Disclaimer: Obviously, we
still don't own these characters 'cept Benno and Jakar. Lucky us!!!
Author's Note: Brace
yourselves. This is like no other story!!!!! Sorry, Kel/Neal fans; we told you
that this wasn't like any other story.
P.S. We had WAY too much
sugar when we wrote this, so it gets REALLY strange.
Thanks to all those who
reviewed this! Please, if you're going to review it, PLEASE don't send flames.
We need any self-confidence you guys can give us.
"Benno, gimmee another pint," said Kel, raising an empty
tankard over her head.
"But
my lady, that would be your fourth!" replied Benno, the bartender at the
Dancing Dove.
"My
day shucked. Jush give it to me, damnit!" yelled Kel, her eyes bloodshot and
words slurred. What her good friend Benno didn't know was that Cleon dumped her
because she wasn't beautiful or "intimate".
"No
way, missee. Jakar over there is gonna escort you back to the palace before you
kill yourself."
"That
wouldn't be so bad," replied Kel before she fell into a dead faint.
The
man who went by Jakar picked up Kel with a deep grunt and threw her onto
Peachblossom's back for the long ride back to the palace.
"Kel!
Gods! Are you alright?" asked Raoul. He ran his fingers through his hair as he
stared at the teary, yet peaceful, face of Kel.
"It
appears m'lady had a wee bit more ale than 'er body could stand."
"Gods,"
Raoul repeated. He then threw a silver coin to Jakar, who bowed and left. Raoul
heaved Kel into his arms and brought her into her room. As her tenderly set Kel
into her bed, the drunken Kel sleepily awoke. She turned to look at her former
knight-master, tried to smile, and failed horribly. "What's the matter?" he
asked.
"Nothing's
wrong," she replied shakily, trying to compose herself.
"Yeah,
then why are you crying? I don't think I've ever see you cry." Raoul came and
sat next to Kel. "Come and tell: you know you can trust me, Kel."
Drawing
a deep breath, Kel said, "Cleon dumped me today." Raoul gave a small start as
she continued, "He more or less said I wasn't—what was the word? —oh, yes,
'intimate' enough for him. He also needed a girl who was more beautiful than
me."
"I'm
sorry, Kel. Is there anything I can do?" Raoul asked.
"I
really don't know. I was pretty surprised." Kel gave a small, bitter smile.
Another tear trickled down her cheek.
Raoul
did the only thing he could: he put his arms around her. She leaned into his
chest and sobbed. Gently, he stroked her hair until her tears subsided. Raoul
wished passionately that he could do more, but he knew this would show Kel the
extent of his feelings for her.
When
the last of her tears had been cried, Kel looked into Raoul's face, and
whispered, "Thanks." Unconsciously, Raoul's arms tightened their grip on her.
He bent his head until his face was right next to Kel's. He kissed her lightly.
To his surprise, Kel kissed him back. They kissed again-this time much more
passionately.
"I
love you, Kel," Raoul murmured into Kel's hair. Her only response was to
snuggle closer to his chest. And so the night passed.
Shinko
stood in one of the many hallways, facing Cleon. "You asked for me?"
Cleon
bowed. "Yes, your highness. I must tell you something. It concerns you…and
Kel."
Shinko
frowned. "What does that miserable girl have to do with me? We had a fight, and
we're no longer friends."
"I
dumped her. I suppose I was a bit harsh and cruel but what I said I truly felt.
I couldn't be with her. Not when I saw your face every time I looked at her.
Not when I felt your lips, not Kel's, when I kissed her. Shinko, I have been in
love with you ever since I looked upon your beautiful moon-lit face."
Shinko
gasped, then her lovely red lips curled into a smile. Her voice was soft, but
flirtatious, when she replied, "Oh Cleon! I have always loved you too. You are
carefree and funny, not the stiff and polite man that my husband is. You are
the type of man I never saw in the Yamani Islands."
Cleon
leaned forward, shyly kissing her. He smiled, then kissed her passionately. "My
love, my dewdrop, my blooming lotus, where is Roald?"
Shinko,
with a seductive smile, slowly said, "I believe he is riding through the city
with the rest of the royal family. They shouldn't be back for another hour."
"Then
what are we waiting for?" asked Cleon as he lifted Shinko into his arms and
headed towards the royal bedchamber.
The
bright sunshine filtered through the castle window woke Kel. She slowly opened
her hazel eyes to see the dark eyes of Raoul staring intently at her. When he
saw that she was awake, he smiled softly. In a flood, Kel remembered what
happened the night before; she blushed.
"Good
morning, Kel," Raoul said. "I hope you don't regret what we did last night."
Kel thought for a moment, and realized that she had enjoyed the night. She
smiled at him.
"I
don't regret a thing," she replied. They rose, and Raoul made his way towards
his clothing. They quickly dressed, and embraced once more.
"Aww, how cute," drawled a voice behind the
couple.
"Neal!"
gasped Kel, who blushed fiercely and ran into her bathroom.
"What
brings you here, young Queenscove?" asked Raoul, his own face a bit red.
"I
trust you will tell me what is going on her later, hmm? King Jonathan sent me
to tell Kel that he requests, actually demands, her presence at the midday
bell. War against Scanra has officially been declared. I'll see you later, and
do try to get Kel to come see me before she leaves." With that, Neal turned and
left.
Raoul
softly knocked on Kel's door. "Kel, we're needed at the war front. You're to
meet King Jonathan at noon. Neal wants to talk to you, but I don't think we
have enough time for friendly conversations." He kissed Kel, then said, "I'll
see you later."
Kel
paused then asked, "Raoul, what about Buri?"
Raoul
smiled grimly. "I'll deal with her right now."
Raoul
ran towards the Buri's room. He hesitated as he reached her room, then wiped
his sweaty face and knocked on the door. Buri's petite face soon peeked out of
a crack in the door.
"Yes
Raoul?" she said crossly, "Perhaps next time you could remember that I do my
YOGA at this hour!"
"What
I have to tell you is much more important that meditation and upward-facing dog
positions. To make it short and simple, we're over. You're too short, and
besides, you remind me of a tree. See you on the battlefield!" Raoul yelled as
he started running again, this time to Captain Flyndon's chambers.
"I'll
get you for interrupting my time with my spiritual side! And for calling me a
tree!" cried Buri furiously after his galloping figure.
