La-di-dah, I love Friday! And since I have no homework, I can write another nice little chapter for some of my favorite people- you guys!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except for my sister's soul. She sold it to me for a nickel. Nah, just kidding, I don't own anybody's souls.
Neal led a limping Kel into her room where the rest of their friends were studying as usual. Upon their arrival, they jumped up and rushed over to see if she was all right.
"Wow Kel, you look terrible! What happened?" Merric was the first to ask.
Neal helped her to her bed, and pulled the covers over her. For once she didn't protest over being babied. The rest of the boys crowded out into the hall so Neal could explain what had happened. They had the same reaction as he'd had when they found out that Joren and his cronies were making it a habit of beating on Kel when she was by herself. Cleon seemed particularly upset.
"That, that RAT!" He seethed, clenching his fists. I tell you, if he so much as looks at my Kel again, I will-"
"Uh, Cleon?" Roald laid a hand on the large page's arm. "We're all really upset about this, but I don't think that killing him will accomplish anything but getting you kicked out of here. Right Neal?" he continued, thinking of Neal's flair for scheming and planning. However, Neal wasn't listening. He was pondering over the fact that Cleon had said 'my Kel'. Is there something between that I don't know about? Why else would he refer to her as 'his'? She can't love him. She knew me first. We're best friends- of course she would love me more! Ugh…I'm being ridiculous. Nobody ever said she loved anybody. And so what if she did? I can't be the judge over whom Kel bestows her affections upon. "Neal!" Roald's voice startled him out of his reverie. "Are you okay? We've been trying to talk to you for almost a minute." Everyone was staring at him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I think I need to go to bed too," Neal said, and walked off toward his room.
"That was odd," Esmond commented after Neal's door had shut.
"No kidding," Agreed Faleron. "I don't think I could study after this though. I'm off to bed."
They all agreed, and parted for the night.
The next morning, Kel woke up black-and-blue. She washed her face, changed her clothes, and was setting out a dish of water for the sparrows when a loud knock interrupted her.
"Kel? It's Cleon. Are you up?"
"Yes, just a second," she replied, opening the door. The tall redhead looked delighted to see that she was all right.
"Ah, Kel. My pulchritudinous flower of radiance!" he exclaimed merrily, using one of his trademark corny nicknames for her. (A/N: I had to use a thesaurus to find the most abstract word meaning beautiful there was. I think I found it.)
"Hello Cleon," Kel said wearily. She wasn't really in the mood for teasing right now. "Did you need something?"
"Oh, uh- no. That is, I mean," he stuttered. Kel felt sorry for the embarrassed page. "I uh, just wanted to see how you were doing."
Kel stiffened slightly. "I'm fine. Would you like to walk down to breakfast with me?"
Cleon grinned. "I'd love to." He offered his arm half jokingly. Kel reluctantly took it.
In the dining hall, Neal looked up from his food to see Kel walk in, holding Cleon's arm. He stared for a bit, but hastily lowered his gaze when she looked his way. I was right! They must be courting or something. I'm not upset. Yes I am. Of course I am upset! I just found out that the girl I'm in love with is courting my oafish chum! What does she see in him? Is it the stupid names he calls her all the time?
Kel sat down across from Neal, and Cleon sat right beside her. "I didn't see Wyldon anywhere this morning. Where is he?" she wondered.
Neal raised his eyebrows. "Is this a bad thing? The dreaded 'Stump' has gone missing, and all our dear Keladry cares about is where he's gone?
"Not at all, I'm just relieved he's not here, or I would get more chores for fi- getting hurt." She looked down, furious at herself for being so stupid.
"Kel, look at me," Neal said gently. She obeyed. "I saw everything that happened last night. We all know what's been going on with Joren. That's not right. Why didn't you tell us that this was happening, we could've helped." Kel looked guilty.
"Well…" She said, "…Because it's my fault. Kind of, at least."
Neal was confused. "Because you're a girl? Kel, that's no reason to push you around. There's nothing wrong with you being a girl!" Except that I'm in love with you, he added to himself.
"No! It's not that. Well, not entirely. It's because they've been picking on the first-year pages, and it's not right. I've been leaving our study group at night to go and fight for them, seeing as they're not going to fight for themselves."
Neal stared at her. "Kel, do you mean to tell me that you have been going out and deliberately picking fights with them because what they do is 'not right'? You're insane! You are asking for every bruise you get. We all know that they're the greatest scum in all of Tortall, but we're not stupid enough to try to do something about it."
Kel was frustrated. "Neal, you've just proven my point completely. If I'm not going to stand up for what's right, no one is."
He just shook his head. "Kel, you need to stop this. For your sake, and ours. We don't want anything to happen to you."
She sighed. "No Neal, I can't. You just don't understand. This is just something I have to do."
The rest of the meal went by rather quietly.
In weapons practice, Kel was pleasantly surprised to see Sir Leighmont instead of Lord Wyldon leading the class. He was holding a long wooden staff and smiling broadly at all of the first-years.
"G'day everyone. I'll be leading you combat classes for the time being, since Lord Wyldon had to travel to a nearby village to help out with a littleraider problem they've been having. See this staff?" He swung it around in a complicated pattern, threw it up in the air, then caught it again easily. "We're going to be practicing with them today."
Kel grinned. Here was something she could work with!
"Now everyone come over here and get a staff, then line up facing a partner," instructed the knight. "Ah, Keladry!" he exclaimed when she stepped forward. Got a new assortment of bruises I see?"
Kel groaned. "Not you too!"
"It sounds like someone discovered your secret other then me then?" Leighmont said quietly. "I hate to upset you, but that's good. No one can stand alone in this world. Even the strongest need someone there to back them up when they are in need. I think you have someone here who cares about you a great deal, Keladry." Kel looked over at Neal, who was trying to spin his staff as Sir Leighmont had done. He dropped it and grinned lopsidedly at Kel. She smiled back. "I think you know who I mean," the knight said, and walked to the platform to begin teaching.
Kel lined up across from Esmond, who was about her size. "Now, Merric come up here with me," called Sir Leighmont. Merric hurried up to face the knight. "Merric, I want you to try to strike me." Merric hesitated, then swung at his middle. Sir Leighmont easily knocked it aside by putting his own staff in the path of Merric's. "Now you try it."
Kel's experience with a glaive really became useful in this exercise, as it saved her many a blow from Esmond, who unfortunately was not so lucky.
Kel approached Neal as they were putting their staffs away. "Listen Neal, I'm really sorry about, you know, picking fights and worrying you and everyone else so much."
Neal brightened, for the moment forgetting about the numerous bumps he'd received during the lesson. "Oh good! So you'll stop then?"
"No, of course not!"
"I guess it was too good to hope for," said Neal resignedly.
"I'm so glad you understand," Kel smiled, "and thanks Neal."
He looked puzzled. "For what?"
"For being there for me. I'm really lucky to have you." Kel hugged him. For a second, he was too stunned and delighted to do anything, but then he came to his senses and squeezed her back.
"Hey, that's what friends are for."
Both he and Kel had the same unhappy thought, Friends, all we'll ever be.
Yes! A longer chapter, aren't you all so proud of me? Now you can review my nice chapter, cuz I worked so hard on it.