A Meeting of Houses
Act VII - Letters
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: No, I am not putting Cleon and Kel back together. No, I'm not killing
Lerant. Goddess...
~
Lady Aises of Heathercove stepped out of the elegant carriage that had carried her from Heathercove to the palace. Her small, white gloved hand let go of the footman's the moment she stepped out of the carriage. She hated to be in contact with someone of so low a standing.
She let go of her lovely silk skirts that were colored in a deep wine red. The long skirts flew to the ground as elegantly as water flowing from a stream. The skirts were bell shaped and accentuated her very slim hips and perfect curves of her chest and torso. The bodice of the dress was colored a deep violet, the color of the violets that grew in the palace gardens, tended by only the most experienced of gardeners. The sleeves of the dress were lovely - they clung to Aises' lovely arms.
Her long black as night hair was pulled up in a bun where little ringlets escaped from the confines of the band. Clips with bits of gems in them were stuck in her hair. And very soon, the entire court would be in envy over Lady Aises' tresses that were so dark, they had blue highlights. Her beautiful blue eyes were colder than ice - and lighter than the ice that coated Cleon's heart.
She was tall, elegant, and very well curved. What wasn't there to love about her? She knew exactly how beautiful she was, and that made her dangerous. Dangerous because she knew her beauty and was very vain.
Cleon bowed to her - the vision of beauty and his soon-to-be wife. "Lady Aises," an woman next to Cleon spoke, "I'd like you to meet my son, Cleon of Kennan."
Lady Aises curtsied elegantly. "It is a pleasure to meet you, husband."
Cleon once again bowed to her. "I have been waiting to meet you, my dear."
Acis of Kennan watched her son's behavior with Aises. She knew he had been pining over his love, Keladry - the knight who most likely slept around with all her friends, just like that slut of a Champion. But it was time he meet the one who would slap him back into life. True, his heart was cold now, even to her - his mother. But the way the two went on together... It showed there was hope. The only thing Acis had to worry about was keeping Keladry away from Cleon.
~
Neal sat in Merric's room. "Why?" he murmured mournfully. "Why did she say no?"
Merric, Faleron, Seaver, and Esmond had been enlisted by both Roald and Shinko on the subject of Neal. He refused to try and be consoled. Shinko was worried as well, Yuki had locked herself in either her room or in Kel's. It seemed nothing could get her to come out, not even her mistress. But when Yuki was out, she looked like hell.
"Why?" Neal demanded, his red-rimmed eyes looking at them.
Shinko went over to him. "Neal, I do not know why. Yuki isn't angry, but hurt. I do not know why. She has been that way since you asked her. I will try and find out. Although she is either in her room or in Kel's."
Merric draped an arm around Neal's shoulders. "C'mon. Cheer up. We'll even let you berate us with your philosophy!"
Neal shook his head. "No philosophy. No books."
"Okay," Seaver said. "Now I'm worried."
"You don't understand," Neal muttered into his arm, switching position in his chair. "I need her. I need her more than anything... Even life." He sighed helplessly.
Roald bit his lip. "We could try and ask Kel what's bothering Yuki."
"The last time Kel saw me she shut the door in my face, locked it, and went into another room. I could hear crying after a few minutes, though it was very muffled," Faleron said. "It's worthless to try and get her to talk to us."
Merric nodded. "To talk, yes. To apologize, maybe not." They all looked at him. "Remember what Lerant said? She was angry and hurt because we believed Cleon over her. We didn't even ask for her version."
"We should now, though," Roald said. They all nodded - except for Neal, who was sitting in his chair, looking out the window mournfully.
~
"Jon, do you really think that sending all our forces to the front is going to shove them off our land?" Alanna demanded.
"It worked once before," he muttered darkly.
"Yea, I know... But it's not going to work with this trash!"
Jon sighed, looking at her with blue eyes that were haunted. "Then tell me what to do, Alanna. If you've noticed, Scanra is the least of our worries." Alanna snorted, looking away. "Well, it is. You know it, and I know it."
Alanna turned to look at him, "Jon, we need to stay away from wars. You know that's my opinion. Even Raoul has that. We're tired of fighting. We're been fighting for the past twenty years. I know I love fighting, but this is not what I imagined."
Jon looked at her. "Then, pray tell, what is?"
Alanna looked at him, her eyes unreadable. "I don't know, but not this. It has been one thing after another, and there is no end in sight."
"So, you think we should give up?" Jon asked, voice sharp and eyes full of anger.
Alanna sighed, "Sometimes I think we should."
Jon stared at her. "What?" he asked, voice coming out as a squeak.
Alanna hid a smile. "You don't seem to understand, Jon. For some reason, even with the Dominion Jewel, people constantly attack us. Have you ever thought that maybe it's because of the Jewel?" Jonathan continued to stare at his Champion. "Hear me out," she said, holding up a hand. "Ever since I brought back that be-damned jewel, wars have popped up all over the place. The Immortals, the Coronation, and a lot of others."
