Huntress (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

5

I don't sleep too well that night, the conversation between mother and I repeating itself over and over. If I do get a spare moment, which with my role is going to be very rare, then maybe I will try to make the effort to go and visit her. But for now she needs time to accept why I've chosen this.

I finish braiding my hair before securing it into a bun, keeping it out of my face for the job at hand. My uniform isn't too bad either - I'm used to trousers by now, even if the men here are not used to seeing a woman in them.

Steve is already awake and sat at the table pondering over some papers while he eats breakfast, as I walk in and bow my head. "Good morning my lord..."

He looks up at me after a moment. "Morning Hale - did you sleep well?"

I shrug. "It's been a while since I had a decent night's sleep".

I'm not lying. If it's not a strange place or bed then it's the faces of the men who I killed that appear to me.

He smiles to himself and nods. "New place, it's understandable. Have you eaten?"

"I'm not very hungry, I'll be outside the door if you need me..." I tell him and go to leave but he stops me.

"Hale". I look back at him. "If you're guarding me personally, then that means that you're with me personally". His gaze burns into me, now gesturing for me to take the seat next to where he has the one at the head of the table. "Come sit, eat. Your job isn't like that of a normal guard. No need to bore yourself standing outside my chambers all day".

Silently, I seat myself next to him and pick at some grapes while he continues looking over his papers. So my job basically just involves being where he is at all times. Except off duty in my own room of course - but even then it adjourns his, so my duties will never really stop.

There's still a chill in the air, and I note the fire needing more logs and take some from the basket next to the hearth, throwing them on there for the flames to devour.

"So I am just supposed to sit in silence while you read boring papers?" I now question as I sit down again, taking my knife from my belt and toying with it.

"Unfortuantly boring papers make up just some of my day". Steve says, not looking up from them as he reads and then signs. Placing it to one side before moving onto the next.

"Must be such a curse, being the son of the High Lord". I jest lightly.

Not as much of a curse like the one that was bestowed on me, but I'm not here to compare our lives - because they're incredibly far apart from another.

His eyes flicker up and a small smile is tugging at his lips. "You have no idea".

I shrug it off. "So enlighten me?". Now eager to hear just how bad his life is.

Steve sits back, chucking the paper down onto the table and then looks at me. "I'm about about to launch into complaints when there are people out there in worse situations. I count myself lucky that soon I'll be in the position to help them more. It's all well and good advising my father about it, but it's doesn't impact as much as it would if I were in his position".

"Do you want to be?" I now ask

"Not now, but one day I will. In general Auburndale is thriving as a city, as are the people - but there's still the odd few that need help. It's come a long way under fathers guidance, and I hope it will even more so under mine".

I nod slowly in agreement. "Is he expecting you to secure a marriage before the title passes?"

Steve snorts. "Of course he is, but I told him that it's my choice of who I take as my own. No arrangements or agreements with other houses, although my mother never came from that. She came from nothing, started out as a healers daughter and wasn't considered to be a good match in the eyes of the advisors who had their hearts set on him matching with someone from another house. My father fell in love with her straight away and wouldn't budge from his decision. I'd like to think that I'd hold the same determination in my feelings when it comes to finding the woman who will be standing by my side.

So Sarah was just a peasant? That's interesting.

"She certainly has a rich aura about that, but I would never have been able to tell that she wasn't from a low class".

"She took to the life like a duck to water, picked up things easily - people loved her because she could understand them, and she still does. If anything the match humbled my father". Steve smirks to himself at this and then laughs lightly. "Even now she still says it's her greatest achievement".

I wouldn't know what mine would be, other than staying alive.

"She certainly seems just as determined in her ways as you said your father was".

"Probably what made them so compatible- she doesn't let him rule her, and he knows it". He says, then rising from his chair and going to the window. "It's something that I'd never do either. Respect within marriage needs to come from both sides and have a healthy balance. Unfortunately not many of these have that - my parents are a rare exception".

Turning away from the window finally, I watch patiently as he takes his sword and sheaths it on his belt. "Training time".

All I can do is nod with a, "very good my lord" by way of response - following him out before we're stopped by Lady Sarah, who greets her soon a good morning and then glances towards me.

"May I have a moment with Hale? You're not running off anywhere important are you?"

Steve shakes his head. "Just the training field, I'll see you there are after you're done". He tells me and leaves me with Sarah.

She now gestures for me to tomorrow her to her chambers and shows me inside, closing the door once she walks in and the sound of the key turning to lock it.

"It's been years since I've come across someone like you...". My blood runs cold as I now look at her standing there calmly. "I know what you are..."