Disclaimer: You would think we would have gone through this enough times! I don't own em'! If I did, I would be all rich and married and stuff! So leave me alone!
Thanks go to: purple_eyez04 (You should talk to my friend. She was so upset with me for "stooping" to putting MR and WtR refs lol), Mollie (squirrels are awesome. Do not diss them by saying they are just "cool." ^_^), not-just-another-blonde (look to the bottom), Epitaph Munku JGSPTV (see? I updated. Took me a while...), blank (yes, Kit was with Tanis. That doesn't stop me from hating her.), Tal, jesusfreak7777777 (I didn't kill anyone! YAY!), Jishoshojo (I saw men in tights! Yay!), Keita (hello. I really have nothing to say to you, weirdo. SO just read it. And then yell at me online for making it like this. So, just go right ahead. Yup. ...), Lady Arianna, Angel of the Storms (go read the outline. You'll get a kick out of it.), Jude (You are a strangeling. Seriously. And caffeine is not always good for you! Its stunts growth! Do you want to be a short red head like Alanna? Hm?? And that other caffeine rich drink you were telling me about probably isn't good for you. So you shouldn't drink that either. lol), ndblue123, White-Wolf (I didn't mean for you to feel guilty. It's just that, these people can scream very loud. OH well. You'll be happy with this chapter, hopefully.), tigerlily, Becky, LKH [Kate duh] (NEAL!!! DOM!! RAOUL!!! ALEX!!! GEORGE!!! *scratches head in thought* HUGH JACKMAN!!! JOREN!!!! YEAH!!!!!! *cough* Anyways, off to take my sedative.), Lady of the Lost, Chavi, Min (Baz is definitely one of the best directors out there. Boo Academy! Boo!), and Tris McGraw (yeah, I don't think that Raoul and Kel would have made it either. Oh well. NEAL!!!)
A/N: Yes, I was trying to make Cleon sound kind of lovestruck in this chapter. So deal with it!
Rebound - Chapter 9 - (Slightly Comic) Goodbyes
Kel woke up the next morning with a feeling of content. Neal was draping a protective arm around her tightly; her head rested on his chest comfortably. Kel's lips subconsciously curved up to form a slight smile. Neal was such a possessive person.
Neal stirred slightly and increased his hold on her. Kel closed her eyes, and lost herself in Neal's warmth...
Kel was jolted from her sleep by a jarring pounding sound coming from Neal's door. Groggily, Neal moaned.
"What in the name of bloody Mithros...?" he asked, half asleep. Sleepily, he looked down at Kel and grinned. "Hi," he said quietly. Kel let a small smile grace her lips until the pounding on the door returned. Neal moaned and rolled his eyes. Then, he looked at Kel. "I'll send whoever it is away, if you want."
Kel shook her head. "No, it's fine. I'll just stay here." Neal shrugged as Kel crawled off him. Standing up, he went to the door and opened it.
"Neal! This is great! She's not another court lady! She likes archery, and she actually has a grasp of strategy and tactics! I'm not going to be stuck marrying an idiot!" Cleon of Kennan yelled excitedly as he bounded into Neal's room. He didn't notice Kel in his fervor.
Neal stifled a yawn. "Cleon, what time is it?" he asked the younger man. Cleon looked confused for a minute, then answered.
"Around 6:00," he answered cheerily. Neal snorted and pursed his lips together.
"In the morning?" he asked, barely able to keep his voice down. Cleon grinned stupidly.
"Well, I was just excited. Neal, we talked all night! And she's-" Cleon stopped when he realized that a very tired looking Kel was sitting on Neal's couch. He raised an eyebrow. "Neal? Is there something here I should know about?"
Neal shoved Cleon lightly on the shoulder. "It's nothing that concerns you. Now, please, can you explain what is going on in a somewhat rational manner?" Cleon still wouldn't take matters away from Kel, though.
"Neal, I swear to Mithros, if something happened-"
"Nothing happened, you big idiot. Now what is it?" Neal interjected, annoyed at the redheaded knight. Cleon frowned and looked at Kel, who was now getting up to stand.
"Cleon," she said softly as she slowly stepped over to the two knights. Cleon gritted his teeth.
