AN: Hey everyone. I've been kinda slow writing this story, so hopefully now
I'll write a little faster.
Chapter two: "Father, dear"
It was a blistering cold afternoon in the capital city of Tortall. Everyone with any sense stayed indoors with a hot cup of tea. There was, however, a small group of squires and a page standing just inside the palace gates. With them were two on horseback; a female with fiery red hair, and a young man whose padding for the cold hid how lanky he truly was. Kel and her friends would have braved any type of inclement weather to see Neal and Alanna off.
"Hurry up Neal!" The Lioness snapped.
Neal rolled his green eyes, and then set them on each of his friends. "Boy, what will life be like without me here to keep you sane?"
Kel answered, "Much quieter, thankfully." The rest of their friends laughed as Neal scoffed. "Neal, you act as if you'll be gone forever. It's just for two months."
"And a lot can happen in two months. Just look at you and Joren." Neal said as he glanced at Joren, who stood quietly next to Kel. "Take care of her, all right? I don't need her getting into trouble with her Ordeal a mere two years away."
Joren smiled at Kel and nodded. "No problem." Just the mention of the word "Ordeal" made Joren shiver inside. He was still extremely nervous about his Ordeal, which was a month away. Invitations to the Ordeal and knighting ceremony had been sent out to parents yesterday. No matter how much Joren wished time would stop, it kept creeping to that inevitable time he'd have to face the Chamber.
"Neal?! Come on, we need to make the border in two days, and at the rate you're going we won't make it till midsummer!"
"Ah, my lovely Knight Mistress calls. I'm off." Neal turned his horse and trotted toward Lady Alanna. As they rode out the palace gates toward adventure, Neal turned and yelled, "I'll miss you guys!" His statement was repeated by each of his friends. They watched until Neal and Alanna were no longer in sight.
"All right," Kel began, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm freezing. Let's go in." The rest agreed and they began walking to the warmth of the palace walls.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
That night Kel surprised Joren by bringing some hot tea and cakes into his room. She set the tray on his desk and sat cross-legged on a chair with a cup of the steaming tea.
"You didn't go to dinner tonight." She said in a soft tone. "So I figured something was wrong and came up."
Joren took a cup and drank in the herbal scents. "I didn't go because I wasn't hungry." It was the truth.
There was a long pause, then suddenly, "Why are you so worried about the Ordeal? I mean, it's normal to worry and be nervous, but you act as if you already know the outcome won't be good."
Joren sipped his tea, and then decided that hunger was catching up with him. He reached for one of the cakes Kel brought and bit into it. Kel found this as his attempt of avoid the question.
"Joren…"
He laughed, and with food in his mouth replied, "What? I'm going to answer you. Just…" He swallowed, "Let me eat. I skipped dinner." Kel gave him a glare, but then smiled.
"You were saying?" She asked.
"I am nervous about the Ordeal. Whenever someone comes out, they look like they've seen death itself. That thing knows a person's weakness, their fears. It also knows what you've done with your life, and if you're worthy to be a knight of the realm." Joren sighed and shook his head. "I haven't done anything good with my life, Kel. So many things that I've done aren't worth praise. I just… don't know what's going to happen."
Kel leaned forward. "But Joren, you've changed. You're a different person now. Don't you think the Chamber will see that? That it'll see the effort you've made to change and the new person you've become?"
Joren put his cup down, "Yes, but was it soon enough? That's what I ask myself everyday. That's what worries me."
"Look," Kel moved to sit next to Joren and wrap an arm around him. "I know you've done some bad things. But I also know that you're a different person. I also believe in you and in my heart I know you are good. I guess as long as you believe in yourself and know in your heart that you have changed in a good way… that's all you can do."
They both sat in silence for a long time. Joren turned Kel's head and kissed her fully. "Thank you. I think I needed some who would believe in me no matter what."
Kel smiled, "I was always told that's what love's all about. Believing in the other person, and them believing in you."
As they sat together, the wind outside picked up. Kel and Joren ignored the scraping of tree branches against the window and the howls of the wind. It was getting dark and cloudy outside, and a snowstorm was blowing in. A snowstorm promised dark and gloomy days ahead, without any sunshine.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Vinson of Genlith had ridden his horse for a full day. He was happy to finally be inside with a hot cup of coca and warm clothes. He had just missed the snowstorm blowing in, but he himself was about to cause a storm in the house of Burchard of Stone Mountain.
