The Panther ~Ch.4
by Pinkpanther
Disclaimer: Anything that you might recognize from the Tortall books belongs toTamora Pierce. The events and characters in this story are purely fictional and are not based on any real-life events or people. The new characters however are mine so please do NOT use without my permission.
Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few hours later, a bell sounded throughout the palace - the bell for lunch. As pages, squires and knights hurried towards the dining hall, Kel, Cleon and Neal walked up the stairs towards the suite overlooking the Forest where Lady Lilian was staying. "Hurry up." ordered Kel. "You know we're not supposed to be late for meals."
"I'm walking as fast as my legs will let me!" answered Cleon.
The trio was supposed to escort Lilian to lunch as well as show her around after. They paused in front of a long, airy corridor. 'Which suite is she in?" asked Kel. Neal looked at the scrap of parchment in his hand. "The head of the maids said that she's in the third door on the left." They continued on, past golden statues, beautiful paintings and heavy velvet draperies. It was very obvious that in this wing of the palace lived the very rich nobles. "Ah, here it is." said Cleon, stopping in front of the third door. On either side of the door was a large vase of roses and ferns. On the golden nameplate, "Lady Katarina Lilian F., Fief Alderton" was inscribed in very ornate, flowery letters.
Kel stood up next to the door and knocked. "Come in!" called a voice.
Opening the door, a ray of sunshine hit them in the face. Next to Kel, Cleon dropped his mouth in shock. The room practically cried out the owner's wealth. There were luxurious velvety carpets and gorgeous dark curtains with golden cord tassels. The balcony window had delicate lacy white drapes and pink ribbons tying them back. A light breeze scented with the perfume of the roses and lilies around the room tickled their noses. What caught Kel's attention though were the lucky cat statues on the mantlepiece. They were arranged neatly in size, ranging from miniscule to nearly a foot in size. "Lady Keladry, Sir Cleon and Sir Neal! How nice of you to come!" sang out Lady Lilian, dropping a book, standing up from a pouffy armchair and sweeping a grand curtsy.
The trio bowed. "I see you have settled in quite nicely." smiled Kel. "By the way, please call me Kel. We were wondering if you'd like to join us for lunch. We usually eat with the squires."
"But of course! How kind of you. I was wondering how I'd ever find my way to the hall! Let me just get my gloves and I will be out with you shortly! By the way," she added "just sit down and make yourselves at home! There are some simply scrumptious chocolates in the box on the table over there" she gestured "so do try some." She bounced out into the adjoining room. Cleon rushed over to try the dark chocolates on the table, while Kel and Neal looked at the decorations around the room.
"There!" said Lilian, drawing on a fresh pair of lacy white gloves. "Shall we be off?"
Closing the door behind them, the four young people trotted towards the dining hall. Listening at the door, Cleon breathed a sigh of relief. People had already started to eat. Being knights had its advantages, including the fact that it didn't matter if the others had started. When you were still in training, being late meant everyone had to wait.
Opening the door, Neal, ever the gracious gentleman, motioned Kel and Lilian in. As Lilian entered, conversation suddenly died down, as all eyes (particularly masculine ones) turned towards them. Squires leaned over in little groups, wondering if they'd have the nerve to ask her to sit next to them. The ladies of the court immediately frowned and directed seemingly sweet looks which were actually glares at her. Some turned to their male lunch partners and tried to interest them in something else.
"Over here, Neal!" waved a girl, and suddenly the tension was broken. Chatter rose again, and things went back to normal - except of course for the little glares and peeks.
"May I present lady Katarina Lilian Felina of Fief Alderton." said Kel formally. "This is his highness Crown Prince Roald, her highness Princess Shinkokami, and my good friend, the Lady Yukimi."
"Highnesses, Lady, I am honoured to be dining with you." murmured Lady Lilian, sweeping yet another curtsy with downcast eyes.
"Enough of this." interrupted Roald, laughing. "Here in Tortall, we don't insist on all these formalities. Neal, pull up another few chairs, would you?"
"Thank you, Sir Neal. So..."
"Umm, yeah, so..." There was momentarily an uncomfortable silence. Suddenly Lady Lilian laughed merrily.
"You know, there's really no need to be so formal. My teachers would be absolutely shocked if they heard me say this but since you're all close friends, and on a first name basis, please just call me Lily. And don't let me disturb you, I can go sit with some other ladies..."
"Oh no, that's quite alright!" Kel protested. "Lily, why don't you tell us about yourself. Where did you go to school, what was growing up like, that kind of thing."
"Hmmm, well, ever since I was small, my parents were always teaching me to be a proper young lady. I was also the only child, so I learned about managing our fief. When I was about eight, I begged my parents to send me to the convent school, and I learned how to be a noble lady." Here her normally cheerful voice became sad and a tiny bit bitter. "My parents were killed a year later, when bandits attacked our fief. Our fief is a merchant town, so they weren't expecting it. I was away at the time. After that, I studied hard and when I was only thirteen I convinced my teachers that I was a "perfect, noble lady". However, I managed to convince them that I was too young to marry so I spent the last few years amusing myself, visiting the court of Carthak and the Copper Isles, as well as some other places."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To J-Kid, thank you for the suggestions. I really appreciate the thought you put into them. Actually, the story (stories) I have planned aren't quite so complicated - you'll see. Thanks for your continued reviewing!
To Jarna, thank you! Do you like the descriptions of the suite?
To anne, thank you! I hope you keep reading.
