The Only Volunteer
Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns all of PotS and everything in Tortall. I just like to play around in her world. Everything you recognize is hers and everything you do not recognize is mine.
A/N: Okay, now that I've rewritten this chapter four different times, I've come to the conclusion that I really do like TP's version of the Balor's Needle incident the best; therefore, I'm not going to write about it or try to make any changes to it for my story. However, this chapter does give my 'AU' reasons why things happened the way they did. It's a little bit different from my other chapters. Enjoy! :D
The Aftermath of Failure
"I'm not at all sure that she ought to leave her bed," replied Kel's mother. From what her maid tells me, she's exhausted. Did you know she rises before dawn every day? And she fits weapons practice into every spare moment she has. The idea is to train them, not to kill them, Wyldon."
"It's the training that keeps them alive in the field," Wyldon replied calmly. "Page Keladry, you have things to do ... The watch captain asks me to assure you that whoever paid those men to kidnap Lalasa will be found." Wyldon's tone was odd, almost gentle. "I will make sure that is so - I want to learn what manner of creature would do so infamous a thing."
-- Tamora Pierce, Page
Kel's P.O.V.
I will not cry! I will not cry!
Oh, Mama! I'm so glad you're here with me now. I'm sorry I failed you.
Thank the gods I found Lalasa! That's the most important thing. That's what I'll remember as I go through the next four years of page training again.
Wait! Will Lord Wyldon allow me to begin again?
What if the gods really are opposed to girls earning their shields now? Will there not be any more lady knights after the Lioness is gone? What am I supposed to do?
I will not cry! I will not cry!
Why is this happening to me? Why did the gods give me all these abilities but deny me the means to use them?
I won't go to the convent! I don't care what Joren said; I will not sit around and be some nobleman's lady. Sorry, Mama, but you've never sat around, anyway!
I suppose ... I suppose I could wait one more year and join the Queen's Riders when I turn fifteen. They probably could use someone with my skills.
I will not cry! I will not cry!
No! I know I can be a good knight! I want to protect those who cannot protect themselves!
If Lord Wyldon will allow me to do so, I will become a first-year page all over again. That's what I'll do, even if everyone makes fun of me. I don't care!
Besides, I'll be here to help my nephew, Lachran, when he comes to the palace next year. And there's still Owen and his cousins to keep me company, too.
I will do everything they ask of me in order to earn my shield!
What? I have to get up and go to supper now?
I will not cry! I will not cry!
"When do you leave?" Joren asked coolly. He sat not with Vinson and Garvey, as Kel might have expected, but with Zahir and Yancen.
"I won't," Kel replied.
"You expect us to believe you mean to do all four years again?" There was a mocking smile on Joren's lips.
Kel shrugged. "Believe what you like." She turned her back on them and went to get her supper. As she passed the squires' tables on her way to her friends, Cleon touched her wrist. "I'm all right," she told him, surprised by the touch.
"Of course you are," he said. "You're the best." Prince Roald, seated across from Cleon, gave her a warm smile.
-- Tamora Pierce, Page
Joren's P.O.V.
No one repeats all four years! No one!
How can Mindelan even think of doing such a thing? That's just crazy talk!
Gods blast it all! A reasonable girl would go to the convent, learn how to be a regular lady, and let her father present her to the Court. Then I could ... court her in a reasonable manner. Why can't she just be reasonable?
I know. I know. Kel doesn't think I'm serious about her. I'll just have to prove it. But how can I do that now?
Maybe ... maybe she'll listen to me if I tell her why I went along with Vinson's plan to have the kidnappers take Lalasa. I only wanted Kel to be late and miss the exams. Then she'd have no choice but to quit trying to earn her shield.
No one repeats all four years! No one!
Look at that - Cleon and Prince Roald are smiling at Kel. I know Kennan planned to court the girl when she became a squire and that's what I should have planned to do, too. I don't care if my father already has some boring bride picked out for me.
Maybe she'll understand why I was desperate for her not to become a squire. I can't court a squire.
No, that sounds ridiculous now! What was I thinking?
Who cares if she's a squire? I've already kissed her - twice - and I liked it!
No one repeats all four years! No one!
Okay, okay. It's not like I was in charge of this messed up plan. I only paid the kidnappers. Well, and I gave them Vinson's map of the area. But I didn't write any of the notes or put them by Kel's door or change the location of the maid.
Gods blast it all! Why didn't Vinson follow his original plan and just stash the wench in one of the vacant buildings like I suggested to him? Why did he have those idiots take the maid - and that ugly dog - up to Balor's Needle?
Kel hates heights! She's going to hate me again when she finds out - and then she's going to kill me.
No one repeats all four years! No one!
