A Meeting of Houses
Act I - The Betrothal

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: Idea conceived at the movie theater while watching Tomb Raider.

~

Lerant of Eldorne scowled at his parents. "Why do I have to marry?" he snapped.

Lady Celestyn looked at her son. "Dear, you are the heir. Certain sacrifices must be made."

Lord Aimel sighed, clapping his son on the shoulder. "My sister cost us much. Including the displeasure of the Crown. We need to try and align ourselves with a House that is in favor of the Crown."

Lerant sighed, sitting down. "What would you have me do?"

Celestyn smiled at Lerant. "We have contracted a betrothal with the Mindelan House. They have a daughter, the youngest of their children. Her name is--"

"Keladry?" Lerant asked, eyes flickering.

Aimel frowned. "Yes. Do you know her?"

"She was Lord Raoul's squire. Of course I know her."

"Good!" Aimel said, clapping his hands together. "We shall send a messenger along to tell the Baron that we agree to it."

"And extend an invitation for the family to come to celebrate the betrothal," Celestyn said, smiling. She kissed her son on the cheek. "Love, this won't be so bad. Look on the bright side."

Lerant nodded, sighing.

~

"Keladry!" Baron Piers called. He smiled happily, holding a piece of parchment. Keladry's mother, Ilane, was next to him.

Kel looked up from feeding Arrow a dried cherry. "Yes, Papa?"

"Now that you're a knight, would you consider marriage?"

Kel looked at them. Had they worked something out with Kennan? "With who?"

Ilane smiled. "We have made a betrothal with House Eldorne."

Keladry stared. "Lerant?"

"You know him?" Piers asked, frowning.

"He was the standard-bearer in Third Company."

Piers nodded. "Very good! Now, I suggest you pack. We shall be leaving for Eldorne within the week."

Kel nodded, feeling as if her world was crashing down. "Yes, Papa," she said softly. Her parents left her with her thoughts. She couldn't believe this. She was to marry someone who had hated her on sight.

But got to like you, even if you were Raoul's squire, said the treacherous part of her mind. And he's isn't half that bad looking. Level brown eyes that warm up once you know him. That blond-brown hair that flops into his eyes every now and then. A firm chin and a perfect nose. He is more handsome than the King in some regards. And at least he is fair and knows when to give up the fight and accept things.

Kel scowled at herself in the mirror. He's four years older than me! she snapped at that small part of her mind.

Cleon's only three.

Shut up! Kel yelled at herself.

She began to get out the things she'd need for Eldorne. She wasn't looking forward to this at all.

~

Lerant sighed, and watched as two of his girl-sibs begged one of the men-at-arms to show them how to use a bow. He had three sisters, but only two were younger than him. His other sister, Dione, was a year older than him. Janus was four years younger than him; Aerope was five. They were eighteen and seventeen - and were always begging Dione or him to teach them how to fight.

The two had both been sent to the convents - but had never been to Court. Their parents wanted to find perfect matches for them with Houses that were in the Crown's favor. It seemed that Aunt Delia had seriously harmed the economy of Eldorne. If only she had thought before she had acted!

His brother, who was only two years younger than him at twenty years of age, came over to him. "Betrothed?" Shea asked, smiling.

Lerant hit him on the back of the head. "Watch out, Shea... You're most likely next."

Shea shook his brown hair out of his brown-green eyes. "Don't count on it. Our darling sister, Dione, most likely is next."

"I'm next for what?" Dione asked, coming over. She tossed her long braided blonde-brown hair over her shoulder. Her brown eyes were smiling. She was thin for a girl of three-and-twenty, and tall. She was willowy and beautiful - though very deadly. She knew all kinds of tricks on how to hurt you - it was Dione who had taught Lerant in the first place on how to fight.

Shea grinned goofily up at his elder sister. "Next for marriage!"

Dione hit him on the back of the head. "No one will marry me. I scare them all too much. You're next, Shea."

He frowned, rubbing the back of his head where both Lerant and Dione had hit him. "That hurt..." he muttered. "And who'd marry me?!" he yelped.

Aerope and Janus came over. They both grinned and hugged Shea. "Don't worry, Dearest Sibling!" Janus said, smiling. "I'm sure Mama and Papa will find someone to marry a blockhead like you!"