Mariki nodded as she looked out at the lake. Her eyes stayed on the lake as she pulled her legs to her and rested her head on her knees. She looked over at Jasper and smiled as he dipped his leg into the water. "How are you feeling??" The princess asked as she blushed slightly, feeling a little guilty since he had gotten hurt saving her.

Jasper smiled as he pulled his other shoe off and stuck it into the water. Hearing her question, he nodded, "I feel fine, sure a little bruised and in pain but nothing I can't handle." he said as he looked at her and smiled more. "so princess, why dont you tell me about yourself? like what is your favorite thing to do, what you like to eat and things like that." he said since he wanted to know her as best as he could.

Her eyes stayed on him as he removed his shoes and socks. The princess was a bit worried as he spoke about the injuries he got from protecting her. She blushed as he asked her to tell him more about herself. "Well...I like reading and riding Belle. I also like to go swimming and stuff like that. As far as food...I prefer sweets and fruits." Mariki said looking down at the lake.

Jasper smiled and nodded as he listened to her. "well you already know I can't read that well but I do know how to swim." he said as he looked into the water and smiled. "I love swimming in all truth, I also love apples and dried meats." he said as he kicked his legs in the water and smiled at her.

She looked at him as he spoke and nodded. "Well, when we get back to the castle we can practice reading some more." Mariki giggled as he kicked his feet in the water and moved back as some of the water splashed her. "Hey. Don't do that. I'll melt." Her voice showing she wasn't serious and looked back at him.

Jasper smiled and nodded, "that sounds great to me, I want to learn to read on my own." he said and chuckled when he splashed her. Smiling when he heard her, he slowly started to slid into the water. Once standing, he looked at her, the water not very high and smiled at her, "oh I doubt you will melt." he said and splashed her a little bit more.

Mariki watched him slide into the water and backed away from the bank. "Hey. Keep the water in the lake." She moved her sore legs a bit as she tried to get away from him splashing her. "I don't want to hear you complaining that you're wet!" Her eyes on him as she smiled and giggled as she watched him.

Jasper smiled when he watched her slowly move and moved back to the edge of the lake. "dont worry, the water is actually really warm and nice." he said as he smiled at her. "want to come in? it is really nice and it might do your legs some good, water always seems to relieve anything sore or painful." he said as he looked at her.

Her eyes went to Jasper as she blushed slightly and watched as he moved closer to her. "I would but I rather not get my dress wet." Mariki said as she rubbed her sore legs. "Although, I think dipping my legs in would feel good." She looked at the lake then at her dress as she thought.

Jasper nodded as he smiled at her and thought for a second, "why dont you just pull your dress up so that you can dip your legs in." he said as he tried to think of any other way for her to dip her legs in. He could give her his shirt to wear if she wanted to change quickly,his shirt could possibly be worn like a dress for her. But he wasn't sure if she wanted to do that even though it would keep her dress dry.

She looked at Jasper and then at her dress. Mariki moved closer to the water before lifting her skirt to reveal her legs. Her legs were a bit scratched but not badly thanks to Jasper. The princess blushed as she looked away from Jasper and tried to make sure that her skirt didn't rise past her thighs.

Jasper made sure to look only at her face when he saw her move her skirt. Yet he did notice that they were scratched kind of badly. "do you want me to move you closer?' he asked as he walked over to her and smiled.

Mariki blushed and shook her head as she lowered her skirt. She quickly pulled her legs from the water as she winced a little. Her eyes closed as her cheeks remained flushed. "Please...it is kind of embarrassing. A man is not allowed to see my body unless he is a doctor. If my mother finds out, you could be killed." The princess said as she hid her face.

Jasper frowned when he heard her and turned his back ot her, "I am sorry if I was making you uncomfortable." he said as he kept his back to her, not sure want to do. He then smirked slightly, "that is if your mother found find me, I know how to avid being killed. I have been in very unfavorable positions before." he said as he kept his back to her.

Her eyes went to Jasper as he turned his back. She listened to his words before looking down at the water. Mariki didn't care about her dress or what her mother thought...so why did she act like she did? The princess slipped her legs into the water before sliding her whole body in. She eeped a bit as the water came up to her waist. "Jasper...promise me if my mother ever comes after you, you'll leave this kingdom."

