Disclaimer: It's a FANFICTION site people. If I was the real author, wouldn't I just write a book instead?
Chapter 2 – Routine and Surprise
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Over the course of the next week, Kel had to remind herself more than once that this was Valen, not Haven. There were a lot of similarities, but the differences far outweighed them.
Probably the biggest thing was the fact that the soldiers weren't really soldiers. The "army" of Valen was comprised of the only able-bodied people in the town. Which meant, they weren't as trained and skilled as soldiers. That she could repair. She got used to training the refugees at Haven.
It was the miniscule amount of available soldiers. Deirdre was the only person between the ages of 10 and 50 that wasn't fighting, and still that only made three squads. Kel couldn't believe that they had managed to hold off the Scanrans so long, but apparently they didn't attack all that often, and when they did it was usually only a small force. A small luxury, if it could be called that.
The people of Valen accepted her almost immediately. There were two or three people who looked at her with suspicion, but that was quickly dissolving. She immediately assigned training groups, with her teaching. Most of the fighters were unskilled, but they were all willing and able to learn.
The state of mind of the townspeople was also different from that of Haven. At Haven they were constantly worried about battles, work, and keeping themselves separate from those they didn't know. Here, everyone knew everyone else. They were like a large family, working together with precision and ease. The people were quicker to laugh, quicker to smile, more accepting.
In one week, Kel went from believing that she would never be happy again to feeling more content than she had in a long time.
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"Kel." Kel turned around to see the bearer of the grave voice. It was Deirdre, her eyes twinkling with an eerie light. "I need to talk to you."
Kel looked at her for a moment before what she meant finally penetrated her brain. Deirdre had just had a vision, and she obviously didn't want everyone to hear it.
Kel excused herself from the training soldiers and followed Deirdre until they were out of earshot of anyone. A moment later, Sean detached himself and came over as well.
"Scanrans are coming," Deirdre obviously didn't believe in preamble.
"When? And how many?"
"I'd say we have a good four hours before they get here. A full squad of them."
Kel grimaced; Sean swore. A full squad of fully trained Scanrans against three half-trained villagers? Kel was really going to have to pull something this time.
She turned to Sean. "How do you usually prepare for a battle?"
"Just doing all the things you would have to do in 10 minutes, I guess. But the result is, everyone is much less rushed. We've had enough attacks by now that people are lying in fear in the hours leading up to a battle."
"Good. Get everyone working on that. Three hours from now, I'll take you and your best squad and lay in wait in the forest outside the town. Two archers, no more. The rest will be up on the wall, giving us cover, but don't rely solely on that. Got it?"
Sean nodded, and went off to go order the troops. Kel looked back at Deirdre to find that she had already gone. Sighing, she went to help the others prepare for battle, and to find Tobe.
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Kel waited in the woods with Sean and the squad for only half an hour, since it had taken them so long to find an appropriate spot that hid them, but also made it easy to see the Scanrans and easy to attack them. The moment the Scanrans galloped into view, she signaled to the others, and they charged.
Four Scanrans already lay dead, killed by arrows shot from back at Valen. Three more fell pray to the squads two archers and Kel.
The subsequent fighting was muddled and quick. Kel ended up killing six Scanrans single-handedly. The squad fought bravely, but even from this small skirmish showed her how much improvement they needed.
The second squad came out to help with the burning of the Scranrans' bodies. There were no Stormwings around this time, but Kel was taking no chances.
They had had luck on their side during this battle. Thanks to Deirdre's vision and the rigorous training Kel was putting the fighters through, none of the citizens of Valen were hurt, though a few had minor scrapes and bruises.
The two squads rode back through the gate accompanied by massive cheering. The third squad and the rest of the townspeople had turned up to welcome them back. Shouts of "Lady Kel! Lady Kel!" rang through the air, making Kel feel like blushing. Another time she thanked the gods for her Yamani training.
She handed Peachblossom over to Tobe and smiled gratefully at him. He ducked under the arms of the mass of people coming over to talk to Kel and led the horse off to the stables, accompanied by the other members of the squads.
Kel was then herded into the hall that they usually used for town meetings. It had been decorated with garlands and flowers, all set up for a celebration. A couple members of the crowd ran over to where some instruments were set up and began to play them. Half of the crowd ran out onto the cleared out space and began to dance.
Kel spent the first half of the party talking to people. Mostly to members of their "army" about what training they would be doing next and to those who had not gone out to fight, accepting their praise of her.
At some point she found herself face-to-face with Sean. He smiled at her, making her almost visibly swoon. He held out a cup to her. She frowned at it and he laughed.
"It's water, Kel, it's water."
"Oh! Thank you." She accepted the cup and drained half of it.
"They sure do teach you knights amazing things at the palace, don't they?" he asked conversationally.
"What do you mean?" she asked him, puzzled.
"I've never seen anyone fight like you do. It's…amazing. I wish I could fight like that."
"That's what I'm training you all to do."
