Author Note: This is my sequel to the previous song fic "You don't know" It will have more chapters, if I get reviews.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in this story except for Lady Portia. She does not have a huge part, but here's a short bio. Portia is about 17 years old, and she wanted to be a knight, but her parents wouldn't allow it. She and Kel met maybe a few months ago, and they get along really well.
"Truth be told" Chapter two
Joren sat at his usual place in the library. He glanced around at the other tables, searching. Kel and her friends had not come to the library for over two weeks now, ever since Joren had kissed her. Had it really been that long? he wondered. It may have been two week ago, but the pain still lingered in his cheek as if it were yesterday.
Joren's mind turned to the letter in front of him. It was from Vinson, who was out of Corus with his knight master. Joren read it, remembering the last night he was here. He had seen Joren kissing Kel, and Joren trying to avoid humiliation, lied and angered the one person he ever cared for.
In anger, Joren crumbled the latter, throwing it to the side. He put his head down for a few seconds, sighed, picked up the letter and reopened it. It wasn't his fault, Joren told himself. It was mine. I couldn't even stand up for what I believe in. What kind of man will I become if I can't even stand up for the one I love? And Mithros how I love her!
Joren daydreamed about Kel as he sat alone at his small table. Just as her hazel eyes were coming into his mind, a soft, feminine laugh rang in his ears. He looked up to see Cleon, Neal, Roald, and then Kel walk into the library. Joren followed with his eyes as Kel and her friends took their usual places across the room. Kel was wearing a shirt, breeches, and boots. Even in breeches she radiates, Joren thought to himself. Joren watched as the four settled themselves to work.
Two weeks ago, Joren had chosen to tell Kel of his feelings for her. Now, two weeks later, she still didn't know. That was partly because he hadn't seen her around much, but mostly because of his own stupidity. I had the chance, Joren scolded, but I gave it away. Not this time. No, this time she will know.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kel sat at her table in the lesser library. On her right sat Neal, on her left Roald. It was the first time in two weeks that they had been in the library, and only Kel knew exactly why that was. Her friends knew that Joren had done something to upset her, they just didn't know what. She didn't even tell her close friend, Portia.
Kel couldn't concentrate on the work laid out in front of her. The harder she tried, the harder it was to stop thinking back two weeks ago. She slowly looked up from her books and glanced around the room to see Joren of Stone Mountain. His ice blue eyes were quickly scanning a crumbled piece of parchment, most likely a letter. Slowly his eyes looked up from the letter and caught Kel's. Heat rose up in Kel's cheeks, and anger filled her mind as she turned and looked away. Why am I acting like this? she asked herself. This isn't like me, to run and hide. He's done plenty of other things to me, why is this any different?
Kel thought about that for a while, and not coming up with an answer that she could accept, she pounded two clenched fists on the table, causing her three friends to turn in her direction.
"Kel? Are you alright?" Neal asked placing his hand over her fist. Kel nodded slowly, as if unsure, and unclenched her fist.
"We can leave if you want."
Kel shook her head, he short hair swishing as she moved.
"No, Neal. I have to stay. I have to show him that he can't bring me down."
Kel's friends nodded in agreement, and soon settled back to work. Kel still couldn't focus, and she found herself looking in Joren's direction. One thing changed, however. He was nowhere to be found.What's wrong with me? Kel snapped at herself. She tried to clear her mind of everything that pertained to Joren, and somewhat settled herself to begin working.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kel awoke the next day to a bright ray of sunshine peeking through the curtains. With a quiet moan she rolled out of bed, sitting up amid her tossed covers. Kel rubbed her eyes hard, and yawned. She did not get much sleep that night; there was just way too much on her mind.
Lalassa walked in her room, greeting Kel with a friendly chuckle. "Kel, you look horrid! What in the Gods realm happened last night?"
Kel managed to grin, then she threw a pillow at her. "Thank you ever so much for noticing. I just..had a bad night, that's all."
"Yes," she replied with a grin, "I heard you all night, tossing and turning." Kel smirked, "There's a hot bath ready for you."