"Kel, if he did anything-"
"He didn't, Cleon. Now, can you please get to the point?" she snapped sharply. Cleon looked a bit put down. He had wanted to regain some of his pride by finally beating Neal, but it looked like that wasn't going to happen now. He shrugged it off, and smiled tightly. He looked from Neal to Kel, then back to Neal.
"Erm, well, I just had wanted to tell Neal something, but..." His voice trailed off as he looked helplessly at the two of them. Kel looked annoyed.
"Cleon, if it's about your betrothed, just say it. It's not going to make my feel uncomfortable in any way, shape or form, if that's what you're worried about," she growled at him. Cleon pulled back slightly; it wasn't like Kel to snap at anyone.
"Well, it is, actually," he started reluctantly. When he saw that Neal and Kel were both waiting for him to go on, he grinned sheepishly. "Um, well, we, Kitiara and I, I mean, we got to talking, and I found out that she isn't just this stupid court person. She likes archery, and, Neal, she studies your grandfather's battles! We spent most of the night talking about all these amazing things! Oh..." Cleon's face acquired a dreamy look. "I just had to tell someone. I'm sorry for waking you two up..." he smiled slyly, raising an eyebrow at Kel and Neal both. They both looked at him with disgusted expressions on their faces.
"Cleon, get over it," Neal grumbled as he made a move toward Cleon. Cleon backed away, holding up his hands in surrender.
"All right, all right. Sorry. It's just that, erm..." Cleon's voice trailed off.
"Oh, get it over with, man! If you're going to say something, say it and be done with it!" Neal cried, throwing up his hands in exasperation. Kel stifled a laugh that had bubbled to her lips, while Cleon smiled tightly.
"I just wanted you to know, that if anyone, I'm happy it's you, Neal. Take care of her, all right?" Cleon told him as he backed up towards the door. Neal nodded somberly and watched Cleon step into the doorway.
Cleon nodded and smiled. "Well, sorry for bothering you all. Didn't mean anything by it. Good luck!" he said to the two of them as he left and shut the door behind him. (A/N: My friend said he sounded like Spike from Buffy here. What do you think?)
Kel raised an eyebrow. "Good luck?" she said jokingly. Neal shrugged.
"With us, I suppose." Kel walked over to him and let him envelope her in his arms.
"I'm glad there's an us," Kel said softly as she looked up at Neal. Neal simply smiled before he captured her lips with his own.
(A/N: God, I hate that. Not the part with Cleon, just the fluff at the end. I despise writing fluff. It makes me sick. Reading it, I don't mind, but this is just making me think I have no life just like the rest of you. I'M NOT ORIGINAL ANYMORE!!!!! WAHHH!!!!! *sniff* Anyways, go on with the story. I just had to say that.)
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Raoul awoke with a bit of a start. A flood of memories attacked him as he realized that Buri, his friend and former lover, was snuggled up closely to him, wrapping her arms around him vigilantly. A small chuckle came to Raoul's lips as he watched his comrade sleep. She was so much less dangerous this way; the worry lines that anxiety and battle had caused her disappeared, showing only a serene reminiscence of childhood long gone.
Silently, he moved a hand to smooth down a piece of hair that had brushed over her face in sleep. Buri stirred lightly, but continued to slumber soundly. Raoul beheld his friend with a quiet comfort. She could make him feel so content in these days of madness.
Raoul moved the arm that Buri had claimed so possessively in sleep. A tingling feeling spread up from the tips of his fingers to his elbow, making him quiver ever so slightly. Just that bit was enough to awaken Buri from her sleep. She looked around, disoriented at first. Her gaze swept Raoul's rooms as she came to. Her glance ended when she saw Raoul, sitting next to her placidly.
She smiled widely at the sight of him. "Hey," she said quietly, with a tinge of slyness in her voice. Raoul matched her grin with his own, reaching over to touch her cheek.
"Good morning," he answered, raising an eyebrow impertinently. She snorted in quite an un-ladylike fashion before flinging her arms around him. Raoul sniggered helplessly as Buri scrutinized him intently. She looked reprovingly at him.
"Raoul?" she asked him.
"Hm?" was his only reply. Buri flashed him a smile.
