A Meeting of Houses
Act IV - I Only Want Your Happiness

Jaelawyn Noble [ Jaelawyn@attbi.com ]

Disclaimer: Love 'em, dun own 'em.
Warnings:
Rating: R
Pairing: Lerant/Keladry, Roald/Shinkokami, Buri/Raoul
Summary: Kel is in an arranged marriage. Only, it's at the brink of the war with Scanra. Kel is a Knight - and has to follow the king's orders. Will she learn to love her future husband, as they fight together? Or is everything just doomed to forever be something you cannot fight?
Archive:
Feedback: 'm a whore for it.
Notation: The quote at the bottom and the last line Kel says are from the manga Clover. I just liked the idea... Many of Clover's quotes will be in here. I love that manga

~

Keladry perched on the couch, holding onto a pillow. Lerant was slumped in a chair, he looked rather shocked. He had known about Cleon and Keladry, of course. Who didn't? And now that he and Kel were betrothed, it had posed a problem. Obviously Cleon took care of the "break up." But Lerant could see how much it hurt Kel.

"I... I can't believe he said what he said..." she murmured.

Lerant nodded. "He is certainly no knight."

"He has a shield!" Kel half whispered, trying to defend someone who she knew hated her.

"Yes, but he was acting like an ass," he told her frankly. His brown eyes were carefully guarded.

Kel nodded. "I know..." She looked away from him.

Lerant sat up and walked over to her. "If he was too much of a jerk to see how wonderful you are, then he doesn't deserve you."

Kel looked at him, her eyes filled with tears - her Yamani mask wasn't in place. It seemed that she was falling apart, loosing her grip on reality. The one person who had both feet nailed to the ground was losing it. It shocked and angered Lerant. How could that oaf do this to such an extraordinary and beautiful girl? Lerant hadn't an idea why he felt so angry nor so protective.

"Do you really think so?" Kel asked softly. "After all, he's right. What am I? A lady or a knight?" She looked up at Lerant to see his brown eyes blaze with fury and the muscles in his jaw tighten the way Lord Wyldon's did when he was furious. But just as soon as she had noticed, it was gone. The flame extinguished, the muscles relaxed, and the fisted hand smoothed her hair.

"You are yourself, Keladry. You are both a Lady and a Knight. And he was wrong - one person can make a difference. Look at the Lioness - she made a difference. His Majesty made one, along with her Majesty. My Aunt Delia, Roger of Contè, and Alex of Tirragen all made differences - albeit ones that were not for the good of the country. What they have done is deathless - forever to be talked about... Immortal, if you wish. Even you made a difference. You stood up for yourself, and that makes you just as special as Lady Alanna or King Jonathan."

Kel was silent throughout the exchange. She looked up at him with hazel eyes that were wide and vulnerable. Her soft mouth was partly opened, but it added to her expression of torment. Again, the wave of anger and ire swept over him. Cleon of Kennan had overstepped his bounds. It was time to remind the knight just what chivalry was.

Kel moved closer to him - he tightened his arms around her. She was crying softly into his shoulder, and he for some reason was enjoying holding someone close. She raised her face to his, and for a moment, they both leaned in toward each other. At the last moment, Lerant pulled away. Keladry looked slightly hurt.

"We don't know each other," Lerant said quietly. "We've worked together for four years, but we don't really know each other. Once we do, I can promise we can try that again."

Keladry nodded. "You're right. We need to try and get to know one another."

"Want to work on it tonight?" Lerant offered. "A game of chess, perhaps?"

Kel cracked a small smile. "I can never refuse a game of chess."

~

Yuki avoided Neal for the entire day. He finally cornered her before dinner. His green eyes were dark with worry. "Yuki... Please... Talk to me. What have I done?"

"N-nothing..." she murmured, flicking her fan open in front of her face. She had to hide her embarrassment. A good Yamani never shows emotions. It is weak of a warrior to show feelings. Those of the warrior class should never show what they feel nor think, she recited in her mind while Neal looked at her with worry.

"Yuki, come to dinner with Cleon and me. Please?" he asked. "You don't have to answer me right away. Take all the time to think that you need."

Yuki nodded, flicking her fan closed. "All right," she murmured. "I'll come with you."

Neal and Yuki joined Cleon who was already at the table. He looked like hell - and Neal told Yuki why on the way to the hall. Cleon and Kel had gotten into a fight. A rather large one. Cleon had confronted Kel and Kel had gone ballistic - according to Cleon.

"So, Cleon... What are you going to do now?" Yuki asked. Something just wasn't right. Keladry never lost her calm - it was one thing that the Yamani respected of the girl. Keladry knew how to stay in control of something. Yuki wished at the moment that she could keep her cool. Around Neal, her heart was out of control. At the moment, she knew she had to give him an answer. But she couldn't... She couldn't marry him.

Cleon smiled at Yuki softly. "I told my Mother that I'll marry the heiress whenever she wishes me too. I hope it's soon. Kennan needs the money as quickly as we can get it."

"Yea - but if a marriage is arranged and then carried out too quickly, it'll be assumed that the young bride did something wrong and this is an attempt to stop rumors from going around. Or even that the young husband did. Both of your reputations are on the line," Neal pointed out.

