Kel didn't know what to think. The Chamber had done quite a few things it never did: it had broken a promise, it had spoken to someone outside of itself, it had let a human command it, and it had been scared.
Kel couldn't help herself. As she sat on her bed, thinking, she cried. She cried over Dom, she cried over how much trouble the past few weeks had been, she cried over what was to come. As soon as she recovered herself, she got to work. If great danger was at her doorstep, she didn't want to be in the bath when it knocked.
Days passed slowly. Kel always had a knife concealed in her belt, and when she had a free hand, she always walked with her right thumb tucked in behind the knife, so she could pull it out instantly when she needed to. She was always on guard, looking around corners, checking the stables before she went in. One day, as she cautiously entered her room, a thought came to her.
The danger wasn't for her. The Chamber did not care if someone tried to kill a lowly female knight. Something was endangering the kingdom. And Kel wouldn't stop it by peeking around corners.
She went to see the king that day. She knew it was unlikely he would listen, but she thought it worth a try.
"Good evening, Keladry." Jon said, smiling.
Kel bowed. "Good evening, your majesty. I have a very important request to make." She said, getting straight to the point. She squeezed her hands tightly together, feeling them slip with sweat.
"Go ahead." He said.
Kel nodded. "The Chamber of the Ordeal spoke to me." She said. "Twice. I know it was the Chamber, I recognized the voice, and when I went to the Chamber to check, it told me the same thing. Something is going down." She said. "Something that is big enough for the Chamber to care about."
Jon put his hands together and nodded. "I know." He said. Kel blinked. He knew? "What did the Chamber tell you?" He asked.
"It said, 'great danger approaches,' and 'it is here.'"
Jon frowned. "This is no good." He stood up and paced the room. "I am aware of the actions that are taking place. But I too do not know what these actions are. You must find out. It is imperative that you do this. You seem to be the only other person who knows what is going on. You must find out what is truly going on!"
Kel nodded. "Your majesty, I'm not sure if it's acceptable for me to ask, but, how do you know about the danger?"
Jon sighed. "I heard of it the same way you did. The Chamber told me."
Kel nodded. "Oh."
The king stood up. "Very well, Keladry. Do what you feel is necessary. If the event happens that you need men, take whoever and as many as you need. Take the supplies you need, I don't care! Just deal with it."
Kel nodded. "Of course, your majesty." She rose and walked to the door, but paused when she reached it. "Your majesty..."
Jon looked at her. "Yes?"
"Do you think I could possibly have free use of the royal libraries? The restrictions do make it rather difficult to research some things."
He smiled weakly. "Of course. Remember, Keladry. You do not have to ask. As far as I am concerned, you can do what ever the hell you want."
Kel nodded, slightly shocked that the king would say that to a knight, no matter how much he trusted her. "Thank you, your majesty." Kel turned and left the room silently.
Kel was conflicted. What was she to do? This was not like something she had dealt with before. She had not been expecting for the king to be putting her in charge of this. If he had heard it too, why didn't he do it?
She sighed, running her hand through her hair, probably mussing it. That was silly. He was the king. He was too busy for that. This was too much for her. She couldn't do this, she couldn't solve something like this on her own!
She stopped walking and shook her head violently, making her brain rattle. Don't be silly, Keladry, she thought. The king believes you can do this. You can do it.
Nevertheless, her nerves were shooting every which way. She took a deep breath to collect herself and closed her eyes. "Come now, Keladry." She muttered. "You know how to handle yourself."
"Talking to yourself, Mindelan? You are just going downhill!" A mocking voice said from behind her.
Kel's eyes shot open. "Well, Masbolle, it's more entertaining than talking to you." She said, then turned around and grinned at Dom.
He mocked an arrow flying into his chest. Kel punched him. "Dramatist." She said.
Dom put a hand to his forehead. "Alas, my time in this realm is drawing to a close. I must travel onwards, to the grey havens of the other worlds..."
Kel smiled. She was glad Dom was there to take her mind off things, but she needed to stay on track. She needed to find out what was going on.
Kel spent weeks on end doing nothing but work. She spent her mornings training her fighting skills more and more, and spent her afternoons poring over books in the libraries. She felt like she was back at school, training in the morning, classes in the afternoon, and working on problems at night.
Only now, the problems she worked on at night were how to keep herself and her friends alive.
Although the Chamber had said that the evil had drawn near, it did not show itself. But Kel began to notice it's presence. It was like everyone knew something was coming, but not what. It was like they all knew what Kel knew. The air was tight, and everybody's tempers were short.
