For Her

His words haven’t left Ruby’s mind in weeks. The thought was constant and thriving through her mind. Her feet would pace from the princess’s doors too the grandfather clock halfway down the long hallway. The face with the time stared back at the curly haired child, her eyes would stare back in amazement at the ticking and movement.
The sudden sound from the unfamiliar contraption snapped her back from her thoughts, her body jolted as the ticking device made the strange sounds.
“You fear clocks I see,” Ruby looked to her right so quickly she felt her body adjust and form an attack stance, only to see the princess before her with nothing more than a playful smile. Ruby felt her body heat up. This was not how her first night guarding the princess outside her doors was supposed to go.
“Princess, I apologize,” Ruby spoke her words quickly, and went to her knee.
“What for? And no need for that formality, we’ve spoke of this before.” She spoke with an even tone, and Ruby could hear the innocence behind it. What the Royal didn’t know, was that there was a need for her formality. Ruby was beaten enough times to understand that. If any warrior or royal staff witnessed any informality, she would be punished. Sapphire didn’t have to know that.
“My formality will stay until it’s no longer needed.”
“Stand, please,” the princess asked politely, Ruby did as she was told and looked at Sapphire. She grew uncomfortable.
“Was there something you needed, your highness?”
“Yes, water,”
“You would like me to go fetch you some I assume?”
“I would like you to accompany me while I go and get some,” She said, the smile on her face returned. “They didn’t say much to you when you were assigned this task did they?”
“In all honesty, no,”
“Come along now, Talk with me.”
They roamed the halls of the palace for the kitchen, both silent. Ruby never met a person who did everything with such grace, the poofy dress which would have restricted her own ability to walk normally, swished evenly and subtle with every step from Sapphire. The blue fabric brought out the tan skin and bright blond hair. It also looked tight around the waist, uncomfortably so, she looked smaller than she truly was.
“For one who wanted to talk, you seem unwilling to strike up a conversation,” The words left her mouth before she considered how rude they may be, not that it mattered.
“For one who I asked to talk with, I could ask the same thing,”
“So be it then, tell me, why try to hold a conversation with me?” Ruby asked. It was a fair question, she thought.
“You’re the first female warrior ever heard of in this kingdom, and perhaps others. Am I not allowed to be impressed with your accomplishment?” Sapphire said as she walked past a royal staff member.
“No, not at all, your highness,” her formality returning. Sapphire whipped around to look at her assigned warrior then, once again trying to end the others formality.
“How many times must I-” her words fumbled to an end as she caught sight of the others face, the furrowed brow, mouth a thin line, and a pleading look in her eye.
“Formality is a necessity your highness. I apologize, I know no other way to speak to you,”
“I apologize, I hadn’t understood for so long why you needed to,” Sapphire whispered.
“Princess!” His voice was booming and a huge smile was plastered around his face, his open arms were anything but a sign of aggression, so Ruby only watched as the large man hugged the tiny Royal.
“Tye! How is the most talented in the kingdom doing?” Her smile was wide, Ruby noticed, It fitted the girl, she thought.
“You flatter me young one, truly you do. Why do you come here at this hour? Dinner was only an hour or so ago.”
“Water,” was her simple reply.
“What! Where is the boy who was to bring a pot up hourly?”
“Newly assigned task, the new executioner I believe,”
“Nicholas,” the name was softly mumbled from Ruby’s lips but it was heard.
“Ah! Yes! Nicholas was his name, a sweet young man wouldn’t you agree?”
“I would have no way of knowing, he spoke very few words to me,” Sapphire said.
“Would you know warrior?” The man labeled as Tye asked.
“He is,” Ruby spoke, “truly a person who cares not for himself, but for others,” her eyes went to the ground beneath her feet, focusing on the wavy pattern of the floor.
“Let me fetch your water, your grace,” Tye said as he walked away.
“Are you worried?” Sapphire mumbled.
“About?” Ruby answered quickly, completely unfocused.
“That boy, Nicholas?”
“Completely,” Her words and answer both simple.
“He is more than capable of it, you’re aware of that?”
“Very, I just...” her words trailed off, she didn’t know how to explain it.
“Did you enjoy his presence? You must miss him.”
“Well of course, he was a great friend I-”
“Water your highness!” Tye bellowed, the grin plastered on his face.
“Thank you Tye, that will be all. I thank you,” Sapphire mumbled in a cold tone.
They walked through the halls in silence once again, reversing their way to get water. Ruby had never felt so awkward. Not because of the silence, because of the tension. Sapphires cold tone voiced anger and irritation, why? Ruby for sure didn’t know.
They were steps away from her room when she stopped and asked another question, “Ruby, why did you become a warrior?”
The question made her freeze, she had told the story to the king, everyone should know the story. But why did this time, why did her saying it make her uncomfortable?
“It’s not wise to ask questions we aren’t prepared to hear the answer for, your grace,”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“It’s a long story princess,”
“Well,” she paused mid sentence to open her door and look back at the other, “we have all night for you to share.”

