A/N: While writing out this chapter, I was researching some things and found out that I messed up a few things such as the order of the siblings and what they do as well as the name of Anders' wife. You may want to skim through the first two chapters again because the changes I made will confuse you if you don't look over them now. Some of the people will have a large part in the future chapters.

Ex- Avinar isn't younger than Kel. He's older and is also studying at the City of Gods to become a scholar. He'll probably play a role in the story.

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Fighting for Approval

Chapter 3: Strange Beginnings

552-553 H.E.

Previously:

Kel followed Lia as she led them through doors and halls, down two staircases and into the dining hall. As Kel saw the many girls sitting at dining tables, one thought came to her.

I've a long way to go.

The room was filled with many dining tables that seated at least two hundred girls. Each setting contained a number of spoons, forks, and knives for the meal. Each had a bowl and a plate with a cup resting to the top left corner.

Keladry was overwhelmed by the formal dining settings. At the palace, pages ate in a messy fashion and each page got his food on his, or her, own. There were no such fancy plates. There was only one spoon, fork, and knife. There were no white, clean, and crisp tablecloths. The dining hall was very often loud and boisterous. Compared to what was before her, her year at the palace as a page seemed very wild and improper. Keladry of Mindelan felt out of place. She felt very out of place.

As Kel followed Lia to a table, she noticed the furtive glances she got from the girls she passed. Kel raised her chin and looked ahead as she walked past. As she sat, she noticed the straight backed girls around her, their hands folded in their laps.

No matter how different this place looks compared to the palace, Kel thought, the general feeling is is the same. She was here so that she could be shaped by the Priestesses into a proper young lady. Just as she was being shaped into a warrior at the palace. Although I do not enjoy the subjects they teach here as I did at the palace, I will succeed. I will not fail my parents once more. I will not fail myself.

Keladry's posture was good. She did not usually bow her back when she sat. Posture was very important when jousting. She wasn't worried. She was only overwhelmed by the extreme that she saw as she looked at every girl sitting in the same fashion.

"...is Keladry of Mindelan. She just arrived this evening." Lia's soft voice brought Kel out of her observations.

"It's nice to meet you all." She spoke clearly. She offered a small smile to the unknown girls.

The girls sitting at the rounded table replied properly: some in a cold manner, others in a warm one. They returned to their previous conversations. Kel looked at Lia and saw that she joined a conversation pertaining to the Masquerade Ball being held at the palace in three weeks and which girls they deemed ready enough to come to court early enough to attend. Keladry did not think it too important to discuss and knew nothing of any of the girls. She had no opinion on the matter whatsoever.

Kel tried to start a conversation with the girl sitting to her right. She asked her name. It was Aria of Pearlmouth.

"How long have you been here at the convent?" Kel asked.

"This is my second year. My mother and father sent me as soon as I was old enough. They thought it would be better for me to get started as early as possible. And you? I know you've just arrived this evening, but why is that?"

"I never wanted to come to the convent, actually. I wanted to be a lady-knight. Just like Lady Alanna of Trebond. So, I tried out as a page at the castle."

"Oh! You're the girl page! I didn't realize when I first heard your name." She continued more quietly, to herself. "I knew it sounded familiar." Aria frowned to herself.

Keladry remained silent, unsure of what to say after that comment. Aria stopped talking to her after that and turned to the conversation to her left. Kel sighed. It was just like the beginning of her Page year. Keladry settled for sitting silent, observing those around her.

Meanwhile, Aria continued to glance back at Keladry. She liked her, initially, but her parents hadn't ever really approved of the girl-page who humiliated herself. They had warned her and her siblings to keep from forming any relationships with her. To Aria, Kel seemed very kind. But, who was she, Aria, to disobey her parents.

Keladry waited silently, singing Yamani songs she had listened to in her childhood in her head. She was trying to clear her mind, calm herself. She didn't want to show anyone how upset they made her. She would get through this; she would get past it. Just like at the castle, life here would get better. She would get accustomed to it.

Kel's Yamani mask had covered her face. No emotions were portrayed. She was simply bored. Or that was how the others would see it—which was fine by her.

Better bored than being a Lump, Kel thought to herself. Her mask wavered for a moment.

A loud silence filled the hall, waking Kel from her thoughts. All girls in the room were standing up. Keladry stood, unsure of what was happening. She contemplated asking but pushed the thought aside as she saw a line of priestesses walking into the room. Their dresses shimmered in the light. Each had the same composure, the same posture. It unnerved Kel.

