Heart's Desire
Chapter 1- The Road to the Capitol

Author's Note-
This MAY end up A/J, but if I told you if it did or not then it would spoil whether Kelsie succeeded or failed, and then what fun would reading this be? Right, so now Kelsie is on her way to Corus, along with five other girls and one mistress from the convent.

Disclaimer-
All I own so far is Kelsie and the other five girls from the convent that go to Corus. The rest belong to Tamora Pierce. The section of this where Alanna and Jonathan get in a fight belongs to TP. It's from The Woman Who Rides Like a Man.

The girls rode with their mistress from the convent to the palace in Corus. Normally, it would be about a five days ride. However, they had no such luck. The first day, Jennifer was scared of her horse, because she said it was trying to bite her. The mistress had no idea what to say to calm her, because she too was frightened of the horse, so Kelsie spent an hour trying to calm her. When Jennifer still was too frightened to go near her horse, Kelsie offered to switch with her. The horse she was to ride was easily the slowest and most calm of all the horses at the convent. Jennifer agreed, but then when she mounted the horse, she slid right off the other side. Kelsie was frustrated. It had taken them nearly two hours just to get Jennifer on a horse. Kelsie climbed onto Jazz, patting the horse.
"I know you would never try to bite her, you were just trying to tell her that she was doing it all wrong," Kelsie whispered into the horses ear. The horse was dark brown, just like her own hair, and it had a blond tail and mane. There was a tan star on the horse's forehead, and Kelsie was shocked to see that it had eyes to match her own.
I knew you would know that. That one- I just don't know with her. She is a poor rider. She has no business on a horse without training. Kelsie about jumped out of her saddle. Had the horse just talked to her?
Yes, I just talked to you, the horse said. Kelsie had never heard of animals talking to humans before. Or had she? She vaguely remembered George telling her about Alanna's cat, Faithful, that had talked to her. He had called it something like a 'familiar', whatever that was. He had also mentioned that the horse had violet eyes that had matched Alanna's own.
"Are you........." Kelsie began, and the horse cut her off.
Yes. Just as Faithful was to Alanna, I am to you. I can sense when danger is about to come, I can talk to you, give you advice, things like that. I know that you admire Lady Alanna and wish to meet her. You, just like she is, are one of those protected by the gods. The Goddess smiles upon you, Kelsie of Tirragen.
Kelsie decided that it was probably wise not to talk to the horse anymore, just in case one of the others overheard her whispering to the horse. They were still close enough to the convent, the mistress had the power to send Kelsie back. Sighing, Kelsie made sure to sit up straight on Jazz and act as a proper lady should, but all she could think about was the fact that in a few days time she would finally be meeting Alanna the Lioness and King Jonathan.
Don't get your hopes up too much, Kelsie. The Lioness is often away for long periods of time, and King Jonathan is a very busy man, what with ruling a country and a wedding to plan.
"I hope to see to it that the wedding doesn't take place," Kelsie muttered.
You're just as stubborn as the Lioness herself. Very well. I will help you. I don't know how I can, but I will find a way.
"Thanks, Jazz." Kelsie relaxed a little. Then she thought to herself. What if she was wrong? What if the Lioness and the king weren't meant to be? She'd never actually met them, she might very well just be fantascizing about something stupid. I mean, Kara and Kourrem hadn't gone into detail about why Alanna and Jonathan had split up, they had just said they had. There might be a very good reason. Then again, there might not be.
"Jazz," she whispered, "You're an immortal creature, right? Can you tell me why Alanna and Jonathan split up?"
Tell you? Kelsie, I can show you, if you'd like.
"Yes please," Kelsie whispered. An image appeared in her head.

~~~

"My love, I've instructed Kara and Kourrem to pack for you. If we leave after twilight, we should have several hours of cool riding..........." The image of Jonathan spoke.
"May I speak with you alone, Jonathan? I know Coram and Myles will excuse us." That had to be the Lioness...............
"You didn't mention you were planning to leave today," the Lioness continued.
"I thought you knew. If I had been with anyone but Myles, my parents would have torn up the countryside looking for me by now. I must get back." Jon again.
"I did not say I was returning with you, and you didn't ask me before you ordered people to do my packing."
"I assumed we'd begin preparations for the wedding. I didn't think you'd want to wait."
"I haven't told you yes."
"But- I know how you feel about me."
"Being married to you is a great responsibility. I need more time to think about it."
"More time! Be serious. After all these years, I'd think your answer is plain."
"Not to me."
"Stop it, Alanna. I've made enough allowance for maidenly shyness from you....."
"Maidenly shyness! Since when have I shown maidenly shyness?"
"Keep your voice down! Do you want the whole tribe to hear you? What's gotten into you, anyway? I thought it was all settled."
"I said I wanted time to think."
"That's what all women say when a man proposes."
"Do they indeed? And you're such an expert on marriage proposals, I suppose?
"As much as you are."
"When I say I want time to think, I want time to think!"
"All right, you've had time to think. What's your answer?"
"That I need more time to think!"
"This is ridiculous! All right, I should have remembered that you don't like people making plans without your say-so, but I thought everything was settled.........."
"It isn't! How dare you take my acceptance for granted?"
"Well, you certainly didn't give me reason to think you'd refuse, did you? Think carefully before you annoy me further, Alanna of Trebond. There are women who'd do anything to marry me......."
"Then why didn't you ask one of them? You know what your problem is, Jonathan? You've been spoiled by all those fine court ladies. It never entered your mind that I might say no!"
"And who would you take instead of me, O Woman Who Rides Like a Man? I suppose George Cooper's more to your taste..........."
"George!"
"Do you think I'm blind? I've seen the way he looks at you!"
"What about all those women at the palace and the way they look at you? And I know you've had affairs with some of them! They've made you into a conceited.........."
"At least they're women, Lady Alanna. At least they know how to act like women!"
"I refuse to marry you."
"And I think I'm well out of a potential disaster!"
"Obviously! Find yourself someone more feminine, Jonathan of Conte!"

~~~

Kelsie gasped. So that was the big fight? And what a fight it had been! Kelsie had never heard people yell at each other like that. Yet it was clear that they had loved each other. In the image, Kelsie had seen how Alanna had cried after the fight, and she had even been given a glimpse of a sulking Jonathan back at the palace.
They're friends again, Kelsie. They've somewhat forgiven each other. They're the best of friends again, although somethings different. I say, you should have seen Jonathan sulk when he found out Alanna was betrothed to George, or the way Alanna cried herself to sleep when Jon announced his marriage to Thayet.
"D'you think I'm right, Jazz? About them?"
'Course. They're made for each other, let me tell you. They just are both too proud to completely put that behind him. They put it behind them enough to be friends, but they still are too stubborn to openly admit they still love each other.
"And I have to help them."
Not alone, you can't. You'll make friends who can help you, I promise you will.
Just then the mistress called for the girl's to dismount their horses. They had arrived to the place where they would stay the night. Kelsie pattecd Jazz on the neck, and went in to sleep for the night.

The journey to Corus continued that way for the next four days, the other girls' babble continually growing as they grew nearer and nearer to the palace, where they would potentially find future husbands. Kelsie stayed out of their conversations, preferring to whisper to Jazz or to think of a way to reunite King and Lioness.
At the middle of the fifth day, the city came into view. Each girl busily made sure that they looked fine, and then they rode into the city.
When they arrived at the palace, they were escorted to their rooms, where they settled down and were told to prepare. That night there would be a ball in their honor, and they would be formally introduced, by King Jonathan himself, in front of the whole court.