It's the last day of September when Maka finally gathers the courage to ask Hero the question that had been bothering her since that fateful June day beside the guard's quarters. She'd been standing out on her balcony, watching in the distance as the guards traveled down the path toward the kingdom gates when Hero had joined her.
"Your highness," He'd greeted softly, "You've read over the list I gave you, I presume?"
"I did," She answered, her eyes carefully following the flowing green cape of the guard she'd been watching carefully the past few months. "I had a question."
"What is it, your highness? Does it have to do with the guards?"
Refusing to turn toward her advisor, Maka had nodded. She'd clenched her hands against the railing of the balcony, digging her fingernails into the leather of her gloves. "The guard with the white hair, his name is Soul, right?"
There's a heavy pause- so long it had Maka turning to meet her advisors eyes. Hero simply looked down to her with confusion, his eyebrows pulled down, his lips curled downward.
"That is Soul, yes," He answered hesitantly, turning his own head away from Maka to look over the balcony. "Don't tell me you were thinking that he should take the place of Crona."
"Why not?" She found herself replying defensively. "Is there an issue if that were my choice, advisor Hero?"
"No, no, that is not what I meant!" Hero is quick to correct himself, turning to Maka with a pitiful expression. He noticed the girl wringing her gloved hands slowly, tapping her food as she did. "I just- how did you know about him, your highness? He's but a gate guard, you know."
"I heard Crona talk about him, once or twice," She lied with ease, not wishing to hear a lecture from Hero about leaving the castle so carelessly. "I was curious, that's all. Do you not think he's a capable guard?"
"No, I do not think that, your highness. He's a very capable guard, I know that for sure- I just meant he wouldn't be a good fit for a personal guard."
"And why is that?"
Looking more frightened, Hero averted his eyes once more from the Princess. "Soul is a very…. He has a lot of character, that is all. I believe a personal guard should be well-put-together, as he is as much a representative as the monarchy! Soul holds himself in a very odd manner- he keeps his hair very free, refuses to let people know much about him, and he isn't a Eibon born guard, your highness."
"Is that so?" Maka tips her head, leaning further against her balcony. "Crona wasn't a Eibon born guard either, you know."
"I know, I know, but they were picked by your parents after all. They also volunteered for the position. They knew how to carry themselves in front of other royals, as timid as they were."
Without much thought, Maka's decision had been made.
"I wish for Soul to take Crona's place."
"Your highness, I think this may be a bit rash of a decision! Maybe you should take more time to think upon it-"
"No. My decision has been made," She'd insisted, picking herself up from the balcony so she stood straight in front of Hero. "Have him meet with me tomorrow in the tea room. I wish to speak with him alone."
"Your highness- maybe it is not such a smart idea throwing him into all of this so suddenly."
"It's fine. I am sure he will be just fine, Hero."
"But- your highness-"
Already walking off the balcony with her head held high, Maka simply raised a hand. "This is my final decision and I'd rather you not question it. You may be dismissed, Hero. Make sure his post is changed by tomorrow."
Maka thought about the last lie she told.
"When the royal advisor told me I had to pick a new guard, he gave me a list of names I never even recognized. I mulled over it for hours, sitting on the balcony. I'm pretty sure it was right after one of your stations was over because you were walking back towards the castle from the gates- and honestly, I did recognize you as the guard that had been beyond the gate before. I just made my decision from there, thinking you'd be the one that would change things."
She mulled over the words with her balcony doors open; watched as the canopy drapes of her bed swayed in the night's wind.
She shouldn't have lied, she decided.
She should have told him the truth.
"When the royal advisor told me I had to pick a new guard, he gave me a list of names I didn't recognize- but- but I did recognize yours. Remember when you called me your stalker? I don't- I wouldn't put it like that. I was pulled in the moment I heard your voice, Soul. The second I watched your dumb self fall into a heap on the dirty gravel with Blackstar, I knew deep down I wanted you. I mulled over making the decision for hours- I wanted to do something selfish. I wanted to leave so bad, I wanted to find something that was more than just sitting, trapped in four walls. I didn't want to use you, Soul. I never did. Love at first sight- it's a stupid saying, isnt it? But I think that's exactly what I felt."
"Is… is your past really that bad?"
"Yeah," he replied, his voice shaky, "It is that bad."
The constant hiding of his face with his hair, the scar across the right side of his face which had never healed properly, supposedly from an arrow- a guard who seemed all too familiar with formal customs, especially one who was untrained to be a personal guard- a guard, knowing all the formal dances a prince should know- Maka wasn't stupid.
She had her suspicions the moment the words had left Souls mouth.
"My name, It's Solomon."
"He isn't an Eibon born guard, your highness."
Maka liked the thrill of the mystery Soul held- she also, selfishly, liked the way he felt under her hands, and more so under her lips. The moment they'd parted on the dance floor, her ring finger tracing Soul's cheekbone, she'd watched her guard be swept away in another's arms- another who looked at him with too much familiarity.
She watched all while held in another's arms as the formally dressed raven-haired boy pulled her guard from the dance floor by his hands.
"Soul?"
The sickly expression that had played across Soul's face pulled something in Maka's chest- something dark and ugly as he turned to the raven-haired boy who looked at him as if he wanted to hurt him.
