Butterflies were madly fluttering around Sara's stomach as she knocked on Catherine's door, a boquet of freshly picked flowers clutched tightly in one hand. She'd detoured through the garden on her way from Sam's room.

Catherine answered the door in her nightgown, obviously ready for bed. "Sara? What are you doing h-- what are those?"

Sara cleared her throat and held out the flowers. "They're flowers. For, for you."

"I know they're flowers," Catherine laughed. "But why are you bringing me flowers? Who are they from? I don't want any suitors," she said, making a face.

Sara shook her head. "They're from me, Catherine."

"What?" the princess looked up at her with wide blue eyes, reaching out to take the flowers. "But-- you said--" She was shaking, tears filling her eyes. "Don't joke with me, please," she whispered.

"I would never," Sara said, stepping closer to Catherine and reaching out to place trembling hands on the princess's waist. "I spoke to your father, and he gave us his blessing. If you'll still have me, that is."

"Of course I will," Catherine breathed, her tears spilling over as she threw her arms around Sara's neck and squeezed.

A flood of relief that she hadn't missed her chance washed over Sara, and she returned the embrace, hugging Catherine tightly.

Suddenly Catherine stiffened and pulled back, her eyes going wide with alarm. "Don't go to fight... I know something's going on, everyone's been getting ready for some kind of battle but my father won't tell me anything. Don't go Sara, please..."

"I have to go, Princess," Sara said softly, wishing she didn't have to deny the heartfelt request. "I don't know when we're leaving, but I have to go when we move out."

"But something could happen to you."

Sara had never heard the princess's voice sound so small and scared. She pulled Catherine back into an embrace, kissing the top of her head. "That's a chance we all take every day, and I fight because I believe in your father, I believe in what he stands for, and if we don't fight, our way of life can be taken away from us. We have to fight, to reserve our freedom, and I have to fight, because I believe in that."

"But--"

"It's not up for debate," Sara interrupted her firmly. "Can we please just have a nice evening together?"

Catherine seemed like she was going to argue, but finally pulled back instead, though she was still pouting. "What do you want to do?"

Oh good, it wouldn't have to turn into a battle of wills. That was always a possibility with Catherine. "I want to take you for a walk, and sit down with you and discuss some rules, if we're going to be spending more time together."

"I hate rules," Catherine said with a sigh, reaching out to put her hands on Sara's waist, still holding the flowers. "Can't we do something more fun our first night together?"

"I'm sure that what you have in mind is entirely inappropriate," Sara said knowingly, giving Catherine a look. "Why don't you put the flowers in some water and then we'll go?"

"You think I'm going to wear this out of my room?" Catherine said with a grin, shaking her head, and she turned to go get a glass and fill it with water.

Sara chuckled to herself and folded her hands in front of her, standing primly by the door as she waited for the princess to get ready.

Catherine started to undress and Sara cleared her throat. "Catherine," she warned, shaking her head. She was determined to take this slowly no matter how hard the princess pushed.

Catherine sighed like a child and moved to choose an evening dress from her wardrobe, then went into the washroom to change.

--

"There are a few things we need to decide," Sara said once they were down by the lake, the night lit only by the stars in the sky. She sat on the grass by the edge of the water and waited until Catherine sat with her to continue. "Do you want to make this common knowledge? Or would you like to wait and see if it works out first?"

"I should be insulted that you think it might not work out," Catherine said softly, but Sara could hear the teasing in her voice. "I want everyone to know," she then whispered, turning her body toward Sara, who refused to look at her. "Everyone."

"Are you sure? We're likely to have quite a few problems. I doubt many people will approve."

"I don't care if they approve," Catherine said sourly. "I want everyone to know. You tell my father to announce it tonight."

"Tomorrow," Sara said, shaking her head. "It's late tonight. Much too late to drag people to the courtyard. And don't you get in the habit of trying to tell me what to do, little princess..."

Catherine flushed, scooting closer to Sara until their hips touched, laying a hand on her thigh. "Yes Ma'am."

Sara shivered and quickly picked up Catherine's hand, holding it in both of her own, and brought it to her lips, kissing the princess's knuckles soflty. "Catherine," she said in warning, placing the princess's hand back where it came from.

Catherine leaned into her, whispering hotly into her ear. "I want you, Sara... so badly..." Her voice shook, and Sara could hear the raw neediness in it, but there was no way she could grant that request.

"I know," she breathed, getting to her feet before she lost her resolve. "But I have to do this right. I am not going to violate your body like this. I will escort you back to the castle now, and figure out how to proceed tomorrow morning."

Catherine huffed in frustration, refusing to get up, a pout firmly etched on her features. "I'm ready for you to violate me... I've been ready for years."

It was hard not to give in - her own body wanted it more than she'd care to admit. "Please stand," she said firmly, holding out her hand.

Catherine grabbed Sara's hand but instead of using it to help her rise, she jerked hard, pulling Sara back down to the grass. "I want you," she said again, moving her hands to the buttons of her dress.

Sara backed off and stood again, a frown creasing her brow. "That was unacceptable. Stand up, Catherine. Now."

"Who put you in charge?" Catherine retorted, but Sara did note that her fingers stopped fumbling with her buttons.

It was time to let the princess know exactly how things were going to be if they were together. She squatted down in front of Catherine, her eyes blazing with warmth and desire as she stared hard at the blonde beauty, staying silent for a few moments before responding. "You did. And unless you want me to cease all physical contact with you until our wedding night, then I suggest you stop pouting, stand up, and do as you're told."

Catherine's eyelids fluttered closed, then open again several times in a row before she swallowed slowly and nodded, getting to her feet after Sara. "Sorry," she whispered. "Will you carry me?"

