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

There, happy? I stayed up really late to satisfy you all, so I expect many reviews. I may have to rewrite this chapter, since I'm not really awake, and don't really

know what i wrote.

luv ya!

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Kel was brought back to the present when she heard a knock at the door. Untangling her stiff legs, she looked out the window and was surprised to see that the sun was just starting to set. She had to be in the Great Hall soon for dinner.

Opening the door, she admitted a maid, one or two years older than Kel herself, and about six inches shorter. Over the woman's arm was a length of dark green wool, which Kel assumed was her dress for that night.

"My Lady Keladry, my name is Lalasa, and I was sent by the Daughters to help you get ready for tonight." She handed Kel a set of petticoats, and a plain white shift.

Kel shrugged on the garments, but flinched when Lalasa held out her stiff corset. She allowed the older woman to pull the ties, wincing as each new tug slimmed her waist. Even though she had been wearing these since she had arrived at the Convent, she had never gotten used to its tightness before the Daughters pulled it tighter. Most girls regarded the extra inches taken off of their waistlines as an honor and a privilege. To Kel, it was a new form of punishment. Now, the tightness on her abdomen, and the pressure on her breathing was nothing short of torture. The tighter the stays were around her, the more difficult her breathing became.

As Lalasa finished pulling, Kel slipped a light green brocade underskirt on. The skirt was loose and touched the floor evenly around her. On top of all, Lalasa fitted the dress on her. It was a heavy dark green woolen gown, with a high neck, insisted on by Kel herself. The sleeves were long, and fell nearly to the floor, lined in the green brocade of the underskirt. The long split skirt revealed the underskirt whenever she walked.

Lalasa helped Kel arrange her hair, simply braiding it, and winding it into a plait at the back of the girl's head. Small green stones hung from her ears and around her neck. The golden openwork band across her forehead sported a small emerald drop at the center. Green eye color, and light lip paint was all that toughed her skin, and yet Kel was amazed et seeing a lady staring at her from the mirror. Sad hazel eyes were the only indication of the pain and sorrow held inside of her.

She slowly walked to the Hall, and ate in silence with the other girls. They didn't talk to her, and she didn't attempt to start any conversation. The Daughters reprimanded her on everything she did.

When the meal was over, Kel and the other ladies gathered in a small ante chamber, waiting for their turn to descend the Grand Stairs and be presented to the court. She stood in the shadows, hoping that no one would notice her as a number of squires walked in to meet the ladies.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

As soon as the boys had escorted the ladies to their rooms, Squires Nealan, Merric, Seaver, Esmond and Owen gathered to talk in Neal's room. The other squires were now on somewhat friendly terms with Neal, although they still resented him for what he had said to Kel before she left. None of them had heard from her since that gods awful day, but Roald had received word by means of his father, that she was safely at the Convent.

Neal felt terrible about what he had done and said to her. He had run to her rooms to apologize, only to find six boys asleep outside them, and the rooms themselves deserted, with only a note left on her bed.

A voice cut through his thoughts, "So Neal. What did you think of the ladies? Any one you think you'll write poetry to? How about that one you escorted, Tanwyn of something or other?" Merric seemed to have taken the role of teasing Neal about his poetry upon himself.

"No way in the Black God's! She was a complete airhead. I can stand some cluelessness and stupidity in beautiful women, but this one drove me nuts! That was the longest escorting I have ever had the misfortune of being assigned."

Owen spoke up here. He was a shorter squire, about a year younger than the rest of them, but they had become friends in his first year. "I felt sorry for that poor girl who tripped. That slap looked like it hurt."

"Did she give you a name, Merric?" Usually quiet, Esmond startled the boys by speaking. "She looks very familiar. I'm sure that I've seen her before, but I just can't put my finger on where. It's bothering me." The other boys thought about it. They had all felt a sense of recognition when they saw her, but none of them could place her.

Owen's voice once more cut through the silence. "Well we should get down to the Hall. We're serving tonight alongside the pages. Isn't that jolly?" the boy seemed to have a fascination with the word 'jolly'.

The squires all ambled down to prepare to serve at the tables. Merric had the fortune of serving the ladies' table, and had a full view of the girl in question. She was quiet, not talking to anyone, but was reprimanded constantly buy the Daughters. Something twitched at the back of the boy's mind as he watched her face, but he still couldn't place her.

That night after the meal, the squires gathered in an ante chamber to meet the new ladies before they were presented. Kel was hiding in a corner, unseen, while Neal himself was unfortunate enough to have Tanwyn attached to his arm. Kel could see that the blonde girl had it in her mind to become the next duchess of Queenscove. She couldn't blame Tanwyn either for taking an interest in Neal either. He had grown quite handsome, and was twenty two now. She closed her eyes and sighed. Her crush on Neal hadn't seemed to have died away over six years. She still felt lightheaded just looking at him.

"Are you alright, there?" Kel opened he eyes to find herself staring into a pair of startling green ones.

"I'm fine, thank you, Squire Nealan." Kel replied, bobbing in a curtsy.

"Please, my lady, call me Neal." She hesitated. As much as she wanted to be friends again, she still resented him for what he had said to her before she had left. Also, she knew that the Daughters would throw a fit if they heard her addressing a powerful heir so informally.

Shaking her head, she bobbed again, replying, "It's not my place, Squire Nealan, to address you in any other way, than by your full title." she kept as much of the bitterness out of her voice as she could.

Neal continued, "What is your name, my lady?"

A voice cut through, saving Kel from answering, herself, yet answering Neal's question all the same.

"Keladry of Mindelan, get over here now! It's your turn to be presented. Do not embarrass us in the same way as this afternoon."

Looking around, Kel saw the squires' jaws all drop, before she opened the door and entered the brightly lit hall.