"The immortals was because--"
"Because Ozorne wanted our land," Alanna told him.
"The Coronation was just--"
"The fact that my brother raised Roger and they went on a crazed rampage wanting to kill everyone."
"I--"
"Know it's true."
"Alanna--"
"Listen to me, Jonathan of Conté!" Alanna told him with anger in her voice. "Your father was the 'Peacemaker.' Ever since I got that fucked up idea to get the Jewel, everything seemed to go wrong. Everything happened after the Jewel."
"Alanna... Roger wasn't after the Jewel."
Alanna looked away. "Still, it was preordained."
"Excuse me?" he demanded.
"Think about it," she pleaded.
"Alanna, what you are saying is pure crap. We need the Jewel. I refuse to get rid of it on the slight chance. How do we know things won't get worse?"
"We didn't need the Jewel before," Alanna argued, "why do we need it now?"
Silence followed.
"Thought so."
Jon watched her, and got up. He put his hands on her shoulders. "Alanna, you are out of your mind if you think to get rid of it."
"Am I?" Alanna demanded, slightly apprehensive of the way Jon was looking at her.
Afraid of what might happen if she didn't keep talking she said, "Jon you don't need the Jewel to rule, and it's doing more harm then good." As Alanna spoke she saw Jon's face come closer to hers, then before she could stop she felt his lips on her. They were soft and familiar feeling. Despite what she told herself, she missed these lips, these were the lips of her first love, and she longed for them. Suddenly, Jon drew back and blushed deeply.
"I'll think about what you said about the Jewel Alanna, but in my opinion we need it," he told her as he walked out of the room, leaving a very confused and shocked Alanna behind.
Alanna's eyes were wide and she touched her lips with shaking fingers. This can't happen...
~
Dear Kel,
How are things in Corus? With the Middle Class hinting rebellion, it's hard to know if we'll lose soldiers up here. I personally haven't fought all that much, but people we know have. Sergeant Domitan for example, fell in field, and is in terrible condition but the healers think he'll make it. Even though it's almost Summer, it's still chilly up here, I bet it's warmer where you are in Corus. How are people reacting to the recent changes there?
Wishing you well,
Lerant
Dear Lerant,
Things in Corus are more than hinting rebellion. Both Lady Alanna and the King
have been spending all their time pouring over books and trying to change the
laws. They seem to be trying to stop this whole rebellion before it begins, but
if you ask me, it's too late.
How's Raoul? Is Dom being a good boy? Tell him if he's not, when I come up
there, he's gonna get a nasty lecture. It is also still cold here, even for the
beginning of summer. I hope the Sergeant is all right.
To the changes in Corus...? The general take is outrage.
Till next time,
Kel
Dear Kel,
I have to write this in a hurry, it sounds like we're about to go fight. If the general feeling of the rebellion in Corus is outrage, be careful where you tread, or I may not get a return letter someday. I told Dom what you said and he's been getting better. He tells everyone who was friends with you in the Third that you threatened him and he'd better get better and not fight any healers so he won't have to listen to a lecture from you. Would it be going too far to say I miss you?
Awaiting your letter,
Lerant
Dear Lerant,
I hope you will be careful. I don't like it when men do crazy stunt to prove
how heroic they are. but, of course you know that from my hurting Dom when he
did that.
The nobles in the Court aren't very happy. They're servants have begun to stop
working. Some have outright quit - even if they are treasured friends of the
family. In the City, many merchants are refusing to sell to anyone who is above
a merchant. "No nobles" they say. For some reason, I get a very strong
feeling of forebode.
So, Dom is now afraid to get a lecture? People are fighting healers when hurt?
I'll bring a fan with me when I come down and start giving them the medicine my
mother gave us when we fought healers.
It would not be going too far, since I miss you myself.
Write back soon,
Kel
Dear Kel,
It figures that the rebellion would come out when we
need the supplies that the merchants sell the most, but I guess that's why
they're doing it now. So that they might get the respect they want. It is
infuriating to see that they want us to lose just to get money.
Lord Raoul tells me to send his regards to you. What he didn't tell me to say is
that he wishes you were here fighting with us, that we're in desperate need of
commanders. Many can't keep their cool in pressure such as this and need someone
to tell them exactly what to do. Dom's better now. He was out in a skirmish
today, he also told me to tell you that you needn't come and lecture him that
he's being a 'good little boy, only hurting the bullies'. Your letters bring so
much clarity to this chaos around us, please bring me more sanity for this
insane world. Keep writing.
Forever insane,
Lerant
Dear Lerant,
Ah, so you have become insane as well. I suggest you join the millions of ranks
that have already begun to tie themselves up in Corus. I think many nobles have
hung themselves so they don't have to deal with this rebellion.
Fortunately, we may be able to get supplies from some merchants that Lady Alanna
and Sir Myles know. At least they have decided to bargain with us.
I will be up in Northwatch by Midsummer. With reinforcements and
supplies. I hope that the immortals aren't giving you too much trouble. Have you
run into anymore of those metal creations?
