Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Like most people who write fan fics we wish we did. It all belongs to Tamora Pierce. Wait I do own Tya and Kalerik
Chapter Three---The crazy group
Kel stepped back from the mirror with a sigh. That is one of the longest processes she'd ever been through. She'd had the maid Lalassa help her get ready. She studied herself a moment longer and sighed. Lalassa had to fix the dress a bit. Kel had cut a bow she didn't like off the back.
"You look lovely lady." Lalassa stated smiling at her.
"Thank you." Kel replied. She grabbed a couple throwing stars putting them in a pocket hidden in the fold of her dress. Just to be safe. "Here." She handed Lalassa some gold pieces.
"I couldn't!" Lalassa cried trying to hand them back to Kel.
"I'm not going if you don't take them." Kel replied sternly. She set her hands on her hips and looked at the younger girls fighting expression.
Lalassa sighed."I'll clean up here. You must be off." she told her shooing her politely towards the door.
Kel nodded. "Thank you." She opened the door and took a step out nearly running into someone.
"Oh! Lady Kel!" Cleon said startled. "You look.... Amazing." She wearing a deep green gown the shined gold when she moved. The sleeves falling off her shoulders. Her Hair was in ringlets going just past her shoulders. With gold stars placed in it. She had just a little bit of face paint Lalassa had talked her into.
Kel smiled. "Thank you Sir." She studied Cleon. He looked nervous and kept shifting his weight.
"I was uh...wondering." Cleon began turning a lovely shade of pink. "If you needed an escort to the ball."
Kel smiled again and nodded."Yes, I do."
Cleon held his arm out as Kel looped hers through with a smile.
"You do look lovely." Cleon said again. He studied her carefully before heading off.
"Thank you. You look Handsome yourself." Kel replied politely. She really didn't know him but he was nice.
Cleon looked at her his cheeks tinting pink again. "Thank you."
"Thank you for the escort." Kel replied smileing.
They stopped as the doors were opened. "Cleon of Kennan and Keladry of Mindelan" They were announced. They reached the bottom and bowed to the king and queen.
"I'd like you to meet some of my friends." Cleon said and led her toward a group of boys.
"Cleon." one said turning to him. The others also turned toward the pair.
"Kel this is Merric." he pointed to the pale freckle faced boy who'd turned around. "That is Faleron, that's Owen, and he is Roald."
Kel curtsied. "Hello. Your highness."Roald nodded. "Hello."
"So Kel are you one of the new court ladies?" Merric asked. "Cleon does tend to find them first."
Kel looked at Cleon and raised her eyebrows. "Really?"
Cleon glared at Merric and then turned to Kel. "Well eh..um."
Kel smiled. "No actually. I just arrived today with my Shang band."
"Shang!" Faleron exclaimed. "Really? What's it like?"
"Jolly! Wait!" Owen said suddenly startling them all. "Mindelan? Weren't you supposed to be a knight?"
Kel coughed. "Uh. That was my intent as a kid but I decided not to."
"After a year probation I wouldn't either." Roald replied seriously. The rest of the group stared at him a few moments before something else gained their attention. "Cleon who's your beautiful date?" Neal's voice asked as he walked toward them.
"KEL!" Tya said dragging Neal towards them faster. "You look beautiful. Wait wasn't there a bow on the back of the skirt?"
"Yes." Kel replied grinning. "There was a bow. You look great."
Tya was wearing a low cut blue gown. Her black hair was piled on her head in curls. "You look Handsome." Tya said smiling at Cleon.
Neal was staring at Kel. "Hello Neal." Kel said with a smile."You look nice.
"Thank you." Neal replied with a nod. "How was your first visit to the market of Corus?"
"Intresting." Kel said with a smile.
"Would you like to dance?" Neal asked holding out his hand.
"I haven't danced with Cleon yet." Kel responded glancing over at the red head.
"Don't worry I'll take care of him." Tya grinned pulling a startled Cleon the other way.
