A/N. AU story written in exhaustion for a friend's upcoming birthday. Companion piece should hopefully be up later, and also hopefully, much better.
No one ever could have dreamed this.
Even in their worst nightmares, it was not possible. A surprise attack from Galla. So many knights and squires rushing to finish one war, now split in half to curtail a new threat. And then, the spidrens attacked. Gone was Prince Liam, and tinkering on the fence of life was his brother, Roald. Jonathon had scars he would always feel.
And outside the royal family, other losses were felt. Seaver, Merric, and Owen were missing, or worse. Cleon's new wife was dead, he himself had gone mad with despair. And Yuki, the day before her wedding, was lost to the tangled webs of the spidren.
And there Kel stood, at her oldest friend's funeral, watching with sorrow as many loved ones drew near for a final parting with the Yamani. Kel herself had forgone her Yamani mask when those of the islands gave into their emotions. Unable to stand silent anymore, Kel left the area for comfort outside, where she could grieve in peace, if only for a little while.
She never saw that peaceful quiet. Once she sat down, she realized she was too close not to hear the late woman's fiancé sniffling quietly nearby. Giving up her sorrows, she headed over to comfort her dearest friend once he bawled out her name. Standing, unsure, she heard Neal's words clearing as he went into hysterics.
"What did I do for this to happen? Is this my punishment for loving her- my unfaithfulness, if only in my heart? I could not help loving her, but I still loved my fiancé!" And soon it became marbled again. Kel, uncertain if she would be a hindrance, started to turn, but Neal had heard her.
"Kel?" she nodded. "Why?"
She did not know. Though she sorely wished she did. And answered as much.
"Do you think- do you think Yuki understood that, that my feelings for-that I still loved her, still?" She nodded again. Neal went hysterical again. And then-
"Do you think she understood WHY I loved you?"
And then Kel, herself, understood. Understood all that had happened to them, and what it really meant. And she understood, too, that her friend would want them to be happy, in her leave.
"Yes, I do. Yuki knew so much. And that's why she knew, had come to understand, what we were meant to be." And with that, she blocked off Neal's gaping mouth and let them both know what was truly meant to be.