The sword was like an extension of her hand. It moved as she willed it to, blocking and attacking with even force. Sword, duty, honour. It was the world she lived in and she was good at it.

An opening. Her opponent's guard fell for just a fraction of a second but it was more than enough. Sarah pounced, taking advantage of the opportunity. Within seconds she had the tip of the blade at his throat.

"You know I used to win these," he complained.

"Been a while though," Sarah replied grinning.

"Oh shut up," Casey grumbled, swatting the dull practice sword from his face. Sarah let up, moving her blade away and taking a step back.

Casey was quite a bit older than Sarah and had been her trainer since she'd arrived at the castle. He'd complained more than once that she hadn't needed all that much training. These days they were usually sparring partners. At the start of his military career Casey had worked along the border. He'd seen more action in the field than half the other men put together and there wasn't a single soldier in Moria Castle that didn't respect him.

"You know I can best you with the broadsword," Casey reminded her, clearly taking Sarah's teasing too much to heart. "It's this stupid skinny thing I suck at."

"I think you mean to say rapier," Sarah corrected him.

"Whatever," Casey grumbled.

"So another round?" Sarah asked. "We could even switch weapons if you like."

Casey was right in that he always won with the heavier weapons, but Sarah had long ago decided not to take that personally. Though quite a strong fighter, Sarah was still only about half Casey's size and thus had far less body mass with which to lift a solid iron maze or metre long sword. She usually won with the lighter weapons which was good enough for her.

"I think I've had enough training for today," Casey replied.

"Do we have a mission?" Sarah asked, confused why Casey would cut practise short for any other reason.

"Personal errand," Casey replied. Then he added with an evil grin, "If you really want someone to train with, I'm sure Morgan wouldn't mind."

"Yeah right," Sarah rolled her eyes. "You know he's no good in a fight."

"Oh I know," Casey replied with a murderous look in his eyes. "But he does always seem keen to try."

"Just because he's dating your daughter now, doesn't mean you can beat him up during practice," Sarah reminded Casey, who she hoped didn't actually have plans to murder his daughter's new boyfriend.

Casey grumbled something that sounded generally affirmative before placing the dull training rapier in its place on the stand and turning to leave. "See you later."

Sarah wondered if she should in fact go find Morgan, even if it was rather pointless to train with him. Sarah just hated being idle. She knew that her presence here in Moria Castle was contingent on her being of use to the royal family and that meant improving her skill, no matter the cost. Sarah's father wouldn't be out of prison for many years yet, and her mother couldn't afford another mouth to feed. Sarah had nowhere else to go and nothing else to put her energy towards. Mastering her fighting skills had been, and would always be, her life. Nothing would ever change that. She was a soldier and a soldier followed orders.

Sarah decided to stay and practise with her sword for a while longer. Even without an opponent, she thought she could at least improve her footwork. She's been at it about an hour and was just thinking it was probably time to leave, when someone else entered the training arena.

"Nice foot work."

"Thanks," Sarah replied, relaxing her stance and turning to face the speaker.

"You improve more everyday," Beckman said, with a slight smile. General Diane Beckman was the leader of the king's army. Though she came across as rather cold, she was actually quite kind, in her own way.

"It is an honour to serve," Sarah said with a slight bow of her head.

"In Casey's last update, he spoke quite highly of you," Beckman continued. "He said you have shown merciless skill in battle and are ready for more responsibility."

"I am," Sarah replied at once.

"On that note, I have a mission for you," General Beckman continued. "There have been some rather distressing rumours lately. If they are to be believed, there may be a threat closing in on the prince."

"I'm sorry to hear that, your highness," Sarah replied politely, still not sure why she was being told this. Protecting the royal family directly was a privilege far above her rank. That job was usually carried out by a member of the royal guard or their captain. It would never fall to her.

"Your mission is to remain at the prince's side and protect him if such a threat were to appear," Beckman stated.

"I don't mean to be rude," Sarah said softly, nervous even bringing it up. "But why me? Surely, Larkin as a member of the royal guard would be more suited or if it's that important shouldn't Captain Shaw be called in."

"Normally you would be correct but in this case it seems you were requested," Beckman explained. "The prince wasn't super keen on his parent's bodyguard plan and only agreed to it if that bodyguard was you. I didn't ask for details."

Sarah merely nodded her head in acceptance of the assignment. It wasn't her place to question her orders after all. She'd already inquired enough. If this was what was required of her, then she'd do it to the best of her ability without complaint.

"You are to report to the prince immediately," Beckman ordered. "He can be found in the east tower. From this moment on, it is your job to protect him, at any cost. Understand?"

