Beautiful Stranger
by
rubi red
Breathe
*
"Kel?"
"Neal, I'm-"
"KEL?"
"Neal-" The realization had just struck me. He only liked me because I was beautiful. Just another one of the court ladies. I let out a long sigh. I should never have done that. Sticking my head in that gods-cursed fountain, letting him know who I really am...he'll never be able to fall in love with Kel. Oh, no, not Kel. Not his gods-cursed best friend! My eyes were fixed on a particularly interesting spot of my kimono. The fabric DID seem to be much darker there, for some odd reason...
"Kel...Kel, I never knew you could be so...so-" Neal seemed at a loss for words. He ran his fingers through his tousled brown hair.
"So beautiful? Maybe, after 6 years, you've finally figured out that I'm a girl. You know what, Queenscove? I may not be the most beautiful lady in court, but I can assure you that, unlike most of them, I at least have half a brain!" Whipping my kimono out from under me, I stood up, inching closer to Neal. He stood up as well, and we were on the same eye level. "You, Queenscove, are the most shallow person that I know. You never thought anything of me before. You were always swooning over some court lady, while I sat and listened. I always wished that someday you could like me as a girl, and not just talk to me about girls. Today, it seems like that has happened. And do you know why, Queenscove? Oh, I remember now- it's because now I actually look like the girl you would want to write poetry to, to dance with...but what you still lack to observe, Queenscove, is that I am the very same person that I was before. And I would be willing to wager you 1,000 gold crowns that if I walked into that ballroom tonight with no face paint on, without any magic holding my hair up, just like I am now, you would have never noticed me. Am I right, Queenscove?" I snarled out the last few words, peering into his eyes. Those eyes...those emerald eyes...so beautiful...
I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way
I watch the moonlight dance across your face and I've
Never been this swept away
Neal peered back at me. His eyes were filled with so much emotion...it was impossible to tell what...maybe love...LOVE? Wait a minute, Kel. This is Neal we're talking about here. Your best friend? "Actually, Kel, you're wrong," Neal stated calmly, "What you lack to observe is that I have loved you from the start...from that day I met you 9 years ago."
I stifled a gasp. Smooth lake, I reminded myself. I am as stone... "Neal...no...you don't mean that!" What was I doing??? My crush of 9 years had just confessed his undying love to me...and I had pushed him away. Why? Why did I have to do that? I feel like crying. It's a good thing I have all those years of Yamani training...
I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way
I watch the moonlight dance across your face and I've
Never been this swept away
"Kel...I mean it. I know you better than anyone else and-"
"Neal," I calmly replied, "If you know me so well, how come you don't know how much of a crush I've always had on you?" Neal paled. Oh no...I can't believe I just told him that.
"Y-you have?" he stuttered. I looked at him meaningfully. And without warning he leaned in and kissed me.
All my thoughts seem to settle on the breeze
When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms
The whole world just fades away
The only thing I hear
Is the beating of your heart
Now of course, I had never been kissed before and therefore had nothing to compare to. But I had to admit, Neal kissing me was one of the best sensations I had ever felt in my life. His kiss was so sweet, his lips gently caressed mine as his hands slid around my waist. I moved my hands up and played with his hair a bit as he pulled me in snugly against him. Goddess...It's a good thing we're holding on to each other so tight...elsewise we'd both fall into that fountain! His heart was beating rapidly against my chest as somehow he managed to pull me even closer to him. I stopped rustling his hair and wrapped my arms tightly around his neck...we must have stood for ten minutes like that, kissing passionately in the quiet of the palace gardens. Finally we pulled our lips apart, still staying in the same position, arms wrapped around each other tightly. Neal's warm breath tickled my eyelashes, making me shiver...
'Cause I can feel you breathe
It's washing over me
Suddenly I'm melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
Baby all we need is just to be
Caught up in the touch
The slow and steady rush
Baby, isn't that the way that love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe
Just breathe
"Kel, are you cold?" asked Neal. "Because if you are I'll always be there to keep you warm..."
"Oh, Neal...oh, Neal, I love you so much." I pulled him closer for another kiss.
'Cause I can feel you breathe
It's washing over me
Suddenly I'm melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
Baby all we need is just to be
Caught up in the touch
The slow and steady rush
Baby, isn't that the way that love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe
Just breathe
We pulled apart. "Neal," I whispered into his ear. "How come it took us so long? So long to realize...when we could have been together all along..." I spoke the words quietly.
"Oh, Kel, I don't know. I think we were just too afraid to tell each other. Too afraid to love. All of those court ladies were just distractions for me. Ways to keep my mind off of you. I love you too, Keladry of Mindelan. Now and forever."
In a way I know my heart is waking up
As all the walls come tumbling down
I'm closer than I've ever felt before
And I know
And you know
There's no need for words right now
We finally pulled apart. "Come on, Neal," I said. "We'd best get inside. The ball will last all night, and I want to dance a bit more..."
"Of course, my sweet. The feeling is mutual." And with that, my love, Nealan of Queenscove, put his strong arm around my shoulders and led me inside. And dance we did. For the entire night, forevermore.
I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way