"Don't ruin the moment," she said before her lips hushed his laughs. Raoul returned her kiss warmly, causing passion and fire to scorch her lips. Buri moaned into his mouth, leaning against him more fully.
Raoul finally broke the kiss a few moments later, smirking. Buri smacked his forehead playfully for his inability to stay serious for any sort of period of time, then grazed his cheek with her lips.
She slowly got to her feet. Raoul was still grinning saucily (A/N: I just had to put that word in lol) when he got up to meet her. Meeting her lips with his again, he conquered them for only a short period of time before she pulled away.
"Mm," she sounded softly as she took his hands and kissed both of them. "What time is it?" Buri asked finally.
Raoul shrugged. "I'm not sure. We could have slept late for once. And I must say, I don't think I can think of a more pleasant face to wake up to." Buri's face flushed, a bit embarrassed.
"Yes, yes. It's just that I was supposed to meet Evin to help with his new recruits. He's been having his fair share of pains from them, from what I can see," she explained to him. Raoul frowned.
"What time were you supposed to be there?" Buri snickered.
"You think you would know what time the Riders' wake up for training after all this time," she said mockingly. "The same time as the King's Own, for all they're a lazy bunch of men."
Raoul gave Buri a mock glare, then broke out into a smile. "If that's the case, you should probably be going. And, of course, I'll just have to join you..." he said, mirth filling his voice.
Buri looked at him reprovingly and narrowed her eyes. "Raoul, you have to go talk to Kel! Now don't you loose your nerve now, you big sissy," she snapped at him.
Raoul did his best to look serious. He truly did. However, he could not control the curve of his lips as they arched upward. "Sissy?" he asked, barely able to keep the amusement from his voice.
Buri slapped him on the arm lightly. "You know what I mean. Go talk to her, Raoul. You can meet me later for lunch at the Rider barracks." Raoul shrugged and grinned.
"All right. But before you go there, you might want to change your clothes. People might start getting ideas if they see you in the same clothes for two days in a row," he said, his eyes glinting madly.
Buri sighed. "Oh, shut up, Raoul. I have to go," she grumbled at him before turning to leave. Raoul took her arm and spun her around, giving her one last, breathtaking kiss before she left. Indeed, Buri did look quite dazed as she walked out of Raoul's rooms.
Inside his rooms, Raoul laughed.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
After Neal kissed her quite thoroughly, Kel had left his rooms and headed toward her own. Humming a soft tune, she walked jovially in the direction of her quarters. They weren't nearly as big as Neal's. She was part of a minor fief, after all. Neal's family was one of the four founders of Tortall, along with Naxen, HaMinch, and Trebond. Her smaller quarters suited her, however, and anything had to be bigger than the tents she shared with the King's Own.
Kel knitted her eyebrows together and frowned thinking of the King's Own. Her thoughts inevitably led to Raoul. What would he think? Ever since that letter, Kel had been in a state of disorientation. The fact that Raoul loved her was completely unexpected. One night of lust usually doesn't constitute love. When you were friends for so long, however, she supposed that it was easier to fall in love in a shorter period of time.
She had even gone so far as to think of running away for the third time in her life. The first time she had ran away was when Joren had picked on a much younger Merric of Hollyrose. She had righted that wrong, and gained a friend in the effort. The second time had gotten her into more trouble, when she had run away from the reality of her life and right into Raoul's arms. Running away another time--that would be the time that killed her. Going to fight Scanrans would only allow her to forget for a brief period of time. Sooner or later, she would end up back home at the palace, and when that happened, it would have been even harder to face Raoul.
Still, how would she approach him? Raoul, for all that he was big and brawny, was a sensitive fellow at heart. It could just drive him over the edge if he didn't take it well. How was she to tell him and not hurt him at the same time?
Rounding the hall to her room, she stopped for a moment and leaned against the wall. 'This is all your fault,' a nasty, spiteful part of her mind told her. 'Nothing like this would have ever happened if you had just sucked it up and put on your Yamani face for one last time.'
Kel nodded mentally. It was her fault, although she had been fighting to admit it. It was her fault and no one else's; not Raoul's, not Cleon, and most especially not Neal's. She sighed. Things had been so much simpler when they were pages. Even when Kel was a squire, she had been able to sort out her life for the most part. The good part was that she now knew what she wanted. The question was: Who would she hurt in telling the truth?
