Today was a day just like any other day. Melanie Ashland woke up in the small house she lived in with her grandparents before getting ready for the day. After washing her face the copper hair colored woman stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her friends had mailed in an application to become the new princess. The king, who lost his queen a while back, never had a child; so he placed the chance to the citizens to become the next prince or princess. Despite her ignoring her friends, they entered her into the contest.

The first interview went well --- she guessed. She enjoyed talking to the people because they recognized her name and knew her parents. While it was sad to hear about her parents, she enjoyed the bureaucrats sharing stories of their parents and some even had the time to share adventures they shared with either her mother or her father. The men and women she had the pleasure of talking to where enjoyable conversationalist and she left in a good mood. The following day she had another interview; this time with the king’s advisor and soon the king himself joined the interview! Melanie had never felt so nervous in her life then when the king walked in and joined them. However he was very kind and gentle with the way he spoke to her. Now she was at home, staring at her reflection in the mirror wondering what was going to happen today? More coffee and tea orders at the bistro but it was a job and she was earning money.

Sighing she dressed in a simple brown dress with a white lace around her middle and a bow tied in the back, she slipped on a simple pair of shoes, pulled her copper hair back into a pony tail with a ribbon and left the house to meet up with her grandparents.

“I’m here!” She announced as she walked into the little shop and shut the door behind her.

“Oh good morning Melly.” Her grandmother called out as she popped up from behind the counter giving the young maiden a fright. Her grandmother laughed lightheartedly at her granddaughter. “You’re always so jumpy.”

“When you pop out of nowhere it’s easy to be jumpy!”

“Hey kiddo.” A voice said behind her and Melanie let out a shriek and jumped away from the noise, only to have her grandfather laugh at her as he carried in a bag. “She’s right, you are jumpy.”

“Excuse me I’m not jumpy you two show up out of nowhere!” Melanie attempted to defend herself only to find herself laughing along. And that’s how her day began.

Half the day went by and Melanie was measuring out tea leafs making a new mixture for the store before the bell went off. “Welcome to…” She began before she made eye contact with the man who walked in. “Sir Alfred?” Melanie said in confusion as the King’s advisor walked in.

“Hello Miss Melanie, I’m here to escort you to the palace.” The well-dressed Victorian man with white hair said with a small bow and gestured towards the door, the king’s carriage waiting outside. Reaching into his jacket pocket he pulled out an envelope and presented it to her grandparents who showed up after hearing Melanie’s confusion. “You’ll find everything you need in these documents.” He said with a polite nod before holding the door open for Melanie.

“Well… if it’s from the King.” Her grandfather said and took the things Melanie was working on and gestured for her to go.

“Okay…” Melanie’s voice was filled with confusion and went out the door, the footman let her into the carriage and as the door shut she looked out the window to see her grandparent’s reaction, they looked shocked as they read through the documents and began to ask Sir Alfred questions. “Wait what’s going on?” She asked in shock.

“Don’t worry about it princess,” The footman said as he climbed onto the back of the carriage, “Sir Alfred will meet us at the palace when he’s finished explaining things.”

“Oh okay.” Melanie said settling back against the comfortable seat before everything finally registered. “WAIT WHAT!?” Melanie’s face and dark blue eyes were pressed against the glass watching the bistro disappear into the distance and this was the start of her new life.

The kingdom seemed to glow with an ethereal gold as the sun began to rise over the horizon. It gave the usually rugged terrain a sense of warmth for once. The jagged stone mountain ranges, the endless fields and meadows, even the deep lakes and rivers seemed to absorb what little warmth the sun provided at this early hour of the morning. The birds and bugs were already awake and buzzing with the fast approaching heat of summer as Dalton continued brushing his stallion down in the stables. He had been planning on going for a peaceful trot around the palace grounds before getting an early start on today's training of the troops. The kingdom was enjoying a state of peace after years of war but old wounds took time to heal. As Captain of the Royal Garrison, it was Dalton's duty to keep the troops on their guard. The moment they slackened their wits would be the time their enemies took the upper hand. However, as Dalton was finishing fastening the billet strap on his horse's saddle, one of the castle staff approached him and gave a deep bow. "Pardon the intrusion Sir Dalton, but Your Royal Majesty the King has requested your presence in the Throne Room." Closing his eyes and releasing a frustrated sigh, Dalton nodded and returned his gaze to the steed. "Very well. You may take your leave." The man bowed once more and left, leaving the knight to his thoughts. So much for that ride... He pat the horse on the nose and was answered with a whinny. "Sorry buddy, maybe next time."

The clacking of his leather boots on the marble floor was the only sound in the early morning of the castle as Dalton made his way down the corridor. He pulled his fur-lined collar up a little higher as a cold breeze blew in through the open arched windows. Even during the summer, the kingdom never seemed to lose the chill of winter in the morning. Reaching the tall stone door, Dalton reached up and knocked twice with the golden knocker and waited. Seconds later the door was opened by one of his fellow castle guard and Dalton walked briskly into the room. Giving a quick bow once he stood in front of the royal monarch, the knight stood up straight and addressed the king.

"You summoned me, Your Majesty?"

King Gabriel's deep voice seemed to echo throughout the chamber. "Ah yes, Sir Dalton! I have a request for you! As you may be aware, the Royal Council and I have come to our decision regarding the Chosen Princess from among the citizens. As my most trusted knight and Captain of the Guard, I would like to assign you to be her personal guard and attend her during all her royal duties."

Dalton wasn't too thrilled with the idea of babysitting a girl who wasn't even pure nobility. A knight of his caliber and rank surely had better things to reserve his skill for. However, if she wanted to play princess and the king wished for her well-being, then it was Dalton's duty to ensure her safety. None of this showed on Dalton's features as he remained respectfully silent. The king continued. "She will be arriving within the hour. I have already sent Sir Alfred with a carriage to collect her from town and would like for you to be at the gates to greet her when she arrives. You are to give her a tour of the palace grounds and show her to her bedchambers. She will then be allowed time to relax and acclimate to her new surroundings until the Welcoming Banquet tonight."

