This is a fic about of my favorite couples: Daine/Numair, Kel/Neal. It's a romance and its going to be kinda long so be prepared. I hate little choppy fics…anyway. Please R&R!!! Its going to be pretty boring in the beginning but please bear with me! By the way, Katie is my best friend in the world but she couldn't help me with the title…this ones for you, Katie! P.S. when you review, please PLEASE give me some ideas for a title, its time for reader input!
A/N:
()- Means I'm interrupting the story to tell you something.
***-Means later on...or a change of viewpoints (i.e. Kel to Neal, vice versa)
- Means thinking
" "- Means someone's talking
A/N: O.K.. no ones really really stupid and thinks I own these head cases right? RIGHT?? Good…'coz I don't. The amazing all-powerful Tamora Pierce does, so BOO-YAH.
I COULDN'T THINK OF A TITLE:
THANKS FOR NOTHING KATIE!! (j/k)
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The feast in honor of the new squires was amazing, but Kel went through it in a daze I can't believe Lord Wyldon actually allowed me to become a squire. I'll bet he knows that no one will pick the only GIRL in training for their squire; except for Sir Gary or Myles maybe. But I don't want to be squire to a knight who just sits behind a desk…I want ACTION. Pushing papers was not what she had gone through 4 years of grueling training for. Even the Lioness won't pick me. She's been forbidden to talk to me. I'm going to be all alone, all of my friends will go off with their new masters and I won't… "Kel!" She turned around to see Neal standing behind her, with that idiot grin on his face. "I've been trying to get your attention for 5 minutes now! Look," he said "there's cake, we saved you a piece, come sit down." He waved to the seat next to him. When she sat down he whispered "What's wrong? You looked sad and you were biting your lip. You weren't thinking you weren't going to be picked by a knight were you? Gods Kel! You're the best tilter in our year, and one of the best in swordsmanship and archery. Or should I say 'swordsWOMANship?" Though his tone was teasing his eyes were worried. Kel was still silent. "Come on, what happened to our cheerful little friend Kel? You know you'll get picked by the best knight in the land! Then you can go around rescuing poor helpless men like me," he winked at her and turned to his other side to talk to Merric. I guess he's right, but the reason I wanted to become a knight was the Lioness and I haven't even SEEN her yet…at least Joren isn't here, he'd go out of his way to make me feel worse than I already do.
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Alanna was fuming. She had talked to Jon for the first time in four years and it had not gone well. She had asked him to let Kel become her squire, since his decree that she couldn't say anything to the girl couldn't possibly extend after the girl became a squire! Jon had remained adamant, however, "Alanna, I know you want to take her under your wing, but it wouldn't be fair to the other squires, and the nobles would be angry with me. They would say I'm playing favorites. I know you hate to hear this, but you're just going to have to pick someone else." Pick someone else! HMPH! Sometimes I wish Jon would stop being kingly for once and just be human! He's right though, the nobles would argue with him if he let her be my squire. I hate it when he's right. I suppose I'll just have to watch the other squires and choose her best friend, so I can explain that I had no choice. I wonder if she has guessed that those presents came from me, I hope they helped.
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In his room that night Neal couldn't sleep. He began to pace the floor with his hands behind his back. Kel wasn't the only one who was worried about being chosen by a knight. Neal knew that he wasn't the most talented squire in their year at battle skills, and who would want him as a squire when he was always talking back and making jokes?? The Stump probably told the knights who were doing the choosing about all of his bad habits. Maybe Myles or Gary will take me, or even Kel's brother. He never even considered Alanna as a possible master. He was anxious about Kel. She's so troubled over being picked by a knight. She barely even heard what I said tonight at the feast. She needs to realize how amazing she really is. Ever since she went up Balor's needle she's been creeping around like a mouse, and she could use a boost of confidence. I feel so bad for her, and helpless too, like I have no choice but to watch her and wish I could help. He had been wrestling with his 'more-then-friendly' feelings for Kel for a while, but he didn't know how to tell her how he felt. It didn't help that he could tell that Cleon always followed her with his eyes. How could NEAL compete with Cleon? Why wouldn't she lok at me today at the feast? Is she angry with me? What have I done? Not feeling any better he got into bed and fell into an uneasy sleep.
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Kel couldn't sleep either. All she could think of was Neal's eyes as he whispered to her at the feast. How could she have not known before that she was in love with Neal? It had been all she could do to keep her eyes on the small piece of cake in front of her, and try to ignore the sensation of his warm breath stirring the hairs by her ear. Maybe Lord Wyldon was right. I'm not cut out to be a squire...NO! Thats NOT right. I may be a girl, but I don't have to crawl away from the palace with my tail between my legs just because of one crush. Am I a warrior or not? Warrriors don't run away, they DEAL with it. These thoughts didn't comfort her, however, and when the guards called midnight, she was still awake.
