Author:  pulsar (pulsar03@juno.com)
Title:  The Guard and the Heir part 2/2
Category:  AU, Fairy tale, Romance
Warnings: AU.  Fairy tale.  Hints of 1+2+1.
Archive:  If anyone wants it, I'm more than happy to let you have it,
just drop me a line and let me know where you're putting it.  I am
currently being archived at a bunch of different sites which, for the
sake of saving space, I've decided not to list here.  If anyone wants to
know where I'm archived, drop me a line and I'll be more than happy to
give you the list.
Disclaimer:  GW is not mine.
Author's notes:  This is a companion piece to The Princess and the
Dragon.  I suggest reading that first, though it won't matter too much if
you haven't.  You should read part one of The Guard and the Heir before
you read this, otherwise some things won't make much sense.  Thanks to
Rayamon, who, though the fates conspired against her, finally managed to
beta this!
Feedback:  I would LOVE to hear what you thought of my fic!

_blah blah blah_ = italicized
//blah blah blah// = thoughts

The Guard and the Heir
part 2

        They rode through the day and into the evening, pausing briefly
at midday to wash the bear’s blood from their clothes and bodies. The
heir was careful to avoid his servant as they bathed. //What was I
thinking?// he wondered, shaking his head. //Handsome?! I thought he was
_handsome_?! What in the name of heaven is wrong with me?//

        "Are you all right, sir?" questioned the bodyguard as they
dressed and mounted their horses. "You seem distracted. Are you still
bothered by the events of this morning?"

        "More than you know," he answered truthfully.

        "Shall we rest longer then?"

        "No, let’s just get there as soon as we can."

        "Can’t wait to meet your bride, eh?" the servant questioned,
winking. "Looking forward to your wedding night?"

        "Yes, I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with a woman whom
I do not know," his master replied dryly.

        "It cannot be too bad, sir. Otherwise your father would not have
agreed to it. I am certain she will be wonderful."

        "Would you care to marry her in my stead?"

        The bodyguard laughed. "Not particularly, sir."

        "So you admit that your sympathies are false."

        "Sir, my sympathies are sincere. I merely have no desire to wed a
princess." //Or any woman, for that matter…//

        "Apparently we have something in common, then."

        The bodyguard’s head snapped to look at his master. //Did I speak
aloud? Is he …? Can he be …?// "Pardon me?"

        "I have no desire to wed a princess either."

        Captivating violet eyes met deep cobalt blue ones. "What do you
suggest, my lord?"

        "What do you mean?"

        "We need not travel to Sanq, if you would prefer not to."

        "Where would we go, then?"

        "Anywhere you desire."

        The baron’s son gulped at his servant’s words. //Desire…// He
shook his head furiously, as if to dislodge his thoughts. "No," he spoke
aloud. "No. Though this contract was made without my consent or wishes, I
will honor it."

        "Sometimes I wonder if you do not have too much honor, sir."

        Their eyes locked for a moment. Then, the baron’s son turned away
and urged his horse forward.

        They rode on for days, hardly pausing to rest. Finally, the
mountains bordering Sanq grew close. The servant drew his sword.

        "Be on your guard, sir. I have heard tell of a strange creature
in these parts."

        "As have I," answered the master, drawing his sword as well. "Let
us travel through as quickly as possible. I feel the less time spent
here, the better."

        "Agreed." They dug in their heels and drove their mounts forward.
Suddenly, something dropped from the sky directly into their path.

        "You are wise men, to be on your guard. There is indeed a strange
creature in these parts, though he is not dangerous unless he is given
reason to be." The griffin grinned at them, or rather, grinned as much as
is possible for a creature with a beak. "And who are you, that you have
heard of the griffin but are unafraid to travel his paths?"

        "Who we are is none of your concern, beast! Our business here is
our own! Let us pass!" the braided man shouted, masking his fear with
bravado.

        The griffin jumped at the braided man, avoiding his sword easily
and knocking him off his horse, sending him into unconsciousness. "Rather
cheeky, isn’t he?" The griffin eyed the human greedily. "Such a tasty
morsel…"

        The baron’s son’s eyes lit with a cold flame and he jumped from
his horse, brandishing his sword menacingly. "Let him be! He has done
nothing!"

        "He was rude."

        "He was _afraid_! And I do not blame him for it."

        "Nor do I. Now, what are you doing in my territory?"

        "We wish to pass to Sanq. We meant no harm to you, nor did we
mean any disrespect to you by traveling through your lands. I apologize
for our actions, but we are in a hurry, and this path is the quickest
road to Sanq."

        The griffin’s eyes lit up at the news. "So _you’re_ the one who
is to marry the princess? Or perhaps was it him?" he asked, gesturing to
the unconscious bodyguard.

        "It is I," he replied cautiously.

        "Then pass with my blessing." The griffin looked kindly at him.
"I am sorry for attacking you and your companion. Had I known you were
her betrothed, I would have left you alone."

        "Might I ask why?"

        "I am the last of my kind. It is due to the king that I am alone,
but it is due to the princess’s pleading that I was spared. She had
begged for my mate’s life as well, but human hearts can be harder than
stone. But when they were aiming at me, she threw herself in the path,
with no thought of her own safety." The griffin looked towards Sanq
fondly as he recalled her actions. "It was not the brightest action for
her to take, but it came from the kindness in her heart. For her, I will
let you both pass."

        "Thank you." He sheathed his sword, and picked up his fallen
comrade. He placed his bodyguard on Daisy and climbed on behind to keep
him from falling.

        The griffin nodded. "Good luck in your journey, friends. My
sincere apologies."

        The baron’s son nodded in acknowledgment and spurred Daisy on.
Nightwind followed.

        "One last thing, young master!" called the griffin. The baron’s
son slowed Daisy to a stop and turned to face the creature on the path
behind him. "If you see the dragon, make sure your companion does not
threaten him. The dragon does not take kindly to threats, and is much
less likely to let you pass should you not treat him with kindness and
respect. However, if you treat him kindly, you will find that he is a
true friend and is willing to help should problems arise."

        Nodding, Daisy’s rider replied, "Thank you for your advice, sir
griffin."

        "Take care that you heed it, betrothed of the princess." With
those last words, the griffin flew off. Daisy and Nightwind rode off
towards Sanq, and their masters’ destinies.

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