Village of Newport

Zechs was more than happy to see the back of Alex as he rode away, his saddlebags heavy with coin. He was less eager, however, to watch Noin and Howard disappear over the horizon as well. He turned and saw Noin hovering near the door of the stable, watching him.

A slow smile formed on Zechs's lips as Noin moved into the stables, closing the door behind her. A thrill of excitement ran up Zechs's spine. He held out a hand to the young woman, and she took it, their fingers gently circling around each other.

"Noin," Zechs breathed, staring into her eyes.

"Where do you go from here, Zechs?" she asked, blinking up at him. She wasn't much shorter than him, but he liked the way she tilted her chin to look him in the face.

"I have some business to attend to in another village, but after that, who knows," he said. Noin's lips spread into a smile.

"Come with me, then," she said.

"Where?"

"To Guildhold."

Zechs frowned. The soldiers at the palace used to tell him stories of Guildhold, how it was a treacherous place, full of criminals. He had heard that the main crime lords lived and operated from Guildhold, and that one couldn't walk down the street without a potential knife to the back.

It sounded thrilling.

"It's not all bad," Noin went on, oblivious to Zechs' thoughts. "I know of an estate there, where we can stay. We can lay low for a while, before the next heist."

Next heist? Interesting…

"I will come with you," Zechs said, gripping her hand tighter in his. "I have never been to Guildhold, and would like to experience the place."

Noin let out a laugh.

"It is an experience."

Zechs stared down at her, took a deep breath, and pulled her closer to him. He lowered his lips towards hers. Just as they were about to meet, the door to the stable banged open. Zechs and Noin ripped away from each other. Howard bustled into the stable, carrying his oversized bag, which hung heavy with coin.

"I'm heading off," Howard said, approaching the horse he'd bought from the stable owner. "Zechs, I'll be in touch if I hear of something else." Zechs nodded to him. Howard strapped his bag to the horse and hoisted himself up into the saddle.

"Farewell," he called, and walked the horse from the stable, leaving Zechs and Noin behind. They glanced at each other, smiling.

"Let's get out of here, too, before anyone gets too suspicious," Zechs said. Noin agreed, and together they mounted their horses and left the stable, leaving Newport Village behind.

Peacecraft Castle

The chill of autumn hung in the air, yet the last of the summer roses lingered in the garden, a few vibrant petals clinging stubbornly to their thorny stems. Relena stared glumly at what remained of the pink and red blooms as the boy she'd loved all her girlhood, the man who would have been her husband, shattered her heart into a thousand pieces.

"It's a lovely idea, Relena, but it will never work." Trowa's expression was grim, his mouth set in a firm line. "You know it won't," he added more gently.

Relena dipped her head and sighed. "I was afraid you would say that."

"Believe me, I would follow you to the ends of the Earth if I could," Trowa murmured. "But even if I used a false name and disguise…the risk is simply too great."

"But no one knows you in Arabia," Relena pressed. "You could start a new life there…with me."

"Near you, perhaps," Trowa mused, leaning his back against the cool stone wall covered in scaling ivy. "But not with you." He turned his gaze to the side.

"You would be my personal guard. Perhaps even my consort, one day, when I am Queen."

"You think the King of Arabia would allow his wife to take a consort?" Trowa snorted. "You're deluding yourself, Relena."

She stiffened. "I don't appreciate your tone, Trowa. It's me you're talking to."

"Sorry." Trowa sighed. "It's not you I'm upset with… I'm under a great deal of pressure at the moment."

"I know." Relena laid a hand on his forearm. "It's most unfortunate, what happened at your family's estate. But if you come with me, you can leave it all behind."

"The people in your entourage from Sanc know me," Trowa said pointedly. "You truly think they would all go along with this ruse?"

"Yes, because they serve me," Relena said insistently. "And they would be sworn to secrecy."

"Or what? You'd throw them in jail? Or perhaps take their lives?" Trowa gave her a piercing look.

"If they were to betray me?" Relena sucked in a breath. Trowa chuckled.

"You wouldn't go that far," he said. "I know you."

Relena exhaled deeply. "You're right. I know it sounds like lunacy, I just…can't bear the thought of leaving you. Losing you."

"I know." Trowa angled his body closer to Relena's. "There is nothing easy about this parting. But we must bear it, as you said yourself."

Relena tipped up her chin. "And what about what you said before? About staying by my side? And how I will always be your Queen?"

"You are, and always will be," Trowa said softly. "And I said I would stay as long as I'm allowed. But soon, I will no longer be."

Tears stung Relena's eyes. "How soon?"

"You already know," Trowa said, but Relena knew he would continue speaking for her benefit, helping her unravel her tangled thoughts. "The company from Arabia should be arriving any day now. They may remain a few weeks to rest from their journey, and prepare for the return trip to Arabia. Perhaps a fortnight, at most." He lowered his gaze.

"Then that's all we have left," Relena whispered.

Trowa didn't answer. Relena jerked her head up to look at him. "Trowa?"

He kept his gaze down. "We may need to part ways sooner than that."

Relena's heart hammered. "Why? Are you going to marry the Bloom girl after all?"

"No," Trowa huffed. "At least, I don't believe so. My family's plundered fortune has greatly diminished my chances of finding a wife. Not that I mind," he added with a wry smile.

Relena gaped at him. "Trowa, that's awful. And all the more reason you should come with me…" She clasped a hand to her chest, then dropped it. "I know I'm being selfish."

"Yes, you are." Trowa cracked another smile. "Not that I blame you. I'm exceptional company."

Relena didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You are cruel," she gasped, once again fighting back tears. "You know I'm going to love you forever, don't you?"

"Don't say that." Trowa frowned at her. "Don't close yourself off for the rest of your life. You're too beautiful not to have a lover."

She flushed. "Well, I wouldn't know about that. You and I have never…" She let her voice drop.

"Not that we've had much opportunity," Trowa quipped.

"What about now?" Relena chanced a step closer to him, her heart pounding. "If we must say goodbye…why not do it properly?"

Trowa's eyes widened marginally. "You think that's wise?"

"Of course not, but I no longer care." Relena grasped Trowa's hand in hers. "If you can't be my husband, at least be my lover. Even if only for a night. Then I will have you to dream about throughout the rest of my miserable life." Her breath hitched.

Trowa looked stricken. "Relena, please don't speak this way." He caught her chin in his hand and tilted her face up to look at him. Relena held her breath, waiting for him to lower his lips to hers, but he didn't move.

"You will be all right. I know you will," he said, crushing any hope remaining in Relena's heart.

Her chest heaved. "Will you write me, at least? Or is that too much of a risk as well?"

"You know it is," Trowa murmured.

Relena shook her head, spilling tears onto her cheeks. "I'm not ready to say goodbye forever."

"Then we won't." Trowa dropped his hand, releasing her. "Let us just hope that one day, our paths will cross again."

Relena nodded, biting her lip. "What will you do now, if you cannot marry?"

"I will remain here, in the King's service." His eyes gleamed.

"That's all?" she pressed. "You wish to remain a guard the rest of your life?"

"Perhaps." Trowa shrugged. "Or perhaps there is some other purpose for me yet."

"There's something you're not telling me." Relena frowned up at him. "What are you really up to, Trowa Barton?"

He smiled. "I like this false identity plan you've conjured. I may just use it…to try to catch some thieves."

Relena gasped. "You're not going to Guildhold."

"I am."

"Trowa, that's dangerous!" Trowa was strong and capable, she knew, but the city of thieves was notorious.

"It's very dangerous." Trowa dashed her another heart-stopping smile. "But so am I."

- RGS