Note: Sorry about my inconsistency! From now on I'm going to try to post a chapter every Wednesday.

Jack kept his eyes on Sanderson's torso, watching for the next attack. Sanderson's stomach tightened and the muscles in his left shoulder bunched. Jack dodged the punch and swung into a kick. Sanderson grabbed his leg, pulling him forward. Jack used the momentum to throw his elbow into Sanderson's face, causing Sanderson to stumble backwards and let go of Jack's foot. Blood dripped from Sanderson's nose into his lips and a grin stretched his lips back from his teeth. Despite his handsome features, the blood made the smile gruesome.

"Good job Jack." Erika patted him on the back, "You finally got first blood."

"Are we finally even?" Sanderson tried to dab the blood off his face with his tunic, but only smeared it further.

Jack gave a little grin. He hadn't wanted to forgive Sanderson, but the man had continued to pester him. He'd insisted that Jack listen to his explanations. After a week of hearing the repeated pleas, Jack had finally given in and listened to the apology. Sanderson claimed that he'd only bullied Jack because he'd seen too many guards take their duties as nothing more than drills and that that belief had led them to their eventual demise. Jack had kept up the pretense of anger for another week, but Sanderson's puppy dog eyes had been too much and he'd finally given in.

For the past eight days Sanderson, Erika and Jack had been waking up early to practice. The weapons changed, fists, wooden swords or spear, but each time Sanderson and Jack would duel until one of them drew blood.

Both Erika and Sanderson were grinning like fools; Jack had never won before. Jack narrowed his eyes, squinting at Sanderson. He probably shouldn't have one this time either.

"Did you go easy on me?"

Erika and Sanderson stopped cheering and Erika stepped forward. "You won fair and square. Sanderson wouldn't do that."

Jack turned to Sanderson, who was fixated with the tiny circles his foot traced in the sand of the yard. "Did you go easy on me?" Jack stared at Sanderson, forcing him to meet his eyes.

Sanderson held up his hands. "I didn't go that easy." Jack scoffed and started marching towards the breakfast hall, Sanderson chased after him. "That maneuver could've beaten a lot of the other guards. I just paused for a moment." He jumped in front of Jack, trying to slow him. "You're new. It would have been almost impossible for you to beat me."

Jack shoved him away, "I'm not new. I can take the real world. I would rather you tried to kill me, than go easy on me." Jack paused and sighed. "I know you were trying to be nice, just don't do it again."

"I won't," Sanderson smiled again, all his teeth showing. "Next time, I'll make sure to wipe the yard with you."

Erika snorted. "You can try. He's catching up with you pretty fast."

"Enough with the training talk," Sanderson waved his hand. "I want to talk about breakfast. What do you think it will be? Pancakes? No…toast with marmalade."

Erika threw back her head and laughed. "Jack must have punched you harder than I thought. It's going to be oat mash."

"She's right." Jack winced. 'It was mash yesterday and the day before and every one of the other twenty nine days I have been here."

"Oh boo you two. I will remain the optimist."

"Not for very much longer." Erika entered the dining hall.

Sanderson groaned when he saw the pots of mash lined up on the table. "You'd think the crown would have better food for their guards."

Erika scooped a heap into one of the bowls piled beside the pots. "Mash is highly nutritious; it contains meat, grain and vegetables."

"…and tastes like slime." Jack finished.

"The castle gives us mash, because it's healthy and helps us grow strong."

"No," Sanderson took a bite of mash and shivered. "They give it to us, because they're cheap bastards who'd rather stuff their pockets than give us proper food."

"Sanderson!" Erika's voice was sharp.

Sanderson grimaced at her, but he didn't say another word. Jack wished he was surprised, but Sanderson had made his distaste of the crown very clear. It was pathetic; the man who hated a crown was a better protector than the 'guardian' who was supposed to defend her... it…the crown. People shouldn't be going easy on him.

Jack saw Stick leaving the hall. He'd never thought seriously of dancing, but he wasn't improving fast enough.

"I'll be back in a minute." Jack left the table and chased after Stick. He dodged the diners and ran into the yard. "Stick!" Stick turned around, one eyebrow raised. "Uh…Captain!"

"Yes?"

Jack glanced around, making sure none of the other guards were in earshot. "I was wondering if you could teach me to dance."

Stick's lips twitched. "If you're kidding I'll sign you up for another month of detention. It would be quite a pity, you've almost finished."

"I want to get better. I need to get better."

A tiny smile stole over Stick's lips. "The laundry room can't spare you today or tomorrow, but the day after that, come to my office."

Jack smiled and gave Stick a salute. He would be learning to dance.

….

Elsa walked into the dungeons, nodding at the guards. They were used to her visits by now. She traced the familiar paths down to the little cell. She glanced at the cells she passed. One had finally been released, but he had been replaced with two more. Her nods were met with confusion. She reached the familiar cell and its occupant stirred.

"Well, look if it isn't the queen herself." The occupant said sarcastically "to what do I owe this pleasure? Wait! Let me guess. You're here for your weekly charity work. I'll tell you what I told you last week. I'm not interested in your charity."

"And I'm not interested in giving it."

"Then you can stop coming down here and bothering me."

"I'm sorry to disturb what must be thrilling conversations with the rodent inhabitants."

"What are you going to do this time?" The prisoner ignored Elsa's previous comment. "Do you have more fascinating documents to fill out or forms to sign? If you're going to visit me you should at least actually spend the time with me."

"I'm so sorry. If I'd known you wanted me to spend time speaking to you I would have come down more often."

"I don't want you here. I just think it's odd you bother coming down when you spend most of the time reading."

"It's okay to admit you're lonely. I'm glad to know I'm at least a little more interesting than rats."

"I'm ignoring you now."

"See this is why I bring things to work on."

Elsa slouched against the wall, letting the darkness conceal her unbecoming posture. She hadn't brought a book today because she'd believed that they would be able to carry out an entire conversation. Clearly she was mistaken.

Elsa grew tired of the silence, "What's your name?"

"You don't seem to understand the principle behind me ignoring you. It means that I won't talk to you and I certainly won't tell you my name."

"I've known you for just over half a month. I think it's time you tell me your name."

"I'm sorry it upsets your majesty that I fail to answer her whim."

"It's not a royal request. I'd simply prefer to call you something other than 'prisoner.'"

"Peasant."

"That's a worse nickname prisoner."

"That's because you want to pretend that you're not royal and privileged."

"Well this time I used my royal privilege for good."

"What are you talking about?"

"I talked with Baard and he said that if you let me release you from jail, you can become a guard."

"Baard? My, you're on a first name with the guy. Rather informal for a mere servant. Should I plan the wedding?"

"I'd call everybody by their first name, but some people refuse to tell me their names. Besides, he's been around since I was a kid; it would be weird to call him 'head guard' or 'M. Nelson.'" Elsa waved her hand. "What I call him isn't important. If you decided to become a guard you could get out of here and earn a decent wage."

"I've told you. I don't mind being in here."

"That's a lie. I know you miss your brother. Even if you truly believe he's better off with his aunt and uncle, he could still live with them. Being a guard would allow you to send him money and he wouldn't have to worry about you."

"I don't care."

"I'll let you think about it for a week. Please, consider it. This is a great opportunity."

Elsa turned around, letting the prisoner stew in his darkness.