Mithros! I can't tell her. I ... I just can't.
She won't understand. Not now. Maybe never.
What? Duke Turomot, the Lord Magistrate is here?
I'm doomed!
No one repeats all four years! No one!
Then Lord Wyldon helped Duke Turomot up to the lectern.
The old man glared down at his audience. "Silence," he ordered, though no one made a sound. "Evidence has been given, confession made. Two men were paid by an as-yet-unknown third man to force Page Keladry of Mindelan either to be late for the fourth-year examinations or to be unable to attend altogether ... Heralds have been sent to announce the new day of testing. Furthermore, the one who perpetrated this defilement of the law and the examinations will be found and duly punished. With the guidance of Mithros, we will achieve a fair solution."
-- Tamora Pierce, Page
Vinson's P.O.V.
Just. Stay. Calm.
This is bad. This is very, very bad.
Those kidnappers are idiots - they're going to talk, I just know they are!
However ... Joren's the one who paid them and Joren's the one who gave them the map, so Joren's the one they're going to identify first.
I'll have time to work things out.
Uncle Ebroin will know what to do.
Just. Stay. Calm.
Stupid, stupid wenches! It's all their fault!
Joren doesn't know how easy he has it - girls just tumble right into his lap!
I have to wheedle and bribe females to give me the time of day - and then I end up having to take what I want because they only tease me.
I should have had my fun with that wench before I made the fools move her to the Needle.
Mithros! I can feel her nails against my skin, even after all this time.
That wench still must pay for what she did to me!
Just. Stay. Calm.
If only those silly birds hadn't interfered! I should kill them all - maybe poison would do the trick.
And that dog! All the palace dogs! How could the kidnappers have been so stupid? The dogs found them right away.
They're going to find Joren and me sooner or later, too. Hopefully, much later.
Don't look at Joren! He'll have to save his own skin. His father can afford the best lawyers, anyway.
What? They're going to allow the Lump to take the exams anyway?
Just. Stay. Calm.
Wyldon smiled crookedly. "I think I will no longer try to predict what will or will not happen to you, Squire Keladry. So far you have proved me wrong on every count. Even I can learn when to quit." He bowed to her and walked away.
-- Tamora Pierce, Page
Wyldon's P.O.V.
Gods, Mindelan, I would you had been born a boy!
I was so angry when you didn't show up on time for the big exams. Then I knew something was wrong when you didn't show up at all.
Just think - you've conquered your fear of heights in the most harrowing way possible. That's something I couldn't do in a couple of years of sending you up to all the high places around here!
You've definitely proved your honor and bravery by rescuing your maid, as well as that dog who loves you so much.
Dogs are quite accurate judges of character and I believe that your dog - yes, I know he has attached himself to you - has determined you to be the best sort of human. I happen to agree with him.
Gods, Mindelan, I would you had been born a boy!
At first I pitied Piers and Ilane - what were they supposed to do with a girl child such as you?
You're not fit for the convent, Keladry - that much I do know. It would have been such a waste of your abilities.
If Vivienne and I had a daughter like you, I don't know what we would do with her.
If Vivienne and I had a son like you, there's no telling what he could do with your talents!
Gods, Mindelan, I would you had been born a boy!
I don't know what kind of monstrous mind could have conceived of such a horrible plan to keep you from taking your exams, but we will find him. I promise you that!
My hands still hurt from that blistering letter the Lioness sent to me, but perhaps she will back off of her promise to hound me into the Peaceful Realms early - as soon as we catch whoever interfered with your exams.
I hate to think ill of my fellow conservatives, but I wouldn't put it past some of them to think of doing such a thing. Now I am ashamed of their harsh opinions of you, especially when they don't even know you.
Ah, but you, Squire Keladry, you showed them all what you are made of.
Gods, Mindelan, I would you had been born a boy!
I couldn't help but be proud of you as I watched you pass your rescheduled exams with ease.
There was no doubt amongst the examiners that you are fit for service as a squire, and that you will be a credit to the realm someday as a lady knight.
And believe it or not, you have quite a number of admirers among your fellow pages and squires. It's almost embarrassing the way they gaze at you and you don't even notice them. Poor lads!
Thank the gods you'll be off with your knight-master for the majority of the year, so I won't have to worry about my headaches returning just yet.
What? Lord Raoul never takes on a squire!
Oh, well, when it comes to you, Squire Keladry, nothing should surprise me anymore.
Gods, Mindelan, I would you had been born a boy!
A/N: Phew! As you might have noticed, I've been experimenting with several writing styles all throughout this story. I hardly ever write in first person, but after three different attempts, this one seemed to work the best for me. Let me know what you think. Thanks! :D