Jasper heard the sound of water moving but kept his back to her since he wasn't sure if he should turn around. "I can't promise you I will leave this kingdom but I can promise you that you wont see me, but I will still be around." he said as he kept his back to her. "dont go too far into the water, I can tell the lake gets deep at some area's." he said as he listened for anything and stayed alert to keep her safe.

She looked at his back as he answered her and smiled a little at his answer. "You'll protect me even when you can't. That goes beyond a guard's duty." Mariki wanted to move closer to him but she stayed where she was at his warning. "Jasper, you can look at me." Her voice soft as she called out to him. The princess was growing attached to her bodyguard but she didn't know how he felt.

Jasper smiled a little bit when he heard her, "I just want to make sure that your safe." he said and then turned around to look at her. She looked beautiful standing in the water and he smiled as he slowly walked over to her, "I want to protect you since your the first person to actually give ma a chance to be someone, to see me as a person and not someone to just use. Your also my first friend, so you mean more to me then I can possibly say." he said as he looked at her.

Mariki smiled at him as he turned around to looked at her. Her cheeks flushed as he walked towards her and spoke to her. "Wow...You have a way with words, Jasper." She couldn't take her eyes off him as he moved closer to her.

Jasper stopped when he was next to her and blushed slightly, "thanks, I never thought I was good with words, just talking what is on my mind." he said as he looked at her and wasn't sure really want else to say. He knew he liked her a lot but it wasn't right for him to like her in that way. He was suppose to be her bodyguard, he wasn't suppose to be trying to get close to her. Yet as he looked at her he couldn't help himself, "princess, you look beautiful." he said softly.

Her eyes stayed on him as he got closer to her and noticed the blush on his face. Mariki just stood there as he spoke and smiled at him. The princess could feel her heart racing as she stood so close to him. She barely noticed anything else besides him and his words. Mariki blushed as a squeaky 'thank you' escaped her lips. Her blue eyes stayed on him as she tried to remain calm but the butterflies in her stomach fluttered faster.

Jasper smiled when he saw the blush on her face and wasn't sure what to do now. He felt like he should kiss her or something but it wouldn't be right, would it? Slowly he started to move closer, deciding to try to kiss her. Yet as he did he caught something otu of the corner of his eye. Quickly pulling her into his arms and sheilding her, he felt something strike him in the back but looked down at Mariki, "it looks like we aren't alone anymore." he said softly as he held her close and wasn't sure where that person was. Keeping her close, he stayed alert and hardly seemed to register that a arrow was sticking out of his back. "come on, we better get you back." he said as he started to lead her over to the horses.

She felt her heart race more as he moved closer to her and started to lean in to kiss her. Mariki closed her eyes as she waited for the feeling of his lips on her plump, pink lips. But her daydream broke as he pulled her into his arms which caused her to open her eyes. "Jasper?" The princess heard his words and got a bit scared as she nodded before he lead her to the horses. Her eyes grew wide though as she caught a glimpse of something sticking out of Jasper's back. "T-there's an arrow in your back." She stuttered as she grew scared for his life.

Jasper hardly seemed to register what she said till he reached behind him. He felt the stick and cursed softly to himself before pulling it out and throwing it away. "it dosen't matter, we need to keep you safe." he said as he looked at her and then picked her up, setting her on her horse after releasing his own. He then jumped up behind her, not daring to ride on his own horse just incase they decided to aim for her. He then wrapped a arm around her before taking the reins into his other and setting the horse into a sprint. Yet as they went he felt something hit him in the back and had a feeling he had another arrow. But it didn't matter, he had to keep Mariki safe.

Mariki watched as he pulled the arrow from his back and gasped at the sight of it. "But Jasper..." She said softly as tears started to roll down her face. The princess was more afraid for his life than hers. Her eyes stayed on him as he set her on the horse and got on behind her. She held onto his hand as her horse took off towards the castle, the place she did not want to go right now. Mariki looked at him as she heard something and looked back to check on her protector. The princess screamed a little as she saw an arrowhead protruding from his left shoulder.