A/N: This is the
newly revised version, where I fixed all the mistakes. For those of you who
have no idea who Khari is, read my other fic, Squire.
Twenty-Five Minutes
The dusty road to Tortall was usually empty around
midwinter, as most people were done traveling for the year. Yet a single figure
rode slowly down the road. The snow and the road had taken its toll on horse
and rider both. Still, a bright light shone in the riders eyes…after four
years, he was finally back.
After some
time I´ve finally made up my mind
she is the girl and I really want to
make her mine
Cleon brushed
red curls out of his face, and shifted restlessly on his horse. The road had
been long and hard, but he was coming back at last. Nodding at the Bazhir
guards, he urged the horse forward. It had been so long since his last visit
here…four long years.
Four years full
of longing and nostalgia. Four years, where every minute, every second was
clouded with a picture of her.
Kel. I'm back.
I´m
searching everywhere to find her again
to tell her I love her
and I´m sorry ´bout the things I´ve
done
The streets of Tortall seemed a bit empty, and lonely. As
if everyone was attending a festival or something. The fact only bothered the
young knight for a minute…no more.
The Mindelan's Tortallan home was empty, not a word, not a
sound. Lalasa's dress shop was empty also. Closed—for the day.
Finally, he arrived in front of the King's Reach Villa.
Faleron would know where Kel was, surely, or at least Khari would. Cleons'
knock was stopped short, the other knight was on his way out. Khari behind him.
Both were in formal attire, and Khari had on a new piece of jewelery. Cleon
grinned when he saw the engagement ring on her finger.
"Congratu—" He started to say. But stopped short at the
gasp from Khari and the sad look in Faleron's face.
"No." Khari said, a pleading look in her eyes. "Not now.
Not today. Mithros. Why today?"
Faleron's eyes were shadowed, "Come with us." He said. "We
have to show you something."
The trip to the palace was slow…no one talked. Cleon knew
something was wrong. Something had happened to his beloved Kel…but what?
The carriage stopped in front of a palace courtyard. Cleon
glanced out and smiled. Someone was getting married, for the courtyard was
wonderfully decorated: a winter wonderland.
Midwinter Weddings. Kel would have liked that.
Khari silently took her friends hand, and pulled him toward
the celebration. The bride was in a beautiful dress, white and plain, yet still
beautiful. Just like Kel.
The priest was speaking, a rich baritone voice. "…take this
man, to be your husband? To love, and to cherish…"
The bride turned to look at her husband to be… In that
single moment, Cleons' heart plummeted from it's once high perch…
It was Kel.
I find her
standing in front of the church
the only place in town where I didn´t
search
She looks so happy in her wedding
dress
but she´s crying while she´s saying
this
Kel gasped, and stopped mid-turn.
One by one, others turned to look at the newcomer. Raold, standing hand in hand
with Shinkokami. Lady Alanna with George. Raoul and Buri. Inness, Anders,
Conal, Ilane and her husband, still shorter than their daughter. Owen. Seaver.
Merric. Prosper. All his friends. Here to see his Kel to be wed. To someone
else.
Cleon glanced at the bridegroom. Neal.
Of course, he thought. Neal. The one
who was always there for Kel. Her best friend, even when she loved him, Cleon.
He had abandoned her, promising to come back someday. While he went off to
"seek his fortune."
"Cleon?" Kel asked, breaking the silence.
Boy I´ve
missed your kisses all the time but this is
twenty-five minutes too late
Though you traveled so far boy I´m
sorry you're
twenty-five minutes too late
"Why?" Kel asked. "Why now? Why
today? Why didn't you come earlier? When I still loved you like I did?"
Neal looked at Cleon, his eyes
looked sorry, painful. I wanted you to have her, they said. But that was a long
time ago. Now…
Cleon stared straight ahead, letting
his eyes rest on a stone statue of the Goddess, not letting himself believe
what was happening.
"Cleon please." Kel was crying now,
silently. She tried in vain to stop, but her Yamani calm was broken. "Please
understand. I don't have those feelings I had for you. You were gone too long,
I waited. I really did. But two years passed, then three, and I had no more
memories to go over."
Kel stopped, unable to go on, and
just stared at Cleon, tears streaming down her face. Khari and Shinko walked
over and held their friend, who was crying. On her wedding day.
Out in the
streets
places where hungry hearts have
nothing to eat
inside my head
still I can hear the words she said
Cleon smiled sadly. He heard himself
mumble something incomprehensible, something about not having a gift to give
the happy couple. Sorry he wasn't dressed for the occasion. Sorry for
abandoning her four years ago. Sorry for leaving. Sorry for all the tears she'd
shed.
Sorry for loving her…
Boy I´ve
missed your kisses all the time but this is
twenty-five minutes too late
Though you traveled so far boy I´m
sorry you're
twenty-five minutes too late
Kel
turned around to look at the priest.
"I
do."
A/N:
::sniffle:: This is K/C for my friend. I still like K/N better. I corrected my
mistakes! Like it? Still review! The
Song is by Michael Learns to Rock
