Jonathan led Thayet through the chamber where his coronation and the ensuing attack took place, marveling at how good it looked after the repairs.

"You've done fine work here," Jonathan said to a craftsman who was just leaving the room. "I can hardly tell that there was any damage, much less such terrible destruction."

"My thanks, your majesty," the man said with a bow.

Once he had gone, they were alone in the large chamber.

"I wanted to show you this before we went riding," Jonathan explained. "It's incredible, isn't it, how they can erase so much in just two months' time?"

"If only all damage was that easily repaired," she replied quietly.

They stood in silence for a long moment before Thayet walked over to a painter's tray, abandoned for the moment.

"I was always a little envious of artists. They get to see the beauty they create instantly and know that it will last, at least for a time."

"Have you ever tried painting?" Jonathan wanted to know.

"Of course, but just as a silly diversion. I've never created something worth saving." She swirled the paintbrush in its cup of water, accidentally splashing Jonathan's hand that was resting next to it.

Jonathan smiled and picked up the brush, pointing it at Thayet. "I think I might like to take up painting myself."

Thayet cried out as he moved the brush towards her. Before long he was chasing her around the chamber with the brush.

All of a sudden she stopped, turned, and grabbed the brush away from the unsuspecting Jonathan, brushing the tip of his nose with it.

It was only damp at this point and barely got him wet, but Jonathan bowed to Thayet in mock defeat. "The victory is yours, princess."

Thayet laughed openly and looked at Jonathan with a joy in her eyes that melted his heart.

He took her free hand and kissed it. She squeezed his hand softly and held it, still smiling at him, then all of a sudden pulled her hand back and looked away. "We should go before it gets too late," she said quickly.

Jonathan sighed, then made up his mind to act. "Let's sit down for a moment."

He led her to a set of chairs and held her gaze as they sat.

"Thayet," he began, "I want you to know that while we've kept things light so far, my intentions are serious. I am courting you, not because you are a beautiful woman and I'm bored, but because I truly admire you and want to make you Tortall's queen."

He studied her, looking for a reaction. As he'd observed so many times before, she seemed happy and yet profoundly sad at the same time.

He continued on, "I say this not to put pressure on you or to ask you to make any decisions now, but, you have moments when I know you're enjoying your time with me, when you laugh and relax and share your hopes and dreams, and then all of a sudden you shut down. If this isn't what you want, please just tell me. I don't want you to feel forced to do something you don't want to do because you're afraid to displease a king."

"No, no, it's not that," Thayet responded quickly. "I do very much enjoy our time together it's just..." she trailed off and looked at her lap.

Jonathan waited patiently for several long moments until he couldn't take it anymore. "Please just tell me."

"Alanna saved my life, I think," Thayet said carefully. "I don't know how much longer we would have lasted without her help."

Jonathan gave her a puzzled look. "Well, she's definitely saved mine, so that's another thing we have in common."

"And she's my friend, and I want her to keep being my friend," she said, willing him to understand.

The poor man just sat there looking completely lost.

"I can't just take Alanna's man no matter how much I love you!" she finally blurted, then turned away in shame.

Jonathan went slack-jawed then started smiling broadly. He was positively beaming. This was not the reaction Thayet was expecting, and she turned back to him, momentarily too confused to feel anything else.

"That's it? Alanna is the only thing that's holding you back?" Jonathan asked.

Thayet nodded. "That's no small thing. Everyone seems to think it's only a matter of time before you go back to her. And I've seen you together. You do love each other. The last thing I want to is to stand in the way of that."

Jonathan sat back thoughtfully for a moment before answering, "I do love Alanna, and she loves me, but not in that way. Not anymore."

"We were lovers for a time, and I proposed, but she turned me down. She actually turned me down twice, if you must know. She doesn't want to be queen, and as much as I didn't want to accept that when she first rejected me, I very much understand it now.

"Thayet, being my queen would not be an easy life. Luxurious, to be sure, but not easy. It isn't the life Alanna wants, and perhaps that makes her the wisest of any of us. But that's part of why I want so badly to win your heart. You would be an excellent queen, and I want you not just as my wife, but as my co-regent."

Thayet smiled at him but still looked hesitant.

"Will you do something for me?" Jonathan asked.

"Anything," Thayet replied.

"Go to the desert and visit Alanna. Hear her side of things. "

Thayet nodded.

"And one more thing?"

"Yes?"

"Go riding with me as we planned, but this time, please just let yourself enjoy it?"

Thayet started to nod demurely again, the stopped herself and instead looked up at him with a mischievous glint in her eye. "If I must, your majesty."

Jonathan gave her an equally mischievous smile and took her hand. "Good. If you don't, I may have to insist on a rematch with the paintbrush."

Thayet laughed, and they walked together to the stables both more full of hope than either had been in a long time.