A/N: WHEW! NaNoWriMo is almost over! I can't believe it! I'm at 31K at this time. I'm going to have to haul ass to make 50K if I want to do that, but more importantly, it's the second arc of my Ouran fanfic Seven Days that I've been scrambling to finish up. Got so excited when I fleshed it all out, but then Thanksgiving happened and I hadn't written for like 72 hours. (cries inside)

Here's the next chapter of Queen of Hearts. :D So sorry there was such a long spell since the last update. Please read and review, and the next chapter will come on Friday! :D

Ok, let's do this!

The clouds had parted that night, revealing a sky filled with sparkling stars. No matter how hard Guy tried, he couldn't start a fire. The wood he had was too moist. He chucked down the sticks and fell back into the grass and sighed.

"The wind is chilly," he said. "Sacae's winds are warm, even at night."

"This isn't Sacae," Matthew said as he sat down beside his friend. Aife tended to the horses, listening. No one spoke for a while, just resting from a long day's riding.

"So, did you beat Karel?" Matthew said finally.

Guy shook his head. "When he saw me, he said I wasn't strong enough yet, and he told me to find him when I knew I was."

Aife decided not to ask as she brushed up Lore. Next came Magneto, the old horse Guy bought.

"What are tribes like, Guy?" she asked suddenly.

Guy was startled. Why would she care? But he told her anyway, "Well, we have the chief, and the men do the hunting and fighting, but women learn to fight too. And…"

"Are there ever women chiefs?"

"Never."

"That's…kind of old-fashioned, isn't it?"

Guy frowned. "It's custom. It's always been that way."

"I heard you live in tent-like homes."

"One of the tribes have poles that lean together like this," Guy demonstrated with a couple of twigs. Aife came closer and knelt beside him, interested. "Then they hang animal skins over it, preferably oiled buffalo hides to keep off the rain, and that's that."

"I see," said Aife, sitting down. Magneto, who was enjoying the way she groomed him neighed sadly. Aife smiled and stood up again, giving him her attention again. "You've seen many years, haven't you? Plowing all day, is that all you can tell us about?" she asked the horse soothingly. He neighed happily this time. She sighed after a while and spoke again to Guy over her shoulder, "You were nomads, always wandering and traveling, right?"

"Yes," said Guy.

"It must be nice not to be pinned down to one place. You could call the entire plains of Sacae your home."

Guy didn't reply.

"Do you miss your family, wandering around like this?" asked Aife.

"No," said Guy too quickly.

Matthew chuckled. "He misses his mom," he said.

"Hey!"

Matthew rolled backwards to avoid a smack in the face with the flat of Guy's blade, laughing. He picked himself up and darted over to Aife.

"Matthew, don't tease him," Aife said with a smile. "So, what about you? You miss family?"

"I don't have anyone to miss," said Matthew with a casual shrug, leaning back on Magneto with his hands behind his head. "You?"

Aife shook her head and sighed. "I only have Narshen, my stupid brother. He can't do anything himself, and comes crying to me, and I have to clean up his messes."

"Ah, so you're Lord Narshen's younger sister?" asked Matthew. Aife nodded.

"He's a complete idiot, a jerk to the peasants!" Aife said, gritting her teeth. Then she sighed. "But at least he loves me with all his heart. It's like he's just a child. I have to take care of him. He's the only family I've ever known." Aife looked down at the ground. "It is said my father died in an accident involving his horse, and my mother went insane and killed herself shortly after having me."

"So…what happened?"

"The maids had manners, and they was peasant-born, so they taught them to me while trying to teach Narshen the best they could. He was already six, and spoiled. It was harder with him because he was lord and could kick out the maids. Though it would have been easier to just get rid of him and pass it off as another accident, they couldn't kill a child who didn't quite know any better. So it's a miracle he survived, really. He's just such a brainless dimwit, sometimes I just want to—" At this point, she dropped the brush and punched the air a couple of times. "—you catch my drift?" she asked as she turned to Matthew. He wasn't there. "Matthew?"

Matthew tapped her on the shoulder and had a finger over his lips. He pointed to Guy, then pretended to cradle a baby. Aife laughed quietly.

"Hey, Matthew, could you teach me how you got me down in a second back in that village?" she asked. "I need to get stronger if I'm going to fend myself off."

"Sure," he said. "What do I get for it?"

Aife sighed in reply.

"How about a kiss?" asked the spy with a grin. Aife glared at him.

"What's that parchment say?" she asked.

"The one I slipped into your pack? Some information on how you can contact me if ever you need me," said Matthew.

"What if I don't?"

"What if you do?"

Aife stuck out her tongue at him, then turned back to Magneto and picked up the brush on the grass. The horse was already asleep. She patted his back and turned back to Matthew.

