The Blossoming Alliance
*Part 2*
Sort of Welcome to Court
***
'Meredith' is pronounced MARE-ed-ith that is Celtic of "Protector of the Sea."
'Owen' is pronounced OWE-in that is Celtic for "Young Fighter."
***
"Oh my," Kalika squeaked rubbing her bare neck as the court of Tortall came in to view. As nervous as she was, Kali was excited even on the dreadful circumstances she was going on. Her father had promised her that she could go to the court to further her Shang fighting techniques with the local Shang whom she was not familiar with. The Shang Wildcat was it? And the Shang Horse? Yes, she mused, I think those were their titles.
It was almost no time at all till she was at the entrance of the court and some of the servants were rushing out to greet her shyly and grab her luggage and carry them off to her room. King Nickolai had already called in to Lord Wyldon about her special predicament and he had prepared a room for her. Across from some Keladry of Mindelan whom was supposedly a female training to be a knight. Kali shielded her eyes from the light of the sun and looked towards the training fields and spotted some pages, or squires practicing some techniques with staffs. Mayhap I will be allowed to learn some of Tortallan fighting methods she thought to herself as she followed Ming, who tapped her on the shoulder, to her room.
She pushed open the place where she would be staying at court that was among the training squires and pages since she wanted her title to be concealed. Meredith and Chang had their own quarters with the other two Shang warriors though Meredith complained about the indoor arrangements and confided that she would much rather sleep on a roof than in a stuffy room. Meredith was in her late twenties but looked quite young and slender as Chisakis tended to be. Her hair was in a tight braid and wrapped around her head in a knot gracefully and her sharp hazel eyes sparkled seriously. She wore red and gold that happened to be the Chisaki royal colours, which in coincidence was the same colours Tortall donned on festivals and banquets.
As Kali started to place her belongings around the room, she bit her lip tentatively as she usually did when she was nervous. She'd be meeting all these new squires and pages, most of them males which made her all the more anxious for her parents were very strict with her meeting other boys her age for fear that she would become too attached. 'Like meeting boys were any different than meeting girls' Kalika thought sourly. "Imagine how they would act towards me, a girl they think to be a noble girl who is only fit to wash dishes and tend to house work," she grumbled half-heartedly knowing that they couldn't ALL be like that. "What's more, I wonder how they'd react knowing that I was not only a female, but a princess? All stiff and proper they'd be. Fake and sugary sweet just like all the nobles at court trying to obtain favour in father and mother's eyes. I think not." She slammed one of her trunks shut with a bang provoking a startled screech from her pet phoenix, Ember, who had settled on his oak perch that Kali had placed near the window.
Kali stood back to inspect her gown filled wardrobe and grimaced. "All gowns. Expensive, silky, voluminous, status-revealing, clumsy, uncomfortable gowns," she muttered under her breath almost disliking the gowns, but at the same time fancied how the silk felt on her skin and the many intricate patterns they bore despite herself. Looking up at the clock on her wall, Kali discovered that it was nearing dining time and reluctantly picked out a gown for the meal. First impressions were essential was what her mother told her so instead of instinctively choosing a tunic and leggings, she picked out a elegant lavender gown with lace trimming around the edge but nothing with jewels that would indicate her status as royalty. "Mama always said this colour looked good with my eyes," she murmured, close to tears but quickly set her face, Yamani style, and flounced out of the room, ready to meet Ming to go to the dining hall.
***
Keladry of Mindelan smiled at her laughing friends and joined them at their usual table to eat while they passed her rolls. Life was perfect for the moment for her; everything was going, as it should've. She and Neal we as close as ever and she was becoming outstanding in every fighting style she tried. The other pages and squires didn't even think of her as a weak girl anymore and stopped giving her a rough time but just treated her as an equal, as she wanted. The only thing she would have changed, if anything were to stop herself from blushing every time Neal looked in to her eyes in a casual friendly way, to him anyways. Though she was ashamed to admit it, even unto herself, Kel wanted dearly to be the one Neal fawned over like all those other court ladies he had mooned over in the past.