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At that moment Daine and Numair were discussing marriage. They had been sharing a late supper in their shared room, with Kitten asleep on Daine's bed, and since Numair had just finished a dangerous and extremely difficult magical working he looked as though he was about to fall asleep in his fish stew. Daine, gazing at him, could see just how much it had cost him. He could barely lift his spoon. How much longer can he keep this up? He hasn't been sleeping well, when he does sleep, and we almost never see each other. "Daine?" She was jolted from her reverie by the sound of his voice. She looked up and met his eyes. She noticed how many lines had appeared around them since midwinter. He needs a vacation. We BOTH do. her last patient, a young dog who's paw had been broken in three places by a wagon wheel had been difficult to heal since infection had set in already. She yawned and asked him, "Yes?" "Will you marry me?" She was so surprised she dropped the glass of wine she'd been holding.
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Numair had his own reasons for wanting to marry Daine. The first was, of course, that he loved her deeply and couldn't imagine life without her (I know, I know… sappy…get over it). The second was the gossip. The palace was alive with it. The servants were scared of their workroom. They said Daine would turn them into toads or worse. What most of the gossips speculated on, though, was why Numair hadn't married Daine yet. Some said he didn't want to because he was too honorable to shackle her to an old man, others said he wanted to be able to have other women besides her. Only Numair and Daine really knew why they kept things the way they did. Neither one wanted to keep the other in an unhappy marriage. But Numair wanted to marry her, and he wanted to protect her from the nasty gossip that was hurting them both. He could see the hurt in her eyes whenever she overheard someone discussing their relationship. He had been thinking about this for weeks and he decided now was as good a time as ever. He was surprised and worried when she dropped her wine glass, but she sprang to him and hugged him yelling, "YES! Yes, you big dolt!" and kissed him on the mouth.
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Unseen by either of them, a figure moved outside the window, chuckling to himself as he watched the happy scene. Everything is going according to plan. My masters will be pleased. He moved away silently to watch the other girl about whom all his masters' plans revolved.
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A/N:
Well? What did you think? I know, I know…kinda boring..but its picking up a bit now, and theres some more romance in the next chapter. I know everybody and their cat are writing about Kel and Neal, but I couldn't resist. This fic is going to be more of an action/adventure/romance than strictly romance. That's just how it turned out…please PLEASE tell me what you think, and if you're going to flame me…well so be it.
-Lady Silvermoon
A/N:
()- Means I'm interrupting the story to tell you something.
***-Means later on...or a change of viewpoints (i.e. Kel to Neal, vice versa)
- Means thinking
" "- Means someone's talking
A/N: O.K.. no ones really really stupid and thinks I own these head cases right? RIGHT?? Good…'coz I don't. The amazing all-powerful Tamora Pierce does, so BOO-YAH.
I COULDN'T THINK OF A TITLE:
THANKS FOR NOTHING KATIE!! (j/k)
********************************************************************************************************
The feast in honor of the new squires was amazing, but Kel went through it in a daze I can't believe Lord Wyldon actually allowed me to become a squire. I'll bet he knows that no one will pick the only GIRL in training for their squire; except for Sir Gary or Myles maybe. But I don't want to be squire to a knight who just sits behind a desk…I want ACTION. Pushing papers was not what she had gone through 4 years of grueling training for. Even the Lioness won't pick me. She's been forbidden to talk to me. I'm going to be all alone, all of my friends will go off with their new masters and I won't… "Kel!" She turned around to see Neal standing behind her, with that idiot grin on his face. "I've been trying to get your attention for 5 minutes now! Look," he said "there's cake, we saved you a piece, come sit down." He waved to the seat next to him. When she sat down he whispered "What's wrong? You looked sad and you were biting your lip. You weren't thinking you weren't going to be picked by a knight were you? Gods Kel! You're the best tilter in our year, and one of the best in swordsmanship and archery. Or should I say 'swordsWOMANship?" Though his tone was teasing his eyes were worried. Kel was still silent. "Come on, what happened to our cheerful little friend Kel? You know you'll get picked by the best knight in the land! Then you can go around rescuing poor helpless men like me," he winked at her and turned to his other side to talk to Merric. I guess he's right, but the reason I wanted to become a knight was the Lioness and I haven't even SEEN her yet…at least Joren isn't here, he'd go out of his way to make me feel worse than I already do.