"I guess." Kel said taking his hand. She was now thankful that her sisters had forced her into dancing lessons. "Bye." Kel waved to Merric, Owen, Faleron, and Roald.
"You look stunning." Neal whispered to her as he draped an arm around her waist.
"Not as good as Tya." Kel responded setting her hand on his shoulder.
"Different." Neal replied. "How have you been since you've arrived?"
"Good." Kel said. "Happy. I actually know a few people here now."
Neal smiled. "Really Who?"
"Well other then the people I met on the way here. I've now met Merric, Faleron, Owen, and Roald." Kel said with a smile.
Neal grinned. "A crazy group they are."
"Really?" Kel asked with a smile. "How would you know that?"
"I'm part of it." Neal replied with a wicked grin. "So how's your head?" He asked his hand moving on instinct to the back of her head.
"Fine. How are you Neal?" she asked looking up at him.
His hand dropped back to her waist. "I'm good. Tired."
The ended and they stepped back from each other.
"So.."
"Yea…so"
"Neal!" Tya called.
"See you." Kel said and headed towards Cleon. "Care to dance?"
Cleon's face brightened "Yes."
Kel smiled as they walked back onto the dance floor.
"Sorry about Tya." Kel said. "She's a little well hyper."
"It's fine." Cleon smiled. "I'm dancing with you now."
Cleon looked down and studied her. "Your dress makes your eyes look more green."
Kel smiled. "Thats why Tya said I needed to get it." she grinned. "There was actually this hidiously big bow on the back. I cut it off."
"You cut it off?" Cleon asked laughing. Kel nodded. "So do you like it here?"
"Well for the whole what eight hours I've been here? Yes." Kel nodded. "It's great. Your friends seem really nice too. I need to meet people."
"Well we're all going to the city tomorrow. Would you like to come?" Cleon asked.
"Sure!" Kel said smiling. "That'd be great."
Cleon grinned. "Great. As for meeting people I'm sure you will. It's not exactly hard."
Kel smiled. "No I'd expect not. That is if everyone is as friendly as your group."
Cleon shrugged. "Some are some aren't you see. Like him." Cleon pointed out a tall white-blond boy. "That's Joren. You don't want to get mixed up in his crowd. Bad people."
Kel nodded. "Ok No Joren people."
"Hmm." Cleon said scanning the room thoughtfully. "If you ever want to leave an event early without being rude. Just talk alot with either Lady Alanna or Lord Raoul. Neither of them like social occasions so they typically leave as soon as it's polite."
Kel laughed. "Ok I'll remember that." The song ended and they headed back toward the group of boys.
"Hey." Merric said with a grin.
"Where's Roald?" Cleon asked.
"His parents beckoned." Faleron replied.
"Um Cleon." a thin meek blond girl approached the group. "Would you like to dance?"
Cleon looked uncertainly to Kel who nodded toward the girl.
"Of course." Cleon said politely and led the girl away from the group.
"Kel want something to drink?" Merric asked.
Kel smiled. "Sure." Merric dissappeared. Faleron studied her. "You really aren't a court lady are you? So what is it like being a shang?"
Kel smiled. "Well actually my band wasn't exactly traditional. Yes we fight with out limbs but a lot of them use throwing stars too. I do and I use a glaive. I do ok with a sword and staff."
Faleron stared at her. "You fight with a glaive?"
Kel nodded. "It's what I'm best at but I'm here to study with the Wildcat to make my shang skills better. I lived in the Yamani isles a while so I learned to fight with a glaive."
"Wow." Faleron said in awe. Merric walked up with the drinks he handed a cup to Kel who accepted with a smile and nod. "Where's Owen?" Merric asked looking around. Kel and Faleron looked around too. "Oh he's dancing with some court lady."
Kel told them about living in the Yamani isles until the King stood to make an announcement and Tya came to get Kel. She led her up to the high table to stand with Kalerik.