"So, I heard that another girl has come from afar to join our ranks," Cleon commented smiling then adding with a dreamy look upon his face, "I wonder if she's pretty."
"Or any good at fighting," Own said, almost choking on a piece of meat while Faleron clapped him on the back hard.
"Ah," Neal exclaimed, "That's the point here. Is she any good at fighting! I saw her coming in earlier today. Looks like some noble girl from the looks of her carriage and the many trunks of belongings she brought with her." Neal, being as he was, started to get all technical and started to analyse everything from her hair to how she filed her nails.
"And you know noble ladies are never any good at fighting," Faleron said shovelling some potato into his mouth. His eyes widened and looked at Kel. "I mean, you know...not...good...at...." he trailed off trying to cover up his mistake but failed miserably and flushed in shame.
"No good at fighting?" Kel asked insulted.
Prince Roald, who decided to sit at their table that day came to Faleron's rescue. "Er...I think what Faleron meant to say was that she..." he started to think fast, "Wouldn't be able to compare to you Kel. Seeing how hard you worked and all she couldn't possibly compete with your expertise," Roald finished eloquently. "Right Fal?" He asked looking meaningfully at Faleron who nodded rapidly. "I bet she's the pampered kind though," he went on fondly, "Because our Keladry is one of a kind."
Suddenly, Lord Wyldon rose to his feet and waited for the murmur to die down. 'Highly unusual' Kel thought to herself. The Stump never interrupts meals....
Lord Wyldon cleared his throat and gestured to the darkened doorway to the side that Kel had never paid heed to before she had taken her seat but she could see a faint out line of a small figure standing in the doorway patiently. "As I am sure you are all aware of by now, Kalika of--"
"Lotuslily," the girl spoke quite calmly and so quietly that she had to strain her ears to hear. Kel looked at her friends around the table and all of them were looking quite intrigued at the new arrival as the figure emerged from the shadows so slowly that it kept the boys on the edge of their seats.
"Yes," Lord Wyldon continued, "Kalika of Lotuslily. She will be joining our court and improving her Shang techniques with the Shang warriors here. I trust you will make her feel welcome here and mind you," he added strictly, "I will tolerate absolutely no hazing or those silly welcoming initiations." With that, he motioned Kalika to come forward to join one of the tables.
When she came out of the dark doorway, Kel heard Owen choke even more and some of the other boys gasped softly. She realized why. The new girl was beautiful. She had long, flowing, straight black tresses that reached down her back and she wore a very simple lavender gown but it did not lessen her obvious beauty. Dark, silky tendrils framed her olive toned face that was touched with light pink upon her sculpted cheeks with a light smattering of freckles and her lips were cinnamon in colour and curved in to a natural amused smile that did not imply that she was mischievous though her sparkling turquoise eyes did. They twinkled with mischief and fun though at the same time they gave the impression of pure innocence and both turquoise orbs were almond shaped and her chin was determined. Her nose was nicely proportioned, her eyebrows arched in amusement at the moment and she stood as if she had much to be proud of. 'She doesn't look like a silly, weak girl' Kel decided firmly.
"She's beautiful," Neal breathed awed which made Kel slightly irritated and cringe with jealously. Merric, Seaver, Faleron and Cleon made similar remarks before tearing their gaze away from the 'vision' and returning to their meals and the clattering of cutlery began again. During the few minutes that seemed eons to Kel, she noticed that Prince Roald had remained uncomfortably silent and hadn't anything to say about Kalika.
"What'd you think about Lotuslily?" Kel asked Roald softly below the noise that filled the babbling court while she cut up a piece of chicken carefully.
"She looks like Chisakami," Roald said shortly, curtly, and what Kel thought was a touch fearfully but she couldn't see his expression because he kept his head down, staring at his platter.
It took Kel but a mere few seconds to realize why he sounded so. He had, but a year ago been betrothed to the Yamani princess, Chisakami, recently deceased by an earthquake and it was true what he said, the new lady had a slight resemblance to the princess of the Yamani Isles. In vain, Roald tried to disguise the fact that he detested the idea of betrothal but didn't utter a word of protest for he took his position quite seriously. Her thoughts were interrupted because she heard someone clear their throat daintily and she, along with her companions, twirled around to see who had done so. It was the new supposed noble girl, what was her name again? Kalika.