There were so many of them. Kel watched as the lines spread into different directions, dozens of priestesses passing by her table, and others, continuously. She wondered what was going on.

"Good evening, girls," said one priestess who stopped at their table. She remained standing. All the girls bowed their heads for a moment after the greeting. Keladry followed as soon as she understood it was a daily ritual they performed. Unfortunately, Kel did not escape the critical eye of the light-haired priestess.

Thankfully, Kel maintained her mask throughout her observations. So, although the priestess' stare surprised her, she kept her composure.

Keladry was frightened by these people. Those who were to teach her in the upcoming years had already forced her to her toes. She had no clue as to how she was to act around them.

As she stood, the priestess' eyes still trained on her, Kel felt the hair on her arms and the back of her neck rise. The uncomfortable feeling made its way through her body. She tensed up. It was pure instinct. She didn't like the feeling and hoped the light-haired woman would train her eyes elsewhere.

Just as the thought passed through her mind, the priestess turned toward the center of the hall. Joint voices began into a prayer. Kel recognized it as the one she spoke before meals back at the palace. Keladry allowed her voice to join the synchronized words. When everyone was seated, the meal began and chatter filled the room. The priestess at her table spoke first.

"I see that there are some unfamiliar faces among us. Therefore, I shall introduce myself. I am Mistress Llayla. I teach needlework and embroidery here at the convent." She looked at the girls seated at the table. "I see two unfamiliar faces. If you don't mind, I ask each person seated at this table to tell us of their name and of a special hobby they enjoy." Once again, she passed her eyes along the circle of young women. "I shall start. As I said, I am Mistress Llayla. In my spare time, I dedicate my skill in needlework to embroider designs on plain clothes."

She looked at a brown-haired girl seated beside her. "Aliscia of Pearlmouth. I love horses and indulge in horseback riding whenever I've time to do so." She smiled.

"Sarai of Port Legann. I enjoy reading."

"Lia of Masbolle. I enjoy singing."

"And you have a beautiful voice," interjected Mistress Llayla in before Keladry could speak. She then looked at Keladry. "Go on."

By this time, the food had arrived at their table and the servers were placing covered dishes before each seated member. The covers were removed and steam leisurely rose into the air. The smell was appetizing.

Kel looked up at the faces surrounding her. She had not decided what she would state as her favorite hobby. She knew she didn't enjoy reading enough to call it a hobby. She also knew that she didn't sing and had no skill whatsoever with needlework. She did enjoy riding, though.

"I am Keladry of Mindelan. I enjoy..." she paused. She was still unsure. Becoming a knight wasn't a hobby. It was a dream. A crushed dream. "I enjoy the shusken dances."

"If you don't mind my asking, what is a shusken?" Mistress Llayla asked. The group had already began eating.

"It is a fan made by the Yamani people long ago. Originally, they were made as protection for women. The fans are heavy and deadly. They have blades hidden between two thin pieces of cloth. Dances were made later on as a way to improve a women's speed, agility, and strength. It is also a form of entertainment as it is seen as a game among the Yamani." Keladry explained this in between bites. She was starved and would not put off her meal any longer than necessary.

When she looked up, she saw a range of facial expressions—some haughty and arrogant, others shocked or intrigued. Misterss Llayla was the only one who maintained her neutral, interested composure.

"Keladry? Where did you learn of these shuskens?"

"In the Yamani Islands, Mistress Llayla."

"Yes, and do you have relatives in the Islands? I know that the Mindelan house is currently aiding the royal family with negotiations between Tortall and the Yamani Islands."

"No, Mistress Llayla. We don't have any relatives. However, I have lived in the Yamani Islands for six years of my life. I have learned many of its customs and traditions."

"That must have been...quite an experience, Keladry. Is it very different from Tortall?"

"That is a difficult question to answer, Mistress."

"How so?"

"Well, people are similar in so many ways simply because they are human beings. We are the same. It is how they are trained and the place where they live that differs." Keladry spooned another bite of food into her mouth, following it with a sip of barley water.

Mistress Llayla remained silent, thinking. Keladry now noticed that some of the girls had drifted into their own conversations and some still listened to Keladry's words.

"I would like you to come see me after your meal, Keladry. Ask one of the girls to show you the way to my rooms."

"Yes, Mistress Llayla."

"Would you girls like to continue?" she asked loudly, catching the attention of the other girls.

