The Guardian tensed, his voice coming out strained. "Wait, how important are you to the king? Please tell me you aren't his mistress."

Rose blanched, offended at the thought. She shook her head vigorously. "Of course not! The king has only had one woman he loved in that way, and she left long ago."

Silver relaxed. "That is good. I had heard positive things about King Rhodri, but keeping a young mistress hidden away in a tower would go against many of those accounts."

"You can take many liberties, but I will not have you speak poorly of the king." The girl's lips tightened. "He is a good and honest man, caring and kind."

"Noted—"

The princess was not done. "And another thing, I am not hidden away in this tower. I chose these rooms because they give me a view of the city."

"I think I understand. I mean no offense to the king or you." The man held up his hands defensively, hoping to stop the woman's verbal offensive. "My but you have a lot of fire, don't you?"

With a demure smile, the blonde averted her gaze. "I have been accused of having a strong spirit once or twice," she admitted.

"Can I ask you a question without incurring any more of your…spirit?"

Rose nodded, curious what he might want.

"If you aren't the king's mistress, why did you say…" Silver's response was cut short by a banging on the door beyond the sitting room.

Rose panicked for a moment, weighing her options. Should she call for help, send them away, or stay silent? None of them seemed like the proper course for different reasons.

Silver sighed. "I guess it is time for me to take a stand and defend myself." he said gravely as he spun the hilt of the blade in his hand. "I know you must turn me in."

Already the Guardian was planning to dash out the window as soon as the woman made the first step. He could nearly clear the tower and be onto the battlement before they would even know what happened. With an insane amount of luck, he might not be spotted and could…the woman's words pulled him from his thoughts.

"You aren't just going to hold me for ransom?" Rose suggested, hoping to avoid bloodshed. "I mean you are the one with the knife."

'I have far more deadly weapons than this pin cushion. Besides that, it is a bad idea.'

"Is that what you want? To be my captive?" Silver waved the tiny blade in the air.

"I thought I already was."

"Good point," Silver conceded. He had nearly forgotten.

The knock at the door grew more urgent. "Your Highness, please answer and let us in!" A deep voice called.

Silver nearly fell from his chair. 'Did he just say Your Highness?'

"Coming!" Rose called loudly. "I need a moment!"

Coming to a decision, Rose turned to her supposed captor. "You need to hide. I'll send them away. You'll be safe, I promise."

Rose couldn't say exactly why, but for the second time this evening, she did not want to see the man caught. Something deep inside her was willing to risk herself for his safety.

"I shouldn't trust you," Silver told her plainly, but he had already risen to move.

"Yes yes, I know," she chided, "now get in the wardrobe." The princess ushered the man into a large closet filled with clothes. "Stay here," she ordered firmly and held out her hand.

Without hesitation, Silver proffered the knife to her. The irony was not lost on him.

Rose, unaccustomed to handling weapons, seized the knife quickly with both hands. Her right hand gripped the handle, but her left palm ran straight across the sharpened steel. The razor's edge split her palm painfully, causing her to reflexively shut her fist, which only deepened the wound.

Her companion saw her face and what she had done. Silver began to step from the wardrobe and offer his help when the blonde waved him off with a forced smile, "I am fine," she told him, shutting the door on him with her shoulder.

Rose placed the knife back in its resting place on her headboard. She examined her hand as she rushed out of her bedroom. The cut was fairly deep with an angry trail of blood trickling from her palm. Some of it had dripped to the floor and bed, but she had no time to worry about the mess.

The soldiers were waiting. The princess made a fist, burying her hand in the folds of her dress and gripping the fabric tightly. 'Hopefully that will be good enough.'

"Get ready to break down the door, men." The voice in the hallway ordered. There was a murmur among the men as they got into formation.

"No need for that Captain Rabert. I am quite alright." Rose opened the door wide and graced the captain with a wane smile and a yawn. She quickly covered her mouth with her uninjured hand to maintain her ladylike appearance.

"Your Highness! Thank goodness. We were quite worried when you did not come to your father after the attack. We thought maybe you had been hurt or abducted. The king has been pacing the floor nonstop." The concern in Rabert's voice was evident, and a wave of guilt nearly overcame the princess.

"Please send Father my apologies. After the events in the garden, I felt unwell and came to rest in my chambers. As you can see, I did not even bother to undress. I am still fatigued and must head back to bed. Now if you will excuse me." There was a warning in her voice as she began to close the door.

Rabert pushed his hand against the polished wood and stopped it from shutting. Rose gasped.

The captain looked uncomfortably at the ground. "We have been sent to escort you to King Rhodri," he told her apologetically. "It would be best if you came so that we may protect you."

The princess considered going with them for a moment. It was the safer route, and she was sure the stranger could escape. But if a confrontation erupted, he might hurt Rabert and his men, and she was very fond of the captain. And if she went, her father would be sure to see her wounded hand and ask what happened.

Rose didn't want to lie nor did she want to admit her own foolishness. If Rhodri knew the truth, the king would lock her up tighter than even the crown jewels. It would be insufferable, though not entirely unwarranted.

But beyond everything else, the blonde had made a promise to the cloaked man hiding in her closet. Rose would keep him safe.

Shaking her head sadly, she responded, "I'm afraid I cannot go with you. I am far too tired. Father will have to understand."

Rose was feeling light headed, but it had more to do with the wetness of the blood flowing from her hand than the events of the evening. She feared any moment the soldiers would notice the growing stain on her yellow satin gown.

The two were at an impasse. The captain and his men could not forcibly remove the princess from her rooms without angering the king, yet they also could not leave her and return to Rhodri without having done at least something.

The captain saluted. "Then we must search your quarters, Your Highness. The intruder is still on the loose. King Rhodri will have our heads if we cannot ensure your safety," Rabert pleaded.

'He's right of course. I cannot send them back empty handed.' Reluctantly, Rose opened the door wide. "Very well. But a quick search. My patience is thin, and I am quite safe. You can go to Caitlyn's room first." 'That will buy me a little time.'

"I appreciate your understanding, Your Highness. We will do our best to be efficient." Rabert motioned to two men, "Cole and Philip, come with me. The rest of you stand guard."

The three men entered the princess's suites and began their search. While they were distracted, Rose backed toward her room surreptitiously, hoping to have enough time to warn the hooded stranger before he could be discovered.