A/N: I'm getting really into this fic. I think I'll just ignore Rekindled for a little while and get back to it when people start threatening to come after me. Toodles!
Disclaimer: Yes, I'm writing a disclaimer though we all know it's a waste of time since everything belongs to Ms. Pierce. I'm simply borrowing her characters. I promise to give them back… unscathed. I swear! They'll be fine once I've wiped them down and brainwashed Kel of any ideas to kill Jon. Though I'd like to keep her hating Jon and plotting to kill him… So appealing to all those who despise the bastard, no?
Title: Revenge
Chapter Four: Araine de Fidar
By: DarkDracon0
She very nearly said 'Keladry of Mindelan". And wanted to smack herself for it. How many times had she drilled the name 'Araine' into her head? And for what? Nearly blurting it out loud in a room full of people who thought she was hiding her face in the Yamani Islands.
"My name is Araine," Kel managed to say. " Lady Araine de Fidar, sir knight."
Joren kept back the urge to cock an eyebrow. He had seen her eyes go blank for the smallest moment before answering. And then her eyes flickered. Most wouldn't have noticed either of these things. Her eyes were expressive even though they were now carefully cool to him in a polite manner. Was that a hint of deceit that he had just seen?
" I am Sir Joren of Stone Mountain, at your service, Lady Araine. I hope you are enjoying the ball so far as well as your stay in Tortall." This should be the standard sentence that he would say to any foreign lady.
"Yes, but I must see more of your Corus. It sounds like a wonderful place to be, so I heard from rumors." How ridiculous that last line sounded. Corus was probably populated by more thieves and cut throats than all the words she ever uttered in her life. And she recognized the name Stone Mountain immediately after she connected the word, money and rich, to it.
"Corus is quite beautiful in the summer and fall." In the summer, there was mud everywhere. Summer rains created all dirt into mud and the sun baked the mud. The result was not particularly pleasing to the eye. But she didn't know that.
"I look forward to visiting your city. Perhaps I'll go and buy a small trinket as a souvenir." This conversation was getting boring. She wanted to be left alone and perhaps blend in more. Speaking to one of Tortall's richest heirs was going to undoubtedly draw attention to her. And that would not be a good thing. "Perhaps I will see you again soon, Sir Joren."
He knew a dismissal when he heard one. He wanted to arch an eyebrow down at her. No, that wouldn't be possible; she was nearly at eye level with him. But how dare she dismiss one of the most skilled and famed knights of Tortall? Didn't she realize that she could be a possible choice of marriage to him, one of the richest men in the realm… He managed to stop that train of thought, both surprised and amused with himself. He was becoming conceited and arrogant.
"I hope to see you again, my lady." He brought her hand up to his lips, brushing them lightly on the knuckles. He noticed calluses on her fingers when he picked her hand up. Strange. No lady worked. Only the servants did that. The Yamani ladies trained, he remembered. He'd always had contempt for women who played men's sports. They weren't fit to do so. They were supposed to stay home and bear her husband's heirs. It was only proper. And he nearly sneered when he remembered that female page who thought she was good enough to come along and become a knight. He had already long ago forgotten her name.
The ball quickly ended with no more confrontations with the pages she knew eight years ago. But she had noticed the curious looks from the other seasoned nobles. She escaped to her rooms as soon as the Court had deemed the minimal amount of time that should be spent in a ball.
The air in the corridors were considerably cooler and she walked at a moderate pace, wanting to cool down. She eyed the paintings and suits of armor that adorned the stone walls, giving the impression that the castle was old. And it was. She idled at one particular portrait, no doubt of a long dead Conte. He looked so alike the current king that it was nearly remarkable. Kel suddenly felt an urge to make a rude gesture at the protrait, She grinned, amused with herself.
She walked to her room, closing the door softly not wanting to disturb Laine if she was sleeping. There was a lone candle in Laine's room and Kel knew that she was reading, despite all her explanations that if anyone saw her reading, they would be suspicious. Any maid of a lady's wasn't expected to know how to read, much less write. Laine also kept a small diary of sorts. Kel wasn't sure what Laine wrote in it. She didn't think she wanted to know. But she did occasionally wonder if Laine only wrote down about her thoughts and or if it was reports detailing what they both did during the day.
