Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns all of these characters; I do not.

She looked at him, eyes open in admiration. He had saved the life of her children. This man was a hero; no Tortallan would doubt that.

She smiled at him, nodding her head. He stared back, stone-faced, at her. She couldn't understand why he couldn't love her back.

Thayet of Conté was the most beautiful woman in the world. Most men would just glimpse her and fall in love with her. Perhaps she had taken that for granted. Was the Goddess was punishing her by making every man fall in love with her except for the one whom she truly loved?

Jon had many lovers, and so did his wife. Neither of them loved each other; their marriage was a foul trick. They had thought they had married for love, but soon they realized that it was merely lust. And that lust soon faded.

He walked up to her, and she felt her heart thump. She was more nervous than she had ever been in her life. She stared at her feet, taking a deep breath.

"Lord Wyldon," she addressed him, her voice high-pitched. She saw that he looked unsettled as well.

"Majesty," he said, bowing. She grabbed his hand, and led him away from the others. The only people who would notice that she was gone were her children, and they wouldn't understand.

She dropped his hand, and looked around. They were in a forest, where most of the trees were dead or dying. She sighed. This wasn't the place that she was hoping for, but it would do.

"Wyldon of Cavall," she said playfully. He looked at her, curious. Her face became serious. "I love you." She flinched; it was too blunt. She had to be more subtle, as the Queen of Tortall ought to be.

He stared at her, shaking his head. She stepped back, astonished.

"Thayet." It was the first time that he had addressed her so informally. "I'm married. I have children. I can't do this." He took her hand and kissed it. "I will not deny that I have thought of us together. But my children need me, and…" he hesitated.

"Go on," she said softly.

He didn't look her in the eyes. "I think your children need you, too."

Thayet nodded. She walked away slowly, not looking back.

"Wait." She turned around, hopeful.

He ran up to her, and wrapped his good arm around her. He closed his eyes, letting his lips find hers.

When he pulled away, he looked at her, with sad eyes. "I love you, Thayet."