Barnes & Rogers

J.B.B. - Enchanted Kiss

SUMMARY: Maeve remembers James being the rascal of a boy that tormented her at court, and wasn't thrilled when he was put in the position as her personal guard. Over the years, she realized that he was no longer the brat she remembered, and she would steal glances at him when she would be at her place in the woods to get away from the pressures of being a princess.

WARNINGS: pining, fluff

PAIRINGS: Bucky Barnes x OFC!Maeve

WORDS: 2,252

The forest sounds were calming to Maeve: birds chirping, the subtle sound of bees and other insects, and the flowing stream to her left. She laid, sprawled out, on the grass, looking at a small yellow flower she had picked earlier. She needed to get away from the castle, away from her overbearing mother and demanding father, away from the pressures of the court and the nosiness of her handmaids. They meant well, but she needed a moment of peace with no one talking. She needed silence. The woods offered reprieve, no one knew of her secluded spot she had picked out years ago when she was just at her father's hip. The open meadow was surrounded by shading trees and a babbling brook attracted all types of wildlife. It was far enough away from prying eyes, and her escort, James, was the only one that knew of the area, as he had accompanied her each and every time in the last two years.

James.

Her eyes flitted from the yellow flower she was holding to the man standing by their horses steps away. She's known him since she was a child, the son of her father's most trusted advisor, and when she turned fourteen, her parents had chosen him to escort her anywhere that was outside of the castle. He accompanied her to the markets, rode in her carriage when her family was requested at other courts, and of course, watched over her when she needed to be in the woods. At first she wasn't thrilled: the mean boy from her childhood who would put frogs in her chamber, mice under her skirts, and snakes in her purses, was to be her shadow until she was to be married off to whatever prince her father deemed fit for her. She didn't trust James then, afraid that he would take whatever chance he could to send her into the brook, laugh at any mishaps, and possibly let her get killed. But over the last four years, he grew on her.

Until recently, she saw him just as someone to trust and share secrets with that she didn't dare share with anyone else. Now, as she looked at him, as discreetly as she could, she didn't see the snotty nose brat she once knew nor as just a man who was looking after her well being. She was enamored by him. His long, dark hair framed his sharp features and his blue eyes were brighter than she has ever seen. His armor glinting slightly in the sun, a hand on the hilt of his sword and the other gripping the reigns of the horses, he looked absolutely dashing. She watched as his hand left the hilt to dig into the satchel that was donned to his belt, pulling out two small nubs of carrots and offering them to the horses. She could see his lips move as he whispered something to the equines, his usually stern mouth pulling into a small smile.

"Didn't know you could smile," Maeve quipped, turning to her side and propped her head up on her hand.

"I always smile," James replied lowly, not turning to her as he ran his head along her horse's forehead. "Or has our childhood been so long ago that you don't remember?"

She pursed her lips as her eyes narrowed at him. He always was cordial with her, but right now he seemed gruff and irritated. "Oh, I remember a red faced boy who liked to torment me with surprises," she replied back tartly.

"And yet, you never told our fathers. Why is that?" He turned to her, his face neutral and unreadable. She shrugged her free shoulder before lying back down on her back, a hand resting under head, the other on her stomach and closed her eyes. She didn't see his eyes wander over her relaxing form nor notice him tying the reins to the nearest branch. "Well Princess?"