"Everyone!" Jonathan called and the room fell silent. "For the next week we will have a band of shang with us. However two of them have decided to stay and train with out shang wildcat! Staying with us for an undetermined period of time is Lady Tyana and Keladry of Mindelan." he gestured to each as he said their names. "Welcome to Corus and to the palace." he smiled to each who bowed and then sat down. Kel climbed down from the platform and headed back to where the guys were and sat down. Merric, Cleon, Owen, Faleron, Roald, Neal, and Tya all walked up. "Hey." she smiled.
"Are you hiding Kel?" Tya asked.
Kel shook her head. "No. Just sitting."
"So I see you fell into this group." Alanna said walking up to the group. "A crazy group they are but you could do worse. How do you like your first ball?"
Kel shrugged. "It's been good."
"I love it!" Tya grinned.
Alanna rolled her eyes. "Just wait you'll get sick of them too."
"My knight I'm surprised you're still here." Neal said with mock estonishment.
"I only stayed to make sure you didn't get these two in too much trouble." Alanna replied. "I'm actually leaving now. Goodnight." A muttered jumble of 'Goodnight' answered her parting. She shook her head and walked away.
"I'm getting tired." Kel said regretfully.
"I'll walk you to your rooms." Cleon said holding out his arm.
Kel nodded. "Bye." she smiled and stood up.
"See you tomorrow?" Merric asked her.
Kel nodded. "Bye."
Cleon led her from the room and down the corridor. "So you had fun?" he asked.
Kel nodded. "A ton actually thank you."
"For what?" Cleon asked.
"Escorting me and introducing me to your friends." Kel smiled. "Sorry I left so early. I'm really exhausted."
"That's fine." Cleon nodded to her as they stopped at her door. "We'll see you tomorrow right?"
"Of course." Kel replied. "Goodnight."
"Night." Cleon smiled at her as she went into her room.
Kel closed the door and sighed. Tonight was actually fun.
I know it was short but the next part doesn't fit with this one like the others so I didn't put them together.
Chapter Three---The crazy group
Kel stepped back from the mirror with a sigh. That is one of the longest processes she'd ever been through. She'd had the maid Lalassa help her get ready. She studied herself a moment longer and sighed. Lalassa had to fix the dress a bit. Kel had cut a bow she didn't like off the back.
"You look lovely lady." Lalassa stated smiling at her.
"Thank you." Kel replied. She grabbed a couple throwing stars putting them in a pocket hidden in the fold of her dress. Just to be safe. "Here." She handed Lalassa some gold pieces.
"I couldn't!" Lalassa cried trying to hand them back to Kel.
"I'm not going if you don't take them." Kel replied sternly. She set her hands on her hips and looked at the younger girls fighting expression.
Lalassa sighed."I'll clean up here. You must be off." she told her shooing her politely towards the door.
Kel nodded. "Thank you." She opened the door and took a step out nearly running into someone.
"Oh! Lady Kel!" Cleon said startled. "You look.... Amazing." She wearing a deep green gown the shined gold when she moved. The sleeves falling off her shoulders. Her Hair was in ringlets going just past her shoulders. With gold stars placed in it. She had just a little bit of face paint Lalassa had talked her into.
Kel smiled. "Thank you Sir." She studied Cleon. He looked nervous and kept shifting his weight.
"I was uh...wondering." Cleon began turning a lovely shade of pink. "If you needed an escort to the ball."
Kel smiled again and nodded."Yes, I do."
Cleon held his arm out as Kel looped hers through with a smile.
"You do look lovely." Cleon said again. He studied her carefully before heading off.
"Thank you. You look Handsome yourself." Kel replied politely. She really didn't know him but he was nice.
Cleon looked at her his cheeks tinting pink again. "Thank you."
"Thank you for the escort." Kel replied smileing.
They stopped as the doors were opened. "Cleon of Kennan and Keladry of Mindelan" They were announced. They reached the bottom and bowed to the king and queen.
