Another AU that was requested. Princess and guard. Longer than my last two, hope you all like it. And yes, two in one day because I went on a spree.

…

Today was the day.

Bucky willed himself to remain composed as he stood straight and tall in the sunlight besides his best friend. He knew that this day was following something somber, but he couldn't help the bubble of excitement that grew in his chest as he saw the dust cloud on the horizon slowly inch closer to the gates.

He looked to his left at Steve, face stoic and jaw clenched. There was still a bit of sadness in his eyes, of course there would be. Maybe the arrival of his sister would help him.

Ella had left the kingdom two years ago. Or really, as he stood be addressing her, Princess Ella. It was respectful after all.

Bucky had grown up beside the royal siblings, his own father being the late king's closest and most trusted advisor. The position came with perks such as land and the ability to get a respectful job, like he had now. Being part of the king's guard was a highly coveted position and he was lucky enough to be a part of it… now he would have to protect his best friend.

They had been friends for as long as he could remember. When Bucky was young, he didn't understand how unique his position was, but now he knew he was probably the only person besides their parents who had seen the prince and the princess as they truly were.

Bucky thought about the days he spent as a child running amok with the siblings through the spacious stone halls of the palace. It had all been great fun, trying to tease Steve during times where he knew the prince had to put on his façade, just to see if he could manage to make him crack a smile. Ella was always better than her brother at keeping a straight face, so when he managed to make her crack a smile, it was like gold.

It was amazing to watch the girl grow up, to see her blossom from a little girl who played just as rough as the two boys into a beautiful woman.

However, when she turned sixteen, the late king and queen decided it was high time for her to stop hanging around her brother and Bucky and go out and further her education, learn how to be a better ruler one day. She had been torn up, more upset than Bucky had ever seen her.

At first, Bucky hadn't known what happened, only remember hearing the click of her heels and the sounds of her skirts as she rushed past him, probably not even seeing him because of the tears that ran down her pink cheeks.

Bucky had done something bold that night, climbing up the vines that crawled up to her window to her room where she had locked herself. He had knocked on the thin glass, remembering how puffy her eyes were still when she opened it.

Bucky knew that if he was caught in her room, there would be major consequences for both him and his father. Still, he risked it for her.

He had sat down on the edge of her bed, on top of the silky sheets, listening to her as she spoke about her parents in a way he knew she would never say to anyone else in the world. In the end, Bucky had done something even bolder and kissed her. She hadn't shied away, in fact, she had kissed him back. That was as far as it went, Bucky scrambling out of her room when he heard some of her ladies knocking on her door.

Bucky could still remember the barely hidden emotions on her face as the marched from the castle to the carriage waiting to take her away. She had her nose pointed to the sky, holding herself proudly so that the people around her couldn't see how the truly felt. She had curtsied to her father and mother, the only way Bucky could tell she was angry was how tight she held her shoulders. He could also see how bad Steve wished to embrace his sister, but the protocol forbid it. Ella didn't glance his way until the carriage doors were closed, Bucky only catching a glimpse of her frightened eyes until the carriage had jolted to a start as she was gone.

Less than a month ago, the king succumbed to a fever, leaving the kingdom in the hands of his son. Now, Ella was to return to the kingdom for Steve coronation and her father's funeral.

Two years. Bucky wondered how she looked, if she was much different. He was sure she would have some stories, being gone that long and seeing all the different lands. Although she was so against leaving, seeing the world couldn't have been so bad. Bucky had barely left the kingdom.

Bucky could hear the horses now, shifting in excitement. They had never followed up on the kiss, he wondered if she would still want to. He shook himself out of his thoughts as the carriage came to a stop, hearing the excited murmurs of the crowd, hardly being able to wait for the return of their beloved princess.

The carriage doors opened, James finding himself leaning forward in anticipation.

The first thing he saw was her skirts, the finest silks of the purest blue. A guard held out his arm, Bucky seeing a dainty hand peek out and wrap around it. Ella stepped out of the carriage with the most poise and grace he had ever seen in a person. She looked beautiful to say the least, fair skin glowing, hair cascading down her back in golden waves. Her dress was of a design not from this kingdom. The neckline was low cut, showing that she indeed was a woman. There were no sleeves, thicker straps wrapping around the back of her neck.

Bucky saw the look on her face as she walked. Perfectly composed, smiling politely at her subjects who cheered at her arrival. Her posture was perfect, her steps fluid and practiced. Bucky could tell she had been practicing. Bucky watched as she lowered down to accept a flower from a young girl, who blushed.

Bucky wished she would look at him. However, she came up to her brother and curtsied low. Steve gave a small nod, his sister standing up straight and proud, turning to her subjects and giving a practiced wave to the crowd before turning back to go inside the palace. Her group of ladies followed behind her, and Bucky behind them, waiting for the opportunity to speak with her again.

