A/N: So okay, I was fed up with everyone saying that I should write longer chapters. So I went for it. I hope this is long enough for all of you. Please keep in mind that I know this isn't THAT long. Just long for me. I am usually busy and occasionally lazy. And if you can't tell, they are back at the palace in this chapter, after their camp out ended.

Disclaimer: This plot is the only thing I own. All the characters belong to Tamora Pierce. Except Neal. *hugs Neal tightly* He's mine...... Fine, he's not *sobs*. All characters - even Neal *wails* belong to Tamora Pierce.



Kel was broken away from her steady doze by the dreadfully loud noise of some early caller attempting to break down her door. Or, rather, just trying to wake her.

"Uhhhck..." Kel moaned and somehow managed to haul herself from her bed. "'Oo is it?" she spoke, clearly enough for being only half asleep.

"It's me." Kel's heart skipped a beat as she heard his voice. "One second." She swiftly ran a brush through her honey brown locks. She then unlocked her door and let Neal in. "You're not dressed yet? The Stump'll be furious if you're late." quipped Neal.

Kel groaned, "I know, I know. I'll be only a minute or two." She made her way to her grand oak dresser and picked out a royal blue tunic. Into the bathroom Kel then slumped and left Neal chuckling and her morning-self.

"Ready yet Kel?" yelled Neal from her room. "Yep." Kel called and opened the door. "Let's Go."

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"Did you hear about the ball tommorrow night?" Neal asked Kel. She laughed. "How could I not? You know how gossip travels around here." Neal snicked at that. "And we can go and not serve." Then his face turned thoughtful. He opened his mouth as if to say something then clamped it shut as they entered the eating hall and the chatter of hungry pages and squires erupted in their ears.

Kel and Neal filled up their trays and strode to the table where their friends were sitting. Kel positioned herslef nest to Cleon and Roald while Neal squashed in across from her with Own on is left and Faleron on his right.

Directly after they sat down Lord Wyldon pompously saunterd in. All the boys and Kel stood up, alert. He prolonged his journey to the head table, as if just to aggravate them. When he stiffly squatted on his chair there was the creak of wood and they all sat.

While he was carefully announcing the daily prayer, Faleron hissed, "What took you guys so long?" Neal murmured back, "Lady Keladry had yet to awaken." Kel jokingly stuck her tongue out and kicked Neal under the table.

When Lord Wyldon had finished they all hastened to add "So Mote it be!"

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Breakfast was a bustling affair, with over 20 discussions going on at once and boys getting up to refill their plates. Kel's mind was off somewhere else and she didn't notice the last thing Roald said was a question.

"Huh?" Kel inquired dully after she snapped back into reality. "Roald just asked you if you were going to help set up for the ball." Merric replied as if it was the most obvious thing in all of Tortall.

"Oh. Are any of you guys?" Most of her friends nodded. "Then I suppose so."

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When they were done decorating, the ball room looked spectacular with it's emerald green (which Neal had to point out, matched his eyes) and purple- blue banners, beautiful freshly picked flowers along with elegant furniture. Everything was perfectly gorgeous for the next night.

Kel found herself walking with Cleon to her room. "So ....um.... Kel, I - I" He stammered while he fiddled with his hands as they stood outside her door. "I was wondering if you - uh....wanted to ...go to the...uh...ball with....um....me?"

A/N: *cackles* Tee Hee, CLIFFHANGER! Okay so I know it wasn't so long, but, hey, I tried. And don't worry all Neal lovers! There will be multiple endings, even though this was originally only a Kel/Neal fic. Oooh! And you could read my new fic that should be coming out soon called Daine Goes to the Convent. Sounds really messed up, eh? By the way I'm not Canadian. Now be extremely nice and REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! Get the point?

Until Later,



Oke