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Alanna was fuming. She had talked to Jon for the first time in four years and it had not gone well. She had asked him to let Kel become her squire, since his decree that she couldn't say anything to the girl couldn't possibly extend after the girl became a squire! Jon had remained adamant, however, "Alanna, I know you want to take her under your wing, but it wouldn't be fair to the other squires, and the nobles would be angry with me. They would say I'm playing favorites. I know you hate to hear this, but you're just going to have to pick someone else." Pick someone else! HMPH! Sometimes I wish Jon would stop being kingly for once and just be human! He's right though, the nobles would argue with him if he let her be my squire. I hate it when he's right. I suppose I'll just have to watch the other squires and choose her best friend, so I can explain that I had no choice. I wonder if she has guessed that those presents came from me, I hope they helped.
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In his room that night Neal couldn't sleep. He began to pace the floor with his hands behind his back. Kel wasn't the only one who was worried about being chosen by a knight. Neal knew that he wasn't the most talented squire in their year at battle skills, and who would want him as a squire when he was always talking back and making jokes?? The Stump probably told the knights who were doing the choosing about all of his bad habits. Maybe Myles or Gary will take me, or even Kel's brother. He never even considered Alanna as a possible master. He was anxious about Kel. She's so troubled over being picked by a knight. She barely even heard what I said tonight at the feast. She needs to realize how amazing she really is. Ever since she went up Balor's needle she's been creeping around like a mouse, and she could use a boost of confidence. I feel so bad for her, and helpless too, like I have no choice but to watch her and wish I could help. He had been wrestling with his 'more-then-friendly' feelings for Kel for a while, but he didn't know how to tell her how he felt. It didn't help that he could tell that Cleon always followed her with his eyes. How could NEAL compete with Cleon? Why wouldn't she lok at me today at the feast? Is she angry with me? What have I done? Not feeling any better he got into bed and fell into an uneasy sleep.
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Kel couldn't sleep either. All she could think of was Neal's eyes as he whispered to her at the feast. How could she have not known before that she was in love with Neal? It had been all she could do to keep her eyes on the small piece of cake in front of her, and try to ignore the sensation of his warm breath stirring the hairs by her ear. Maybe Lord Wyldon was right. I'm not cut out to be a squire...NO! Thats NOT right. I may be a girl, but I don't have to crawl away from the palace with my tail between my legs just because of one crush. Am I a warrior or not? Warrriors don't run away, they DEAL with it. These thoughts didn't comfort her, however, and when the guards called midnight, she was still awake.
********************************************************************************************************
At that moment Daine and Numair were discussing marriage. They had been sharing a late supper in their shared room, with Kitten asleep on Daine's bed, and since Numair had just finished a dangerous and extremely difficult magical working he looked as though he was about to fall asleep in his fish stew. Daine, gazing at him, could see just how much it had cost him. He could barely lift his spoon. How much longer can he keep this up? He hasn't been sleeping well, when he does sleep, and we almost never see each other. "Daine?" She was jolted from her reverie by the sound of his voice. She looked up and met his eyes. She noticed how many lines had appeared around them since midwinter. He needs a vacation. We BOTH do. her last patient, a young dog who's paw had been broken in three places by a wagon wheel had been difficult to heal since infection had set in already. She yawned and asked him, "Yes?" "Will you marry me?" She was so surprised she dropped the glass of wine she'd been holding.
********************************************************************************************************
Numair had his own reasons for wanting to marry Daine. The first was, of course, that he loved her deeply and couldn't imagine life without her (I know, I know… sappy…get over it). The second was the gossip. The palace was alive with it. The servants were scared of their workroom. They said Daine would turn them into toads or worse. What most of the gossips speculated on, though, was why Numair hadn't married Daine yet. Some said he didn't want to because he was too honorable to shackle her to an old man, others said he wanted to be able to have other women besides her. Only Numair and Daine really knew why they kept things the way they did. Neither one wanted to keep the other in an unhappy marriage. But Numair wanted to marry her, and he wanted to protect her from the nasty gossip that was hurting them both. He could see the hurt in her eyes whenever she overheard someone discussing their relationship. He had been thinking about this for weeks and he decided now was as good a time as ever. He was surprised and worried when she dropped her wine glass, but she sprang to him and hugged him yelling, "YES! Yes, you big dolt!" and kissed him on the mouth.
********************************************************************************************************
Unseen by either of them, a figure moved outside the window, chuckling to himself as he watched the happy scene. Everything is going according to plan. My masters will be pleased. He moved away silently to watch the other girl about whom all his masters' plans revolved.
********************************************************************************************************
A/N:
Well? What did you think? I know, I know…kinda boring..but its picking up a bit now, and theres some more romance in the next chapter. I know everybody and their cat are writing about Kel and Neal, but I couldn't resist. This fic is going to be more of an action/adventure/romance than strictly romance. That's just how it turned out…please PLEASE tell me what you think, and if you're going to flame me…well so be it.
-Lady Silvermoon