Kalika looked calm and a bit anxious but gave each them curious looks, surveying each one in turn which the boys noticed, Kel discerned intently for they had puffed up their chests proudly and straightened their backs and tunics nervously as if it were a royal inspection. 'How silly' Kel thought annoyed especially when she saw Neal doing the same as his friends and quickly ran his hand through his light brown hair that was combed back from a widow's peak and his emerald green eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Yes?" Kel asked, straining to keep her voice calm knowing that she had no reason to bear ill will towards this girl.
"You are Keladry of Midelan right?" Kali asked cheerfully, her voice sounded musical to her ears and it was in an unmistakable Yamani accent though it was soft. Kel nodded, her short-cropped hair bobbing somewhat remaining mute for she did not yet trust her voice from keeping it polite and light sounding.
Kali went on, not seeming to notice the captivated gazes of the guys around the table, and if she did she chose to ignore them for the time being. "I understand, from what Lord Wyldon has told me, that you are to show me the ropes, is how he put it, saying something about 'us females sticking together in this male dominated establishment.'" Her way of imitating Lord Wyldon perfectly made the boys snicker wildly and despite herself, Kel grinned. 'Maybe it won't be so bad...'
"Alright," Kel answered warily, unsure of how to comment.
"Mayhap," Kali added timidly, "I may sit with you?" Kel noticed the Yamani smooth features and how she kept her arms behind her back when waiting for the reaction. As soon as the words left Kali's lips, there was a loud clattering and shuffling of chairs and bodies as the boys haphazardly shifted to make room for the young girl to sit.
Kel laughed good-naturedly and gestured Kalika to a seat. "There's your answer."
"How impolite of me," she whispered. "This is my dear friend, Ming, who has come from afar with me to court from..er...Lotuslily." Kalika said the last part cautiously like she wasn't even sure of where she was from though no one paid any attention in the slightest for they all turned their heads to look at Kali's friend, Ming. Her long black tresses gleamed bronze in the dim lighting of the room and her cocoa brown eyes twinkled mysteriously and was dressed in a simplistic, silky, baby blue gown and had a stubborn set in her chin. Yet again, the boys shifted to make even more room at their table.
When they had all begun to eat again, it was Cleon who had started a lively conversation with the new girl from Lotuslily.
"So," He drawled in his honey coated tone of voice that he used usually with Kel, "Lotuslily, where exactly is that my little blossom?" he said using a pet name that he called Kel most of the times. Kali looked up and smiled wanly.
"In the Chisaki Isles, near the Yamani Isles," she replied shortly and then answering the question that was in the mind of probably all at the table. "My parents sent me here to Tortall to interact with young people my own age and to familiarize myself with the Tortallan traditions." Kalika seemed to close the topic firmly and continued her meal.
"I hope you aren't one of those helpless noble females," Owen muttered softly though Kali heard.
"I guess," she said slowly, "That you will have to wait until tomorrow to see my fighting skills though I'd of thought that Keladry had already shown you that noble women are quite capable of doing what noble men can do, and I think she did a very sufficient job of it too." Kel flushed pink. "And you needn't worry about me upholding my own around here either."
Once again, the boys gazed open-mouthed, clearly impressed while Kalika continued her meal and daintily pat her mouth with her napkin. Kel noticed that she ate so gracefully, more so than a regular noble would which she thought was quite peculiar but shrugged it off.
A while in to the meal, after Kalika had clearly charmed everyone around her, except for maybe Roald who was still very apprehensive, Neal leaned over closer to Kel near her ear making her heart skip a beat and making her breath short.
"She's a beaut that one ain't she though. Quite the charmer." That one comment made Kel's heart deflate and made her mutter under her breath.
