Guarding the Heart

Shield watched carefully the duo he has been tasked to protect at all costs. The mare he had foolishly fallen for the charms of and her baby. The Princess galloped with a slight sense of haste to return home before her husband, all while magically carrying Flurry Heart to ensure she stayed asleep until they arrived at her destination. Having reminisced about his first meeting with the Princess had actually calmed him a bit, her smile had a tendency to do that to him.

The doors of the crystal palace swung open allowing the group to enter after the long day about the town. The Princess carefully set down Flurry Heart and then proceeded to slump over against the wall, clearly drained from the day. Shield walked over quietly to not awake the sleeping baby and gently set down a glass of water he had prepared for this very situation, having seen it several times in the past.

"Thank you Sir Shield" The Princess coughed before taking a drink. The Princess stopped and stared at Shield briefly before setting the glass down on a small table near them and then resumed her inspecting gaze on the earth pony.

"Your Majesty? Is there something wrong?" Shield piped up confused by the sudden interest. Though he tried to ignore it he could feel his cheeks redden slightly and he could see his strict business only demeanor faltered ever so slightly in the reflection of her pink eyes.

"You know Shield," The Princess started with a slight smirk, "I remember when we met you were much the same as you are now. Albeit you've improved your poker face a bit" she finished with a slight laugh.

"You remember back then?" Shield asked, shocked they both remembered their first meeting.

"Why of course, I was out visiting Shining Armor and a guard was up earlier than me making sure that there wasn't so much as a speck of dust to block my way" The princess said while nodding, as if confirming her own memories with herself.

"What do you mean my poker face has improved?" Shield asked shifting to one side, somewhat mimicking her posture.

"I mean that back then I could tell you were quite flustered being caught out and about by a surprise guest, now whenever something unexpected happens you simply adjust and move on without even a moment to distract you" The Princess spoke a bit quieter to ensure that Flurry Heart stayed asleep. Shield smiled at the compliment and motioned towards the awaiting chair he had prepared before they even left the palace to begin with,

"You should rest, I am sure His Highness will return soon" Shield suggested, offering a hoof to help her up. The Princess gladly excepted the offer and they both headed a bit away from the sleeping child, making sure to keep her in sight in case of any surprise attacks. The Princess sat down and visibly relaxed her muscles after the long day. Hey eyes closed and she sat in thought.

Shield couldn't help himself but stare at her, not in the way you'd expect a trained bodyguard to watch their client, more like the way a art connoisseur would stare at a masterpiece from a expert in their craft. He looked at her soft mane, flowing down and around her form, never once has it ever looked messy to him. He directed his gaze down towards her lips, gently parting as she took slow deep breaths. In every way one could imagine, Princess Cadance was a perfect form of beauty and Shield knew nopony could deny that.

Suddenly the Princess shifted and stared directly at her bodyguard, causing Shield to jump slightly being broken from his trance. On her face a wicked smile began to creep up her face, one that Shield knew all too well now. 'She is about to suggest something I would be against' He thought to himself before clearing his throat.

"What are you thinking about Your Majesty?" Shield asked knowingly.

"Shield you've been such a hardworking pony for us, why not relax and take a load off? Perhaps with some wine? or liquor?" The Princess asked, her face telling him that this wasn't a question and in fact a order.

"If I drink Your Majesty, I may be unable to properly fulfill my duties to you" Shield stated in a defeated tone.

"We are in the palace! We have many guards staffed here Shield, please relax tonight. You've worked plenty hard enough for today" The Princess says, her face painted with mischievousness. Then before Shield could interject her horn began to glow alight with magic and then a bottle of red wine flew towards them alongside two glasses. Shield stared down at the table as the glasses flung themselves onto the crystal table, and then the bottle tipped and began to fill them with a deep crimson. 'She must have uncorked it in the next room to avoid waking Flurry Heart' Shield thought, 'Wait... She had this ready?' He realized. Looking up towards her the smile on her face told him that she was going to try and get him to open up about himself again. As she has tried many times before, but with the assistance of intoxication this time.

Sighing Shield stared into the glass for a while, before finally raising his hoods and bringing the glass to his lips. The aged wine went down smooth, it's flavor was sharp and it sat on his tongue allowing him to taste the care that went into creating it. He didn't know how expensive it was and truthfully he didn't want to know. With a satisfied expression, the Princess also raised her glass and took a drink.

"Shield I believe my husband will be returning a bit later in the evening, could you please indulge me a bit with some stories of your past?" the Princess asked with a pompous tone.

'There it is'

"As I have said before Your Majesty, I believe that my past is irrelevant. Truthfully there isn't anything fantastic about it" Shield replied as he took another sip.

"Surely the past of the first ever earth pony royal bodyguard has to be fantastic in some way" she snapped back, not giving him time to collect himself. Shield shot a glance towards her as she took another sip of her wine.

"Truly it wouldn't be noteworthy Your Majesty, it is one that I barely remember. Nor do I want to" Shield said, only realizing he let more slip than he should have. Looking at her face told him that she had him.

