Disclaimer: *Dream sequence ends* Oh. I don't own them...? I'm not... a
millionaire...? *Curses colorfully* Oh well.
Thank yous go to: Rhapsody Singing, the person that left the name thing blank *grinz*, Gaia, Lady Cinnibar, SeaStar, SportzGurl, Snow*flake, White- wolf, Rosetta, Lady Kickass (I love your name!!!!) Angel of the Storms x2 (one for the review on ch. 1 and one for the review on ch. 2), insane peep x2, and Trini.
Rebound - Chapter 3 - Rumors
Kel smiled warmly as thoughts of Raoul flooded through her head. They had parted when a messenger of the king had called upon Raoul, saying that the matter was of the utmost urgency. Raoul had bid her goodbye after bringing her back to her room, not doing anything so conspicuous as kissing her, but looking at her in a way that told her the everything about the way he felt.
Kel lay down on her bed complacently, grinning stupidly. She was about as drunk as any alcoholic, but what intoxicated her was far sweeter than any liquor could ever be. Happiness could be so catching...
Kel sat up abruptly. Someone had knocked on her door. Smiling, thinking it might be Raoul back from his duties with the king, she walked to the door in quick strides, opening it with a smile on her face.
"Kel. We need to talk."
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Raoul frowned at the map laid before him. To the west, markers representing troops flanked the right banks of the River Drell, surrounding it to the far reaches of Galla and Tusaine. To the north, the markers were more numerous, enclosing the border between Tortall and Scanra.
"And all this is correct?" Raoul asked breathlessly.
Jon sighed. "Yes. George saw it himself. I don't think he would exactly lie to us."
"But if it is, then Scanra would have enough troops for a full-fledged war! Jon, how did we not see this coming? If troops aren't always visible, supply wagons are, and they would have to have supply wagons to stay alive out there. Food, medicine... How are we going to deal with this?" Raoul thrummed his knuckles impatiently on the table.
"What I want to know is how they got all the way to Drell," Jon said. "You don't think they struck some kind of deal with the Gallans or the Tusaine?"
"I wouldn't have put it past the Tusaine. They're still sore at us for the Tortall-Tusaine war. The Gallans, though - they don't have the guts to openly come against us. Most likely it was forced," Raoul answered.
"Yes, I know that. But you would think that if their land was conquered by force, they would at least have been able to send a messenger to warn us or something." Jon frowned and slumped against his chair.
"Yes, that is rather curious. Who else knows about this?" Raoul asked.
"You. George, and once he gets back to Pirate Swoop, Alanna. Myles. Me. That's it." Jon replied.
They sat in silence for a few moments, until Raoul asked the unavoidable question. "What are you planning to do?" Raoul inquired again.
"What else can I do? There's no other choice. I'm afraid, my friend, that war is indeed inevitable."
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Neal? Oh, hello, do you want to come in?" Kel asked cheerily. Neal stepped back and did a double take.
"Well, someone is very cheery today," he said, grinning sardonically at her drastically changed conduct. "It suits you." Kel smiled widely and opened the door so that her friend could step inside. "So why the apparent change in behavior?"
Kel shrugged pleasantly. "Just realized that Cleon wasn't worth killing myself over." She shrugged again and pulled him inside, Neal beaming all over.
"So you're going to come out of your room, now?" Neal asked hopefully.
"Of course I am. In fact, I went out just last night." Kel replied. Which wasn't a lie, exactly.
"Really? Where did you go? I hope you didn't go partying without me, Knight Keladry," he said in a false scolding voice, shaking his finger at her jokingly.
Kel blushed; she supposed it was a bit of a party, albeit a two person party. "I visited Peachblossom and Hoshi." That was true, she had gone to take care of them a bit before she had gone to Raoul's room. "I walked around the halls a bit. Just got some air." Kel inwardly scolded herself. She felt guilty about lying to her best friend, but she didn't want him to be upset about how she had "escaped" her past melancholic behavior. After all, it technically wasn't lying, just withholding information. Yes, that was it. Withholding information. She shouldn't feel guilty at all. And yet, looking at Neal's smiling face, so delighted with her contented demeanor, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of grief about not letting her friend onto what was happening in her life.
