This is a fan made story. I don't own the rights to the Protector of the Small series, any of its characters belong to Tamora Pierce… Much to my disappointment. This goes AU about midway from the book Page. Fair warning. Constructive criticism is welcome but if you don't like it simply because you don't like the line of thinking, please don't attack me for it. This is mostly centered on Joren. This is also a slow build Kel/Joren.
Spring-Summer 460
By the time that Joren was finished making the arrangements for the refugees he could fit in Stone Mountain to come to his fief and his uncle returned and had the new Priests and Priestesses in place, it was nearing summer. Kel and Joren had exchanged a few letters back and forth by then. He had been concerned by the number of killing devices that had been sent at Haven in particular, but he at least had reassurance in knowing that Kel was a tactical genius and knew how to handle them. He was amused by the fact that some of the children, the orphaned ones, had decided they were going to be trained on how to fight with spears as Kel did with her Glaive.
He was half tempted to purchase the lot of them proper practice glaives. He even spoke to the families looking to take on orphans about the training and all of them seemed to view it with a mixture of amusement and approval. After all, they pointed out that while the Scanran aren't as much a threat to Stone Mountain, they still had plenty of need to know how to defend themselves in Stone Mountain between the bears and bandits. In addition to this, Men-At-Arms made good pay as well. That resolved him on the matter.
He had also received a letter from his mother informing him that she had sent three wagons full of cloth and clothing for people of various ages, and five wagons of good, hearty food supplies to ensure the refugees would have more to eat. Two of the wagons were packed with rice, the others with root vegetables, dried beans and peas. All things that along with hunted meat could make for hearty stews to fill up their diet. It was necessary, given what Kel described of the Tirrsmont lot, having them labeled as half-starved when they arrived.
In addition to this, the Wild Mage had bolstered Kel's defenses by enhancing the intelligence of the animals of Haven. Kel's flock of sparrows was expanded as well, and the dogs and cats all learned the hand signals they used as well has having their own signals for enemy, friend, and the numbers. It made them excellent sentries, as far as Kel had told him. Joren smirked at the idea of his fief's reaction when she finally came to Stone Mountain. He knew that most of them didn't believe that Kel had a flock of sparrows at her beck and call, but it had gotten bigger. He made a mental note to arrange for bird house of sorts to be set up for the flock when Kel arrived at Stone Mountain.
He was less impressed by Kel's descriptions of some of the refugees. Some had come to respect her quickly, but there was one that would not let up. Idrius Valestone seemed to have difficulty understanding, despite repeatedly being informed, that Kel was not only in charge, but also married and thus his claims of her having a less than ideal reputation were ridiculous. He couldn't wait until he got to Haven and collected the refugees he could, but first he had to go back to Corus to talk other lords into making similar provisions, even if they were temporary. Granted, they hadn't waited for their wedding to have sex, but Joren knew that he was the only man that Kel had slept with and that she'd been a virgin when they first laid together which just made the man all the more obnoxious.
As he and the squad of man-at-arms rode south to the city, he pondered the more amusing bit's of Kel's letters, like her learning how to plow a field, though based on her description on the experience, she wasn't fond of the task. She also hadn't done the job long. It took far less time to reach Corus now that the snow was melted the roads clear. When they did finally reach Corus, it was to find that King Jonathan was having a very hard time persuading any nobles to give up land for refugees. Joren had smirked at his King and patted the man knowingly on the back.
"Your Majesty, I know you mean well, but you don't know how to handle the foolish or stubborn ones. The ones that don't think as quick as they should. I do. I had it crammed into my brain by my dolt of a father and my smarter than most mother. Let me handle them," Joren stated almost condescendingly.
Jonathan looked uncertain but didn't protest when Joren explained his plan. The next day when the Council of Lords convened, he smirked and let the old fools bicker for a while before chuckling at the comment of Lord Hollyrose, the man complained he had enough trouble with keeping his own people fed when he hadn't enough farmers to plow the fields or craftsmen to bring in revenue for taxes.
