I had gathered my wet clothes and went to join Mathew near the horses. He had started a fire while I was gone. "Good job on that fire."

His head shot up to me as he flashed a proud smile. "My great intellect served well."

"Nerd." I let out a small laugh. "Or one would say something like you had only the best teacher ever."

Mathew let out a wondrous laugh that I found myself smiling to. "Okay, well maybe my teacher helped a bit."

"Duh," I flipped braid over my shoulder in a pompous way earning another laugh from Mathew. I hated to admit it, but I really liked his laugh. It was deep and rich that hit a weird spot in the pit of your stomach, and you could hear the happiness in his laugh that made it contagious.

I went to sit beside him near the fire trying to warm my body. Maybe now would be a good time for that soup recipe I learned from my mother. "You know, you're a good student. I see a lot of potential in you if you are interested in learning?"

Mathew rubbed his hands together in front of him warming them up. "I use to hate it when I was forced to go to those guard lessons. Not that I hated your father's lessons but I hated having my father watching me fail every lesson or have you come and try to help me I just felt incompetent. I hate the feeling of not understanding. That's why I like books, they are straightforward."

He hated when I tried to help him? I remember during one of the lessons, Mathew was struggling with the order of some sword stances and thrusts that I had already learned. I tried to help him but he just threw his sword on the ground and walked away from the field all together. I always thought he just hated me, but I guess he hated the feeling of not understanding it.

The prince tilted his head to look at me. "Clary?"

"Yes?" I said looking back at him. The were different emotions mixing behind his eyes that I couldn't decipher.

"I am sorry," he said earnestly.

I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. "For getting me wet?"

He shook his head with a light laugh. "No, I do not regret that. After all, that's the closest I will get to seeing you naked."

I gasped hitting his arm. Even though he was rubbing his arm in pain, he was also on the ground laughing very hard. I was ready to hit him again but he put his hands up trying to stop his laughter.

"Before you hit me again, let me at least get this off my chest before I die," he said and I decided to let him continue only because I was curious. "What you said earlier today, I never knew the hardship of becoming a guard, especially a female guard. I apologize for making it all the more harder, it wasn't fair. Truth is, I do respect you as a guard, I've watched you grow up and kick almost all your classmate's behinds. You are sort of the coolest person I know. I guess I have always been envious of you. I took it out on you in an immature way. If I couldn't have your life then I might as well make it not as enjoyable. I know, I know that was a bad move on my end. That is why I am apologizing. You are not as bad as I made you out to be in my head."

I knew my jaw was open but I could not close it. These were the last words I would have ever imagine leaving Mathew's mouth. In fact, they were unimaginable. I pinched myself to make sure this was all real earning a dark look from the prince.

"Don't make me regret this," he sighed. "You can close your mouth now."

"You... you? Envious? Of me?" I tried to process. That seemed impossible.

He rubbed the back of his neck looking embarrassed. "So you are going to make me regret this."

"But why?" I asked trying to understand. "You are smart, charismatic, handsome, you have got the whole kingdom in love with you--"

"-- everyone but you," he added with a wink earning a laugh from me.

"Yes of course," I nodded agreeing to this notion. "How could you be envious of me?"

"Well I will not disagree to all those compliments, but I am curious do you really think I am handsome?" he asked eagerly.

I rolled my eyes. "Like you didn't know."

He widened his eyes at my answer. "No, I did not."

My cheeks blushed at my confession. Great, now he thinks I am one of those girls. "It is just biology, you have nice features, don't get too excited. Now answer my question."

Mathew sulked in his seat before running his hand through his fair hair. "I told you before, you are everything my father wants in a son. I use to envy the way your father bragged about you until you told me my father does too. I guess it was all a misunderstanding."

That made sense I guess. "And that I am sort of coolest person you know."

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, that too."

I let out a little giggle making him smile as well. "You know, you are not as bad as I thought you were too. I was pretty sure one of us would not survive the trip."

His eyes widened and his face slightly palled. "Uh... you weren't going to kill me were you?"

A small knowing smile tugged on my lips. "Maybe..."

"Hey come on Clary," he said giving me a nervous smile. "We knew each other from childhood. You wouldn't kill someone as handsome as me right?

He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Don't temp me princeling," I frowned crossing my arms in front of my chest. "You're lucky I promised your mom to keep you safe."

"So..." Mathew stretched, a look of hope lingering in his expression.

