Disclaimer: I don't own…anything. Except the storyline and Hollyrose
Inn. Tamora Pierce owns all the characters and places, and Michelle Branch
owns the song.
Lady Knight, Keladry of Mindelan looked out
the window of her small room at Hollyrose Inn, waiting. Five sparrows danced
around her, while another, Nari, rested on her left shoulder, scolding
the others in a shrill voice. Kel smiled at the small birds, before gazing
back out the window.
She jumped excitedly, causing Nari to fly
off her shoulder and yell at her. "Sorry." Kel said quickly. "Stay here
Jump." The small, scarred dog tilted his head and looked up at her, as
if to say 'Why do you always ruin my fun?' Kel sighed very softly, and
closed the door in the dogs face.
"Kel!" A voice yelled from her right. She
stopped and turned to see Merric of Hollyrose looking at her. "Could you
calm down? You frightened Skip." He scooped up his tiny gray kitten.
Kel couldn't help laughing as she ran down
the stairs and out the front door of the Inn. "Cleon!" She exclaimed, throwing
her arms around the tall redhead's neck.
Cleon smiled at her. "Hello, love." He said,
kissing her forehead. "How long have you been here?"
"Four days. The Riders didn't have anything
to do, so we took a break. We will help when there's trouble." She added,
seeing the startled look on his face at the idea that knights and warriors
could just stop. "I missed you!" She hugged him tightly again, and he lifted
her off the ground slightly. Smiling widely, she lifted up her face for
a kiss.
Can't you see?
There's a feeling that's come over me
Close my eyes
You're the only one that leaves me
Completely breathless
No need to wonder why
Sometimes a gift like this you can't deny
Kel yawned and dropped onto her bed. She closed
her eyes, letting her long lashes brush her cheeks, and Cleon floated into
her head. She saw his smile, which always made her giddy, and saw his bright
eyes, which made her want to faint. She sat up slowly and looked around
at the darkness. The sparrows were outside, exploring Hollyrose, and Jump
was curled up by the dying fire.
Kel smiled inwardly, but it was hard to keep
her face Yamani smooth when she thought of Cleon. "I may never tell you,
Cleon, but I love you." She let her smile spread onto her lips as she flopped
backwards and drifted into peaceful slumber.
'Cause I wanted to fly,
so you gave me your wings
And time held its breath so I could see,
Yeah
And you set me free
Six days later Kel arrived in Corus, prepared
to celebrate Midwinter with her friends Buri, Raandi, Anati(all Riders),
Neal, and Cleon. She wasn't sure Neal or Cleon would be there, but she
could hope. As she stepped into the dining hall she sighed inwardly, disappointed.
Owen of Jesslaw grinned at her, even though he seemed uncomfortable next
to a very prim and proper lady with bright eyes. The lady turned, Kel saw
she wasn't any older than 20, and smiled directly at Kel, her violet eyes
sparkling. Kel's eyes widened. She looked just like Alanna the Lioness,
but she couldn't be. Kel shrugged, and turned.
"Ouch." She whispered as she slammed into
someone in her way. "Watch where you're going, sir." She commanded.
"Sorry milady." It was Cleon, grinning ear
to ear. "May I speak to you in the garden?"
"The feast is about to start. I want to see
the older pages, so I can see if I want a squire next year. Cleon I-" Kel
began to protest, but Cleon interrupted.
"It's important. Please."
Kel sighed heavily and adjusted her violet skirt.
"Lead the way." She followed him outside into the garden, shivering. "Did
you know you're crazy? It's Midwinter and you have us outside! Just let-"
Cleon interrupted her with a warm kiss. "Are you
warm now?"
"No. I'm still freezing, fathead." She tried to
hide her smile, but it shone brightly in her eyes.
"Keladry. Just…stop time." Cleon whispered.
"You know that's impossible. Please, get serious.
Let's go inside and you can tell me while we eat."
"No."
Kel laughed. "You are stubborn, and that's what
I lo-like about you."
"You like that I'm stubborn?"
"Yes. Now, what did you want to say."
"I love you Kel."
There's a will
There's a way
Sometimes words just can't explain
This is real
I'm afraid
I guess this time there's just no hiding,
Fighting
You make me restless
You're in my heart
The only light that shines
There in the dark
Kel gulped. She always knew that of course,
but to just say it? She was scared. She didn't want to stop being a knight
to marry or have children. Knighthood was her dream, and Cleon would never
make her give it up. She licked her dry lips and tried to swallow.
'I don't see what the big deal is.' She thought.
'I love him too. I can't fight my feelings.'
"Kel?" Cleon whispered. "I'm sorry. I was…"
Kel pressed a finger to his lips to quiet
him. "Shh. Cleon. I love you too."
Cleon whooped, which Kel knew could be heard
in the dining hall and pulled her into a kiss. "I knew it." He said when
he let her go. "I knew it. Now we need to talk about marriage."
Kel shook her head. "Not yet! Unless you want
to take care of the kids while I fight."
"Fine, I'll take care of them" Cleon said,
but he was smiling. "Let's go back in."
