Mathew and I circled each other waiting for the other to make the first move.

"I am surprised that you are not afraid to hit a girl?" I teased him trying to rile him up. I had noticed his hesitation and it irked me. Of course one shouldn't hit a girl, but when a girl such as myself has agreed to such a challenge and has the ability to defend herself then go ahead and throw that punch.

"I just don't want to hurt you," Mathew said looking hesitant.

I rolled my eyes. "You hurt me more by not attacking. Come on, I could take a hit. It wouldn't be the first time I have fought a man. Don't you dare go easy on me either."

He still was not doing anything. We were getting no where at this pace. "Fine, if you won't hit me then I'll take the first hit."

I purposely slowed down my punch, slow enough that Mathew would realize and defend himself before it hit him. He jumped back looking startled that I actually threw a punch. Seeing that his defences were up, I decided to continue my assault. I threw another punch hitting him in his stomach rather than his face. I couldn't have his face bruised up before his wedding. After all, I was supposed to 'protect' him. Mathew was not quick enough and ended up grabbing his stomach in pain. I told him I will teach him a lesson, might as well start now.

"First lesson, do not leave yourself vulnerable," I said using his stomach clutching as an example before grabbing his shoulder in weak spot that had him on his knees wincing trying to get my strong hold of his shoulder and failing.

"Second lesson, be wiser than your opponent. Memorize their fighting patterns and use them against them. Know their body better than even they do," I said as I squeezed the pressure point even tighter earning a pained cry.

Mathew tried grabbing my leg in an attempt to make me fall. I decided to let him have it in order to deliver my third lesson. As soon as I fell to the ground, Mathew tried to get up but I wrapped my legs around his bringing him to the ground where he hit it with a groan. He tried getting up again but I quickly climbed on top of him keeping him pinned to the ground. "Lesson number three, never underestimate your opponent."

Mathew raised his hands to try and get me off him but I grabbed his wrists and pinned him down. "It is true, being taller and more muscular does give you an advantage. But understanding the art of combat, knowing your own strengths and weaknesses along with your opponents, even using the environment to your advantage are all things a soldier must keep in mind. You ran away before you could be taught the proper principles of being a soldier. You can't hide behind your books and expect to surpass me because I am a woman and you are a man. You have not even gone through the tough training. What was your excuse to stop?"

He was still young when he stopped training. He couldn't complain about it being hard because he hadn't ached all over his body, suffered horrible weather conditions, or had to seek medical attention when things got tough.

Mathew glared at me through his lashes. His jaw was tense and the emotions in his eyes were deep. "You will never understand."

What was behind Mathew's sudden reason to stop training? All his father ever wanted him to be was a soldier like he had once been. King Rowan was devastated when Mathew decided to stop his military training and sought refuge in the library.

"Then help me understand," I said almost desperately. Help me understand why every time I tried to help you with you training as children, you insulted me. Help me understand why after every effort I put into become a guard, you were always there to brush it off. Help me understand why we were friends one day and the moment we began training with my father you went cold.

For a moment, his expression softened. Mathew opened his mouth and closed it, his jaw clenching tighter.

"Oh my! Mathew, is that you honey?" I heard the familiar voice of Queen Adeline from behind me. I closed my eyes worried for the punishment. She probably thought I was beating the life out of him. "Oh my it is! I apologize for the invasion, carry on."

Or she thought the latter. A horrified thought ran through my head realizing our compromising position. I seemed to keep getting myself caught in these awkward situations with Mathew. It was not okay.

I jumped away from Mathew with crimson cheeks. The queen herself was blushing as well but a small smile tugged on her lips. Mathew on the other hand looked flustered. "Mother! It is not what it looks like!"

Queen Adeline couldn't hide her smile no more since she was flashing her pearly whites. "What is it like then?"

Mathew looked at me for help. The first time I actually wanted to be of some assistance to him. "Your highness," I bowed respectively. "We were having a little friendly competition. Just some... combat?"

I noticed the queen wince at the term combat. She looked worriedly at her son checking for injuries. "My sweet boy, are you alright?"

She stepped up to him probably wanting to take a look for herself but Mathew took a step back putting his hands in front of himself to stop her. "I am fine! Why would you think I was the one who was poorly beaten?"

The queen looked back and forth between Mathews and I as if silently asking 'seriously?' . She looked at me for help but I just shrugged my shoulders. If his own mother did not know how to deal with his stubbornness then how should I?

"I-- uh-- Seeing that you are well, I am here to speak to Lady Clarissa," she said. I felt my palms sweat. She wanted to talk to me?

Mathew gave a weary look between his mother and me before nodding and walking away.

Queen Adeline nodded her head to a bench on the side. "Do you mind if we sit?"

"Yes, of course your highness," I nodded following her to the bench. We sat down in silence for a few moments. The worst ideas ran through my head. Did she not want me on the mission no more? Did she not trust me with Mathew? Was it something to do with my parents?

"I haven't seen Mathew training with someone since he was a boy, how did you manage to do that?" she asked in slight awe and surprise.

A victorious smile threatened to take my lips but I stayed professional. "It is just a friendly competition proposed by Mathew."

