Protection

Sunflowers

She was beautiful. The way her brown hair flowed over her shoulders and to the middle of her back. Tan skin coated her body and freckles covered her nose and cheeks. Her blue eyes were oceanic and could pierce through your very own, just to control you.

She was kind. Giving money to people in need. Reading to kids at the schools and libraries. Treating the people around her like they matter. And making the best decisions to keep everyone safe.

She was smart. Thinking before she spoke and thinking through every little detail to make sure the choices she made were best for everyone. The way she protected herself and others. Every small thing mattered.

And she was the Queen. The Queen of Costa Elle. Her people loved her. I hear around that she's the kindest they have had since her mother reigned.

"Mason." She spoke to me, getting up from her chair she was sitting in.

"Yes, Queen Grace?" I stood up, placing my feet against each other and putting my hands behind my back.

Grace smiled at me politely and nodded. "It's okay, I was just going to ask for you to pick me one of those sunflowers. I want to put one in my room. On my nightstand. It would look lovely, yeah?"

I looked over to the garden seeing the sunflowers she was talking about.

"I would look very lovely, my Queen." I grinned. "Which one would you like me to pick for you?"

The Queen smiled wider and searched for the perfect sunflower. She then leaned down more and examined one in the middle. "That one. It's beautiful, I think it would look perfect. A single flower like this will brighten my room, make me feel happier every time I see it. Everyone needs a little happiness in the place they feel most safe. Don't you think, Ms. Mason?"

My heart warmed greatly as she spoke so highly of this sunflower. I leaned over and picked it ever so carefully before looking down at it in between my fingers, then back up at her.

"I think you are certainly right, Queen Grace."

The beauty grinned and stared at the sunflower in my hand before turning on her heel. "Then lets go take care of it in it's new home. Shall we?"

"Yes ma'am. After you."

As she started walking back to the castle, I followed right behind her, along with 3 other of her guardsmen. It was strange because I was the only one out of the guard she really had conversations with, but I was in no way complaining.

See she may of been the Queen of her country, but she was most of all the Queen of my heart.

Protecting her was all I ever wanted to do in life. I would love to spend the rest of my life doing it.

I'm Kara Mason, 22 years old, and a guard for our royal Queen Grace of Costa Elle. It's funny because I was honored this spot and given it, but was just a normal guard. I'm no higher ranking the rest, but the Queen took interest in me and started involving me more and more in her life.

The rest of the guardsmen questioned this and I'm pretty sure have a problem with it. I didn't want them treating me any different, but it's okay. I'd understand why if they did. It's kind of like a teachers pet, no one likes them because they favor them. I felt sorry for the rest of the guard, but there wasn't much I could do about it. Maybe it's because I'm one of the very few women on the guard. Perhaps that's why she took interest in me.

It's strange because I don't think she sees me as just part of her security. I feel much more than that considering I don't just stand there and protect her. For example early, I picked flowers for her. That's not a normal thing a guard does. Isn't that a butlers job or something?