I know, I know, I've take forever to update again... I have no excuses... Sorry... Hope you like this anyhoo.

arianna99 please don't curse me for taking so long! wild-vixen the gossips aren't done yet. Stories like that one tend to follow you around. Dolphindreamer I'll try to make them longer. I don't want to overload you. I like that line too. Th ORIGINAL Meathead I love Miri. I'm hoping she'll get to appear again. You're so encouraging. I'll try to checkout your stuff too. SarahE7191 Like I said in the pm, it's not a Kel/Cleon fic, but they may well appear in it. I'm a Kel/Dom girl myself (see my other fic). I do have plans for Raoul's talk about women in command taking lovers. Drop Your Oboe Not at all! But it's only May, there's much more fun to come! Silverlake Glad you like it too. It helps me keep true to what Tammy wrote about Roaul and Buri.


Chapter Four: Awkward Reunion

For all his excuses that had acquired him a tent outside, Raoul knew that nothing except faking his own death could get him out of dinner up at the castle of Whitethorn. His apprehension at the idea of the banquet only increased when he was introduced to his diner partner, the daughter of a local baron. At eighteen, she was almost young enough to be his own daughter and totally overawed by being partnered with a seasoned knight of the realm. Raoul couldn't work out which of them felt more awkward.

As the meal progressed in relative silence, Raoul longed for Daine or Numair to turn around and start a conversation. The mages were too busy dissecting some literary tome to notice him. A glance at Buri left his a little more comforted. She didn't seem to be enjoying the evening either.

Buri listened with half an ear to the head of the Guild of Carpenters. It wasn't that she disliked the man, it was just there was something about formal social occasions that drained her. Not for the first time, she wondered if it was something to do with being K'mir. Not that the argument really held any water since Thayet was half-K'mir and loved socialising while Raoul, who had no K'mir blood at all, hated them.

Thinking of her friend she looked over at him. Hs looked up and smiled at her and she smiled back. With Alanna keeping her distance from court, there was only Raoul around who really understood. Buri sighed inwardly. With all the gossip flying around, she would have to watch how much time she spent with him. It wouldn't do to fuel the fire.

Suddenly she realised that her companion had stopped speaking. She turned to him. "Sorry. What did you say?"

As the first strains of music filled the hall, there was a rush of movement. Buri was very grateful to the plump woman that her partner asked to dance. She excused herself to the rest of the table and went in search of Onua and Sarge.

Comfortably settled on Gary and Cythera's table, Raoul too was grateful to see the baron's daughter led away by a far more suitable partner. When Gary and Cythera decided to dance, Raoul looked over at Buri chatting happily to Onua and Sarge. He wanted to go and join them, but something was holding him back. He hadn't seen Buri for months and not properly since Midwinter. Try as he might, he couldn't put that spontaneous kiss out of his mind and now it stood, like a mountain between them. Instead, he drifted over to the high table now that the crowd around the royal family had dispersed a little.

Buri glanced over at Raoul again. He was obviously having a very animated conversation with Thayet. Buri wondered once again if she should go over and join him. For all her spirit, she couldn't quite bring herself to do it, what with the gossip flying round. Not to mention midwinter.

"Buri?" said Onua, cutting into her thoughts.

Buri turned back to her friend. "What?"

"You seem a little distracted."

"I have got a few things on my mind."

"You know what they say. Problem shared is a problem halved."

Buri considered the idea. After Thayet, Onua was one of her closest friends. She looked at Sarge.

"I'll go and find Evin," he said smiling at her." He kissed Onua gently. "See you later."

Onua smiled at her friends. "So why have you been staring at Raoul all evening."

Buri tried not to blush. "I don't know what you mean."

"Don't tell me those rumours are true."

"Onua! Of course they're not."

"Then don't worry about them. It's not like they haven't said that kind of thing about him before."

"I know…"

"But it's different when its you?" Onua guessed. Buri nodded. "Take it as a compliment and go and talk to him."

Buri glanced at Raoul again.

"It's not just that is it? Did you two have a falling out?"