"No," Sara said, almost laughing. "But I will hold your hand."

"Why do you have to be so traditional?" the princess sighed, slipping her hand into Sara's and entwining their fingers. "And so virtuous? Why can't you be a scoundrel and sweep me off my feet, drag me down to the river, miles away from everyone, and have your way with me?"

Sara's mouth twitched into a half smile and she tugged Catherine closer, undoing their hands to slide an arm around the princess's waist. "Because you want more from me than one night, don't you?"

Catherine didn't even need to think about her answer, she nodded immediately. "Yes, I want everything."

"And that is why I don't drag you off to have my way with you. I'm building a foundation first."

"We have years of foundation already..." Catherine tried.

"Not the kind I want," Sara stayed firm, squeezing Catherine's waist. "Now stop."

--

"What's going on?" Catherine asked, looking back and forth between Sara and her father at the breakfast table.

Sara knew that both she and Sam were being unusually quiet, and Catherine's question comfirmed that it was obvious to everyone else as well. She didn't want to say what she had to say next, but she steeled herself, swallowed what she was chewing, and looked over at the princess. Her princess. "We'll need to move out after breakfast. The threat is getting too near for our comfort."

"No!" Catherine demanded, her blue eyes widening as she stared back at Sara. "No, I won't let you!"

Sara quickly got up and moved to Catherine's seat, pulling her up and marching out of the room with her. She didn't want anyone to know about the change in their relationship yet. Not while she wouldn't be around to protect her princess if there were any problems. And with Catherine's reaction to the news she'd just given, some of the court might suspect something. "Catherine, you cannot behave that way in front of the court yet," she reminded the now crying princess, pulling her into a hug. "Shhhh, I'll be fine. We should only be gone a few days."

"You could get hurt. I've only just got you, I don't want to lose you," Catherine argued tearfully, squeezing Sara tight.

"You won't lose me, beautiful," Sara whispered, stroking Catherine's hair. "I need you to listen to me carefully now, because this is important, okay?"

Catherine managed to nod against Sara's chest, still squeezing her tightly.

"You can't let anyone know about our relationship. I know we were going to announce it this morning, but not while I won't be here to protect you. No one can know, not even the people you trust the most, all right?"

Catherine nodded again, and Sara put her at arm's length so they could look at each other.

"I need you to promise me," Sara said urgently.

"I promise," Catherine told her with a sniffle, wiping at her eyes and then staring at the floor.

"Good," Sara said, pulling her back in, and then she tilted Catherine's chin up so she could press her lips firmly to her princess's forehead.

Catherine's eyes closed and Sara felt her lean into the touch, and when Catherine opened her mouth to whisper, Sara couldn't deny the request. "Kiss me properly, Sara... Please."

Her stomach clenched tightly, a twist of nerves settling in deep and staying put as she looked down at Cat's beautiful face. Her now open blue eyes, sparkling with desire, her pale skin, her glossy lips... And she smelled like strawberries. She was going to kiss her, for the first time, right now. She knew it before Catherine had even finished asking. It was the right time.

She moved one shaking hand into Catherine's hair, curling her fingers around a fistful at the base of her neck, and Catherine's answering moan almost undid her completely. She couldn't believe how turned on she was, and they hadn't even kissed yet.

Sara stared into Catherine's eyes for what seemed like forever before she lowered her lips to her princess's, pressing them together, feeling a shock run through her at the contact. It was so intimate... much more so than kissing a man had ever been. And Catherine was hers. If there had been any doubt at all, it was erased with the way the blonde melted into the kiss, allowing Sara complete and utter control of her.

--

They were camped out, ready to sleep the night and press forward the next morning to meet the opposing forces head on, and Sara thought, not for the first time, about what Catherine may be doing. Was she in front of her vanity, brushing her hair before bed? Talking and laughing with a member of the court? She hoped... She didn't want her princess worrying and refusing to occupy herself.

If she imagined enough, she could still taste Catherine on her lips, and she held that with her as she drifted to sleep in front of the fire.

When she woke, it was to someone shaking her shoulder, and the sky was still dark. "What? What is it?" she asked, eyes wide, immediately on alert as she sat up and glanced around sharply. Owls were hooting all around her, interspersed with the call of a bird she couldn't recognize by sound. The person who'd woken her was Sam, and there were several others packing up their bedrolls and waking their comrades.

"Nothing, relax," he told her. "I think we should get moving before dawn, that's all."

"Oh. Right," Sara said, letting out a breath she'd been holding. "I'll be ready in five marks."

"You'd damn well better take good care of yourself out there," Sam said suddenly, his voice dropped low to avoid being overheard. "My daughter will have both our heads if you don't."

Sara grinned, nudging him with her elbow. "I can't have your beheading on my conscience, can I? I'll do my best."

"You always do."

--

The battle raged on far longer than anyone had anticipated - the opposition had many more forces than expected, but Sam's army was unmatched in skill, even when outnumbered, and things finally swung in their favor. Not before Sara saw Sam knocked from his horse, however, and she fell back, dismounting with incredible speed and surety borne of experience and determination, and was at his side before his enemy could land another blow.

She pulled her sword from the fallen soldier and fought off two more, then called for Rodrigo to cover her while she got Sam onto her horse.

"Go!" Rodrigo shouted, waving her back toward the castle. "Go! Get him to Sir Albert! Go!"

Sara swung up onto her horse behind Sam, giving one last glance to the battlefield before taking off at a gallop back toward home. She hated leaving before a fight was finished, but the outcome was clear enough that she could afford to fall back to get the king to safety and still be sure his army would prevail.