"Kel, why have you been acting so strangely?" Dom asked her one day at lunch, as she ate her meal as quickly as possible, preparing for another afternoon of studying.
Kel looked up. "What do you mean?"
Dom frowned. "You have been strange recently. I mean, you were never the loudest person, but lately it seems you are beyond quiet. You are never around; we can always find you practicing or in the library."
Kel shrugged. "I'm brushing up."
Dom shook his head in disbelief. "Kel, we both know that is not true. You are affecting the way all of your friends act, and we worry about you."
Kel put her head in her hands and closed her eyes for a minute. Dom waited. When she lifted her head, he was waiting patiently, ready for her response. She glanced at the people around her. Most of them were friends, but not all, and she still was not sure if she wanted to involve her friends.
Sighing, she stood up and grabbed Dom by the wrist, weaving through the tables, out the door. She led him all the way up to the knights wing, and straight into her room. She spun around to face him. he looked scared. "Dom, I don't know what is wrong. That is why I'm spending time in the library, to find out. Something is coming, and it is something big, and it is my responsibility to find out, so just let me do what I have been instructed to do."
Dom looked at her, bewildered. "Kel, what are you talking about? Slow down, and start from the beginning. I'm sure you can spare this time."
Kel sat down on the bed. "A while ago, the Chamber spoke to more. Outside of its walls. How it did it is not important. But it said that danger was coming, and Dom," she added quietly, "it was scared."
Dom didn't ask questions. He just pulled up a chair right across from her and listened intently.
"I tried to stay on guard. I tried to be ready. Then the Chamber told me that it was here, and I talked to the king, and he knew it was here, and he put me in charge of stopping it, with free run of any supplies or men I need. Only problem is, we still don't know what it is. But whatever it is, it's been here for a few weeks now."
Dom shook his head. "This isn't right. You shouldn't be doing this yourself."
Kel shrugged. "I was the one that the Chamber spoke to. That means that I am the one who has to do this."
Dom shook his head. "The king was told as well." He said.
Kel sighed. "I think that the Chamber told him to make sure that he would believe me."
Dom frowned. "Kel, stop running around the bush. You need help. You know it."
Kel ran her hand through her hair. She didn't know what to do. "You know what," she said exasperatedly, "fine. I can't do this myself, I'll admit it. But it doesn't mean I'm going to work any less hard!"
Dom took ahold of her hand and held it tightly. It was shaking. "Kel, sit down. Take a deep breath."
Rolling her eyes, Kel sat. Dom kneeled beside her. "Kel," He said. "you should have told me. You should have told Neal. You should have told all of us. I, and probably everyone else, wants to help. Just let me help you."
Kel smiled. "Alright, already. I'll accept your help. And thank you."
Dom stood up. "There, I knew you would agree." He sat down beside her. "Now. Do we have any idea what is coming?"
Kel shook her head glumly. "We have nothing." She said. "I have been doing so much research, but it just is not working. I don't think I'm taking the right route."
Dom smiled. "I think maybe if the king let you set up men on the borders of the city, we could protect it better."
Kel shook her head. "But what if it's not in the city? What if it covers the entirety of Tortall?"
Dom rubbed his chin in thought. He sighed. "I think your best bet is to keep practicing. Have all knights and soldiers of the area ready for war, when it comes. Have them practice as much as you do. Have them be prepared."
Kel stood up. "My god, no one is ready! We have to prepare them!"
Dom stood up. "Should you ask the king to make the announcement?"
Kel nodded. "I'm going to do it now."
She walked to the door, but Dom held her back. "Kel," he said, pulling her closer, "be careful."
She smiled. "You be careful too. If I have anything to say about it, you will be in this just as deep as me." She kissed him. "I can't stay. I'm sorry, I have to go!" She kissed him again and disappeared through the doorway.
All around Corus, for weeks to come, soldiers and knights were preparing for something they did not know about. Kel was especially worried, because if the Chamber had said the danger was here, but it had not shown itself... it could only be getting stronger.
Dom tried to assure her it was not true, but to no avail. She knew that it was just getting worse.
She had to seek it out for herself.
......................................................................................................
Well, there is Chapter 9. I am really truly sorry I have not updated in a month. I had NO IDEA it was that long, and I was having some serious trouble... I still haven't decided what the evil is!!! :)
Wake-Robin: You are always the first person to review...I just noticed that. Glad you like the mystery... I'm very happy with it:)
Dream Wall: So into it. It's the only stuff I'm any good at writing. Of course, I have the least imagination, and I can never think of anything to start with...:(
AJ 4EVA: Oops... sorry that took so long.
ShadowPirate: thank you. Yes, I pride myself on my nonfluffy fluff.