"If that is what you wish, then let it be so." He gave one last bow before turning on his heel and leaving whence he came.

Back in his bedroom, Dalton found everything he needed already prepared. He did a quick glance over the paperwork just to make sure he didn't miss anything. If there was one thing he hated, it was not being prepared and always one step ahead. Dalton quickly changed into his formal court uniform and accompanying armor, fastening his sword at his side, and made his way out of the castle.

By the time he reached the front gates, Dalton could see the royal carriage making its way up the cobbled pathway. He stood at attention until it came to a stop in front of him. The footman hopped down from his seat, quickly releasing the hatch on the door and lowering the steps. As the footman reached out his hand to help the Chosen Princess down from the carriage, Dalton stepped forward and bowed deeply. As he stood, he glanced towards the footman and gave a brief nod, dismissing him. "Welcome to the castle, Princess. I am Sir Dalton Longfellow, Captain of the Royal Garrison and your personal guard from this day forward. If you would please follow me, I shall give you a tour of the grounds and castle and show you to your royal bedchambers."

The carriage continued to roll towards the palace, there was no way this was real. The strawberry brunette slide from side to side in the carriage looking out each window. No way, NO FREAKING WAY! Her dark blue eyes stayed wide as she looked at the people she rolled by. They all seemed as stunned as she was when they rolled along the path towards the palace.

It wasn’t until the gates of the palace opened that the reality set it and Melanie fell back into the seat and stared out the window. “Oh my god…” She muttered under her breath as she took in the scenery of the palace grounds, it was extraordinary and beautiful! Her mouth dropped open before at the sight and she felt the urge to run through the gardens and fall into the bed of flowers. That probably wasn’t the most ‘princess’ of thoughts she should be having now that she has this roll but that didn’t stop her from thinking it.

Her head turned to look at entrance to the palace. The place was huge! Again her mouth fell open in complete shock. The footman opened the door and she stepped out lacking grace and pose of a princess gazing directly upwards at the large castle. Sure, she’s lived in the city her whole life but that never meant that she came to the castle. So, as you can imagine her first time there was surprising. “Whoa…” She muttered through her slack jawed surprise. As her head lowered she saw in front of her was none other than… Sir Dalton Longfellow!

Upon him stepping forward and bowing deeply to her, she stumbled backwards allowing her back to hit the carriage in surprise. If she didn’t feel out of place already, having the Captain of the Royal Guard bow to her in her white apron and brown skirt with a yellow shirt really showed her this was reality. “You’re… you’re….” She fumbled over her words as she stared straight at him in shock as he stood back up. Her breathe caught in her chest as she looked him in the eyes. He was well-known throughout the country and always drew the attention of the people in the town; especially her friends. They would freak out if they knew that she was standing in front of Sir Dalton, not to mention that was saying he’d be her personal guard.

“O---okay….” She spoke in a soft almost squeaking tone.

Dalton rose a solitary eyebrow at the girl's reaction. She was definitely out of place here. Thankfully Dalton wouldn't be the one to have to teach her proper etiquette and poise. That's what the royal tutors were for. The knight definitely didn't have enough patience for that. It was bad enough that he would be required to ensure her safety at all times. He cleared his throat to recompose himself before continuing. "If you would please follow me, Your Highness." Dalton about-faced and made his way through the inner gates onto the path leading through the northern gardens.

It was difficult to remain professional and composed as Dalton walked her through the grounds and into the castle, pointing out important places that she would need to remember and introducing her to castle staff and bureaucrats alike that they ran into along the way. The entire time she kept gawking at everything and stumbled on her own feet constantly. It was really cringe-worthy to watch if he was being honest. This girl, this citizen that had never once performed a single act of nobility in her life, was expected to rule over the entire kingdom when the king retired? She had a lot of learning ahead of her, that was for sure....

Finally coming to a halt in front of the grand suite that had been set aside as her royal bedchambers, Dalton turned to the girl behind him. "This room here shall serve as your bedchambers for the entirety of your residence in the palace. If you shall ever need me, my room is just down the hall, the last door on the left. That concludes our tour and this is where I leave you. Your personal handmaidens will stop by shortly to prepare you for the Welcoming Banquet that will be held in your honor later this evening. I strongly advise you to stay here and not wander until I come by to escort you to the Grand Ballroom where the banquet will be held. Until then, Your Highness." Dalton gave a deep bow and left down the hall to report to the king.

Your Highness. That was going to be a phrase she’d have a difficult time adjusting to. She gazed at him from behind and it wasn’t until he got further away that it registered that she needed to follow him. “Oh!” She said to herself as she kicked her feet into gear and hurried after him. Boy she looked like a fool staring at the captain of the royal guard.

Talk about feeling out of place! She didn’t look like she belonged there and something told her that Sir Dalton agreed. Her coffee girl outfit looked nothing like the beautiful nobles and bureaucrats which made it even more awkward when Sir Dalton would introduce her as princess. Her attempt to respond to the bows and curtsies were met with a clumsy rendition of her own. And every now and then she could have sworn she saw Sit Dalton’s eyes roll.

Running her fingers through her strawberry brown hair, her big blue eyes stared at the ground under their feet as she walked a few steps behind Sir Dalton through the corridor. He probably should she was a buffoon who didn’t know didn’t know a thing about being poise and elegance. To that he was right, however she was chosen for this position; despite the fact that he friends added her name in as a joke, and she was going to make herself be the best princess she could be! Her mind was so focused, so determined that she nearly colliding into him when he came to a stop. Stumbling back from the large man, she put a respectable distance behind the two of them and didn’t look away as he spoke.

Straightening up as he bowed to her she spoke in as much of a serious voice as she could muster. “Thank you Sir Dalton.” With that she nodded her head to him and opened the door to her room. All of her seriousness vanished and a loud “Whoa!” could be heard throughout the corridor. So much for ‘poise’ and ‘elegance’.