"A snake charmer maybe," she said frowning slightly then suddenly feeling very ashamed of her for saying so. Fortunately for her, no one heard, or paid attention for they were all laughing away at a joke Kali had just told. All through the feast she had been regaling each of them with imaginative, suspenseful tales of where she lived and the animated voyages she had taken to other lands that made sure every one at the table listened attentively. Kel felt a twinge of jealously for she had always been the centre of attention, so to speak. She grinned despite her fleeting resentful envy towards the raven tress maiden because she found it hard to detest one so cheery, and besides, Kel like this girl's style and attitude that she used to handle a group of curious males.
Tucking a strand of her brown hair behind her ear, Kel pondered why she had felt so...so....invaded yet didn't loathe the person responsible for the invasion. Coming to the only logical answer, she chuckled to herself. She realized that she had become so used to being the only girl around a lot of boys who usually came to her for all sorts of advice and stories that only a female could come up with. 'No matter,' she thought to herself. 'As long as she doesn't try to make a move on Neal!'
At that exact moment, Neal decided to clear his throat and turn to Kali, his eyebrow arched at a mischievous angle. "I have a question to ask you Kalika of Lotuslily......" He sounded so serious that it alarmed Kali, provoking her eyes to widen noticeably.
'Oh dear,' Kali thought panicked, 'What if he suspects?'
***
To be continued in The Blossoming Alliance *Part 3*: 'It Won't Be So Bad'.....
***
A/N: OooooOOoooOOoo cliffhanger! Sort of....how evil of me ^^ Stay tuned. Same story time....? Same story channel....? Newayz...coming up, how will Kali adjust, and what is Neal going to ask her? Is it about her distant past? Her frightening present? Or her inevitable future? *cackles* Whatever, ignore that...I'm hyper cuz it's my b day 2morow!!!! YAY! Also cuz I'm low on Dr. Pepper...yum!
What to expect in upcoming parts:
ROMANCE DAMNIT! ROMANCE!!!!! FLUFFY, SWEET, MAKE-YOU-WANT-TO-CRY ROMANCE!!!! I HOPE to make it a satisfying romance but....I am sort of a K/C shipper=) Now whose Kali gonna be with (like I don't know already)?
*Part 2*
Sort of Welcome to Court
***
'Meredith' is pronounced MARE-ed-ith that is Celtic of "Protector of the Sea."
'Owen' is pronounced OWE-in that is Celtic for "Young Fighter."
***
"Oh my," Kalika squeaked rubbing her bare neck as the court of Tortall came in to view. As nervous as she was, Kali was excited even on the dreadful circumstances she was going on. Her father had promised her that she could go to the court to further her Shang fighting techniques with the local Shang whom she was not familiar with. The Shang Wildcat was it? And the Shang Horse? Yes, she mused, I think those were their titles.
It was almost no time at all till she was at the entrance of the court and some of the servants were rushing out to greet her shyly and grab her luggage and carry them off to her room. King Nickolai had already called in to Lord Wyldon about her special predicament and he had prepared a room for her. Across from some Keladry of Mindelan whom was supposedly a female training to be a knight. Kali shielded her eyes from the light of the sun and looked towards the training fields and spotted some pages, or squires practicing some techniques with staffs. Mayhap I will be allowed to learn some of Tortallan fighting methods she thought to herself as she followed Ming, who tapped her on the shoulder, to her room.
She pushed open the place where she would be staying at court that was among the training squires and pages since she wanted her title to be concealed. Meredith and Chang had their own quarters with the other two Shang warriors though Meredith complained about the indoor arrangements and confided that she would much rather sleep on a roof than in a stuffy room. Meredith was in her late twenties but looked quite young and slender as Chisakis tended to be. Her hair was in a tight braid and wrapped around her head in a knot gracefully and her sharp hazel eyes sparkled seriously. She wore red and gold that happened to be the Chisaki royal colours, which in coincidence was the same colours Tortall donned on festivals and banquets.