A servant came into the sitting room and Vinson stood. "My lord will see you now." The servant bowed in direction of the door and moved aside as Vinson moved toward the door of Burchard's office. He walked in to find Burchard sitting in a tall leather chair behind his desk.
"Come. Sit, lad." Burchard motioned Vinson to a chair in front of the desk. Vinson sat in the chair and started sorting out what he would say. "You said you had something important to tell me about my son, Joren?"
"Yes, sir. I do have something to tell you. But before I start I must apologize for bringing such upsetting news." Vinson shook his head in fake sympathy. I've got you now, Joren, he thought.
"Go on." Burchard thought this was just a routine visit from his son's best companion, but now it had taken on a much different meaning.
"Your son is in love with a girl." Vinson began.
Burchard breathed a sigh of relief. This was nothing but a friend abandoned by a fellow in love. Nothing serious. "Vinson, my boy, this is normal. If you feel that Joren's not spending time with you anymore…"
"But, sir, it is not normal at all." Vinson interrupted rudely. "Your son is in love with none other that Squire Keladry of Mindelan." Vinson smiled inwardly as his comment resulted in just the reaction he had hoped for.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Joren bent down to light the fire in his fireplace. He had to do so because his servant Kendra had just left to retrieve the mail. As the logs took flame, he sat and watched the flames consume the wood. The warmth reached Joren, and for a moment he was relieved of the cold weather outside. He and Kel hadn't been able to take their walks outside because of the deep snow and chilly weather. If they wanted to talk with each other privately, they'd go to each other's rooms.
"Young sir, your mail has arrived." Kendra stood in the doorway holding a small silver tray. She placed the tray in front of his, bowed slightly, and left the room. Joren looked down at the letter on the tray. It was from his father. Joren knew what this letter would contain.
"Dear son," Joren rambled as he broke the seal. "We're so proud, we'll be there as soon as possible to see your Ordeal." He opened the letter and was stunned to find only one sentence. Not just that, but what the sentence said left his heart still.
Stone Mountain has no son by the name of Joren.
Burchard of Stone Mountain
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kel sat at her desk watching the snowfall outside her window. Suddenly there was a loud knock on her door. She got up and opened the door. "Joren? Are you all right?" He looked blanched, the blood gone from his handsome face. He crossed the room and put a hand to his head, his hand holding a piece of parchment. "Joren, tell me what's wrong." Kel gently demanded.
Instead of answering, Joren just handed her the letter and sat down on her bed. "Read it." His voice cracked as he said it, as if he was fighting not to cry.
Kel sat and read the only sentence. She paused, as if searching for more to the letter. Finally she set it down. "Joren, this is from your father? How- why… what caused him to do something like this?"
"I don't know! It was supposed to be an acceptance of the invitation to the Ordeal and now… now it's become a disownment?" Joren snatched the letter up and reread it. "Stone Mountain has no son by the name of Joren? I don't get it. Why did he do this?"
They had both been so caught up in the contents of the letter, they had forgotten to shut the door. "So, Joren, your father disowns you and you don't know why?" Vinson came into view in the doorway. "You know, my old friend, sometimes the answer is right under your nose." He glared at Kel, and then smiled. "Your father's a good person, a great conversationalist." With that, he walked off.
"Him. He did this, Kel! I can't believe he would stoop that low!" Joren stood up, sadness replaced with anger and the desire for revenge. "I'm going to teach him a lesson or two!"
But Kel caught his arm. "No, Joren." She said calmly. "Something tells me he will get what he deserves."
"But how, Kel? No one knows what he did but us."
Kel looked up at Joren, and then stood. "You should go. It's getting late, and some rest would probably do you some good." Joren agreed and kissed her goodbye.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Midwinter had finally arrived and, as tradition held, a ceremony was held the day before for the knight-masters of those squires set to face the Ordeal. Joren had asked Kel to wait with him in his room until his knight- master Paxton of Nond came back with the results. Vinson of Genlith was to go first. Joren was chosen second.