"Something you find amusing, Lord Joren?" Hollyrose snapped. "This is hardly a laughing matter. We need to figure out what to do with these refugees without taxing our own fiefs."
"Well, that's what's funny," Joren stated with a smirk. "You're standing here complaining about lacking the funds because you don't have enough skilled villagers and farmers on your fief while arguing that's why you can't take skilled villagers and farmers onto your fief. You sound ridiculous. Meanwhile, I've already had all my empty cottages repaired and made fit for occupation so that they can be filled up with new villagers and farmers."
"These are refugees we're discussing, not people who are useful," Hollyrose snapped back.
Joren looked to Cleon, who had leaned forward. He already knew what Joren was getting at and was ready to jump on board that wagon with him, "But these aren't just refugees. That's not what they've always been. They've only been driven from their homes by the violence in the north. If not for that, they would still be farmers, carpenters, millers, smiths, and the like. On Lord Joren's recommendation, I've been making similar accommodations on my fief. I've had several cottages standing empty for some time. They only needed new thatching on the roofs and are nearly fit for occupation. I recon I can take on from eight to ten families, depending on if some are willing to share housing until new places can be build." Cleon leaned back in his chair confidently.
Joren looked around the room and noted that Hollyrose was reconsidering his stance, as were Runnerspring and Legann. He knew all those fiefs had lost a lot of people in their villages due to the fighting in the Immortals war and had yet to replace them. It was Legann who spoke finally, "The idea does have merit. I lost over forty of my villagers and farmers during that blasted siege eight years back and I've yet to find near enough replacements. We could easily view this as a dry run of sorts. Those who settle in well can stay after the fighting in the north is done and those who don't can return north."
A few more Lords nodded their heads in agreement. Even more looked like they were seriously considering the possibilities. Cleon had lost people to poor conditions and flooding because of his father's wasteful behavior and a few other Lords were in similar positions. Others still had lost people to immortals before agreements had been made and problems settled. More had lost people in sicknesses that regularly swept through the south, taking out the weaker people. One lord pointed out that northerners were hardier because they had to handle the harsh winters. Another conceded that they did have some of the better woodworkers coming from the north.
Joren knew he had won even as there was a suggestion that they adjourn for the day to allow for the nobles to consider the idea. Jonathan looked at Joren like he was possessed by the Trickster God, which in a way, maybe he was. Kyprioth had intervened on his behalf telling him how to save his own ass, so, it was possible that the God had influenced his thinking somewhat. Still, after Jonathan admitted that that was the fastest about-face he had ever seen in the Council of Nobles, he informed Joren that he would arrange for The First Company of the King's Own to escort the refugees south with him when they determined how many could be brought south immediately.
"I presume I get to go collect them. After all, you'll want a noble present, and I am a trained knight, for all that I haven't been allowed to utilize my skills," Joren was sorely missing Kel by this point and wanted nothing more than to see his wife again, even if only for a week or however long it took to arrange to bring the estimated two hundred refugees south. He knew how much space every Lord on the Council had avalible and he guessed that based on the detail that most of them would be complete families or partial families, they could get that many out at least. Given that there were roughly four hundred refugees according Kel's last letter before he had headed south, that would halve the burden on his wife's command and reduce risks, even if there were more refugee camps elsewhere on the border.
"You just want to visit your wife," Jonathan snorted in amusement.
"Of course, I do. She's my wife. Would you not miss the Queen if you two were separated in such a way?" Joren pointed out, knowing full well the King had experienced just that during the Immortals War.
"Alright, fine. You can collect the refugees and bring them south. It's not a lot, but by all the reports I'm getting, they're targeting children for use in those killing devices. That means families with large numbers of children take priority. Is that understood?" Jonathan looked at Joren seriously.
"Crystal clear, Your Majesty," Joren stated with a smirk. "Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go whisper in some ears about how profitable skilled wood carvers are in Lord Marti Hill's ear. He looked less than convinced by the idea of bringing them south."