...

Steve led his sister to a room to speak with her privately about her travels and what was next for them. Bucky was stationed just outside the doors.

The moment they were alone, Steve embraced his sister, who hugged him back just as tightly. During her travels and educations, they told her to only be open around her family and now, all that was left of her family was her brother.

"It's been too long." Steve said.

"I know." Ella replied, feeling her eyes moisten at the reunion. "Two whole years…"

"You've grown."

"Perhaps a bit." She said before her expression grew a touch sad. "I can't believe he's gone. It was so sudden…"

"Not really." Steve told her. "He was sick for so long… he went peacefully at least."

"I see." Ella said, looking down. She had been gone so long, she didn't even know her father was sick. It was so difficult to get news while she was traveling.

Bucky was only able to catch snippets of conversation from outside the door before he scolded himself for eavesdropping. It wasn't his business, their father had recently died. They deserved some privacy. It only took a bit more than fifteen minutes before the door cracked open and Ella stepped out. Bucky wasted no time before giving a small bow.

"Your highness," he greeted.

"It is wonderful to see you again, James." She spoke. They had worked on her diction, her words flowing in a medley in a way that was pleasant to listen to… the only thing that confused him was that she called him James. Bucky wasn't his given name, simply a nickname… but Ella had never addressed him as such.

"May I ask where you are headed?"

"My rooms."

"Allow me to escort you."

"Thank you."

The entire trip, she still had the same blank expression on her face. Still, he knew her and even after two years, he could tell there was something on her mind.

"The kingdom had missed you." Bucky remarked.

"And I have missed it."

He wondered if she missed him.

"How were your travels?"

"Quite well."

Bucky wished the conversation wasn't so strained. He wanted to smile and laugh with her like they used to. He wanted to hear everything, from the things she loved to the things she hated. He wanted her to fill the room with her words, with her voice.

They came to her hall, slowing to a stop. Bucky decided to take a risk.

"Ella," he breathed, taking her hand within his own. "I've truly missed you."

"James…" she said, looking down at their intertwined hands. Her tone was warning. "We can't-"

"I know I'm not royalty, but I have land and a title-"

"James, I am to be married."

Bucky felt his heart stop. "Married?"

Ella bobbed her head, eyes filled with sadness. "Steve just told me. I am to marry into another kingdom, for an alliance… an army if needed."

Bucky couldn't believe what he was hearing. He could see Ella fighting with herself, she wanted to show how upset she was, but she was struggling to keep it hidden. Her hand slipped out of his, the feeling of her soft skin lingering on his.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, turning her back to him and storming into her room.

Bucky stood shocked for a moment before turning heel and swiftly heading through the dimly lit halls to where he knew Steve would be. He burst into his friend's study, not even bothering to knock.

"Marriage?" he asked, seeing his friend look up from papers on his desk. "She only just got back."

Steve sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "It wasn't my first choice, Buck." He said. "The council thought it was the smart thing to do, after my father's death. If another nation thinks that our kingdom is weak, they will attack. We need alliances."

"You can't just marry her off to a man she has never met."

"She will." Steve said. "He'll be attending the coronation."

"She doesn't want to get married." Bucky said.

"And I wish she didn't have to." Steve told him. "But, she's a princess. It's a responsibility."

Bucky couldn't find anything else to say. What could he tell him? That he cared for his sister, the princess and soon to be queen of a different realm? He couldn't utter those words.

"He'll be here tomorrow." Steve told him. "Her… fiancée."

Bucky hated this. She had just gotten back from a two year journey she was forced to take and now Steve was going to set up a marriage she didn't want. It just wasn't fair to her. She was young and beautiful and had so much more life to live. Yet, there was nothing Bucky could do about this situation. He didn't have the authority.

…

Bucky tried to ignore how he felt the next day as he stood beside the two royal siblings as they awaited for the arrival of Ella's fiancée. She wore a velvet gown, long and dark almost as if she was mourning. Her hair had been pinned up skillfully, a delicate tiara sitting on top of her head. Again, she wouldn't look his way.

When the other prince got out of his carriage, Bucky was surprised to say the least. In his head, he had made this other man out to be awful, perhaps old and ugly when in reality, he was a young man, tall and strong. He kissed her hand, Bucky trying his best to look away. He saw the crest of their kingdom, the maroon skull with the grotesque tentacles. He had heard things about the prince from that kingdom, that he was a strong warrior.

Rumlow.

He had a handful of years on Ella, but Bucky had seen larger differences before.

Their nations had been at war multiple times, but it seemed that Steve was attempting to make peace in whatever way he could.

Ella took Rumlow's arm as they went back into the palace for Steve coronation. Bucky trailed behind them, trying his best not to display the blatant irritation he felt now. However, he knew he had to focus on his task of being watchful over Steve… what he did best.