“Sir Dalton.” Sir Albert said as he rounded the corner and found him walking. Holding his hand out, he stopped the man from continuing the walk. “I know this must be hard on you…” His voice sounded anything but sincere, as a matter of fact, he seemed to chuckle. “This seems like more of a demotion than anything else for you. However I come baring more news for you. As the best horse rider in the kingdom, you will be in charge of the ride lessons along with you normal duties.” A smirk rose the corners of his lips as he walked away from Sir Dalton but called back, “See you at the banquet Sir Dalton.” With that he knocked on the door and let himself into once invited to.

After a long conversation with Sir Albert, a handful of maids and a massive amount of dress choices, Melanie emerged looking very different. Her hair was up in curls and a bun, her makeup was done flawlessly and her body was wrapped in a poofy white dress with blue lace wrapped around the top portion of her body. Looking at herself in the mirror she seemed almost shocked. Was this… really her? Her small hands danced along the fabric feeling the silk against her smooth skin “Wow…” At that she turned her attention back to the mirror and lifted the skirting of the dress and practiced her proper curtsy. Sir Albert had given her some instructions and education before he left to complete his duties for the banquet.

Taking in a few deep breaths he let out a long sigh and hung her head. “What am I doing? Why am I here?”

As Dalton rounded the corner on his way to the Throne Room, he spotted Sir Albert approaching from the opposite direction. He halted his walk down the corridor and gave a brief nod of his head as his fellow knight stopped in front of him. Dalton listened attentively to what the man had to say but soon furrowed his brows when the older man's voice took on an amused tone. As Sir Albert finished, Dalton released another frustrated sigh. He seemed to have been doing that a lot today. "Thank you Sir Albert. I appreciate you taking the time to bring me that news. It will be an honor to be in charge of the Princess's riding lessons. Good day." Dalton inclined his head in another nod and continued his walk down the hall. After he had rounded another corner, out of Albert's line of vision, he allowed himself to run a hand through his dark hair and close his eyes in exasperation. There were plenty of capable knights to teach her how to ride a horse. He appreciated his skill as a rider didn't go unnoticed but his duties as Captain already took up a lot of his time already. Recomposing himself, he knew there was no arguing against an order.

Ten minutes later, Dalton found himself bowing before the king for the second time that day. "Your Majesty. I come bearing news that the Princess has been shown to her chambers and is currently preparing herself for the banquet tonight."

"Ah, yes, very good! I also assume Sir Albert was successful in informing you of Princess Melanie's riding lessons?" The king was jovial as always. Even more so than he usually was, Dalton realized. It must please him greatly that the kingdom finally had an heir to the throne. A notion that would put everyone's hearts at ease.

"Yes Your Majesty. If I may be excused?" After receiving permission to leave, Dalton made his way outside to the Guards' Quarters. It took the next two hours to inform the troops of their formations for the banquet and to ensure everything was in place for tonight as far as securing the castle against any possible attempts to end the Princess's royal career prematurely. The guests were starting to arrive and fill the ballroom so Dalton took that as his cue to return to his own bedroom in order to get himself ready. It didn't take him long to change out of his armor and into his formal court uniform. His was different from what the other knights would be wearing as he would be escorting the Princess for the entirety of the evening festivities and therefore had to be a bit more presentable and prestigious. Not at all pleased with the harsh white of his uniform, much preferring darker colors, Dalton grimaced at his reflection in the mirror, gilded with the red and gold colors of the kingdom's crest and adorned with the symbol of his rank.

Fastening his sword to his belt, Dalton closed his bedroom door behind him with a soft click and made the short journey down the hall to the Princess's bedchambers. Standing tall and proud like a man of his rank should, he landed two swift knocks upon her door and waited. Hearing the call from within for him to enter, Dalton opened the door and almost immediately stopped dead in his tracks. No longer did he see a ragged coffee girl from town. Instead the girl who stood before him exuded a soft elegance worthy of her new title. A couple moments passed before he caught himself staring openly. Ashamed of his falter, Dalton quickly bowed and held his arm out for her. "If you are ready, Princess, it is time we made our way to the ballroom. The banquet shall be getting underway shortly."

Staring at herself in the reflection, she ran her hands along the blue lace wrapped around the upper half of her body. The blue represented being in her new position and the next outfits she would be seen in at parties and royal meetings would be the gold and red representing the country. Again she recited the speech she had been practicing with Sir Albert in the mirror. It was different looking at her own face and she knew the impression would change when she was in front of all those people but… but she couldn’t let that get to her. Not now, now that she was the princess.

A small look of surprised moved across her face as Sir Dalton was the one to enter her room. It was already time… She let out a soft sigh as she slowly turned, facing him head on and walking to him. He seemed momentarily motionless and her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. Did she look that bad?! Her gaze turned down to the dress one more before looking back up to him and pressing her lips together. He looked really, really good in his formal attire for the evening that it was hard to pull her gaze from him. Oh… oh how jealous her friends were going to be when she write to them and tells them she saw Sir Dalton in his formal attire, a rare sight and one many women would kill to see.

To his quick bow, she picked up the skirts of her dress and gave him a proper and surprisingly graceful curtsy as a response which she had been practicing as much as she did with her speech. “Alright, thank you Sir Dalton.” She responded in a meek voice as she slid her arm through his and placed her hand gently on his bicep.

Her whole body tightened as they got closer and closer to the banquet hall. The small hand on his bicep gripped gently against the cloth of his clothing and her breathing became a bit irregular but she continued to hold her head high and attempted to show as little sign of nervousness as possible. At the entrance to the hall she let out a long breath and spoke softly. “Okay…” Attempting to calm her nerves as the doors opened and the chatter of the banquet hall was finally audible.

Sir Albert was the first to greet the two as they entered and it wasn’t long before Melanie was whisked away from Sir Dalton to be nearly paraded around before her speech. She shot Sir Dalton a look of ‘I’m nervous...” before vanishing into the crowd of people led on the arm of Sir Albert. After meeting countless faces, giving a sad attempt to remember the names of everyone she met but she held her head high, gave bright smiles and conversed with anyone who approached her. The King himself seemed pleased with her poise and grace as she interacted with the guests. There was much less to improve to turn this country bumpkin into a lady of society but just by her actions alone; she was determined to try.

Soon she was ushered on the stage and she took in a deep breath as the room’s attention turned to her and she opened her mouth, beginning her prepared speech.