"I understand," Sarah echoed. She knew what any cost meant. If the cost was her life they would expect her to pay it to save the prince. That kind of risk was part of the job and what she'd signed on for. She just hadn't expected to be given such a great responsibility on her first solo assignment. Casey's report must have been favourable indeed.

"Off you go then," Beckman dismissed her. Sarah put away her training rapier and collected her real weapons before dashing from the training yard and heading east.

Sarah had to admit, she was rather nervous about meeting him. Though she'd seen them from a distance more than once during her years serving at Moria Castle, Sarah had never actually spoken with any of the royal family. She had no idea why the prince had requested her but she knew this one assignment could easily make or break her entire career. There would be zero margin for error in this case. Everything had to go perfectly.

The moment Sarah walked into the last room on the top floor of the east tower, she had a feeling 'going perfectly' was going to be much harder than she'd originally thought.

Prince Charles was sitting with his feet up on a table leaning back on his chair. He was balanced on just two chair legs and he hadn't even been watching the door. Did this guy want to die? Hadn't his parents told him there was a threat? A closer look revealed that he had something in his hands, but with his back to her, she couldn't tell what. He was making a very strange sound, as if repeating a word or syllable.

He suddenly noticed her and then to Sarah's great surprise promptly fell out of his chair and onto the floor. She really shouldn't have been surprised given the precarious way he'd been balanced on that chair but she couldn't help it. Prince Charles had to be the least prepared person she'd ever met.

"Ah, hi," Charles said.

"Hello," Sarah replied, trying to remain professional when all she wanted to do was laugh at the way he'd fallen off the chair. "General Beckmen sent me. I'm your new bodyguard."

"Right yes," he said, clearly a little embarrassed about the chair incident. "That's right."

"You requested me," Sarah continued.

"Mom didn't take no for an answer," the prince replied. "She's such a worrier."

"You are the future of the kingdom," Sarah reminded him.

"Yeah but it's not a very big kingdom, is it," Charles replied in a light, breezy kinda way. "And I have a sister. Besides, Dad could live till his grandkids take over and then the crown will skip right over me."

"Anything is possible," Sarah obliged him. "My only concern is for your safety."

"Ah yes, well I am perfectly safe so job done," Charles said. "Now take a load off. Sit down. I think I have another good leaning chair around here somewhere."

Sarah ignored him as he looked around for this 'leaning' chair. Instead, she busied herself with securing the room. Apart from the door she'd come out of, there was one window. It had a lock but it was weak. Even if they were on the top floor, she would still need to get the lock repaired. For that, she'd need a messenger. Sarah wasn't about to let this prince out of her sight, especially with his attitude. At this rate, she'd have to protect him from himself.

"So anywho," Charles continued as she moved around checking the rest of the room for weak points. "How was your day?"

"How was my day?" Sarah repeated, floored by his strange question. She was in fact so taken aback that she'd stopped her inspection all together to turn and stare at him.

"Yep, how was your day?" Charles repeated. "Was it bad? Did you have any fun? What did you have for breakfast?"

With a deep calming breath, Sarah looked him right in the eyes and spoke as unemotionally as she knew how. "Prince Charles, I am here to ensure your safety. There is no time for idle chatter."

"Call me Chuck," he said with an easy wave. "And there is always time for chatter."

Sarah had to fight the urge to roll her eyes at him. Taking yet another deep breath, she returned to her task. The floorboards were weak as well. If so determined, an assault could come from below, but even so the window was more likely. Anyone with a rope could likely climb the tower. To get through the door or the floor the attacker would have to make it through the entire castle which wasn't as likely, though still possible.

"How about an easier question then," Chuck continued, clearly unhindered by her concern for his safety. "What were you doing before coming here to protect me?"

"Training," Sarah replied.

"See that wasn't so hard," Chuck said. She could hear that he was grinning by just the tone of his voice. This guy was so not what she'd expected. Then again, she wasn't really sure what she'd expected.

"Let's try another one," Chuck continued unprompted. "What do you like to do on your days off?"

"Train," Sarah repeated.

"Ok-ay," Chuck said slowly. "What's your favourite food?"

"Free food," Sarah replied easily. She had to admit it was rather fun refusing to give him what he wanted.

"Your least favourite food?"

"I don't like olives," Sarah said, hoping one real answer would shut him up, but it had quite the opposite effect.

"Okay see there now, we are making progress!" Chuck exclaimed as if she'd offered him something valuable rather than pointless. "Why don't you like olives?"

Sarah shrugged. "They just don't taste good. Why do you care so much?"

It hadn't been a complicated question but for some reason it stumped him. Sarah turned to look at him. He was standing there with his mouth half open as stuck between words.

