Natalie pov

"Hello my Prince."

"Natalie." I dared to make eye contact with him. His striking blue eyes piercing right into my own. "You may rise now." he spoke. "And drop it with the formalities. You know you can just call me Audrey."

"You're late. As a Prince shouldn't you be trained to attend matters in a timely manner." I said quoting his lessons. He looked a bit agitated so I stopped whatever more teasing I could do. "What's wrong?"

"Its nothing, just... Politics." He said.

"Is that so?" I said lamely.

"You have no idea..." He sighed. "Hey,"

"Hm?"

"What happend to you? You're covered in sweat." he said gesturing to my soaked uniform. I ran my fingers through my blonde bangs.

"I made it through the gates on time however that wasn't enough for the commander."

"You were late to your post?"

"Apparently."

"Any idea how that went?" he smirked but I only scowled back. "How many laps today hmm?"

"Twenty." I barked.

"Yeesh sorry that's actually a bit much."

"Ya think? But I got off the hook by vomiting." I laughed as his face twisted in disgust.

"You are absolutely gross."

"You gotta do what you gotta do." I shrugged. But we both stopped when we heard a wail in the distance.

"Your highness!" The voice called desperately. "Your highness! Where are you?"

"Did you run away from one of your lessons again?" I scolded.

"Perhaps." He said with a smirk but then immidetly cringed as the title was being called again.

"You really need to stop doing that." I said as I glared at him.

"But what about you?" He questioned.

"What about me?

"Its just- the lessons get so boring. And you're always here by yourself."

"I'm not always by myself. I often spar with the Lieutenant when you're not around."

"Yes I know, but everything is always the same. It's all politics and manners, my whole life is."

"Well, I mean you are destined to be king one day. You need to be prepared to take that responsibility." I said, trying my best to seem intelligent and supportive, but that clearly failed when his mood changed drastically. His eyes looked, sad. I feel like hes hiding something, but I know better then to pry.

"You act as if that I've ever even had a choice." He said coldly. "You of all people should understand that."

I looked away. Memories of what happened to family flooded my vision, what happened to them was all my fault. All because of some responsibility I never asked for, and he knew that. I felt my cheeks heat up, angry at the thought. Before I could even think of anything else, Audrey's voice drew me from my thoughts.

"Do you ever worry if others find out?" He asked as he tugged his knees to his chest, no longer looking at me. His nearly styled hair fell into his eyes. His hair was so unique, it was white. The cause of a birth defect but none the less I found it rather lovely.

"About being a you know what or a you know who?"

I asked just to double check if he meant by me being a girl or by being a destined champion for Fina.

"Both." He said nonchalantly.

"All the time."

"Then why risk it?" With that question his eyes pierced into mine. His eyes were an intense saphire blue, and were always so kind but now they held an unspoken intensity. I looked away before I got lost in his eyes and decided to pick at the grass we sat on as I pondered his question.

"Because... well... I'm not really sure. Probably to prepare my self for my future role?" I shrugged.

"I'm sure one day you won't have to hide anymore." He whispered but laughed dryly at the thought.

"One can only dream." Thats when I decided to lay back in the grass and stare up at the sky. The air around us was thick as all of the 'what ifs' or 'what could be' swirled in my mind.

"When I'm king. If I'm king. I guarantee you a place in the palace where you can be yourself. Not by your ridiculous alias of 'nathaniel'." He smiled as he decided to lay down as well.

"I don't think that's possible."

"I do." Audrey said honestly. We lied there in silence, feeling the gentle breeze move through the blades of grass. The warmth of the sun kissing my skin and the chirping of birds high above. But just then the bell rang at the clock tower. I shot up immediately scrambling to my feet.

"My break is over. And you should head back to your lessons." I held my hand out for him to stand up, which he gratefully took and I pulled him up.

"You're right. Same time tomorrow?" He asked eagerly as he brushed off the grass from his white trousers.

"Only if you're not running away again." I joked as I threw a hand full of grass at him. As he began to walk away, he turned around and held his hands up in defeat with a playful grin on his face.

"No promises." He smirked. I was about to give him a snarky remark but with that he turned around and ran into one of the open corridors.

That's when it was my turn to take my leave. Quickly, I dashed to the armory even though my legs throbbed in protest.