"I'm surprised you're still standing here this time," she said to him.

He shrugged. Aife looked up at the stars again, walking through the grass and sitting down some ways from Guy. Matthew followed her and sat down beside her, hugging his knees.

"Aren't you cold?" asked Aife.

"Nope."

Aife nodded, looking back at the stars.

"What's it like being a spy? Is it nerve-wracking?" she asked.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well," she said, lying down in the grass. "I was thinking, maybe I could become a spy too. I have a thing for gossip, and I can use my looks to my advantage, I've got a knack for being sneaky. I like it. And nothing's fun without danger."

"Well," said Matthew, looking at her face, "Lycia's worried about Bern invading it. We could always use more spies. And having one who wouldn't be suspicious in Bern would be excellent. But you would have to meet Lord Hector for that to be arranged."

"I'd do anything to stop a war between Lycia and Bern," said Aife definitively. "I mean, Castle Tepal is smack-dab on the border. But I don't think King Zephiel will start a war. He's not like that."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe not now," said Matthew, "but…"

"All right, I'll take the warning."

"Do you really want to be a spy?"

"Hmm? Yeah, that's what I said."

Matthew shook his head. "Don't you have any dreams? Goals? Why spend your life doing this?"

"Well, I like it."

Matthew flopped onto his back beside her. "You are one weird girl."

Aife chuckled. "I've heard that enough times by now."

"What other strange things have you done so far?"

"Oh, I can go on and on about this," Aife said with a grin. "I've bantered the king. That was such fun. And you know what? He couldn't see me, and when he chased after me with Murdock on a wyvern, he still couldn't find me."

"What did you do?"

"Dove into a mud pool. It was at night. King Zephiel just walked right past me."

Matthew whistled as he turned onto his side, resting his head on his left hand. "What else?"

"The first time, I warned him about an assassin plot, then he came around with a search party looking for both the assassin and me. Losers couldn't find me. I dove into a river and hid in shadow that time."

"Plucky, aren't you?"

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"I like you."

"I know that."

"Have you ever been kissed before?"

"Yes."

"By who?"

"On the cheek by my brother."

"That's not what I'm talking about."

"Well, the tanner's apprentice steals them every now and then when I walk out of the bar…"

"Bar?"

"The barmaid of Reme lets me stay in one of the rooms upstairs."

"Interesting. Have you ever kissed anyone intentionally?"

"No."

"Really? At your age and with that body?"

"Is that a problem?"

"No. Just curious. So you really aren't interested in this thing called 'love'?"

"No."

"How would you know? You've never given it a chance."

"It creates problems."

Matthew grinned. "You are one weird girl, all right."

Aife smiled and closed her eyes, almost asleep when she felt fingers tracing her cheek. She opened her eyes to see Matthew leaning over her, his nose almost touching hers. He slowly closed the distance between them, slipping his lips onto hers and pressing them gently. He pulled back to see her reaction, but she didn't move, only blinked sleepily, unable to transfer what just happened into her brain. He grinned again and pressed his lips on hers again in short kisses. It took a while, but she finally responded by raising her head and meeting his lips in a longer, firmer kiss. Matthew pulled back, but Aife took a hold of Matthew's head and pulled it down so she could rest her head in the grass as she started a train of short kisses.

"I want to sleep, Matthew," she whispered softly after a while as Matthew showered her with kisses.

Matthew nodded, pressing his lips onto her forehead. "Sleep tight," he said, slipping his left arm under her head as a pillow, his right hand pulling her face onto his shoulder. He embraced her tightly and the two fell asleep almost instantly.

The next morning, Guy woke up first. He groaned as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. He stretched as he stood up and…what did he see?

Matthew and Aife lying together a couple of paces south of him. Guy shook his head. How can anyone fall in love in two days? He yawned again, stretched some more, wondering if that relationship would last. They were three days from Tepal Castle, and if they were lucky and the weather was balmy like this morning, they might get there during the second day.

Guy decided he might as well take advantage of Matthew sleeping while he could. He unsheathed his sword slowly, and, quietly as any Sacaen can be, went to Matthew.

"Nice try, Guy," Matthew whispered. Aife beside him stirred and moaned, leaning into Matthew before falling asleep again. Matthew smiled and embraced her tighter than before, awakening her again. She opened her eyes.

"Matthew," she said quietly, dangerously. "Get off of me."

"Actually, you're on me," Matthew said. Guy stood back and smiled. This was going to be funny.

"Matthew, let go of me," said Aife, glaring daggers into the spy's chest.

"No," Matthew replied, pressing her against him.

"MATTHEWLETGOOFMENOWYOU—" and then came a long thread of words that shouldn't be said. Guy was quite impressed by the lady's vocabulary.