Moving quietly, she shed the kimono and draped it over a chair standing beside a small mahogany writing desk. She stretched, feeling her muscles pull and loosen. She slipped on a night gown that Laine had laid out on her bed and crawled between the sheets. Pulling the cover more securely around her, sleep soon took her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joren sat in the armchair in front of the fireplace, his legs stretched out long and crossed at the ankles. His back pressed against the chair, he watched the flames dance, casting shadows into the corners of the room. Tapping his fingertips lightly on the arm of the chair, he thought of the mysterious countess. Lady Araine. She was hiding something. He knew it. Felt it right down to the marrow of his bones. Oh, she was good. Very good.. Perhaps one of the best he had ever met. Only her eyes betrayed what she was feeling. But he already knew that both men and women could lie. They would meet again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kel woke before dawn, a habit she couldn't quite shake off. Getting out of bed quickly, she washed her face from a basin of cold water and threw on a pair of breeches and loose shirt. She tied her long hair back and surveyed her room. She would have to exercise within the room. She couldn't risk the chance of anyone seeing her in a practice court with a glaive. It was best if the Tortallans thought she didn't know one end of a sword from the other. Laine was probably still asleep, so Kel quietly rummaged through her closet for the glaive she had managed to smuggle in. Finding it still propped upright at the farthest corner, she took it out and stood at the center of room, balancing it in her hands. She began her exercises.
Laine woke at the familiar sound of Kel's glaive whipping through the air. Kel could wield the thing so fast, anyone could hear it whistle as it cut and hacked at invisible enemies. She was a light sleeper, a trait that had kept her alive from the pirates that had attacked her village.
She always wondered why her mistress bothered to keep on training with the glaive. It was so big and heavy, not a lady's weapon, though the Yaman ladies used it and used it well. She preferred the dagger. Small, light, and ever so deadly when used correctly. She knew that Kel would kill the king with a dagger. A glaive would have cast suspicion on them. Usually, only the Yamans used a glaive, not an Easterner.
Getting up, she walked to the door that separated their rooms and looked in, watching Kel move. Her mistress was fast, faster than many of the men here in the Eastern lands. Kel moved carefully, making sure she wouldn't hit anything as she practiced. Sweat already gleamed on her skin, her muscles stretched and tensed, but moved automatically. She had worked herself the same way several times before.
She stopped, already knowing Laine was there, watching.
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?" Laine smiled, approving. Most would not have noticed she was there. "Yes," she replied, still smiling. "Very well. They make decent beds, the Easterners."
"Good. Now that you've rested, would you mind fetching me some hot water? I need to wash this sweat off." Laine moved to comply, grumbling slightly under her breath. She was back soon with two maids hauling in buckets of hot water. Kel only gestured toward the basin she had used. Working quickly, the maids took away the basin and came back with it empty and clean. Laine dumped the hot water into the basin and left, dismissing the maids as she did so. Kel stripped and and climbed into the basin, scrubbing at her skin as soon as she was in. She lathered the sweet smelling soap over herself and washed off the sweat, brooding silently.
Today, they would be touring the city. Dress again in a nice kimono and look interested. But really, she would be looking for the quickest route out of the city without being seen or caught if such a situation ever arises. And always carry a weapon when out in the city after dark.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kel wanted to grimace when she saw the sidesaddle. She carefully composed her face into cool lines and stepped daintily into the sidesaddle. She had to appear like the pampered lady. She must endure. But by Mithros, why a sidesaddle? She hated the things, always had. She could remember the first she sat on one and slipped right off the other side. She'd landed on her tailbone and her backside had hurt so much, she couldn't sit down for nearly three hours. After that incident, she had vowed that she would never ever ride in one, much less go near one. The regular saddles were much safer. And here she was, sitting in the sidesaddle and waiting for the moment where she would slide off and disgrace herself.
Mithros help her.
"So we meet again, my lady." Kel felt herself turn and stare into the brilliant blue eyes of Sir Joren of Stone Mountain.
