Disclamier: [insert "Tamora Pierce Copyright" disclaimer here]

Chapter Three

"So, Neal, which of the new court ladies have you chosen to be obsessed over this time?" Neal, Seaver, Owen, Merric, Roald, Faleron, and Cleon were studying in the library. This last question had been voiced by Merric, who found it highly entertaining that Neal wrote poetry to whomever he liked. The two had become good friends, and the rest of the crowd had appeared on their own.

"Oh, I don't know, he might not have chosen yet. Mithros knows there are enough to last a good while. Is it just me, or do they get more beautiful every year?" Roald was clearly just giving Neal a hard time, but trying to change the subject as well.

"Yes, I do believe they do. There are more convent ladies this year." Faleron said, completely oblivious to the fact that they were just picking on their good friend.

Owen joined in this obliviousness. (A/N Yes, that actually is a word. Isn't it cool?) "I liked Nia of Bancanor, she's a beauty. So are the rest of them, but she's also nice. I just wish more of them liked something other than clothes, and gossip, and- well, clothes."

"Um, do I get a say in this conversation which is obviously revolving around me?" Neal asked. But the rest of his buddies hadn't had their say yet.

"I liked Keladry of Mindelan. But she seems like a bit of a stick in the mud. And did you see the way she stormed out earlier? That's just not common noble lady etiquette." Cleon, naturally, had taken far less time selecting a female.

"Thank Mithros one of them doesn't care, it seems they're always so… I don't know, proper. With the perfect 'thank-you's, and the stiff dances. Now, Niva of Summer Circle, she was interesting, pretty, but in a fiery way, like you would never succeed in telling her what to do. I wonder if she would ever see anything in someone like me." Seaver was always saying things like that, never paying attention to the googly eyes the serving girls made at him.

Neal had finally had it. "Would you all please just SHUT UP?" "SSSSHHHHHH!" Well, apparently they weren't the only ones in the library.

Lowering his tone, he continued. "Look, I don't care what you think, but has it ever occurred to you that maybe for once I don't want to just pick a girl and write poetry to her.. eyebrows? I am NOT a ditzy blonde nobleman with nothing more on his mind than… females!" he ended gallantly, only to have his humor disrupted by a wonk on the head from Faleron, and then the bell. Sighing, they gathered their books and headed to their rooms.

Lost in his thoughts, Neal bumped into Cleon. He grunted an apology and set off for his rooms, thinking. Although, now that they mention it… Keladry was very beautiful, and she seemed very reserved, but almost like a cat, silk and steel.

Right before the two split off for their separate destinations, Seaver whispered to Cleon "I know you've spoken for Kel, but you might want to keep an eye on Neal, I think you might have competition" and then jogged down the hall to his room, leaving Cleon to ponder the meaning of his statement.

_____

Unfortunately for Kel, the next day was less interesting, leaving her to her thoughts, accompanied by a morning visit from Niva, who wanted to 'talk'.

"So," she began, putting on a false smile. "What do you think of the guys we sat with at dinner last night?"

Carefully not portraying her discomfort, Kel merely stared at her, unblinking, until the other girl sighed with exasperation and got to the point.

"Look, we're not friends so I won't be betraying you or anything by saying this, but what in Mithros' name was up with you last night? Running out of the hall like that? I'm sorry, but there has to have been more behind that than just 'He didn't like your brothers'."

Now it was more difficult to remain calm. Who was this girl to be asking questions about her personal life? This was an excuse and Kel knew it, she needed to get this off her chest or it would haunt her until the convent teen was no more, replaced by a bitter old maid who knew nothing but her weapons. Which reminded her, she should be practicing instead of talking to her… no, she had to do this. She was strong. But it was going to be a long conversation she knew as she began the complete story of her life from age ten.

_____

Queen Thayet, former Sarain princess Thayet jian Wilima, co-ruler of Tortall, friend of such esteemed persons as the Wildmage and the Lioness, was completely and utterly bored. She had been reading over a Maren peace treaty for three hours, and she still didn't even know what their terms were, though she had most likely read that section already. She definitely needed a break. Well, not a break, but a change in work.

