A/N: Wow, this story had a better reception than I assumed it would. :o Thanks to that I'm posting another chapter. Dun, dun! *throws confetti* Thanks guys for enjoying my stories really. It's thanks to you all that I enjoy writing for this community! I really hope you all continue to enjoy this story. If not, that's fine too, at least you tried it to get this far. ;) Anyway, here's chapter 2(officially chapter 1, but I can see that getting complicated really fast). xP


Chapter 1

It was the evening after my seventeenth birthday. I was sitting atop my windowsill looking at the forest beyond the castle walls. I could hear more than see our remaining guests leave. It didn't surprise me that out of all of my birthdays this was the one my father chose to acknowledge. It was the one before my eighteenth birthday after all. Had to give me some sort of advertisement before the big day came.

I rubbed my hands together, the bitter cold of early spring biting my fingers. There was also that itch that I was trying to fight against. I promised I'd wait in my room, and wait I would, but it was so hard to do. I hated sitting around, and feeling like I couldn't do what I really wanted to, but I owed him a favor and this was all he wanted from me today. I hated when he cashed in on favors.

There was a knock on my door and I immediately brightened, but as soon as I heard the voice from the other side I immediately dropped it annoyed. "Baby sister, are you in there?"

Olga. I tried not to blame my sister too much for the affection she gained from our parents, but it was so, so hard to do. She was married to the perfect man, one who helped with keeping the peace between our families. Even her handwriting was near perfect. Love, poise, beauty, kindness, money, and elegance. If that doesn't make a perfect person, I have no idea what does.

"Yes, I'm here."

I could sense her hesitation even through the door. We really didn't have the best of relationships. I tended to do my own thing, and she did the same. We were as different as night and day. "Can I come in?"

It was my turn to hesitate. "Yeah…sure."

She opened my door and carried some of my favorite flowers in her hand. Blue roses. I had to smile a little at that. At least we weren't total strangers to each other, even though I hardly saw her.

"Sorry, I didn't get to see you yesterday, Helga. Ivan wanted to get me settled at his castle. Do you know that I leave in two weeks?! I'm going to miss living here so much. It contains so many memories."

"Yeah, yeah. Loads of good times," I said, rolling my eyes. "I'm sure mom and dad are happy too."

She frowned, probably oblivious to my sarcasm. "Their hearts are breaking I know, but they still have you baby sister." She finally passed me the flowers and sat next to me. "You're such an amazing person Helga."

That startled me. I could probably count the compliments my family had ever given me on one finger. To say the least, any compliments I received came from my bodyguard, and I held each one of those close to my heart. "T-thanks…I guess."

She giggled, and ruffled my hair earning herself a scowl. "I'm sorry baby sis. I know I haven't always been there for you, but that doesn't mean I haven't noticed the things you've done around here. I would never have the bravery to do some of the things you decided to tackle."

"Like what?" I honestly couldn't see Olga doing any of the things I had ever done. Sure I had toned down the mischief making, but I still participated in a lot of crazy activities, much to the annoyance of my father. Only because it added to his own publicity did he leave me be. As long as I didn't mess with his political endeavors he didn't have me make a public appearance to his court. Well, mostly because Arnold wouldn't let me. I did want to pull a few pranks, and the couple I did pull off Arnold would immediately take the blame making me feel so terrible that I didn't do anything else insane for months. He really did know how to make me feel guilty that was for sure.

"Like that horse riding competition you participated in last month. Daddy nearly had a heart attack when he saw you wearing breeches," she giggled again.

"Yeah, okay, but you could have entered to…"

"Even if I had entered I wouldn't have come in second place like you did. You were amazing! I remember holding my breath as it came neck and neck between you and Paul McEvans. I even shouted at the top of my lungs for you at one point, which was probably drowned out by all the other cheers happening around us. You inspired so many people that day, especially other princesses, including me."

I looked away wishing her words didn't touch me as much as they did. "That still doesn't—"

"There was also the pie eating contest, the archery contest, which surprised me that you could even do, the pig herding competition, the watermelon seed competition…"

"Okay, okay, I am pretty amazing." If the shoe fits…

Another knock on my door, and I looked at it surprised. "Who is it?"

"It's me honey. Is your sister in there?"

"Yeah, you can come in." She opened the door and I saw her for the first time since yesterday afternoon. Her hair was done up in a bun, and she looked happy to find that Olga was indeed there. I couldn't help wondering if my parents would ever smile like that for me.

"There you are sweetie. I just wanted you to know that your gowns had come in. If you want, I could make the proper adjustments tonight."

"I'll be there in a second mommy." As soon as our mother closed the door she turned back to me. "Never lose what makes you who you are okay baby sister? No matter what mommy or daddy does, you should always stay as you are."

"Why are you saying this to me now?"

"I guess…I just feel so bad that I haven't been the best big sister I could be. I could have done better. Spent more time doing things with you, and now that I'm leaving…well, I realize how fleeting time really is, and I just wanted to apologize. Also...to let you know I was always a bit jealous of you." She twisted her hands together and looked uncomfortable.

"Jealous of me? Why on earth would you be jealous of me?"

"Any time I'd be in the music room studying piano arrangements, I'd hear you doing something that made you laugh genuinely. Sure, I laugh and enjoy myself at times, but I don't think I've ever had that much fun in my life. You…search for excitement. For the things that make you smile and laugh. I've never done that. I wish I did, but I always lacked the courage to want to go against what our parents expected of me."

"Wow, really?" I had always been jealous of my sister for having our parents approval. I'd never have thought in a million years she'd have any reason to be jealous of me.