Neal laughed. "Yes, you always were the one to put animals ahead of everything." He reached up and stroked her cheek, then pulled back and returned his hand to his side. "I punched Cleon for you."
Kel burst out laughing. "You punched Cleon? Neal! Why did you do that?" she asked, astonishment lining the tones of her voice. She had known Neal to be a bit overprotective of his friends at times, but this? Perhaps his former knight master had rubbed off on him after all...
"I didn't like the way his nose looked," Neal quoted her. Kel snorted and sat down on the bed. Neal followed her and took her hands in his.
"That's not a reason to punch him, though," Kel replied, her face a bit more serious.
"Ah, maybe. But he was being an ass, so I had to set him straight. He deserved it. He shouldn't have done that to you. You deserved better." Neal looked down at her and smiled. "So, do you want to go get something to eat? Owen's back from border patrol, so he can join us if you want."
Kel nodded. "I think I would like that. I think I would like that very much."
"Good." Neal got up and held his hand up to her. "M'lady," he murmured, using the tone he used with court ladies. Kel snorted and took his hand.
"Good sir," she shot back. Together, they walked out the door, closed it behind them, and headed over to Owen's rooms.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Owen had joined Kel and Neal on their way to the mess hall. He had been going there in the first place anyway, or so he said. He was pleasantly surprised to see Kel up and about for the first time in weeks, and had told her so. They sat down together while Neal went to get their meals.
"It's so jolly good to see you, Kel. I was beginning to get worried. But then again, it's you, so I don't know what there was to fuss over. You've always been the strong one, after all," Owen said as he waited for Neal to come back. Kel smiled and put a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Thanks, Owen. It really means a lot." Owen grinned and blushed as he put his elbows on the table.
"Well, I do admit, I was very worried. Neal told me how you weren't hadn't come out of your room and it really scared me. I thought that if something like that could happen to you, then it could happen to any of us. It's good to have you back, really. And you look prettier than ever." It was Kel's turn to blush as she leaned her shoulder against his.
"Oh, god Owen, don't start treating her like a girl now," Neal said from behind them. "Now move so I can sit down." Kel and Own scooted over so that Neal was next to Kel and Kel was in the middle. Kel looked at what Neal had brought them; ham sandwiches, water, and some carrots.
"I thought you didn't like vegetables, Neal," Owen joked while Neal sent him a menacing glare.
"Yes, well, knowing Kel would be here, she was bound to tell me to go and eat my vegetables anyway, so I thought I would just skip that part." Kel glared at Neal and then turned to Owen.
"When did you get back from border patrol anyway?" Kel asked him.
"Around a week ago. Wyldon was called here by the king, some kind of emergency or something. Besides, we had to come back for my ordeal sooner or later. I'm getting my shield this year, after all. Have to go face that jolly old chamber in a few months." He grimaced.
"Oh, don't you worry, Owen. With a guy so disgustingly cheery as you all the time, you'll probably end up coming out of there telling us it was a jolly old time," Neal said sarcastically as he clapped Owen on the back and started eating. Kel snorted and Owen laughed uneasily. They finished the rest of the meal in basic silence, with the exception of the occasional 'pass the ___' and Kel incessantly telling Neal to eat his vegetables. When they had finished, Kel stood up and patted her friends on their shoulders.
"I think I'm going to make my way back to my rooms now, boys, if it's all right with you," Kel proclaimed. Neal stood up to follow her.
"I think I'll come too." Kel shrugged and they both bid Owen goodbye. They walked down the halls in a comfortable silence, until Neal finally asked Kel a question.
"What made you come out of your room? I mean, I can understand that you finally got it through your Yamani thick head that the little ass wasn't good enough for you, but what made you realize it?" Kel turned to look at him and frowned.