As Kali started to place her belongings around the room, she bit her lip tentatively as she usually did when she was nervous. She'd be meeting all these new squires and pages, most of them males which made her all the more anxious for her parents were very strict with her meeting other boys her age for fear that she would become too attached. 'Like meeting boys were any different than meeting girls' Kalika thought sourly. "Imagine how they would act towards me, a girl they think to be a noble girl who is only fit to wash dishes and tend to house work," she grumbled half-heartedly knowing that they couldn't ALL be like that. "What's more, I wonder how they'd react knowing that I was not only a female, but a princess? All stiff and proper they'd be. Fake and sugary sweet just like all the nobles at court trying to obtain favour in father and mother's eyes. I think not." She slammed one of her trunks shut with a bang provoking a startled screech from her pet phoenix, Ember, who had settled on his oak perch that Kali had placed near the window.
Kali stood back to inspect her gown filled wardrobe and grimaced. "All gowns. Expensive, silky, voluminous, status-revealing, clumsy, uncomfortable gowns," she muttered under her breath almost disliking the gowns, but at the same time fancied how the silk felt on her skin and the many intricate patterns they bore despite herself. Looking up at the clock on her wall, Kali discovered that it was nearing dining time and reluctantly picked out a gown for the meal. First impressions were essential was what her mother told her so instead of instinctively choosing a tunic and leggings, she picked out a elegant lavender gown with lace trimming around the edge but nothing with jewels that would indicate her status as royalty. "Mama always said this colour looked good with my eyes," she murmured, close to tears but quickly set her face, Yamani style, and flounced out of the room, ready to meet Ming to go to the dining hall.
***
Keladry of Mindelan smiled at her laughing friends and joined them at their usual table to eat while they passed her rolls. Life was perfect for the moment for her; everything was going, as it should've. She and Neal we as close as ever and she was becoming outstanding in every fighting style she tried. The other pages and squires didn't even think of her as a weak girl anymore and stopped giving her a rough time but just treated her as an equal, as she wanted. The only thing she would have changed, if anything were to stop herself from blushing every time Neal looked in to her eyes in a casual friendly way, to him anyways. Though she was ashamed to admit it, even unto herself, Kel wanted dearly to be the one Neal fawned over like all those other court ladies he had mooned over in the past.
"So, I heard that another girl has come from afar to join our ranks," Cleon commented smiling then adding with a dreamy look upon his face, "I wonder if she's pretty."
"Or any good at fighting," Own said, almost choking on a piece of meat while Faleron clapped him on the back hard.
"Ah," Neal exclaimed, "That's the point here. Is she any good at fighting! I saw her coming in earlier today. Looks like some noble girl from the looks of her carriage and the many trunks of belongings she brought with her." Neal, being as he was, started to get all technical and started to analyse everything from her hair to how she filed her nails.
"And you know noble ladies are never any good at fighting," Faleron said shovelling some potato into his mouth. His eyes widened and looked at Kel. "I mean, you know...not...good...at...." he trailed off trying to cover up his mistake but failed miserably and flushed in shame.
"No good at fighting?" Kel asked insulted.
Prince Roald, who decided to sit at their table that day came to Faleron's rescue. "Er...I think what Faleron meant to say was that she..." he started to think fast, "Wouldn't be able to compare to you Kel. Seeing how hard you worked and all she couldn't possibly compete with your expertise," Roald finished eloquently. "Right Fal?" He asked looking meaningfully at Faleron who nodded rapidly. "I bet she's the pampered kind though," he went on fondly, "Because our Keladry is one of a kind."
Suddenly, Lord Wyldon rose to his feet and waited for the murmur to die down. 'Highly unusual' Kel thought to herself. The Stump never interrupts meals....
Lord Wyldon cleared his throat and gestured to the darkened doorway to the side that Kel had never paid heed to before she had taken her seat but she could see a faint out line of a small figure standing in the doorway patiently. "As I am sure you are all aware of by now, Kalika of--"
"Lotuslily," the girl spoke quite calmly and so quietly that she had to strain her ears to hear. Kel looked at her friends around the table and all of them were looking quite intrigued at the new arrival as the figure emerged from the shadows so slowly that it kept the boys on the edge of their seats.
