A/N: This is set after the return of Kel from Steadfast to New Hope, after Raoul and Neal's weddings. It's admittedly bit strange, and very fluffy. I thought it up in lunch and wrote it down days later. It was originally publised here in 2006, but since changing my penname I've decided to do a few edits... and by a few I mean alot. Nothing plot has changed, it's just alot more readable now. The story itself is pretty short, so I hope you enjoy the ride! -sfbeliever August 2009
disclaimer: The plot is mine as are the characters you don't recognize immediately, everything else in Pierce's.
The New Hope Players
-October 1, 460-
Loey, Gydo and Tobe sat in Loey's room atop the bed while Irnai sat on the floor, with a pen in hand and a stack of parchment in front of her. The quartet had the air familiar to children about to do something their elder's wouldn't approve of.
"Are you sure this will work?" Gydo sounded nervous, "What if she finds out before we finish it, or-or do it? She'd skin us alive, or worse!"
" 'O 'course it'll work Gydo!" Tobe said exasperatedly, "We just go to Lady Yukimi and Sir Neal they'll help us! I just know it! … At least Lady Yuki will, Sir Meatheadedness might not… but we just need Meech to come back with their response and we'll start writing it!"
"Yeah," said Loey with a nod to Tobe, "No point writing this script, if we can't even perform it!"
"But are we doing the right thing, involving ourselves in our Lady's personal life like this? I mean I'm all for getting her and –" Gydo froze at a knock on the door; pit-pit-pat-pat. Tobe leaped off Loey's bed with little grace and scurried across the room.
"Meech, finally!" he declared as he opened the door, Meech nodded to him and after handing over a tightly folded note, dashed over to Gydo. Tobe tore open the note and scanned it as fast as he could. Kel had spent many of their nights over the past months beating proper reading and writing letters into him. Gydo and Loey stared up at him from their perches, only relaxing when they saw a smile unfurl on the younger boy's face.
"Well!" He said with a laugh of mixed relief and exhilaration, "She'll help!"
He tossed the note to Loey who read it aloud:
"Dearest Children,
I was rather shocked to hear of your plan, in all honesty I did not think you could be so cunning! The plan is a good one, and Kel and Dom obviously have deep feelings for each other, but they're just too… they just won't tell each other the truth! Your play surely make the truth come out one way or another… though I would like to read it before making any final plans. We also need to talk, as a group, about the sets, stage and who to invite and such. I see no reason why this performance cannot provide much needed entertainment to those uninvolved with the great Kel-Dom affair. Neal, is I'm afraid utterly against this 'infringement of his relations privacy' so please, have fun with his part in you script. Good luck, -Yuki"
Loey looked up, "I knew there was a reason I liked her!"
"So let's begin then!" Irnai said with a wicked grin. From a small, leather case near her feet she pulled out a bottle of ink and, with a flourish titled her paper, The (mostly true) Story of the Protector of the Small and then began, with much help, to write the story of Lady Knight Keladry.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-November 5, 460-
"Well, I must admit that I find myself shocked," Yuki put down the script and looked at the four children with amusement barely hidden in her eyes, "I knew you children had a knack for story telling, but this is fantastic! Truly perfect, with just the right amount of truth and exaggerations mixed in."
Tobe shrugged, feigning nonchalance, though honestly he was rather proud of the ink-stained copy, "It took us forever Lady Yuki, so I sure hope it works! I mean--" he froze as Sir Neal walked into the infirmary.
It took Neal a moment to notice the silence that had fallen upon his arrival. He looked first at the children sitting on the floor, and then turned to his wife and his face turned a bit red, "What in the blazes is this? Are you still doing that blasted conspiracy thing? I swear I should go to Kel right now and-"
Yuki pulled out a fan, a shukusen to be precise, and Neal watched it warily, having learned that Yuki would follow through on any threat she presented at the beginning of their marriage. Noting his discomfort, Yuki said coolly, "You won't tell anyone about this will you Neal? And you'll let these kids put on this play, won't you darling? For if not there is a Yamani style couch in our study, I am sure you will find that comfortable for several weeks would you not?" Neal bit his lip, turned and left with an attempt at dignified silence.
"Now children," Yuki continued as though Neal had not just threatened to ruin everything, "Who shall we invite, aside from the third company of the own to this midwinter festival? And asides from the play what else can we do to make this the best midwinter yet?"