Second Chances
By Tempest
CHAPTER ONE:
ResurrectionDisclaimer: I own Adora of Oranin, Adriel of Moon Valley, and Cassandra, the rest of the characters belong to Tamora Pierce. Though I am saving my money to buy Joren from her. *Rubs her hands together in anticipation * He will soon be MINE! *Insane laugh*
Sometimes you get second chances
Sometimes you never make it past the first
It really makes you wonder why some things happen when they do
It really makes me wonder why it wasn't me instead of you
-Michelle Branch, "Second Chances"
"King Jonathan rubbed his temples wearily. There were a lot of things on his mind. The war with Scanra was promising to be a long and hard one, and there were rumors of an alliance forming between Scanra and the Copper Isles. None of his advisors or friends could agree on a course of action. Jon found himself missing the Lioness even more than ever. There was a knock on the door.
"Enter." He commanded.
It was one of the palace servants. The servant bowed low. "Your majesty, the Numair Salmalin has requested a meeting. He says it's terribly important."
Jonathan stood up. "Send him in."
The servant hesitated. "Sir, Master Numair has—um, brought a guest with him.
Jon nodded impatiently. "Well, then send them both in."
The servant hastily bowed and walked out of the room.
He returned with Numair Salmalin and an unfamiliar woman. Jon nodded at the servant, who then left the room, leaving them in privacy.
Numair introduced the woman beside him. "This is Cassandra, the greatest seer in Tortall."
Cassandra was an old woman with long gray hair and a youthful face. Her silver eyes showed she was indeed a seer.
Casssandra looked up at Jonathan. "I have had a vision." Her silver eyes blazed into his face.
Numair looked at her with an air of respect. "Cassandra's visions have never been wrong."
Jon stared hypnotized into Cassandra's eyes. "What did you see?"
She smiled. "I will show you." With that she waved her hand and muttered a few words.
A bright light flashed, and in its place was an image.
The two men watched in fascination as they were allowed to see with the Seer saw.
They were in the Chamber of Ordeals. Lying on the floor was a young man with a blonde ponytail. His eyes were closed, and he wasn't breathing. Suddenly his eyes snapped open, but they weren't natural. They glowed with an supernatural blue light. Then there was another flash of light, and the scene changed. They were now in an ancient temple. A tall girl with short brown hair and hazel eyes was slipping a ring on her finger. The ring glowed with the same shade of blue as the boy's eyes. Then the ring split in two and twisted into the shape of two eyes. A woman's face formed around them. The face was framed with long black hair. The woman smiled, and everything went black.
The two men stared at the empty space where the vision had been. Neither one said a word. Then Jon immediately called for one of the palace servants.
"Send this message to Lord Raoul of Goldenlake." He commanded, writing on a piece of paper. Then he folded it up and handed it to the servant.
After the servant left, King Jonathan turned to Numair. "I need you to stay and see if the Seer can see anything more."
Numair nodded. "Where are you going?"
"The Chamber of Ordeals."
"Wait, was that the boy—
"—Yes."
~~*~~*~~
Cleon's words echoed in Kel's head: "I'm sorry Kel—Adora and I are getting married.
His voice had stayed determinedly firm. It was his eyes that gave away his true feelings: sadness and helplessness.
Kel couldn't bear to look into them. She had to use all of her self-control to change her face into a mask to hide the pain she knew was in her eyes. Cleon didn't say a word as she turned and walked away.
Once her back was turned, Kel's self-control snapped, and her Yamani mask fell. Tears filled her eyes and fell as she walked on. She walked without knowing or caring where she was going.
A few minutes later, she looked up and realized her steps had taken her to the Temple of the Great Mother Goddess.
Kel hesitated a minute before going inside. The Temple was decorated in dark blues and purples. In the front of the Temple stood a giant marble statue of the Great Goddess and a wooden alter. The walls and ceiling were covered with murals.
The only other person there was a young woman lighting candles. She had long black hair, and she was dressed in the dark blue robes of a priestess. On the front of her robes was a silver moon, the Great Goddess's symbol. The priestess was murmuring something over the candles. She didn't even look up as Kel walked in.