Jonathan rolled his eyes and waved Joren off. Joren was as good as his word too. He started Marti Hill, then moved onto Turmont who had vast swaths of uncultivated woods and lands that could be turned to good profit if only he had shepherds and skilled hunters. Following that, it was Pearlmouth who, while his city prospered, he had lots of land that could use more farmers. Each Lord he spoke to, he wheedled and cajoled about their weak points, their complaints of not having enough millers for grain, or builders to replace granaries destroyed in flooding. By the time he returned to his town house, his mother looked at him in annoyance.
"You missed dinner," She scolded.
"I ate with Lord Runnerspring. I admit, I find the man distasteful, but he had space aplenty and the refugees need not stay once the fighting in the north is over with," Joren stated as he slumped into a chair. "I think I may get enough Lords to make room that we could get up to three hundred refugees away from the border."
"Hmm… It appears your father's lessons in manipulation and politics stuck after all," Verene stated as she sat down gracefully near him.
When she eyed his posture, Joren straightened up in the seat, "More like watching you maneuver around father allowed me how best to handle people who dislike being handled. How to suggest things to people and make them think it was their own idea, I think rubbed off from Kel though."
"Ah, yes, and has the King approved your request to escort the refugees south?" Verene asked neatly.
"Yes, but mostly to ensure that the ones going south are the large families with children in them. No childless couples or single people. I'd best get to bed. I've a long day tomorrow and need to be able to think if I'm going to have success. It will have done me no good to have coaxed them into thinking selfishly in my favor, only for them to be coaxed back to being selfish against my wishes by someone else tomorrow," Joren stated before heaving himself out of his chair and heading for the stairs.
"I'll tell those mages that we've found to prepare to leave for the north then, shall I? Be ready by the end of the week say?" Verene asked.
"That sounds about right," Joren stated over his shoulder before disappearing into his room. He stripped and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
The next morning, the Lords had 'slept on it' and decided in favor of bringing two hundred and fifty refugees south, under Joren's supervision, to be disbursed among the Lords willing to take them as a 'trial run.' If it worked out, they would approve more being brought south. Joren didn't argue, taking the number. It wasn't as good as he hoped, but it was better than he had genuinely expected. Jonathan assured Joren that First Company would be prepared to ride out by the end of the week.
Joren spent the next few days ensuring that he would have sufficient supplies for bringing the refugees south without taking from Haven's stores. Finally, the day before the rest day, and they wouldn't have one really, Joren headed out with a train of wagons for refugees and First Company plenty of the wagons held addition supplies that Joren intended on leaving at Haven for the remaining refugees. The journey north took more time than his trip south, but still less time than going north earlier that spring. In addition to this, his mother had managed to locate two mages who were willing to serve directly under Kel and Kel alone.
Delorah Rosewood was capable of both healing and battle magic. Ragar Willowsbreath was a timid man, but was both powerful and a skilled battlemage, provided that his employer wasn't prone to shouting or loosing their temper at him. He also admitted to having wild-magic with sparrows, which was why he was consenting to work under Kel specifically when he had refused service for the military as a whole. In his opinion, anyone who was as kind to sparrows as Kel was, was worthy of his trust.
Joren silently suspected that the man wasn't so much timid as he was extremely picky about who he worked for. Specifically, the man was determined to work for Joren's wife. Joren would have been concerned that Willowsbreath was infatuated with his wife, excepting that he had already openly admitted to being balderdash. Joren had little issue with that, so long as the man had no interest in him. As the man seemed to be very respectful towards Joren, Joren figured that Willowsbreath's admiration for Kel stood well above any interest he might have in Joren and that meant he wouldn't behave untowardly.
