Chapter 10
Keita: I will lead you all on! It's just too much fun not to! Besides, it gives you something to read for!
Epitaph Munku-JGSPTV: I'm working on being more prompt, like I've said, but it's sooo much harder doing that in high school. Ugh!
Queen of Fluff: My dear friend... Thank you for finally reviewing again! Yay! You crack me up. Read the other chapters if you need to, that's what they're there for!
Carrie-or-Pirate-Swoop: Thank you so much for reviewing, I don't believe I've heard from you before. Anyway, no it wouldn't be easier if I separated it into two fics, because they share a beginning and will share an end.
Kel, with her lady friends and bodyguard trailing on the sidelines, spent the rest of the day with the handsome young Nealan - Neal - of Queenscove. They strolled through the garden, chatting about various things. During a secluded evening meal in he quarters, the topic of Roald was brought up for the first time.
"Kel?" Neal asked quietly
"Yes?"
"Would you like to know anything about Roald? We're friends, I could answer your questions." It was a gentle offer, figuring she'd be curious at least about her husband-to-be. She was deeper than a lot of young women he knew, and he had the feeling that he'd only cracked the surface of that deepness.
At the mention of the prince, Kel silenced and bowed her head slightly. "I have no questions for you Neal."
The squire frowned, surely she'd want to know at least his temperament of sense of humor? Or even his favorite color like a normal lady might ask!
There was a sudden rap on the doorframe, which made them both jump. Surely the bodyguard wouldn't allow something like that? Someone, a young man by the sound of his voice, spoke.
"Neal, Alanna told me to come here when I asked where you were. What are you doing in the royal wing. Wait, why are you sitting on the floor?"
The man stopped, looking around. Mostly around his friend who had turned towards him, revealing a figure across from where he had been facing.
"Oh gods." The intruder whispered, paling.
"If you'll excuse me please, milady." Neal rose quickly, bowing to Kel, and swept out of the room whisking the other fine young man with him.
A new form stepped into the room and bowed. Eyes sparkling with the delight of a surprise, Kel rose and bowed as well
"Mother!" She spoke in common. "I'd almost forgotten you were here!"
The lovely woman replied in the same tongue "I myself had almost forgotten I was here, Kel. I was so busy writing letters and speaking with this dignitary and that; that I had half forgotten my beautiful daughter shut up in this room here. My, that is such a lovely kimono. The soft gray brings out your eyes."
"I haven't been so shut up mama. I've been to the gardens and met the Lioness. We've practiced in the courts together, my ladies and I, and I met the Lioness's squire. He seems very nice and he was here just a moment ago."
"Well that's wonderful. And how are your lady friends?" Kel's mother looked past her to the two young women who were on their feet in respect for Illane of Mindelan, a renowned heroine in the Yamani Islands.
"I am well." Yuki said softly, bowing.
"I as well." Haname replied, bowing also.
"Well mother, Neal, I mean, Squire Nealan left his supper, but I can make you some tea."
The lady smiled at the faux pas that her daughter had hastily corrected. "Some tea would be lovely. Won't you join us?" She asked Kel's friends.
Yuki brought the small, handless, porcelain cups and hot water while Haname fetched the tealeaves and whisk.
Kel added tea leaves to four cups, poured the hot water, and whisked them into a sea green froth.
The Baroness sipped her\s with a sigh of someone relaxing after a hard day. "Wonderful, Kel. You don't know exactly how good this tastes right now."
Kel smiled at her mother. She actually, physically smiled.
"Why that's a lovely smile I haven't seen in a while, my dear."
"I have to remember to do it mama." She admitted. "So long in the Islands almost made me forget I was Tortallan. Only stone." She muttered the last part, but her mother heard and laughed.
"Kel," She began, "A few moments ago, you said that Alanna's squire was here shortly before me. Would be happen to be tall, older-looking, brunette, and wearing a green tunic?
"Yes, why?"
"I wondered who was pulling Prince Roald down the hallway is all."