I'll keep you sane.
The truly insane one,
Kel
~
Kel finished penning her letter to Lerant and waved the ink dry. Yuki was curled up in one of Kel's chairs reading Lerant's latest letter.
"He cares for you."
Kel nodded. "He is also insane." She put the letter down on the desk and sealed it. She let the green sealing wax drip onto the back of the folded letter. Once there was a reasonable puddle of green wax, she stamped it with her seal, an elaborate K.
"Many men are," Yuki said, handing Lerant's letter back to her.
Kel nodded. "And I know many men who are very insane." She looked over at the Yamani girl who looked as if she had been dragged through the twelve hells and back. "Yuki..." she said tentatively. "Why did you refuse Neal?"
Yuki looked away. "I... I refused him because-"
A knock at the door interrupted them. Kel sighed, getting up and opening the door.
"Neal!" Kel yelped as he enveloped her in a hug. Yuki got up and slid out of the door, not noticed by Neal - but noticed by the others.
Neal let her go and stepped inside. Merric, Faleron, Owen, Seaver, Roald, and the rest of her friends followed him inside. "We need to talk to you, Kel," Neal said. She looked him over. Red rimmed eyes, haggard look to his face, he was much too thin and he looked like hell. Exactly like Yuki.
Kel, knowing that they wanted to talk about Cleon, changed the subject before it was even broached. "Yea, we do. Why did you ask Yuki to marry you?"
Neal visibly flinched and looked away. Suddenly, he looked like he was tired of crying. He was going to make this go his way, whether she liked it or not. "Well, excuse me, Lady Knight," Neal snapped angrily. "Sorry that i didn't ask your permission before asking your friend to marry me!"
"You should have," Kel yelled back at him.
[Author: JERRY! JERRY! JERRY! JERRY! *grins* Ya know, Jerry Springer!]
"Why? Are you related to her?" Neal yelled.
"No! Because you hurt her! She's one of my best friends! You could have asked before hand to save her some pain!"
"What the fuck are you talking about, Mindelan?" Neal snapped out.
"You hurt her because she can't--" Kel said, then slapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. "I... I shouldn't have almost told you that."
"Told me what?" Neal demanded angrily. Kel shook her head, and Neal grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her. "Kel! Tell me, dammit! I love her, all right?" He let her go and sighed, running a shaking hand through his mused brown hair. "I'm sorry. I love her. I just... I need her? All right?" He looked at Kel's wide-eyed face and sighed, sinking into a chair, head in hands.
Merric stepped over to Kel. "Our main reason for being here is--"
"You you're about to talk about the Lord of Kennan, then just leave. I'm not in the mood," she snapped.
"We came to apologize," Owen said. "Cleon's a ruddy liar. We--"
Everyone looked at Kel, shocked to see tears running down her face and to hear choked back sobs coming from her. Even Neal looked up, eyes wide in shock. Never had they seen her lose it. She was the brave one, the one who could keep her head through anything. And here she was, crying. In front of them.
"K-kel?" Faleron asked, s
softly. He went over to her, and hesitantly drew her into his arms. She didn't resist at all, she let him hold her and hush her.
After a while, Kel pulled away from Faleron and whipped her eyes. "I-I-I-I'm sorry..." she stuttered, attempting to save her ruined dignity.
"Kel, it's all right to need someone's shoulder to cry on," Roald said in his soft way.
She nodded, not looking at any of them.
"We're sorry," Faleron said, tilting her face up and kissing her cheek. "We should have asked for your side before we believed Cleon. We should have known that it wasn't like you at all to just blow up at Cleon like that." Everyone chorused an agreement, though not a very cheerful one. It was soft and sad.
Kel looked at them all and nodded. "I... I guess I owe somewhat of an explanation?"
Neal smirked. "You better believe you do, Mindelan." She smiled, though they could tell it was half forced. She might not be falling off her emotional cliff anymore, but she was still close to the edge.
~
Gather yourself at the seashore
and I will love you there
Assemble yourself with wild things
with songs of the sparrow and sea foam
Let mad beauty collect itself
in your eyes and it will shine, calling me
For I long for a woman
with nests of wild things in her hair
A woman who will kiss the flame
~
Neal finished writing the poem, and sealed it with his seal. On the front of it, he wrote in elaborate lettering, Yuki. He also picked up a small notebook and stared at it. Should he also give this to Yuki? Would she even read it if he did? He sighed and then also sealed it. He wrote a quick missive to Kel, wrapping the letter and book together with the missive to his friend.
Kel -
Give this to Yuki if I don't come back.
Pray for me, dear friend...
- Neal
"Neal?" Alanna asked.
"Coming!" he yelled after her. He walked over to one of his servants - one who was a dear friend of his. "Can you deliver this to Kel for me?"
"Of course, Neal."
"Thank you."
"Neal?"
"Yea?"
"Be careful and come back."
Neal nodded and left.
