Shining Star
By Magelet (uh, and BSB)

~ * ~
You're my shining star, that is what you are
There is no one like you baby.

Cleon of Kennan had a lot in life. He was almost a knight - to take his Ordeal at Midwinter. He had, in his eyes, the
most beautiful, perfect girl in the world, and great friends. Now he and Kel, his 'girlfriend', as the new term was, were
sitting in the gardens at the palace near the roses. It was a beautiful summer evening. Roses heavily perfumed the warm air,
and Kel had her head resting on his shoulder.

Angels everywhere, every time you're near
You will always be my baby.

Anytime she did anything like now, when she was as gentle as a kitten, and soft as a chick in its down Cleon could
swear he saw her glowing, especially at night with starlight. Her face shone with peace, and her short brown hair (she had
grown it out a bit recently) blew slightly in the warm nighttime breeze. Her eyes were shut, and she just was relaxed. He
couldn't believe that he had almost messed this up by kissing Katrina, who, by the way, was now seeing Neal. (A/N-Katrina's
a bit slutty)

Baby when you do the things you do
I wanna be close to you

Kel opened her eyes, and saw Cleon's shining in bliss. He was smiling at her. She sat up and moved to adjust her
shirt that was surely a mess after another strenuous day as squire to Lord Sir Raoul. She forgot that she was wearing a dress.
It was her favorite dress; the worst part was the plummeting neckline, and one of her least favorite 'c' words, 'cleavage'.
(The whore Katrina had plenty of it and her dresses were made to show it seductively.)

Kissing me to feel your every move
Baby I can never say how much

The night was a bit chilly, but they were both together and warm. Cleon kissed the top of Kel's head when she turned
her face downward once more. She loved him so much. He brought out all new emotions in her when he was around. Her crush on
Neal had been one thing, but not this. He was so quiet tonight. What was he thinking about? Not being telepathic irked her
sometimes, and now was one of them.

I need your touch, I can't get enough
Can't you know what you do turn me on, oh yeah

Kel started to get up. It was getting late, but Cleon didn't care. All he wanted right now was to hold Kel in his
arms. Make sure that no one could ever take her from him. He took her arm as she started to rise, and pulled her gently onto
his lap murmuring his protest in her soft hair. She sighed and snuggled back into his chest. He loved it when she did that.
He kept his arms, lax, around her waist and she leaned her head back once more onto his shoulder. It was a perfect night.

You're my shining star, that is what you are
There is no one like you baby.

Kel reminded Cleon of the stars twinkling in the sky. So alike, but different; like Kel and other girls. So bright
and lovely - like Kel. She was his star and his alone. Nothing could take her from him. If she got sick, she would be healed.
If she died, he would die - mentally first, then physically shortly after. If she was happy, he was over-joyed, etc. She was
perfect and all his. His perfect Kel Star.

Angels everywhere, every time you're near
You will always be my baby

Cleon had a marvelous thought surface, one that he had toyed with for a while now. He had to ask a few questions
first though. "Kel?" she tilted her head to show that she was listening. "If I died would you hate me?" Kel sat up and looked
at him solemnly yet worriedly for a minute before shaking her head no with a confused look on her face. "What if I kept a
secret from you?" she pondered a moment, then shook her head no again.

Oh my my baby
Baby you're as close as close can get.

"What if I colored my hair purple and became best friends with Joren?" Again a pause and a shaking of her pretty head.
Here was the kicker. "If I purposed to Katrina would you hate me?" Kel's face filled with horror and tears before it became
stone - an incredulous, upset, stone. Slowly she stood up and shook her head. Starting towards the entrance to the palace
closest to them. "Kel wait." Cleon said and she stopped moving, but covered her face with her hands and did not face him.

And baby you know I let every single
Part of me be yours ooh yeah.

