"Falling"

Lost

As hard as Bella tries, she still manages to get lost almost on a daily basis. Sure, she has only been living in the Castle for a few days now, and the Castle isn't that different from her father's, but she somehow keeps getting herself out of sorts and ending up in places she didn't want to be in, and the two guards that accompany her everywhere are no help whatsoever. She is sure they get a kick out of every time she has gotten lost.

Today is no different. She woke up that morning determined to finally find her way to the stables, already missing her morning rides. Making her way through the garden, she makes a right turn and is suddenly facing the training grounds, where she can see King Josh's soldiers training in groups.

"I should not be here.", she thinks, just as she hears footsteps on the soft gravel approach her.

-"Can I help you, Your Highness?" - Commander Ackles asks, a mild look of confusion on his face.

-"I'm sorry, Commander, I seem to have taken a wrong turn and ended up getting lost. I'm trying to find the stables." - Bella gives him an embarrassed smile, wishing the ground below her would just swallow her whole.

-"It happens." - He smiles at her. -"If you wish, I can show you where it is."

-"If it's not too much trouble, I would appreciate it."

-"This way."

Commander Ackles leads her back down the path she had taken and heads towards the opposite path.

-"Oh, this is where I got turned around. Should've turn left instead of right." - Bella says, realizing her mistake.

-"It's easy to get lost when you don't know the Castle well enough. But when in doubt, just look for the small horse statue, it will tell you the right path to take."

-"I definitely need to remember that. I enjoy riding every morning, it's something I've done since I was a child, and I do not wish to end up at the training grounds again."

-"Why not? Do you believe there's no place in war for a woman?" - Jensen tries joking, but as soon as the words left his mouth he knew he had messed up.

-"Not at all." - Bella looks at him, confused. -"I believe that a woman has every right to know how to protect herself, by any means necessary, and not be completely dependent on a man for her protection. I just don't want to end up on the training grounds again so you won't have to show me the way back yet again and, therefore, keeping you from your job."

-"I don't mind."

He smiles at her, making her blush. Bella has to admit, Commander Ackles is a very handsome man, with his short brown hair, light stubble and green eyes. She knows that, if the circumstances were different, she could see herself being courted by him. "Knock it off. He probably is just being nice to you because of your role in his brother's Court.", she chides herself.

Walking side by side, Bella tries memorizing the path they are taking, but it's hard to focus when his body is so close to her, the scent of leather and steel, his scent she realizes, filling her nostrils and sending less than proper thoughts to the forefront of her mind.

Bella hears the horses before she can see them and is grateful when the stables come into full view. The stable boys are busy caring for the multiple horses that live there and no one seems to pay them any attention as they reach the entrance of the main stable.

-"Here we are." - Commander Ackles announces, looking back at her.

-"Thank you, Commander."

-"My pleasure, Your Highness. I take it you will be able to find your way back?"

-"Yes, I believe so."

-"Alright then, I will leave you in the very capable hands of our stable head. And I will see you at dinner. Your Highness." - He bows, before starting to walk away.

-"Commander?"

-"Yes, Your Highness?"

-"May I ask you a question?"

-"If I can answer, of course."

-"Is it custom for envoys to eat dinner with the Royal family every night?"

-"Just the really pretty ones, Your Highness."

Commander Ackles smirks at her, making her blush for a second time that morning, bringing back those improper thoughts, before walking away. Bella can't stop the smile on her lips, but decides she needs to speak with the King about the dinner arrangements.

Like Bella said the day she arrived, she is there as an envoy, not as a visiting Princess. She doesn't want special treatment, even though she knows that it is inevitable with certain things. Still, she hopes that, once she speaks to the King about it, that special treatment will lessen.

Certain that she is making the right decision, she makes her way inside the stables, ready to find a horse that she can take out every morning, so she can have some time for herself, away from the pressures and traps of life in a foreign Court.