Disclaimer: For the billionth trillionth millionth time – this is Gail Carson Levine's. I just own some characters and the plot. Now that we have that sorted, let's get on to the important stuff.

A/N: Yay! I updated quickly for once. Please review (as if you guys need a reminder…).

Just a small note: I had this part of the story planned since about the time I wrote Chapter 7 (as in a long time ago – see that chapter if you want to check up on any references). So it has been a relief that it has finally come to the time for me to post up this chapter.

Chapter 17:

The Annual King's Ball: Part III

-

"There once was a young boy. He grew up in a loving family and was totally innocent to the wicked ways of the world. He was charismatic and friendly – he was almost always surrounded by people. He befriended everybody, the rich, the poor, and the lonely. One of the people he befriended was a girl named Leena who the same age as him. She had the goldest hair you could imagine and the brightest bluest eyes." Christian began.

Sarah could not help feeling the teensiest bit jealous as she saw his face light up when he mentioned this girl. She could tell that the boy was Christian, but who was the girl?

"They became great friends. They would constantly play with each other. She came from a troubled family unlike his own. The boy would always comfort her and make everything seem okay when it really was not. Then as they boy and girl became older, they became more than friends…they became-" And it is here that Christian's voice choked. "I do not know why I am telling you this. This is foolish." He made to stand up but Sarah stopped him.

"Sit down. You are not leaving till you have finished."

Christian drew a deep breath.

"The boy and girl became lovers. They loved each other with a passion. In every sense of the word. The boy would not know what he would ever have done without her. And then something terrible happened and he discovered what life would be like without her." Christian choked.

Sarah peered at him in the dark and saw that some tears were glistening down his sorrowful face.

"Oh, Christian, I am so terribly sorry." She put her arms around his broad shoulders. She could him shake as he tried to control the tumultuous emotions dwelling inside of him.

"It's just so unfair. Why did she have to go? Why did she just leave me like that?" Christian sobbed.

Sarah patted his head soothingly. "Shh. It is okay. I know she is dead but-"

Christian jolted up abruptly. "I never said that she was dead." He spoke coldly.

"Not dead? But then-"

"Enough questions. You should learn to mind your own business for once. I have told you all you need to know and that is that. I have never loved anybody since then and never will." He shrugged off Sarah's arms from his shoulders.

"But Christian, that is simply ridiculous. Anybody is capable of feeling love. You have just been hurt by it."

"You are wrong. I cannot love anybody. I will not. Not ever again." He replied stubbornly.

Sarah felt her heart sink. Where was this Leena girl and what had happened? She guessed that was why Christian was cruel, because of something to do with her. But he had seemed so charming and nice, and above all, normal when she had first met him (apart from the whole kidnapping thing). And he said that he would never love anybody ever again – he was afraid of being hurt again. So could his recent nasty attitude be attributed to some new feelings that he had for her? No, of course not. That would just be too insane. To crazy to even contemplate.

"Christian, you can love somebody. I know you can! You are a living breathing human being, not some kind of machine."

"What would you know? Have you ever been hurt before, Sarah?" he snarled.

If Sarah had been thinking properly, she might have noticed that he had actually said her name for once.

"Yes, I have. You are not the only one. There are other people out there who have had to undergo worse experiences."

"Don't lecture me. You are just a skinny annoying brat who thinks that she can meddle in other people's lives." His eyes burned like two great balls of fire, but Sarah was not perturbed.

"And you are an incompetent err…nitwit who takes out their problems on other people." She snapped. She could feel her ears go red. A cool breeze was ruffling her dark glossy hair. She looked so appealing, staring up at Christian with such concern in her eyes, despite her words.

"What could you possibly know of my problems? Have you ever been in love?" he argued.

"What do you think? Yes, I have been in love. I am in love with you, you fool!" There was a shocked silence and Sarah gulped. She had not meant to say that. She really had not. It was not even true, wasn't it?

She started to apologise. "I am sorry, I did not mean that. I was um…just trying to think of some comeback and that was the first thing that popped into my mind."

"Well, obviously. Who could honestly believe that you would be in love with me? It is not a very amusing joke you know, you will give me nightmares." Christian shuddered, he seemed to be trying to convince himself as well as Sarah.

