The Giver
By Barefoot
This story is about Kel and her mysterious benefactor and who that person may be
Kel fell to her knees, clutching her side in pain. She felt several hands comfort her, and many voices filled with glee,
"You did it, Kel…"
"Take that, Stump…"
"At last my dewdrop…"
"Jolly well done…"
Kel was just glad to have finished the entire ordeal. Eight years of training, eight years of discrimination, now, no one could say she didn't earn her shield. The entire time she had no interaction with the Lioness, no way for people to say she had cheated.
The only help Kel had besides that from her friends, was from her mysterious gift giver, who's identity had not been of yet revealed to her. However, Kel had a feeling she would find out by nightfall…
That night, as a celebration was held for all of the new knights, Kel could think of nothing but who had given her the gifts, a total mystery these past eight years. At the feast, Kel saw a folded note lying on her plate. Kel unfolded it with trembling hands,
Meet me in the Palace Gardens
By the statue of the hunter
At dawn break
~ Your mysterious benefactor ~
Kel smiled after reading this, and smiled at her friends who were near her. They spent the night remembering the years they spent in training…when Kel had to climb Balor's Needle to rescue Lalasa, Jump, Neal and his love-of-the-week, Cleon at his silly nicknames for Kel, Owen and the word "Jolly", Joren and his gang get whipped by Kel and Co.,…………
Night does eventually end, and the new knights, the old knights, the squires and pages, and everyone else retired to bed. Leaving only Kel and a few sentries awake. Kel meandered her way to the garden, and sat down beside the statue of the hunter.
As the sun peaked over the lands, casting its gold light everywhere, a cloaked figure approached Kel. The cloaked one pulled back its hood, revealing a smiling face.
"Kel, I was the one who gave you your gifts," the cloaked one said.
Kel laughed, and stared at her no-longer-mysterious benefactor, who was really:
a) Alanna. The most likely person to be sending gifts, she wants to help Kel, but can't come in contact with her. However, how Alanna got Kel's measurements is beyond me…maybe through Myles.
b) King Jonathon. He might have felt real bad about putting Kel on probation and getting the Lioness mad (hey, that rhymes!), so he's trying to make it up to Kel.
c) Lord Wyldon. Please don't kill me for this one. Just think about it…if he's all so mean and cruel, why did he let Kel stay? He seems like the fatherly figure, even through all his prejudice (which may just be a front).
d) Thayet. She doesn't have a big role in the "Protector of the Small" series, so this may be the key to tie her in. Thayet is a caring person, and does know what fighters need.
e) Myles. No explanation needed, dare I say.
A/N- I don't own any of these characters, I wish. They belong to Tamora Pierce.