This is my first Protector of the Small fanfic. So be nice and enjoy! Also review! Please review, criticise, praise, flame, whatever just REVIEW!!!

And this is an improved version of this chapter, it has more depth and less grammar mistakes, also some of my own comments *cringes*.

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Joren unsaddled his horse, in the nobles' stables on one warm spring afternoon. 

I need you.

Joren spun round, he looked everywhere but found nobody. He thought he heard a woman's voice. I must be hearing things; he thought. He was outside the stables when he heard the voice again.

Go to the East Gate

"What?" he looked around frantically. "What do you want?" he listened but heard nothing. "Who are you?"

Never mind who I am, just go to the east gate. Or you shall suffer until you can't lift up a sword.

Joren winced at the last sentence, now he clearly can tell it was a woman's voice. "Why should I believe you?"

Just go or I mean you shall regret it!

The voice was louder sounding as if she was very irritated. Joren rolled his eyes and walked to the East Gate. It was a nice spring day, he walked slowly partly enjoying the weather and partly because he wanted to irritate this voice. When he got to the gate, he almost jumped in surprise. There was the Lump sketching. Gods, I thought she was afraid of heights. He calmed down and sat next to her. (AN: what was I thinking then? It doesn't make sense!)

"I thought you were afraid of heights," he remarked when she looked at him. Kel let no hint of her uncertainty confusion and irritation with him shows through her Yamani façade.

"I am," she replied at last, and went back to her sketch.

"You don't look it."

"Well that's something," she said dryly, rubbing out a crooked line.

"If you're afraid, why do this?" he asked at his most reasonable. "They won't test you on it at the big exams or little exams."

"My lord will, the next time he gives me punishment work," Kel informed him. "Or the gods will, the next time I'm supposed to help someone in trouble and they're on a height, or we have to climb to escape danger."

For a while he said nothing. Such conversations need careful words to be spoken. "Why do any of this?" he wanted to know. "It isn't at all needful. Did someone tell you that you had no chance to marry?"

Kel's hand jerked, smearing charcoal over her notes. She made a face, and rubbed it out. I bet someone did tell her she was off the brides market, he thought wickedly.

Joren went on, "It's not true. You'd be a pretty thing, in the right clothes and after you'd lose some weight. After you stopped working so your arms are like a blacksmith's. You'd make a fine wife for one of those big fellows; Cleon, for instance. He seems fond of you. How about Lord Raoul? He can afford a wife. You could settle down and raise young giants." He smiled as Kel looked at him, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"It's so good of you to concern yourself with my marriage prospects," Kel replied evenly. "Has it occurred to you I don't want to marry?"

"Nonsense," Joren was saying comfortably. "All women care about marriage. Even the Lioness scraped up a husband, though she had to dig through the middens of Corus to do it."

"If you say so," Kel replied. She went back to her mapping.

Think about it." Joren said, clapping her on the shoulder. "One battle too many, and you'll be scarred for life. No man will want you then." He ambled off, whistling.

*~*~*~*

"Tomorrow night, the King is holding a ball for all nobles at Court. And I want you to be your best." Paxton looked at Joren seriously. Knowing Joren, he would be up to something. "Don't you dare mess it up for others or you will be in the stables for two bells!"

"Yes sir," Joren grinned. Good, my knight-master is giving me a warning. How nice. "Anything else?"

"Oh yes. I forgot to tell you. You won't be serving but join your family who would be at court. The servants would take your place."

"Oh alright. By the way, what would I be wearing" his voice with a hint of curiosity. Please not brown & yellow! Please! May I beg you! Paxton laughed at Joren's question.

"Your own clothes of course. I'm not to judge on what you wear for tomorrow night. Just make it formal." Paxton got up from his chair and walked into his own chambers, leaving Joren to his own thoughts. Oh Yes, it's going to be so fun when humiliating the Lump and all her little mates. He walked to his wardrobe and searched for some clothes.

*~*~*~*

No serving! Yes! That is great! Kel skipped to her room happily. But Joren will be there, expect him to humiliate me in front of everyone. Kel shoved that thought away not letting it ruin her happiness. Oh well, no classes tomorrow night is a good thing. More time to prepare I guess.

Kel opened her door and found Lalasa working on one of the dresses for the court ladies. "My Lady, Tian had just told me there is a ball tomorrow night. Would you like a new dress for it?"

Kel shook her head, "No thanks, I'll wear one of my old ones. If I want to wear a new one, I don't think you would make it in time, knowing how much sewing you do lately."

"Yes but would you like a new one if I made one already?"

"You made one already!" Kel sounded surprised. When did she have time to anyway? Lalasa got up from her seat and went into her room. She came back with a plain but flattering pale pink dress. Kel didn't know what to say at first because it was such a sweet thing for Lalasa to do.

"It's a wonderful dress. Thank you very much. It looks like I already know what I'm going to wear tomorrow night." (AN: Author puts her head in her hands and screams over the corny writing she has written)

*~*~*~*

I'm bored! There is nothing I can do here. Joren sighed as he tried very hard to concentrate to listen to his mother Annette (pronounced as a-net) going on everlastingly about him or how much he has grown. Four years later she probably would go on listing a ton of court ladies. He laughed inside and looked around the room.

Tonight he looks devastating wearing a fine dark blue tunic trimmed with silver. The king & queen are dancing so is many other couples such as Daine & Numair. He couldn't talk with his group because they are being social with other Nobles.