She was every bit as graceful and elegant as a Princess should be. Dalton was astonished at how this young girl from town had transformed into a woman of nobility over the course of a couple hours. However, as she daintily looped her arm through his own, Dalton could feel a slight tremble to her fingers. He almost felt guilty for scrutinizing her so shrewdly when they first met that morning. Sure, Dalton still thought that she didn't belong here, but he had to admire her courage and silent strength. Whether he approved of it or not, this was her place now. As they walked down the corridor leading to the ballroom, Dalton glanced at her from time to time. At the way she held her head high and proud, the elegant glide in her steps, the subtle curve to her lips, even the healthy glow on her high cheekbones. Melanie definitely held an air of royalty to her. If his memory served him correctly, Dalton remembered reading in her documents that her parents had been of noble birth, bureaucrats that served the royal family. It was in her blood, whether she realized it or not. That definitely explained a lot.

He was suddenly roused from his musings as he felt her grip tighten slightly through the cloth of his uniform. Glancing over, he noticed Melanie's features were scrunched into an anxious expression, even though she tried hard to hide it. Placing his free hand over hers that held his arm, he gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Deep breath, Your Highness. You'll do fine."

Dalton released her hand as they reached the doors to the ballroom. Allowing her a moment to calm her nerves, he pushed open the doors. The murmuring din of voices became a cacophony of sound. In that same moment, Sir Albert approached them to take over. It was his duty as second in command to introduce Melanie to everyone in attendance while Dalton surveyed the area. He caught a fleeting glimpse of her nervous gaze directed at him before she disappeared into the crowd. The poor girl must be suffocating but he couldn't help but think she would be fine. She seemed to have a strong personality and wouldn't allow herself to break so easily. Knowing she was in good hands for the time being, Dalton made his way around the perimeter of the ballroom, observing the attendees and keeping his eyes open for any suspicious activity.

After roughly a half hour, nothing catching Dalton's attention, the endless stream of conversations suddenly died to a quiet whisper before disappearing entirely. Knowing it must be time, Dalton turned his focus towards the front of the room where the stage was located. Catching sight of Melanie climbing the steps, he stood in the background of the crowd to keep an eye on things. Everyone held baited breath, anticipating the words of their future heir to the throne.

The reassuring smile and the gentle hand of Sir Dalton still lingered with Melanie as she took the stage. She’ll be fine, he was right; she just needed to focus. With a deep breathe she began the speech that was prepared for her. Though as she spoke her mind was elsewhere; her gaze traveled along those who were bureaucrats and those who worked within the place. Each individual she saw from the palace was there to give her support and help her through this transition, and to them, she was thankful. There isn’t a single way she could do this on her own but here she was, standing on the stage and giving her speech because she had the support of so many great people. And she wasn’t going to let them down.

“Thank you everyone for your kindness and I ask that you support me and share your wisdom so I may follow in the footsteps of our great king and learn to rule in his stead.” With that she lifted the skirts of her dress and gave a deep polite curtsy to the crowd. The place was silent as she held the curtsy and felt the blood slowly drain from her face. She said everything right, she even asked for their assistance in making sure she ran the country well and yet crickets could he heard in the hall. That was until someone started to clap. Her head bowed she couldn’t make out who it was but soon the hall was thundering with applause and cheers of ‘Long live the Princess Elect’. Her head rose and she hands slowly dropped her dress back onto the floor as she smiled over the cheering crowd. Phew, it was over.

Just as when she entered the room, people were on her with questions, comments and now praises for her speech. A waiting staff member happened to be carrying a tray of drinks which she preceded take one. In the conversation with one of the older bureaucrats someone bumped into her causing her to spill her drink on the floor. “Oops.” She said quickly placing her almost empty glass onto a waiting staff’s passing tray. “Watch where you step your highness.” The older kindly bureaucrat said to her as he lead her away from the spill..

She was whisked away by at least three other bureaucrats and had trouble keeping ahold of a drink she was so desperately wanted a sip of. The fourth bureaucrat bumped her on accident and pilled the white wine upon her dress. “Oh Princess I’m so sorry.” The bureaucrat said quickly as she attempted to help Melanie clean herself off. Great now she felt like everyone thought she was a drunk with how many glasses she’s placed back on the passing trays and now she smells like alcohol too.

After dodging one more bureaucrat, she was stopped by a sixth, a young man around her age who preceded to hand her yet another drink. “Oh thank you.” She said politely.

“You’re welcome your highness. You seem like you’re really enjoying yourself.” The conversation went rather smoothly but again, Melanie was not able to get a drink of her wine and as people bumped into her in the small room she felt like she was looking more intoxicated as time went on. The bureaucrat in front of her seemed to think the same thing as a smile moved across his face that she didn’t like. “If you’ll excuse me I think I should be going.” As she turned to leave the young man grabbed her by her arm. “Sir, please let me go.”

“I think you and I should step outside and get some fresh air.” He said with a grin as he began to pull her towards the exit. Melanie, being completely uncomfortable with the situation kept trying to pull and pry her arm free but there was no give to the young man’s grip and around her, everyone seemed to be in their own little worlds ignoring her situation. Oh no!

Dalton was astonished at the efficiency with which Melanie captured the crowd's attention. Every face was respectfully turned towards the stage, every ear listening intently to the words leaving her mouth. Every single bureaucrat in attendance was enthralled by the people's new Princess Elect. That was definitely a breath of fresh air. Her duties moving forward would inevitably be trying and difficult but Dalton didn't want to imagine how much more difficult both their tasks would be if the people didn't like her. As she ended her speech, falling into a deep graceful curtsy, Dalton tried to make his way back towards the front of the room but Melanie was immediately swarmed by those wishing to speak to her and wish her a bright future. He couldn't blame them. He found himself wanting to do much the same. However, he was merely Captain of the Guard and thus would respectfully allow those of more noble rank than himself to have their turn. It wasn't his place anyway. Dalton was here to watch over and protect the Princess Elect from any harm that may come her way. Nothing more.