A/N: OMG!! I wrote beyond two pages!! Aren't you all so proud of me?! Now since I worked so hard for that nice long chappie, how about you all go and write nice long reviews? ;)
Disclaimer: Yes, I'm writing a disclaimer though we all know it's a waste of time since everything belongs to Ms. Pierce. I'm simply borrowing her characters. I promise to give them back… unscathed. I swear! They'll be fine once I've wiped them down and brainwashed Kel of any ideas to kill Jon. Though I'd like to keep her hating Jon and plotting to kill him… So appealing to all those who despise the bastard, no?
Title: Revenge
Chapter Four: Araine de Fidar
By: DarkDracon0
She very nearly said 'Keladry of Mindelan". And wanted to smack herself for it. How many times had she drilled the name 'Araine' into her head? And for what? Nearly blurting it out loud in a room full of people who thought she was hiding her face in the Yamani Islands.
"My name is Araine," Kel managed to say. " Lady Araine de Fidar, sir knight."
Joren kept back the urge to cock an eyebrow. He had seen her eyes go blank for the smallest moment before answering. And then her eyes flickered. Most wouldn't have noticed either of these things. Her eyes were expressive even though they were now carefully cool to him in a polite manner. Was that a hint of deceit that he had just seen?
" I am Sir Joren of Stone Mountain, at your service, Lady Araine. I hope you are enjoying the ball so far as well as your stay in Tortall." This should be the standard sentence that he would say to any foreign lady.
"Yes, but I must see more of your Corus. It sounds like a wonderful place to be, so I heard from rumors." How ridiculous that last line sounded. Corus was probably populated by more thieves and cut throats than all the words she ever uttered in her life. And she recognized the name Stone Mountain immediately after she connected the word, money and rich, to it.
"Corus is quite beautiful in the summer and fall." In the summer, there was mud everywhere. Summer rains created all dirt into mud and the sun baked the mud. The result was not particularly pleasing to the eye. But she didn't know that.
"I look forward to visiting your city. Perhaps I'll go and buy a small trinket as a souvenir." This conversation was getting boring. She wanted to be left alone and perhaps blend in more. Speaking to one of Tortall's richest heirs was going to undoubtedly draw attention to her. And that would not be a good thing. "Perhaps I will see you again soon, Sir Joren."
He knew a dismissal when he heard one. He wanted to arch an eyebrow down at her. No, that wouldn't be possible; she was nearly at eye level with him. But how dare she dismiss one of the most skilled and famed knights of Tortall? Didn't she realize that she could be a possible choice of marriage to him, one of the richest men in the realm… He managed to stop that train of thought, both surprised and amused with himself. He was becoming conceited and arrogant.
"I hope to see you again, my lady." He brought her hand up to his lips, brushing them lightly on the knuckles. He noticed calluses on her fingers when he picked her hand up. Strange. No lady worked. Only the servants did that. The Yamani ladies trained, he remembered. He'd always had contempt for women who played men's sports. They weren't fit to do so. They were supposed to stay home and bear her husband's heirs. It was only proper. And he nearly sneered when he remembered that female page who thought she was good enough to come along and become a knight. He had already long ago forgotten her name.
The ball quickly ended with no more confrontations with the pages she knew eight years ago. But she had noticed the curious looks from the other seasoned nobles. She escaped to her rooms as soon as the Court had deemed the minimal amount of time that should be spent in a ball.
The air in the corridors were considerably cooler and she walked at a moderate pace, wanting to cool down. She eyed the paintings and suits of armor that adorned the stone walls, giving the impression that the castle was old. And it was. She idled at one particular portrait, no doubt of a long dead Conte. He looked so alike the current king that it was nearly remarkable. Kel suddenly felt an urge to make a rude gesture at the protrait, She grinned, amused with herself.
She walked to her room, closing the door softly not wanting to disturb Laine if she was sleeping. There was a lone candle in Laine's room and Kel knew that she was reading, despite all her explanations that if anyone saw her reading, they would be suspicious. Any maid of a lady's wasn't expected to know how to read, much less write. Laine also kept a small diary of sorts. Kel wasn't sure what Laine wrote in it. She didn't think she wanted to know. But she did occasionally wonder if Laine only wrote down about her thoughts and or if it was reports detailing what they both did during the day.
