WB

WB!!!!! Damn I hate WB. I can't write a single paragraph on Thom of Trebond – it's horrible! So I read piles of romance and angst (not a good combo) then listen to some CDs while drawing so-so pictures even though I know full well that it costs a crapload to get them scanned… well enough of my whining.

Disclaimer: Don't own it, don't own it. If you've seen it before, I don't own it. Chars belong to Tammy, the song 'Metal Heart' belongs to Cat Power. It sounds better than it looks. Can't get the lyrics of the net, so I had to piece them out, and I'm sure some of them aren't right. Whatever. A little PWP set before Kel's Ordeal, sure it never happened, but hey.

Metal Heart

Losin' the star without the sky

Losin the reasons to survive

Keladry of Mindelan leaned against the railing, staring up at the moonless sky. It was cold, bitterly cold, but she seemed not to notice.

"Kel,"

You're losing the quality that you've been faking

And I'm not kidding

She turned around to see a figure emerging from the shadows. Who could it be? Then the flaming red hair reflected the candlelight. Of course.

"Cleon."

"You're not happy, Kel." Cleon ran his fingers through his already ragged-looking curly hair, a habit he'd picked up from Neal. "I can tell."

It's damned if you don't, it's damned if you do

Be true 'cause I'll lock you up in set set too.

Hey howdy, howdy, howdy, whatcha trying to prove?

"Maybe." Kel didn't meet his eyes. He'd have to know sometime. The flame had just gone out of their relationship – it wasn't the same anymore. And she wasn't sure she could give him the kind of devotion he wanted. She wanted to be a knight, to fight, to serve the king – she didn't want him getting in the way. And the fact that he was already betrothed made it even more complicated.

"I love you, Kel." Cleon was starting to go hoarse.

He howdy, howdy, howdy, you ain't worth a thing

So you've forged crystals on a string

And hold them up to the light

Blew the smoke to take a very violent flight

"Maybe."

"What are you trying to prove, Kel?" she was surprised by his sudden outburst. "What are you trying to prove by acting so cold? And Dom's flirting with you-"

"Dom flirts with everybody, nitwit, stop being so over-protective."

Cleon stepped back as if he had been slapped. "Over-protective? I care about you, Kel-"

"Bullshit."

And you will be changed and everything

And you will be very sad says who?

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see

"Dewdrop-"

"Don't call me that. I always hated it when you called me those names." She turned her full cold gaze upon him. "Just leave me alone, carrot-top. And take you stupid nicknames with you. I don't need you, I don't want you. I'm going to get my shield, I'm not going to get kicked out because of some affair with a betrothed knight. Sorry, Cleon."

How selfish of you

To believe in the meaning of all the bad dreams

Metal heart, you're not hiding

Metal heart, you're not worth a thing

Cleon's face closed. "You're not sorry. I should have seen it before. You don't care at all, Kel. All you care about is your shield – but what good is your shield going to do you when you're old and alone? What good is being able to fight going to do you when no one in the world cares if you live or you die? What good are stellar riding skills when your arthritis is so bad you can't even mount a horse? Goodbye, Kel. I'll leave you two alone." He waved a hand to indicate the gleaming sword resting against the railing, and stormed off the balcony, slamming the door.

"Goodbye, Metal Heart. Does that nickname suit you?" his voice echoed back.

Metal heart, you're not hiding

Metal heart, you're not worth a thing

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R/R!!!!!!