As the night wore on, Dalton kept an eye on Melanie, always a couple people away at all times. His eyes continuously scanned the crowd and the doors and windows that surrounded the perimeter of the ballroom. Everything remained as it should be, nothing out of place, nothing out of the ordinary catching his eye. Tonight might actually be an easy night for once, contrary to what Dalton originally expected. As his gaze flickered back to Melanie he saw her spill yet another drink. The poor girl. That was, what? Four, five drinks bumped out of her hand? A small chuckle left his lips. She just couldn't catch a break.

A couple more minutes passed by without activity before Dalton redirected his attention back to Melanie. Or at least, back to where he last saw her. Instantly in a panic but forcing himself to remain calm, Dalton scanned the surrounding area for any sign of where she might have gone. It was crowded. She couldn't have made it far. A couple seconds passed in tense silence before his eyes landed on her retreating form. Dalton released a relieved sigh before he noticed the man leading her by the arm and the strained expression on Melanie's face. Frowning, Dalton followed. There was something off about the man but by the look of his clothing, he was definitely a bureaucrat. Still, his instincts told him that the man wasn't to be trusted.

“Sir… Sir, please; I implore you to let me go. I have other guests who also seek my attention tonight.” Melanie said, doing her best to be as polite as possible despite the man pulling her through the crowd and towards the balcony area outside. His grip tightened on her arm causing her to say a soft “Ow.” And causing her face more strain then before. The young bureaucrat was around her age, maybe 5 years her senior at most and obviously used to the lifestyle of the rich and famous while poor Melanie could barely walk in heels. And… he seemed as though he was used to getting what he wanted.

By the time they reached the outside, the noise of the attendees inside was next to nothing. Normally, something like this would be incredibly peaceful for the young lady; but right now it was more tense than ever and she couldn’t have felt more alone and venerable. “Sir,” She began, her voice sounding more forceful now that they had stepped outside, “I will ask you again. Please release me.”

“Oh my dear Princess Elect.” The young man said, sounding much more aggressive in his tone as he pushed her towards the balcony and blocked her in with his arms to each side of her, his hands gripping the rails. “You shouldn’t be getting too… loose around the other bureaucrats. Your stumbling and tripping could be in relation to how you were raised but the wrong people could…” He leaned forward getting too close to her. “Get the wrong impression.”

Despite her desperate attempt to be respectful towards this bureaucrat her age, he was getting beyond too close for comfort. The copper haired girl turned her head to one side looking away from him, her dark blue eyes shutting tightly as she let out a little whimper of, “Help…” Only to be met with the snicker of the drunken buffoon and a whisper in her ear that said, “No one can hear you.” Melanie drew in a deep breath ready to let out a ear popping scream of terror at any second despite her desire to stay as ‘regal’ as possible.

As the couple exited the crowded ballroom through the doors that led to an outside balcony, Dalton picked up his pace. The situation was going south faster than he felt comfortable with. He walked as fast as he could without actually breaking out into a full sprint so as to not draw too much unwanted attention towards the missing Princess Elect. When he finally reached the elegant French doors, Dalton pulled them open on a scene he was praying wouldn't happen. The bureaucrat in question was most likely drunk but that didn't excuse his behavior. He had the Princess pinned against the railing, strong arms blocking her in on both sides, with an expression that hinted at things reserved for behind closed doors. Things that wouldn't be happening if Dalton had anything to do about it.

Dalton reached out and grabbed the bureaucrat by the collar of his expensive shirt and yanked him back, effectively prying him off the whimpering girl trapped beneath him. As the young man fell to the hard stone floor of the balcony, Dalton moved to stand in front of Melanie, resting his hand on the hilt of the sword at his hip. "I apologize for interrupting but the party is over, Sir. I suggest you leave the castle before I'm forced to arrest you for ill intent towards the new Princess Elect."

His breath danced against her soft skin as his hands started to crawl up her arms. He was beginning to lean over and sniffed her neck in a twisted and sadistic way. Her whole body was covered in goose bumps and she quivered with fear under the man. Her eyes shut tightly as she felt him creep closer and closer to his ultimate desire. Uuuugggghhhhhhh no…

The sudden wind of the removed bureaucrat caused Melanie to slowly open her eyes. In front of her was a large and regal back. “Sir Dalton…” She whispered softly, her voice filled with relief as tears of joy rolled down her cheeks.

“You…” The bureaucrat muttered as he climbed to his feet. “You should not interfere.” By the time he was too his feet he seemed more disorientated than before. “You’re nothing but a pathetic replacement of your father.” At that and with a snarl; the pride hurt young man stumbled away from the two and leaving them alone on the balcony.

A small sob left Melanie as her body went limp against railing, tears of relief continued to fall from her eyes and down her cheeks. “Thank you Sir Dalton.” She said softly, her gaze turning to the floor; it wasn’t lady-like to cry but… she couldn’t help it.

Dalton stood his ground as the young man made his way, albeit shakily, to his feet. The grip on his sword tightened as the man spoke, uttering words that hit Dalton in his pride but he wouldn't allow it to show on his face. Dalton had fought and bled and trained everyday since he was a boy of 16 in order to make a name for himself. He loved his father and was proud to hold the Longfellow name but God be damned if he would be nothing more than "Sir Derek Longfellow's son". Dalton wanted to be known and admired for his own name, a name worthy of his titles. He had been named Captain of the Guard after his father because of his merit in battle, not because of his ancestry. He had been honored by the king himself as the personal knight to the Princess Elect because of the trust and honor he had earned himself.

Coming back to himself, Dalton reoriented to the present as the drunk fool of a noble stumbled away through the great French doors. The white-knuckled grip on his sword loosened as Dalton's adrenaline fell back down within normal levels. Releasing a calming breath, he turned around to face Melanie just as she collapsed against the balcony railing. With a startled jolt, he leapt forward to catch the girl before she could accidentally harm herself.

"No need to thank me, Princess. I was merely serving my duty as your knight." Dalton stroked a hand over her wavy copper hair in a weak attempt to calm her nerves. "Allow me to escort you back to your bedchamber. You've had a very trying evening."

