A/N: Heya! Katie here for my first Tamora Pierce Chapter Fic! Woot! I'm sorry if the paragraphs are long, they really didn't look that long written out on paper. I will hopefully get a beta later on (if I decide to continue this).

Please enjoy!


Refused: Chapter 1

by: Insanity on High (formerly ForeverxKatie)


"Keladry of Mindelan would like to try for her knighthood. I know the law states that girls may do so, but think of all the consequences that may result! I'm not sure--" Jon started the discussion with his Champion and the Training Master.

"What?" Alanna's face was a brilliant shade of red as she screamed at the man that was once her lover. "You passed a law and now you are thinking of revoking the right for girls to train? I survived despite all the so-called 'complications.' Am I not example enough?" Alanna was visibly outraged. She could not understand his logic. She would personally ensure that the girl would be fairly treated. She must have a lot of courage to try for this, surely she knows what it would take, how hard it might be.

"What I cannot believe is that Baron Piers and Lady Ilane are supporting this. The Mindelans have provided us with several very good fighters -- Anders, Inness, and Conal -- but, females are not male. I have two young daughters, and already they are always chatting and fawning about some boy or other. Pardon my bringing this up, but what about her womanly needs? Who will she have for such times? I know you dislike my reasoning, Alanna, but you must understand the truth in my words," Lord Wyldon of Cavall tried to reason with his compatriots. It was not in his best interest to have a girl training with all the male pages.

He could remember when two years prior a certain boy had come to the palace. Although the young man had come from a well-known fief in the Book of Gold, his looks were the cause of much jesting. It was not that he was ugly or his face malformed in any way, quite the opposite. Instead his looks were so perfect they were often considered "like those of a girl." If there was a real girl in their presence, he could only imagine how socially awkward it would be for her. He explained this in another attempt to persuade the royal into rejecting Baron Piers' proposal.

Jon put his head in his hands and started to rub his temples. He knew this talk would give him a headache! He also knew that if he listened to Wyldon, his former-squire would most likely refuse to ever speak a word to him again. However, if he gave into Alanna, then this 'Keladry' might face everything that Cavall had predicted. Sometimes Jonathon despised being in the position of the King. Why was he the one who had to make the ultimate decision? Finally, he had completed his mental processes. He looked up and murmured his verdict.

Alanna got up and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her. He had known this would happen. Sighing, he turned to the stoic knight.

"You are dismissed."


Baron Piers took a thin letter from the hands of a young messenger from the palace. The wax seal bore the insignia of the Crown. It was addressed to his youngest daughter, Keladry. He knew what it contained and feared what words would be written on the page.

Ever so carefully, he broke the seal and began to read:

"To Keladry of Mindelan:

Although a law was passed proclaiming that all women would have a chance to try for their knighthood, it has been decided that you will not be given the opportunity. This is done not because we believe that women do not have the abilities for such things. but rather because we believe it would be in your best interest to study at the convent with other girls instead. Someday in the future you may feel glad that you receive this letter. You may even find your notions to become a knight to be childish.

I am considering giving you a chance to learn about weaponry after you have given the convent a try, but there are no guarantees there. Please understand my reasoning.

Sincerely,

King Jonathon

Just as her father had finished reading the note, Kel herself ran in sporting a black eye from a scuffle with a couple of immature adolescents who had deemed it exhilarating to endanger kittens. She skidded to a halt when she noticed what he was holding.

"Papa, what does it say?" she asked worriedly. Most of the time when he used his 'Yamani mask' around her it was because he was going to say something negative.

This time, however he was wordless as he passed the parchment to her. She scanned the contents and tried to avoid a scowl from forming on her face. It was not at all fair that she was refused! Just because someone actually went for the offer made it nullified? She tried to keep her anger inside, squishing it down, in attempts to make it go away.

In a controlled voice completely devoid of emotion, she stated, "I'm sure my sisters will be glad not to have the disgrace of such a liberal sister. It will help them get better marriages. I guess I'll have to start my preparation for the convent.


Kel went to her room, but she did not cry. Silently, she began packing her things and put away her glaive. Looking at it reminded her of how she would never be able to wield a weapon like her idol, the Lioness.

At the convent, she would be taught how to sew, curtsy, eat with proper etiquette, and how to dance at balls, but how would that benefit Tortall? Perhaps she would learn how to be a good wife, but she had never actually thought about having a man or children in her future. All she had wanted was to be a knight.

Later that evening she made a resolution: If Tortall did not want her, she did not want Tortall. She would go to the Daughters, but she would rebel. Had Tortall listened to her? No, it had mocked her. Though the girl might not be 'fit' to fight for her land, she was most definitely 'fit' enough to fight against it.


Another A/N: I'm sorry some of the paragraphs were pretty long. I have never actually tried to write a Tammy Pierce chapter fic before, so this is a first. Don't worry, some of the characters we all know and love will appear later.

I'm not sure how often I will be able to post, but I will try! Please hit that little 'review' button. I'm usually not very pushy on that, but I do want to know what people think of this story idea.

All mistakes in this piece are mine, and I am sorry to say that I have a habit of making up words, so I'm sorry about any of those that might appear.

Leer. Responder. Es sencillo.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the content in Tamora Pierce's books (although I do own copies of them.) I cry myself to sleep every night knowing that I have to write this disclaimer.

Posted: 02-09-09