"Yes," Lord Wyldon continued, "Kalika of Lotuslily. She will be joining our court and improving her Shang techniques with the Shang warriors here. I trust you will make her feel welcome here and mind you," he added strictly, "I will tolerate absolutely no hazing or those silly welcoming initiations." With that, he motioned Kalika to come forward to join one of the tables.
When she came out of the dark doorway, Kel heard Owen choke even more and some of the other boys gasped softly. She realized why. The new girl was beautiful. She had long, flowing, straight black tresses that reached down her back and she wore a very simple lavender gown but it did not lessen her obvious beauty. Dark, silky tendrils framed her olive toned face that was touched with light pink upon her sculpted cheeks with a light smattering of freckles and her lips were cinnamon in colour and curved in to a natural amused smile that did not imply that she was mischievous though her sparkling turquoise eyes did. They twinkled with mischief and fun though at the same time they gave the impression of pure innocence and both turquoise orbs were almond shaped and her chin was determined. Her nose was nicely proportioned, her eyebrows arched in amusement at the moment and she stood as if she had much to be proud of. 'She doesn't look like a silly, weak girl' Kel decided firmly.
"She's beautiful," Neal breathed awed which made Kel slightly irritated and cringe with jealously. Merric, Seaver, Faleron and Cleon made similar remarks before tearing their gaze away from the 'vision' and returning to their meals and the clattering of cutlery began again. During the few minutes that seemed eons to Kel, she noticed that Prince Roald had remained uncomfortably silent and hadn't anything to say about Kalika.
"What'd you think about Lotuslily?" Kel asked Roald softly below the noise that filled the babbling court while she cut up a piece of chicken carefully.
"She looks like Chisakami," Roald said shortly, curtly, and what Kel thought was a touch fearfully but she couldn't see his expression because he kept his head down, staring at his platter.
It took Kel but a mere few seconds to realize why he sounded so. He had, but a year ago been betrothed to the Yamani princess, Chisakami, recently deceased by an earthquake and it was true what he said, the new lady had a slight resemblance to the princess of the Yamani Isles. In vain, Roald tried to disguise the fact that he detested the idea of betrothal but didn't utter a word of protest for he took his position quite seriously. Her thoughts were interrupted because she heard someone clear their throat daintily and she, along with her companions, twirled around to see who had done so. It was the new supposed noble girl, what was her name again? Kalika.
Kalika looked calm and a bit anxious but gave each them curious looks, surveying each one in turn which the boys noticed, Kel discerned intently for they had puffed up their chests proudly and straightened their backs and tunics nervously as if it were a royal inspection. 'How silly' Kel thought annoyed especially when she saw Neal doing the same as his friends and quickly ran his hand through his light brown hair that was combed back from a widow's peak and his emerald green eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Yes?" Kel asked, straining to keep her voice calm knowing that she had no reason to bear ill will towards this girl.
"You are Keladry of Midelan right?" Kali asked cheerfully, her voice sounded musical to her ears and it was in an unmistakable Yamani accent though it was soft. Kel nodded, her short-cropped hair bobbing somewhat remaining mute for she did not yet trust her voice from keeping it polite and light sounding.
Kali went on, not seeming to notice the captivated gazes of the guys around the table, and if she did she chose to ignore them for the time being. "I understand, from what Lord Wyldon has told me, that you are to show me the ropes, is how he put it, saying something about 'us females sticking together in this male dominated establishment.'" Her way of imitating Lord Wyldon perfectly made the boys snicker wildly and despite herself, Kel grinned. 'Maybe it won't be so bad...'
"Alright," Kel answered warily, unsure of how to comment.
"Mayhap," Kali added timidly, "I may sit with you?" Kel noticed the Yamani smooth features and how she kept her arms behind her back when waiting for the reaction. As soon as the words left Kali's lips, there was a loud clattering and shuffling of chairs and bodies as the boys haphazardly shifted to make room for the young girl to sit.
Kel laughed good-naturedly and gestured Kalika to a seat. "There's your answer."