"No. It's nothing. I just haven't seen him for a while."

"I suppose he's been of with the Own since Midwinter."

"Yes."

"Well, whatever it is, he's probably forgotten. Men have short memories."

Buri chucked. "And since when have you been the expert."

"Never you mind. Now go and talk to him or else!"

"Yes sir," said Buri playfully saluting Onua.

Onua smiled and gave her friend a gentle push towards the high table.

Raoul looked up as Buri approached him and smiled. Thayet followed his gaze.

"Buri!" she said happily embracing her friend. "How has your day been?"

"Good mostly, though Miri let slip that Evin is planning on fleecing the Own at cards."

Raoul smiled. "I shall make sure the word gets round that he cheats."

"Miri claims he is just naturally good, nothing to do with coming from a player family."

"Love is blind," commented Thayet. "I'm sorry, but I have to meet and greet. I'll see you tomorrow Buri."

"Bright and early for glaive practice."

Thayet made a face. "Some days I wish I had never agree to learn the thing."

"You're much better than I am. Anyway, now that Raoul has joined us, so has Kel."

"Someone else to beat me soundly." Thayet looked at Jon who was signalling that she should come and join him. "I must good. It was nice to catch up with you Raoul."

"You too, Thayet."

The queen smiled and left them. Suddenly, Buri and Raoul realised that they were alone together for the first time in months.

Buri took a deep breath and spoke first. "So how are you?" She winced inwardly at such a banal question.

"Much better now dinner is over. I thought I was going to be stuck with that poor girl all evening." As soon as he had finished speaking, Raoul knew he had said the right thing. A gentle smiled spread across Buri's face.

"Me too. They put me next to some mouthy guildsman."

"At least he wasn't too shy to talk to you."

Buri laughed. "So what have the Own been up to while you were avoiding the progress?"

"Accompanying ambassadors, hunting pirates, shoring up river banks. The usual."

"Only you would say that. I hear you finally introduced Kel to your Bazhir tribe as well."

"Yes, though I think even they started to worry for my sanity when I made her practice jousting."

"They didn't already?" Buri asked playfully. Raoul smiled, relaxing. "Is she entering the tournament?" asked Buri.

"I didn't know there was one."

"It starts up tomorrow."

"I think I'll suggest she watches this one and hopefully she'll enter the next one."

"I suppose you'll get your name in the lists?"

Raoul nodded. "Yes. I haven't had a good joust in ages."

"This is the first one, but I hear more are planned at pretty much every place we stop."

Suddenly the midwinter kiss floated into his mind and Raoul didn't know what to say next, or where to look

Buri looked at Raoul. A strange look had appeared on his face. It made her uncomfortable, reminding her of the way that Thayet's diner guests looked at her. "Are you all right?" she asked.

"I'm fine," replied Raoul, rearranging his face into an attempt at a smile. An awkward silence stretched out between them and Buri realised what it was that Raoul had thought. She knew that she had to have the guts to say something or he never would.

"Raoul, uh, about midwinter…"

Raoul was surprised. He hadn't expected her to mention it. "Yes?" he managed.

"I hope you didn't think I meant anything by it," Buri said, her fingers crossed behind her back.

Raoul exhaled heavily. "Of course not."

Buri smiled. "That's good," she said, not quite believing Raoul's genial reply. "Everyone gets a bit silly at that time of year."

"Don't worry about it. What's a kiss between friends?" Raoul hoped he sounded more relaxed than he felt.

Buri nodded and looked around for an escape route from this uncomfortable conversation. "I should circulate," she said lamely.

"Yes, me too, otherwise Jon will come and start introducing me to the fustiest men he can find."

Buri raised a smile. "See you tomorrow, then?"

"See you tomorrow." Raoul watched Buri head for a group of Rider girls before picking heading into the crowds himself. He couldn't remember the last time he had a conversation that ended like that with Buri. Normally, she laughed and joked like the best of the Own. Now one kiss had ruined everything.


Thanks everyone who has me on their fave list. Keep the reviews coming in and a new chap will be up soon...