Disclaimer: Don't own anything so please don't sue.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed and please continue reviewing. Kally/Kaddar is an interesting pairing. Next drabble features Eveline of Naxen and a certain smooth-tongued, posh, sophisticated, Emelan noble/mage. Gee, I wonder who it can be?

Prompt: A Rocky Start

Kaddar threw up his hands in exasperated defeat. "Mithros!" he cried. "What in Mithros's name do you want me to say?" The attractive young Carthaki emperor - so skilled at diplomacy and so perfectly controlled - had reached his breaking point. "What can I do so that you will stop cursing me to the Black God's kingdom - by the way, his daughter the Graveyard Hag is my patron, so don't get any ideas, please - what can I do to appease you?"

The cause of the emperor's exasperation glared back at him fiercely. "Nothing!" Princess Kalasin of Conte hurled back angrily. "Nothing!" Kalasin's blue eyes flashed as she bit her trembling lip to keep from crying.

Kaddar ran his fingers distractedly through his hair. "At the betrothal ceremony you seemed nice. A bit too quiet, but sweet and friendly. Now, you seem entirely changed. What have I done wrong to anger you so?"

"What have you done wrong?" Kally laughed bitterly. "Besides ruining my dream of being the second lady knight, besides taking me away from my family, besides provoking me to anger the very day I arrive in Carthak? What have you done? I have no idea. My father forced me to be pleasant to you, you know! I-I hate you!"

Kaddar flinched. "I'm sorry that you hate me so," he replied quietly. "But as neither of us have any choice in this marriage and will have to live with each other for the rest of our lives, can we please try to be more pleasant to each other? I don't demand your love, but I would like it very much if I don't have to hide all my weapons every night before I go to sleep every night. If we can't love each other, can we at least try to be friends?"

Tears rolled down Kally's face. "I'm sorry that I was so harsh," she whispered. "It's just, all my life I've wanted to be a knight, and when my father told me I was to marry for his politics instead...I-I'd like it if we were friends...I-I'm sorry..."

Kaddar hesitated, then gently took the weeping girl into his arms. "I'm sorry that your dreams were not brought to life," he murmured. "But I'll try to make life in Carthak as pleasant as possible. You can go where you please - roam the palace, bury yourself in the library, ride for as long as you want. You don't have to give up fighting entirely - you're welcome to join my friends and I in sword and archery practice if you wish."

Kally sniffed and wiped her eyes, leaning against Kaddar. "Won't your friends laugh at me?"

The emperor laughed softly. "Daine took care of that for you years ago," he replied tenderly. Kaddar did love Kalasin very much - despite her prickly temper, she was sweet and funny, spunky and intelligent, and Kaddar was quite sure that he loved Kalasin deeply.

"Thank you," Kally told him softly. "So we can be friends?"

"Friends," Kaddar replied, concealing his disappointment admirably, and Kally - not that her anger had cooled - felt a pang of disappointed pain in her heart.

But perhaps it was for the best, for there is no love without first friendship and trust, and love that endures and lasts despite obstacles in barriers in its way will be yet stronger and deeper and truer. For in a matter of a month, anyone who calls Kally and Kaddar "just friends" seriously needs to go to Duke Baird or Zamid Hetnim - unless you're Nealen of Queenscove, in which case it is only to be expected.