Kel grimaced in thinking about it. She remembered Raoul right after his separation with Buri. He had not been a pretty sight. Although he had not drunken a stitch of alcohol, he was worse for wear; sometimes, Kel had seen him wandering the practice courts aimlessly, or lounging in his room looking at nothing in particular. It had worried her then, and it was worrying her now. Hopefully, Raoul would make a miraculous realization that he didn't love her and decide to move on with his life. 'Then again,' thought Kel, 'I've been having delusions of grandeur for the past week or so. What's to stop me now?'
Kel heard someone clear their throat from her left. She frowned, and looked toward where the sound was coming. There, standing at the other end of the hallway, was Raoul.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Come on, recruits! Move faster! You'd better be running faster than that when a Scanran is behind you, thirsty for blood! Move it, move it, move it!" Buri yelled from her spot next to Evin Larse. Her successor grinned at her.
"Still love to keep it interesting, don't you, Buri?" She smiled at him.
"Always," she replied.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
(A/N: I just had to do that. You know, break the tension and all that. Plus, I wanted to hear you reactions. Or what I think would be your reactions if I had stopped there. Oh well. I wouldn't do that to you all. On with the story.)
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Kel," Raoul said softly as he moved to come closer to her. Kel swallowed visibly; she thought she would have had more time to think of what she would tell him before actually seeing him. Clearing her throat, she began.
"Raoul. Ah--you're here. With me. In my hallway. How utterly pleasant," Kel said serenely, while inside, scrambling for the right words to say to him. Raoul looked away towards his feet and coughed. They stood there, for a moment, in uncomfortable, perennial silence. Finally, Kel spoke.
"Would you like to go and--um--talk? Inside? Or here, if you please." She glanced up at him, willing some kind of reaction from him. Instead, his face remained impassive.
"Here's fine," he answered shortly. Kel gave a tight, weak smile and walked up closer to him.
"All right. Raoul. Um--"
"On second thought, inside is good," he said, cutting her off. His dark eyes held her gaze for a split second then broke away when Kel fumbled inside her breeches for her keys. She moved to open the door and put the wrong key in the door. Kel smiled sheepishly as she floundered with the keys.
"Damn, clumsy. I was never good wit--"
"Here," Raoul said in as he helped her open the door. His voice was surprisingly gentle and caring, almost the way it was before this whole big mess started. Kel looked up at him wordlessly as he opened the door and motioned for her to go inside. Kel did so and Raoul shut the door behind him, not bothering to lock it.
Kel gestured for him to sit down on one of the chairs or couches that littered her main quarters. Obligingly, Raoul sat on a couch and cleared his throat, a silent askance for her to sit with him. The younger woman moved to the other side of the two cushion couch and occupied herself with looking at her feet. Raoul did the same. (A/N: Notice how people are coughing or clearing their throats a lot? That's because my throat is in desperate need of clearing, but the froggie in it won't seem to go away. Eugh)
Finally, Kel spoke. "Raoul, I want you to know beforehand, I didn't want any of this to happen, but it did. So now that it did, be can either accept it, or--well--not accept it. The former will be more beneficial to everyone, I believe, and well--" Raoul raised a hand, motioning for her to stop.
"Kel, do you still want to be with me?" he asked firmly, but with a hint of urgency in his voice. Kel swallowed and sighed.
Very slowly, she began. "No. Not anymore," she grimaced and chanced a look up at him. His face was apathetic. She went on. "I know that I had wanted to, back in the beginning, but, well, truthfully, I spoke with Lady Alanna and I agree with her. I was rebounding off you, Raoul, and I know that it was heartless for me to do, but I just had no one else to turn to--" Suddenly, abruptly, Raoul began to laugh. He chuckled softly, while Kel scowled. "What's so funny?" she demanded.
"You spoke with Lady *Alanna*?" he asked incredulously. "About--*us*? Do you have any idea how--dangerous that can be?" His eyes began to water. "Do you know anything about Alanna's history with men? Anything at all?" Kel glowered at her former knight master.
