Amy soon fell into a routine in her life at the castle. She would wake early, dress, eat something briefly, and go to Prince Sherlock's chamber to guard his room as he prepared for the day, then go to the training grounds to work on her sword skills.
This was one of the more difficult parts of the day. Amy loved practicing, yes. Some days she felt like she and her sword were one, moving fluidly together as though they were made to do so. But it was still hard physical work. And then there were the other knights.
Some tried to flirt with her. Some purposefully caused her to miss targets. Nearly all made fun of her – for coming from a poor family, for being the prince's "pet", or even for just being the only female knight in the king's employ.
Amy had only one friend among the knights. His name was Rory. He stood up for her when the others jeered, and didn't back down when they turned their harsh words against him. Amy thought he was sweet, of course, but she could fight her own battles. Still, she didn't quite have the heart to tell Rory that she didn't need looking after.
Maybe it was nice to be cared about once in a while.
After training, Amy would go to the prince's library. He was usually reading, and tended to greet her with a simple "Afternoon", or didn't acknowledge her presence at all until much later.
One day, however, Amy didn't see him in his usual spot before the fire. "My lord?" she called softly.
Her ears picked up a faint sound from deeper in the room. Cautiously, she stepped around the first row of shelves to investigate.
Amy was greeted by a strange sight on the other side of the shelves. The prince was sound asleep with his head on a table, surrounded by books and charts. His sleeping face was less sharp than usual, and he looked almost peaceful. He was handsome, very handsome.
She bit her lip uncertainly, coming quietly closer and touching his shoulder lightly. "My lord," she said, "awaken."
The prince stirred, opening his pale blue eyes. He gazed at her uncomprehendingly for a moment. "Amy?" he mumbled sleepily.
"You fell asleep in your library, my lord – I know not when," she whispered. Her eyes darted back and forth, resting anywhere but his face. "I thought… I thought not to wake you, but perhaps you should not sleep here."
Was that a slight blush she detected on the prince's cheeks? It was hard to tell as he sat up. "Yes, thank you," he said tonelessly. She had definitely been imagining it. After all, what cause would he have to be embarrassed? She was only his knight, after all.
Amy straightened. "May I ask what you were working on?"
The prince sighed, looking with distaste at the papers below him. "I am supposed to be studying the names of cities and kings of countries we are allied with," he grumbled. "I do not see the point of it all."
Amy fought back a laugh. "My lord, it is for political purposes, is it not?" she suggested. "To know the names of the rulers of other countries… to know what goes on in this world…"
"Politics are useless," he complained. "Why must we pretend to like people who we are only going to go to war with eventually?"
She couldn't keep back a laugh now, but quickly covered her lips with one hand. "My lord!"
A smile flickered over the prince's lips. "Is there any way I could put this off until later?"
"Knowing you, you have been putting it off for days already," Amy scolded, half-teasing. "Sometimes I am glad you are not the crown prince! What hope would there be for this country if you were on the throne?"
"None at all," he agreed, chuckling in that deep voice of his that always made Amy's heart skip a beat. "Off with you, my faithful knight. I need to concentrate, and you are a distraction."
Amy's cheeks turned red, and she bowed quickly to hide it. "My lord," she mumbled, turning away and hurrying out of the room.