Looking over her desk for something that looked easy and mindless, the queen came across a note saying 'choose new ladies', reminding her to look over the list that had been come up with. With her and Jon's reign had come changes on her part as well as his, such as the way new ladies in waiting were chosen, and the existence of the royal ladies. Instead of looking over the applications of way too many buffle-brained noble girls whose families were rich or in good standing, she came up with a comprehensive list of all noble girls between the ages of 15 and 20 who looked competent and polite. Usually, she only barely came up with enough, and this year was no different.

"hmmm…. Let's see, that looks good" she murmured to herself absently. She had come up with eight girls: Denise of Linden, Iralina of Teonash, Gwendolyn of Holly, Nathalie of Queenscove, Myra of Runnerspring, Reagan of Genlith, Niva of Summer Circle, and Keladry of Mindelan. It looked like a few might be royal lady material, as she re-chose every year. Sometimes the same ones were chosen, but she didn't think it fair to have the same one year after year and never give anyone else a chance. She was only sorry to lose Uline of Hannolof, she was turning twenty one this year and she had been a wonderful help in matters of state. Oh, well, she hoped she wasn't making a mistake with Keladry. Her convent teachers had awful reports, and usually this meant they were too bright, so she was hoping against hope she wasn't just a trouble maker.

Putting that matter out of her mind, she set about creating this year's individual tests for which girls to be royal ladies, she did it this way so that if they fumbled or made a fool of themselves, there would be no chance of passerby or other girls never letting them live it down. She had found it gave them added respect for her, which spread to their families and helped her position as queen.

_____

Kel had just finished her rather boring tale when Niva's comment was cut off by a messenger boy, blushing and bowing meekly. He jogged away hurriedly, leaving Kel and Niva to their conversation.

"So, it sounds to me like you have some serious issues, but not as serious as you think." How could she judge? It hadn't been her going through all that. "You really are exaggerating, I can see why the daughters didn't like you, and they were completely unjust in doing so, but it's not as bad as you make it out to be." She was almost whining, trying to make her point without causing too much pain. "Like I said, I'm not your friend, so I'm possibly one of the only people who can tell you: Get. Over. It." She said this last part short and haltingly, digging the meaning in deeper.

At this point Kel had no choice but to evaluate her words for what they were, and realize how true they were. She did know the whole story. She wasn't just being mean; she had recently proven herself to be a kind, caring person. Kel realized that she had been bottling everything up for five years, and was on the point of bursting. It just wasn't healthy to keep everything in like that. When you did that, you blew things way out of proportion and became a ghost, nothing really mattering. Mole hills became mountains. Could she really have avoided all that pain just by opening up? However, this line of thought was interrupted by frantic pounding on the door.

"Come in-" Kel barely had time to finish before Ira burst into the room sporting a torn open envelope and a huge grin.

"Oh gods, did you two read your letters yet? I got your letter from the servant boy for you Niva, did you read yours yet Kel? Oh, this is so amazing!" In a clear example of her excitement.

Sighing with the girl's giddiness, Kel opened her envelope and fished around for whatever was so important.

"Oh my-" she couldn't even bring herself to finish the exclamation once she had read the surprisingly short letter.

Dear Keladry,

Congratulations, you, along with seven other girls: Nathalie of Queenscove, Denise of Linden, Niva of Summer Circle, Myra of Runnerspring, Gwendolyn of Holly, Iralina of Teonash, and Reagan of Genlith have been selected to be one of the Queen's Ladies. You will be a part of the ladies in waiting, and you will meet your comrades to be in time. Until then, you will receive more information on the matter if you will please come to the lesser used royal dining hall, a servant will be sent. This will take place at 6:00 pm on the 8th of June, in two weeks' time. If this interferes with any previous plans, please notify me and it will be rescheduled to a more convenient date. First and foremost to me is that you are all available at this time.

Sincerely,

Queen Thayet

A royal lady, she thought in astonishment. Me, a lady in waiting, not just 'the weirdo'. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? I'm stupid and ugly and fat…… or so she had been told by the Daughters, who led her to believe it.

She was shaken out of her reverie by another giggle. "Oh, I just can't believe it!" Sighing, she immersed herself in the world of frippery. It was going to be a long day.