"Of course I do. That's precisely *why* I went to her. Because she was in a situation similar, where she had to choose between two men--" Kel suddenly stopped, mentally berating herself for letting that go. Raoul stopped laughing abruptly.
"Choosing? Why would you have to choose? Choose between who?" he demanded. Kel edged away a bit and looked at him prudently. She cocked her head to the side and sighed helplessly.
"Well--you. And, um..." Kel bit her lip. "And Neal," she said, firmer this time. Raoul raised an eyebrow. Keeping his face almost Yamani like in nature, he spoke.
"Who did you choose?" he asked firmly. Kel looked up at him with sad eyes that pleaded with him.
"Raoul, it was nothing against you--"
"You chose Neal," he said simply. Kel grimaced and met his eyes. "You chose Neal," he repeated for a second time. Unexpectedly, he began to laugh again. Kel winced. "You chose Neal," he repeated over and over again, tears coming to his eyes.
Kel looked at him, slightly perturbed. He wasn't stopping. He just kept laughing. And laughing. What was so funny?
"So you don't love me?" Raoul asked, mirth still flooding his voice. Kel nodded and looked down. This only made Raoul laugh harder. This time, Kel got annoyed.
"Just what is so funny?" she inquired demandingly. Raoul went forward and cupped her chin with his fingers.
"I don't love you either," he said softly, with a simple smile on his lips. Kel looked at him in alarm.
"But--in the letter, you had said--"
"Kel." Raoul silenced her by putting his big palm over her mouth. "You said it yourself. We were rebounding off of each other. That's all there is to it. If it made me momentarily weaker, then well, it did. I don't love you, and you don't love me. It all works out in the end." Kel drew back from his palm and knitted her eyebrows together.
"What made you change your mind?" she asked inquiringly. Raoul blushed slightly. Kel raised an eyebrow at his change in demeanor.
"Ahm... well, I had a talk with Buri--" Kel cut him off with a laugh.
"You two are back together?" Raoul's blush deepened. He nodded and pursed his lips together in a tight smile. "You know I'm going to tease you about this," she said, her lips curved in a perpetual smile.
Raoul scowled. "Just like I'm going to tease you about Sir Meathead," he retorted.
Kel looked at him for a moment, then frowned. "You are a bad man," she told him matter-of-factly. Raoul snorted and leaned over to give Kel a hug. Kel met his embrace warmly, not stiffening or pulling back. She buried her head against his shoulder, and closed her eyes, thinking that just a few days ago, she wouldn't have thought this possible.
Finally, Raoul pulled back. He was grinning, as always. Kel smiled back at him and Raoul stood up.
"This is goodbye, then?" he asked. Kel shook her head.
"In the way that you mean, yes, it is. But our friendship will always be there," she answered. Raoul shrugged.
"I already knew that. I'm glad you do too," he made a move for the door, but stopped. "Kel, do you think we should talk with anyone about this?" Kel sighed.
"To the people that know, well, not much we can do there. It would be better if we didn't tell anyone else, though, if we don't want to get shredded up by the court gossips." Raoul snorted.
"It's too late for that," he answered. "They've apparently been talking about us already. A couple of them saw us kissing." Kel raised an eyebrow.
"Now, whose fault is that?" Raoul grinned sheepishly and shrugged. He looked at her one last time, then made for the door.
Opening it, he didn't look at her when he said, "bye, Kel." He slipped out into the hallway and closed the door behind him.
Kel's heart ached slightly. She hoped things wouldn't change too much the next time she saw him. Then again, this confrontation had proven that Raoul was still the same old Raoul, always cracking jokes.
'He'll always be able to make me smile,' she thought wistfully. Smiling tightly, she stood up and walked over to where she had kept Raoul's letter. It was in a beautiful porcelain box, with designs of flowers etched along the edged. Her mother had sent it to her from her latest time in the Isles. She would be coming back soon, along with Shinko and Yuki.
She frowned at the thought of Yuki, then put it aside. Whatever happens will happen when it does. She shouldn't worry herself over it now, when there was nothing she could do about it.