Still, the night before they left, Joren found himself annoyed to be called to speak with King Jonathan. His monarch eyed Joren after Joren took the proffered seat, "I just want to be clear here, Lord Joren. You're going north, not only as a knight, but also as a noble who is preforming his duty to the common man. Your first and only responsibility is to the wellbeing of the refugees. You are to retrieve them and bring them to the fiefs that have opened up some space for them, including your own. You are not going to our border to fight any glorious battles, or to defeat King Maggot in one on one combat. Understood?"
"Perfectly, your majesty. Leave my wife to defeat King Maggot if he offers one on one combat to settle the war," Joren joked before turning more serious. "I want those refugee children off the border even more than you do, Jon. My wife is up there defending them and the more children that are in that camp, the more temping the target Haven is to Maggur and his pet mage. I've read enough letters from Kel to know that they want those children bad for those cursed killing devices. Besides, Stone Mountain is very close to the border and I have no intention of swearing any kind of allegiance to Maggur."
Jonathan chuckled a little at that, "Good. I know you are a capable knight, Lord Joren. However, you are an even better politician and if you look at the stalemate you just broke about bring refugees south, a damned clever one at that. I need that, my son needs that."
Joren nodded in understanding, "Of course. I understand. You don't want me getting killed or my brains scrambled in some stupid fight if it can be avoided."
"Exactly. Now that we're on the same page, I suggest you get to bed. You have an early start in the morning," Jonathan gave a smirk and waved Joren off.
Joren felt an odd mixture of respect and regret towards his king. On the one hand, Jonathan of Conte was an excellent king to have, moving the country forward in a manner that allowed for the betterment of the whole kingdom. On the other, he couldn't help but wonder that if the king had stood his ground with Lord Wyldon, if he hadn't allowed for Kel to be put on probation for the first year, that maybe he and his crew wouldn't have felt quite so comfortable bullying her. That was more a regret for Joren than anything else. Kel had long since moved on and gotten over the bullying. Joren simply hadn't forgiven himself for his prior actions.
The next morning, Joren was on his horse at the lead of First Company and his own two squads of men-at-arms. Years of knight training had made Joren accustomed to rising early, but they were up before dawn and ready to go and that was a little too early for Joren. Still, he was up, on his horse, and resembling awake when they began the long march back north.
The trip was a two-week march north, though this one far less chilly or annoying without the snow and slush to encumber the going. Joren was informed they were making superb time, though, by the First Company's new Captain. They did arrive a day ahead of schedule, so Joren technically couldn't argue with that. Though, Joren suspected that was because of fair weather more than anything.
Kel had been reluctant to leave Haven when it had been attacked so recently, but cooler heads had prevailed and so she was currently sitting with Wyldon and his officers at dinner as he gave her all the latest information, "Well, I'm going to get to the best bit of news first and then we can discuss the reports. We have had a mage delivered message from King Jonathan. Lord Joren broke the stalemate in the council of lords and got permission to bring away two hundred and fifty refugees. Your camp has the largest number by far, given the extra space you gained when Master Numair used that magic of his. He's expected at Mastiff tomorrow and you'll need to take him back to Haven and organize the larger families and orphans for going south. Jonathan stays that they will take the orphans ranging between six and fifteen that can't be found families to care for them at the palace and train them as runners and maids and such."
Kel perked up at this information. It was the best news she had had in while, including the wagons of supplies they had received earlier that summer that had had a major moral boost in Haven. Fanche had simply given her an eye and stated that she figured any man crazy enough to marry Kel wasn't likely to be a normal noble anyways.
After the information that Kel would be seeing Joren soon, Wyldon filled her in on the rest of the events that had occurred in the north, such as the fighting. Halfway into the meal, a knock sounded on the door. Owen poked his head in, "Sir, First Company's just been sighted. It looks like they're ahead of schedule."
Wyldon didn't bother holding back his laugh as Kel bolted from the table without so much as a by-your-leave. He never would have guessed the Joren and Kel would become married and seriously in love with each other at the beginning of Kel's time as a page, but somehow, they fit well together. Kel's sense of chivalry had brought Joren's lack of it into line for a proper knight and lord of the realm, and Joren got Keladry to behave like an actual woman from time to time, rather than a stiff nobly-minded knight constantly.