Dalton held Melanie by the arm as he helped her to her feet and handed her the silk handkerchief from his breast pocket. He then led her back into the ballroom once she had a chance to dry her tears and recompose herself. Quickly scanning the thinning crowd in search of Sir Albert, the couple picked the least populated route over to where he stood.

"Sir Albert, if you could please inform the guests that the Princess is retiring for the night and send for her handmaidens to help her with her gown. I will be escorting Her Highness to her room then I'll return to relieve the troops from their posts." Dalton bowed to the older man before holding out his arm for Melanie.

~~~

The walk down the marble corridors was a quiet affair. Dalton figured Melanie had a lot on her mind and wouldn't be open to discussing what happened so soon. A lot had happened in such a short amount of time for the young woman. Only this morning she had been a citizen helping out her grandparents and now she was heiress to an entire kingdom. That was a lot for anyone to swallow. They finally came to a stop in front of the door leading to her room. She seemed so deep in thought that Dalton paused for a moment before speaking, hoping not to startle her too much.

"This is where I leave you, Your Highness. I apologize for what occurred this evening. I should have been more aware of the situation. I'm glad no harm befell you but I promise you, on my honor as a knight of the kingdom, that I will not allow something like this to happen again." He hadn't meant to say so much, the words tumbling forth unbidden. "Good night, Princess Melanie."

The young man’s words were harsh and Melanie found herself glaring at him as he stumbled away. Sniffing softly, she took the handkerchief from Dalton and dabbed the corner of her eyes with it. This was such an experience, and something she never expected to happen. Her body shook as he placed a hand on her, but not out of fear, it was out of relaxation. Knowing someone was here to help her claim down a good amount. Nodding was the best response she could give him when he said that she should return to her room. She took his arm and followed him out.

The walk gave her a lot to reflect on. She had been through a lot in a short amount of time and despite his position and where he actually should be; he was watching over her. He probably shouldn’t be, he really took over the challenge with grace. Though, she couldn’t blame him if he wasn’t happy about it but he was doing good at not letting it show. In the end, she felt guilty for all that he had to go through. Her hand gripped onto his shoulder as they walked back towards her room.

Arriving at the room she let out a long sigh looking into the large space that she was going to call her own. She couldn’t let the king down, she couldn’t let the country down. She had to take on everything that was coming to her but she wasn’t doing it alone. Turning around she looked up at Dalton as he spoke to her. Her head dropped, listening to him speak. Sighing, she raised her head and reached out, grabbing a hold of his hand. “Do not blame yourself Sir Dalton, you couldn’t have predicted what would happen but the fact that you came means a lot to me.” A firm nod rose and fell her head.

Then… she gave his arm another small squeeze. “If it means anything to you Sir Dalton, what that man said is false. Your father is respected by the people for his work but you as the captain of the guard and leader of the army have earned the respect of the people by your own hand. The country is proud that you took over your father’s position but you are not a replacement. You have earned your position in the eyes of the people, in the eyes of the king and… in my eyes as well. Please…” She gave his arm another small squeeze. “Please Sir Dalton, do not ever forget how much this country and its people appreciate all you do for them, for us, as you.”

Her blue eyes stared him down for another moment before she realized just how much she was clinging to him. She abruptly let him go and turned her gaze to the ground. “I apologize, I got over-excited. But I would like to make a request.” Her gaze turned upwards, once again meeting his face. “When we are apart from others, will you please just call me Melanie? I’d very much appreciate some form of normalcy that I was formally accustomed to once and a while.”

After bidding the Princess good night, Dalton was about to turn around and head back to the ballroom when her grip on his arm tightened momentarily before she started speaking. The intensity in her bright blue eyes and the earnestness in her voice kept him rooted to his spot, speechless as this young woman in front of him spoke so highly of him. He bowed his head in silent shame as her words moved him more than he thought they should. He shouldn't have been so hard on himself when the entire kingdom still believed in him, still trusted him to protect them and keep the evils at bay. She was right. How he had let that ignorant noble's words upset him so much frustrated Dalton. He needed to learn to trust himself just as the people of the kingdom did.

Dalton raised his head to look at her again just as her voice faded into the silence of the corridor. "No need to apologize, Your Highness. I will do everything I can to honor your request." When she continued though, Dalton wasn't expecting the request that spilled forth from her lips, his pale green eyes widening a fraction at the weight of its meaning. It was a simple one but meant more than just the dropping of fancy titles. It meant trusting one another. It meant sharing an intimacy that amounted to more than just what was shared between a guard and his charge. It meant breaking down walls that once allowed him to emotionally detach himself from dangerous bonds.

Dalton couldn't help the heat that rose in his cheeks and wondered if she realized what she was really asking of him. Realizing he had yet to respond as the silence stretched out between them, Dalton cleared his throat and willed his voice to remain steady. Unsure of why he was willing to entertain this notion of friendship, the words tumbled free before he could rethink his decision.

"If that is what you wish, than I'll respect your request." A coy smirk crossed his lips as he continued. "As long as you agree to return the favor and just call me Dalton. A little normalcy might actually be refreshing." He bowed before turning back toward the ballroom. "Good night, Melanie. Sleep well."

~~~~

Dalton had returned to his own room after dismissing the troops from their posts in the ballroom. All the guests had vacated by the time he got there, no doubt thanks to Sir Albert's swift intervention. Dalton was grateful for the quiet end to the evening, already forgiving himself for losing Melanie in the crowd earlier. Her words just minutes ago had moved him more than she may ever know and he was honestly surprised that they were having such an effect on him. It just felt good to be recognized and praised so truthfully, apart from the usual automatic "You did well today Sir Dalton" or "Great job out there, I expected no less from you".

Now laying awake in bed, staring at his dark ceiling, Dalton wondered why he had agreed to her request so easily. If it had been anyone else, his professionalism would demand he politely decline, saying something to the effect of it being improper for a man of his station to regard the Princess with such informality. But something in Melanie's eyes had urged him to agree. What harm could it really cause anyway? Part of the agreement was to drop such titles when they were alone, away from eaves-dropping ears that would later gossip about the implications of their familiarity.