Opening the box, she carefully took out Raoul's letter and fingered it gently. For a moment, she was tempted to read it again. When she had first gotten it, she had re-read it countless time, scrutinizing every detail of the letter. Shaking her head firmly, she took the letter over to the hearth, placed it on the ground, and started the fire.
It was smoldering in minutes, the flames licking at Kel heatedly. Carefully, she picked the letter up and held it in her hand. Swallowing almost painfully, she threw the letter into the fire.
Kel watched the parchment burn, riveting her eyes to the spot. This was her final goodbye to whatever romantic relationship she had had with Raoul. Her eyes were sad as she watched the only real piece of poetry a man had sent her burn.
When the letter had finished burning, she turned away from the hearth and let out a deep breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. It was a sad goodbye, but it had to be done. If she had held onto anything of their relationship, the worst she could have done was kept that letter.
Sighing, she doused the fire. She didn't want her rooms aflame while she was out.
Stepping into the hallway and locking the door behind her, she started off on at brisk walk. On the bright side, the goodbye she had suffered with Raoul was brightened by the prospect of her future with Neal.
'My future with Neal,' Kel thought. She smiled. 'I like the sound of that.'
(A/N: Wow, that was a crappy ending. I couldn't think of anything else, sorry. I had been sitting her at my computer for about 15 minutes before I decided to do that for an ending. Ending... that means that my baby's done!!! *sigh* Well, I guess it had to happen someday... *wistful sigh* Anyways... I know it's crap, you don't have to tell me. It's all fluffy and boring and stuff. I just couldn't think of a better way to wrap it up! Well, I could have had Jon (or Cleon...) jump off a cliff, and that would have made it SOOOO much better, but I don't think it would have really fit. The reason why I made Cleon all happy was because I feel sorry for him, always being stuck with a real bitch for a betrothed. And since I didn't entirely develop her already, I figured I could give her a slightly more 3-D personality. Whatever. The part with Neal was fluffy, I know this. I couldn't help it. I wanted to make it fluffy. I started getting all squealy when I was writing it. And the part with the letter burning thing was really hard for me to write. Not that it took me a long time, it was just painful, seeing them finally over. *sniff* RAOUL!!!!! *sobs* Anyways, hope you liked it. It took me long enough. If it makes you feel any better, it's 12 pages long. So you'll have even more reading material. Yeah. Please be supportive of my crappy ending and review. I know you've already done so much for me, but I'm just asking this one last time. And possibly another time if I go and write the epilogue. If I force myself to do it. Hopefully, I will.
Oh, and here's something I thought you guys would like. This is the original outline for Rebound. See if you cracked up as bad as I did when I was reading it.
Chapter 1 - Kel and Raoul get together
Chapter 2 - Morning after; Kel regrets; Raoul convinces her that their relationship is good; takes her out for breakfast; kisses her; some court ladies find out.
Chapter 3 - News spreads, Jon confronts Raoul; Neal confronts Kel; gets jealous.
Chapter 4 - Cleon returns a married man; talks to Neal and tells him that if wants Kel, he has to fight for her.
Chapter 5 - Kel and Raoul talk; decide to continue relationship; Kel talks to Cleon about Raoul.
Chapter 6 - Neal confronts Raoul and tells him he's too old for Kel; Raoul gets angry; Kel convinces herself she's over Cleon and meets his new wife.
Chapter 7 - Raoul tells Buri; Kel and Raoul talk
This is the one that's realllllly funny...
Chapter 8 - Months go by; Raoul proposes; Kel rejects him because she doesn't want to get trapped.
That's all I had of the outline. Pretty funny, huh? I thought so too. Of course, now Angel of the Storms is going to yell at me for not keeping Kel and Raoul together like in the outline, but oh well. Anyways, I must go post this now. I hope you liked my crappy ending!
Much love,
Stana (I've adopted that name from Jude. Thanx lol)
P.S. To my psychopath sister:
Captain Neal will get Kel high tonight
And take her to her special isle
Captain Neal will get Kel by tonight
Just a little push, and she'll be smiling!
Oh, and:
Kel may be right
Neal may be crazy
Oh! But it just may be a lu--unatic Kel's looking for!
Turn out the lights!
Don't try to save me.
Kel may be wrong, but all Neal knows is she may be right!!!
MOOHAHAHA!!!!