Cleon nodded. He inwardly felt ashamed that he was lying. He knew he was giving Kel a bad name; that she was being a jealous bitch who knew if she couldn't have him, she'd just have some asshole. Unfortunately, even Cleon was starting to believe that it was Kel who had lost it, and not himself. Neal had been shocked when Cleon had told him, but he actually believed it. Now, many of Kel's friends thought Cleon's lie was the Holy Truth.

Half way through the meal, Lerant of Eldorne appeared and walked over to Cleon. "May I have a word, your Lordship?" he hissed. Everyone could tell that Lerant was pissed off. Over what, no one knew. Faleron, Merric, and Seaver - who had all joined them before the meal started - launched glares of hatred at Lerant.

Cleon frowned, standing. "What? Keladry can't do her own fighting? She seemed able to do it well enough before," he said calmly.

Lerant let loose a right hook; Cleon fell to his knees, nose bloodied and broken. "Knight or no - if you even come near Keladry again I swear to the Goddess and the Black God I will kill you." With that, Lerant walked away while everyone stared at Cleon or the retreating back of Lerant.

~

The next few days was born bright and sunny. Keladry awoke feeling rather happy. She was getting dressed, thinking of something to do today when someone knocked on her door.

"One moment," she called, tucking her shirt into her breeches. She went over and opened the door, shocked to see Neal standing there. "Hey, Neal. Something wrong?" she asked sourly. She hadn't seen hide nor hair of Neal or any of her friends for at least a fortnight.

Neal was looking at the floor. "Why did you blow up at Cleon?" he asked, rather forcefully.

Kel drew back, shocked. "'Blew up?'" she repeated.

Neal nodded. "He said that you went ballistic. Saying that since he had to marry the heiress that you'd marry someone else, just to spite him."

Kel stood there in shock. Neal finally looked up, seeing hurt and disbelief in her eyes. She swallowed, "Is that why none of you have been talking to me or even to see me?" she asked softly. "Because of what Cleon said?" Neal nodded slowly. Kel looked away, tears starting to flow down her face. "Fine. Want the truth? Cleon is the one who went ballistic! He insulted my family, saying they were out of their minds to align themselves with traitors!" By now, Kel was crying so hard she couldn't speak. Neal just stood there, in shock. She tried to calm down, but couldn't. Finally she chocked out, "If you all want to believe Cleon over me, go right ahead. Just leave me alone!" She slammed the door in Neal's face.

As soon as she had closed the door, she slid down to the floor - her back against the door. She was crying so hard she could barely breathe. Neal stood outside the door, listening to her sob. He was frozen in shock. If he had left when she finally started to calm herself, he would have missed what she had said:

"I only want your happiness, knowing I can never be yours to share it."

~

Shea looked at his aunt's grave. It still hurt him when he looked at it. Yes, he knew something was about to happen. Something important. Something besides the war. Something dealing closely with family. His family - and not Lerant's wedding to that thrice cursed second Lady Knight. He despised her. She had to be the one to succeed the woman who had gotten his aunt killed.

And Lerant. He was unawares that he held a power - one that most likely could be used for good or evil. And if the two good ones, both who could lead to once again being thwarted away from the goal or destroying or ruling Tortall. But Shea wanted to destroy it. After all, what had it ever done for him?

His family had shunned him while he was younger. His siblings treated him as if he were touched and slow in the head. Even Lerant. Dione had taken care of Lerant, as Lerant took care of Dione. Aero and Janus had taken care of each other. All Shea was was the middle child - the one who was ignored. Aero and Janus were the babies; Dione was the eldest and the one who held power in their family and held it together with her strength; Lerant held it together with money.

Shea? Shea couldn't do a thing. He was no better than a woman. He had no magic, he couldn't bring in money, he wasn't strong. And he wasn't a girl who could bring in a bride-price. Dione didn't need to bring money into the family, Lerant brought it in.

Shea slammed a fist into the ground angrily. He hated the way he was worthless - worthless to his immediate family, at least. But never to his aunt. A shadow fell over him.

"Shea, never show anger," a light and throaty said softly.

"Who gives a fat fucking damn?" Shea snapped angrily.

The woman behind him laid a small, delicate white hand on his black clad shoulder. "Shea, child, you must listen to your aunt. Anger is a weakness. Never show it in public; show it in private. You must be of stone - until the time comes. My dear boy, act like those disgusting pig-stickers that the Contè family is marrying into. But soon, very soon, it is we who shall be ruling or destroying this cursed country."

Shea turned and smiled darkly up at the beautiful green-eyed brunet. "I never thought you'd come back to Corus, Aunt."

Delia of Eldorne smiled quite innocently. "What? And miss my nephew's betrothal and the Prince's wedding? Never. I still have many gifts to give to Tortall. And none of them quite 'cut the cake' like a war."

~

"Tiny wings in the forest... winged fish that flies through the night... They say a four-leaf clover brings happiness... But don't tell anyone... Where the clovers bloom white flowers... Or how many leaves from its stem extend... A four-leaf clover..."