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

Votes: Dom: More than I care to count. Neal: 6 Merric: 2 Seaver: 1

luv ya!

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The morning after the eventful ball, Kel slept in late. After pulling herself out of bed, she quickly washed her face and dressed in a light blue dress. She brushed her hair, but let it hang loose and straight to her waist.

Picking up her embroidery, she started heading down to the noble's dining hall, before remembering that she was fasting. With a sigh, she headed outside to the gardens to sit in the bright sun.

Walking along a path, Kel chose a seat on a stone bench in the Palace orchard. She smoothed the white canvas on her lap. Sewn into the surface was the image of a shield in blue, grey and cream silk thread. The emblem on the shield itself was that of an owl, atop two crossed glaives. It also sported the yet unused distaff border of Lady Knights. This was the Mindelan crest, and would have been the print of Kel's shield, had she continued her knight training. The stitching itself was neat. All of the satin and back stitches were even and close together.

Kel had been working on this for two years. She had had to work in secret, the Daughters having burned her previous attempt. They seemed bound and determined to crush out any reminder of knighthood. This was the only distant hand-me-down remains of her dream and her old spirit.

Pulling out silver thread, she began to stitch the outside of the distaff border. As much as she disliked any form of sewing, she was determined to finish this.

She was so absorbed in her work, that she didn't notice when a group of squires and knights entered the orchard.

A pair of hands tugged the cloth from her grasp, and she looked up, startled into a pair of bright green eyes. Looking beyond him, Kel saw all of her old friends. Neal, Cleon, Merric, Seaver, Esmond, Faleron, and Prince Roald were all there, as well as two she didn't know.

Stiffly, she rose and curtsied to them, almost positive that the Third Daughter was around the corner, watching her.

A warm hand took hers, and pulled her up. Neal then roughly pulled her into a tight hug.

"Kel, I'm so glad to see youo again, I felt terrible about what I did and said to you before." he whispered into her ear, "I ran to your room after, but when I got there, all I saw were the boys sleeping outside. when we opened the door, you were gone with only a note."

Kel gently pulled herself from his death grip, before she was caught by Cleon, then everyone else, save the two strangers.

Neal answered her unasked question. "Kel this is Owen of Jesslaw, he's a squire a year younger than us. This other man is unfortunately my cousin, Domitan of Masbolle."

Kel's mind flashed in recognition. "Hey I remember you! you were the one that helped me with Joren on my last day here. You're the one that called Neal Meathead."

"Yeah, that would have been me." he laughed.

"Wait a minute," Neal interrupted. "What happened with Joren. All I heard was that you were brought in to Father. What did he do?"

"He attacked me that night. Broke a few of my ribs. When I was healed, I ran."

There was a deep silence between all of them, broken only when Cleon spoke up. "I'm so sorry, Kel. Why didn't you tell us? Write to us? We went seven long years with no word. We were all worried."

"The Daughters forbid me. At first, I was angry with Neal, and ashamed of what you all would have thought of my failing-"

Merric started. "Kel we know that it wasn't your fault. You trained harder than anyone. We gave Wyldon hell for a while after that." Neal's eyes were downcast, guilt and regret in their emerald depths.

She continued softly. "After I had gotten over that, and had run away, the Daughters were determined to crush any remains of my dreams. They forbid me from retaining any connections with the Palace, or my page training. You know they burned my glaive in front of me."

There was a murmur of pity from the boys. The young squire, Owen spoke up eagerly. "You ran away?"

"Twice. First time was around my twelfth birthday. I made my way down to the hill country. Met some bandits. I wandered around, until I was caught. The second time was in my third year. I was out for the better part of a month." the boys gazed at her sorrowfully. They were all sitting on the ground. Kel was leaning against Neal and Faleron. "After that, they punished me continually. They beat me down until I had nothing left. I couldn't leave anymore."

The boys all felt pity for her. Kel, the fierce bully fighting Kel. She who had helped them with mathematics, and had nagged Neal into eating his vegetables. Kel, who had always been their friend, was in such pain, that it broke them all inside.

"Hey Kel, Why don't we show you around?" Merric questioned. "We all have the day off." the other boys nodded eagerly.

Kel hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Sure, that sounds like fun." As she stood up and followed her friends, she felt a part of the pain around her heart lessen.

They were walking around the gardens, chattering, when an arm wrapped around her and pulled her to the ground. A foot connected with her collarbone and an icy voice reached her ears.

"Well, if it isn't Lady Keladry. Finally put in your place, right, Lump?" Joren's words were cut off as Neal, Dom, and Cleon all launched themselves at him.

Kel stood up. The pain in her shoulder was more than anything else she had felt. Finally the build up of lack of food, lack of sleep, and pain overtook her.

She collapsed, the world going dark as a pair of arms caught her before she hit the stone path.

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TO ALL MY REVIEWERS:

Just for the record: I've written by hand the entire story, and part of the sequel. So sooner or later, i promise you it will get uploaded. It's just that transcribing it takes a while.

sniperkitten313: You got your Kel-Joren confrontation. Hey, I'm scared of heights too. Go us!

alianne of conte: Kel is pretty, but isn't the strike-down-everybody-looks-at-her-cuz-she's-so-pretty type. Here's Joren

mel: Thank you for all of your reviews. Glad you liked it. It will get happier. Promise.

I love M: I've come up with a reason for the Riders, but thanx anyways. Wait and see.

Laura: Thanx for saying that. I'm glad that someone thinks that I'm a good writer. (Cough English teacher Cough). Will update, SIR!

Wake-Robin: Upadating, SIR!

beth: Will get happier. Promise

XxInsanityxX: Don't bite me, or a horde of angry reviewers will come after you.

CodeNameTargeter: hmm, let me think about it. No. I already have plans for her.

lena-jade: Overpowering, and don't you ever forget it. Good points. Thanx.

shadow313: Black mail is very tempting, but I will try to refrain from such methods of review encouragement.

KeeperofthePineNeedles: Kel/Dom... maybe. This will be more friendship-type, you know.

vamplvr: Thanx for the suggestion.

Pheep: Thanx for the review. Will think about it. Still thinking between Dom and Neal. I personally love Neal, and want him for myself, but Dom seems suited for Kel.

Macko: One more Kel/Dom.

ossini: Yes SIR! (salute)

oceanspike: Holy FISH???

Eclipsa: I promise that I will add Yuki, Shinko, and the Progress.

Ti-Ti: I have plans for the Daughters.

Erkith: Still contemplating Kel/Dom.

gOdDesS: As the story keeps going, there will be more present time, less flashbacks.

Miliko01: I love Neal too.

Leo the Fire fairy: Ideas are always welcome

Sly Vixen & dragonfly: I've got more thoughts for run away flashbacks, keep up with the ideas.

Lady-Snape7: Will update, if you keep reading.

cs: Writing more, in progress.

red briar rose: I'm not going to tell you what happens. You have to wait.

Ethuiliel: (review response in progress. too busy writing story)