Wassup everyone, I'm with my first of two stories, I hope you guyz like it. Well I obviously don't own any one of the characters, they belong to Tamora Pierce, the all important. Read and Review PLEEZE!!!

Chapter 1~ Meetings

As Lady Keladry of Mindelan looked at the city before her she filled with sadness and regret. She had been the first Lady Page in more than a century, except at the end of her first year, the training master, Lord Wyldon, said she was unfit to be a page. She had made some friends, like her sponsor Nealan of Queenscove, and Prince Roald, but she hated the fact that she couldn't be knight. After being refused her parents forced her to become a lady like her sisters. She was now sixteen and fit to have a husband, so she was sent to Corus right before Midwinter festival.

"Go my child, you have to get a husband. I know you may not think anyone will like you but think of Squire Nealan and Prince Roald, you were their friends. But if not, you shall stay in the castle. You have spirit, Kel, some men like that spirit, while others don't. Go for your dreams ." Was the last thing the head Priestess Maurana had said.

Great, Why do I have to face court? I'll have to face Joren, and Neal, and Roald, and everybody. How will I do it?

"Excuse me Madam, Lady Keladry, we are at the castle." Keladry walked out of the carriage, thanked the man, and walked up to the castle. She looked at the place she had called home for one year. Where she had learned most of what she knew about fighting, and the warrior arts. A place where she had made friends and enemies. In the beginning she thought it was a "rat-warren castle", and wanted to leave for her life. Now what she wanted most to still be there. To have been there for the past five years.

"Kel, is that you?? You're wearing a dress." A familiar voice said. Kel turned around to see a man with dark brown hair and wicked emerald eyes staring at her with disbelief.

"Neal?" Kel asked not believing this man could be the boy she told to eat his vegetables, and had a small crush on since she was ten.

'"It's really you. They said a beautiful court lady was coming, so I came..."

"Naturally."

"And I realized that you would be coming this year, so I thought I might come down and see if it was an you and... wow, you're so different. You're so graceful. I can't believe my eyes Mindelan" She looked at him and saw the wicked gleam in his eyes looking her over from head to toe.

"Neal, if you came to the convent it would have done that to you too. But believe me I can still beat you in sword fighting, and Shang, all except jousting."

"No you can't, well, you have to com in and meet the guys." Neal said as he pulled he pulled the sleeve of her dress causing her to walk up the steps and into the palace.

Here I go, Kel thought as she walked into the place for the first time since she was 11.

"Cleon, Merric, Owen, Roald, Faleron, all of you get out here, I have a guest, a very BEAUTIFUL guest." At the last comment all five of the boys, and a couple others came out of their rooms.

"Is that? No It couldn't be. Kel?" Prince Roald said questionably.

"The one and only." Neal said happily.

"My rose my pearl. You've blossomed into a true lily." Drawled the read-headed Cleon of Kennan.

"The mathematical genius is back." Brown eyed and brown haired Faleron of King's Reach commented.

"Isn't Keladry of Mindelan the one who tried to become a page, and the Stump stopped her after he first year. No offense my lady, but you don't look fit to be a page, or a squire." Stated the one who Kel guessed was Owen (A/N I can't remember who was the 1 in her year Owen or Merric)

"Owen, you might not want to say that, I know in her first year she could beat me at hand-to-hand fighting immediately." Neal informed he younger kid. "And anyway how else would we all know her. And you can't..."

If it isn't Lady Keladry of Mindelan." Said a sneering voice from down the hall. Out from the shadows emerged the most beautiful boy Kel ever saw. His pale blond hair was tied at his neck and his blue eyes were as piercing as ever against his pale white skin. Kel stood motionless for a second looking at her enemy. The person who hated her for being her for being a girl page, for sticking up for what she thought was right, and most of all, for just being there.

"What do you want Joren of Stone Mountain?"

"Did you come to find a husband You shouldn't everyone knows how boyish you are, and nobody wants that."

"Are you going to be looking for a wife soon? You shouldn't. Every one at the convent know how rude and hateful you are toward girls." Keladry said with hate ringing in her voice. How dare he ruin my day. At that she walked into her room with Neal, Cleon, Faleron and Roald. She sat in chair with Neal hugging her as everyone else sat there and looked at her. They never knew that they would still hate each other. Joren was much better these days, and they all thought Kel and Joren would be fine, but it was obviously very different.

" You knew this was going to happen sometime." Neal said sadly, but truthfully.

"Yea, but I thought it would have ended a long time ago. Or it was going to be totally different. Not like it was. Something more happy. I didn't want to have to be made at him at the ball tonight, I wanted to not have an evil thought on my mind. But how dare he?!?!" She stood and paced.

"Well the ball is in an hour and a half. We must be going." Cleon said, seeing Kel was very mad. Three of the boys left leaving Kel behind with Neal.

"I'll help you through it Kel. I will." Neal said truthfully. He looked at her and sighed. "Kel will you come to the ball with me?"

"What??" Kel said surprised. She stopped pacing.

"Keladry of Mindelan, will you please go to the ball tonight with me?" Neal said again.

"Of course, Neal." She said as he stood up, and he let out a sigh of happiness.

"See you five minutes before in this hallway, by your door. See you." He said and he walked out the door.

She sat and lay on her bed. I have to get ready for the ball soon.

Guyz if I get ten reviews, I'll put up the next chapter. See ya!!!!!!!!