Ellabelle1: haha, I never even thought about it that way. But I don't consider it that they fight a lot, I consider it that they argue a lot. There is a big difference. And yes, I am definitely picking it up. I am going slowly with it because a) I still don't know what the evil is and b) everyone said I went through all my plots too fast.
Rubber Duck: Hold your horses... it's here.
The eternity: ha... it indeed.
PsychoLioness13: I would tell you, absolutely, if I knew.
Tanydwr: it is here because it has reached Tortall, or Corus, or the realm, or what ever the Chamber considers 'here.' I don't know it's reason yet.
Anonymous: wahoo! Mistakeless! Hey, I'm not that bad. I get quite a few reviews saying I have one of the few readable stories on the site. I actually Am, sometimes. I think my record was three 3000 word chapters in a day. But, alas, that was during March Break. And I'm sorry I can't update every day, but I have a life to lead...especially at the end of the year. I have numerous parties to go to, a few to organize myself, I have to shop and pack for camp, and there is more that I won't go into detail about. Also, I do have 4 stories up and running right now. Well, three... but I've got the start of a sequel that I'm writing...that counts.
Pinky: hmm.. I wouldn't really look at it that way, but I guess you could see it.
Lady of Masbolle: that's ok... I'm glad you like them.
Kore Yan: yay! Update!
Alannawanabe: I think he said that in my other story... I could cross it over, but I actually look at things completely differently in each story. One story might describe the palace looking like one thing, while the other story will describe it differently. I wrote that Raoul said that, and for now, I have decided not to have him say it in this story. (does that make sense?) Besides, I think she had a right to be stressy with him.
Miliko01:ha... yes I do! I love cliffhangers. If you notice, in books, chapters almost always end on a cliffhanger! Thus, I make cliffhangers...besides, people are more likely to read my next chapter if they have not seen a resolution in the last.
Tricksters-daughter: Latin sucks. I actually really don't like it... but that could be because I failed my exam. Hmm... I wonder?
Dreamerdoll: hehe...oops. Well, it just took a bit longer than expected.
Once again: I am sorry it took so long to update, and I hope to have the evil in one of the next few chapters (just this second I figured out what it is! Hurrah!)
"Why do people in ship mutinies always ask for "better treatment"? I'd ask for a pinball machine, because with all that rocking back and forth you'd probably be able to get a lot of free games."
-unolimbo
Kel couldn't help herself. As she sat on her bed, thinking, she cried. She cried over Dom, she cried over how much trouble the past few weeks had been, she cried over what was to come. As soon as she recovered herself, she got to work. If great danger was at her doorstep, she didn't want to be in the bath when it knocked.
Days passed slowly. Kel always had a knife concealed in her belt, and when she had a free hand, she always walked with her right thumb tucked in behind the knife, so she could pull it out instantly when she needed to. She was always on guard, looking around corners, checking the stables before she went in. One day, as she cautiously entered her room, a thought came to her.
The danger wasn't for her. The Chamber did not care if someone tried to kill a lowly female knight. Something was endangering the kingdom. And Kel wouldn't stop it by peeking around corners.
She went to see the king that day. She knew it was unlikely he would listen, but she thought it worth a try.
"Good evening, Keladry." Jon said, smiling.
Kel bowed. "Good evening, your majesty. I have a very important request to make." She said, getting straight to the point. She squeezed her hands tightly together, feeling them slip with sweat.
"Go ahead." He said.
Kel nodded. "The Chamber of the Ordeal spoke to me." She said. "Twice. I know it was the Chamber, I recognized the voice, and when I went to the Chamber to check, it told me the same thing. Something is going down." She said. "Something that is big enough for the Chamber to care about."
Jon put his hands together and nodded. "I know." He said. Kel blinked. He knew? "What did the Chamber tell you?" He asked.
"It said, 'great danger approaches,' and 'it is here.'"
Jon frowned. "This is no good." He stood up and paced the room. "I am aware of the actions that are taking place. But I too do not know what these actions are. You must find out. It is imperative that you do this. You seem to be the only other person who knows what is going on. You must find out what is truly going on!"
Kel nodded. "Your majesty, I'm not sure if it's acceptable for me to ask, but, how do you know about the danger?"
Jon sighed. "I heard of it the same way you did. The Chamber told me."
Kel nodded. "Oh."
The king stood up. "Very well, Keladry. Do what you feel is necessary. If the event happens that you need men, take whoever and as many as you need. Take the supplies you need, I don't care! Just deal with it."
Kel nodded. "Of course, your majesty." She rose and walked to the door, but paused when she reached it. "Your majesty..."
