Disclaimer: I still own...the characters I've been listing the past few chapters that's about it.
This chapter is for all the Lathander fans!
Chapter Nine--- Walking
The boy looked at his hands as the warmth spread through them. He set his hand on the pile of fire wood and it ignited into a fire the rain could not put out.
Kel entered the mess the tale fresh in her mind. She'd planned on staying in the library to finish reading and then copying the tale but Neal told her she had to eat. Yawning she got her food and took a seat.
"Kel!" Tya whined sitting down next to her and hugging her. "I miss him already!"
Kel plastered a smile on her ace. "He's only been gone a few hours Tya."
"I know." Tya slumped down in her seat.
Kel shook her head at her friend before going back to sliding her food around her plate. She felt a hand on her shoulder and jumped slamming her wrist into the table. Kel yelped.
"I didn't mean to startle you." Cleon said taking the seat next to her.
"Is your wrist OK?" Neal's voice asked from across the table.
"Yes." Kel replied. "It's fine." she said to Cleon with a smile.
Cleon smiled back. "I missed you at the ball."
"I'm sorry." Kel smiled back politely. She suddenly longed for it to be just her and Neal in the library. "I was tired." she added quietly pushing her food around some more.
"Are you sick?" Tya asked suddenly. Her blue eyes studied Kel. "You aren't eating anything."
"No I'm just not hungry." Kel replied before turning to her friend. "Tya have you ever heard the "Shang Fire." tale?" Neal's gaze snapped to Kel and then shifted to Tya.
Tya stiffened slightly. "Yea I've heard the tale. That's about some boy who has-" she was cut off.
"Hello." Lathander said walking up to the table sitting swiftly in an empty seat next to Neal. "How are you this morning Keladry?"
"Good." Kel replied.
"Why are you here?" Tya hissed at Lathander. She glared daggers at him as his smile widened.
"I heard you talking about Shang Fire." Lathander replied his green gaze landing on Kel. "I can tell you all about it."
"Really." Kel replied carefully emotionless as always, around him.
"Yes." Lathander replied. "Care to walk with me?"
"I would love to but we have the Wildcat today." Kel replied. "How about later tonight." 'Maybe then I'll get something out of him.'
"OK." Lathander replied grinning. "I'll see you later." he pushed himself up from the bench and walked away.
"You're going to meet him?" Cleon asked frowning.
"I want to know why he's here." Kel replied shrugging. She looked up through her hair to meet Neal's eyes.
Neal looked at her worriedly. 'She can't meet him!' his mind screamed. 'He'll hurt her again. Then I'll hurt him.' he shook his head. 'When did I start being so over protective?'
"I'm going to head to the practice courts." Kel said suddenly. She watched a flurry of emotions flicker across Neal's face. "See you guys at practice later." She left the table.
"I don't like him meeting her." Cleon said eyes following Kel out.
"I don't like it either." Tya muttered. "But Kel can handle herself around Lathander."
"What exactly happened between them?" Cleon asked her curiously.
Tya cleared her throat and began. "Do you remember when she said that she had fought and won against a Shang warrior and that's how she met our band?" Cleon nodded. "Well that was Lathander's younger brother, Kierin"
His brother?" Cleon asked. "I never heard his brother mentioned before."
"Am I going to continue before I have to go?" Tya asked impatiently. Cleon nodded and kept quiet. "Well Kierin was a bit close-minded. He was so ashamed to have been beaten by an untrained girl. He left the band." Tya paused. "A week or so later we found his body lying by the road. Lathander blamed Kel and said if she hadn't chased Kierin away from the group he'd be alive. He did various things to try to chase her out but nothing worked. He challenged her constantly. It got to the point where he spent nearly all his time with her. He fell for her."
"What?" Cleon exclaimed. "Lathander is in love with Kel? What happened after that?"
Neal looked at Tya curiously. He wanted to know just as badly as Cleon did. if Lathander loved Kel that badly why did he burn her?
Tya looked around the mess was emptying. "I've got training. I'll have to finish the story another time." she climbed off the bench.