Matthew took a deep breath and opened his eyes. "You're going to make me go deaf, you know, and anyone else a mile from here will hear a screaming banshee."

Aife struggled to get out of his grip, but his arms were too strong and he kept a grip on her. Eventually he got tired of fending off her legs from a very sensitive spot and just rolled onto her, pinning her down with his weight.

"Guy! Help me!" Aife said.

"Calm down, Aife," Matthew said matter-of-factly. Aife took a deep breath (or at least as much of a breath she could take being pinned under Matthew) and let it go, closing her eyes. "Now then, you were saying?"

"Get. Off. Of. Me. NOW!"

"Magic words?"

"Wha—?"

"Say: I love you, Matthew darling."

Guy let out a burst of laughter.

"Guy! Help me!" cried Aife.

Guy took his sword and prodded Matthew's side, effectively scaring him to rolling to the other side.

"Great!" huffed Aife with murder in her eyes as she jumped up beside Guy. "Now let's gang up on him!"

"Aw, come on now!" said Matthew, chuckling as he stood up.

"I'm all for it," said Guy as he charged at Matthew with his sword. He made an attempt to slap the assassin with his sword's flat side, but Matthew ducked it and gave him a kick that sent him sprawling four feet away. Aife tackled Matthew from behind and fell onto him.

"So good to meet you here," Matthew said as he twisted himself under her. She rolled off angrily and gave his side a kick. "Ow! Okay, now that hurt!"

Matthew took a hold of one of her legs.

"Pervert!" Aife yelled as she stomped his hand with her other foot. Guy tackled him knees-first into the ground, grabbed his hands and forced them back. Aife put her boot on the back of Matthew's neck and said, "You lose."

"All right," said Matthew. "I lose. Now what?"

Aife and Guy shared a glance, not knowing what to do.

"I have an idea. Swear that I owe you nothing more," said Guy.

"Okay," said Matthew after a moment of hesitation.

Guy and Aife let him go, helping up the assassin.

"Whew," said Matthew. "By the way, my arms were crossed, Guy. You still owe me."

"What!" said Guy, outraged.

Aife took a hold of Matthew's shoulders and started to shake him frantically. "GIVE US A BREAK DAMMIT!" she screamed at him. Matthew ducked out of Aife's grip and held his head, dizzy, but laughing.

Aife seethed all morning, and the men made a point in not speaking to her. They made good progress, the weather was agreeable as ever, and the horses were in good moods too, obedient and none lagging. After a while, Guy started complaining about getting rather sore and they stopped to rest at a stream, having a lunch of rabbit stew that Guy caught.

Aife stretched in the sun with her eyes closed on a large, flat rock right beside the stream. It was suddenly dark, and she opened her eyes to see Matthew standing in the way of the sun.

"Move," she murmured.

"Nah," said Matthew.

"Guuuuuuyyyyyy!" Aife called.

"He's scouting."

"Oh shit."

"That's right. It's just you and me now."

"I hate you."

"No you don't," Matthew said, finally moving out of the way.

"Ah!" Aife shut her eyes against the sudden light of the sun. Matthew sat beside her and looked out to the horizon, deep in thought suddenly. Aife sat up and looked at him, lips pursed and eyes narrowed in suspicion. He looked different with a serious face on, and calm.

He looks good.

Aife slapped herself mentally for thinking that.

Matthew turned to face her and smiled again. "Well, it was quite a morning we had there. Are you calmed down now?"

Aife sighed. "Yes."

"That kick on the side hurt," said Matthew. He shook out his right hand. "And that stomp to this hand… You broke some bones, Aife. It still hurts."

"Where?" asked Aife, taking his hand slowly. "I don't see anything."

"Don't you?" asked Matthew, scooting closer. He took his left arm and wrapped it around her neck without touching her and pointed at his right middle finger. "See?"

Aife bent closer to the finger, then shook her head. "Nope."

"Look closer. Deep inside, it's cryin'."

"What?" Aife looked back at Matthew.

Before she could stop him, he pulled her against him with his left arm and gave her a passionate kiss. Aife pushed him back, but he pulled harder until her body was solidly against his. When finally he pulled back, Aife said, "Stop doing that."

Matthew ran his right index finger deliberately down her nose and her lips, then her chin and her neck until she stopped it at her small Adam's apple. "No," he replied, tipping up her chin and kissing it softly, traveling down her neck. Aife was mentally shouting at herself to stop him but let him continue to his heart's content.

Matthew pushed Aife down against the rock gently with his weight, one of his hands holding hers, the other holding her head as he kissed her cheeks, eyes, forehead and lastly, her mouth. Aife gave up trying to resist and put one hand at Matthew's neck and let herself enjoy his touch.

"HEY!" came Guy's voice suddenly. He stood watching them incredulously from where the horses were picketed in the shade of trees. Didn't he see murder in Aife's eyes for Matthew just this morning?

