After leaving Wyldon's quarters, Keladry went to the stables to see Peachblossom, fighting down the memories she had from the last time she was here. She handed Peachblossom an apple and whispered the plans in her ear. Normally this would seem silly, but Peachblossom was an extremely intelligent horse. She was so busy, that she didn't realize someone walking up behind her, so when they threw their arms around her, she was completely unprepared. She jerked around, and was about to deliver a punch to her new "friend" when she saw that it was Owen.
"Kel! Guess what, whatever you said to Wyldon must have worked, because he said I could go, even though I am going to be on 'probation,' he said that if I'm not working out good enough, he'll always be able to find me a spot on border patrol, but Kel, I get to come with you, and Neal, and Yuki, and Dom, isn't it exciting?!" Kel was only somewhat surprised that he hadn't taken a breath at all during his short speech, she was so used to Owen's chattiness, that it didn't bother her anymore, it was becoming more like Peachblossom's testiness than anything else, she was beginning to like it and would never want to change him.
"That's great Owen," Kel said, giving him a hug, "But will you be ready to leave tomorrow after breakfast? I'm trying to get an early start."
Kel didn't noticed, but Owen was blushing as he said, "I'll get to it now, I didn't really think that this would happen, I feel so lucky! Goodnight Kel, I'll see you in the morning."
"'Night Owen." Kel replied and went back to brushing Peachblossom, thinking about the trip tomorrow, she would be glad to get back on the road, wearing dresses every day while being around the other nobles was getting to be a bother. Wearing breeches again would be a comfortable feeling. With Jump at her heels, she headed back to her rooms, but decided to stop for a snack first. Walking into the mess, she saw Cleon at a back table. Her first thought was to turn around, but that would be too obvious. She was a knight, who was brave, and courageous....and she was also hungry.
Inwardly groaning, Kel walked across the room to where there was fruit set out, apparently just for anyone who needed or wanted a snack. Choosing a golden apple, Kel was headed back out when her conscience took over. Sure, Cleon treated her like manure and soiled her reputation (not that that hadn't already happened) but they had been friends much longer. With a sigh, Kel headed over to where Cleon was sitting. She had never been married, but she didn't think it was quite normal for the groom to be alone, in the mess, during their first week of marriage. "Greetings, Lord Kennan." Kel said, testing the waters to see if things tonight would be better than the happenings of those before.
"Kel...please, don't think that you have to talk to me, I'll be fine." Striding closer, Keladry noticed that Cleon's eyes were watery, as if he had been crying, but that couldn't be...could it?
"Cleon, what's the matter? You look, to be honest, terrible. Not enjoying married life??" Kel tried to keep things light, so that he wouldn't get any idea that she was truly worried, and still actually cared about him.
"Kel, remember how I told you what I had said to Rosine? Well, it's kind of coming back and smacking me in the face. Last night, after we met in the stables, well, I had told Rosine I was going out for a ride with my friends, and not to expect me back for a few hours. So, when I got back, I found her in our bed....but with another man. We're trying to work this out, but it seems so unfair! You and I never went farther than to kiss, but I walk in on her and some man, in my bed, on my WEDDING NIGHT!" Noticing the shocked look on Kel's face he said, "Well, I guess that I got what I deserved, huh? I really should never had told her that about us and you and Dom and Owen, but I just wanted things to work out, I had no idea that things would turn out like this, I just don't know what to do. For all I know, she's off pursuing her little tryst while I'm here spilling my problems to someone who probably hates me as much as I hate myself."
"No Cleon, don't say that. I don't hate you. In fact, I am sorry for kneeing you the other night." Kel said blushing. "I'm also sorry for slapping you when you tried to kiss me, if I had known what Rosine was doing, I wouldn't have, I slapped you more out of respect for the marriage than that, well," Kel began to stumble over her words, but was saved when Cleon got up from his chair and bounded over to her. He swept her into his arms quickly and kissed her tenderly, and the with passion and a need. Slowly, Kel's body seemingly acting without permission responded to the kisses with vigor herself, and could feel Cleon fiddling with the hook at the back of her dress when Nealan walked in. Quickly, Kel and Cleon pulled apart, but it was too late. Neal had already seen them embracing, judging by the look on his face. Neal stormed over and not even trying to conceal his anger pushed Kel, something he had never done, and punched Cleon as soon as she was out of the way.
"What the hell were you thinking you heartless bastard?! You made Kel here cry, and now you go about trying to break her heart again. I don't know, nor do I really want to know what's going on with Rosine, but it shouldn't involve Kel." With that, Neal pulled Kel by her arm out of the mess, and deposited her in her room saying ominously, "We'll talk in the morning."
Morosely, Kel undressed and got into bed. 'All this commotion over an apple, I should have gone hungry.'