I grabbed my bow and quiver and climbed up the steps of the east tower and into the corridor of the wall where I took my position in front of my assigned arrow slip and drew my bow slightly. On hot and humid days like this I was extremely grateful for my post being in the shade.

The uniforms we wore were heavily layered. Consisting of an under shirt, chainmail, a deep blue vest with the golden insignia of Astile. And over that, a long white coat with blue trimming on the cuffed sleeves with the crest of Astile on the lwft shoulder. Then you had gray trousers and tall boots with a thin metal interior to protect the shin. Most guards were from the outskirts of the country where it was custom for them to grow out their hair a bit and while on duty they would tie it up in either a top knot or a ponytail. So often I wore my extremely thick blonde hair in a high ponytail, where my scruffy bangs would fall on my forehead and have a longer lock frame the side of my face.

The wall I was stationed at wasn't as heavily guarded as most. It consisted of about twelve other archers and myself. I never mingled much with other soldiers, theres only two in the whole regiment that I'd actually call friends and even those two didn't know I was actually a girl. First is Cole Grants. He was the same rank as me and a couple of years older than I am; just bordering on twenty years of age. He was a rowdy one at that, I often thought of him as a brother. And then there was Mathis Ferguson. He was the lieutenant and was the one who had actually trained me personally. Deep down I often fear if he actually knows I'm not a boy, but he's never done anything to waver the thought.

But even so the the three of us have had good times together.

After having my bow drawn for hours and the sun starting to set slightly, then out of the corner of my eye I saw the commander had made his way to my post. until the commander came up. I pretended I didn't see him and remained vigilant on the vast grounds below me. That is until he stopoed right behind me.

"Nathaniel." his gruff voice said sternly. I whipped around immidetly and offered a salute remaining silent.

"My office. Now." My stomach turned to ice. This couldn't be good. He then turned and started to walk away, and it was clear he wanted me to follow him.

Quickly, I shoved the arrow in my quiver and closed the flap, then pulled the bow over my head and followed the unruly red head to the I side of the palace.

We walked in silence as I followed him. As I walked behind him I took the time to marvel at the interior of the palace. It was so detailed and there were so many doors and different intersecting hallways. The tan marble floors were spotless and the deep blue curtains that hung from the Windows had intricate patterns embroidered with golden thread. I passed an open door and caught a glimpse of Audrey sitting at a desk with a furrowed brow as he scribbled some words on a piece of paper. He must of felt my eyes on him because he immediately looked up and locked eyes with me. When he saw who was in front of me he cast me a questioning glance. I shrugged slightly and kept on going.

Soon he stopped and opened a deep mahogony door to a simple office.

"Sit." he ordered, gesturing to a seat in front of a oak desk. And as said I obeyed.

"Am I in trouble?" I said weakly, "Because if so I didn't do it-" and with that he let out a hardy laugh.

"No for Fina's sake. I wanted to ask you something."

"Okay? Shoot." I slouched in the chair a bit, crossing my arms.

"Well I have a proposal for you..." he trailed as I raised my brows. "In one week the Prince will be travelling to the neighboring country, Baldonia." My heart stopped, he hadn't told me he'd be leaving. He never said anything of the sort.

"Okay...?" I trailed waiting for more information.

"And, well, I've chosen you to be one of the guards that will accompany him on his journey there-"

"No." I cut him off. He looked taken aback at my sudden answer. "Absolutely not." I said shaking my head as I stood up.

"Why not?" He said,standing up and leaning over his desk. "This is a great honor!" His voice boomed

"Sir, I appreciate your faith in me to guard his royal highness, truly I do. But you'll have to find someone else for the job." He shook his head clearly disappointed and somewhat angry.

"Now, if I may be excused sir, I believe my shift has just ended." I say turning on my heel toward the door.

"Its an order." He said quietly. "I order you to accompany him."

"My apologies." I say, trying to sound formal and sincere. "But if that is an order, then I will resign and I believe you would like to keep your best archer on the regiment.'' I didn't even bother to face him. My cheeks were hot with both fear and anger. I had never allowed myself to speak out of turn before. I was absolutely terrified on what his reaction would be. I hesitated for a moment, waiting on his reply.

He sighed. "Very well then Nathaniel. You may take your leave." And with that I walked out the door with as much confidence as I could muster.