Kel managed to make the ramparts at record speed and watched as the long columns of riders wound their way ever closer. As the gates opened to allow them in, Kel was storming down the steps of the ramparts. She could spot Joren nearly immediately, despite his platinum blond hair being hidden beneath a helm. She knew his horse and Joren directed him directly towards Kel once she was spotted. He pulled off his helm and dismounted quickly.
Kel yanked him in for a sweet kiss and they both lingered in the kiss for a while before a series of wolf whistles sounded, no doubt started by Neal. The couple broke apart and chuckled. Joren looked around and saw a few jaws hanging open. Neal and Owen came forward and greeted him as a few other that Joren didn't recognize approached tentatively.
Kel smiled at them and waved them forward, "Sargent Connac, men, this is my husband Lord Joren of Stone Mountain. He's come to take two hundred and fifty refugees south away from the fighting."
"We guessed he was your husband, Lady Kel, what with how you kissed him and all. No proper noble woman kisses a man like that unless he's her husband, and most wouldn't be doing it in public at all," Sargent Connac responded with a grin as he eyed Joren. "You sure got yourself a pretty husband though. Mistress Fanche will be mighty put out about it. She's convinced that you got yourself a little bookworm of a husband that likes having a strong wife to handle of the fief's problems for him while he can study and research."
Joren frowned at the pretty comment. He still didn't like the fact that a lot of people thought of him more as beautiful, than handsome. Still, he offered the man a hand, "If you knew the rough housing Kel and I used to get up to, you'd know only the ignorant or foolish call me pretty." Joren stated finally.
Sargent Connac raised an eyebrow while Kel elbowed him, "Come off it, Joren. The whole of the original group that was at Haven had Dom there for weeks to corrupt the way they thought of you. Besides, you have been in the books a lot lately, from what I've heard." She teased and Joren broke into a smile.
Lord Wyldon approached then as well and Joren happily clasped hands with the man he felt was more of a father to him than his own father. Oh, Sir Paxton had done well in helping guide him away from his own stupidity, but it was more the guidance of a brother. Wyldon had done his best to lay the foundation before that and that meant the world to Joren now.
"Lord Wyldon, you seem to be enjoying life on the border," Joren smiled, his arm still firmly wrapped around Kel's waist. He wasn't letting go anytime soon.
"It's a lot less stressful than looking after a bunch of rough and tumble pages who are getting into weekly fights, that's for sure," Wyldon stated giving them both a knowing eye. "Of course, I should have suspected a crush on your part, Stone Mountain. That's how a lot of boys mishandle their interest in a girl, by bullying them for attention. Not that Lady Keladry didn't give as good as she got."
Joren and Kel both blushed a little at this. Wyldon continued, "We were just having dinner and going over the war reports, if you'd care to join us."
Joren nodded, "I am feeling a bit hungry." Joren responded as he handed the reigns of his horse over to Owen, who was waiting to take them.
Kel took Joren to her rooms briefly so that he could wash up from the road a little and kiss her a lot. Finally, they stopped only because they knew that dinner was being held for them. The two received a few knowing or sour looks as they sat back down and ate with Wyldon and the officers. Once they finished eating, neither of the couple lingered before heading back to their room. The two then immediately fell into a frenzy of greeting each other properly after being separated for a few months.
After a few rounds of making love, both curled up together sated and happier than they had been since their separation. They curled up and fell asleep quickly. It was Joren who woke first at the pounding on the door, he was always a bit of a light sleeper, despite his best efforts. He shook Kel awake before climbing out of bed, putting on a nightshirt and waiting for her to do the same before opening the door.
A soldier stood outside, "My Lord, Lady knight, Lord Wyldon needs you at headquarters."