'Cause I wanted to fly,
so you gave me your wings
And time held its breath so I could see,
Yeah
And you set me free
Three months later Kel raced to Mindelan,
her home, praying she would get there in time. "Gallop." She told Peachblossom
through gritted teeth. "Hurry. I need to get home."
Five minutes later she jumped off her gelding's
back and ran up the front lawn to her house. She didn't knock or wait for
the servants, but stormed in and ran upstairs to her mother's bedroom.
"Mother!" She exclaimed and she ran into the room. Illane of Mindelan lay
on her bed, her face whiter than the clouds that merrily blew across the
sky outside the window, oblivious to the events below.
"Keladry." Illane gasped before going into
a fit of coughing. Kel's father, who sat beside the bed was as white as
his wife, his brow creased with worry.
"Don't talk my love. Keladry, please. She
loves talking to you. Please, leave for now. You can return when she's
better."
"If!" Kel exclaimed, unable to mask her fury.
"What if she can't get better? What if I never say goodbye to my mother?"
Tears filled her eyes, but her father's face was Yamani smooth. Kel envied
him. How did he keep his emotions bottled up? Kel tried, but she failed
often. "Goodbye mother." She said softer, and walked out of the house.
To her surprise, Cleon was standing next to
Peachblossom, stroking his mane. Kel smiled at him and kissed him. Before
she could protest, he lifted her up off her feet and spun her around. "Now
you're flying with the angels, though none are as beautiful as your radiant
self. Ow!" Peachblossom nipped his ear, and he set Kel down quickly. "Sorry
horsie." He grumbled.
Kel giggled softly. "Keep me on the ground
from now on then."
"Yes Lady Knight." Cleon said, and tweaked
her nose.
"Don't do that." Kel snapped. "You know I
hate it. I may love you, but I hate your annoying habits. Like making me
fly and tweaking my nose."
"You love it."
"No. I don't."
"Yes you do."
"No, Cleon."
"Yes Keladry."
"Oh!" Kel sighed and kissed his nose. "I love
it. Happy?"
"I always am when I'm with you, love."
When I was all alone
You came around
When I was down
You pulled me through
And there's nothing that
I wouldn't do for you
"He wouldn't let me see her, and now they're
both dead!" Kel screeched at her sister. "How can I not be angry? My mother
and father are dead. You're married, so at least you have someone. I have
no one! I need to…walk." She stormed out the door of her old house and
headed to the pub.
Ten minutes later she was crying at her table,
tears dripping into her elderberry wine. "Is that you Kel?" Kel looked
up at Cleon, her face stained with tears. "Oh Gods. What happened. Where
is my opal of happiness?"
"Dead and buried with her parents." Kel snapped,
and wished she didn't. "Oh, Cleon. I'm sorry."
"You don't need to explain. You're sad and stressed.
I still love you."
"Good. Roald and Shinko are marrying next
month. That should be wonderful."
"Kel. We need to talk about you. And what's
bothering you. I don't remember seeing you cry so much before. What's wrong?"
"Well. My parents are dead. Mother was sick,
and I wasn't even allowed to see her! I wasn't." A tear rolled down her
cheek, and she brushed it away. "And then…my father died as well. Of a
broken heart. It's not fair."
"Life is never fair, love. We always seem
to survive though. I haven't figured out how, but I think it has to do
with confidence, determination, and love. And you're overflowing with those."
Kel smiled weakly. "Thanks." She leaned across
the table and quickly kissed Cleon.
'Cause I wanted to fly,
so you gave me your wings
And time held its breath so I could see,
Yeah
"It was a beautiful wedding, wasn't it?" Neal
said. "Now, there's a lady! Excuse me Kel." Her best friend smiled quickly
at her before running after a beautiful Yamani girl.
Kel laughed. "He's insane." She said to herself.
"Yes, he is. And I don't think you should
be talking to yourself at a wedding. Or anyplace for that matter." A familiar
voice said from behind her.
"You should not talk at all, Karran, since
no one listens." Kel joked, smiling at Cleon. "And what's behind you're
back?"
Cleon smiled, and handed her a glaive. It
was gold and sparkled in the sunlight that streamed through the decorations
hung from the palace windows. Her name 'Keladry' was carved into the handle,
and the very tip was made of a sharpened sapphire.
"Oh! Oh, Cleon. What is this? Why?" Kel was
shocked as she took the glaive from him. She traced her name with her finger
before looking up at Cleon.
"Kel. Keladry. Will you be my wife? You can think about it. Or
we could wait. Or you could say no and break my heart into a million pieces."
Kel smiled. "Of course. Yes! I will be your
wife Cleon of Kennan. And I didn't need a gift to make me say yes."
"We have to do it as soon as possible!" Cleon
exclaimed.
"No. We'll wait."
"But what if you change your mind?"
"Then it was never meant to be." Kel replied
simply. "I want to save a few lives first."
"Yes, diamond of my love. Now, come her and
kiss me." And Kel did just that.
And you set me free
A/N: Review! Review! Review! And please, no flames, just CONSTRUCTIVE
criticism. Thanks!