The remainder of the meal continued, the girls introducing themselves. There were no other new girls, only a girl who Mistress Llayla had never taught or had dinner with. After the meal, there was the option of desert for those who wanted it. Lined up against a wall was a line of tables of sweets. Some young women and Priestesses filled small plates with them. Others did not look once at the table. And still, others chose something small.

Keladry filled a small bowl with fruit salad. Eating the desert quietly while standing beside Lia. Lia was speaking to and older girl. According to what Lia told her earlier, this girl was of the fief neighboring Masbolle, Fief Whitehorn.

"How is Lady Valerie? I hope she is feeling better than when I last saw her."

"My mother is well. And so are the rest of my family members, thanks to Mithros. Actually, Maura, Dom has sent you his greetings and well-wishes for your fourth year at the convent." She smiled lightly.

"Really? Well, you must tell him I appreciate his kind thoughts. Tell him I'll be sure to make it a grand year. And what of his whereabouts, Lia? Where is Sergeant Domitian now?"

"Last I heard from him, he was heading up to Anak's Eyrie. A message was sent that the fief villages were being ransacked by bandits. Apparently, the bandits are Scanrans. Dom thinks that this might be the beginning of a terrible thing. He's afraid of the reason why Scanrans are attacking Tortallan Fiefs. I hope it's simply a rumor. You know how the Anak's Eyrie Fief tried to get extra funds from the royal treasury this past year by claiming the villages had been damaged by flooding."

"Yes, I hope so, too. Let's pray for the safe return of all the men of Third Company."

Lia remained silent, thinking. Kel took this chance to intrude on the conversation. She wanted to hear more news of the going ons, but thought it best to head over to Mistress Llayla's rooms before she fell into greater trouble.

"Lia." Lia looked up at Keladry, smiling when she saw who it was. " could you show me the way to Mistress Llayla's rooms? She asked for me to come to her after the night meal."

"Of course, I'll just—"

"Why do you need to go there?" Maura of Whitehorn asked, interrupting Amelia.

"She asked for my presence in her rooms after the meal. I, myself, don't know the reason why she has called for me."

"Hmm...well, Mistress Llayla doesn't ask for the private presence of many girls at all. I was simply curious because she's never asked a girl so young, either." Maura pursed her lips as she looked down at Keladry. "A simple word of advice: don't let her manipulate you into doing something you don't want to do." Maura said, a slight frown on her face.

"I'll keep that in mind," Kel replied. She was suspicious of Maura. Why would she care as to why Keladry was being called upon. And the way she spoke, Maura seemed as though she was attempting to scare Keladry.

Keladry's face was calm. No emotions were open for prying or scheming eyes to prey on. But most of all, Kel kept her thoughts to herself. She was not comfortable with the way her day has passed. It was unusual.

First, Mistress Daphne's warning her that she had ready-made enemies within the convent, one of which was the Head Priestess. Then, the cold, dismissing, but hesitant way she was treated by Aria of Pearlmouth before the entrance of the priestesses. Then, during the meal, the quite insistence and mysteriousness of Mistress Llayla. Finally, the seemingly plotting behavior of Maura of Whitehorn.

Keladry did not know what to think of the oddness of it all. Putting it aside for the time being, she followed Lia up a series of staircases. At the topmost stair, a carved wooden door sat. Now that she noticed it, Keladry also noticed that the last three staircases were made of marble rather than wood or stone. Keladry guessed that the design of the floors and halls must be related to the hierarchy within the convent.

Amelia had stopped before the door. "Keladry, I cannot go beyond the door, as I have not been invited. The doors are spelled to keep the students from trying to attain any important belongings and objects that are kept in these rooms. But don't worry. You'll be fine. On each door, you will find a name. Just look for Mistress Llayla's name. It should be carved onto the door. Alright?" Keladry nodded. She smiled. "You know how to get back to our rooms?"

"Yes, I remember the way."

"Alright. Mithros bless." She smiled before walking back down the stairs.

Keladry looked at the large, carved, and embellished door. It seemed intimidating now that she knew it was spelled to keep intruders away. She did not think so when she first brought her gaze down on the door. Kel shook her head. The power of words is indescribable. She exhaled and imagined the Golden Lake on a peaceful, windless day. She calmed herself, her anxiety into the calm of the lake.

Her meditation brought about the right result. Kel felt strengthened. She pushed back all the thoughts that broke through her earlier calm. She thought, momentarily, of the ease with which she had been made to become distressed, however slightly, since she had arrived at the convent. Keladry scolded herself for dropping her guard when it was needed most.