She could only stare at the other, bewildered by her words. Had the Princess actually spoke those words to her? Ruby could only offer a confused stare and nothing more, Sapphire spoke after a moment of awkward silence.
“Is there a problem?” She spoke, and Ruby still couldn’t form any part of a sentence in her head to say. “Ruby?”
“Your grace, I mustn't trouble you with my history.” Ruby said coldly. She hadn’t meant it to but she needed the princess to understand she had orders and rules to follow.
“You aren’t troubling me Ruby. I asked for your story, are you disagreeing with my request?” Ruby locked eyes with the princess and fumbled her words.
“N-no my princess, I apologise, please forgive me I-”
“Please come in and sit down Ruby,” Sapphire spoke, and walked in the room. After a short pause, Ruby entered.
The princesses room was how one would imagine it, neat and clean with only the finest of everything, what the only surprise was, were the books. Shelf upon shelf books were laid, some shelves even curving from weight and time.
“You wouldn’t happen to be a reader would you?” The words escaped Ruby’s mouth before she even realised she was talking.
“No.” Sapphire spoke, “I keep all of them here to make it seem like I’m knowledgeable.” Ruby looked at her dumbfounded until she saw the small smile emerge from Sapphire. Ruby couldn’t help but chuckle a bit.
“I apologize for my rudeness princess, but I shouldn’t be in your sleeping quarters,” Ruby mumbled almost. She was nervous.
“For a male protector perhaps. But you being female and all, that makes things different,” Sapphire said, “Sit down please,” she motioned towards the bed.

She stood frozen in the princesses quarters. Never in her life had she been so nervous. The princess spoke once more in an almost demanding tone, “Are you not going to speak with me?”
No your highness, I well, I-” she lowered her head, “I’m not proud of my past.”
“Ruby,” Sapphire grabbed her hand and pulled her next to her place on the bed, “Your past is what builds your charactor, what makes you, you.”
“I...your right your grace, I'll tell you.”

The storys of abuse and torture filled the room and left a cold feeling for both, emptyness filled Rubys heart at the loss of her siblings and she spoke of all the pain all the humiliation and the scars of the past. At the end of the rambling she felt a hand on theirs and looked up and saw the tears streaming down on the other.
“P-princess no why are you crying?”
“Because Ruby!” She looked away and wiped the tears and softly said, “So much harshness in a young life. It be unfair in all forms, yet here you are, in front of a daughter of a king, you have made it through life with brute force and, well an-”
“Princess do not cry for me, I beg of you,” Ruby was on her knees now and holding the princesses hand. “Please raise your head my Grace I shouldn’t be making you unhappy.”
“I’m touched by your story,” she paused and wiped a tear, “If you would fetch me my book from the shelf over there I would most appreciate it, there’s a character you remind me of and i'd like to show you.”
Ruby froze, her mind raced in the moment and her heart sunk, “the title my princess?” Ruby softly asked masking her fear.
“Blackthorn I believe,” she said as Ruby rose and turned to the shelf, It was only a few steps but her blank mind made it seem miles. Brown orbs scanned the worn books and the writing on the spines all blended and she plucked a random book and returned to the princesses side and handed her the book.
“Ruby,” Sapphire looked up and pursed her lips, “This isn’t Blackthorn.” Ruby went to her knee and apologised profusely.
“My grace I shall not lie to you,” she paused to find the courage to speak but couldn’t.
“Can you not understand the words?” Sapphire asked, “Unable to read are you?”
“Yes your highness,”
“You were never taught?” Sapphire sounded enraged. Ruby closed her eyes hard, this is where it all would end. The king trusted her with one of his most cared for people in the palace and she wasn’t even able to read the letters on any page.
“I will go and admit my lies now my princess,” Ruby looked at her and stood, “You deserve much more than a flawed protector.”
She rose and went for the door but small hands clasped around their arm. “I forbid you to do such a thing!” Her voice stern yet quiet, Ruby froze in place.
“My Gr-”
“I will teach you,”
“What?”
“I will teach you,” Sapphire pulled the bigger of the two back down on the bed, “I would be more than pleased to be the one to teach you Ruby.” Her words hit her like a knife to the flesh, one would think she would be use to that, her body proved the occasion happened many times.
“You should not waste your time on me my lady,” she spoke softly, “I’m not wort-”
“Stop that. I order you to let me teach you,” she said forcefully and Ruby not dare speak, she knew better not to, “Here.”
Sapphire stood and pointed to the desk, Ruby obliged and went and stood by the desk. When Sapphire pointed to the chair, Ruby sat. The young princess then walked over and put the book in front of her and opened it, “Show me what you can understand.”