Kel relaxed as the warm water engulfed her body. She closed her eyes and began to clear her mind. She was actually quite successful in putting her thoughts of classes, practice, and her upcoming ordeal in the back of her mind. She still thought of Joren, but not as much. Good, she thought, I'm finally getting rid of this.
Kel got out of her bath, and changed in to a pair of breeches, a shirt, and a pair of black boots. She gathered her books, and opened the door to head to breakfast. She met Neal and Cleon at breakfast, and afterward they headed for class. Kel yawned often, which made Neal ask her constantly about her health.
"I'm fine, Neal, really. I just had a bad night."
After they finished eating, Kel and Neal made their way to class. Fortunately for Kel, her first class was mathematics. At least she could relax, and possibly catch a few seconds of sleep between lessons she already had mastered. Kel and Neal found their usual seats together and sat down. Kel opened her book, thinking she would find her homework, but she didn't. Kel searched Neal, hoping it was a bad joke, but realized she had left it in her room. It would be a mad dash, but she was going to try to run for it. She ran down the hallway, and into the squire's wing. She winded her way through the halls, and soon found herself at the door of her room. She turned the key and ran in. She grabbed her papers and ran out of her room in less than a minute.
Back down the hall she ran, passing bedrooms, the library, and going past classrooms. Almost to her math room, Kel stopped and took a breath. She began to walk again when her arm was grabbed. A strong pull spun her into a nearby classroom.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A few minutes before:
Joren leaned against the wall of an empty classroom. He should have gone to class, but everything was bothering him, and he had no time to even think straight enough to attend classes. Breakfast had been painful, he sta alone, and every ime he tried to catch Kel's eyes, she turned away. She wanting nothing to do with him, and she had every reason not to.
So plan "A" is out of the picture, he thought. Now plan "B", the spontaneous, think-from-the-gut plan of a desperate heart, was in. He had seen Kel running down the hallway. She's going to be late anyway, why not keep her a bit longer? Plus, he thought, I may never get another chance.
Joren took a deep breath, and waited. Suddenly her heard quick footsteps. He peeked out the door to see Kel bending over, catching her breath. She continued to walk briskly down the hall toward him. I can't do this, Joren thought suddenly. She'll reject me, and I deserve it. Joren sighed, pretty much giving up. As Kel walked by, however, something in his heart caused him to grab her arm and pull her toward him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Back to the present:
Kel gasped as she was pulled into the classroom. Out of shock, she had closed her eyes. Now, unaware of what to expect, she opened them.
"You! Joren what are you.." Her protest was cut short by a firm hand over her mouth. She pulled her arm away and headed for the door.
"Kel wait!" Joren yelled, putting his hand on the door, closing it. "Just hear me out, okay?" He sat Kel down on the chair, and then kneeled in front of her.
"Oh, great. Come to grovel for my forgiveness?" Kel asked crossing her arms over her chest.
The sarcastic tone in her voice pierced Joren's heart, mainly because that WAS what he was doing. He wanted her to forgive him; he wanted her to love him. "Kel I don't know how to say this.."
"Then don't!" Kel stood up, only to be forced down by Joren. He stood and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked into her eyes, and the look was serious.
"Kel I...I've fallen in love with you."
Her eyes grew wide. "You...love me?"
Joren opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. It was the firs time Kel had seen him struggle for words to say.
"With all my heart," Joren finished.
There was a long pause between the two, and Kel closed her eyes. She thought about what he had said, and how sincere it had sounded. Was he lying?
Kel stood and chuckled. "You think you're so good don't you?" Kel crossed to the door, "Where are your little followers? Hiding? Waiting for me to crack and express my love for you?"
"Kel,I'm serious! The only reason I lied was..."
Kel turned to face Joren. She kept her mask on, and kept it good. "I've had enough," She sighed and walked out the door, with Joren trailing behind.
"Kel, I know you feel something for me! You have to! YOU KISSED ME BACK!"
Kel turned, looking straight into Joren's blue eyes.
"I knew it! I knew it." Joren ran to her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and kissed her.
Kel pulled away. Joren expected a slap, but it didn't come. Instead Kel turned, rubbing her head, and walked to class, saying nothing to Joren. He was left behind her, and she never turned.