"I guess I started thinking of all my friends and what an idiot I was being to worry them so much. For all you knew, I was locked in my room cutting my wrists. Neal, you, and Owen, and Raoul, and everyone else mean so much to me. I couldn't bear it if I were to lose you all too."
She paused, took a deep breath and continued on. "I understand what Cleon had to do, in some way. We're all forced to do things we don't like to sometimes, if they're for the best. Wyldon forced my to climb those trees to overcome my fear of heights. Cleon has a responsibility to the people of his fief. I can't deny him that. I could never ask someone to let other people starve and die because of me. I just couldn't." She chuckled. "Although, I thank you for punching him. It did make me feel better." Neal's face broke out into a smile.
"Now that's the Kel we all know and love. Come on, I'll walk you the rest of the way to your rooms." They headed off again through the halls of the royal palace. They were about the turn to the corner to the hall where Kel's room was located, when they started to hear women's voices from the other side of the corridor. Neal stopped Kel and grinned playfully.
"Let's hear what they have to gossip about today. It's interesting sometimes." Kel raised an eyebrow but halted in her tracks to listen.
"Did you hear what Celeste and Marie saw today? Apparently, they were at 'The Chevalier' and they saw that Mindelan whore, the one who just recently got her shield this past midwinter. Anyways, she saw Mindelan with that swine of a commander, Raoul I think his name is, and they were kissing! Yes, kissing! In public! The nerve of some people. Why don't they just get a room is beyond me. They're acting like commoners, showing that kind of affection in public. Honestly!"
Neal turned to Kel and snorted, expecting her to find this to be an incredibly funny joke. What he saw, however, was the face Kel had perfected so many times in her years as a page and squire: the face of the Yamani Lump. He shrugged and went back to listening.
"Well, I heard that she was running around having an affair with the boy my daughter is supposed to marry. That's why I had so many doubts about this wedding. But now that I see she's found a new dog to satisfy herself with, I'm not worried anymore." Neal felt Kel stiffen.
"That's good, Florence. Tell me, when is the wedding between Kitiara and that Kennen boy?"
"Oh, in another few months. They just met today, you know. I'm not going to make them marry so soon, else some particular ladies at court will find it mighty suspicious."
"Yes, yes. You always have to think of that when you plan a wedding. No engagement can ever be too long-" Their voices trailed off as they walked into another corridor. Neal gave Kel a worried gaze.
"Kel, are you all right? You don't look so well," Neal stated. "I hope what they said didn't bother you. It's just court gossip, after all. Nothing to worry about. Kel?"
Kel lost the glazed look on her face and grimaced. "Well. Neal, I'm not feeling so well right now, so I think I'll go to my rooms and lay down for a while." Neal frowned worriedly.
"Kel, they're just gossiping. That's what they do. They're court ladies, for Mithros' sake. And even if it does provide small doses of amusement, it's nothing to kill yourself over. It's about Cleon getting married to that girl, isn't it?" Kel frowned, but nodded.
'If he only knew the truth,' she thought. "I'd like to go back to my room now, Neal." Sighing, Neal walked her across the hallway to her room and opened the door for her with the key she handed him. She walked inside, while Neal waited outside.
"Thank you for a wonderful time, Neal," she said somewhat emotionlessly. Neal was a bit hurt at her cool tone, but smiled weakly anyway. He leaned over and kissed her on the lips lightly. Kel's eyes widened as he pulled away slowly.
"Bye, Kel," Neal whispered as he withdrew and walked out of the door, leaving Kel standing there, extremely confused.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
A/N: there's chapter three for you, everyone. I reallllly hope you liked it. I think this was probably the most amusing chapter of this fanfic I've wrote so far, with Neal and those stupid court ladies. *grinz* I love leaving Kel in complete inner turmoil. ^_^ To all those who reviewed, you are the most blessed of the gods. Truly and deeply. And to those who flamed, I laughed and laughed and laughed. Often, I could stop laughing before people edged away and started talking about soothing drinks. Your pitiful attempts of deterring me from my cause were quite amusing. Like I said, reviews, flames, criticisms, or ideas are always welcome. ^_^
*~KK~*
Thank yous go to: Rhapsody Singing, the person that left the name thing blank *grinz*, Gaia, Lady Cinnibar, SeaStar, SportzGurl, Snow*flake, White- wolf, Rosetta, Lady Kickass (I love your name!!!!) Angel of the Storms x2 (one for the review on ch. 1 and one for the review on ch. 2), insane peep x2, and Trini.