"Or maybe a better question is why you requested me as your bodyguard?" Sarah asked instead.

"I- um- well you see it's kind of a funny story, or maybe not funny per say, but definitely a good story. Yes, good story 'cause, well, mom said I had to have a guard you see and I thought, or rather I had this idea which seemed to make sense at the time, but now that I'm saying it out loud I realise it might not have been the best idea, but then again it could be. It's hard to know 'cause, well, you only just got here so…," Chuck rambled. He'd somehow managed to speak more just now than she had since entering the room and still he'd said nothing.

Sarah was saved from his rambling by the door bursting open. Instinctively she moved into a fighting stance and drew her blade, turning to face the door, all in one smooth motion.

When she saw who it was, she relaxed at once. King Orion, better known as Stephen to his family, had walked in with a guard on either side of him.

"Oh good you're already here," the king said to Sarah. Then he turned to his son. "Your mother sent me to speak with you. She said you aren't taking this threat seriously."

"That's because it doesn't make any sense," Chuck told his father. "Who would want to kidnap me? It's much more likely someone is after you and the message got all mixed up."

"The message was very clear, Charles," King Orion said firmly. "And you are to remain guarded twenty four seven until the threat has been neutralised."

"And I agreed to that," Chuck almost whined. "Sarah is here, but I want the rest of the royal guard with you, Ellie and mom."

The King shook his head. "You have always been stubborn," he said, but there was a kindness in his eyes. With a sigh, he walked closer and pulled his son into a hug.

He then turned to Sarah with a serious look in his eyes. "Keep him safe," the king said. "Please."

"I will do all in my power, sir," Sarah replied with a respectful nod of her head.

"That is all anyone can ask, I suppose," the king agreed.

"And you will call in the caption of the castle guard for yourself, right, Dad?" Chuck said in the most serious tone Sarah had yet heard from the man.

"Yes I will," Stephen agreed with an exasperated sigh. He then turned to leave. Before they had moved more than a foot closer to the door, Sarah spoke with one of the king's guards to ask for a messenger.

Once they were gone, Chuck sat down on his leaning chair, looking dejected. "Dad never focuses on anything but his family. I worry it will get him killed one day."

"And I worry your recklessness will get you killed," Sarah explained. Once again, Chuck didn't seem remotely concerned about this. In fact, the change in topic from his father's safety to his own seemed to lighten his mood.

"Reckless," Chuck laughed. "That's a word I've never heard associated with me before. Kinda fun actually. Makes me sound very impressive."

"Don't let it go to your head," Sarah told him.

"What did you order the messenger for anyway?" Chuck asked, changing the topic.

"Window lock needs to be repaired," Sarah explained. "The lock doesn't work, and I know you spend a lot of time here. so it should be secure."

"How do you know that?" Chuck asked.

Sarah just shrugged. "Everyone knows that," she said. "We have no clue why, but it's usually where your food is delivered which means it's where you are."

"Huh," Chuck replied. "I just never thought about it that way." He paused for a moment then looked at her with new interest. "You are quite observant, aren't you?"

"A soldier has to be," Sarah explained. "Knowledge is power. The difference between winning and losing a fight might be as simple as observing something small in your surroundings that your opponent missed."

"Well I for one feel very safe with you around," Chuck smiled at her.

"Thanks," Sarah laughed dryly. "But you don't think there is a threat, so that is hardly a compliment."

"Fair point," he agreed.

Sarah decided not to re-ask her earlier questions. He clearly didn't want to tell her and it didn't really matter anyway. The only thing that mattered was the job she'd been assigned. The only thing she needed to focus on was the prince's safety.

Now that Sarah had done all she could to secure the area, she stood guard at the door, patrolling around the room from time to time.

"So," Chuck began and Sarah prepared herself for more unnecessary personal questions. "Now that you're done with the job thing, maybe we can talk more?"

"The only way I'll ever be done 'with the job thing' is if you suddenly learn to become invulnerable and unkillable," Sarah explained.

She was surprised when Chuck laughed. Though the statement was technically true she had to acknowledge the humour in it, even if she wouldn't laugh about it. She was trying to be professional here and he was making it quite difficult.

"Just give Dad a few more years," he chuckled. "I'm sure he's working on something cool like that even as we speak."

It was no secret that the king liked to spend endless hours hidden away in his inventor's workshop. Every few years, one of those inventions tended to make its way into common use and, though they were always useful, they'd never been quite so extreme as invulnerability.

"I likely doubt an invention of that magnitude would take a mere few years," Sarah observed. She paused then added with a smile, "Besides, it would put me out of a job."

