DISCLAIMER: Don't own it. Don't like it? Don't read it. R/R

luv ya!

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

It was a calm spring day as a tall seventeen year old girl rode through the palace gates in Corus. She was surrounded by several other chattering girls her age, and four Daughters of the Convent.

At first glance, you would think this girl proud and arrogant, straight backed in the side saddle, and chin held high, but this was a result of six years living among the proud Yamanis, and also of the stiff corset constricting the girls waist.

If you were to look closer, you would see that in fact her eyes held more pain and regret than any other person in lady in Tortall. As she approached the palace itself, her shoulders began to drop, and her gaze flicked from the small crowd gathered to greet them to her horse's neck.

It had been six years since Keladry of Mindelan had passed through these gates on foot, going the other way. Six of the longest and most painful of her life. When she came to the convent, she was still wild, and set on being a warrior. The Daughters of the Convent had set it their task to pound out any boyishness left in her.

Outside, she had changed almost beyond recognition. As an eleven year old, she was shorter, with closely cut light brown hair and hazel eyes, slightly pudgy and with a definite boyish walk. Now at seventeen, she had long sandy blonde hair which fell neatly to her hips, though was now wound in a braided plait at the back of her head. She was tall, almost six feet, but slimmer, and with a considerably more noticeable womanly figure, accented by the low cut green dress she now wore. The Daughters had forced her to wear emerald earbobs and necklace.

Inside, an even more drastic change had taken placed. She could barely even remember the stocky eleven year old page who had laughed with her friends and had fought bullies. She still hid her emotions, but now the emotions hid were dramatically different ones.

At the Convent, the Daughters had treated her worse than any other girl there. She had had to fast more days than she could count, and was forced for hours, even days on end into the straight backed posture chair. The other girls there were not much better, treating her as some sort of commoner for trying for her shield. For the first few years, she had tried to keep up her weapons practice, but in the end, they had taken her sword, bow and precious glaive away from her. Unable to practice, her muscles had softened, and she doubted now if she would be able to hold a sword.

Twice, she had even run away from the Convent in her first and third years there. Each time, they had found her, and had made her fast for longer as punishment.

As a result of all of this, her spirit had been broken, as one breaks a wild horse. She never spoke to anyone, and spent what little spare time she had dreaming of her life at the palace.

She was woken from her deep thoughts as a hand came across her cheek. "Sit up straight, Keladry, and do not disgrace us in front of the court. If you do, then you have not seen punishment until you have seen what I will do to you." The Third Daughter hissed in her ear.

As the riders entered the stone courtyard, Kel gazed at the group of squires who had come to greet them. She started when she recognized her old friends, before remembering that they would be squires now. Cleon, Roald and Faleron were missing, but they would be knights now if they had passed their Ordeal.

The ladies all dismounted from the saddle, most of them complaining about the long ride here, and the fact that their dresses were askew. Each one in turn curtsied to Master Oakbridge.

Kel was last to curtsy. As she rose, she caught sight of a pair of familiar green eyes in the crowd, and, distracted, she tripped over the hem of her skirt and fell on her side.

A hand roughly jerked her up, and slapped her hard across the face. Fighting back tears of humiliation, Kel apologized quietly to Master Oakbridge and curtsied again, this time without falling.

Oakbridge took her hand gently and addressed the squires.

"Queenscove," Kel's eyes widened. No! she prayed silently. She hadn't exactly left Neal on good terms, and wasn't ready to face him yet, "I want you to escort Lady-"

"Oh no Master!" Third Daughter interrupted. "This, lady." she delicately stressed that word, "Isn't good enough for an escort from such a grand ducal house. Suire Nealan is better to escort, say, Tanwyn of Sebell." a pretty blonde stepped forward and took Neal's outstretched arm, chattering aimlessly to him. Kel was close to tears now.

Oakbridge continued, "Fine then. Hollyrose!" Merric stepped forward, "Escort this lady her to her rooms." he indicated Kel.

Kel calmly place a hand on Merric arm and followed him into the palace.

"What is your name, my lady, if you don't mind me asking? You seem familiar, but I can't place you."

Kel looked up sadly. "You don't remember who I am, do you?" He shook his head. "I didn't really expect any of you to. I barely remember myself back then. It feels as though I was a different person then."

"But then who are you?" he insisted.

They had reached her door. "You will find out tonight. Good day Squire Merric."

She entered her room and closed the door. Walking to the window, she sat in the window seat, in the exact same position she had six years ago, and began to cry.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

TO ALL MY REVIEWERS:

Midnight Knight: Thanx for the review. i'll do my best to post more chapters. Glad you like the story that much.

Numairs-Wild-Magelet: Thank you for the review. I'll try to write longer paragraphs. I'm not entirely sure what a beta is. I've heard the term before, but I was never sure what it meant. If you can tell me what a beta is, then sure, you're it.

sniperkitter313: Thank you for both reviews. I'm so glad you liked it. I know that it's different from the books, but that's why this is fanfiction, and I'm the author. Anyways. I promise to write more. For your review of "Destiny": I know that the lyrics don't exactly follow the story, but that's why I said to listen to the music at the same time, for the melody rather. Did you listen, or did you just read it?"

Dragoneyes: Thanks a lot! I never liked Wyldon, so I always wanted a reason to make him look evil. Sorry about that, if you like Wyldon.

luv ya!