"I'd like you to meet some of my friends." Cleon said and led her toward a group of boys.
"Cleon." one said turning to him. The others also turned toward the pair.
"Kel this is Merric." he pointed to the pale freckle faced boy who'd turned around. "That is Faleron, that's Owen, and he is Roald."
Kel curtsied. "Hello. Your highness."Roald nodded. "Hello."
"So Kel are you one of the new court ladies?" Merric asked. "Cleon does tend to find them first."
Kel looked at Cleon and raised her eyebrows. "Really?"
Cleon glared at Merric and then turned to Kel. "Well eh..um."
Kel smiled. "No actually. I just arrived today with my Shang band."
"Shang!" Faleron exclaimed. "Really? What's it like?"
"Jolly! Wait!" Owen said suddenly startling them all. "Mindelan? Weren't you supposed to be a knight?"
Kel coughed. "Uh. That was my intent as a kid but I decided not to."
"After a year probation I wouldn't either." Roald replied seriously. The rest of the group stared at him a few moments before something else gained their attention. "Cleon who's your beautiful date?" Neal's voice asked as he walked toward them.
"KEL!" Tya said dragging Neal towards them faster. "You look beautiful. Wait wasn't there a bow on the back of the skirt?"
"Yes." Kel replied grinning. "There was a bow. You look great."
Tya was wearing a low cut blue gown. Her black hair was piled on her head in curls. "You look Handsome." Tya said smiling at Cleon.
Neal was staring at Kel. "Hello Neal." Kel said with a smile."You look nice.
"Thank you." Neal replied with a nod. "How was your first visit to the market of Corus?"
"Intresting." Kel said with a smile.
"Would you like to dance?" Neal asked holding out his hand.
"I haven't danced with Cleon yet." Kel responded glancing over at the red head.
"Don't worry I'll take care of him." Tya grinned pulling a startled Cleon the other way.
"I guess." Kel said taking his hand. She was now thankful that her sisters had forced her into dancing lessons. "Bye." Kel waved to Merric, Owen, Faleron, and Roald.
"You look stunning." Neal whispered to her as he draped an arm around her waist.
"Not as good as Tya." Kel responded setting her hand on his shoulder.
"Different." Neal replied. "How have you been since you've arrived?"
"Good." Kel said. "Happy. I actually know a few people here now."
Neal smiled. "Really Who?"
"Well other then the people I met on the way here. I've now met Merric, Faleron, Owen, and Roald." Kel said with a smile.
Neal grinned. "A crazy group they are."
"Really?" Kel asked with a smile. "How would you know that?"
"I'm part of it." Neal replied with a wicked grin. "So how's your head?" He asked his hand moving on instinct to the back of her head.
"Fine. How are you Neal?" she asked looking up at him.
His hand dropped back to her waist. "I'm good. Tired."
The ended and they stepped back from each other.
"So.."
"Yea…so"
"Neal!" Tya called.
"See you." Kel said and headed towards Cleon. "Care to dance?"
Cleon's face brightened "Yes."
Kel smiled as they walked back onto the dance floor.
"Sorry about Tya." Kel said. "She's a little well hyper."
"It's fine." Cleon smiled. "I'm dancing with you now."
Cleon looked down and studied her. "Your dress makes your eyes look more green."
Kel smiled. "Thats why Tya said I needed to get it." she grinned. "There was actually this hidiously big bow on the back. I cut it off."
"You cut it off?" Cleon asked laughing. Kel nodded. "So do you like it here?"
"Well for the whole what eight hours I've been here? Yes." Kel nodded. "It's great. Your friends seem really nice too. I need to meet people."
"Well we're all going to the city tomorrow. Would you like to come?" Cleon asked.
"Sure!" Kel said smiling. "That'd be great."
Cleon grinned. "Great. As for meeting people I'm sure you will. It's not exactly hard."