The whole coronation didn't last long, a simple ceremony where they placed a crown on Steve's head while Bucky stood to the side and kept a sharp eye on the crowd. His gaze constantly landed on Ella who stood next to the man who was soon going to take her away. He managed to meet her eye once before she tore herself away and peered to the ground.

After the ceremony was over, there was to be a feast. The hall was filled with people dressed in their finest. Steve chose that moment to announce the engagement. Ella tried to look pleased for the people in the room when in her gut, she was dreading it.

She sat beside Steve at a long table, laden with food and drink. Music played and people danced, but Ella's mind was louder than that. She could hardly pay attention as he brother and Rumlow spoke to each other cordgially, as if their two nations hadn't been at war half a year ago. She stared down at the swirling, dark wine in her glass, not really wanting to drink it. She had no thirst or appetite.

Someone tapped her shoulder. Ella looked around to see Bucky standing there with an outstretched hand.

"Care to dance, your majesty?"

Ella tried not to smile as she gave a small nod, taking his hand and standing from the table. She followed him to the middle of the hall into the heart of the many dancers. She placed a hand on his broad shoulder while his went to her waist.

"It's been so long since the last time we danced." Ella commented before looking down with a frown. "I suppose this will be the last time…"

Bucky swallowed the lump in his throat. "I suppose."

"I miss how it used to be." She continued. "Before they sent me away. Less was expected of me…"

"I miss those times as well."

Her eyes squeezed shut, a momentary display of how she truly felt at the moment. "I missed you so much, Bucky."

He relished hearing her say his nickname.

"I thought about you almost everyday." She explained. Her voice was filled with emotion, not the practiced monotony that she had been addressing him with. "And I thought that when I got back, we would be together again but…"

Bucky didn't know how to respond to that. Before he could think of something, Rumlow came and tapped his shoulder. Bucky instantly let go of Ella, stepping aside.

"I was wondering if you wished to go on a walk around the ground?" Rumlow asked.

"Of course," Ella said, nodding to Bucky. "Good evening."

Bucky's eyes trailed the pair as they made their way towards the doors that led to the gardens. His eyes narrowed as he observed Rumlow's body language, something he had been trained to do working with the guard. He knew there was something suspicious about the way he looked over his shoulder constantly. Bucky noted how his hand went to his belt, where a bright silver dagger sat.

Bucky felt his face drain of blood, fearing the worst and pushing through the crowd to get to them.

The night was clear and cool, the stars out with a sliver of a silver moon hanging in the sky. The garden was filled with lush greenery, flowers, and fountains. Ella didn't know what spurred on this walk, perhaps he was trying to make her comfortable. He said nothing at first, leading her behind a tall hedge before stopping.

"I'm sure you're quite against the wedding-"

"Nervous." Ella corrected him, even though she was actually against it. She couldn't tell him that.

"Well, don't worry." Rumlow said, Ella noting the narrowing of his eyes. "It won't happen."

Before she could ask what he meant by that, he came at her in a flash. One of his hands went over her mouth, the other, wrapping around the swooping column of her neck. Her pushed her up against a stone pillar, feeling her struggle as hard as she could. Rumlow just needed to hold on a bit longer, it would be a clean death for her.

Ella reached out and raked her nails across his face, hearing his curse and drop her. James could see them now, which meant he witnessed Rumlow as he hit Ella on the face in anger, hard enough to knock her off her feet, her tiara flying off her hair. Rumlow reached towards his belt and pulled out the dagger, drawing it back as his plans of a clean death went out the window. However, before he could do anything, a weight launched itself as him, the pair of them tumbling to the ground, Rumlow's knife falling from his hand and a different one being placed on his neck.

"Don't move." Bucky ordered in a dangerously low voice.

Rumlow brought his hands to the side of his head, knowing he was beat. "You may have stopped me," he said bitterly. "But there will never be peace between us. One day, someone will finished what I couldn't."

"Not while I'm here." Bucky pulled his fist back before punching the prince in the face, effectively knocking him out. Once he was certain that he was out cold, Bucky scrambled to Ella's side. Her skirts were fanned over the cool grass, shoulders hunched over and face hidden.

"Are you alright?"

Ella looked up, bottom lips trembling. There was a cut on her cheek from the strike, neck already red from his hands. "He- he tried to kill me." Her hands instinctively went to Bucky, clutching at his arms for comfort.

"You're okay." He assured her softly. "He can't hurt you."

He made soothing circles on her cheek with the pad of his thumb, leaning in close enough so their foreheads nearly touched. He wanted to be close to her, knowing how close he had come to losing her. Ella's hand covered his as she turned to him, meeting his eyes before leaning forward and kissing him hard. Neither of them could care how improper it looked, too caught up in one another after years apart.

"Don't leave again." He whispered against her lips.

"I won't," she said. "I'll stay with you."