Best Enemies
A/N: Hi! I'm back! Thank you all for your wonderful reviews and your excellent suggestions. I'll try to listen to your advice.
Did everyone really think that it was that much like Aether Winds? *cringe* Okay, the beginning idea is actually from that, but the rest is completely different- after all, it is one of my favorite stories and I would never steal the plot. Right now, I'll try as hard as I can to make it sound different from what happened in Aether Winds.
I'm on Silverthorn's favorite list, I'm on Silverthorn's favorite list! As you can tell, being someone's favorite makes me very happy. It also makes my ego grow unreasonably large. Not that it wasn't to begin with...*evil laughter*
Disclaimer: It is not mine. It belongs to Tamora Pierce. Obviously.
It was just ten minutes before the beginning of yet another ball. Joren was leaving his room, heading for Kel's nearby chambers to escort her to the ballroom. I am really getting sick of these balls. He thought. I mean, these people must either be really stupid or completely ignorant! No one seemed to know anything. After the first night, they hadn't found out a single piece of information, though they had been in the Copper Isles for well over a week. Not to mention Kel was still flirting with the same man, not even caring about the task.
He arrived in front of her door and walked inside her room casually, shutting the door behind him. The first thing he saw was Kel lying on her bed, wearing her breeches and a loose tunic.
"What are you doing?! We're supposed to be at a ball right now! Why aren't you ready?!" Joren, who was normally so cool and calm, was very angry right now, not only at Kel, but at King Jonathan. Why did he have to send Kel with me?! She barely gets any information and then she doesn't go to the balls at all! I'd be better off alone!
"I'm not going." Kel answered simply. She was acting like she always acted as a page, the Lump. He hated this more than anything. One of the reasons he had begun being so mean to her in the first place was to see if he could get a reaction from her, someone who never seemed mad.
"You have to go! This isn't your choice! We're on a mission here!"
"Listen. I don't want to go. That's final." She was still calm, but much closer to getting very angry. Might as well finish it off! He thought.
"Oh, I see. You're too depressed without Neal and Cleon here. Look, I have an idea. If I get that man you like to flirt with so much to sleep with you, will you come to the ball?" That had the desired effect. Kel jumped out of her bed.
"I'm sick of this Joren! I don't want to go to the ball because of you! You are always getting on my nerves and cracking jokes at me and my friends! I'm only flirting with Evan because you told me to! Just stop acting like such a bastard!" It wasn't a good idea at all, but Joren just couldn't resist one last comment.
"Well, if you really don't want to participate in this mission, that is fine with me. Now you can go home and pretend to be a knight like the Lioness does." He replied nastily. Joren turned to walk out the door, but before he could reach it, Kel punched him in the back. Whirling around, he tried to hit her in the jaw, but she caught his fist. Another blow, this time to his gut, made Joren stumble. Black spots danced in front of his eyes as he tried to regain his fighting stance. Kel tried to kick him, but Joren hooked his leg with hers, causing her to fall. He tackled her to the hard stone floor. Not a good move at all. Years of study in the Yamani Islands had made Kel an excellent wrestler, though Joren had no idea what those savages called wresting. As soon as she hit the floor, she slid herself partly out of Joren's hold and flipped him onto the ground. Just as she was about to punch him one last time, she heard voices in the hallway.
"We must meet in the study in the east wing at the third bell. The one that has been abandoned for a few years. We will make preparations then." A slightly familiar woman's voice said in a whisper.
"What about our other pla-" another voice they couldn't voice questioned.
"Don't discuss it now, just in case not everyone is at the ball. We will discuss it later." A pair of footsteps went down the hallway in the direction of the ballroom. Kel got up, her fight with Joren momentarily forgotten.
"We have to go. Whoever they are, they'll probably be discussing the building of the armies and the new advisors. The third bell is probably tomorrow's third bell. The ball will still be on until the fourth bell tomorrow morning." Joren nodded in agreement. He was in too much pain and too embarrassed from his defeat by Kel to say anything. I guess it's a good thing we're not going to a ball tonight.
~*~
That wasn't a particularly long chapter, but Joren did get beat up by Kel, and there is a little suspense. Right? Besides, next chapter is going to be very, very interesting. I'm sure you'll all love it!
Time to answer my wonderful reviews! You guys are the best!
Reviews of chapter 3:
Camisole- of course they will! Unless, of course, I feel like being evil and torturing my readers.
Purple Sakura- Okay, I know the characters are a bit OOC, but I sort of like them better this way. There is more excitement and conflict. Besides, they are always a bit out of it in K/J fics.
Crown- I'm glad you like it! Thanks for the review!
The Pen Mage- Yeah, Andrew WAS an awful choice, but it was just on the spur of the moment. Don't worry, it won't be around too long. I hope this update was quick enough. Blame my teachers.
Deadly Black Rose- I know that it is sort of like Aether Winds, but only for now. It is completely different really soon, I promise you.
Siren Porter- Joren really is a jerk, but... I don't really have anything to say, oh well. I still love him too. You did get ISCK updated and it was great! Now I won't bug you for a little while...
NiceDay- It definitely needed some of Joren's thoughts. Thanks for the great suggestion!
Keita- Yes. Joren needed to get beat up! I almost feel sorry for him, but... he deserved it!
Zenin- I'm glad you like it. And I will certainly continue, until the time when they look me up in the nuthouse! Then I'll break out to write more! Muhahahah- oops.
Tasha- I know you thought you don't think you did much, but I am electronically stupid. Seriously, I can hardly work the school computers! Thank you so much for your help. I am eternally grateful. *bows*
bblond07- I love 7 'cause I graduate from high school in 2007 too! That, and the fact that my friend hates that number! I am so very nice to her. Yes, Kel is very unfortunate, not only does she have to go to balls every night and wear dresses, but she's stuck with Joren!
Silverthorn- You are the greatest! I am on your favorite list! Yay! I glad you like it!
Please review, people! Unless you want me to, oh, let's say, bring Thom back to life so he can hit on Daine and he and Numair will battle and Numair will turn into a big charred heap of robes on the floor! I could, and would, do something evil along those lines if you don't review this chapter!
Once again, thanks for all of the reviews! They make me so happy!
~ The Dark Goddess ~