"I can assure you that the idea is as frightening to you as it is to me."

"And I can never love somebody, so it would be no use. Whoever falls in love with me will just end up with a broken heart."

"O-of course." Sarah stammered. Maybe that was why she felt like her heart had just been split into two?

There was again another awkward silence. They had been yelling at each other not long ago and now they were both lost for words.

"I guess we better get back inside, they are probably be wondering where we are." Sarah quietly said.

"Yes, we had better." Echoed Christian.

They both hesitantly walked inside back into the ballroom. There, they were both immediately accosted by other young men and women trying to claim their attention.

Vivien looked like she was trying to batter Christian to death with her eyelashes and a young blond man had cornered Sarah into a wall, begging her to dance with him.

Sarah reluctantly consented and she saw that Christian had agreed to dance with Vivien.

The music started and the couples started dancing. Sarah tried to smile but could only muster a grimace. Her partner was good-looking but she was too preoccupied with watching a certain Prince.

She could not believe what she had said to him. At least he seemed to have believed her weak excuse. And she did not love him. She didn't.

"I don't." she suddenly said aloud.

Her partner looked at her strangely and she smiled apologetically.

She then turned back to what she had been doing.

Christian looked so good. His blond hair curled so that sometimes it would fall into his face whilst he danced. Sarah longed to go over there and push it back from his face. He laughed at something Vivian had said. Sarah looked sharply at the other girl.

The nerve of her. Everybody knows that he hates her. But then why did he agree to dance with her? And why was he joking and talking with her like that? Why couldn't Christian do the same with Sarah?

They looked so right together, Vivian and Christian. Both fair, attractive and tall. Christian would never see anything in Sarah with her around. The Princess felt a deep pain growing in her chest. He believed that he could never love. Not anybody. Not her. Maybe somebody like Vivien would be the one to make him change his mind.

Sarah tore her gaze away from them. What use was there in making herself feel more depressed? She should be concentrating on helping Linnarch, not on paltry crushes. She gave no more thought towards anything to do with Christian for the rest of the dance.

By the end of the night, both Prince and Princess were exhausted. They waited till every guest had left before heading upstairs. They had bid goodnight to the King and Queen and cautiously made their way back to their room.

Sarah went behind the changing curtain and undressed.

"Tonight was…interesting." She commented.

"Yes, it was. Damon acted surprisingly. I cannot believe he kissed you."

"Pretty scandalous, isn't it? Who would have thought it? I mean, imagine somebody actually wanting to kiss me. Who could possibly want to?" she responded sarcastically.

There was no reply from the Prince, Sarah thought that he had said, "I do." But it was late at night and she was exhausted. Tired as she was, she concluded that it must have been the wind. It was only until the next morning that she remembered the windows were closed and locked.

Sarah woke up with the hugest migraine. She could barely think properly. She recalled the events from last night.

"How could I have been so stupid?" she muttered.

She could see Christian asleep in his bed and her eyes softened at the sweet image he presented. He looked so angelic and calm. Nothing like he was in real life.

She got out of bed and tiptoed across the cold bare floor. She knew that as her bodyguard, Christian had to be around her at almost all times but she was in dire need of a break.

She had almost made out the door too and had opened it when somebody shoved her out of the way and pushed the door closed.

"What do you think you are doing?" demanded Christian.

"I just wanted to go for a walk."

"Without asking me first?"

"It is not as if I have not gone out of your sight plenty times before whilst you have been my bodyguard. I will surely be safe out of your sight for just a few minutes." Sarah reasoned.

"I do not care if you have gone out of my sight many times before. I call the shots and if I say that you cannot leave my sight at the moment then you cannot. Do you understand me?" Christian was so close to Sarah that she would see his stubble as well as some of the lines that had been etched near his eyes. Funny how she had not noticed them before.

He smelt comforting too. Like porridge and croissants.

Sarah stopped herself and tried to concentrate on what Christian was saying. She nodded her head in response to his question.

She was trying to think properly but her head hurt too much to make such a task easy.

Christian studied Sarah's face, taking in her dishevelled appearance and the way she clutched her head.

