---Okay y'all; I'm going to try to explain my reasoning for a couple of things (this may take a second). Yes! I realize that Kel and Neal were together at both Haven and New Hope and that she wouldn't have changed so much that he wouldn't recognize her. But, in the last chapter, when he knocked her down, he wasn't really looking at her. He was in a hurry, with his mind somewhere else, and he just glimpsed a female form in a dress. Also- if you'll notice, it only takes him a few seconds to realize his mistake. Now, when Dom doesn't recognize Kel, he's seeing the back of her. She plays along but, again, it's only for a short time. Kel is still Kel; she hasn't changed into a beautiful court or boy-crazy lady. Okay? That was for all of y'all who kept saying that Neal would recognize her (which he does…. see?). So, with that…here is another chapter to add to the story. Hopefully, y'all'll (that means you all will- and it's correct Georgian grammar, thank you very much =] ) enjoy this chapter enough to tell me so. ----Onward!!

You're Not a Little Girl Anymore- Chapter 3

She walked into the stables and into Peachblossom's stall, giving him a kiss on the muzzle.

"How you doing boy?" she cooed to him. He blew in response. Her large horse had an attitude with most people, but he suited Kel perfectly. She sometimes thought of him as her hidden temper. She brushed him down and tacked him up in his tilting saddle before she led him outside into the quintain ring, which was empty of knights in training at the moment.

Must be my lucky day: no pages, no audience; just Peachblossom and me. Perfect.

She mounted up with her lance, which isn't the easiest thing in the world to do, and stretched out her arms as she viewed the targets. She hadn't tilted in over a year, due to the time spent on the war. She decided on the easiest target; if you hit the shield correctly, it swung around behind you. If you hit it incorrectly, the sand bag thumped you in the back. She stationed her horse in front of it and said "Charge." Peachblossom used voice commands only, never the spur. Keladry felt at peace as she felt the horse's muscles move under her. She positioned her lance and struck the shield dead center, letting her ride pass without bruises.

"You're pathetic," she told herself. "That was too easy, and you know it." She positioned her horse in front of the advanced target. It was a willow ring that floated with the winter winds of late November. As she rolled her neck then set her lance in position, she saw Jump trot over from the palace and stand by a pole.

"You always know what I'm doing, don't you?" The dog scratched his lone ear and wagged his twice broken tail in reply. "Peachblossom, charge."

The horse's feet thundered towards the target and Kel raised her lances tip up to the target and SNAP! The willow ring broke off of its string. Kel flung the ring from the tip of her lance into the air, something that took a lot of effort and practice, and Jump chased after it then leaped in the air to retrieve his prize. Kel shook her head as she dismounted her horse to lead him over to the railing. Jump ran over with his tail wagging proudly. "You're not the beauty you think you are." She informed him. She turned her horse and noticed a group of five men leaning on the rail. Keladry hated when people gathered to watch her joust, although it seemed to happen almost every time.

"We're sorry if we interrupted you, lady. But that horse and you are amazing to watch." One of the men said. Kel ducked her head; she didn't take compliments very well.

"Forgive me, sirs, but I don't believe I know your names." she said, putting a polite smile on her face.

"The name's Lofren, m'lady. And this is Symric, Fulcher, and Emmet," one of the men said. As he introduced them, she recognized their faces, except for a young man who seemed to be staring at nothing.

"We're in the King's Own." Symric supplied.

"I thought I recognized you. And you should know better than to call me a lady." She turned to the silent one. "I don't remember you from the King's Own."

"That's because he's not, m'lady." Emmet said, earning a glare from Kel.

"He's trainin' t' become a mage." Fulcher said teasingly.

"Is there something wrong sir?" Kel asked, when the brunette didn't say anything.

"No, m' lady. Thom's just being shy, for once." Fulcher said, grinning at the title that made Keladry glare. The man heard his name and, as if this were a question of his honor, the young man straightened up and turned to Kel.

"I am Thom of Pirate's Swoop, Lady Keladry. I'm sorry if I seemed rude; I was daydreaming." The man sheepishly admitted. His eyes had a violet tint to them, she had just noticed since his red hair had blocked the light from them.

"You're the Lioness' son." Kel said.

"Well spotted!" Thom said jokingly. She flashed him her sarcastic grin, which was starting to be a habit of hers. He stepped forward to offer a handshake as he said, "I truthfully thought you'd be more like my mother. But I guess I'm glad you're not. I don't think I'd want a friend just like my ma."

She accepted his handshake as she said, "Haven't you heard already? She and I are both eleven feet tall."

"Of course, the estimate's not so far off in your case. How else would you have won the war?" He replied.

"I did no such thing. Either you're highly misinformed or you're trying to use flattery as a way not to get bruised on the practice courts." She said to him. "Practice courts?" Thom asked, confused.

"It's something all my other friends have to endure. If you're going to be my friend, why should you be any different?" she asked with mock seriousness. As if to add to that point, Peachblossom snapped his jaws closed about an inch away from Thom's arm.

"Well, then!" he said laughing. Kel liked him; he seemed like a fun person to be around, even though he was about a year younger than her.

"If you two can stop flirting for a moment," Lofren interrupted jokingly. Kel and Thom were about to protest to that comment, but he cut them off with a smile, "It's almost time for lunch. We'll be on our way." Kel rolled her eyes and turned her horse towards the stables. She had walked him about half way there when Thom appeared beside her with her lance.

