Double Dare
Summary: Set during Squire. Kel and Neal get into a double-dare with each other. Kel's dared to make every squire and a certain blue-eyed sergeant fall in love with her, while Neal's dared to admit his undying love to Alanna and Wyldon. Interesting results follow. KD, KN, KJ, KM, KS, and other random Kel pairings I haven't mentioned.
A/N: I'm not actually sure if Neal and Kel did return to the palace during the Midwinter celebrations of their second year as squires, so correct me if I'm wrong.
Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue.
Prologue::
"Kel," Neal greeted his friend as she emerged from her rooms, dressed for a quiet afternoon in the city. He looked her over with mild surprise and remarked, "You look great."
Kel looked down at herself. She wore a gown of russet red, one that fitted so well it could have been a second skin. Of course it did- after all, Lalasa had made it. Her hair was pinned up in a lady's fashion, and very faint colour touched her face and lips. "Thanks," she told him, "I know I barely hold a candle to those court beauties you're always sighing after."
"Why of course," he took on a Player's dramatic air, "Those are the true lights at the end of this horrible tunnel. You, my dear, are a mere distraction from the torture known as squiredom."
Kel grinned. "You're just too blind to see my beauty," she teased, deciding that Midwinter called for this kind of fun, "If I tried, I'd make any of you lads fall in love with me any day."
He grinned. Then, his face took on the light of someone with a brilliant idea. "I dare you to," he said to her.
"Dare me to what?"
"Make all the squires in this palace fall in love with you," he said, looking smug, "and, a certain blue-eyed sergeant."
Kel gaped at him. "You're not serious." The grin slowly filling his face answered her question. "What's in it for me?"
He considered this for a few seconds. "I won't read you any of my poetry for a month?" He suggested in a gesture of self-mocking.
Kel half-snorted. "As tempting as the offer is," she told him, "I have a better idea. I double dare you. To admit your undying love to Lady Alanna and my Lord Wyldon."
Neal gulped. Whatever he had braced himself for, this was not it. He stood for a few seconds, simply making choked sounds and goggling at Kel. The stakes were too high for him to refuse. "I accept." He said, finally.
"Shake on it." They did, and then left each other, both grinning widely. There was fun to be had this Midwinter.