Wow! I'm so glad to see that there's people reading my story! Tell me, do you like the slow detailed pace? But actually, this story seems to be spinning itself - I've never had so many ideas for fics!
by Pinkpanther
Disclaimer: Anything that you might recognize from the Tortall books belongs toTamora Pierce. The events and characters in this story are purely fictional and are not based on any real-life events or people. The new characters however are mine so please do NOT use without my permission.
Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few hours later, a bell sounded throughout the palace - the bell for lunch. As pages, squires and knights hurried towards the dining hall, Kel, Cleon and Neal walked up the stairs towards the suite overlooking the Forest where Lady Lilian was staying. "Hurry up." ordered Kel. "You know we're not supposed to be late for meals."
"I'm walking as fast as my legs will let me!" answered Cleon.
The trio was supposed to escort Lilian to lunch as well as show her around after. They paused in front of a long, airy corridor. 'Which suite is she in?" asked Kel. Neal looked at the scrap of parchment in his hand. "The head of the maids said that she's in the third door on the left." They continued on, past golden statues, beautiful paintings and heavy velvet draperies. It was very obvious that in this wing of the palace lived the very rich nobles. "Ah, here it is." said Cleon, stopping in front of the third door. On either side of the door was a large vase of roses and ferns. On the golden nameplate, "Lady Katarina Lilian F., Fief Alderton" was inscribed in very ornate, flowery letters.
Kel stood up next to the door and knocked. "Come in!" called a voice.
Opening the door, a ray of sunshine hit them in the face. Next to Kel, Cleon dropped his mouth in shock. The room practically cried out the owner's wealth. There were luxurious velvety carpets and gorgeous dark curtains with golden cord tassels. The balcony window had delicate lacy white drapes and pink ribbons tying them back. A light breeze scented with the perfume of the roses and lilies around the room tickled their noses. What caught Kel's attention though were the lucky cat statues on the mantlepiece. They were arranged neatly in size, ranging from miniscule to nearly a foot in size. "Lady Keladry, Sir Cleon and Sir Neal! How nice of you to come!" sang out Lady Lilian, dropping a book, standing up from a pouffy armchair and sweeping a grand curtsy.
The trio bowed. "I see you have settled in quite nicely." smiled Kel. "By the way, please call me Kel. We were wondering if you'd like to join us for lunch. We usually eat with the squires."
"But of course! How kind of you. I was wondering how I'd ever find my way to the hall! Let me just get my gloves and I will be out with you shortly! By the way," she added "just sit down and make yourselves at home! There are some simply scrumptious chocolates in the box on the table over there" she gestured "so do try some." She bounced out into the adjoining room. Cleon rushed over to try the dark chocolates on the table, while Kel and Neal looked at the decorations around the room.
"There!" said Lilian, drawing on a fresh pair of lacy white gloves. "Shall we be off?"
Closing the door behind them, the four young people trotted towards the dining hall. Listening at the door, Cleon breathed a sigh of relief. People had already started to eat. Being knights had its advantages, including the fact that it didn't matter if the others had started. When you were still in training, being late meant everyone had to wait.
Opening the door, Neal, ever the gracious gentleman, motioned Kel and Lilian in. As Lilian entered, conversation suddenly died down, as all eyes (particularly masculine ones) turned towards them. Squires leaned over in little groups, wondering if they'd have the nerve to ask her to sit next to them. The ladies of the court immediately frowned and directed seemingly sweet looks which were actually glares at her. Some turned to their male lunch partners and tried to interest them in something else.
"Over here, Neal!" waved a girl, and suddenly the tension was broken. Chatter rose again, and things went back to normal - except of course for the little glares and peeks.
"May I present lady Katarina Lilian Felina of Fief Alderton." said Kel formally. "This is his highness Crown Prince Roald, her highness Princess Shinkokami, and my good friend, the Lady Yukimi."
"Highnesses, Lady, I am honoured to be dining with you." murmured Lady Lilian, sweeping yet another curtsy with downcast eyes.
"Enough of this." interrupted Roald, laughing. "Here in Tortall, we don't insist on all these formalities. Neal, pull up another few chairs, would you?"
"Thank you, Sir Neal. So..."
"Umm, yeah, so..." There was momentarily an uncomfortable silence. Suddenly Lady Lilian laughed merrily.
"You know, there's really no need to be so formal. My teachers would be absolutely shocked if they heard me say this but since you're all close friends, and on a first name basis, please just call me Lily. And don't let me disturb you, I can go sit with some other ladies..."
"Oh no, that's quite alright!" Kel protested. "Lily, why don't you tell us about yourself. Where did you go to school, what was growing up like, that kind of thing."
"Hmmm, well, ever since I was small, my parents were always teaching me to be a proper young lady. I was also the only child, so I learned about managing our fief. When I was about eight, I begged my parents to send me to the convent school, and I learned how to be a noble lady." Here her normally cheerful voice became sad and a tiny bit bitter. "My parents were killed a year later, when bandits attacked our fief. Our fief is a merchant town, so they weren't expecting it. I was away at the time. After that, I studied hard and when I was only thirteen I convinced my teachers that I was a "perfect, noble lady". However, I managed to convince them that I was too young to marry so I spent the last few years amusing myself, visiting the court of Carthak and the Copper Isles, as well as some other places."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To J-Kid, thank you for the suggestions. I really appreciate the thought you put into them. Actually, the story (stories) I have planned aren't quite so complicated - you'll see. Thanks for your continued reviewing!
To Jarna, thank you! Do you like the descriptions of the suite?
To anne, thank you! I hope you keep reading.
Wow! I'm so glad to see that there's people reading my story! Tell me, do you like the slow detailed pace? But actually, this story seems to be spinning itself - I've never had so many ideas for fics!