A/N: *hides* No one yell at me! I know it took forever – I always do… for everything! no excuse I know… just wait until I managed to become a published author – everyone will hate me then! Nee ways. I wrote more and here it is. eh... and about the names Louis and Lestat well you're right on about where they came from, well actually it was the movie – haven't actually read the books (oh and if you like Ann Rice you might wanna try Laurell K. Hamilton – The Anita Blake Vampire Executioner series)

R&R&Enjoy!

Loneliness for Wine and Loveliness to Dine

They dined in a big hall with long tables on either side and one at the front of the room. Keladry's family was so large that they didn't have enough room at their usual table nearer to the kitchens and library. It was indeed a merry feast, everyone was crowded around the front table, laughing and talking and passing the delicoius food. Children and dogs ran about under the table and through the hall.

"More wine, Sir Nealan?" one of the servants asked at his shoulder. Neal, who, had been staring fretfully at Kel and Cleon, jerked to attention and nodded mutely to the servant. The older man filled his glass and murmured with a good natured smile,

"Standing in the shadows doesn't do much good to anyone – let alone your heart." And with that he departed, moving along the table filling glasses. It always amazes me how servants never miss a thing that goes on in their homes… Neal thought watching the older man idly. He sipped his wine some more and looked back across the table.

"Cleon," Kel said between laughter, "you really have had too much to drink."

"I have not my precious pearl, dew drop of my heart, everlasting rose of perfection! Hardly but a sip and a few pretty words and you – you're blushing my darling gem, too much flattery for you?" Cleon remarked, laughing with her as he too sipped his wine. Kel stared at him, the corners of her mouth upturned as she fought to stop from grinning out right.

"You are a very charming man Cleon, some times I wonder if you don't use that flowery language to flatter other young ladies…" She fluttered her eye lashes at him.

"What! Me? Charming! Why… I never knew!" he looked around suddenly as if searching for something, "where are these young ladies you speak of! Let me test my charm!" Kel laughed and punched his shoulder playfully. He turned and grinned at her, the humor in his eyes changed to something more serious but no less beautiful. Kel felt her insides squirm and her cheeks redden. His looks were sometimes so private that it was like he was doing intimate things to her with his eyes. Cleon leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth very softly. "You are the only one I see…" he whispered.

Neal looked away, feeling rather embarrassed for looking. None of Kel's other relative seemed to be paying them any attention. They were all still laughing and talking and drinking their wine. He took a sip from his newly re-filled glass when Louis came running up beside him.

"Sir Neal, I was wondering if you'd like to come play with us in the nursery, I mean you're not doing anything else – and you looked kind of – "

"Louis! What am I going to do about you! Have you no manners! Sir Nealan has more important things to do than tend noble brats…" Lestat scolded his little brother, he looked up at Neal and smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry sir, on behalf of my brother… I'll take care of them…" Neal noticed that Lestat, young man that he was, looked very pained at the very idea of spending time in the nursery as opposed to at the table with the adults or flirting with the maids.

"No, really, it's no trouble at all lad, I'll take care of them." Neal stood, "you can take my place and I'll watch after them. Louis was right, I was doing nothing and have no plans." He smiled warmly at the two. They both looked happy about this. Neal took one last glance at Kel and caught her eye. She was smiling, amusement evident in her dreamy hazel eyes. Neal faked a grin and waved before being pulled away by Louis.

"- And it was Kel's quick thinking that saved us all. She knew exactly what to do and it's because of her that we're all here. Alive to hunt bandits another day!" Cleon finished telling her relatives. Most of them nodded and smiled approvingly, praising her skill on the battlefield, even as a page. Kel smiled politely and nodded but she really wasn't living the moment like Cleon seemed to be. Restlessly she scanned the table and caught her mother's eyes. Ilane of Mindelan was smiling softly, Yamani face very still, laughter dancing in her eyes. She could see right through her daughter's stone mask and knew that Kel was bored. Keladry smiled and looked down at her wineglass, the plates had been taken away already and many of the younger or older relatives had retired to their rooms. Cleon started on another story and Kel felt an inner sigh, she'd have to wait to be alone with her lover…

"Goodnight Queen Neal!" one of the little girls said, flinging her arms around him before running off giggling with her mother. Somehow the children had picked up that name and unfortunately for him – it stuck. Louis waved to Neal and yawned, following Lestat from the playroom. The twins were the last to go and the young knight found himself alone in the children's room. Toys and books scattered about, he had to admit he'd had fun playing with them. Children always knew how to let go and have fun without all the strict rules adults seemed to bring into play.

With a tired sigh he stood up and left the nursery, dimming the candles before closing the door softly. He didn't much feel like sleep just yet. Maybe a little walk in the night air would clear his mind. Neal took a stroll through the gardens and past the guest quarters. He sat down by the fountain there and looked up at the starry summer sky. Perhaps he would have been content to sit there and daydream but he didn't get the chance – laughter and hushed voiced called to his attention. He turned, hidden in the shadows of the night to see two people enter the guestroom nearest him. He could only make out their silhouettes in the candlelight as they embraced, kissing and touching. He stood up and feeling rather guilty watched. The two made their way to the bedside and he swallowed. They were both tall with rather short hair – especially for a girl. Please not the bed, please not the bed… Neal thought. They fell onto the bed together.

Neal left. He had no reason to stay and the two people… who am I kidding, I know who it was… Well they deserved their privacy.

"Kel…" he muttered as he stepped into the stable with the intention of talking to Peachblossom some more.