Hey guys sorry that I left you guys hanging in the last chapter but now we are finally getting back to the situation at the palace with Kel. Jocelyn has already left to go back to the convent so it is a couple weeks into the summer.
Kel stared hard at the letters that seemed to form words in the letter she had been sent from Alanna. The words turned into sentences and the sentences, paragraphs. The whole letter seemed to be disunited. None of it made sense, she was looking at a letter that told of a noble woman's death, her death. It was like she was looking at the situation from above a cloud and seeing everybody's reaction. Kel didn't know what to make of it. 'Did this mean that she would have to stay as Kile/Kilie of Trebond forever? She would never reveal to her close friends who she truly was? A life of secrecy and solitude?'
The funeral was to be held at Mindelan in the middle of summer, and Kel would be damned if she didn't go.
Brushing her honey colored hair out of her eyes she swept it up into a leather throng, and smiled as she saw her young maid and helper awake and doing their daily chores. Despite that they had moved from the palace to the city during the summer, things still went in the usual routine. Kel grabbed her glaive since she needed time to think over what had happened and what her choices were. Taking the cobblestone road down past all the houses that were beginning to awaken she took a turn through an alley.
The alley led to another through street and the bustling of shop merchants could be seen. Most of the merchants that owned shops were cleaning the landings in front of their stores. Kel smiled inwardly as she saw a child helping her father with moving a sign to the front of a window. Kel continued down the street and avoided the increasing number of horses that walked down the center of the road. She didn't have to try very hard to avoid the horses considering that most people were scared of a boy holding a weapon that could easily cut them to bits.
The city of Corus began to awaken as the smell of bread and berries came into the air. Making another turn down a path it came out to a grassy place that was surrounded by trees. She followed the usually markings to arrive at an open area that was surrounded by trees. No one could see her but the animals that had made the trees their home.
Kel sat down and began to meditate as she had been taught to at the Islands. It took her longer than usual to empty her thoughts since the most insignificant things would make her frustrated. Kel let out a sigh of frustration when she finally gave up and winced as she stood. Kel stretched out her tight limbs and began to lift her glaive into a series of easy twists and turns. The simple turns became complex moves and finally into a dance.
The dance that usually was so easy and relaxing for Kel became more of a nuisance as she almost cut off a leg when she stepped out of place. Kel let out a grunt as she gave up and tried to control her rolling emotions from clashing onto her face. Taking a less seen path she made her way to her room in the Dancing Dove. George had talked to some of his 'associates' and they had agreed to let her stay there for the summer. As Kel stepped through the familiar scene she came across the usual inhabitants that were taking their morning ale or still passed out from the night before. Kel nodded to old Solom and continued on her way. Kel was still unsure if she trusted the people of the Dancing Dove, but as long as their King told them to leave Lalasa and Gwen alone she hoped the thieves would follow those instructions. Kel trudged up the stairs to her room and opened it to find Lalasa stitching one of Kel's breeches and Gwen meditating.
"Hello milady." Lalasa said without looking up.
"Lalasa, how many times do I have to tell you, it's just Kel."
"It is my duty as a servant to call you that though." Kel let out a sigh as she lost the ever-going battle that Lalasa and her went through.
"Is there a bath waiting for me?"
"Yes there is, Lord Kile."
"You're making fun of me aren't you?"
"Never my lord." Kel rolled her eyes and went into the washroom.
((()))((()))((()))((())) * ((()))((()))((()))((()))
Kel looked up the dirt road to see the home she hadn't seen in nearly two years. Mindelan. She missed the family that she had left to become a page. Kel idly thought about all her nieces and nephews that were probably so much bigger than when she had last seen them.
The sky was bright and cheery. It seemed to not sense the morbid feeling that had cast over the small fief. Despite that the funeral was supposed to be small it seemed as if many people had invited themselves to join in the mourning regardless that they hadn't been invited. As Kel's entourage made its way to the stables of Mindelan, she greeted the familiar looking horses and stopped dead when she saw two horses she recognized. She didn't mind so much seeing the horses but the thought of seeing the owner's made her want to turn tail and leave. Lined up in the stables were Cavall's Heart (Wyldon's) and Magewhisper (Neal's).
"I'll find you two a stall, just give me a minute, I haven't been here in so long." Kel found the stable boy and gave him a tip for his time. Kel then walked to the door that led to the main house of Kel's family and knocked politely. A woman that Kel recognized as her mother opened the door.
"Hello you may come in, the ceremony will be starting in just a little bit. The rest of the people are in the sitting room." Kel walked past her and forgot that she was supposed to not know where to go. "You're very adept, have you ever been here before?" Ilane asked curiously.
"I have a few times," Kel sped up to get away from further interrogations. She came into the hallway that led to the sitting room and heard the light sound of talking. The room was just as she remembered it. It had most of their family treasures in it including Ander's shield and her mother's glaive. Kel could see Lord Wyldon in a corner with his eye shifting around the room as if all the progressives in the room would eat him. Kel's eyes shifted to the other side of the room and her heart sank as she saw Neal staring out into oblivion obviously not caring who was in the room.
This is one reason why she had contemplated not going, but then eventually she had been able to tell herself that none of her friends would go to something so depressing. Kel winced at the lost look in his eyes as if he was wishing for the roof of the ceiling to come crashing on top of his head. Kel sighed and went to sit next to him on the couch.
"Neal?" she asked slowly.
"Kel?" he looked to the side quickly and found a face that seemed to remind him so much of his lost friend." Oh 'ullo Kilie." Kel cringed at the roughness of his voice, it was apparent that he hadn't forgiven her.