~*~
A/N Uh oh! Kel and Cleon back together? And Neal walking in on them? Better than Dom, I suppose, but all the same. Tell me what you think please! I need more reviews so that my muses come back! I was stuck for a long time with the part where Kel and Cleon started talking....should they kiss, should they fight, should Kel yell and beat the crap out of him? Oh well, this is just going to make some things VERY interesting. ;)
"Kel! Guess what, whatever you said to Wyldon must have worked, because he said I could go, even though I am going to be on 'probation,' he said that if I'm not working out good enough, he'll always be able to find me a spot on border patrol, but Kel, I get to come with you, and Neal, and Yuki, and Dom, isn't it exciting?!" Kel was only somewhat surprised that he hadn't taken a breath at all during his short speech, she was so used to Owen's chattiness, that it didn't bother her anymore, it was becoming more like Peachblossom's testiness than anything else, she was beginning to like it and would never want to change him.
"That's great Owen," Kel said, giving him a hug, "But will you be ready to leave tomorrow after breakfast? I'm trying to get an early start."
Kel didn't noticed, but Owen was blushing as he said, "I'll get to it now, I didn't really think that this would happen, I feel so lucky! Goodnight Kel, I'll see you in the morning."
"'Night Owen." Kel replied and went back to brushing Peachblossom, thinking about the trip tomorrow, she would be glad to get back on the road, wearing dresses every day while being around the other nobles was getting to be a bother. Wearing breeches again would be a comfortable feeling. With Jump at her heels, she headed back to her rooms, but decided to stop for a snack first. Walking into the mess, she saw Cleon at a back table. Her first thought was to turn around, but that would be too obvious. She was a knight, who was brave, and courageous....and she was also hungry.
Inwardly groaning, Kel walked across the room to where there was fruit set out, apparently just for anyone who needed or wanted a snack. Choosing a golden apple, Kel was headed back out when her conscience took over. Sure, Cleon treated her like manure and soiled her reputation (not that that hadn't already happened) but they had been friends much longer. With a sigh, Kel headed over to where Cleon was sitting. She had never been married, but she didn't think it was quite normal for the groom to be alone, in the mess, during their first week of marriage. "Greetings, Lord Kennan." Kel said, testing the waters to see if things tonight would be better than the happenings of those before.
"Kel...please, don't think that you have to talk to me, I'll be fine." Striding closer, Keladry noticed that Cleon's eyes were watery, as if he had been crying, but that couldn't be...could it?
"Cleon, what's the matter? You look, to be honest, terrible. Not enjoying married life??" Kel tried to keep things light, so that he wouldn't get any idea that she was truly worried, and still actually cared about him.
"Kel, remember how I told you what I had said to Rosine? Well, it's kind of coming back and smacking me in the face. Last night, after we met in the stables, well, I had told Rosine I was going out for a ride with my friends, and not to expect me back for a few hours. So, when I got back, I found her in our bed....but with another man. We're trying to work this out, but it seems so unfair! You and I never went farther than to kiss, but I walk in on her and some man, in my bed, on my WEDDING NIGHT!" Noticing the shocked look on Kel's face he said, "Well, I guess that I got what I deserved, huh? I really should never had told her that about us and you and Dom and Owen, but I just wanted things to work out, I had no idea that things would turn out like this, I just don't know what to do. For all I know, she's off pursuing her little tryst while I'm here spilling my problems to someone who probably hates me as much as I hate myself."
"No Cleon, don't say that. I don't hate you. In fact, I am sorry for kneeing you the other night." Kel said blushing. "I'm also sorry for slapping you when you tried to kiss me, if I had known what Rosine was doing, I wouldn't have, I slapped you more out of respect for the marriage than that, well," Kel began to stumble over her words, but was saved when Cleon got up from his chair and bounded over to her. He swept her into his arms quickly and kissed her tenderly, and the with passion and a need. Slowly, Kel's body seemingly acting without permission responded to the kisses with vigor herself, and could feel Cleon fiddling with the hook at the back of her dress when Nealan walked in. Quickly, Kel and Cleon pulled apart, but it was too late. Neal had already seen them embracing, judging by the look on his face. Neal stormed over and not even trying to conceal his anger pushed Kel, something he had never done, and punched Cleon as soon as she was out of the way.
"What the hell were you thinking you heartless bastard?! You made Kel here cry, and now you go about trying to break her heart again. I don't know, nor do I really want to know what's going on with Rosine, but it shouldn't involve Kel." With that, Neal pulled Kel by her arm out of the mess, and deposited her in her room saying ominously, "We'll talk in the morning."
Morosely, Kel undressed and got into bed. 'All this commotion over an apple, I should have gone hungry.'
~*~
A/N Uh oh! Kel and Cleon back together? And Neal walking in on them? Better than Dom, I suppose, but all the same. Tell me what you think please! I need more reviews so that my muses come back! I was stuck for a long time with the part where Kel and Cleon started talking....should they kiss, should they fight, should Kel yell and beat the crap out of him? Oh well, this is just going to make some things VERY interesting. ;)