Oh, Maka had thought.
"I went looking for you but I saw you slip away off the dance floor, are you okay?"
She watched as Soul's eyes flickered from hers to the raven-haired boy, and while Maka had only known of his facial expressions for a handful of days, she recognized the fear all too well. No, he wasn't sick, she thought. This was something deeper than that. The moment she'd pulled Soul's hand into hers, she saw the jealousy that burned in the strangers eyes.
When they'd turned on the dance floor, heading straight toward Blackstar, Maka knew something was about to happen when Soul's hand trembled under hers.
The moment the older male who looked like a spitting image of her love stood in front of them, she'd put the pieces together.
She wasn't stupid.
She should have known.
Blackstar turns suddenly, making eye contact with Maka. The guard's face is ghostly as well, eyes blown and lips parted in a gasp. Under his gaze, Maka can feel herself shiver. If Blackstar was worried then she knew she should have been worried too.
"Who went searching for him, Stein?"
"I went out this morning with Kilik and Kim. We checked the cornfields where all the other royals had evacuated last night, but there was no sign of them anywhere. They're sending another group to check the wheat fields too, but for right now the guards have been stationed in front of the gate and the market square. We're in a state of lockdown."
Maka is suddenly standing, pushing the uncomfortable sheets from herself. "No one's left the kingdom since last night, right?"
Stein looks down to the Princess with his lips curled downward. "No, I don't believe so. We're not even sure how Medusa and the other assassins were able to slip in but if they were able to come in undetected, there's no doubt in my mind they could have left undetected as well."
Her mouth went dry.
"You- you dont think she took him and-"
"No," Stein is quick to interrupt, raising a hand as he did. "I don't think she'd be able to catch him off guard like that. Soul is better skilled than that, and I am assuming his old guard wouldn't let such a thing happen to him."
Despite the face she'd gone rigid at the mention of Kid, she felt relief flood her system.
"We should bring you back to the castle, your highness. Our head guard can look after you in the meantime- but right now, all of our best trained guards are needed."
All the relief she felt suddenly left her system as defense took its place. With wide eyes, she was turning her gaze toward Blackstar, who was already looking down at her.
"Stein, as much as I trust Ox Ford, I promised I would look after Maka myself. Have him go with you guys in my place," Blackstar suddenly says, turning to Stein as he did.
"Blake-"
"I'm not backing down on this, Stein. Soul asked me to stay with Maka and that is exactly what I am doing."
With a sigh of defeat, Stein was backing down. "You're just as stubborn as he is, you know that? At least bring her highness back to the castle so everyone knows she's okay."
With a nod of agreement, Blackstar was suddenly at Maka's side, dropping his hand to her shoulder. "C'mon, let's get going."
Walking down the hallways of the castle she'd called home for her whole life felt foreign in a way. The halls had been stripped of their carpets, the once sweet smell of flowers that used to linger had been replaced with the smell of sour cleaners.
Maka didn't feel right standing in the halls. Her vision swayed, her hands shook- and truthfully, she felt like puking. As Stein walked at a faster pace in front of her, she couldn't help but ask, "What- what happened to all the b-"
"Everything has been cleaned already," Stein answers. "The rest of the Cinder assassins that were detained are awaiting trial in the jail center. The castle has already been cleared."
Wordlessly, she nodded, scared to speak in case her voice finally gave out.
When they'd turned into the hall that led to the ballroom, she caught sight of the opened doors and the bare floors. Standing in the doorway, scratchless, were her parents; both of whom looked ready to collapse at the sight of her. The two guards who'd stood at their sides brightened the second she'd stepped into their view, sad smiles turning upward.
Around them stood Ox, Kim, Kilik, Crona, and Soul's brother- all who turned their attention to her suddenly. She couldn't help the way her shoulder's rose as the head guard turned to her with a hard glare.
"Your highness," He'd greeted, sounding nowhere close to relieved, "I'm so glad to see you return safely."
The way he speaks has her stopping in her tracks suddenly- so sudden that Blackstar's shoulder slams into her own.
"Why wouldn't I be okay?" She questions anxiously, her eyes flickering to the crowd watching her carefully before settling back on Ox.
"It's just- it's surprising to see that he hadn't lied, is all."
"Lied?"
"About not harming you, of course."
Her blood runs cold.
"You're- you're not talking about Soul, right?"
Something in Ox's eyes flickers.
"You knew your own guard was a traitor, didnt you?"
This is why Stein was so anxious, wasn't it?
A harsh laugh leaves her chest. "No, I didn't know he was a prince if that is what you're asking," she answers all too bitterly and quickly. "I knew his real name, that is all."
Blackstar shifts at her side cautiously as Stein, who stands between her and Ox, drops his hand to the hilt of his sword.
"We do not have time for this again, Ox Ford," Stein scolded harshly. "Have you gotten-"
There is no time for Stein's question to be answered- not when there's frantic stomping coming from the hall closest to them. In a quick movement, Maka finds herself pressed against Blackstar and Stein as everyone turns abruptly to the source of the interruption.
Around the corner of the hall emerges a guard- a guard whose face is drenched in sweat.
"Ox Ford!" he shouts frantically, his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword as if it were a lifeline.
"We've located another assassin as well as Cinder's head guard, Kid!"