The two of them rushed to dress, Kel stuffed her nightshirt in her breeches, but Joren traded it for a real shirt quickly and then pulled on his breeches and boots just after Kel. He realized with a sight bit of amusement, because of the urgency, Kel wasn't wearing a breast band, and hoped the other men could be reasonable enough not to comment on her appearance though, because it really wasn't the time.
Neal, Sargent Connac, and several others were all right behind them. Once they reached Wyldon's office, they halted, catching their breath from the rush. Joren almost didn't recognize Tobe. Partly because the boy had grown, now that he was being cared for properly, and partly because he was filthy, his clothing in tatters even as he rushed Kel and clutched her with a shout of "Lady!"
Kel hugged him as he began crying. Joren and Kel both looked to Wyldon who's expression was as grim as theirs. He stood, "I'll take Company Eight and Company Six. Battle mages, twenty scouts. Jesslaw?"
"Sir!" Owen responded from the back of the crowd, a glance back showed the teen hadn't even bothered with breeches, he just stood in his nightshirt and boots.
"Get me a clerk, and messengers for Northwatch, the garrison near Giantkiller, and Steadfast," Wyldon ordered.
Joren turned, "And have the mages and men-at-arms I brought with me woken," Joren added, earning a scowl from Wyldon, but he didn't countermand the order.
Kel turned back to her servant, "Tobe, how long have you been on the road?" Joren realized that Kel might have been attempting to get information and approved of it.
"Not th' road, th' woods. Since noon," He was exhausted as he leaned against Kel, her nightshirt muffling the speech. "They hit mid-mornin'. The iron mantises, with the knife fingers an' toes, they climbed over the walls on three sides. Master Zamiel sent me out the hidden tunnel. I left Loey an' Gydo an' Meech an' Saefas-"
"Stop. You did right, Tobe. You've been on the move ever since?" Joren felt for the poor boy. Kel had mentioned all those names in letters, so even if he'd never met them before, he knew both Tobe and Kel cared for them and that's what mattered right now. He nodded into Kel's nightshirt.
Neal crept up behind the boy, his hand glowing green with his magic and placed it on Tobe's back bolstering his strength, "I had t'go the long way 'round, t'keep 'em from catchin' me. The sparrows led the way. I heard Sir Merric's horn calls—they was fightin' in the east wood. I kep' low and kep' movin'. I daren't try the road, but the sparrows couldn't go after dark, so they fetched me an owl. Th' owl brung me here." Tobe finished, clearly exhausted.
"Aren't you glad Daine has friends everywhere?" Kel asked Tobe who gave a nod before turning to Neal. "What's the matter? He's cold and clammy."
"He's chilled. His body's in shock. He hasn't drunk enough water, and he hasn't eaten since breakfast, I'd guess. He needs rest," Neal responded firmly.
It took Kel a bit of work to coax her stubborn servant into staying behind when they went to Haven. Once Kel had Tobe swayed to her thinking, she had Neal knock him out with magic. Wyldon had waited for this before ordering everyone to change and arm up. Joren and Kel quickly did just that and joined the group of massing people who were mounting up. Joren made a brief point of effort to introduce Kel to the two mages he had brought with him. Delorah Rosewood and Ragar Willowsbreath both bowed neatly to Kel from their saddles.
"Ragar, that name's Scanran, isn't it?" Kel asked, more curious than anything as they rode out from Mastiff.
"Yes, my lady. To be fair though, I haven't lived there since I was a very young lad. My parents were decent mages and used that to their advantage to immigrate to Tortall. Life is much better here, they've assured my siblings and myself, personally I can't remember Scanra at all, but I've always taken their word for it. I certainly appreciate not living in a long-house when everyone is much more civilized here. Of course, my father said that having me settled the matter of moving for my parents. They felt I was far too timid to handle life in Scanra," Ragar explained with a chuckle. Joren kept quiet on the man's sexual orientation. He knew that Kel wouldn't care in the slightest and that it wasn't relevant here.
Kel nodded and gave Willowsbreath a weak smile.