Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Tamora Pierce characters. I only own my characters and the places I come up with.

Note: I'm soooooo glad that I'm writing another story. Hope you like it. Don't forget to review my story.

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Chapter 3: The Idea

As we passed through the city on the way back to the castle, most of the people were standing along the streets. They wanted to see they're future queen. I spotted Andrew in the shadows. He waved to me and I smiled back at him. The ride was pretty much silent, except for the parts when Neal and Seaver were arguing about who was the best with a sword.

"I'm better than you with a sword." Neal said.

"Really? We'll see tomorrow." Seaver challenged.

"Um. I'm sorry. My schedule is full tomorrow. Maybe some other day." Neal answered.

"Are you trying to back out of the fight so soon?" Seaver teased.

"What! How dare you insult me like that?! I'm not afraid to fight you!" Neal snapped.

"It seems that way." Stated Owen.

"STAY OUT OF THIS!" shouted both Neal and Seaver at the same time.

Owen shrank back. He had a look that said that he was sorry on his face.

"Leave Owen alone. He didn't do anything to you." I told them in a mannerly tone.

They both looked at me, and then at Owen. Then at each other and back to me.

"Sorry, Owen. You just caught me in a bad mood." Replied Seaver.

"Me, too." Added Neal.

"I'm the better swordsman." Seaver stated again just as we walked into the stable with our horses.

"If you're going to fight about it, why not have a tournament?" Raoul asked.

We jumped at his voice.

As I put Silver away, I asked, "I want to see how good I am too, so can I try?"

"Of course, and I'll host it." Answered Raoul.

"Can we all try?" Asked Kel.

"You're as eager as I am to beat the boys, aren't you?" I teased.

"That's right. We'll win!" Kel said.

"I'll let you pick a partner to compete with and I think I know who Kel and Ruby will partner up with." He said with a chuckle.

"We're a team!" Both Kel and I shouted.

"We're together!" Roald and Cleon shouted after us.

"We found our partners!" Yelled Neal and Merric.

"Us, too" Added Owen and Seaver.

"Then, it's settled. The competition starts tomorrow." Raoul said. "But who will be my partner?"

He had a puppy face on. It was so funny that we all burst out laughing.

When the laughing subsided, Merric asked, "Why not start right now? We're all ready."

Raoul answered, "YOU'RE all ready, but I still have to make up the competition."

We started laughing again because the way he said it was really funny.

"Well, see you tomorrow." And with that, Raoul walked off to the castle.

"We should get to bed. It's getting late." Cleon said.

"Sure, why not. I'll walk you back, Ruby." Roald uttered.

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As we were walking down the hall, Roald asked, "Do you like it here?"

"Yes. I love it here." I answered.

"But would you want to stay here forever?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I meant do you want to be my wife?"

"Yes, I don't mind."

"Are you sure you don't have your eye on another boy? If you do, I can tell my parents that I don't think this betrothal will work out. They'll send you back home and you can be with the boy you really love forever." He told me.

"I'm sure. I don't mind at all. I like it here" I stated. "with you"

I started to blush. Roald did, too. We looked at each others faces and exploded with laughter.

"Good night." I said.

"You, too." He replied.

Then, he did something I didn't expect him to do. He kissed me. He held me in his arms and KISSED me. And guess what? I LIKED it! I returned his kiss.

"I'm sorry." He said after the kiss.

"It's ok." I was blushing and so was he.

"See you in the morning, Ruby." He walked down the hall while saying that.

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You'll have to wait for the 4th chapter. I'm working on my other fanfictions. I'll work on this in a while. I'm evil, aren't I?