"Can we talk Neal?"
"I don't have time to talk to you; I'm here to mourn my friend. In case you haven't noticed this is a funeral."
"Please Neal it really is important, I'm not-"
"You're not a good friend, please leave me be."
"Neal…" Kel pleaded but the same stubborn and sad face was blocking her from telling him what she had to tell, the one thing that would make him happy. "Neal I'm not who you think I am." Kel let out in a rushed whisper.
Neal glared at her, "So now you're going to tell me the truth. When I'm at my lowest point? You're going to tell me when I've found out that my friend was killed by a raging tauros? You didn't even know Kel and yet you're here!" Neal voice had been increasing in volume and it had begun to catch the glances of the other nobles. "I knew you weren't telling the entire-" Kel hastily covered Neal's mouth and led him out of the room into the study which she knew was close by.
"Neal can I finish?"
"No! You don't care who or what Kel stood for and yet you're here. I don't know why the hell you're here but you need to get out of here before I hit you. I don't usually hit girls or anyone for that matter, but Kilie you're giving me an awfully good excuse to."
Kel sighed and covered Neal's mouth with her hand again. "Neal I need to tell you this before you explode again or before my courage runs out. Now sit right here and don't make a sound." She pushed Neal into a chair and without the warning he deserved Kel began to change amid the brilliantly bright light that shielded her body.
The bright light stayed and whirled its way around Kel, keeping Neal unable to see what was happening behind the veil of light until it slowly became softer and softer. With a final flash of light the honey haired girl looked down at the ground and quietly said, "Neal it's me."
So Neal knows are you guys happy now? I wanted Neal to find out way later, but I couldn't have Neal being mad at Kel and besides I couldn't think of a good reason why Kel would be at the funeral.
Anyways thanks to all the reviewers you guys are absolutely stupendous! And look I updated very quickly this time, albeit it was a short update but an update nonetheless right? And guess what since I'm almost at 300 reviews I wanted to give out reviewing awards. This is all in fun and I am not biased in any way, I hope…
Most Reviews: Imperfectionist ;D Kat darling you've been with me since the 2nd chapter. Thanks so much for your reviews they warm my heart.
Conversational Reviewer: Alenor, in our talks back and forth it seems like we talk more about life than about the fic lol
Most Persistent: Kenobi-girl1 you really will not give up huh? Well you'll have to wait and see like all the other people
Most Bipolar: KatYoukai your reviews are always very amusing
Floweriest Review: Sora Icefreeze, you always seemed to come up with new ways to say good job :D
((()))((()))((()))
Anyways thank you to all the reviewers and I just wanted to tell you guy that I am going to speed up, hopefully. I don't plan on dividing this fic up into different fics. Just having one makes it simple if you ask me. Anyways hopefully I'll get in the Neal's reaction and end off the summer next chapter so thanks again for reviewing!
Ethuiliel- thank you for spending precious seconds of your life for me! I do spend precious hours and days for you so it is nice to get something kind in return
KatYoukai- yes the fake Kel and the real Kel get in lots of trouble don't they? I'm actually thinking about going back and taking away one of the almost rape scenes just because Kel is never going to dress up like a girl again if she's going to keep getting raped lol glad you liked the chapter
Lory- ah so you caught that eh? Well I hope your question was answered in this chapter
w1cked angel- glad you liked it, it does cause endless possibilities doesn't it? Joren just might come to terms with himself, but as long as he doesn't get killed out in battle then he can admit his love…sometime
Andraea Shade- yes the cross dressing was very fun, Dom may be able to overappreciate women fighters now
Kenobi-girl1- my lips are sealed /hums a silly tune evilly/
sunkissed guacamole- poor Dom? What about Joren he just lost the love of his life! Lol
Bambolieblue- yes Nicole wasn't but the fake Kel was /gasp/ hope you enjoyed the chapter
.Aurorablu.- /looks into eyes/ I must update…
heartdamoose- I just couldn't stay away /grins/ I hope you get some time off of dance, but as long as you love what you are doing nothing will go wrong
epobbp- I hope the update was soon enough
magewhisperer- hehe you were one of the few that noticed that it was Kel's simulacrum. Wouldn't Dom in a dress be such a pretty picture though?
ubiquitous girl- I wanted to make Joren be the girl so BAD! But then I thought that Raoul wouldn't want to send his squire into the lion's pit that early. I think he would most likely choose someone he could trust. But you are so right there hasn't been enough k/j around. But guess what I'm planning on a new fandom /shrugs/ I feel like it could be some fun the initials are Kel/K? haha should be interesting indeed but I'm not going to post that one for a good long time, because I need to finish one of my fics sometime. Anyways…to check the counter go to your user page and then go to stats. Once there you'll see at the top a choice to go to story stats, go to that one. Once there you should be able to see how many 'hits' your story has gotten.
Alenor- glad you liked the chapter hope you enjoy this chapter
Imperfectionist ;D- alas I finally got time to write I am patiently waiting for an update from the elusive Imperfectionist
Identitycrisis- well Kel got to make a scene in this on and the REAL Kel got to come as well. I'll try and do the summary. I'm sorry for all the confusion
FanFictionFantom- yes it can be rather obnoxious, but it has made me start to review more because before it was like,' Oh they'll never know I didn't review,' but now they know…
MysticMoonEmpress- I'm glad you liked the chapter hope you enjoy this one as well
Well thanks again everybody. And if you guys check out my profile then you'll find all the fics I have planned and how long it may be for my next update. As sad as it is I update it quite a lot. Well please review and I'll be updating Among the Bazhir next tata
Edited 7/6/09