Title: Dreams Foretold

Author: shyne

Written: Sunday, January 06, 2002

Rating: R (slight sexual content, but only hints at sex [3rd paragraph], future swearing, and anything else that might come up)

Pairing: ?/Kel- find out next chapter

Beta: any offers? My e-mail: shyne285@hotmail.com

Summary: Love can be found in unexpected places, and times…Kel is torn whether to believe in her heart or her head as her world is turned upside down.

Notes: Hi, this is my first Tamora Pierce fanfic, so please be gentle with your reviews, which I hope you send. *this and a number, means there is a note at the bottom, the numbers correspond w/each other.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, yada, yada, yada…

Dreams Foretold

Prologue

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He stood there silently, memorizing every minute detail of her perfect face. His gaze rested on her soft, pink lips, wishing with every ounce in his heart that he could kiss them. Hesitantly, he reached out to touch her face, but stopped short; afraid he'd wake her. Sighing softly, he gave in, and ran his forefinger lightly down the side of her face. His heart jumped when he saw her smile at the touch of his hand. As not to disturb her any further, he withdrew his finger from her face and ran her silky tresses through his callused fingers. Quietly, he leaned down and breathed in her intoxicating scent. Straightening, he removed his hand from her hair, only to kneel down by her still form. The moonlight streamed in through the open window, heightening her beautiful features to lengths he didn't know were possible. He felt a small tug in his chest when he heard her talking in her sleep. Curious, he bent close to her head, straining to hear her soft murmurs. "Neal…mmm, that's nice..."

He froze, his body becoming rigid. One small tear ran down his cheek, only to land on her pillow with a small splash. Horrible sobs silently wracked his body, making him shudder at his weakness. Pulling himself together, he placed his hands on either side of her head as he leaned over her tilted head. Slowly, he bent down close to her lips, so only a bare inch of air separated his lips from her own soft lips. His eyes roamed her face before he brought his lips closer and closer to her's. Surprisingly, her lips rose to meet his in a sweet, gentle kiss. Shock ran through his body before he softly moaned into her mouth in pleasure. Kissing her tenderly, he stroked the sides of her face lovingly, wishing this moment would never end. He felt her lips curling up into a smile around their locked lips, causing him to stop. He heard an audible sigh escape her lips as her head fell to nestle in the pillow. Smiling fondly at her face, he laid feather soft kisses on her closed lids.

Standing up to go, he whispered a soft goodbye in her ear, wishing he could stay there by her side forever. Just as he was about to turn around, her saw her beautiful hazel eyes slowly open to look distantly at him. Again, he froze in his tracks, silently cursing his stupidity. As if in a dream, she reached out to his sleeve, and gently pulled him down. Slowly, she reached out and stroked his handsome face, mumbling to herself. Closing her eyes, she leaned forward and kissed him. He just sat there, not moving, as the girl of his dreams kissed him. Coming to his senses, he kissed her back for all that he was worth. He gasped when he felt her tongue probe his lips before instinctively opening his mouth. Slipping her tongue in his warm mouth, she pressed him closer to her, entangling her hands in his hair. He moaned with desire as he played with the hem of her nightgown. Gently, he pushed her back onto the bed, swinging his legs up to rest near her's. Their kisses increasingly grew more passionate as they slowly removed each other's clothing. Gasping, he tore his lips from her's and trailed a line of fiery, soft kisses down her neck. Moaning, she arched her neck, straining for him to press closer. Returning his lips to her's, he looked into her glazed eyes, silently asking if she was sure. She just closed her eyes and brought his lips down to hers…

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He woke up with a jerk, not believing what just happened. Yawning, he stretched his long limbs like a cat. Gazing about his messy room, he hoped to see a certain mop of brown hair. She wasn't here. With an exasperated sigh, he fell with a plunk on his hard bed, wincing as the hard mattress dug into his back. Running one hand through his messy hair, he slowly untangled himself from his sheets. With a loud thud, he knocked his head on the nightstand next to his bed as he tipped over onto the floor, the sheets still around his ankles. Cursing, he rose from the cold floor, wincing as he touched the tender spot on his forehead, knowing there would be a bruise there. He grimaced at the stickiness of the sheets*1 as he dragged them into his bathroom, hoping that none of the servants would question him about it. After dumping the dirty sheets into his filled bathtub, he slowly gave himself a sponge bath, paying particular attention to his thighs. He couldn't believe it had happened again. What was it, the fifth time this month? Shaking his head warily, he wrung out the sponge and started to brush his hair. He eyed its new length distastefully. It was too short for his tastes, but it had been bothering him, especially on the hot days. Peering in close at his reflection, he began to shave his morning whiskers. After washing his face, he examined the forming bruise. Already, it was slightly yellow and the size of his fingernail. He cursed again, knowing he'll be asked how it had happened. Once he decided he was presentable, he quickly got dressed, not wanting to be late for breakfast. With one last hesitant look at his room, he shut the heavy, wooden door behind him and turned to walk to the mess hall.

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That is all folks. Sorry if anyone thought that one scene was a little more than a hint. Oh, and um, who thinks they know whom the mystery man is? Any guesses? Roald, Neal, Cleon, Joren, someone else?

~shyne~

*1. No, he did not wet the bed, if you get my drift.