"Of course silly. And that was something I wanted you to know. To hear it from me you know?" I nodded, and she hugged me, placing a kiss on my cheek. "I love you. Keep making me proud."

As my sister left my room, I went back over to my window. She wasn't a princess anymore. She was queen Olga Anderson of Anchoridge. Her husband made her happy, and I found myself happy that she had that and could have a happy future.

Another knock sounded against my door, the third of the evening. I had never been this popular before. "Come in." I said, to my newest visitor.

"Hey," Arnold said, entering my room. He was dressed in a green tunic and brown trousers. He still had his quiver bag slung over his shoulder. His hair was droopy, and he looked like he could use a nice long shower as he was covered in dirt from head to toe. Still, he was hot.

I had long since come to terms with my slight crush on my bodyguard. Not even for his adorableness either. He was an amazingly strong person who had gone through a lot and thanks to me got the chance to turn his life around. Hey, it's true. Not only that, he was the one who taught me about things I could only dream about. He was my knight in shining armor, though I would never tell him that. Ever.

"How was work?" I asked. He had been promoted from just bodyguard status when he led our army to victory back when we were thirteen. Actually, it scared me when he fought in battle. Not because I was worried he'd die or anything, but because he turned into a different person when he did. I had witnessed the darkness in his eyes. The way he had seemed to enjoy the kill. That honestly bothered me to the point I had played a good girl for months afterwards. I never wanted to see those eyes again.

"It was work," he sighed. "You've been good?"

"Of course. I'm always good," I said, smiling sweetly. He snorted.

"That's not the Princess Helga I know and love." He said, smiling at me.

"People change."

"Yes, they do. You? Not so much. You still act like that ten year old I met way back when."

"And I'm sure I could still pin you down as I did at that age," I said, still in my sweet as honey voice.

He shook his head. "I wasn't ready. You cheated."

I shrugged. "Since when do enemies give you the opportunity to get ready for an attack?"

"Hmm, good point." He suddenly shifted his quiver bag off of his arm, and rummaged around in it and pulled out a box wrapped in pink paper and tossed it at me.

"Happy Birthday. Sorry I wasn't here yesterday. Duty calls."

"Yeah, yeah whatever," I said, waving his apology off. "This better be good."

"Gee, aren't you grateful?"

"Look, you're just a bodyguard. You're supposed to make sure I'm happy."

"No, I'm supposed to keep you safe." He sat down in a chair and watched me as I opened my gift. I hated that my heart was pounding so hard. 'He's just your bodyguard, he's just your bodyguard.' I chanted over and over to myself. I finished unwrapping the gift and opened the box, which was completely white on the outside. I sucked in a breath once I actually saw what it was. It was a mockingbird whittled out of wood, and it was painted, unlike most of his other wood works. Its upper body and head were blue, and its underbelly was white. It also had a wind up crank on top of it. It was probably the best wooden creature he had made yet.

I looked at Arnold, and he motioned for me to wind it up. I did just that. The most wonderful sound came from it, Arnold playing the pan flute. He must have recorded himself somehow and put that deliciously majestic sound in the little toy bird. "Arnold…it's beautiful."

"Oh, so I'm Arnold now and not 'bodyguard'?" He asked, looking away from me embarrassed.

"Just for now," I agreed, staring at my little wind up bird. "I'll cherish it always."

"That's good." I looked up at him again. There was something in his voice that I didn't like. Something I couldn't quite place just yet.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He was still avoiding eye contact. A sure sign that something was wrong.

"Arnold…"

"Okay, but I don't know how you'll take it…" He finally looked at me and let out a long breath. "Your father wants me to think about working for his guard full time in a few months…"

"…Okay…" I said, unsure what the problem was. He was amazing at the job.

"That means I wouldn't be your bodyguard anymore. I probably won't even see your eighteenth birthday. He plans to deploy the guard to Alresham. There has been a lot of tension between Hillwood and them so he wants us to check it out…and I think I want to take him up on that offer."

"Oh." I said, unsure how I felt about that. Alresham wasn't a hop, skip, and jump away. It was way, way further than that. It meant he would be gone for a long time, and that I very well may never see him again as my eighteenth was my deadline to find a marriage candidate.

"I wanted this present to be something you could always remember me by. I'm glad it seems like that's true at least." He smiled again, and for some reason I wanted to throw the gift I loved so much against the wall. It was like he didn't care that he was leaving me. If this happened when I was ten or so I would have jumped for joy…probably. Now, I felt as if he was someone I could talk to. A friend. Maybe I was always the only one who felt that way.

"That's great." I said, forcefully, trying not to let him see how knowing that made my heart rip in half. I could keep a smile up for him. I wouldn't let him see me cry.

"You're sure?" He asked, his eyes darting all over of my face. I nodded stiffly. Honestly, I just wanted to be alone.

"Um, you know what? I'm kind of tired so…"

"Oh, um, yeah okay...I am too actually." He stood up, and picked up his quiver bag. "I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

"Yeah," I nodded as well to add extra emphasis. I just wanted him to leave already.

"Alright then….bye." He looked at me once more and then he was gone. I breathed a sigh of relief, but it came out as a gasp. The tears came immediately. In less than a year I wouldn't have anybody again, and that shook me more than anything. The thought of it was slowly destroying me inside, and I knew I needed fresh air, fast. Not to mention the itch in my hand was growing unbearable. What I was going to do wasn't even something I had to think about.

Throwing on a blouse, trousers, boots, and a hooded coat, I quickly made a makeshift rope, something I had stopped doing when I turned fourteen, and did something I had never done in all of my life. I went on the other side of my kingdom's walls, and learned first hand just what awaited out there for me.