Keita: I will lead you all on! It's just too much fun not to! Besides, it gives you something to read for!
Epitaph Munku-JGSPTV: I'm working on being more prompt, like I've said, but it's sooo much harder doing that in high school. Ugh!
Queen of Fluff: My dear friend... Thank you for finally reviewing again! Yay! You crack me up. Read the other chapters if you need to, that's what they're there for!
Carrie-or-Pirate-Swoop: Thank you so much for reviewing, I don't believe I've heard from you before. Anyway, no it wouldn't be easier if I separated it into two fics, because they share a beginning and will share an end.
Kel, with her lady friends and bodyguard trailing on the sidelines, spent the rest of the day with the handsome young Nealan - Neal - of Queenscove. They strolled through the garden, chatting about various things. During a secluded evening meal in he quarters, the topic of Roald was brought up for the first time.
"Kel?" Neal asked quietly
"Yes?"
"Would you like to know anything about Roald? We're friends, I could answer your questions." It was a gentle offer, figuring she'd be curious at least about her husband-to-be. She was deeper than a lot of young women he knew, and he had the feeling that he'd only cracked the surface of that deepness.
At the mention of the prince, Kel silenced and bowed her head slightly. "I have no questions for you Neal."
The squire frowned, surely she'd want to know at least his temperament of sense of humor? Or even his favorite color like a normal lady might ask!
There was a sudden rap on the doorframe, which made them both jump. Surely the bodyguard wouldn't allow something like that? Someone, a young man by the sound of his voice, spoke.
"Neal, Alanna told me to come here when I asked where you were. What are you doing in the royal wing. Wait, why are you sitting on the floor?"
The man stopped, looking around. Mostly around his friend who had turned towards him, revealing a figure across from where he had been facing.
"Oh gods." The intruder whispered, paling.
"If you'll excuse me please, milady." Neal rose quickly, bowing to Kel, and swept out of the room whisking the other fine young man with him.
A new form stepped into the room and bowed. Eyes sparkling with the delight of a surprise, Kel rose and bowed as well
"Mother!" She spoke in common. "I'd almost forgotten you were here!"
The lovely woman replied in the same tongue "I myself had almost forgotten I was here, Kel. I was so busy writing letters and speaking with this dignitary and that; that I had half forgotten my beautiful daughter shut up in this room here. My, that is such a lovely kimono. The soft gray brings out your eyes."
"I haven't been so shut up mama. I've been to the gardens and met the Lioness. We've practiced in the courts together, my ladies and I, and I met the Lioness's squire. He seems very nice and he was here just a moment ago."
"Well that's wonderful. And how are your lady friends?" Kel's mother looked past her to the two young women who were on their feet in respect for Illane of Mindelan, a renowned heroine in the Yamani Islands.
"I am well." Yuki said softly, bowing.
"I as well." Haname replied, bowing also.
"Well mother, Neal, I mean, Squire Nealan left his supper, but I can make you some tea."
The lady smiled at the faux pas that her daughter had hastily corrected. "Some tea would be lovely. Won't you join us?" She asked Kel's friends.
Yuki brought the small, handless, porcelain cups and hot water while Haname fetched the tealeaves and whisk.
Kel added tea leaves to four cups, poured the hot water, and whisked them into a sea green froth.
The Baroness sipped her\s with a sigh of someone relaxing after a hard day. "Wonderful, Kel. You don't know exactly how good this tastes right now."
Kel smiled at her mother. She actually, physically smiled.
"Why that's a lovely smile I haven't seen in a while, my dear."
"I have to remember to do it mama." She admitted. "So long in the Islands almost made me forget I was Tortallan. Only stone." She muttered the last part, but her mother heard and laughed.
"Kel," She began, "A few moments ago, you said that Alanna's squire was here shortly before me. Would be happen to be tall, older-looking, brunette, and wearing a green tunic?
"Yes, why?"
"I wondered who was pulling Prince Roald down the hallway is all."