He stood up, strode over to her, and wrapped his arms around her. "Those were all strictly hypothetical. Way out of
the reach of anything I'd do. Kel, I'd never purpose to that... that... never mind, I'm not going to say what I'd like to
call her. There's only one girl for me. And right now she's going to come back over to the bench with me for a few more
questions. I'll ask four regular questions, and one special one. My love will knew the real question when she hears it, but
answer all of them truthfully.

Doesn't matter if the phone might ring
Cause I won't hear a thing

They sat back at the bench, Cleon's hands around Kel's. "Do you love me?" they looked deep into each other's eyes,
back into their very souls. Kel's pretty lips moved to form one of the few words that he so very much wanted to hear tonight.
'Yes'. She flung her arms around Cleon and hugged him tightly as if she were squeezing the stuffing out of a child's stuffed
toy. Cleon smiled at her.

When I'm in your arms
Can't you know what to do to turn me on oh baby

Cleon broke the hug and once more took her hands so that he could look into her eyes again. "Do you ever wear jewelry
of any kind?" Kel frowned at the odd question, not quite comprehending what he was getting at. She did answer his though,
honestly. "A charm around my neck. All the time. My mother gave it to me a few years ago. It's for protection." That was the
truth. It left things out, like what kind of charm it was, but did that really matter?

You're my shining star, that is what you are
There is no one like you baby, baby no

Cleon's eyes were smiling, but the rest of his face was serious. "What is your favorite precious stone?" He already
knew the answer to this, but it didn't hurt to ask. Kel searched her mind for a moment.

"Blue diamond. Stronger and more beautiful than even black opals." Her cheeks tinged pink. Gods above she was so
beautiful. He did not know how he had ever lived without her in his life.

Angels everywhere, every time you're near
You will always be my baby

"Two more questions, then you're free to go. What do you think of this?" he leaned over and kissed her. It wasn't
just a kiss; it was a kiss to end almost all kisses (he was saving that for later). There was fire, gentleness, passion, and
trust in the kiss. It was also very long. They had to stop in order for her to answer.

Kel looked flabbergasted. "Wow." Was her breathy, but soft reply. She grinned at him. He was the best kisser.

Oh my my baby I've never been so satisfied
With anything in my entire life

"One last question Kel. Then we can go inside. For this one I'd like you to stand up over in front of the rose bushes.
" She obeyed and he fumbled with his pocket. "Lady Keladry," he knelt in front of her, "will you marry me?" he presented her
with a small but very pretty box. She gaped at him open-mouthed. He opened the lid of the box. Inside was a blue diamond band,
slim and smooth as anything so that it would not hinder and movement of anything when she was working.

Cause you are doin everything so right
Oh oh baby, what what

Her eyes glowed. She fell on her knees in front of him and kissed him in answer before exclaiming "Of course Cleon! I'
d never say yes to anyone else! I love you!" Cleon stood up and pulled her with him. He put her back against her chest. He
put his arms around her and slid the ring on her ring finger. A perfect fit. He had had it custom made (with a little help
from Roald in more ways than financially). Now Kel was officially his (almost) forever.

I've never been so satisfied
With anything in my entire life

They walked back inside and back to Cleon's room first, since it was the closest. "Wanna talk about anything?" He
asked, pulling her inside his room with him. Kel shook her head and smiled, knowing what he really meant. Not tonight. She
told him so. It was already late, and she would settle for her ring tonight. Besides, what if they didn't wake up in time in
the morning and either of their knight-masters found them or found out. What if anyone else that could do real damage to her
chance at knighthood found out? No they had to wait.

Cause you are doin' everything so right
Oh oh baby,
Kel gave her fiancé a kiss goodnight and walked back to her room. She was excited and terrified. What would everyone
(her friends) think of this? She resolved to keep her gloves on alt all times that she could so that no one could see her
prided ring. She wanted to tell only certain people, so that only they would know. Her heart throbbed as she played with her
ring. I was a perfect fit and a smooth cut - no facets that might cut her hand when gripping something tightly. Perfect.

