Yay! My first fic! Lucky you! Uh, I guess this is dedicated to…Kit! Since you were like, happy for me. For like, getting a penname. Like, get well soon! Ugh, that's "like" thing is so 80's… Anyway, I don't have much to say. I'll let the chapter speak for me.

Disclaimer: I wrote this in study hall. 'Nuff said.

And now, Ladies and Gents…The Story.

"Hello, Keladry," said a cheerful voice. The attractive young woman looked up into cold blue eyes set into a perfect, tan face. The face nodded at the rest of the table, which responded by scowling at him.

"Uh, hi Joren," Keladry of Mindelan said, confusion and curiosity plain on her face before she slipped on her Yamani mask. She had learned it long ago from the Yamanis and it masked her emotions, hence it's name. Her friends, Neal, Owen, Merric, Cleon and Dom, all glared at the speaker, Joren of Stone Mountain. It wasn't every day he looked at them, let alone actually spoke, and even when he did, it was only insults. "What do you need?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you might accompany me on a walk in the gardens this evening." He sounded a bit…nervous! "After dinner, perhaps?" Joren was still smiling in that disgustingly cheerful-yet-nervous way, making Kel even more worried. What did he have up his sleeve this time?

"Well," Kel said with an uneasy glance around the table, which was still staring as openly as if the two speakers were naked. She went on and, unable to think of a nicer way to put it, said, "I guess I could, but would you mind telling me why you're suddenly talking to me?"

Joren laughed uneasily, definitely not on Kel's Top Ten Most Pleasant Sounds list. Joren uneasy wasn't a good sign. He leaned over and whispered into her ear, his breath hot against her ear. "Let's just say I've turned over a new leaf, Keladry. I'll tell you the rest when you meet me in the gardens." After a pause he said, "You will come, right?"

In that position, Kel had no choice but to nod. She swallowed hard and said, "Sure, Joren. I'll come."

As he left, her friends remained silent. Until Neal spoke up. "What the hell? Why did you tell him yes? He hates us! He hates you! What possessed you, I've no idea-"

"Neal." Her usually friendly voice was stern, dangerous even. Whatever it was, it was enough to shut up Neal, and that was saying something. Her voice was weary as she spoke again. "I don't know what he wants, or why. I do know that he was obviously trying very hard to get me to go, so my curiosity has gotten the better of me, and I'm going. It's not exactly every day that Joren of Stone Mountain gets nervous around a lady" she held up a hand to Neal from commenting on the fact that she had alled herself a lady and quickly went on. "If you would like to tag along, go ahead. I cannot, however, guarantee that Joren will be as understanding. You do remember the time he caught you spying on him and Lady Kathleen in the rose bushes, don't you Neal?" He blushed a visible shade of scarlet as the others began to laugh. "I thought so". In a nutshell, it had resulted in a thrashing for Neal, who still said he would've won if he hadn't been so cramped up from hiding among the roses. She rose to leave with a nod at the rest of her friends, saying "I'll be in my rooms if you need me. Sorry, but I have to think for awhile. If anyone has any bright ideas on what he wants you are very welcome to come tell me," she finished wryly. As she turned to go, she paused, having seen Neal sliding his steamed carrots onto Cleon's plate. Cleon, who was deep in conversation with Dom about catapult making strategies, didn't seem to notice a thing. "Ahem. Neal?"

Neal stopped mid-slide and slowly turned around. "Yes Kel?"

"What are you doing?"

"Um…eating my vegetables?"

"Yes, that's what I thought. Good boy." She smiled and gave him a pat on the head, then left him to mumble something about carrots being mutated, and that they were out to get him. Along with the rest of the world. That was Neal for you.

On her way to the gardens, Kel was once again going over every possible turnout of her and Joren's little meeting. She'd worn a hole in her rug pacing in her room earlier. Joren was acting so strange, as if he really did want to be friends. Kel figured she had every right to be suspicious, even a little nervous. Her list so far wasn't very impressive, only scary. One, I die, which might not be so bad. Maybe I'll be brought back to life. It's happened. Two, we've somehow been betrothed and now we have to get married. Kel shuddered involuntarily. Three- her train of thought was interrupted as a dark figure stumbled out of the bushes and into her path. Kel immediately reached for the dagger hidden in her boot and held it readily as the figure slowly turned to face her. "Neal!" she said in a relieved voice as she put the dagger back. "What are you doing here?"

"I…I jus wanted t'tell you I think you shouldn' see Joren t'night," he said in a slightly slurred voice. "He might…might…" Neal doubled over, clutching his stomach, and heaved in the rose bushes.

"Ew! Oh, Neal. You're drunk," she said accusingly. "And I'm meeting Joren whether you like it or not! But first…" She grabbed his arm and led him to a bench to sit down. He fell over with a groan. On second thought... She prayed Joren wouldn't mind as she hoisted Neal off the bench and carefully led him to his rooms, despite his drunken protests.

"Joren!" Kel raced to across the garden path to Joren, who had just gotten up and was obviously ready to leave. She had just spent the last ten minutes making sure that everything was of satisfaction to Neal. First his tea had been too cold, then too hot, then too wet, then not wet enough. Now, she was happy she hadn't missed Joren. It was strange, but she was too curious to find out what Joren had obviously needed to tell her so badly to miss it. It was hard to tell in the dark, but if she hadn't known better she would have said that Joren actually looked a little disappointed that she wasn't thereBut of course, she did know better"Joren!"

He turned, a look of surprise on his face. The surprise turned to delight as he said, "Oh, Keladry, you came!" He plucked a rose from a nearby bush and handed it to her, being sure that his fingers brushed hers.

"Oh! Thank you…" Kel murmured, blushing the blood-red color of the rose at their touch. She really wasn't used to this stuff. "So, uh, what did you want?" She wasn't here to flirt, at least not with her worst enemy!

It was Joren's turn to go red. "Well…see, Keladry, I uh, well I…I don't know how to say this but…um…"

Kel's Yamani mask was successfully hiding the smirk she wanted to plaster across her face. Joren? Stuttering? At her? Never. Or at least, she'd thought. But a side of her was even more worried at his…complications. He really had never had trouble with women, so seeing him suddenly start with her was, to say the least, unnerving. "Well, Joren? What is it?" She was beginning to think Neal was right, and that she shouldn't have come, improbable as him ever being right that was.

"Ok, I guess I'll just say it…" Joren looked more nervous than Kel had ever seen him. "Well see, I've been thinking a lot, about us, well not us really, but, like, what's been going on between us all these years and I realized that it was very rude and immature and I'm sorry, and, well, anyway, I think I've come to this conclusion," he said all in one quick breath. He took a long, deep breath before continuing. "I'm madly in love with you."

Kel blinked in shock. Damn Neal. He was right.

Yes! My first chappy is done! I'm unbelievably happy! Thanks Kit! I never would have found that typo if it weren't for you! Hehe. Haha. Hoho. Yum. Anyway… Now I know why everyone always wants people to review their stories! Please do! I accept flames as long as they are nice and cool on the eyes…not to mention the heart. If you don't like the pairing, deal! I don't either! Which is why my Evil Genius self has hatched an evil genius plan so evil genius that it will RULE ALL THE OTHER EVIL GENIUS'S EVIL GENIUS PLANS! MWAHAHAHA! I'm done. So anyway, R&R! That is, read and review! Be gentle! I know where you sleep! Ok, that's just wrong… Thanks in advance my loyal soon-to-be fans!