Disclaimer: I do not, under any circumstances own any of the characters, they belong to the genius of Tamora Pierce (damn, I wish there was a REAL Neal…)
Hiya people. Just a warning, this is a Neal/Kel fic, so if you already know that you'll hate it for that mere fact, don't bother reading. Please read and review, I'd really like your opinion… This fanfic switches between Neal and Kel every chapter… So what's going to happen is that my friend is going to be Kel and I'm Neal, so I write one chapter and then she writes the next chapter and then Its me again… So, really, we're just making this up as we go along… hope you like it! Bya~
Chapter 1- Neal
Mithros save me, thought Neal as he shut the wooden door behind him. What Have I gotten myself into this Time? All he'd wanted was a simple answer; just a mere confirmation of something that, just an hour ago, he was almost CERTAIN was what he wanted. Now he wasn't so sure. Good one Queenscove. Just when you think you know exactly how your life is going to be, you have to go and screw things up again, he told himself silently. When the thought first occurred to him, it had seemed like a good idea. He'd always loved going to foretellers, and it was really just for fun, since he knew that he loved Yuki to death. Asking a foreteller whether or not he should propose to Yuki shouldn't have been any different. But oh, how it was. He recalled how confused he had been when he had first heard what the foreteller had to say. Well, at least even more confused than he was now.
"There's something in your heart, that you have been trying to hide from for sometime, Neal. I can see it there, buried so deep that you almost fooled yourself into thinking that you could shut it out and forget about it. I know you might be confused now, my dear boy, but in time, with patience, you will come to understand what it is. You love Yukimi, deeply, I can see, but there is someone else in your heart. Think about it. Please consider my words before you pledge yourself to the one whom you wished to consult me about today."
What did she mean? There couldn't possibly be someone else that he held closer to him than Yuki! He loved Yuki with his heart, his soul… right? It was what he'd always wanted, a fine Yamani Court lady, one who shared his passion for romance, who loved him back with all her…
"Neal! Wait up!" shouted a voice behind him, breaking his train of thought. Neal sighed. He didn't have time for friendly chit-chat at the moment, and frankly, he wasn't in the mood. About to wave the person away, he turned around and opened his mouth, about to douse whoever it was with a strong dose of sarcasm. Someone had said before that he had the ability to make someone punch him just for saying hello and, secretly, he rather prided himself on his talent. "Why Sir Meathead, don't YOU look a little annoyed to see your best friend today," commented Kel cheerfully. She was dressed in her normal breeches, although in her right hand she held her jousting lance. Glancing to his left, he saw Peachblossom standing lazily about next to the quintain dummy practice court yards. "No, not really Kel, just a little occupied lately, trying to brace myself for another one of your painfully cheery speeches." Neal drawled absently, he didn't feel like talking to his long-time friend, she was much too happy for his taste at the moment. "My, aren't we feeling a little vegetable deprived. Anyway, I wouldn't have bothered to come over halfway through practice, but Yuki told me to tell you that she's expecting you to be back by late afternoon so that you can get ready for the ball tonight. She's just gone to pick up your clothes and run some errands now." Kel informed him, looking over behind her should to make sure that Peachblossom was behaving. "Thanks Kel, you've been SO informative, now I'll just run along now so you can continue poking the poor dummies with that enormous toothpick of yours", and with that, he trotted off down the footpath.