Rebound - Chapter 3 - Rumors
Kel smiled warmly as thoughts of Raoul flooded through her head. They had parted when a messenger of the king had called upon Raoul, saying that the matter was of the utmost urgency. Raoul had bid her goodbye after bringing her back to her room, not doing anything so conspicuous as kissing her, but looking at her in a way that told her the everything about the way he felt.
Kel lay down on her bed complacently, grinning stupidly. She was about as drunk as any alcoholic, but what intoxicated her was far sweeter than any liquor could ever be. Happiness could be so catching...
Kel sat up abruptly. Someone had knocked on her door. Smiling, thinking it might be Raoul back from his duties with the king, she walked to the door in quick strides, opening it with a smile on her face.
"Kel. We need to talk."
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Raoul frowned at the map laid before him. To the west, markers representing troops flanked the right banks of the River Drell, surrounding it to the far reaches of Galla and Tusaine. To the north, the markers were more numerous, enclosing the border between Tortall and Scanra.
"And all this is correct?" Raoul asked breathlessly.
Jon sighed. "Yes. George saw it himself. I don't think he would exactly lie to us."
"But if it is, then Scanra would have enough troops for a full-fledged war! Jon, how did we not see this coming? If troops aren't always visible, supply wagons are, and they would have to have supply wagons to stay alive out there. Food, medicine... How are we going to deal with this?" Raoul thrummed his knuckles impatiently on the table.
"What I want to know is how they got all the way to Drell," Jon said. "You don't think they struck some kind of deal with the Gallans or the Tusaine?"
"I wouldn't have put it past the Tusaine. They're still sore at us for the Tortall-Tusaine war. The Gallans, though - they don't have the guts to openly come against us. Most likely it was forced," Raoul answered.
"Yes, I know that. But you would think that if their land was conquered by force, they would at least have been able to send a messenger to warn us or something." Jon frowned and slumped against his chair.
"Yes, that is rather curious. Who else knows about this?" Raoul asked.
"You. George, and once he gets back to Pirate Swoop, Alanna. Myles. Me. That's it." Jon replied.
They sat in silence for a few moments, until Raoul asked the unavoidable question. "What are you planning to do?" Raoul inquired again.
"What else can I do? There's no other choice. I'm afraid, my friend, that war is indeed inevitable."
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Neal? Oh, hello, do you want to come in?" Kel asked cheerily. Neal stepped back and did a double take.
"Well, someone is very cheery today," he said, grinning sardonically at her drastically changed conduct. "It suits you." Kel smiled widely and opened the door so that her friend could step inside. "So why the apparent change in behavior?"
Kel shrugged pleasantly. "Just realized that Cleon wasn't worth killing myself over." She shrugged again and pulled him inside, Neal beaming all over.
"So you're going to come out of your room, now?" Neal asked hopefully.
"Of course I am. In fact, I went out just last night." Kel replied. Which wasn't a lie, exactly.
"Really? Where did you go? I hope you didn't go partying without me, Knight Keladry," he said in a false scolding voice, shaking his finger at her jokingly.
Kel blushed; she supposed it was a bit of a party, albeit a two person party. "I visited Peachblossom and Hoshi." That was true, she had gone to take care of them a bit before she had gone to Raoul's room. "I walked around the halls a bit. Just got some air." Kel inwardly scolded herself. She felt guilty about lying to her best friend, but she didn't want him to be upset about how she had "escaped" her past melancholic behavior. After all, it technically wasn't lying, just withholding information. Yes, that was it. Withholding information. She shouldn't feel guilty at all. And yet, looking at Neal's smiling face, so delighted with her contented demeanor, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of grief about not letting her friend onto what was happening in her life.