"I didn't feel anything, I didn't feel anything," Kel convinced herself in class. Father will be disappointed in how good a liar I've become.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in this story except for Lady Portia. She does not have a huge part, but here's a short bio. Portia is about 17 years old, and she wanted to be a knight, but her parents wouldn't allow it. She and Kel met maybe a few months ago, and they get along really well.
"Truth be told" Chapter two
Joren sat at his usual place in the library. He glanced around at the other tables, searching. Kel and her friends had not come to the library for over two weeks now, ever since Joren had kissed her. Had it really been that long? he wondered. It may have been two week ago, but the pain still lingered in his cheek as if it were yesterday.
Joren's mind turned to the letter in front of him. It was from Vinson, who was out of Corus with his knight master. Joren read it, remembering the last night he was here. He had seen Joren kissing Kel, and Joren trying to avoid humiliation, lied and angered the one person he ever cared for.
In anger, Joren crumbled the latter, throwing it to the side. He put his head down for a few seconds, sighed, picked up the letter and reopened it. It wasn't his fault, Joren told himself. It was mine. I couldn't even stand up for what I believe in. What kind of man will I become if I can't even stand up for the one I love? And Mithros how I love her!
Joren daydreamed about Kel as he sat alone at his small table. Just as her hazel eyes were coming into his mind, a soft, feminine laugh rang in his ears. He looked up to see Cleon, Neal, Roald, and then Kel walk into the library. Joren followed with his eyes as Kel and her friends took their usual places across the room. Kel was wearing a shirt, breeches, and boots. Even in breeches she radiates, Joren thought to himself. Joren watched as the four settled themselves to work.
Two weeks ago, Joren had chosen to tell Kel of his feelings for her. Now, two weeks later, she still didn't know. That was partly because he hadn't seen her around much, but mostly because of his own stupidity. I had the chance, Joren scolded, but I gave it away. Not this time. No, this time she will know.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kel sat at her table in the lesser library. On her right sat Neal, on her left Roald. It was the first time in two weeks that they had been in the library, and only Kel knew exactly why that was. Her friends knew that Joren had done something to upset her, they just didn't know what. She didn't even tell her close friend, Portia.
Kel couldn't concentrate on the work laid out in front of her. The harder she tried, the harder it was to stop thinking back two weeks ago. She slowly looked up from her books and glanced around the room to see Joren of Stone Mountain. His ice blue eyes were quickly scanning a crumbled piece of parchment, most likely a letter. Slowly his eyes looked up from the letter and caught Kel's. Heat rose up in Kel's cheeks, and anger filled her mind as she turned and looked away. Why am I acting like this? she asked herself. This isn't like me, to run and hide. He's done plenty of other things to me, why is this any different?
Kel thought about that for a while, and not coming up with an answer that she could accept, she pounded two clenched fists on the table, causing her three friends to turn in her direction.
"Kel? Are you alright?" Neal asked placing his hand over her fist. Kel nodded slowly, as if unsure, and unclenched her fist.
"We can leave if you want."
Kel shook her head, he short hair swishing as she moved.
"No, Neal. I have to stay. I have to show him that he can't bring me down."
Kel's friends nodded in agreement, and soon settled back to work. Kel still couldn't focus, and she found herself looking in Joren's direction. One thing changed, however. He was nowhere to be found.What's wrong with me? Kel snapped at herself. She tried to clear her mind of everything that pertained to Joren, and somewhat settled herself to begin working.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kel awoke the next day to a bright ray of sunshine peeking through the curtains. With a quiet moan she rolled out of bed, sitting up amid her tossed covers. Kel rubbed her eyes hard, and yawned. She did not get much sleep that night; there was just way too much on her mind.
Lalassa walked in her room, greeting Kel with a friendly chuckle. "Kel, you look horrid! What in the Gods realm happened last night?"
Kel managed to grin, then she threw a pillow at her. "Thank you ever so much for noticing. I just..had a bad night, that's all."
"Yes," she replied with a grin, "I heard you all night, tossing and turning." Kel smirked, "There's a hot bath ready for you."
Kel relaxed as the warm water engulfed her body. She closed her eyes and began to clear her mind. She was actually quite successful in putting her thoughts of classes, practice, and her upcoming ordeal in the back of her mind. She still thought of Joren, but not as much. Good, she thought, I'm finally getting rid of this.