"How impolite of me," she whispered. "This is my dear friend, Ming, who has come from afar with me to court from..er...Lotuslily." Kalika said the last part cautiously like she wasn't even sure of where she was from though no one paid any attention in the slightest for they all turned their heads to look at Kali's friend, Ming. Her long black tresses gleamed bronze in the dim lighting of the room and her cocoa brown eyes twinkled mysteriously and was dressed in a simplistic, silky, baby blue gown and had a stubborn set in her chin. Yet again, the boys shifted to make even more room at their table.
When they had all begun to eat again, it was Cleon who had started a lively conversation with the new girl from Lotuslily.
"So," He drawled in his honey coated tone of voice that he used usually with Kel, "Lotuslily, where exactly is that my little blossom?" he said using a pet name that he called Kel most of the times. Kali looked up and smiled wanly.
"In the Chisaki Isles, near the Yamani Isles," she replied shortly and then answering the question that was in the mind of probably all at the table. "My parents sent me here to Tortall to interact with young people my own age and to familiarize myself with the Tortallan traditions." Kalika seemed to close the topic firmly and continued her meal.
"I hope you aren't one of those helpless noble females," Owen muttered softly though Kali heard.
"I guess," she said slowly, "That you will have to wait until tomorrow to see my fighting skills though I'd of thought that Keladry had already shown you that noble women are quite capable of doing what noble men can do, and I think she did a very sufficient job of it too." Kel flushed pink. "And you needn't worry about me upholding my own around here either."
Once again, the boys gazed open-mouthed, clearly impressed while Kalika continued her meal and daintily pat her mouth with her napkin. Kel noticed that she ate so gracefully, more so than a regular noble would which she thought was quite peculiar but shrugged it off.
A while in to the meal, after Kalika had clearly charmed everyone around her, except for maybe Roald who was still very apprehensive, Neal leaned over closer to Kel near her ear making her heart skip a beat and making her breath short.
"She's a beaut that one ain't she though. Quite the charmer." That one comment made Kel's heart deflate and made her mutter under her breath.
"A snake charmer maybe," she said frowning slightly then suddenly feeling very ashamed of her for saying so. Fortunately for her, no one heard, or paid attention for they were all laughing away at a joke Kali had just told. All through the feast she had been regaling each of them with imaginative, suspenseful tales of where she lived and the animated voyages she had taken to other lands that made sure every one at the table listened attentively. Kel felt a twinge of jealously for she had always been the centre of attention, so to speak. She grinned despite her fleeting resentful envy towards the raven tress maiden because she found it hard to detest one so cheery, and besides, Kel like this girl's style and attitude that she used to handle a group of curious males.
Tucking a strand of her brown hair behind her ear, Kel pondered why she had felt so...so....invaded yet didn't loathe the person responsible for the invasion. Coming to the only logical answer, she chuckled to herself. She realized that she had become so used to being the only girl around a lot of boys who usually came to her for all sorts of advice and stories that only a female could come up with. 'No matter,' she thought to herself. 'As long as she doesn't try to make a move on Neal!'
At that exact moment, Neal decided to clear his throat and turn to Kali, his eyebrow arched at a mischievous angle. "I have a question to ask you Kalika of Lotuslily......" He sounded so serious that it alarmed Kali, provoking her eyes to widen noticeably.
'Oh dear,' Kali thought panicked, 'What if he suspects?'
***
To be continued in The Blossoming Alliance *Part 3*: 'It Won't Be So Bad'.....
***
A/N: OooooOOoooOOoo cliffhanger! Sort of....how evil of me ^^ Stay tuned. Same story time....? Same story channel....? Newayz...coming up, how will Kali adjust, and what is Neal going to ask her? Is it about her distant past? Her frightening present? Or her inevitable future? *cackles* Whatever, ignore that...I'm hyper cuz it's my b day 2morow!!!! YAY! Also cuz I'm low on Dr. Pepper...yum!
What to expect in upcoming parts:
ROMANCE DAMNIT! ROMANCE!!!!! FLUFFY, SWEET, MAKE-YOU-WANT-TO-CRY ROMANCE!!!! I HOPE to make it a satisfying romance but....I am sort of a K/C shipper=) Now whose Kali gonna be with (like I don't know already)?