A/N I'm back!!!!!
A/N2 This story is probably getting pretty lame, but forgive me.
A/N3 I made a slight mistake in the first chapter. I put in the old version I had not the revised one.
Alanna is back. Raoul wasn't supposed to say that.
Disclaimer: The characters are Tamora Pierce's. Except of course Tamrissa. : )
You'll Never Guess - Chapter 3 - A Change in Friendship
I can't believe he's doing this to me!! thought Keladry of Mindelan. I thought that we'd
have more time together. Kel was on the verge of tears as she barreled down the halls toward her
room. Suddenly she banged into something, or someone rather.
"Is something wrong, my pearl?" asked Cleon.
Kel straightened up and put on her Yamani mask. "No. Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."
"Kel, look at me. I'm not stupid, something is wrong. Either you can tell me about it or
you can keep it inside and let it grow."
"Look, Cleon. I don't really think you'd understand. As much as I hate to admit it, it's sort
of a girl thing. Thanks for offering though." Kel turned to walk away when Cleon spoke.
" It's about Neal leaving, isn't it?" Kel stiffened for a moment and her inner resolve
collapsed.
"How did you know?"
"I'm not blind. I saw the two of you at lunch and I saw you leave the ball together last
night. I just put the pieces together and that was the only reasonable answer. If you want my
advice, go back and spend as much time with him as possible before he leaves tomorrow
morning."
"Thanks, Cleon, for being a great friend." She set off down the hall to find Neal.
But I don't want to be a great friend. I want to be more than that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning Kel saw Neal and the Lioness off. They were heading to Fief Blythdin
to handle some killer centaurs.
"Don't die on me, Neal."
"I won't. I'd do anything for you."
The Lioness had led her horse, Darkmoon, a ways off so they could say good-bye. Neal hugged
Kel and kissed her.
"Goodbye, love"
"Goddess bless, Neal."
Neal and Alanna rode off and Kel blinked back tears. I hope he'll be okay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kalasin was at the practice courts again and she was fencing with Merric. She was a little
worse with the sword than in unarmed combat, but she still put up a hard fight.
"KEL!!!!!!!"
Kel spun around and there stood Owen.
"OWEN!!"
"I haven't seen you in so long. Okay, two days, but it's still a long time."
"Good to see you, Owen. Enjoying your time with the Stump without us?"
"To think that he actually kind of misses you, Kel."
"Wow. The Stump misses me. I must've left a really good impression on him," said Kel in
awe.
"Yeah, you did. Now we all have to live up to your standards."
"I wouldn't say that's a bad thing for some people."
"Hey. I'm not that stupid. Anyway, I have something to tell you and I think you're going to
be happy," he said with a big smile, "My little sister Tamrissa is going to be a page next year!"
"REALLY?!?!?! That's great, Owen!!" replied the excited Kel, "Another girl!!"
"Owen, how come you're here? Shouldn't you be at morning classes?" asked Seaver.
Owen smiled, "My Lord Wyldon had a migraine due to the fact that he got the letter from
my parents this morning and I think he wanted to speak to the King. So, he gave us the morning
off."
There was a lot of "Oh"'s. The squires got back to their practice and the rest of the passed
normally, until later that evening.
Kel was walking through the gardens and missing Neal when she happened to see a man
watching her from another terrace. She suddenly decided to go inside. The man was waiting for
her by the door. (does this remind you of something? hint, hint, SotL #2)
"Hello, Joren."
"Hello, Kel."
"What can I do for you?" asked Kel.
"I.....I have something to say to you."
"Okay."
He grasped her hand,"Kel...I....I...love you." Kel was shocked (another understatement).
"I know I was mean to you before, but I didn't realize what a wonderful person you were
until I watched how you acted with your friends. I realized that I wanted be a friend to you, more
than a friend."
He waited for her to say something. In reality, Kel was to stunned to move. Forming
words at that moment was a difficult task.
"Joren....I don't know what to say." It's not everyday that the person you hated most and
who hated you most tells you he's in love with you. thought Kel.
"Can you give me some time to figure this all out? I'm a little confused. Good bye."
With that Kel left Joren in search of Kalasin. She would help her sort this all out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kally was in her chambers reading a book.
"Kel, is something wrong? You look 'disturbed'," asked Kally.
"Brief summary. I'm in the gardens, Joren comes up to me and tells me he loves me,"
replied Kel.
Kally was just about as shocked as Kel herself had been a few minutes ago.