"You don't want to remember your past? I am sorry to hear that" Princess Cadance said with a hint of remorse for pushing, but alongside that a hint of curiosity. Taking a deep breath in Shield held it for a moment, before breathing out and then raising his glass high and drinking the rest of the glass in one big gulp.

"Shield!," Princess Cadance called out shocked, "this is a strong wine meant for sipping, not that!" the sheer shock on her face was enough for Shield to let out a smile and chuckle slightly at her. The Princess then shifted into a more gentle expression as she continued. "I didn't expect that when I offered you wine you'd do that!" she laughed.

The sensation of the alcohol did take him, it had been slowly working through him and drinking that much was sure to have an effect. Better than continuing down the path of his past, no matter what the effect may bring. Shield looked back towards Cadance, his eyes locking onto her. Watching the slight bits of tears form in her eyes from laughing at his actions, watching the way her expression seems to be fighting between joyous laughter and pain as she lets down walls of her own.

He hadn't thought about it, but truthfully he never got to see Cadance truly herself either. Always assuming the role of the Princess and ruler of the Crystal palace or mother to her daughter. One could assume that she is being herself in those roles, but part of Shield wanted to know if she was hiding something beyond that mature caretaker role. With her horn alight he watched as the alicorn poured him more wine.

"Sip it this time! Please" she laughed, "I would like you to be able to get yourself to your bed"

"Cadance," Shield started, "you ask me about my past and who I am quite often, I feel like it is only fair that I get to ask about you as well" he said with a smile as he took another sip from his wine. Looking up at her he realized his mistake immediately. Her expression was one of shock, he had just referred to her as Cadance and not Your Majesty or Princess!

"Your Majesty!" Shield quickly bent into a bow ducking his head past the table, "I apologize for that outburst, I-"

"You know" the Princess cut him off with a soft tone. Shield raised his head slightly to look at her soft smile before she continued, "Nowadays I expect everypony I meet to refer to me as Princess or Your Majesty or the like, aside from my husband and my sister in law on occasion. That I sort of felt like I was losing who I was" she sat back in her chair and stared off in the distance lost in thought. "It felt like the Princess, the ruler of the crystal palace, the one in charge was replacing me while still being me. Do you know what I mean?" Cadance said softly, almost to herself.

"... I understand, to a extent" Shield replied. Causing the melancholic alicorn to shoot a glance his way.

"You do?" she asked.

"To an extent. I had to forget the pony I was to raise through the ranks and become your guard Your Majesty. He was only holding me back"

Cadance sat in thought and smiled before looking him up and down.

"I hope you didn't get rid of that stallion Sir Shield, I would truly like to meet him one day" Cadance said with a smile.

Suddenly a burst of air whipped into the palace as a member of the guard rushed in, the sudden change in pressure awakening the once slumbering Flurry Heart in a jolt as she began to cry.

"Your Majesty!" the guard exclaimed, "news from His Highness".

Cadance shifted in her seat a bit, hiding her dissatisfaction that it wasn't her husband trotting through the door.

"What news do you bring" The Princess asked with a stern tone, losing the playful way of speaking she had before.

"He was unable to return again due to his mission, he is still ensuring safe procurement of exterior settlements in the Crystal Empire. He wishes that you continue to await his return and that his sadness in not being able to see you once again is causing him great pain" the guard recited perfectly from the scroll he held aloft in from of him.

Looking over Shield watched as the Princess stared coldly at the guard before simply opening the far doors he had come through with magic and gesturing for him to leave. He did so post haste. After he left the room Cadance turned over to Flurry Heart who was now crying after being awoken from her nap.

Quickly Shield stood up before the Princess could make a move and trotted over to the filly. Gentle as if she were made of glass on the brink of shattering, Shield lifted the filly into his hooves and began to rock her. The crying soon subsided, instead changing to yawning and staring at Shield's face. A small smile broke out on her face before her eyes began to slowly close once again.

"You are so good with her" Cadance whispered, her hot breath warming his ear and neck, the sudden realization she was so close nearly made him drop the baby. He looked back at the Princess and could tell that his actions had allowed the soft spoken mischievous mare to return.

"I wouldn't say that, I have always been good with kids in general" Shield replied. Cadance smiled at that and locked eyes with him.

"Another new piece of information about the mysterious Sir Shield" She smiled and then stared at her daughter. "If it is all the same to you Sir Shield," she continued, "could you possibly... call me by my name when we are alone?" she asked hesitantly.

Shield turned back looking at her,

"If that is what you want, Your Ma-" Shield stopped catching himself,

"If that is what you want, Cadance" he said softer than before.

Shield looked down to avoid having his blush spotted by the alicorn and realized that Flurry Heart had fallen asleep, and laid her back down on the small soft blanket she was laying on. Turning back he saw the mare that he had fallen for all those years ago staring back at him.

"Thank you Shield, I will take it from here" Cadance said graciously before using her magic to pick up her child and the blanket and begin trotting back towards her sleeping quarters. Shield stood and began to head to bed in turn before one last interjection from Cadance caused him to stop.

"Goodnight Shield, I hope to see the you again tomorrow" before turning and leaving the room.