Chapter two: "Father, dear"
It was a blistering cold afternoon in the capital city of Tortall. Everyone with any sense stayed indoors with a hot cup of tea. There was, however, a small group of squires and a page standing just inside the palace gates. With them were two on horseback; a female with fiery red hair, and a young man whose padding for the cold hid how lanky he truly was. Kel and her friends would have braved any type of inclement weather to see Neal and Alanna off.
"Hurry up Neal!" The Lioness snapped.
Neal rolled his green eyes, and then set them on each of his friends. "Boy, what will life be like without me here to keep you sane?"
Kel answered, "Much quieter, thankfully." The rest of their friends laughed as Neal scoffed. "Neal, you act as if you'll be gone forever. It's just for two months."
"And a lot can happen in two months. Just look at you and Joren." Neal said as he glanced at Joren, who stood quietly next to Kel. "Take care of her, all right? I don't need her getting into trouble with her Ordeal a mere two years away."
Joren smiled at Kel and nodded. "No problem." Just the mention of the word "Ordeal" made Joren shiver inside. He was still extremely nervous about his Ordeal, which was a month away. Invitations to the Ordeal and knighting ceremony had been sent out to parents yesterday. No matter how much Joren wished time would stop, it kept creeping to that inevitable time he'd have to face the Chamber.
"Neal?! Come on, we need to make the border in two days, and at the rate you're going we won't make it till midsummer!"
"Ah, my lovely Knight Mistress calls. I'm off." Neal turned his horse and trotted toward Lady Alanna. As they rode out the palace gates toward adventure, Neal turned and yelled, "I'll miss you guys!" His statement was repeated by each of his friends. They watched until Neal and Alanna were no longer in sight.
"All right," Kel began, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm freezing. Let's go in." The rest agreed and they began walking to the warmth of the palace walls.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
That night Kel surprised Joren by bringing some hot tea and cakes into his room. She set the tray on his desk and sat cross-legged on a chair with a cup of the steaming tea.
"You didn't go to dinner tonight." She said in a soft tone. "So I figured something was wrong and came up."
Joren took a cup and drank in the herbal scents. "I didn't go because I wasn't hungry." It was the truth.
There was a long pause, then suddenly, "Why are you so worried about the Ordeal? I mean, it's normal to worry and be nervous, but you act as if you already know the outcome won't be good."
Joren sipped his tea, and then decided that hunger was catching up with him. He reached for one of the cakes Kel brought and bit into it. Kel found this as his attempt of avoid the question.
"Joren…"
He laughed, and with food in his mouth replied, "What? I'm going to answer you. Just…" He swallowed, "Let me eat. I skipped dinner." Kel gave him a glare, but then smiled.
"You were saying?" She asked.
"I am nervous about the Ordeal. Whenever someone comes out, they look like they've seen death itself. That thing knows a person's weakness, their fears. It also knows what you've done with your life, and if you're worthy to be a knight of the realm." Joren sighed and shook his head. "I haven't done anything good with my life, Kel. So many things that I've done aren't worth praise. I just… don't know what's going to happen."
Kel leaned forward. "But Joren, you've changed. You're a different person now. Don't you think the Chamber will see that? That it'll see the effort you've made to change and the new person you've become?"
Joren put his cup down, "Yes, but was it soon enough? That's what I ask myself everyday. That's what worries me."
"Look," Kel moved to sit next to Joren and wrap an arm around him. "I know you've done some bad things. But I also know that you're a different person. I also believe in you and in my heart I know you are good. I guess as long as you believe in yourself and know in your heart that you have changed in a good way… that's all you can do."
They both sat in silence for a long time. Joren turned Kel's head and kissed her fully. "Thank you. I think I needed some who would believe in me no matter what."
Kel smiled, "I was always told that's what love's all about. Believing in the other person, and them believing in you."
As they sat together, the wind outside picked up. Kel and Joren ignored the scraping of tree branches against the window and the howls of the wind. It was getting dark and cloudy outside, and a snowstorm was blowing in. A snowstorm promised dark and gloomy days ahead, without any sunshine.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Vinson of Genlith had ridden his horse for a full day. He was happy to finally be inside with a hot cup of coca and warm clothes. He had just missed the snowstorm blowing in, but he himself was about to cause a storm in the house of Burchard of Stone Mountain.