Neal laughed. "Yes, you always were the one to put animals ahead of everything." He reached up and stroked her cheek, then pulled back and returned his hand to his side. "I punched Cleon for you."
Kel burst out laughing. "You punched Cleon? Neal! Why did you do that?" she asked, astonishment lining the tones of her voice. She had known Neal to be a bit overprotective of his friends at times, but this? Perhaps his former knight master had rubbed off on him after all...
"I didn't like the way his nose looked," Neal quoted her. Kel snorted and sat down on the bed. Neal followed her and took her hands in his.
"That's not a reason to punch him, though," Kel replied, her face a bit more serious.
"Ah, maybe. But he was being an ass, so I had to set him straight. He deserved it. He shouldn't have done that to you. You deserved better." Neal looked down at her and smiled. "So, do you want to go get something to eat? Owen's back from border patrol, so he can join us if you want."
Kel nodded. "I think I would like that. I think I would like that very much."
"Good." Neal got up and held his hand up to her. "M'lady," he murmured, using the tone he used with court ladies. Kel snorted and took his hand.
"Good sir," she shot back. Together, they walked out the door, closed it behind them, and headed over to Owen's rooms.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Owen had joined Kel and Neal on their way to the mess hall. He had been going there in the first place anyway, or so he said. He was pleasantly surprised to see Kel up and about for the first time in weeks, and had told her so. They sat down together while Neal went to get their meals.
"It's so jolly good to see you, Kel. I was beginning to get worried. But then again, it's you, so I don't know what there was to fuss over. You've always been the strong one, after all," Owen said as he waited for Neal to come back. Kel smiled and put a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Thanks, Owen. It really means a lot." Owen grinned and blushed as he put his elbows on the table.
"Well, I do admit, I was very worried. Neal told me how you weren't hadn't come out of your room and it really scared me. I thought that if something like that could happen to you, then it could happen to any of us. It's good to have you back, really. And you look prettier than ever." It was Kel's turn to blush as she leaned her shoulder against his.
"Oh, god Owen, don't start treating her like a girl now," Neal said from behind them. "Now move so I can sit down." Kel and Own scooted over so that Neal was next to Kel and Kel was in the middle. Kel looked at what Neal had brought them; ham sandwiches, water, and some carrots.
"I thought you didn't like vegetables, Neal," Owen joked while Neal sent him a menacing glare.
"Yes, well, knowing Kel would be here, she was bound to tell me to go and eat my vegetables anyway, so I thought I would just skip that part." Kel glared at Neal and then turned to Owen.
"When did you get back from border patrol anyway?" Kel asked him.
"Around a week ago. Wyldon was called here by the king, some kind of emergency or something. Besides, we had to come back for my ordeal sooner or later. I'm getting my shield this year, after all. Have to go face that jolly old chamber in a few months." He grimaced.
"Oh, don't you worry, Owen. With a guy so disgustingly cheery as you all the time, you'll probably end up coming out of there telling us it was a jolly old time," Neal said sarcastically as he clapped Owen on the back and started eating. Kel snorted and Owen laughed uneasily. They finished the rest of the meal in basic silence, with the exception of the occasional 'pass the ___' and Kel incessantly telling Neal to eat his vegetables. When they had finished, Kel stood up and patted her friends on their shoulders.
"I think I'm going to make my way back to my rooms now, boys, if it's all right with you," Kel proclaimed. Neal stood up to follow her.
"I think I'll come too." Kel shrugged and they both bid Owen goodbye. They walked down the halls in a comfortable silence, until Neal finally asked Kel a question.
"What made you come out of your room? I mean, I can understand that you finally got it through your Yamani thick head that the little ass wasn't good enough for you, but what made you realize it?" Kel turned to look at him and frowned.
"I guess I started thinking of all my friends and what an idiot I was being to worry them so much. For all you knew, I was locked in my room cutting my wrists. Neal, you, and Owen, and Raoul, and everyone else mean so much to me. I couldn't bear it if I were to lose you all too."