Jon looked at her. "Yes?"
"Do you think I could possibly have free use of the royal libraries? The restrictions do make it rather difficult to research some things."
He smiled weakly. "Of course. Remember, Keladry. You do not have to ask. As far as I am concerned, you can do what ever the hell you want."
Kel nodded, slightly shocked that the king would say that to a knight, no matter how much he trusted her. "Thank you, your majesty." Kel turned and left the room silently.
Kel was conflicted. What was she to do? This was not like something she had dealt with before. She had not been expecting for the king to be putting her in charge of this. If he had heard it too, why didn't he do it?
She sighed, running her hand through her hair, probably mussing it. That was silly. He was the king. He was too busy for that. This was too much for her. She couldn't do this, she couldn't solve something like this on her own!
She stopped walking and shook her head violently, making her brain rattle. Don't be silly, Keladry, she thought. The king believes you can do this. You can do it.
Nevertheless, her nerves were shooting every which way. She took a deep breath to collect herself and closed her eyes. "Come now, Keladry." She muttered. "You know how to handle yourself."
"Talking to yourself, Mindelan? You are just going downhill!" A mocking voice said from behind her.
Kel's eyes shot open. "Well, Masbolle, it's more entertaining than talking to you." She said, then turned around and grinned at Dom.
He mocked an arrow flying into his chest. Kel punched him. "Dramatist." She said.
Dom put a hand to his forehead. "Alas, my time in this realm is drawing to a close. I must travel onwards, to the grey havens of the other worlds..."
Kel smiled. She was glad Dom was there to take her mind off things, but she needed to stay on track. She needed to find out what was going on.
Kel spent weeks on end doing nothing but work. She spent her mornings training her fighting skills more and more, and spent her afternoons poring over books in the libraries. She felt like she was back at school, training in the morning, classes in the afternoon, and working on problems at night.
Only now, the problems she worked on at night were how to keep herself and her friends alive.
Although the Chamber had said that the evil had drawn near, it did not show itself. But Kel began to notice it's presence. It was like everyone knew something was coming, but not what. It was like they all knew what Kel knew. The air was tight, and everybody's tempers were short.
"Kel, why have you been acting so strangely?" Dom asked her one day at lunch, as she ate her meal as quickly as possible, preparing for another afternoon of studying.
Kel looked up. "What do you mean?"
Dom frowned. "You have been strange recently. I mean, you were never the loudest person, but lately it seems you are beyond quiet. You are never around; we can always find you practicing or in the library."
Kel shrugged. "I'm brushing up."
Dom shook his head in disbelief. "Kel, we both know that is not true. You are affecting the way all of your friends act, and we worry about you."
Kel put her head in her hands and closed her eyes for a minute. Dom waited. When she lifted her head, he was waiting patiently, ready for her response. She glanced at the people around her. Most of them were friends, but not all, and she still was not sure if she wanted to involve her friends.
Sighing, she stood up and grabbed Dom by the wrist, weaving through the tables, out the door. She led him all the way up to the knights wing, and straight into her room. She spun around to face him. he looked scared. "Dom, I don't know what is wrong. That is why I'm spending time in the library, to find out. Something is coming, and it is something big, and it is my responsibility to find out, so just let me do what I have been instructed to do."
Dom looked at her, bewildered. "Kel, what are you talking about? Slow down, and start from the beginning. I'm sure you can spare this time."
Kel sat down on the bed. "A while ago, the Chamber spoke to more. Outside of its walls. How it did it is not important. But it said that danger was coming, and Dom," she added quietly, "it was scared."
Dom didn't ask questions. He just pulled up a chair right across from her and listened intently.
"I tried to stay on guard. I tried to be ready. Then the Chamber told me that it was here, and I talked to the king, and he knew it was here, and he put me in charge of stopping it, with free run of any supplies or men I need. Only problem is, we still don't know what it is. But whatever it is, it's been here for a few weeks now."
Dom shook his head. "This isn't right. You shouldn't be doing this yourself."
Kel shrugged. "I was the one that the Chamber spoke to. That means that I am the one who has to do this."
Dom shook his head. "The king was told as well." He said.
Kel sighed. "I think that the Chamber told him to make sure that he would believe me."
Dom frowned. "Kel, stop running around the bush. You need help. You know it."
Kel ran her hand through her hair. She didn't know what to do. "You know what," she said exasperatedly, "fine. I can't do this myself, I'll admit it. But it doesn't mean I'm going to work any less hard!"
Dom took ahold of her hand and held it tightly. It was shaking. "Kel, sit down. Take a deep breath."