Dalton turned over onto his side roughly, frustrated that his mind was wandering in the first place. It was unlike him to dwell on such trivial matters. Closing his eyes, he did his best to focus on his breathing, willing sleep to come.

~~~~

Morning came brightly and unforgivably like it always did, but as usual Dalton was already awake and down at the stables before dawn broke over the horizon. Today would be the start of Melanie's riding lessons, the first of many to come, depending on how quickly she learned the task. The stable boy had picked out a beautiful white mare for the Princess, a strong patient steed that would serve to be Melanie's personal riding companion from today forward. Dalton focused on the task of brushing out the mare, welcoming the distraction from his thoughts regarding the events from the night before. His doubt and worry seemed to wash away with the rising of the sun and, satisfied that the horse was clean and brushed to a soft shine, Dalton proceeded to grab the saddle and reins in preparation for Melanie's arrival.

Did… Did his face just turn a bit pink as well? Melanie’s head turned slightly to one side, her maroon hair falling like a curtain off of her shoulder and down onto her arm as her blue eyes stared up at him. Did she just make him blush? Was Sir Dalton, one of the most respected knights in the kingdom blushing because of something she had asked him? So, so he really is human. That is a wonderful thought.

Soon Melanie found herself grinning a cheeky happy smile to his coy smirk. Calling him Dalton felt more like she had a friend in the castle despite her sudden and confusing arrival. What a wonderful feeling. Her small gloved hand rose up and she gave him a gentle wave, “Good night Dalton; thanks for walking me back. Sleep well yourself!” Her urge to continue calling things to him was great but she restrained herself, finding comfort in the secure feeling he provided her. It was more than she deserved but what she needed while dealing with this situation.

It wasn’t long after she disappeared into her room that the handmaidens showed up and helped her out of her dress and she clasped on her bed. Holy crap this has been nuts but… it’s also become her new reality. Who would have thought that entering as a joke would lead her to becoming the next princess of the kingdom. Her eyes fluttered closed as her last remaining thoughts drifted back to the kindness that Si… Dalton had shown her since she arrived and maybe, just maybe, dropping the formalities will allow them to connect a little more.

----

The next morning consisted of pulling and tugging at her as the handmaidens went through her clothing nearly throwing away everything the castle staff had brought to her. ‘This is not princess worthy’, ‘nor is this’, ‘or that’ were quite a few of the phrases she heard from the head maid as she tore through her things.

Melanie just let the girl go through her things, knowing full well that nothing she owned was princess worth as the newer handmaiden braided her hair for her riding lesson she had this early morning. She sat in silence until the head maid pulled out a vintage white wedding dress. Before the maid could declare whether it was princess worthy, Melanie spring from her seat and snatched the dress from the head maid.

“Anything but this…” She responded softly clutching the fabric to her. “This was my mother’s wedding dress… Please, you can throw away anything but this.” Her voice was pleading and the normally stone face of the head maid softened as she was just how expressive and passionate the nearly tearing up copper haired woman was.

“It’s lovely.” The head maid responded before giving her a nod and offering a hanger. “I know just where to put it.” The two worked together and hung her mother’s wedding dress against a far wall of her room showing off its beauty and providing Melanie with a happy memory.

----

After being dressed in a pair of riding pants, a nice blouse (why white was beyond her) and a helmet under her arm, she was escorted by the maids to the stables. “Sir Dalton, the princess is here and ready for her riding lessons.”

“Thank you for walking me here.” She said brightly to the two handmaidens that had joined her for the journey. As the two bowed and walked away, Melanie called after them. “Alyssa, I hope your sister gets better and Kelsey, please bring your flute next time, I’d love to hear you play it!” Her wave was a bit overexcited as the two girls left. Maybe it was because she was over talkative herself or that the staff was getting comfortable around her already; the thought of that made her smile.

Her smile, however, disappeared when she turned back around and began to fiddle with the helmet in her hands. “Uh… So…” She began as she walked towards Dalton and stayed a few stepped behind him and further from the horse. “Good morning Dalton. I… I didn’t realize the horse would be so tall…” Her fingers played with the chin strap of her helmet as she looked up at the white mare, she was beautiful. There was no doubt about this. “I should probably tell you… I’ve never rode a horse before…”

Upon hearing the familiar crunch of gravel under feet, Dalton turned around to see two maids escorting the Princess just as they announced her arrival. He nodded briefly at the two to show his acknowledgment, but as Melanie started excitedly exclaiming things after the maids Dalton couldn't help the look of surprise that crossed his face. It wasn't normal for those of higher rank to be so familiar and informal with the servants and maids. It was their job to serve the castle nobles with efficiency and without complaint. Any other bureaucrat would promptly scold her for acting so improper. However Dalton felt himself relax from his momentary shock. He was beginning to realize it was a breath of fresh air to have someone like Melanie around.

Most of the nobles that he had the "pleasure" of meeting were so caught up in their duties and ranks and fancy titles that they paid no mind to the people that made their lives more comfortable. Even he got treated as no more than a tool for the kingdom. Granted Dalton hadn't been born into a famous family nor raised with wealth or a proper education but he did live in this world whether he was truly part of it or not. And nobles always took note of who belonged to what family. Family ties and power meant everything in their world. But Melanie, having been raised outside of the fantasy of this world until now, cared not of notions like titles and wealth. She saw people as one and the same without distinguishing between noble and servant.

He still truly believed this girl in front of him had a long way to go before she was able to run a kingdom but she was also starting to change his original judgement that she wasn't cut out for this kind of responsibility. It was still true that Melanie didn't belong here and she probably never truly would but maybe, just maybe, that's what this kingdom needed. A leader that hadn't been raised with the same ideologies as the other royal families. Someone who would treat her citizens as part of her family rather than people to be ruled over.

Reorienting himself back from his thoughts just as the maids left and Melanie gave one last wave of goodbye, Dalton saw her smile fade as she turned back around to face him. He caught her eyes flicker toward her horse before settling back on him and could tell in that brief moment that she was intimidated by the mare without her having to voice those thoughts. His assumption was indeed confirmed as she started to speak and he gave a soft smile at the lack of "Sir" in front of his name.