Chuck laughed, a genuine kind sort of laugh. Despite his strangeness, Sarah couldn't help but feel comfortable around Chuck. He had a way of setting one at ease; she suspected without really meaning to.

"True," Chuck said once his laugh died down enough for him to speak. "Probably, best father doesn't invent that one."

"Probably," Sarah agreed.

"Do you like your job?" Chuck asked her suddenly. Sarah was quite taken aback.

"I'm good at it," Sarah replied.

"But do you enjoy it?"

She didn't know how exactly to respond, until she finally settled on the truth. "I don't know. I guess I've never really thought about it before." She turned to face him, stuck with a sudden curiosity. "Why do you spend so much time in the east tower?"

Without speaking, Chuck walked over to the armoire on the other side of the room. Opening the two large doors, he turned to show her it's contents. The entire dresser was piled high with books in every colour and shape Sarah could imagine.

"Mom says I read too much," Chuck explained. "So I tell her I am bird watching and I come and sit by the window and read until the sunsets. Sometimes I bring a candle and tell her I'm stargazing."

Sarah couldn't hold back her smile. It was such an innocent secret.

"I even had to actually do some research on birds and constellations once, when she decided to take an interest," Chuck continued with a slight laugh. "I think Mom just worries I'll end up like Dad. A social recluse." His tone was light and cheery but Sarah could sense a more serious tone underneath.

Sarah was saved from answering by the arrival of the messenger she'd requested. She explained to him the security issues she'd discovered and he promised to contact the necessary trades people at once.

"And can you check the windows in the prince's bedroom as well," Sarah continued. "Just to be safe."

The messenger nodded to show he'd understood then left the room, closing the door behind him.

"So now what?" Chuck asked after a few moment's silence.

"Now I'm your shadow," Sarah explained. "Until the threat has passed."

"Got that," Chuck replied dismissively, though somehow still cheerfully. He seemed to often be cheery, Sarah observed. "I meant like what should we do now?"

"Based on past events, I suspect you have more irrelevant questions to ask me," Sarah observed.

"You aren't really a people person are you?" Chuck asked her with a casual smile. Sarah wasn't sure how to describe his tone of voice. There was humour in his voice, but also a hint of something else she couldn't identify.

"I'm great with people," Sarah answered, feeling only slightly insulted. "When the mission requires it."

"Not exactly a recipe for making friends," Chuck replied.

Sarah didn't reply, but instead turned to patrol around the room again. She'd never met anyone like Chuck before. Prince or not, the man seemed to be able to cut right to the heart of something without even realising he was doing it. Sarah didn't have any friends, or at least any real ones. Real friends weren't constantly competing with you like Carina or training you like Casey. Real friends just listened when you needed to talk and give you a hug when you couldn't. Sarah had witnessed such friendships before but she had no idea what it was like to be part of one.

Chuck seemed to understand at least a little that he'd said the wrong thing, because he was quiet for a while after that. He picked up a book and sat in the corner reading it until his dinner was delivered.

"Aren't you hungry?" Chuck asked her. Sarah was hungry but she couldn't exactly leave his side to get herself something from the kitchens. She just smiled at him and told him to eat his food.

"They should have brought you something too," Chuck said. "Here, why don't we share it?"

Sarah's first thought was that she couldn't possibly eat the prince's dinner. It was already way above her rank to merely be his guard, but to consume his food was going too far. Then her stomach growled loudly and Chuck refused to take no for an answer.

"Thank you," Sarah said as she accepted the other half of his sandwich.

"No problem," Chuck smiled. His expression softened as he added. "I'm really glad you're here, Sarah."

"Not sure why," Sarah chuckled. "It's not like you are taking this threat seriously."

"It's nice to have the company," Chuck explained.

Sarah couldn't help but smile. She thanked him again, then started eating. It was so delicious she had to work hard to stop herself from moaning. Clearly the kitchens had been holding out on her.

When someone came an hour later to collect the dishes, Chuck gave them specific instructions to bring two meals at every meal so long as Sarah was guarding him. It was the first time Sarah had seen him give an order or in any way act like a prince. Despite the derpy way this man usually acted, she could tell that he did have leadership skills. It was such a contradiction. Chuck was a contradiction and a fascinating one. Sarah found she was rather enjoying being stuck here with him, not that she was about to tell him that.

As the sun began to set, Chuck put his book down and lit a candle. Sarah lit a few more for security reasons, before returning to her guard post by the door, with a view of the window.

There was something peaceful about watching Chuck read. She could see his eyes move over the words and every minute or so, he turned the page. There was something very meditative, even relaxing, about the whole thing and Sarah began to feel her eyelids droop.