Rolling her eyes, Kel sat. Dom kneeled beside her. "Kel," He said. "you should have told me. You should have told Neal. You should have told all of us. I, and probably everyone else, wants to help. Just let me help you."
Kel smiled. "Alright, already. I'll accept your help. And thank you."
Dom stood up. "There, I knew you would agree." He sat down beside her. "Now. Do we have any idea what is coming?"
Kel shook her head glumly. "We have nothing." She said. "I have been doing so much research, but it just is not working. I don't think I'm taking the right route."
Dom smiled. "I think maybe if the king let you set up men on the borders of the city, we could protect it better."
Kel shook her head. "But what if it's not in the city? What if it covers the entirety of Tortall?"
Dom rubbed his chin in thought. He sighed. "I think your best bet is to keep practicing. Have all knights and soldiers of the area ready for war, when it comes. Have them practice as much as you do. Have them be prepared."
Kel stood up. "My god, no one is ready! We have to prepare them!"
Dom stood up. "Should you ask the king to make the announcement?"
Kel nodded. "I'm going to do it now."
She walked to the door, but Dom held her back. "Kel," he said, pulling her closer, "be careful."
She smiled. "You be careful too. If I have anything to say about it, you will be in this just as deep as me." She kissed him. "I can't stay. I'm sorry, I have to go!" She kissed him again and disappeared through the doorway.
All around Corus, for weeks to come, soldiers and knights were preparing for something they did not know about. Kel was especially worried, because if the Chamber had said the danger was here, but it had not shown itself... it could only be getting stronger.
Dom tried to assure her it was not true, but to no avail. She knew that it was just getting worse.
She had to seek it out for herself.
......................................................................................................
Well, there is Chapter 9. I am really truly sorry I have not updated in a month. I had NO IDEA it was that long, and I was having some serious trouble... I still haven't decided what the evil is!!! :)
Wake-Robin: You are always the first person to review...I just noticed that. Glad you like the mystery... I'm very happy with it:)
Dream Wall: So into it. It's the only stuff I'm any good at writing. Of course, I have the least imagination, and I can never think of anything to start with...:(
AJ 4EVA: Oops... sorry that took so long.
ShadowPirate: thank you. Yes, I pride myself on my nonfluffy fluff.
Ellabelle1: haha, I never even thought about it that way. But I don't consider it that they fight a lot, I consider it that they argue a lot. There is a big difference. And yes, I am definitely picking it up. I am going slowly with it because a) I still don't know what the evil is and b) everyone said I went through all my plots too fast.
Rubber Duck: Hold your horses... it's here.
The eternity: ha... it indeed.
PsychoLioness13: I would tell you, absolutely, if I knew.
Tanydwr: it is here because it has reached Tortall, or Corus, or the realm, or what ever the Chamber considers 'here.' I don't know it's reason yet.
Anonymous: wahoo! Mistakeless! Hey, I'm not that bad. I get quite a few reviews saying I have one of the few readable stories on the site. I actually Am, sometimes. I think my record was three 3000 word chapters in a day. But, alas, that was during March Break. And I'm sorry I can't update every day, but I have a life to lead...especially at the end of the year. I have numerous parties to go to, a few to organize myself, I have to shop and pack for camp, and there is more that I won't go into detail about. Also, I do have 4 stories up and running right now. Well, three... but I've got the start of a sequel that I'm writing...that counts.
Pinky: hmm.. I wouldn't really look at it that way, but I guess you could see it.
Lady of Masbolle: that's ok... I'm glad you like them.
Kore Yan: yay! Update!
Alannawanabe: I think he said that in my other story... I could cross it over, but I actually look at things completely differently in each story. One story might describe the palace looking like one thing, while the other story will describe it differently. I wrote that Raoul said that, and for now, I have decided not to have him say it in this story. (does that make sense?) Besides, I think she had a right to be stressy with him.
Miliko01:ha... yes I do! I love cliffhangers. If you notice, in books, chapters almost always end on a cliffhanger! Thus, I make cliffhangers...besides, people are more likely to read my next chapter if they have not seen a resolution in the last.
Tricksters-daughter: Latin sucks. I actually really don't like it... but that could be because I failed my exam. Hmm... I wonder?
Dreamerdoll: hehe...oops. Well, it just took a bit longer than expected.
Once again: I am sorry it took so long to update, and I hope to have the evil in one of the next few chapters (just this second I figured out what it is! Hurrah!)
"Why do people in ship mutinies always ask for "better treatment"? I'd ask for a pinball machine, because with all that rocking back and forth you'd probably be able to get a lot of free games."
-unolimbo