"WHAT?!?!?! THAT'S CRAZY!! I THOUGHT JOREN HATED YOU."
"So did I," said Kel, "Except for the fact that he's been very odd lately. Actually, for about
two years. First, he comes back from his trip with his knightmaster and says he realized what a
jerk he had been and he wanted us to be friends. Then, he talks to me about my marriage
prospects. Two days ago, he starts sitting with us at lunch and asks me to dance. And now, THIS.
I don't know what to do. I love Neal."
"So tell him the truth. Tell him you don't love him. You can still be his friend, but that's
where the line has to be drawn."
"Thanks, Kally," said Kel. Now the only problem is when to tell him. With that Kel left
and went back to her room. Her mind was spinning, but she finally fell asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, Sir Raoul informed Kel that they were leaving to help with Scanran
raiders up north. The good thing was that they would be stopping at Mindelan, but the bad thing
was Kel had to speak to Joren before they left. Raoul gave Kel the morning off to pack. Kel took
out the saddlebags that she had received from her mysterious benefactor as a Midwinter gift. She
packed only the barest necessities and one dress, just in case.
All of her friends weren't happy that she was leaving.
"But Kel, what are we gonna do without your superior math skills??" asked Faleron.
"And what about staff practice?"
"Who's going to tell us to eat our vegetables?"
Kel was touched. They would miss her.
"I guess you'll have to study harder and practice on your own. You can remind each other
to eat your vegetables. Plus, I won't be gone too long," she told them.
Getting Joren alone to tell him how she felt was another story. He seemed to be really
busy that day and he was always with other people. Finally, right after dinner she got a chance.
"Look, Joren. I think we can be great friends, but I don't love you. I don't think I ever can.
I'm really sorry."
Joren looked genuinely crushed, but Kel couldn't help that. This was the truth.
"I have to go and get some rest. We're leaving really early tomorrow morning. Good bye,
Joren." She turned and left Joren.
"Good bye, my love," whispered Joren as he watched her walk down the corridor. I'll
always love you even though you'll never love me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And so ends another chapter. I hope you liked it.
To all you J/K lovers, don't worry. *mystical smile* : )
Here are the results of the poll.
Neal - 7
Joren - 9
Roald - 6
Cleon - 1
So the winner is………………….. Joren!!!!
A/N2 This story is probably getting pretty lame, but forgive me.
A/N3 I made a slight mistake in the first chapter. I put in the old version I had not the revised one.
Alanna is back. Raoul wasn't supposed to say that.
Disclaimer: The characters are Tamora Pierce's. Except of course Tamrissa. : )
You'll Never Guess - Chapter 3 - A Change in Friendship
I can't believe he's doing this to me!! thought Keladry of Mindelan. I thought that we'd
have more time together. Kel was on the verge of tears as she barreled down the halls toward her
room. Suddenly she banged into something, or someone rather.
"Is something wrong, my pearl?" asked Cleon.
Kel straightened up and put on her Yamani mask. "No. Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."
"Kel, look at me. I'm not stupid, something is wrong. Either you can tell me about it or
you can keep it inside and let it grow."
"Look, Cleon. I don't really think you'd understand. As much as I hate to admit it, it's sort
of a girl thing. Thanks for offering though." Kel turned to walk away when Cleon spoke.
" It's about Neal leaving, isn't it?" Kel stiffened for a moment and her inner resolve
collapsed.
"How did you know?"
"I'm not blind. I saw the two of you at lunch and I saw you leave the ball together last
night. I just put the pieces together and that was the only reasonable answer. If you want my
advice, go back and spend as much time with him as possible before he leaves tomorrow
morning."
"Thanks, Cleon, for being a great friend." She set off down the hall to find Neal.
But I don't want to be a great friend. I want to be more than that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning Kel saw Neal and the Lioness off. They were heading to Fief Blythdin
to handle some killer centaurs.
"Don't die on me, Neal."
"I won't. I'd do anything for you."
The Lioness had led her horse, Darkmoon, a ways off so they could say good-bye. Neal hugged
Kel and kissed her.
"Goodbye, love"
"Goddess bless, Neal."
Neal and Alanna rode off and Kel blinked back tears. I hope he'll be okay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kalasin was at the practice courts again and she was fencing with Merric. She was a little
worse with the sword than in unarmed combat, but she still put up a hard fight.
"KEL!!!!!!!"
Kel spun around and there stood Owen.
"OWEN!!"
"I haven't seen you in so long. Okay, two days, but it's still a long time."