You're my shining star, that is what you are
There is no one like you baby

Cleon loved the fact that she was his - almost completely. No one would bother her; no one would hurt her in any way.
Nothing would happen to his Kel. His thoughts of her radiated in his mind making it a bit hard for him to sleep. She was
right - of course, about tonight. They couldn't risk anyone finding out before they were ready to tell them. If some one
noticed the ring, Kel could either make up a lie and switch fingers temporarily or tell them the truth in private. It was up
to her. She'd choose well.

Angels everywhere, every time you're near
You will always be my baby

The next morning at breakfast, Kel decided to eat with her left hand only. It was interesting to watch. She seemed a
bit self-conscious about something and to her friends, who were all together, come back for midwinter, it was odd. Roald
raised an eyebrow at Cleon who nodded and smiled. No one had any idea what that was about. Or Kel's odd behavior for that
matter. The meal was over. Kel had been silent all morning so far. Neal grabbed her left elbow and pulled her up, grabbing
her hand, yanking her towards the practice courts with a 'come on, Kel.'

Oh my my baby
You're my shining star, oh yes you are

Kel sucked in her breath and said that she had to get something from her room. Pulling her hand away, she walked,
quickly, towards her room. Once she got there, she pulled on some light-weight gloves that would give her a good grip on
everything since her hands would get sweaty in the heat (well, that was their initial use). Kel prayed to the goddess that
Neal had noticed nothing of her ring.

There is no one like you baby
Angels everywhere, every time you're near
You will always be my baby

Neal thought was he walked to the practice courts. What had made her run off like that? Was it just in his mind or
did he feel something smooth in Kel's hand? She was so quiet - what was she thinking about? Maybe Katrina would know. She was
a girl; maybe it was a girl thing. Maybe Cleon knew, he and Roald seemed to know something no one else did. What was with all
of this odd behavior? They hadn't grown apart a squires, would they on the eve on knighthood?

You know that I adore you
Wanna be there everyday for you

Lord Sir Raoul was a pretty loose knight-master. Kel would have time to take to Neal about the engagement. How would
Neal react? For that matter, how would Lord Sir Raoul react? This was all very confusing. Cleon shouldn't care if she told
either of them, they would need to know, and find out anyway. She left her room and headed towards the courts. Thinking Neal
should know by now that she would beat him unless the Lioness had taught him another trick.

Satisfy your every needs my baby, baby
You know that I adore you

Cleon had an idea of how to tell everyone at once. He, with Roald's help, gathered everyone. They got everyone that
would need to know except Kel's knight-master. They all went to an empty practice court and joined Neal who was waiting on
Kel. Cleon went to go find her and explain what they were going to do right now. He was a bit nervous - how would they all
react? Roald, though unbeknownst to Kel already knew and was happy for them, but that was Roald for you.

Wanna be there everyday for you
Satisfy your every needs my baby, baby.

Kel bumped into Cleon about ¾ of the way there. He said that they should tell everyone at once. They already knew
that he and Kel were 'boyfriend/girlfriend', but this still might surprise them enough to accidentally tell someone in their
surprise if they alone were told. Kel thought this was a good idea, but she was almost shaking because she was a bit over-
whelmed but happy. This was all very exciting.

You're my shining star, that is what you are
There is no one like you baby

"Everyone," said Cleon, removing the glove from the hand he held, "I asked Kel to marry me and she accepted." Kel
showed them her ring in all its sapphire-blue-diamond glory. This was something she'd never forget - telling her friends
about the best thing in her life. Cleon and Kel were almost bursting with happiness, but could do nothing but smile and laugh
at their friend's reactions.

Angels everywhere, every time you're near
You will always be my baby, baby.

Jaws dropped, eyes stared unbelievingly. The happy couple and Roald just smiled at the reactions of their friends and
in their happiness.

~ * ~
A/N: No offence to any Katrina s out there. There was a reason that I picked that name.