Straightening her stance, Kel tentatively touched the handle, caressing it almost shyly. She wasn't afraid of magic, generally, but she was going to be as wary of it as any other ungifted person would be. Magic played in tricky ways, ways that brought gifted persons to harm. Her wariness was not unnecessary.

Slowly, Keladry opened the door and walked through. She was astonished by the grandeur that met her. The floor had one deep red carpet running down its center, the marble of the floor peeking out on both sides. The walls were of wood, the same rich wood of the door. Every door resembled it as well. The only difference being that each door had a name carved into it's wood. Keladry began to walk through the hall, looking at the name on each door before moving forward.

At her next step, Keladry heard the large embellished door behind her slam closed. She jumped. She looked back. No one was there. Keladry blamed the magic and continued forward. It probably closed the door after Kel had forgotten to do so. To keep anyone from slipping through the open doorway.

Keladry had walked halfway through the corridor before she found the room. She was glad. She didn't want to go any further than was needed.

Knocking, she folded her hands to wait.

Minutes had passed. Keladry knocked once again. She waited. The door opened in a flurry.

"Keladry! It's good that you've come. Come in." Mistress Llayla moved aside as Keladry walked in. Kel waited just beyond the doorway, unsure of where she was headed.

"Just walk into the room on your left. Would you like something to drink, dear?" Mistress Llayla walked behind Kel.

"No, thank you. Nothing for me." Kel offered a smile.

"Well, I've made some tea if you change your mind. Meanwhile, you sit down." Mistress Llayla walked out of the room. A few minutes later, she returned with a tray. There were two cups, a tea kettle, milk, sugar, spoons, and hot plates on the tray. Settling down, she started. "So, Keladry. I've heard much about you and you've caught my interest. You see, living the life I live, teaching noble girls to become well-bred and well behaved women...you notice those who are unique. And you are unique Keladry. I do not need to be gifted to see it. Neither do I need to know you any better than I already do. But, I would still like to do so. Get to know you better, I mean. What do you think?"

"I see no harm in it, Mistress Ll—"

"Keladry! We are within my chambers. No formalities are necessary. You can call me Llayla." She smiled.

Keladry was somewhat confused. She had always referred to her elders with their proper titles. It was a sign of respect. No matter how long she had known them, she had always, always used proper titles.

"I'm not very comfortable doing so, Mistress Llayla. I'm afraid I will not be able to call on you so commonly." Mistress Llayla smiled at her.

"Well, custom has brought it upon us and it has conformed us. I respect your wishes, Keladry, and respect your ability to stand by your beliefs. I've encountered many who've disregarded their beliefs in hopes of pleasing me." Her eyes crinkled at the corners.

She sighed, her face evening out. "I see your strength Keladry. You have such strength for one so young, so small. It is one of your greatest attributes." She looked into dreamy hazel eyes. She shook her head. "Keladry...I've heard so many stories about the Mindelan girl. But I have not heard a single thought of yours. Would you mind sharing with me your story? I would like to know of the real Keladry of Mindelan."

The bell chimed eight. Keladry agreed to explain her story though she commented that she would need more time than she had. She also made known that she had to leave for bed, remembering Mistress Daphne's rules for lights out.

Mistress Llayla nodded, asking Keladry to come to her office after her classes finished the next day. Leading Keladry out, she thanked Kel for her generosity and time. Shutting the door after she had seen Kel pass the spelled door, Mistress Llayla headed off to her study. She had to plan the next day's class.

She huffed in irritation. She hoped she would learn something of Keladry of Mindelan. Her description of the Yamani Islands had intrigued her. And the fact that Keladry was at the convent against her will. She had never heard of such a thing before. Clearing her head, she put her mind to work, planning the next day's class.

SO... that's it for now. I didn't want to stop. But when I realized that the eighth bell was her bed time, I had to stop it. This update is longer than any of the previous ones (8 pages!), although I'm not too sure of it's greatness content-wise. I think it was a little lacking, but I couldn't think of a way to improve it more than I have. Hopefully, I'll update one more time before college starts. If not, then at the end of my first week which is around the 10th of September. Well, review! Tell me what you thought. Is there anything I should change? Was anything worded weird? Any input is welcomed! It helps the story come out. Even simply encouragement helps. I've only realized why people ask for reviews when I received my first. Alright, I'll leave you be. Enjoy! ;D

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