Chapter 46

Dedication: this chapter is for x17SkmBdrchiczxx, who gave me my 350th review.

Everyone was slowly making their way back to their rooms. Sam started to leave in the direction of the chambers he'd been given—in the opposite direction from Eliena, Leo, Daine, and Numair. Sam promised he'd see Eliena before they went to bed, and waved goodbye to Daine and Numair, who he'd found quite pleasant. Overall, the Rogue was content with the way the evening had gone.

He was whistling as he strolled the halls. Suddenly, his ears caught the sound of footsteps. Sam's hand went to the dagger in his belt. He started humming, listening intently. Sam ducked into a darkened hall, waiting for the person. When they came close, Sam jumped out and drew his blade.

"Who are ye?" he hissed. "An' why are ye followin' me?" The boy looked about a year younger than Sam, and positively terrified. Sam recognized him and sheathed his dagger once again. "Gods curse it! Why'd ye follow me?"

Leo glared at him. Just because Eliena loved this thief more than she loved him didn't mean Leo had to like him. "I wanted to tell you: there are a lot of people in this palace who would be after your head if you hurt Eliena. Some very powerful people indeed, including my father." Leo stepped in closer and hissed, "If you hurt her, you'll not only face the king and queen but the Realm's best knights."

Sam seemed unfazed by the younger man's threat. "I hardly think yer in the position t' talk about th' lass, master," he said with a mocking bow. When Sam straightened, his eyes glittered dangerously. "An' don't ye go around threatenin' me, squire. Ye may know some of th' Realm's most powerful, but I command th' most cunnin'—even some o' yer father's men report t' me." Leo swallowed—that dagger at the thief's belt looked vicious.

"What's going on here?" a female voice demanded. Leo and Sam looked to see Eliena standing behind them, hands firmly placed on her hips.

"Eliena, what are you doing here? This is the opposite direction from your rooms," Leo pointed out. Eliena raised her eyebrows.

"Same goes for you, Leo, unless you've already moved rooms," she said, causing the squire's cheeks to go pink. "I saw you sneak after Sam, so I followed you." Her eyes drifted down to Leo's leather-soled slippers. "How you made more noise than I did is beyond me." She indicated her own heels. "Now, Leo." She focused her eyes on her ex-lover. "If you're going to be overcome with jealousy, I'll find a way to make sure you can't come within twenty feet of me or Sam. And, honestly, I don't want to go that far. So I suggest you gather your pride and start acting like the seventeen-year-old squire that you are."

"None of that fer me?" asked Sam with a wolfish grin. Eliena smiled back.

"No. From what I could see, you handled yourself perfectly well, Master Fletcher," she replied, eyes twinkling. Leo felt a pang in his heart—that twinkle used to be reserved for him.

"I think I'm going to go now," Leo muttered.

"I think that would be a good idea," Eliena told him. Leo scurried off, watching the ground like it held the meaning of life. Eliena sidled up to Sam and brushed the hair from his ear. She put her lips near enough that Sam felt the warmth of her breath on his skin. "How about you and I go for a little stroll through the gardens?" Sam looked at her.

"Ye sure?" he asked. "Are ye sure its respectable enough?"

Eliena smiled at him. "Sam, I've long since given up pretending to be respectable in my own home." Sam leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Liar." She giggled and took his hand, leading him to the gardens that she loved so much.

"This is my favorite," she confided as they entered the rose garden. She twirled, inhaling deeply. "The roses are so beautiful. And the pond is lovely in the moonlight." She took off her shoes and raised her skirts to sit on the grass, dipping her toes in the water. Sam smiled. She looked like a goddess, with the Goddess casting her soft white glow over the princess. Eliena smiled up at him. "Come join me." Sam rolled up his breeches, took off his shoes, and obeyed. Eliena snuggled against him with a sigh. "This is so romantic."

Their eyes met as Sam agreed, "A night fer lovers." (AN- TP line!) Eliena frowned slightly.

"But neither of us has a lover," she reminded him. Sam kissed her nose tenderly in reply.

"Don't frown," he told her, putting a finger under her chin. "It doesn't suit yer face…or yer personality fer that matter." Eliena chuckled quietly.

"You spin a compliment as well as any seasoned courtier, Fletcher," she told him, catching his eyes again and smiling. "But you're more sincere."

"If I'm t' be courtin' th' princess, I'd better act like one of them 'seasoned courtiers'," he reminded her. Eliena nodded.

"You have to win over the Court," she whispered. She said something else that Sam didn't catch.

"What?" he asked. "I didn't hear ye."

"Like you've won over my heart."

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Eliena stirred the next morning to find herself secure in Sam's arms. Her eyes widened as she took him in—he wore no shirt, but his breeches were on. Eliena sighed, relieved. She was beginning to wonder whether or not she was behaving in a manner than was rather inappropriate for a woman of her stature. Luckily, she'd only taken two lovers—Sam not being added as a third. Your mother barely had one at your age, a voice in the back of her head reminded her. Eliena shoved it away—she was sick of the comparisons drawn between her and the Lioness.

Eliena eased her way out of Sam's arms and rose to her feet. She smiled—he looked so peaceful. Her smile widened when she remembered how dangerous he could be, feeling grateful he was on her side. Sam rolled over onto his back, and Eliena bit her lip—Goddess, was he good-looking! To Eliena, Sam was more handsome than her father, Leo, Kaddar, Numair, and Neal combined. She knew that many women—even younger than her—still considered her father to be the most handsome man in the whole world, but he was her father! Yes, he was handsome, but he was her father—she couldn't think of him in that way.

She sighed and kissed Sam softly on the lips. His eyes fluttered open. She saw the smile in his ale-colored eyes before she saw it on his mouth. Sam wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down on top of him, kissing her deeply. Eliena grinned and kissed him right back. Forget everything else—she wanted to spend the rest of eternity wrapped up in Sam's arms, kissing him like that.

Author's Note- Eliena's slutty ways are changing, if you haven't noticed. School starts Tuesday! REVIEW.