Moving quietly, she shed the kimono and draped it over a chair standing beside a small mahogany writing desk. She stretched, feeling her muscles pull and loosen. She slipped on a night gown that Laine had laid out on her bed and crawled between the sheets. Pulling the cover more securely around her, sleep soon took her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joren sat in the armchair in front of the fireplace, his legs stretched out long and crossed at the ankles. His back pressed against the chair, he watched the flames dance, casting shadows into the corners of the room. Tapping his fingertips lightly on the arm of the chair, he thought of the mysterious countess. Lady Araine. She was hiding something. He knew it. Felt it right down to the marrow of his bones. Oh, she was good. Very good.. Perhaps one of the best he had ever met. Only her eyes betrayed what she was feeling. But he already knew that both men and women could lie. They would meet again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kel woke before dawn, a habit she couldn't quite shake off. Getting out of bed quickly, she washed her face from a basin of cold water and threw on a pair of breeches and loose shirt. She tied her long hair back and surveyed her room. She would have to exercise within the room. She couldn't risk the chance of anyone seeing her in a practice court with a glaive. It was best if the Tortallans thought she didn't know one end of a sword from the other. Laine was probably still asleep, so Kel quietly rummaged through her closet for the glaive she had managed to smuggle in. Finding it still propped upright at the farthest corner, she took it out and stood at the center of room, balancing it in her hands. She began her exercises.
Laine woke at the familiar sound of Kel's glaive whipping through the air. Kel could wield the thing so fast, anyone could hear it whistle as it cut and hacked at invisible enemies. She was a light sleeper, a trait that had kept her alive from the pirates that had attacked her village.
She always wondered why her mistress bothered to keep on training with the glaive. It was so big and heavy, not a lady's weapon, though the Yaman ladies used it and used it well. She preferred the dagger. Small, light, and ever so deadly when used correctly. She knew that Kel would kill the king with a dagger. A glaive would have cast suspicion on them. Usually, only the Yamans used a glaive, not an Easterner.
Getting up, she walked to the door that separated their rooms and looked in, watching Kel move. Her mistress was fast, faster than many of the men here in the Eastern lands. Kel moved carefully, making sure she wouldn't hit anything as she practiced. Sweat already gleamed on her skin, her muscles stretched and tensed, but moved automatically. She had worked herself the same way several times before.
She stopped, already knowing Laine was there, watching.
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?" Laine smiled, approving. Most would not have noticed she was there. "Yes," she replied, still smiling. "Very well. They make decent beds, the Easterners."
"Good. Now that you've rested, would you mind fetching me some hot water? I need to wash this sweat off." Laine moved to comply, grumbling slightly under her breath. She was back soon with two maids hauling in buckets of hot water. Kel only gestured toward the basin she had used. Working quickly, the maids took away the basin and came back with it empty and clean. Laine dumped the hot water into the basin and left, dismissing the maids as she did so. Kel stripped and and climbed into the basin, scrubbing at her skin as soon as she was in. She lathered the sweet smelling soap over herself and washed off the sweat, brooding silently.
Today, they would be touring the city. Dress again in a nice kimono and look interested. But really, she would be looking for the quickest route out of the city without being seen or caught if such a situation ever arises. And always carry a weapon when out in the city after dark.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kel wanted to grimace when she saw the sidesaddle. She carefully composed her face into cool lines and stepped daintily into the sidesaddle. She had to appear like the pampered lady. She must endure. But by Mithros, why a sidesaddle? She hated the things, always had. She could remember the first she sat on one and slipped right off the other side. She'd landed on her tailbone and her backside had hurt so much, she couldn't sit down for nearly three hours. After that incident, she had vowed that she would never ever ride in one, much less go near one. The regular saddles were much safer. And here she was, sitting in the sidesaddle and waiting for the moment where she would slide off and disgrace herself.
Mithros help her.
"So we meet again, my lady." Kel felt herself turn and stare into the brilliant blue eyes of Sir Joren of Stone Mountain.
A/N: OMG!! I wrote beyond two pages!! Aren't you all so proud of me?! Now since I worked so hard for that nice long chappie, how about you all go and write nice long reviews? ;)