Disclaimer: Yes, I do own these characters. (Gets trampled by a mob of Tamora Pierce fans) On second thought, no I don't own them

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Sir Keladry of Mindelan, known as Kel to her friends, looked up when she heard a knock on her door.

"Come in." she said.

Owen of Jesslaw entered, looking very nervous.

"Hey, Kel," he said. "Are you going to the ball tonight?"

"Yeah, I am. Are you going?" Kel replied.

Owen blushed. "Yeah. Um, I was wondering if you would go with me."

Kel looked at him, noticing how nervous he looked and decided to take pity on him. "Sure, Owen. I'd like that." she said.

Owen's eyes lit up. "Really? Thanks, Kel! I'll meet you here at the fifth bell." He leaped up and hugged her before running out the door.

Kel grinned and shook her head at how happy Owen seemed.

'I wonder why he didn't ask a Court Lady, she thought. I know Lady Elena of Rosemont would love to go with him. Oh well, I guess it's none of my business.' she thought to herself.

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Kel jumped when she heard a knock on her door. She opened it and saw her two sisters, Oranie and Adalia standing there.

"Oh, Kel! We heard that you got asked to the ball!" Orie gushed as she walked past Kel.

"How did you hear that?" Kel asked, surprised.

"Oh, your friend Nealan told us." Adie said.

"Since you don't have an appropriate dress or face paint, we brought some over." Orie said and for the first time, Kel noticed the cloth bag that Orie was holding.

"No way. You are not putting face paint on me!" Kel protested.

Orie and Adie looked at each other then back at Kel with identical looks of determination.

"You are not going to that ball without face paint. All the Court ladies wear face paint." Adie said.

"I'm not a Court lady! I'm a knight!" Kel said, forcing herself not to pout.

"Yes, but fo you really want to go out there in this dress with no face paint?" Orie asked, pulling the dress out of her bag.

Kel looked at the dress and gasped. It was a light sea-green color with a low cut collar and a full skirt. The sleeves were long but loose, they looked like they would probably cover her hands a little.

"It's beautiful." Kel breathed.

"Exactly." Orie said, "And you need to wear face paint if you want to look beautiful in it."

Kel sighed, knowing she was defeated. "Fine." she said.

"Good." Orie reached into her bag and pulled out a small clear bottle. "Go take a bath and put this in the water. It will soften your skin and make you smell really good."

Kel rolled her eyes and took the bottle. She opened her trunk and pulled out a clean breastband and loincloth and went into her bathroom.