I know I've not finished my other story yet, but this idea came to me while watching TV the other day and won't go away. Hey, I'm a woman...I can multitask!

As ever I don't own anything you recognise from the books. This story is also completely separate from my other two - it is set during Kel's last year as a page.

1

The package had no name on it, but it was not the first time Keladry of Mindelan had received gifts from an anonymous well-wisher.

"Look at this Lalasa," she said, showing it to her maid.

Lalasa came over from her sewing, smiling at the thick icing on top of the cake. "Someone knows you've had a bad week and wants to cheer you up, My Lady."

Kel snorted. As a senior page, she could go through the daily routine in her sleep, but lately things had started to change. Recently her jousting lessons had been made even harder by the training master, Lord Wyldon and assignments given by the masters for her written lessons had been piling up. On top of all of that, new weights had been added to the harness the pages wore.

"It looks really nice," murmured Kel distractedly, lifting the cake from the box. She frowned. "There was no note at all. There's usually a small note, saying something like 'Goddess Bless'…"

"So?"

Kel shrugged. "I'm just not sure if we should eat it, if we don't really know who it's from." She paused, eyeing the cake again. It did look really nice…fruit cake, with lavish icing dusted with sugar.

"You don't know who any of the gifts are from, My Lady," said Lalasa reasonably. "Why would someone go to the trouble of sending you such a nice cake if they only wanted to cause mischief? There are much easier ways of doing that."

"You're right." Kel smiled at the older girl. "I should stop being so suspicious – it's been years since anyone tried anything on me and even Joren seems to want to make amends recently."

She got a knife out of the drawer and cut two big slices. Giving one to Lalasa, she hid the rest of the cake in a cupboard.

"Are you not planning on sharing this with the boys, My Lady?" asked Lalasa.

"They eat enough of my food as it is. We'll keep this just for us, I think. After all, we girls deserve a treat every now and then." Seeing refusal in Lalasa's eyes, Kel continued, "Come on Lalasa, you've been working so hard recently, with all your sewing for the Queen. You deserve a treat as well."

Lalasa grinned and ducked her head. Kel winked and took a big bite of her slice of cake.

It tasted as wonderful as it looked.

"Oooh, it's so rich!" said Lalasa, as she was halfway through. "I don't think I can manage any more My Lady."

Kel brushed her fingers off on her breeches and held out her hand, her piece already devoured. "Pass it over, no point it going to waste." As Lalasa shook her head in amazement, Kel just grinned. "Bet you I can get this entire bit in at once." As her maid looked on in disbelief, Kel shoved the cake in her mouth and in a couple of chews it was gone.

"No wonder you're growing so fast," commented Lalasa, her eyebrows raised. "I've never known anyone eat so much!"

The bell for afternoon lessons went. As furious knocking hammered on her door, Kel wished Lalasa a good afternoon and grabbed her things.

Halfway through mathematics, normally her favourite lesson, Kel began to regret eating so much cake. She was even sleepier than usual and feeling a little queasy.

Serves me right for woofing all that down. Oh Mithros, after all I ate for lunch as well! And I've still got to get through the rest of the afternoon.

Master Ivor 's voice started to become slightly distorted as Kel felt her eyelids grow heavy.

I'm so tired. Thank the gods Neal made us sit at the back of the classroom this year. Maybe no one will…notice…if I just…shut my eyes…for a little…just…for…a…bit…