She paused, took a deep breath and continued on. "I understand what Cleon had to do, in some way. We're all forced to do things we don't like to sometimes, if they're for the best. Wyldon forced my to climb those trees to overcome my fear of heights. Cleon has a responsibility to the people of his fief. I can't deny him that. I could never ask someone to let other people starve and die because of me. I just couldn't." She chuckled. "Although, I thank you for punching him. It did make me feel better." Neal's face broke out into a smile.
"Now that's the Kel we all know and love. Come on, I'll walk you the rest of the way to your rooms." They headed off again through the halls of the royal palace. They were about the turn to the corner to the hall where Kel's room was located, when they started to hear women's voices from the other side of the corridor. Neal stopped Kel and grinned playfully.
"Let's hear what they have to gossip about today. It's interesting sometimes." Kel raised an eyebrow but halted in her tracks to listen.
"Did you hear what Celeste and Marie saw today? Apparently, they were at 'The Chevalier' and they saw that Mindelan whore, the one who just recently got her shield this past midwinter. Anyways, she saw Mindelan with that swine of a commander, Raoul I think his name is, and they were kissing! Yes, kissing! In public! The nerve of some people. Why don't they just get a room is beyond me. They're acting like commoners, showing that kind of affection in public. Honestly!"
Neal turned to Kel and snorted, expecting her to find this to be an incredibly funny joke. What he saw, however, was the face Kel had perfected so many times in her years as a page and squire: the face of the Yamani Lump. He shrugged and went back to listening.
"Well, I heard that she was running around having an affair with the boy my daughter is supposed to marry. That's why I had so many doubts about this wedding. But now that I see she's found a new dog to satisfy herself with, I'm not worried anymore." Neal felt Kel stiffen.
"That's good, Florence. Tell me, when is the wedding between Kitiara and that Kennen boy?"
"Oh, in another few months. They just met today, you know. I'm not going to make them marry so soon, else some particular ladies at court will find it mighty suspicious."
"Yes, yes. You always have to think of that when you plan a wedding. No engagement can ever be too long-" Their voices trailed off as they walked into another corridor. Neal gave Kel a worried gaze.
"Kel, are you all right? You don't look so well," Neal stated. "I hope what they said didn't bother you. It's just court gossip, after all. Nothing to worry about. Kel?"
Kel lost the glazed look on her face and grimaced. "Well. Neal, I'm not feeling so well right now, so I think I'll go to my rooms and lay down for a while." Neal frowned worriedly.
"Kel, they're just gossiping. That's what they do. They're court ladies, for Mithros' sake. And even if it does provide small doses of amusement, it's nothing to kill yourself over. It's about Cleon getting married to that girl, isn't it?" Kel frowned, but nodded.
'If he only knew the truth,' she thought. "I'd like to go back to my room now, Neal." Sighing, Neal walked her across the hallway to her room and opened the door for her with the key she handed him. She walked inside, while Neal waited outside.
"Thank you for a wonderful time, Neal," she said somewhat emotionlessly. Neal was a bit hurt at her cool tone, but smiled weakly anyway. He leaned over and kissed her on the lips lightly. Kel's eyes widened as he pulled away slowly.
"Bye, Kel," Neal whispered as he withdrew and walked out of the door, leaving Kel standing there, extremely confused.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
A/N: there's chapter three for you, everyone. I reallllly hope you liked it. I think this was probably the most amusing chapter of this fanfic I've wrote so far, with Neal and those stupid court ladies. *grinz* I love leaving Kel in complete inner turmoil. ^_^ To all those who reviewed, you are the most blessed of the gods. Truly and deeply. And to those who flamed, I laughed and laughed and laughed. Often, I could stop laughing before people edged away and started talking about soothing drinks. Your pitiful attempts of deterring me from my cause were quite amusing. Like I said, reviews, flames, criticisms, or ideas are always welcome. ^_^
*~KK~*