A View to a Wedding

Disclaimer: I do not own PotS, its characters, places, etc., but Tamora Pierce does.

A/N: Thank you again for all your wonderful reviews. I've had such fun writing this story. Enjoy!!

Here Comes the Bride (Kel's P.O.V.)

I'm getting married today! This is all so exciting, and I'm more nervous than ever. I keep trying to calm myself by thinking of the smooth surface of a lake or a cloudless sky, but it's not working. Yuki and the twins are slowly making their way down the aisle now - they all look so beautiful. Everyone is looking back here at me and smiling. I feel so pretty in this gown that Lalasa designed especially for me. It actually has a hidden split down the front and back, and I'm wearing the most comfortable cream-colored breeches and boots underneath. No one can tell! My soon-to-be-husband told me to be prepared to ride away sometime during the reception. I know he must have told Lalasa about his plans, and she's such a romantic that she made sure I could keep my wedding gown on the whole time. He's so full of surprises - I wonder what he's up to?

I can barely believe that this day is really here. Who would have ever thought that Owen of Jesslaw would become the love of my life? Certainly not I - not until my boy, Tobe, and my horse Peachblossom intervened. What a pair they are! I didn't know what to think when Tobe told me that Peachblossom told him that he was tired of me being lonely, and that he thought Sir Owen would be a good mate for me. I know our animals are too smart for their own good, but I really had wondered if Tobe had gotten into some ale or if Peachblossom had sampled some fermented oats. It's hard to believe, but they really were serious about Owen.

I guess I hadn't really noticed how much Owen had grown up - I still saw him as my roly-poly, foot-in-the-mouth buddy from our page years together. Even when Owen grew to be taller than me, I just didn't see him as, well, a man. That is, until Tobe and Peachblossom took up his case with me. And when I finally looked, what I saw surprised me. I do remember being a little annoyed when I discovered Owen had had a late growth spurt and was now as tall as Lord Raoul. It just wasn't fair! Owen had lost his "baby fat" due to the fact that we all worked very hard and rode out on a lot of missions. When we weren't on missions, we worked out in the practice yards, so he built up a lot of muscles. He really fills out his tunic very nicely. The scar on his cheekbone, the one that he got when we fought Blayce, actually did give him a more mature look. Owen had even let his curly brown hair grow down to his shoulders because, he said, it gave him a more "dashing" look.

On one of our missions, we got caught in a sudden downpour and had to make shelter in an abandoned hunters' hut. Merric wasn't with us that time, because he had gone to Fief Jesslaw with his father to finish the details of his betrothal to Owen's sister, Merry. Since it had always been the three of us on our missions, I was suddenly very aware of how alone Owen and I were. Well, the horses were in there with us, but now that I knew how they felt about us, I was acting a bit awkward around Owen.

After we tended to the horses, we were just sitting next to each other in our own blankets, waiting out the storm. Owen kept chattering on in his usual way, and I was almost asleep. Suddenly, Peachblossom lowered his head and pushed me into Owen. We got tangled up together, and I ended up sprawled over Owen's lap. I'll always cherish that moment - when Owen cupped my face in his big hands, looked into my eyes and kissed me ever so gently. When I realized what had just happened, I hesitated for just a heartbeat, and then I kissed him back. Then we both found out what a good kisser Owen is! I blame my naughty horse. I thank my naughty horse.

It was a rather short courtship. I have so much fun with Owen. He makes me laugh, he makes me blush, and he even makes me very good sausages and eggs when we're out on our missions. I couldn't ask for a better friend or partner. I didn't hesitate to accept Owen's marriage proposal, and I agreed with him when he suggested that we get married before the next round of duty assignments. Even Lady Alanna gave us her blessings - and lots of good advice. We really aren't needed in the northern territories anymore, especially since the Scanrans have started to behave, so Owen and I both want to do some bandit bashing down near his home fief for a while. As he always says, "It will be jolly!"

First though, we have to get through this wedding. Now my father is leading me down the aisle to the altar, where Owen waits for me. I'm so glad I waited for him!

"I hate bandits. They killed my mother. I'm going to be a knight and hunt bandits for real. You could hunt 'em with me...With you and me at the job, there won't be a bandit in the country in ten years." [Page Owen of Jesslaw (age 11) speaking to Page Keladry of Mindelan (age 12), after their victorious battle with hill bandits.]

-- Tamora Pierce, Page

A/N: Well, that's the end of this tale. I realize that in the quasi-canon world, Owen is married to Lord Wyldon's youngest daughter, Margarry, but I hope you enjoyed the story anyway. The inspiration for a Kel/Owen pairing came to me after reading a recent People mag about child stars from the '80s and '90s and what's up with them now. Some of the geekiest guys have grown up to be totally hot men. So I started thinking about who would be that kind of guy in Kel's world. Obviously, Owen came to mind. ;D Anyway, I'll probably write some stories with other pairings, so look for me when I get back from camp.

Again, thanks for all the reviews. Keep 'em coming! ~~ Ally-Marty :D