"What?" Cleon cried.
"Later!" Tya grinned and walked off.
Neal watched her go and saw her meet Dom by the door. He sighed. "I have to go find my loving knight master. Speaking of, When are you and Inness leaving?"
"In a couple of days." Cleon replied getting up. He and Neal headed toward the door. "Does it bother you?"
"What?"
"That Tya and Kalerik were so close." Cleon explained. "I can't stand Lathander."
"Despite the fact that Kel doesn't seem to get along with him?" Neal asked bristling. Cleon didn't even know what Lathander did to Kel. She didn't tell him did she?
Cleon looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "You and Kel seem to have gotten close. You danced with her more than I did at the ball."
'Yeah.' Neal thought. 'I guess we have.' "She couldn't find you." Neal replied. "Where did you go?"
"For a walk." Cleon said quickly.
Neal knew immediately he was lying but didn't press the matter. Just the fact that Tya had vanished too bothered him. That and the idea that Cleon was with Kel. 'Why do I care?' He found himself asking that question frequently.
"I will never understand why you leave to get here so early or why you train so much." Tya drawled from the fence as Kel went after a training dummy.
'I'll never understand how you can cheat on Neal.' she thought immediately and pushed the thought from her head. Kel straightened up and walked over to her friend. "I'll never understand how you can go from guy to guy so quickly."
"What are you talking about?" Tya asked with an innocent smile.
"If I'm not mistaken that was Sir Dom. Neal's cousin on your arm a moment ago." Kel said.
"Yes such a handsome arm decoration he is too." Tya grinned. "I really like Neal but he doesn't seem that interested all of a sudden." She was frowning suddenly.
"Well he saw you flirting with his cousin at the ball." Kel replied.
Tya sighed. "Men. They can't take a bit of flirting." she shook her head. "I'll get him back. Although I think I'll have some fun with his cousin first."
Kel shook her head at her friend. 'What about Kalerik?' her mind hissed. "You're hopeless Tya."
"I know!" Tya smiled proudly.
"Enough chit chat." the Wildcat stood behind them. "Let's get started." Tya sighed and rolled her eyes as Kel shoved her off the fence.
Kel walked toward their rooms with Tya after practice in silence until Tya stopped and looked at her.
"Are you two courting each other and you're just not telling me?" she asked.
Kel looked at her, confusion evident on her face. "What?" Tya pointed down the hall. Kel followed the gesture to find Lathander again leaning on the wall near her door. she groaned. "Not again."
"So you're not?" Tya asked.
"Oh yes Tya. Me and Lathander." Kel muttered. She approached her door and Lathander smiled.
"Kel."
"Lathander." Kel greeted. She leaned on the wall on the other side of her door.
"How about our walk?" Lathander asked. "We have nearly an entire bell until dinner."
"OK." Kel replied. She shoved her key into her pocket and looked at him. "Where do you want to go?"
"Around." Lathander replied with a smile.
The walked in silence for a few minutes. Until Kel finally spoke.
"What do you know about Shang Fire?"
"The tale about the boy who is gifted with fire. The fire is so strong water can not put it out." Lathander replied as if he had recited it a thousand times before.
"How'd he get it?" Kel asked glancing at him as they walked down a deserted corridor.
"Now Kel. I can't give away all my secrets can I?" Lathander asked with a sudden grin.
"You said you'd tell me about the story." Kel sighed. "I asked about the story not about you." Lathander simply smiled at her and they continued to walk in silence. "Why are you really here?"
"I'm here for several reasons." Lathander replied. "I came to see Kalerik while I knew he was here. I stayed because you're here. Whether you believe me or not I do love you."
"You never loved me Lathander." Kel sighed. "I was only there to replace Kierin. Something for you to attach to since your brother was gone."
Suddenly Lathander turned and grabbed Kel's shoulders. "I did love you. I still do. Why is that so hard to believe?"
Kel's leg slid between his and she slammed it back into his kneecaps, hard. Lathander jumped back and she stepped away from him.
