Summary: Kel is engaged, this is the trials, tribulations and sorrows that come with love. Title may change.
Author's Note: Hello everyone! I'm queenofdiamonds1 and this is my first fanficion so please be nice. This is an alternate universe story because almost every thing didn't happen in the books. Oh, by my reckoning in H.E. 465, Kel is about 23. If anyone has a different age, can you leave it in a review? Thanks! Well all reviews will be accepted, but constructive criticism is preferred. All flames will be used to roast marshmallows. On with the story.
Midwinter 465 H.E.
Keladry of Mindelan sat at her desk looking into space, then looking down at the small ring on her left ring finger. It was a small ring, just the way she wanted it. Being a Lady Knight she couldn't really have a boulder attached to her hand. It was a heart shaped diamond set in a gold band with R & K FOREVER engraved on the interior of the band. Kel smiled shyly. She could hardly believe that she is engaged, and has been for a week. Kel hadn't told many people, yet. She wanted to tell her family first, and tonight they would announce it to the rest of court. Kel walked around her room. This room was very similar to her pages quarters. It was larger, with a very small sleeping chamber and privy attached. The sleeping chamber was so small that she could only fit a bed and nightstand in it. Because she was a minor noble, and her family was occupying the family's suite, she got this small room. Kel continued walking around her room for a moment, thinking. The Midwinter's ball will start in a few hours and she needed to get ready. They had decided on a short engagement, the wedding will be in May. It is always beautiful in May. Corus should be alive with blooming flowers, and Kel had always wanted an outdoors wedding. There was a knock on the door.
"Yes," called Kel as she walked to the door. "I'm coming!"
Kel opened the door and smiled to the maid standing there.
"I'm Sarah, your mother sent me to help you dress." said the young woman, dipping into a small curtsy.
"Hello, I'm Kel," replied Kel as she moved aside, so that Sarah could enter the room, and closed the door behind her. "My mother sent you to help me dress. I told her that I could do it on my own."
"Yes, she told me that you might say that. But she said to help you anyway. This is a grand evening for you after all, isn't it. Don't you want to look your best?" inquired Sarah as she walked over to where Kel's ball gown was hanging. It was a beautiful emerald green dress with yellow trim. Kel looked at the dress.
"What time is it?"
"Six in the evening."
"Well that gives us one and a half hours, the ball starts a eight," stated Kel frankly. "We better get started."
"My lady, not that I don't agree that we should start now, but it's six in the evening. That gives us two hours until the ball starts, not one and a half hours." corrected Sarah.
"No, that gives us an hour and a half, he's going to meet me here at 7:30, so we have thirty minutes to get to the ball room. Let's get started." demurred Kel as she slipped out of her robe and into a petticoat.
One and a half hours later Sarah had finished with Kel. She was almost ready. All she lad left to do was find her shoes. Kel dismissed Sarah, stating that she could find them herself. Five minutes latter she had found one of them when she went to answer the door. Kel opened it to find Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, standing on the other side. "Your late," she stated, as she stood on tiptoe to give the tall man a kiss on the cheek.
"I may be late, Kel, but you still aren't ready."
"How do you know that?" demanded Kel, "I swear, I think that you know me better than I know myself."
"You aren't wearing any jewelry. You told me that you were going to wear the emerald ear drops that I got you for your birthday. You aren't wearing them yet." observed Raoul as he walked through the door, as Kel closed it behind him.
"I used to be prompt and on time for everything. Then I began dating you. Now I am hopelessly late for everything." huffed Kel as she searched under the sofa for her missing shoe. "A Knight of the Realm should not be late, it could mean lives."
"Wyldon truly trained you." groaned Raoul as he sat down in the chair near the fire. "You are always ready when the battle rages, but to balls, you do have a tardy problem." smiled Raoul, his black eyes dancing.
"Yes, I am getting almost as bad as Meathead. I swear, one of these days he will arrive before me. I might have a heart attack if he does. But," she looked up at Raoul; "at least His Majesty doesn't have to order me to appear at balls." she smiled wickedly.
Raoul looked at Kel, shaking his head at her. Gods she is beautiful he thought. "Come here," he whispered, patting his leg. Kel got up off the floor and sat on Raoul's lap, fitting perfectly against him, like two pieces of a whole. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him. Kel leaned her head back, resting it on his shoulder. "Gods Kel, I would rather spend the entire night here with you, instead of going to the ball. Just you and me, in front of the fire." whispered Raoul into her hair. "Some times I just want to forget the rest of the world, pretend that it is just you and me, here, in our own little world."
"Nothing would make me happier. Well, tonight we'll tell everyone that we are a couple, no not a couple, we are engaged to be married." Said Kel, correcting herself.
"Yes," sighed Raoul. "Tonight we will tell everyone." He finished with a flat voice.
"Is something wrong?" Kel turned to face Raoul. "Tell me if there is."
"No…well… yes there is. Kel people will talk." stated Raoul.
"They always talk about me." said Kel.
"Yes, but I fear that the talk might be worse."
"In what ways?" she inquired.
"Well there is our age differences. I am fifty years old, Kel. You are twenty-three. There is twenty-seven years between us, I am old enough to be your father."
"No, you are fifty years young. Our ages don't matter. People have married with greater age differences. The late Duke of Ermase did, he was fifty, the same age as you. His bride was seventeen. That is thirty-three years." practically pointed out Kel. "Ours isn't that bad. It may seem like a lot, but you are young at heart."
"Well I suppose you are right," accepted Raoul as Kel got up and walked to her dresser to grab her jewelry box. She picked it up and walked back and sat on the couch. She opened it and started putting on her jewelry. Raoul continued talking, "That isn't all that they will say. They will say things much worse."
Kel looked up at Raoul exasperated, her Yamani mask, all but transparent after so many years of not using it, failed at hiding her emotions. "Why are you so down today? It seems like you don't want to marry me anymore. What more could they say?" said Kel, honestly wanting to know what Raoul thought that they would say.
"They will say that I took advantage of you when you were my squire. They will say that I only picked you because I like them young. They will say that my intentions were far from honorable." explained Raoul, releasing a deep breath. "Oh, I don't know what else they might say. I hope that they don't say any of it, but that is unlikely." he finished, getting up and walking around Kel's room, stopping at her mantle, looking at her lucky cat figures.
Kel followed him with her eyes. "Sit down, please."
He sat.
"Raoul, my parents had no objections to our marriage. They want me to be happy. I am happy with you. That is all that should matter." Kel leaned forward and grabbed his hands, the emerald eardrops brushing on her neck. Kel looked up at the clock. "Oh Gods!" Kel exclaimed, "it is 7:50, the ball starts in ten minutes and I still can't find my shoe!"
"You mean that?" innocently inquired Raoul, as he pointed under her desk, where the faint outline of a shoe could be seen.
"Yes! I found it." exclaimed Kel as she ran over, grabbed it and put it on. "Great, now we must go, or we will be late!"