Disclaimer: For all of you with short-term memory loss, this is NOT my stuff. Belongs to Mercedes Lackey.
Yes, I've made my decision. I'm definitely not going to end this story on a cliff-hanger, don't worry, and no promises, but I got attached to Lan and Kel so they might come back for a round two in the future, but, for this installment, at least, I'm not going to ramble on and follow them around for the rest of their lives like I planned. I'm not going to abandon it, I'm not going to put it "on hold," and my updates'll be as fast as ever, but I think I'll wait until the problem of the book, the lifebonding thing, is solved, then call it complete.
Tenshi: Yeah, he's messing it up a lot. At first, I was unsure about that, because canonically, Companions do tend to be pretty perfect. Well, I did my best on the Companion front. Glad it is acceptable.
Breezefire: A new review! Yay! And, as for the relationship thing, my take on that is that Lan needed to USE the Lifebond and Herald-Bond together as soon as they appeared, in ways that Kel didn't, so it was as though their Lifebond progressed at warp speed. With others, they might not know it at first. As witness, Talia and Dirk. Even after Talia had met Dirk, she thought she was in love with Skif for far longer than Kel/Meral lasted.
Wizard: Yeah, it snuck up on me too. Don't worry, though. I already have a new fic brewing, so all my reviewers can be nice and go review that one too, when it comes out. wink
Fireblade: Yeah, it ended way faster than I thought it would. Glad you like it. Just wanted to publicly say, in case I was lazy and didn't review, 'Like the Moon' ROX MY SOX! PLEASE update before I die from the lack of Kamaria and Alain. I wish my writing would be as good as that.
Lurks in Shadows: Yay! Well, thankies!
Ok, chapter nine. I want to make at least 10 chapters, 15 would be nice, and it'll probably end up somewhere in the middle. I'd like to hit 50 reviews, although I know it wont happen, so if you are lazy like me and read but don't review, please take the time to write a short one. It makes me feel loved, lol.
Ok, HUGE authors note today, sorry about that. On to the good stuff, now.
Ok, I apologize for the unforgivable shortness of this chapter. Having rather big issues right now in a number of areas. The next chapter will be soon, I promise, and we will have skipped ahead several months. The plot should really start to roll then, only two or three more chapters to go. Gosh, the note is longer than the chapter. PLEASE don't eat me! hides
Chapter 9: Settlings
Kel bit at her nails nervously, staring at the back of Meral's head. She would have to wait until after class to have her talk with him, but the waiting was making her so nervous. What if he didn't like her at all anymore? Kel's mind felt like a mouse running around in a tiny, circular cage.
:Lan!: Kel reached for the support of her Companion, already feeling natural in turning to him. :I can't wait until the end of class! I feel all twisty inside! I should just throw him a note in a paper ball, or something.:
Lan's Voice held amusement at the situation. :Or, you could just Speak him, Chosen.:
:Oh yeah. I forgot I could do that. Wait, how do I make sure I'm talking to him?:
:Picture him in your mind, then Speak, like you do to me.:
Kel thought about it. :Sounds like it's worth a try. Thanks, love.:
:Don't mention it.:
Kel pictured Meral in her mind. Long blue hair swirling around his head as he moved, slate gray eyes that could flash from gray blue to charcoal in the blink of an eye. Heart shaped face, with a ready smile forever on his lips.
:Meral?: She called tentatively.
:Kel?:
:Yeah.:
To the casual observer, Meral looked absolutely riveted by the math lesson, completely focused, but his attention was mainly on Kel.
:Meral, I need to talk to you about something.:
:Hmm?:
:About last night. It was, well, it was an experience, but I'm not looking for a relationship at the moment, and I don't think it was, I don't know. It just didn't feel right.:
:Oh. Well, I can't say I'm not disappointed, but don't worry about it, Kel. I understand.:
:So, can we still be friends?: Kel asked nervously.
:Can we? I'm counting on it!: The honest laughter in Meral's MindVoice convinced Kel that it really was all right. :I'm counting on you to get me through the next few years in one piece, Yearmate.:
Kel wordlessly sent Meral a stream of all the affection she had begun to feel for him over the last few days. The smile she could see from where she was sitting was all the assurance she needed that things would be fine between the two of them.