She jolted to attention. She was not allowed to sleep. Night time was the most likely time for an attack and she had to be vigilant.

Her sudden movement seemed to get Chuck's attention. He looked up from his book and at once set it aside.

"You need sleep," he told her. Sarah shook her head.

"Fine then, I need sleep and you are going to sleep too," Chuck told her firmly. Sarah accepted only the first part of his statement. She nodded, but didn't speak. She was worried her voice would give away her tiredness.

Chuck put his book back in the armoire then turned to face her.

"Lady's first," he said.

"Guards first," Sarah agreed. With her hand on the hilt of her sword, she moved forward with Chuck behind. Together they walked down the spiral staircase and into the main east hall.

This area was much more travelled than the tower. Even at this time of night, there were always people here. Chuck stopped someone in the hall and told them something, but Sarah didn't catch it despite being just a step behind the prince.

"What are you planning?" Sarah asked him, but he didn't reply. He just kept walking.

They were in the prince's bed chambers before Sarah learned what he was scheming. Two Castle staff came in just a few minutes after they arrived carrying a cot.

"Now you can sleep," Chuck told her.

But Sarah was shaking her head. "There should be a guard on duty while you sleep."

"There is," Chuck tried to tell her. "Two of them standing just outside the door."

"In the room Chuck," Sarah told him. "There has to be a guard in the room, then I'll sleep."

"But I never let father post guards in my room," Chuck reminded her.

"I know," she smiled. "I'm gonna sit on the cot. You should get some sleep."

Sarah went to sit on the cot. It was rather more comfortable than standing and so worried she'd pass out without meaning to. Once Chuck was asleep she'd go back to standing guard, probably by the window. It worried her.

"Oh all right," Chuck said suddenly with a deep sigh. "Guards inside it is."

"You don't have to do that Chuck," Sarah replied. "I'm fine."

"No you're not," Chuck told her. "You're exhausted." Without waiting for a reply, Chuck walked back to the big wooden doors that lead into the hall and spoke with the guards. Sarah could hear voices but she couldn't make out the exact words. When Chuck returned he'd informed her that the guards outside were doubled and Rex here would be their third wheel tonight.

"Now sleep," Chuck ordered Sarah. "Or I'll send for my sister to come and knock you out with that new anaesthesia she keeps going on about."

Sarah chuckled, but agreed. "Thank you," she told him gratefully.

She was still worried about the window and told Rex to stand guard beside it since there were guards on the door already. Rex agreed and Sarah laid down on her cot.

Before Chuck snuffled out the candles he changed behind the privacy wall in the corner, but Sarah planned to sleep in her gear, at full battle readiness. She left her thick leather coverings on. The only thing she removed was her sword belt, placing it beside the cot. She pulled one of her knives out of its sheath and placed that under her pillow before laying down.

"Sleep well, Sarah," Chuck told her as he put out the last candle. His genuine interest in her goodnight's sleep put a smile on Sarah's face even in the dark. She was glad he couldn't see her face as she drifted off.

A rattling noise woke her. At once Sarah was on her guard. She didn't make any sudden movements but slowly put her hand around the handle of her knife under the pillow. It was dark. Too dark to really see much. All the candles were out and there was barely a beam of moonlight coming into the room. Sarah looked to the window for the night guard, but she couldn't tell if he was still standing there or not. Slowly, so as not to make a sound, Sarah picked up and attached her belt. She was glad now that she'd slept in her boots.

Knife in hand, Sarah tiptoed through the darkness without making a sound. The noise was coming from the window. She reached up to investigate, knife at the ready. It could just be the old broken lock rattling in the breeze but it could also be almost anything else. Sarah had to be ready. She could hear the prince's steady breathing from across the room. She knew he was still in bed, so that meant no one had gotten in yet, if this was indeed an invasion. She knew she might be overreacting, but her inability to locate the night guard worried her.

Sarah reached the window and her heart stopped. A pair of eyes were staring at her through the now open window. In the light of a crescent moon Sarah couldn't make out more than the eyes and outline. Reacting out of her years of training, Sarah reached up to slam the window shut. The intruder must have had his fingers on the windowsill, because she felt the window connect with something and heard a startled cry of pain.

Thanks for reading chapter one of my new Sarah/Chuck AU. What did you think of Chuck and Sarah's first meeting? I drew inspriation from the tv show first meeting with Chuck getting caught in a less than dignified way. Hope you enjoyed it. :)

I usually do sneak peeks to the next chapter at the end of my first chapter but that really wouldn't ruin this cliffhanger wouldn't it?