Kel smiled. "No I'd expect not. That is if everyone is as friendly as your group."
Cleon shrugged. "Some are some aren't you see. Like him." Cleon pointed out a tall white-blond boy. "That's Joren. You don't want to get mixed up in his crowd. Bad people."
Kel nodded. "Ok No Joren people."
"Hmm." Cleon said scanning the room thoughtfully. "If you ever want to leave an event early without being rude. Just talk alot with either Lady Alanna or Lord Raoul. Neither of them like social occasions so they typically leave as soon as it's polite."
Kel laughed. "Ok I'll remember that." The song ended and they headed back toward the group of boys.
"Hey." Merric said with a grin.
"Where's Roald?" Cleon asked.
"His parents beckoned." Faleron replied.
"Um Cleon." a thin meek blond girl approached the group. "Would you like to dance?"
Cleon looked uncertainly to Kel who nodded toward the girl.
"Of course." Cleon said politely and led the girl away from the group.
"Kel want something to drink?" Merric asked.
Kel smiled. "Sure." Merric dissappeared. Faleron studied her. "You really aren't a court lady are you? So what is it like being a shang?"
Kel smiled. "Well actually my band wasn't exactly traditional. Yes we fight with out limbs but a lot of them use throwing stars too. I do and I use a glaive. I do ok with a sword and staff."
Faleron stared at her. "You fight with a glaive?"
Kel nodded. "It's what I'm best at but I'm here to study with the Wildcat to make my shang skills better. I lived in the Yamani isles a while so I learned to fight with a glaive."
"Wow." Faleron said in awe. Merric walked up with the drinks he handed a cup to Kel who accepted with a smile and nod. "Where's Owen?" Merric asked looking around. Kel and Faleron looked around too. "Oh he's dancing with some court lady."
Kel told them about living in the Yamani isles until the King stood to make an announcement and Tya came to get Kel. She led her up to the high table to stand with Kalerik.
"Everyone!" Jonathan called and the room fell silent. "For the next week we will have a band of shang with us. However two of them have decided to stay and train with out shang wildcat! Staying with us for an undetermined period of time is Lady Tyana and Keladry of Mindelan." he gestured to each as he said their names. "Welcome to Corus and to the palace." he smiled to each who bowed and then sat down. Kel climbed down from the platform and headed back to where the guys were and sat down. Merric, Cleon, Owen, Faleron, Roald, Neal, and Tya all walked up. "Hey." she smiled.
"Are you hiding Kel?" Tya asked.
Kel shook her head. "No. Just sitting."
"So I see you fell into this group." Alanna said walking up to the group. "A crazy group they are but you could do worse. How do you like your first ball?"
Kel shrugged. "It's been good."
"I love it!" Tya grinned.
Alanna rolled her eyes. "Just wait you'll get sick of them too."
"My knight I'm surprised you're still here." Neal said with mock estonishment.
"I only stayed to make sure you didn't get these two in too much trouble." Alanna replied. "I'm actually leaving now. Goodnight." A muttered jumble of 'Goodnight' answered her parting. She shook her head and walked away.
"I'm getting tired." Kel said regretfully.
"I'll walk you to your rooms." Cleon said holding out his arm.
Kel nodded. "Bye." she smiled and stood up.
"See you tomorrow?" Merric asked her.
Kel nodded. "Bye."
Cleon led her from the room and down the corridor. "So you had fun?" he asked.
Kel nodded. "A ton actually thank you."
"For what?" Cleon asked.
"Escorting me and introducing me to your friends." Kel smiled. "Sorry I left so early. I'm really exhausted."
"That's fine." Cleon nodded to her as they stopped at her door. "We'll see you tomorrow right?"
"Of course." Kel replied. "Goodnight."
"Night." Cleon smiled at her as she went into her room.
Kel closed the door and sighed. Tonight was actually fun.
I know it was short but the next part doesn't fit with this one like the others so I didn't put them together.