"Are you alright?" The concern in his voice was startling.

"Absolutely. Why wouldn't I be?"

Christian frowned. "How much did you drink last night?"

"Hardly anything. Maybe three or four glasses of wine." Or five or six or seven.

Christian did not seem to believe her.

"For sure. Sarah, dearest, but I do believe that you have a hangover." He smirked.

"I certainly do not." Sarah protested indignantly.

"I suggest you rest. I will have a maid bring up your breakfast. You can rest this morning and then continue your lessons in the afternoon." He told her.

Sarah was surprised. "You are actually going to send a maid up for me? Astounding."

"I could not very well let the one starve now, could I? It is nothing spectacular."

"But it is." She insisted. He seemed almost nice.

"Just go back to bed. I will watch over you and ring for a maid."

Sarah sleepily agreed. She gave a big yawn and crawled back into her large queen-sized bed. "You are sometimes so contrary, your highness."

"Contrary?" Christian raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, for a moment you sounded like you actually cared." Sarah then laughed. "No, that is just too much of a stretch of my imagination."

The Prince grimaced. But he did care. More than she would ever know.

When Sarah was again awoken from her slumber, the first thing she saw was Prince Christian leaning over her. "You are finally awake. Get dressed, we need to start your lessons." There was none of the warmth from earlier on in his voice.

Sarah moaned. Her head did feel much better but she could still do with a bit more sleep. She dragged herself out of bed.

She thought about the ball last night and its events. Scarlet had seemed to upset when Tom had kissed her, she could tell that Scarlet liked Tom and felt guilty, though it was not her fault. She wanted to apologise but what would she say, "Sorry the man you were in love with kissed me, I could not help it"? She did not think so. Time would hopefully work things out.

Now though, she did not feel like seeing Tom at all. It would be too uncomfortable. Any romantic feelings towards him had since disappeared. That awful kiss. Sarah almost choked at the memory.

Sarah put on a plain brown dress. When she came out from behind the curtain, Christian sent her straight back again. "You cannot possibly wear that to combat training." He reprimanded.

"Combat training? Why didn't you say that was what I would be doing?" Sarah mentally sighed; she would not have to face Tom. Yet.

Sarah came back out again five minutes later wearing plain brown pants and a white shirt.

Christian led her down to an empty courtyard. Sarah saw that it was equipped with lots of fighting equipment. Knives, maces, spears, daggers. You name it, it was there.

Sarah sat down on a bench, waiting for the teacher to arrive. She wondered who would be teaching her. Definitely not Tom. She hoped not.

She saw Christian give her a strange look. "What?" she asked.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"Waiting for the teacher to arrive. What am I supposed to be doing?" Sarah furrowed her brow.

"You can sometimes be so daft. I was chosen to be your bodyguard for a reason. What do you think that reason was?"

Realisation suddenly dawned upon Sarah. "No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes. I am going to be your combat training instructor."

She narrowed her eyes. "We will end up killing each other."

Christian ignored the comment. "From the night you were kidnapped it has been obvious that you have been trained in self defence. However, hopefully with the training you will receive from me you will become much better. I could even make you the second-greatest fighter in the kingdom."

"Who is the best?" Sarah asked mockingly, knowing already what that answer was.

"Me, of course." Christian sneered. Then, without so much as a warning, he picked up a spear and tossed it at Sarah, who was unprepared. It landed square on her head. She staggered back and rubbed the red mark that had suddenly appeared on her forehead.

"What was that for?" she complained.

"That was to teach you the first lesson of combat: Always be on your guard."

Sarah glared at the Prince crossly; today was going to be a long one.

A/N: Sorry to stop it there. I will post replies to any questions next chapter (hopefully some have already been answered with the events of this one).

Just a note about the kissing: I was feeling romantic at the time and thought that I should try to add some more romance for my readers. It was just something light-hearted (not something to be taken seriously). Tom's reason for kissing her I think was pretty clear, as for Damon's, well...

He is a pretty "evil" guy - the kind of one who would take advantage of any girl if he could.

Anywho, I have included some Sarah/Christian romance (or tried to). This story will have a happy ending so don't worry! : )

Please review (could I make 300 reviews – yes? No?)