Kel got out of her bath, and changed in to a pair of breeches, a shirt, and a pair of black boots. She gathered her books, and opened the door to head to breakfast. She met Neal and Cleon at breakfast, and afterward they headed for class. Kel yawned often, which made Neal ask her constantly about her health.
"I'm fine, Neal, really. I just had a bad night."
After they finished eating, Kel and Neal made their way to class. Fortunately for Kel, her first class was mathematics. At least she could relax, and possibly catch a few seconds of sleep between lessons she already had mastered. Kel and Neal found their usual seats together and sat down. Kel opened her book, thinking she would find her homework, but she didn't. Kel searched Neal, hoping it was a bad joke, but realized she had left it in her room. It would be a mad dash, but she was going to try to run for it. She ran down the hallway, and into the squire's wing. She winded her way through the halls, and soon found herself at the door of her room. She turned the key and ran in. She grabbed her papers and ran out of her room in less than a minute.
Back down the hall she ran, passing bedrooms, the library, and going past classrooms. Almost to her math room, Kel stopped and took a breath. She began to walk again when her arm was grabbed. A strong pull spun her into a nearby classroom.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A few minutes before:
Joren leaned against the wall of an empty classroom. He should have gone to class, but everything was bothering him, and he had no time to even think straight enough to attend classes. Breakfast had been painful, he sta alone, and every ime he tried to catch Kel's eyes, she turned away. She wanting nothing to do with him, and she had every reason not to.
So plan "A" is out of the picture, he thought. Now plan "B", the spontaneous, think-from-the-gut plan of a desperate heart, was in. He had seen Kel running down the hallway. She's going to be late anyway, why not keep her a bit longer? Plus, he thought, I may never get another chance.
Joren took a deep breath, and waited. Suddenly her heard quick footsteps. He peeked out the door to see Kel bending over, catching her breath. She continued to walk briskly down the hall toward him. I can't do this, Joren thought suddenly. She'll reject me, and I deserve it. Joren sighed, pretty much giving up. As Kel walked by, however, something in his heart caused him to grab her arm and pull her toward him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Back to the present:
Kel gasped as she was pulled into the classroom. Out of shock, she had closed her eyes. Now, unaware of what to expect, she opened them.
"You! Joren what are you.." Her protest was cut short by a firm hand over her mouth. She pulled her arm away and headed for the door.
"Kel wait!" Joren yelled, putting his hand on the door, closing it. "Just hear me out, okay?" He sat Kel down on the chair, and then kneeled in front of her.
"Oh, great. Come to grovel for my forgiveness?" Kel asked crossing her arms over her chest.
The sarcastic tone in her voice pierced Joren's heart, mainly because that WAS what he was doing. He wanted her to forgive him; he wanted her to love him. "Kel I don't know how to say this.."
"Then don't!" Kel stood up, only to be forced down by Joren. He stood and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked into her eyes, and the look was serious.
"Kel I...I've fallen in love with you."
Her eyes grew wide. "You...love me?"
Joren opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. It was the firs time Kel had seen him struggle for words to say.
"With all my heart," Joren finished.
There was a long pause between the two, and Kel closed her eyes. She thought about what he had said, and how sincere it had sounded. Was he lying?
Kel stood and chuckled. "You think you're so good don't you?" Kel crossed to the door, "Where are your little followers? Hiding? Waiting for me to crack and express my love for you?"
"Kel,I'm serious! The only reason I lied was..."
Kel turned to face Joren. She kept her mask on, and kept it good. "I've had enough," She sighed and walked out the door, with Joren trailing behind.
"Kel, I know you feel something for me! You have to! YOU KISSED ME BACK!"
Kel turned, looking straight into Joren's blue eyes.
"I knew it! I knew it." Joren ran to her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and kissed her.
Kel pulled away. Joren expected a slap, but it didn't come. Instead Kel turned, rubbing her head, and walked to class, saying nothing to Joren. He was left behind her, and she never turned.
"I didn't feel anything, I didn't feel anything," Kel convinced herself in class. Father will be disappointed in how good a liar I've become.