A servant came into the sitting room and Vinson stood. "My lord will see you now." The servant bowed in direction of the door and moved aside as Vinson moved toward the door of Burchard's office. He walked in to find Burchard sitting in a tall leather chair behind his desk.
"Come. Sit, lad." Burchard motioned Vinson to a chair in front of the desk. Vinson sat in the chair and started sorting out what he would say. "You said you had something important to tell me about my son, Joren?"
"Yes, sir. I do have something to tell you. But before I start I must apologize for bringing such upsetting news." Vinson shook his head in fake sympathy. I've got you now, Joren, he thought.
"Go on." Burchard thought this was just a routine visit from his son's best companion, but now it had taken on a much different meaning.
"Your son is in love with a girl." Vinson began.
Burchard breathed a sigh of relief. This was nothing but a friend abandoned by a fellow in love. Nothing serious. "Vinson, my boy, this is normal. If you feel that Joren's not spending time with you anymore…"
"But, sir, it is not normal at all." Vinson interrupted rudely. "Your son is in love with none other that Squire Keladry of Mindelan." Vinson smiled inwardly as his comment resulted in just the reaction he had hoped for.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Joren bent down to light the fire in his fireplace. He had to do so because his servant Kendra had just left to retrieve the mail. As the logs took flame, he sat and watched the flames consume the wood. The warmth reached Joren, and for a moment he was relieved of the cold weather outside. He and Kel hadn't been able to take their walks outside because of the deep snow and chilly weather. If they wanted to talk with each other privately, they'd go to each other's rooms.
"Young sir, your mail has arrived." Kendra stood in the doorway holding a small silver tray. She placed the tray in front of his, bowed slightly, and left the room. Joren looked down at the letter on the tray. It was from his father. Joren knew what this letter would contain.
"Dear son," Joren rambled as he broke the seal. "We're so proud, we'll be there as soon as possible to see your Ordeal." He opened the letter and was stunned to find only one sentence. Not just that, but what the sentence said left his heart still.
Stone Mountain has no son by the name of Joren.
Burchard of Stone Mountain
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kel sat at her desk watching the snowfall outside her window. Suddenly there was a loud knock on her door. She got up and opened the door. "Joren? Are you all right?" He looked blanched, the blood gone from his handsome face. He crossed the room and put a hand to his head, his hand holding a piece of parchment. "Joren, tell me what's wrong." Kel gently demanded.
Instead of answering, Joren just handed her the letter and sat down on her bed. "Read it." His voice cracked as he said it, as if he was fighting not to cry.
Kel sat and read the only sentence. She paused, as if searching for more to the letter. Finally she set it down. "Joren, this is from your father? How- why… what caused him to do something like this?"
"I don't know! It was supposed to be an acceptance of the invitation to the Ordeal and now… now it's become a disownment?" Joren snatched the letter up and reread it. "Stone Mountain has no son by the name of Joren? I don't get it. Why did he do this?"
They had both been so caught up in the contents of the letter, they had forgotten to shut the door. "So, Joren, your father disowns you and you don't know why?" Vinson came into view in the doorway. "You know, my old friend, sometimes the answer is right under your nose." He glared at Kel, and then smiled. "Your father's a good person, a great conversationalist." With that, he walked off.
"Him. He did this, Kel! I can't believe he would stoop that low!" Joren stood up, sadness replaced with anger and the desire for revenge. "I'm going to teach him a lesson or two!"
But Kel caught his arm. "No, Joren." She said calmly. "Something tells me he will get what he deserves."
"But how, Kel? No one knows what he did but us."
Kel looked up at Joren, and then stood. "You should go. It's getting late, and some rest would probably do you some good." Joren agreed and kissed her goodbye.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Midwinter had finally arrived and, as tradition held, a ceremony was held the day before for the knight-masters of those squires set to face the Ordeal. Joren had asked Kel to wait with him in his room until his knight- master Paxton of Nond came back with the results. Vinson of Genlith was to go first. Joren was chosen second.