"It's so hard to believe because you used the same speech on Tya." Kel replied sliding that emotionless mask into place. "Now Lathander why are you really here? And where did you get the fire?"
Lathander's grin was in place again. "It was a gift." he replied.
"From who?"
"You didn't read close enough." Lathander replied. "Or you read the wrong version."
"Wrong version?" Kel asked.
Lathander laughed. "Well I suppose you'll just have to wait and see if you read the right one now won't you."
"How will I know?" Kel asked. He was up to something. "I don't even know another version."
Lathander chuckled. "I guess you'll have to do more searching." Sudden his grin faded slightly. "Maybe that Neal will help you." There was a hint of bitterness in those words.
Kel shook her head at him. "Neal is Tya's boy."
"Really?" Lathander said with fake innocence. "I had thought you and her had switched. After all she was with the redheaded fellow at the ball."
'Cleon?' Kel thought about it. Neal had left to take her to his father.
"Ah didn't know?" Lathander asked raising an eyebrow. "Although you must be used to Tya seducing every male who speaks to her. Poor men they never know what's going on. They fall for her routine every time."
"In case you've forgotten Lathander, you fell for it too." Kel said quietly.
"Yes but I know who her heart really belongs to." Lathander whispered. "You know all about that don't you."
"Kalerik." Kel said standing her ground as Lathander walked up to her.
"Yes." Lathander grinned. "My heart was never hers though." His green eyes landed on her. "It was always yours." He grabbed her arm, leaning down and pressing his lips gently to hers.
Kel stood stunned. When her senses came snapping back to her she shoved Lathander off.
"As good as ever." Lathander grinned as Kel wiped her mouth off in disgust. "My darling I hope you found out what you wanted to know."
"Hardly." Kel snapped letting her temper get the better of her.
"I have to leave for a few days I hope you'll await my return." he smiled reaching a hand out to her.
'Yes with my glaive.' she thought angrily. Kel stepped back from him as he reached out. "Goodnight Lathander." she said and walked off down the hall.
"Be prepared Kel." Lathander's voice rang down the hall.
Kel considered asking him what she needed to be prepared for. She thought better of it knowing he'd just give her some senseless riddle. She decided to head stright for the mess. she'd arrive as the meal was starting.
A bit of a short one but it seemed like an appropriate place to end this chapter. I've started the next one already and should be up soon.
Ah thank you!
Maiden of dark life: Well here's some background on Lathander. I'm glad you hate Tya.
Landlord's black eyed dau(ghter?): Thank you .
Rootless Californian: here you go! I'm so happy you like it!!
Crazy little kiwi fruit (Yes I know who you are): Yeah she does doesn't she. Hope you like this chapter too! I'm glad to be of cheering up service bows
Dracorium: Here ya go hands you Lathander doll Not quiet the real thing but...thus is life.
Ossini: Mwhahahahaha just wait!
Enchantress Sun: So you like it? I'm glad. I hope you like this chapter as well.
Kore Yan: Well this should answer at least one of your questions! I'm thrilled you like it.
Ti-Ti: Yes. yes Tya is a bit of a whore isn't she.
Wake Robin: I'm going to put pieces of the legend in as I see fit but I will eventually actually tell you.
Alianne of Conte: yea that does seem to be the big question huh? Well it'll be known....eventually.
BloodSoakedTiger: I love concerts! They bring me much joy. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the previous ones.
Allimba: Thank you!!
Shannon of Tameron: Thanks. I'll try to update quickly.
PhsycoLioness13: Lysan will make another appearance. Sorry for the insane spacing I'll try to fix that.
Chicken Puffs: Everyone seems to like Lathander! I hope you like this chapter.
Imogenhm: Thank you!
oceanspike: sigh yes if he was I'm glad you like it!! It makes me very very happy to see you find the story addicting. I hope I can continue to write to that point.
Mango Sam: Tya's attitude is sort of based on one of my friends....just amplified....alot. I hope you like this installment.