Matthew and Aife sprang apart in a split second upon hearing his voice. Aife fell off the rock onto the grass just as Matthew tipped off the opposite side and fell with a tremendous splash right into the stream.

"Dammit!" came Matthew's voice.

"You two are unbelievable!" said Guy, exasperated.

Aife sat up in the grass, blushing like she had hellfire in her cheeks. "Oh, I feel like spewing."

Guy raised his brows in doubt as Matthew climbed back onto the rock sopping wet and glared at her. "Oh come on," he said to Aife. "You were enjoying it."

Aife slapped her forehead. "I don't know what to do with you," she sighed.

"I can tell you," said Matthew with a grin. "It happens at night, usually, but I'm flexible."

Aife took off one of her boots and chucked it at an unsuspecting Matthew. It smashed his nose, and when he sat up to grab his injured nose, he tipped off the rock and fell into the water again. "Shit," came his voice again, mutated this time because he had his hand plugging his nose. There were tears on his face when he climbed up the rock again. "Man, you hit that sensitive spot on my face."

"My ears are like that," said Guy. "Even the lightest hit on it makes water come to my eyes. I hate that!"

"I'll make note of that," said Aife as she reached for her boot. Matthew snatched it out of her reach. "Give it back, Matthew."

Matthew stood up on the rock and held it over the water.

"Don't you dare," said Aife. If looks could kill, Matthew would have been several times dead by now, then skinned, then chopped up into such fine pieces so quickly that he possibly could be taken for cremated.

"Oh, I would," said Matthew with a smile. Guy sighed, climbed onto the rock, took out his wallet and offered Matthew several of silver coins. "That'll do," said Matthew.

Matthew handed the boot to Guy, who withdrew his money before Matthew could snatch it from his hand, kicked Matthew in the stomach and made the thief lose his balance and fall into the water a third time.

Guy jumped off the rock and handed the boot to Aife, who smiled and kissed him on the cheek in thanks. The swordsman blushed redder than a tomato (if that was possible). Matthew sighed as he waded around the flat rock (he kept telling himself the rock was cursed now) and got onto the grass of the earth. When he saw Guy blushing with his eyes wide, he leered at him.

Guy cleared his throat and said, "T-There was a clearing in the forests north of here, all flattened out by wyverns. A group of wyvern riders camped some days earlier there."

"Could be the king's group," said Matthew as he joined the two. He took off his red cloak and wrung it of water. "Maybe I'll sunbathe for a while to dry myself off."

"Maybe I'll separate your head from the rest of your body," replied Aife.

"I guess that's a no," Matthew hung his head. "But I'll catch a cold!"

"Then give up the ghost while you're at it," replied Aife again as she set up Lore and swung herself into position for riding.

Zephiel watched with satisfaction as he watched the peasants he had rescued have a decent meal they could only dream of. Just yesterday, he was eating a feast. Now that he ordered Narshen to feed this day's feasts to the peasants instead…the look of awe in their faces was not new, but it still made him feel pleased.

As he listened in on some conversations of theirs, he picked up knowledge of a woman who was coming to the castle, a Lady Aife. She was a constant buzz among the folk of Tepal. 'Beautiful as the Goddess, though I beg pardon of Saint Elimine,' said one. 'Sweet and kind is our beloved lady. She takes care of us all, and sets her brother right when she is in the castle,' said another. 'She stands for us peasants and has our love,' said yet another person.

Evidently, as a young girl, she and her caretakers would often ride out to the villages and help with anything that needed it, whether it was putting up decorations for the festivals or comforting someone who'd lost a loved one or celebrating the day of someone's birth. When she came of age, she went to court and attended one ball, but returned 'in the huff of the devil's' and hired a small group of pegasi-riding mercenaries chase away any suitors or lords who had come to visit solely for one reason: her. (Eventually, they stopped trying.) Then she disappeared suddenly for a couple of years and message came that she was perfectly fine. Apparently, only one messenger knew where she was, and Narshen was lucky in having met him recently to send for her to come home.

"She would have come anyway, with news of the recent flood going around," said one of the village magistrates.

Zephiel was quite interested in meeting this Lady Aife. Like himself, she cared for the people of her state. And never had he heard anyone compare anything to the beauty of the Saint either (or to have the huff of the devil's). He was one man she could not chase away.

"Does this please you, Your Highness?" asked Narshen at his side as he looked over the rows and clusters of peasants sitting together, eating and laughing. They would have a brighter future than they'd expected. All was not lost. The king himself would help rebuild their villages.

"Yes," said Zephiel with a small smile. "I am happy if my people are happy."

"My sister says much the same things." Narshen thought in the privacy of his own mind, however, What foolishness has struck His Magesty?