"Darling are you listening to me?" asked Joren's mother sharply. Joren looked at his mother and lied. "Of course mother, I am listening." Joren expected her to ask him to repeat exactly what did she say. However she sighed.

"Well I want you to meet some Nobles who had once lived in Yamani Islands. They are such fine people you know. Come on darling."

Joren was grabbed around the wrist and was dragged to a crowd of people. The ladies were dressed in kimonos and their faces emotionless. A bit like the Lump. Wait a minute! The lump used to be in Yamani! (AN: why did I write that?!) He gulped and kept his head held high as he walked towards the crowd. He watched his mother curtsy and gestured him to bow. He bowed and his mother started talking.

"It's good to see you again Ilane Darling, may I introduce my son Joren to you?" Joren came forward and bowed again.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Joren of Stone Mountain," said an elegant woman in a purple kimono. "I've heard many things about you from your mother and my daughter."

Daughter?? Joren's face showed his confusion as he rapidly tried to think of a girl he knows.

"Well, Anders could you get Keladry now please. This young man here doesn't know our Keladry." Ilane looked at Joren's eye. Joren could feel there is some sort of power or skill in her. A delicate girl with short brown hair in a pale pink dress was in view. Her face emotionless and she curtsied to everyone.

"This is sooner than I expected to see you Joren." Kel said sarcastically. "You don't seem surprised I can curtsy." She said it like it was venom.

"Of course I'm not Lump!" His mother elbowed Joren. "I mean Keladry" Joren and Kel exchanged dirty looks; the distressing tension between them build up rapidly.

"Joren darling. Why not dance with Lady Keladry?" Annette darted a do-as-I-say look. Joren could feel himself getting more and more frustrated. Why do I have to dance with the Lump? Can't one of her mates take my place? He took a deep breath and forcefully brought his hand out.

"Would you like a dance Lady Keladry?" emphasizing her name and said it with no pleasure.

*~*~*

Why me? Oh well he isn't enjoying it too! Thank you Mithros for that ONLY!

"With pleasure Joren." Kel gave another dirty look at him and took his hand. No wonder why I hate dancing. Joren led her to the dance floor.

"Do you know how to dance Lump?" he gently putted his arm around her waist, trying to stay away from her as much as possible.

"Of course I do," replied Kel. He sighed and twirled her around, trying to step on her feet. Kel had fortunately missed his attempts but is feeling very dizzy. Hurry up! This is getting boring! Looked up into his face and noticed Joren is staring at her. His blue eyes are locked with her hazel ones. The music stopped; automatically they jumped apart.

Thanks Mithros for the music to stop. Damn I missed her feet! Joren walked towards his mother. "Hello mother. I got to go, see you tomorrow morning." Before she could respond, Joren ran towards his rooms. I hate dancing! Never would I dance with Lump when mother asks me to.

It looks like Joren has gone to his room. Never would I dance with him when he asks me to and I won't be polite! Kel walked towards her friends who are talking with each other.

"Hey Kel." Neal grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the circle. "Fancy seeing you dancing with Joren. Isn't this a cruel world to be dancing with someone who hates you? I find little meetings in corridors more entertaining."

"Neal it's alright. His mother got him to; otherwise he wouldn't of trying to step on my feet." Her friends stared at her with disbelief; that moment felt very uncomfortable for Kel. Who is repeating what she had said in her mind.

"Pearl of my Heart, your Knights in shining armour will make sure you are safe from such wicked hatred." Cleon smiled sweetly at everyone. Kel sighed she doesn't want to beat anybody up not with all the punishment work she has now.

"Well while you discuss what you want to do with him. I'm going to bed. Goodnight" Kel pushed pass her friends and headed for the Pages' wing. Kel went to sleep as soon as she was tucked in her bed sheets. The next morning she hardly remembers the main highlights of that night.

*~*~*

"Hey Joren." Joren looked at the speaker, Vinson stared at him seriously. "Do you know the Lump's maid?"

"Sort of, I've seen her around the palace. But yes I do."

Vinson leaned back on his chair with a smirk on his face. "I've been thinking about it last night since I saw you were using the Lump. I want to say. It's time to kick that lump out of here." Joren said nothing so Vinson continued. "Why not stop the Lump to be at big test so when Lord Wyldon says she has to repeat some page years then," Vinson smiled "You know she goes home." There was a moment silence between them.

"Why not get the Lump's Welch? She is a useful tool."

"Who's the Welch?"

"Lump's maid. You could hire some men to do the job."

"No," Joren jumped shocked by what he had just said.

"What?" Joren sat back down. "What is the matter with you lately? You were fine yesterday."

Yes I'm fine yesterday and today but not just then. Why am I defending her? She is nothing but the Lump.

"Look Vinson. I'm fine and I'm going now." He grabbed his books and headed towards the door. "See you at dinner"

(AN: Shame on author! This is supposed to be original!)

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"Eat your vegetables Neal!" Kel looked around and saw a pair of blue eyes fixed on her. He winked and turned back to his food. Is it me or did he really wink at me? Oh well.

Why did I wink at her? I don't know Joren gave the rest of his food to the servants for clearing up. And decided to return to his room. He walked out of the noisy mess hall and strolled along one of the silent corridors.

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Author wants to bang her head in shame. After 6 months she has written this chapter, and now when she reads it and alters it. She realized how corny it is!! *loud bangs could be heard as author bangs her head with a frying pan*

Well… REVIEW!!!