I raised a curious brow. "So what?"

"So do you forgive me?" he asked earnestly.

I really wanted to hate him, not forgive him so easily for the years and years of torture, but after understanding what went through that hard head of his I found my hate diminishing. I hated my weakness. I hated cruel punishment. He was seeking justice and I should allow it. I sighed in defeat. "I can't believe I am saying yes."

Mathew lunged himself at him tugging me into a tight embrace. I let out an oomph at the impact. I patted his back awkwardly.

He finally unleashed himself off me. He threw his head back letting out a breath of relief. "Wow, it feels like I had the world lifted off my shoulders. I guess I forgive you too."

I scoffed. "For what?"

He put a hand to his chest acting as if he was offended. "I might have been wrong but you were pretty darn mean to me. You had embarrassed me countless times. You know how men are with their egos? You were like the queen at diminishing egos."

"I will never let someone walk all over me, I was raised better," I said with a shrug.

Mathew nodded his head as if accepting my words. "Now that we're not enemies anymore I feel like my life has no purpose. Who else am I supposed to bully?"

I let out a loud laugh at his absurdness. It did feel weird. I was so used to hating Mathew. Arguing with him almost felt innate. We were crossing the border of acquaintances or I dare say friends. I actually found myself enjoying my time with the prince when we weren't arguing.

"I'm sure you'll find someone to annoy, after all, you are the most annoying human I have ever met," I elbowed him lightly throwing him a playful wink.

"Ha, ha," he rolled his eyes but a smile remained on his lips. "Don't forget I sort of hate you."

I let out a chuckle shaking my head. "I sort of hate you too."

I smiled, even though I didn't mean it that way anymore, that one sentence brought a feel of normality that was refreshing.

Mathew and I continued sharing stories, sharing our point of views with each other, sharing our experiences. I found out a lot about him. He was easy to talk to, despite his previous antics, he was very understanding and actually listened to my stories in awe. It was nice being listened to like that. I also found out he had a sense of humour, I always assumed the girls giggling at all the words he said were faking it but I guess he could let out a joke here and there. I was also at awe at his vast knowledge. I did not like reading books or sitting through a lecture, but the way Mathew described things, the passion that surrounded his knowledge, I couldn't help but want to learn more. It was mesmerizing.

"So it is called phantom limb syndrome?" I asked in amazement. "That is pretty outstanding."

We had finished eating a while ago and were now laying on our sides propped on our elbows and facing each other in front of the fire. The sun had set and the stars filled the sky.

"Yes, it is almost surreal. The human body is so very interesting," he said. I had also learned that his favourite subject was biology.

"The only thing I know other than basic guard knowledge is some anatomy," I admitted. I learned all the weak points are in the body. It was important for hand to hand combat.

Mathew let out a laugh. "Oh I know, I've heard you express how you will break all two hundred and six of my bones multiple times."

"Right," I smiled embarrassed. Maybe I was a little more aggressive than the average female.

"Did you know that at birth we are born with two hundred and seventy bones but over time they fuse together?" he stated. I raised my brows in shock.

"No, I did not," I answered honestly. I looked up at the sky finding the stars twinkling reminding me of my mother. She always loved the sky and the stars. God, I missed home. We waisted a lot of time today. The whole river incident and the long talk with Mathew really put a dent in my schedule. However, I did not regret it. I am glad I got to know the real him. What a shame it would have been if I hated my future king for the rest of my life. I was glad we put that hate behind us. "We should rest now so we can leave early tomorrow."

I looked at Mathew who was staring at me intently. I did not know why I blushed but I did. I turned around and attempted to sleep but also to escape his gaze that I could still feel on my back.

"Clary?" Mathew's deep voice sounded awfully close. An involuntary shiver went down my spine.

"Yes?" I whispered.

"You laughed a lot today... I liked it," he said in a low voice. What? Did he just compliment my laugh? I did not think that possible. "It was nice not seeing you so serious and actually having fun. It was uplifting. I hope we can continue to laugh and have fun for the rest of the journey?"

I found myself smiling. To who? Myself. I did have fun today. God, that was rare. And I did laugh too. I guess Mathew did not just bring out the worst in me but also the good in me as well.

"Yes, I hope so too... Thank you," I answered.

"That's great!" he said and I could hear his smile that I found myself joining. "Good night Clary."

"Good night Mathew."

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Well look at that, they have put enemy-hood behind and have become friends-ish.

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