"Good to see you, Owen. Enjoying your time with the Stump without us?"
"To think that he actually kind of misses you, Kel."
"Wow. The Stump misses me. I must've left a really good impression on him," said Kel in
awe.
"Yeah, you did. Now we all have to live up to your standards."
"I wouldn't say that's a bad thing for some people."
"Hey. I'm not that stupid. Anyway, I have something to tell you and I think you're going to
be happy," he said with a big smile, "My little sister Tamrissa is going to be a page next year!"
"REALLY?!?!?! That's great, Owen!!" replied the excited Kel, "Another girl!!"
"Owen, how come you're here? Shouldn't you be at morning classes?" asked Seaver.
Owen smiled, "My Lord Wyldon had a migraine due to the fact that he got the letter from
my parents this morning and I think he wanted to speak to the King. So, he gave us the morning
off."
There was a lot of "Oh"'s. The squires got back to their practice and the rest of the passed
normally, until later that evening.
Kel was walking through the gardens and missing Neal when she happened to see a man
watching her from another terrace. She suddenly decided to go inside. The man was waiting for
her by the door. (does this remind you of something? hint, hint, SotL #2)
"Hello, Joren."
"Hello, Kel."
"What can I do for you?" asked Kel.
"I.....I have something to say to you."
"Okay."
He grasped her hand,"Kel...I....I...love you." Kel was shocked (another understatement).
"I know I was mean to you before, but I didn't realize what a wonderful person you were
until I watched how you acted with your friends. I realized that I wanted be a friend to you, more
than a friend."
He waited for her to say something. In reality, Kel was to stunned to move. Forming
words at that moment was a difficult task.
"Joren....I don't know what to say." It's not everyday that the person you hated most and
who hated you most tells you he's in love with you. thought Kel.
"Can you give me some time to figure this all out? I'm a little confused. Good bye."
With that Kel left Joren in search of Kalasin. She would help her sort this all out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kally was in her chambers reading a book.
"Kel, is something wrong? You look 'disturbed'," asked Kally.
"Brief summary. I'm in the gardens, Joren comes up to me and tells me he loves me,"
replied Kel.
Kally was just about as shocked as Kel herself had been a few minutes ago.
"WHAT?!?!?! THAT'S CRAZY!! I THOUGHT JOREN HATED YOU."
"So did I," said Kel, "Except for the fact that he's been very odd lately. Actually, for about
two years. First, he comes back from his trip with his knightmaster and says he realized what a
jerk he had been and he wanted us to be friends. Then, he talks to me about my marriage
prospects. Two days ago, he starts sitting with us at lunch and asks me to dance. And now, THIS.
I don't know what to do. I love Neal."
"So tell him the truth. Tell him you don't love him. You can still be his friend, but that's
where the line has to be drawn."
"Thanks, Kally," said Kel. Now the only problem is when to tell him. With that Kel left
and went back to her room. Her mind was spinning, but she finally fell asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, Sir Raoul informed Kel that they were leaving to help with Scanran
raiders up north. The good thing was that they would be stopping at Mindelan, but the bad thing
was Kel had to speak to Joren before they left. Raoul gave Kel the morning off to pack. Kel took
out the saddlebags that she had received from her mysterious benefactor as a Midwinter gift. She
packed only the barest necessities and one dress, just in case.
All of her friends weren't happy that she was leaving.
"But Kel, what are we gonna do without your superior math skills??" asked Faleron.
"And what about staff practice?"
"Who's going to tell us to eat our vegetables?"
Kel was touched. They would miss her.
"I guess you'll have to study harder and practice on your own. You can remind each other
to eat your vegetables. Plus, I won't be gone too long," she told them.
Getting Joren alone to tell him how she felt was another story. He seemed to be really
busy that day and he was always with other people. Finally, right after dinner she got a chance.
"Look, Joren. I think we can be great friends, but I don't love you. I don't think I ever can.
I'm really sorry."
Joren looked genuinely crushed, but Kel couldn't help that. This was the truth.
"I have to go and get some rest. We're leaving really early tomorrow morning. Good bye,
Joren." She turned and left Joren.
"Good bye, my love," whispered Joren as he watched her walk down the corridor. I'll
always love you even though you'll never love me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And so ends another chapter. I hope you liked it.
To all you J/K lovers, don't worry. *mystical smile* : )
Here are the results of the poll.
Neal - 7
Joren - 9
Roald - 6
Cleon - 1
So the winner is………………….. Joren!!!!