He laughed at that. "You can teach us the moves, Lady Knight, but there's a certain mentality to fighting the way you do that not everyone has."
Kel frowned at him. "You'll never learn with an attitude like that."
"Maybe I'll surprise you." He gave her one last wistful smile and walked away, leaving Kel to stare after him.
"You shouldn't be so reserved toward him." Kel turned around to see Deirdre, grinning at her.
"What?"
"Just let it go. There's no escaping fate."
"What fate?"
"You. Him. But don't let him know I said this. Keep him at bay a little longer. You don't want him to know it's working."
"What's working?"
Deirdre laughed softly at her. "You don't see it? Of course you don't. You. Sean. You're meant to be. Can't you tell?"
"Now you're just making things up. I'm not meant to be with anyone."
She smiled knowingly. "If you say so," she said quietly and sauntered away.
Kel sighed deeply, said hasty goodbyes to a new group that had come to talk to her, and made her way back to the house.
Meant to be? With Sean? Deirdre had the oddest sense of humor.
But then…that look in her eyes. That same sparkle she had whenever she talked about one of her visions… It was possible.
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Terrible ending, I know. But I couldn't think of a better note to end on. Blame Mel, she kept distracting me! Anyway thank you thank you thank you thank you for all the reviews!!! I can't believe how many I've gotten in such a short time!! I rant about it all day at school. ^_^ I 3 you all!!! You're all such nice, wonderful people!! Except for YOU Mel. Find your name below here and you'll know why.
If you ask a question or make a specific comment and your name isn't down there, it's probably because it's been asked/mentioned by someone else and I put it under their name. Also, if anyone emails me, put something like "Your insert ff name here Fanfic", otherwise I'll delete it as spam.
Now everyone go read my Crown/Court Duel fanfic I just posted and review it with comments of how much you love it so I can go through another day of annoying my friends with "People like it!!! Did you see??? THEY LIKE IT!!!!" Again, thank you for the reviews!!! ^_^
Wei: Quiet, Wei. You need to cut back on…whatever it is that makes you crazy. One day I'll figure out what it is. And then I'll steal it.
Mel: HAHAHAH!!!!!! JON!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHH!!!!!!!! RAPE!!! HAAAAAAAHHAAAA!!!! ::everyone is confused:: HAHAHAHAH!! ::sniff:: hahaa..haa..haa…RAPE HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No. Also, I KNOW that anonymous comment about this sucking was you. I KNOW. Especially since I said to you, "i hope no one puts a "your story is stupid as all hell" thing in there." DORK.
Kiwi: Jon wasn't killed because Alanna saved his ass! Marmalade Boy is good, but I've only seen about two episodes while at my friend's house. OMG POP TARTS ARE THE BEST. I could live off pop tarts. Literally. I do not understand people who don't like/have never had pop tarts. I feel bad for them. I'm bigger on Kel/Dom fics, mostly because you have to dispense with Yuki in order to get Kel/Neal, which always depresses me. But Neal is super cool, I'll give you that. Exponents are so pointless. After geometry, you don't use any higher levels of math in real life. Unless you go into a profession that deals with trigonometry or calculus. Card Captor Sakura is the BEST!!! I am in love with Syaoran!!! Despite the fact that he's what, 10? You are as crazy as me. And here I was, not thinking that was possible. ^_~ Anyway, thanks for the review, it was extremely amusing.
Rosie Tasikhe: Hahaha, I'm a sucker for romance. The other characters will turn up, but in a cool way. I am excited about it. You have to keep reading, just for that part. It's going to be awesome. And the author's notes were only in the middle that time because I had to make fun of myself for making Sean's description what everyone who's read anything I've written could've predicted. ^_~ Anyway, so probably never again with the A/N's in the middle.
Alixi: Kel moping and depressed would be more fun. Kel kicking ass is much better. I don't have any of my other fics up (right now) but you will notice that the love interest is always black haired, green eyes, tall, pale, and Irish. Usually named Sean. I'm going to marry someone fitting that description. ::flies to Ireland and calls up everyone named Sean::
Legofiance: Rooting for Sean would be the right way to go. I'm big on Kel/Dom too, but that really wouldn't work in my story. I'll see if I can't keep the pace. Maybe add a little more description as certain people ::cough mel cough:: have suggested.
Rubber Duck: Updating quickly is my middle name. Actually its Marchelle and don't you think that's pretty? Don't count on me updating too quickly from now on, I have about 50 fanfics to put up and a huge project almost due so yeah. I'm glad people like novel type stories, I was all concerned it would be too long, since most fanfics are about 10 chapters long. And my chapters are long. Anyway, thanks!
Lizai: I think I can make a chapter where Alanna screams at Jon. Originally I was just going to talk about how mad she is, but that sounds much more entertaining. ^_^
Queen's Own: Well, in defense of Jon (in my story at least) he really didn't have a choice. I mean, she DID commit treason after all. He was nice enough not to have her hanged or what have you. As for Alanna and Thayet, they will never forgive him. MWAHAHAH!