"Good morning to you as well Melanie. The stable boy picked her out from the king's own prized collection. 'I want only the best for the Princess' were King Gabriel's own words." Dalton walked away from the horse toward Melanie and grabbed the helmet out of her fidgeting fingers just as she admitted having never ridden before. He merely nodded, already figuring as much. It didn't take a genius to guess this coffee girl from town had never been around a horse. Her big blue eyes gave everything away. Dalton definitely had his hands full with this one.

"First lesson, always wear your helmet." He set it on her head before adjusting the chin strap for her and turned back toward her horse. "And before you ask, I don't need one since I actually know what I'm doing." Flashing her a playful smirk, Dalton grabbed the reins and started walking the mare toward Melanie.

"Lesson two, never be afraid of your horse." He reached out with his free hand to grab one of the Princess', forcing her to pet the horse's nose. The white mare released a soft whinny and nuzzled into Melanie's hand before Dalton released her wrist. "See, nothing to be afraid of. You're free to name her whatever you wish. She's yours from today and forward."

It went without saying that the selection process included picking out the least aggressive of the king's horses. Dalton shuddered at the memory of meeting his own stallion for the first time. His arm still had the scar as testament of how well that went. Now, however, he would trust no other horse to ride him into battle. But Storm was bred as a warhorse whereas Melanie's own mare would merely be for recreational purposes and the occasional royal appearances through town when a carriage wasn't necessary.

"Now for lesson three and the actual start of today's class, getting you on your horse."

Dalton spent the next hour going over the different parts of a saddle and where to place one's feet in the stirrups. He showed by example how to climb up onto a horse and how to hold the reins and proper posture while sitting in the saddle. Once Dalton was actually able to accomplish getting the Princess in the saddle, a feat by itself, he led the mare around by a separate lead while Melanie held the reins. Dalton wanted to get her comfortable in the saddle and used to what it felt like to actually sit on a horse before he passed control off to her. Depending on how quickly she grew confident with her horse, the actual riding lesson may have to wait.

I’m going to have to ride a horse… Melanie’s stomach turned at the idea as she fiddled with her helmet. This was a scary idea but at least she had a… friend? with her to help her through it. Dalton’s words that matched King Gabriel’s made her heart tighten, he really did care. She wasn’t his birth child and she was chosen for… some reason but he seemed to support her and want the best for her. What a kind man!

Shank

The helmet slid onto her head as he pushed it on and buckled the strap into place. All Melanie could do was stare up at him with wide eyes, he was… really going to make her do this. “Always where your helmet… but…” She opened her mouth to protest, in a sad attempt to prolong the enablable. Instead he fired back at her with a playful smirk and a statement that he didn’t need one. A look of playful disapproval moved across her face as she pushed her brows together and gave him a very poor attempted at a grumpy look… which was quickly overshadowed by the fact that she was nearly laughing at him.

Wow he was being playful! Maybe she could actually call him her friend soon, especially since he’s lightened up more. Maybe the more time they spend together the more he will be able to open up to her. She loved talking to people; there was no doubt about that and to have someone so ‘close to home’ to joke and laugh with would make this whole transition much more relaxing for her.

Until… he brought over the horse. Any point of her that he relaxed instantly tensed up as the 15 hand horse was brought face to… nose with her. Her breathing halted in her chest and her eyes went wide as if she was ready to turn tail and run as fast as she could the other direction. But Dalton was too quick as he grabbed her hand and put it on the mare’s nose.

“Oh…” Her voice was filled with surprise as she touched the soft nose of the nuzzling mare. A small smile moved across her full lips as she continued the gentle stroking motion that he had begun for her. The horse was soft and seemed rather gentle but it was still something much larger than her and… well that was a bit scary. But… it wasn’t that bad.

“Name her?” She questioned as her brow pushed together in thought. For her, it was the first decision she would ever make as a princess and… something about that was a bit stressful, even thought she was just naming an animal. “Uh… Um…” She continued to pet the horse as she attempted to find an answer and after a moment she finally spoke, a gentle smile moved across her face as she came to the decision. “Ellie. Ellie was the name of my dog that saved me from my house burning down. So if I’m going to have this horse as mine and I shouldn’t be scared of her, I’d like to think of her as someone I can rely on.”

Ellie seemed to agree with the name as she let out another whinny and nuzzled more into her hand. Then… Dalton said lesson three and her eyes expanded and shot to him. “What?” She questioned, a squeak of stress to her voice, “On… the horse?” More squeaks and even more nervousness went across her face as she realized that yes this is part of riding the horse.

Despite her fear, or maybe he chose to ignore it, the lesson continued with knowledge about the saddle and how to climb up onto the horse. “Oh god, I hope I never had to do that in a dress…” She muttered to herself as she watched him gracefully climb on. She knew she would be anything but graceful as she did so and… well she was right. After flopping like a dead fish onto the back of the horse, she made it on and upright and even facing the right way! It only took seven tries but she did it!

“Okay…” She breathed to herself as she took in her new scenery. “Oh goodness I’m up high…” Her heart pounded in her chest as she reached down and took up the reins as Dalton had so politely demonstrated. Her focus was on her posture and how she held the rains… that was until something bothered Ellie’s ear and the horse shook its head to chase away the bother.

Panic filled Melanie and she dropped the rains, leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the horse’s neck. “No Ellie it’s okay!” She said in an attempt to calm the… well calm horse. There was no doubt that Melanie was afraid but her first thought was… “Are you okay? Are you alright? What happened?”

The horse didn’t respond… because it can’t talk. But it did whinny softly and snort lightly as if… laughing at her. “….” Melanie opened her eyes to realize exactly what she had done and… Dalton was right there holding the lead to the unmoving horse. Her cheeks turned red as she quickly and awkwardly sat upright and retrieved the rains. With a flush face and completely embarrassed at her reaction she straightened her posture and composed herself… to some degree. She was a princess now and needed to act as such…

This happened 3 more times.

After straightening herself up for the third time she was practically shaking. “Dalton I need a break…” She said in a small whimper, “… Um…” Her body shifted as she attempted to get down only to find herself more nervous about the height. “How… we didn’t go over the getting down part...”