Kel sat on the pew farthest to the back. On of the wall murals caught her eye. It showed the Great Goddess, Protector of Women, turning an unfaithful husband into a sheep. Kel pictured Cleon as a sheep, and had to keep herself from laughing out loud.
"Love problems?" A voice broke into her thoughts. Kel looked up and saw the priestess standing next to her.
"What?"
The priestess smiled gently. "Most of our visitors come her looking for the cure for a broken heart."
Kel looked down, unsure of what to say.
The priestess looked apologetic. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to pry. My name's Adriel of Moon Valley. And aren't you that Lady Knight—um…Keladry?"
Kel nodded. "Yes, but you can just call me Kel. And you were right—that is why I'm here."
"Are you here about Joren?" Adriel asked.
Kel was confused. "What? Are you talking about Joren of Stone Mountain?"
"You don't know?" Adriel asked, looking upset.
Kel was about to tell her she had no idea what she was talking about, but at that moment they were interrupted by an older priestess.
This priestess was tall with a stern face and gray-streaked brown hair. "Adriel! Come here you silly child!" She snapped. Her voice was distressed.
Adriel hastily said goodbye to Kel and joined the older priestess. The two disappeared behind a door in the front of the Temple.
A perplexed Kel was left alone. She left the Temple still puzzling over Adriel's words. When she stepped outside, she saw the weather had changed. Storm clouds had blocked out the sun. Kel decided to hurry back to the palace—where she was currently staying—in order to beat the rain.
"Kel!" A familiar voice yelled.
Kel slowed her steps and looked around. Behind her she saw her best friend (and former crush), Nealan of Queenscove running to catch up to her.
"Are you okay?" He panted, stepping in front of her.
Kel sighed. Neal had obviously heard about her and Cleon.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She said, looking away.
Neal laughed bitterly. "Cleon's a fool."
Then why do I feel like one? Kel asked herself silently.
"You'll find someone better. Trust me, Cleon will be sorry when he's stuck with Adora. "
Adora. Adora of Oranin could be defined as the perfect "lady." She had long blonde curls that she probably spent hours on every day, big blue eyes, and porcelain skin (a sign of spending most of her life indoors doing "ladylike" things). In other words—she was enough to make Kel gag.
"I don't want to talk about it." Kel said abruptly and tried to go around him.
Neal just stood there defeated. "You never want to talk about it, do you?"
Kel turned back around and faced him. They were both silent for a moment.
"Kel, I've been looking for you everywhere."
Kel spun around to see Raoul of Goldenlake, her former Knightmaster.
"You're needed at the palace." Raoul said with an urgent tone in his voice.
"Hello Nealan." Raoul greeted, smiling at Neal's grimace.
"Why?" Kel was a little worried about the tone of Raoul's voice.
Raoul's face was grave.
~~*~~*~~
"Where did you find him?"
"In the Chamber, just like in the Seer's prediction."
Numair Salmalin ran his hands through his hair. "Well, there is no question that the boy is now alive; he was simply unconscious when you found him. He is showing no signs of any health problems—it's like he was never dead."
King Jonathan shook his head. "Do you know of any mage powerful enough to do this?"
Numair shook his head. "No mage has enough power to override the Chamber. It's protected by the gods"
Frustrated, Jon slammed his fist down. "How is this possible?"
At that moment the pair was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Enter." Jonathan commanded.
Duke Baird of Queenscove walked into the room. His face was haggard. "The boy has awoken."
~~~**~~~
A/N: Sorry all you Cleon fans, I just couldn't leave him with Kel—I think he's kinda boring. I'm a big fan of Joren/Kel, so that's how this fic is going to end up. Pleeeease Review! If you have any other questions or comments you can email me at dumb_brunette1@hotmail.com. If you would like to make a donation to my very small fund *sob* to buy Joren from Tammy (it's not like she's going to use him in any more books), you can also email me.
