and Jade was no match for the prince's skill. "Yes, please," she panted.

"You're doing great, you know," Beck commented as he settled down on the grass. "Five nights and you've already got the basic moves down."

"I still can't get my stick even close to you, though," Jade protested, sitting down next to him.

Beck shrugged. "I wouldn't expect you to. I've been at this for seventeen years, and you started five nights ago."

Beck was a good teacher, in Jade's mind. He showed her exactly how to perform a move, then let her try to use it on him. Once she got it, he'd move on quick as lightning. Jade was struggling to keep up, but she managed.

Of course she was thrilled when she did something right, but what she really strived for was the approving nods Beck would give her, and his compliments. He was kind, but he wasn't one of those people who'd praise her and not really mean it. Yes, Beck's approval was worth everything.

Night was already Jade's favorite time, considering it would get dark and quiet; no more royal demands, none of Cat's blabbering, just peace. But now she loved the night even more. The midnight meetings with the prince became what she lived for. She soon found that there was no one's company she'd rather have than Beck's, that there was nothing she'd rather be doing than sparring with him, or listening to him talk about his kingdom, or just laying on the grass and staring at the stars.

During the daytime, Jade took to watching the knight's training sessions. She'd keep an eye on them from the shadows, then repeat their moves with a stick, memorizing them in hopes to use them against Beck that night.

However, Beck truly was a natural. All she'd have to do was use the move once before he'd memorize it and come up with a counterattack.

One afternoon, while everyone was busy feasting on lunch, Jade snuck into the armory to take a look at the swords. They were heavier than the sticks, obviously, and though she tried holding them all, only one seemed to fit comfortably in her hand. It had a long and thin blade with a golden hilt, and she swung it around for a bit before putting it back.

There were a couple nights when the two of them fell asleep under the stars and didn't make it back home until the sun was high in the sky, but that was fine by her. Jade felt she slept better in the grass, anyway.

One night when she came, the air was incredibly hot and humid. They sparred for about five minutes before nearly collapsing from the heat.

"It's so hot!" Jade moaned before sinking to the ground. She lay there, sprawled out on the cool grass, while Beck walked a little ways away.

After a few moments, he called, "Want to go swimming?"

Puzzled, Jade turned and looked at Beck, who was leaning over the edge of the pool which formed at the bottom of the waterfall.

"...are you serious?"

"Yes!" Beck exclaimed. "It's so cold!"

Jade gave him a skeptical look, but Beck stared back with an incredibly serious look in his eyes. "Alright, fine," he said finally. "You don't have to come. I'm going swimming."

With that, Beck took his shirt off and leapt into the pool. He emerged a few seconds later and shook the water from his hair, sending silver droplets spinning through the air.

Jade tentatively came forward and tested the water with her fingers. Beck was right; the liquid was cool and refreshing, but even a quick dip would mean getting her clothes wet and having to ride back home soaked.

She frowned. "I don't know about this."

"That's okay," Beck shrugged. "You really don't have to know much. Look, it's not even deep. You don't have to swim."

"That's not what I'm worried about."

Beck smirked. "Oh, you're worried? About what, exactly? Dragonfish?"

"They have those?" Jade whispered, shifting uncertainly.

"No," Beck chortled. "So will you come in now?"

Jade opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, she felt Beck's wet hands grab onto her wrists and yank. Hard.

Next thing she knew, she was plunging headfirst into the freezing cold water. Then she felt Beck's arms wrap around her and drag her to the surface. She gasped for breath and tensed at the cold water, but relished it at the same time.

She was still entangled in the prince's arms, but she turned to glare at him. "Did I say I wanted that?" she spat. "I could have been hurt!"

"No, you couldn't have," Beck told her, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile. "I wouldn't have let that happen, sweetheart."

Jade shivered with a feeling that she couldn't quite place her finger on, as she usually did when Beck called her "sweetheart." He did it quite often, and though Jade figured he must say it in a purely platonic way, it always sent excitement bubbling up in her chest. And now Beck was holding her close as he said it; she hoped he couldn't feel her reaction to the word he had meant nothing by saying. He'd think she was such an idiot.

In her annoyance, she scooped up a handful of water and splashed Beck in the face with it.

"Hey!" He recoiled, but then wiped his eyes and slammed both his hands into the water, causing a spray of the clear liquid to land all over Jade.

Before they knew it, they were in a full-blown splash fight. When they finally let up on the fight, both of them were soaking wet, their hair dripping in their face, and laughing hysterically.

"Thanks a lot!" Jade tried to say it as if she were angry, but it didn't come out threatening, thanks to her laughter. "Now I have to ride home all wet!"

"Well, so do I!" Beck protested. "And now you won't be so hot on the way home."

Jade fought off a smile. "That is true," she said, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly.

Beck chuckled and hauled himself out of the water and squeezed the liquid out of his hair before putting his shirt back on. Jade glanced at the sky.
"It'll be getting light soon," she commented, more seriously this time. "We should get home."

"I suppose," Beck sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Bring a sword!" Beck called after her. "You're ready to use a real one."

The corridor was dark, only lit by moonlight through the window. Jade dared not light a candle, afraid someone would see the faint light and ask where she'd been.

She was nearly back to her chamber when a voice called out from the darkness.

"Jadey?"

Jade jumped in surprise. "Cat! What are you doing up?" Chiz! Why does her room have to be so close to mine?

"I heard you," Cat told her. "I was wondering why you were up."

The princess scowled. "I thought I told you not to ask me that anymore!"

Cat was clearly a light sleeper. The first night she'd snuck out to see Beck, Cat had confronted her upon her return. Jade told her she was only getting water, but on the second night, Cat had posed the same question, and this time she was aware that Jade had been gone for hours. This time Jade admitted that she'd been wandering the castle, and that if Cat heard her get up again, she wasn't to question it.

"Sorry," Cat squeaked. "It's just that you're always taking walks at night. Are you okay?"

"Of course," Jade snapped, maybe a little too quickly. "Would you just leave me alone? I take these walks for a little time with myself. You're wrecking that!"

Cat apologized sheepishly and returned to her room. Jade breathed a sigh of relief, then wondered if anyone would notice a sword missing from the armory.