Redemption
Disclaimer: I do not own PotS; Tamora Pierce owns it all.
A/N: I realize the whole Kel/Joren theme has fallen out of favor - even I prefer other pairings. But the "spirit" of Joren practically haunted me to write something for him. It'll take me a little while to get to Kel/Joren, but hang in there. Thanks!
Prologue
"As I was saying, Paxton, I told your father that there were no hard feelings about what happened in that ridiculous court case," said Lord Burchard of Stone Mountain. "Joren has always had a bit of trouble holding his tongue - and his temper. I don't know where he gets it. When he was a youngling, he experienced the bite of my riding crop on several occasions due to his impertinence."
Sir Paxton of Nond struggled to keep his thoughts to himself. He knew exactly where Joren had gotten his ill-temperament. The Stone Mountain clan was well-known for its arrogance and meanness. The other noble houses endured them only because of their vast wealth. One of his so-called "dragon lady" aunts had been born a Stone Mountain - a fact she never failed to bring up at every family gathering. The only reason Paxton had agreed to take on Joren as his personal squire was because this particular aunt had nagged and badgered him until he submitted to her will.
The family had gathered at one of Corus' finest eating-houses, as a pre-Ordeal celebration of sorts. Lord Burchard presided over the table as though he was a royal. Joren sat sullenly at the far end of the table, not really interested or participating in the discussion. Sir Paxton wished he could have been somewhere else, but he knew he had to be with Joren until the Ordeal was over. He wondered what was going on in the young man's thoughts. Paxton had tried to break through to Joren - the lad had so much potential - but without success. The knight surmised that the poor boy probably had been ruined from birth. He almost felt sorry for Joren, but he would be glad to be free of his charge regardless. It had been a long four years.
"Sit up straight there Joren!" barked Lord Burchard. "You're not some low-born laze-about. Stop staring at all the serving girls! There are plenty of young noble ladies for you to consider once you have your shield. And you'd better finish your meal - you'll need all your strength for the Ordeal." Everyone in the place could hear the stuffy Lord tearing into his son, and attempted to appear unaffected by the outburst.
Joren's beautiful face showed two spots of color after his father berated him so loudly. He ground his teeth together so that he would not say anything to get his father any more upset. Joren's thoughts had been on his friend Vinson's confession and peculiar behavior after his Ordeal. Now Vinson was sitting in a prison cell, awaiting trial for his very serious crimes. He wondered if any of the serving girls in this establishment, or their friends or relatives, had been bothered by Vinson. He had always known that there was something a little bit "off" about Vinson, but he didn't realize just how sick the boy was. Of course, Joren had never had any problems with the ladies. They were like moths to his flame - all but one, that is, and he refused to let thoughts of Keladry of Mindelan ruin his last evening before his Ordeal.
Joren wasn't afraid of the Chamber of the Ordeal. He wasn't afraid of anything. After his own farce of a trial, and its subsequent fines, he figured he had more than satisfied the requirements of the law. Joren just wanted his shield. He also would like to roam a bit, but he knew his father would never let him have some fun. He knew that his primary duty would not be to serve the King, as a knight on the Scanran border. No, his primary duty was to produce legal heirs for the House of Stone Mountain. His parents were "chomping at the bit" to get on with the betrothal and marriage process - he wouldn't be surprised if they had prospective brides lined up to meet him in the chapel after the Chamber released him.
The Stone Mountain line was dying out. Joren was the only son of a man whose only sibling could not sire any children due to the affects of a childhood illness. Joren's grandsire was a man who had only sisters. Joren's mother was the daughter of a first cousin to her husband. Other nobles quietly remarked that the Stone Mountain line was too inbred. The family was so concerned with keeping its "blue blood" pure, that they had just about run out of potential mates. Those who married bore few children or none at all. Joren certainly knew that he'd better produce heirs, or else the Stone Mountain estate and holdings would revert to the Crown upon his death. Joren's father would rather burn down the family castle and sow salt into the farmland before he let a progressive monarchy get its grubby hands on the wealth of Fief Stone Mountain.
When the long meal was finally over, Joren went back to his rooms thinking that the Chamber of the Ordeal couldn't possibly be any worse than his own father. He was wrong - very wrong.
A/N: Okay, it's a start. I have written outlines for more chapters. Let me know if you're interested in seeing them. Please Read & Review. Thanks!