The queen gave me a look like she didn't believe me. I let out a defeated sigh. "He wanted to see which one of us would be more talented in a battle of masculinity? I might be a woman but I am a qualified guard. I have done the same intensive training and passed all the required tests just like any other guard in this kingdom."

The queen threw her head back in laughter. "Oh my sweet Clarissa, you will have to deal with Mathew just a bit longer. He might be book smart, but with you I do not know what goes through his mind. I hoped that by sending you two on this mission, it will open his eyes as to what you are. You are Dorian's daughter, the most talented and promising guard we have. Keep your head up child, men will always be there to scrutinize but you just smile and wave down from your high pedestal. At times you will feel like the whole world is against you,  that you are alone and have all this weight on your shoulders but as long as you push through and believe in yourself then you will accomplish the impossible. Especially if you have friends and family to support you along the way. Clarissa, I am your friend-- your family even. Keep your chin high child, I am very proud to call you one of my guards and one day my son will see that. I am sure of it."

My heart swelled with emotion at the queen's kind and inspiring words. She did understand me in a way. After the Great Inner War, she had lost everything. Her only family had been assassinated by those she trusted and her best friend had died for her. She needed to win back her kingdom while fighting to stay alive because a lot of people wanted her dead. There were only a handful of people she trusted and the pressure of being a kingdom's only hope rested on her shoulders. She had to be one of the strongest woman I had ever met. I did truly respect her and admire her as my queen.

Her words meant a lot to me. A lot more than she knew. "Can-- can I hug you your highness?"

She let out a small laugh before wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. "I told you, no formalities with me. We are family."

"Thank you. Truly, thank you," I said hugging her tightly.

When the queen pulled away, she took my hands in hers. "I also want to apologize for my son's stubbornness, he gets that from me. Did you know once I jumped into a lake not telling anyone I did not know how to swim and almost drowned because I was too stubborn and prideful to admit it?"

My jaw fell in shock. Now I see where he got it from.

Queen Adeline let out a small chuckle before pointing to herself. "Of course I am fine now, Rowan had save me."

A small smile took on her lips as she said the king's name. She was still in deeply love with him as he was in love with her. Anyone with eyes could see that.

"I guess I will have to deal with the prince a little longer, after all how could I deny a request from my queen?" I asked in which she replied with a wide smile.

She grabbed my hands into her own, squeezing them. "I have been so worried with sending my son to the Kingdom of Garain, but I trust you. You have put a worried mother's heart at ease."

"Thank you for your trust," I squeezed them back.

With one last smile, the queen stood up and straightened her dress. "I must be going now. Good luck with your preparations."

I nodded my head and bid the queen goodbye before heading back inside to continue memorizing maps. As I walked inside the castle, I was suddenly grabbed by the shoulder tightly. Without thinking, I grabbed the hand and turned around pushing my attacker against the wall. Mathew hit the wall with a groan.

"Why would you creep up on me like that?" I asked pushing my forearm that was resting on his chest a little harder. "I could have seriously hurt you!"

"That was you not hurting me?" Mathew leaned his head back against the wall taking a deep breath before landing his serious eyes on me. In one swift motion, he grabbed both my wrists and switched our positions. I was currently pressed against the wall with my wrists beside my head in Mathew's secure grip.

"You need to stop throwing me around!" He said through clenched teeth. "It is embarrassing."

The only reason he had gotten me in this position because I was taken by surprise. The only reason I was still in this position was because I seriously doubted the queen would appreciate me kneeing her precious son's family jewels.

"What do you want?" I spat. I did not like this weak position.

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at me. "Other than the fact that I demand a rematch? Tell me why did my mother need to speak to you? Did you plan this whole thing with her? You accompanying me on this trip? I swear if I find out the two of you have been scheming--"

"Mathew and Clarissa? Well I'll be damned," the familiar voice of the king sounded from my left. I winced closing my eyes in embarrassment. Not again. What was up with this family today? Catching us at compromising positions that were definitely not friendly. Was there a reunion I was not aware of? Why don't we just invite the whole kingdom and put on a show!

I opened one eye to find a very horrified and red faced Mathew. I had never seen him blush this hard before. "Father--"

The king held up his hand silencing him. "Do not worry. Carry on."

To add on to my embarrassment, the king winked at us. How did everyone assume the worst?

I tried pulling my hands away from Mathew's who seemed to have forgotten that he had been holding me. He seemed to snap out of it because he let go and jumped back.

"We need to stop doing this," I said under my breath and I could see from the look on the prince's face that he felt the same too.

"Father really, there was absolutely nothing of that sort going on. We were just--" He looked at me for help. So the princeling doesn't want his father to see him in all his horribleness? Maybe if I spared him, he'll owe me one. I liked the idea of him owing me one.

"Practicing some holds. Prince Mathew impressively got out of mine. He sure is learning fast. We had just had a whole lesson outside earlier," I inserted. I noticed the grateful look the prince gave me making me do a whole happy dance in my head.

The king looked between the both of us before a wide smile consumed his face. "You've been on the field my boy? That's great!"

The grateful look on Mathew's face fell. "No, I haven't. If you will excuse me, I need to go."

Well, if this did not stink like horse manure then I don't know what did.

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I have an impossible to pass exam after tomorrow given to me by Satan himself but my uni likes to call him a prof. But you guys come first so I hope you enjoyed!

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