"Forget something?" She reached for it but he pulled it out of her reach. "I'll carry it," Thom said.

"There's really no need…"

Thom interrupted her, " Let's get going, I'm hungry."

Kel rolled her eyes again and shook her head, but started walking.

As they walked into the stables, Kel tried to think of something to say.

"So, how old are you?" Kel inquired, mentally slapping herself for asking such a dumb question.

"I'll turn nineteen next month," said Thom then cast her a questioning look.

"I'm nineteen right now," Kel replied. She didn't know what else to say. Kel thanked the gods when they had finally reached Peachblossom's stall, for the silence was becoming awkward. She unsaddled Peachblossom and used a currycomb to quickly brush him down. She placed a few flakes of hay in the gelding's food troth and then turned to Thom. He handed Kel her lance.

"You really didn't have to carry that, you know." Kel said while placing the long weapon upon the rack on the wall.

"I know. I just felt like annoying you." Thom replied, with a roguish smirk.

"Really? Well, good job." Kel said while closing the gate to Peachblossom's stall.

"You ready to go?" Thom asked.

"Yes, but you shouldn't have waited for me." She said with exasperation. They began to briskly walk towards the palace.

" I know. I just felt like annoying you."

"I think I'm seeing a trend here." They both laughed. "So, why are you here?" Kel asked. " I mean, not that I'm not glad that you are; I mean…I'm just going to stop now." Kel shook her head at herself.

"That's probably a good idea." Thom responded with a grin as they reached the entryway of the palace. "Well, I'm training to become a mage under the instruction of Master Numair. He was called to the palace, and where he goes- I follow."

"Well, this is my hall." Kel said as they reached the hall leading to her rooms.

"I'd ask if you wanted me to walk you there, but I don't feel like bearing the wrath of an extremely annoyed…" He trailed off.

"Knight," Kel supplied.

"Woman," Thom retorted before walking away, laughing.

Kel headed towards her room. When she reached the door, she placed the key in the lock and whispered her name before realizing her mistake. She no longer needed a password to enter her rooms. It was highly unlikely that anyone would destroy her things as they had done when she was a page. She walked in and washed her face before changing out of her sweaty clothes. She pulled on a pair of cream breeches and a light blue shirt with a small embroidery of Kel's insignia: a gray owl and cream glaives on the front. Lalasa, Kel's former maid, close friend, and a skilled seamstress, had been insistent about adding the needlework to almost all of the lady knight's shirts and tunics.

As Kel walked out of her room, remembering to lock it behind her, she was tackled from behind. She quickly pushed up into a fighting stance only to see a familiar face. She saw a glimpse of red before the 'attacker' had captured her hands behind her back. Kel tried to squirm out of the man's hold and elbowed him lightly. He released her and she saw laughter in his gray eyes that she had become accustomed to over their many years together. She jokingly punched at him, but he anticipated it just in time to duck underneath her arm. He smiled at her and winked.

"Oh, my blossom, my pearl- are you losing your touch?" Cleon of Kennan asked mockingly. Kel stopped and stood still. Cleon was Kel's old sweetheart, but he was married to Ermelian of Aminar now.

"Cleon…I- you're married. You shouldn't call me those names anymore." Kel said quietly.

"Why? I called you those names when you were just a 'probationary page'. You're still my best friend Kel. At least, I thought you were. Have you gone and gotten a new best friend behind my back? Oh! For shame!" Cleon grabbed her by the shoulders with a pained expression on his faced then stepped back and grinned. "Kel, I know things are different between us, but can't I still try to make you smile?" He asked. Kel looked at him for a moment before pulling him into a big hug.

"I guess I did miss you. But, I have news for you. Neal's my best friend. How could you ever think otherwise?" Kel stated mockingly. Then she playfully punched him in the stomach. "So, how IS Ermelian?"

"She really is something Kel. She's beautiful, smart, funny. I think I may come to love her. Maybe if she and I had met under different circumstances I would already. It's just…" Cleon hesitated.

"Just what?" Kel asked.

"Nothing."

"No, tell me. That's what best friends are for."

"It's just that she's not you Kel," Cleon admitted. Kel was quiet for a moment before she responded.

"Maybe that's a good thing. Do you really want a wife who can pummel you from here to next midwinter?"

"Good point. As a matter of fact, do I really want a friend who can pummel me from here till next midwinter?" Cleon asked himself, as if pondering. Kel just stood there with her arms crossed in front of her. "I guess I need a pummeling every now and then-to keep me humble, I suppose." Cleon grinned.

Kel shook her head before inquiring, "Now that that's sorted out, are you coming to lunch with me?"

"Of course, just so I can be in your radiant presence for a moment longer!" He responded. They both laughed and headed for the mess hall. They walked towards the door and Cleon opened it and bowed Kel in. She sent him an annoyed look. He chuckled but waited for her to enter first. She sighed but walked through.

"You're incorrigible." Kel stated before walking to the line to get her tray of food. She loaded it with ham, cheese, some vegetables, and bread then waited for Cleon to do the same. She looked over the expanse of the hall and saw Neal wave his arm to signal them. The two knights walked towards the table. Neal, Merric, Seaver, and a few other knights sat at the table. Kel and Cleon placed their trays down and began to sit down.

Almost as soon as Kel touched the bench, the doors made a noise as they opened. Lord Wyldon of Cavall walked in and her whole table stood up immediately. She noticed that the rest of the mess hall, including Lord Wyldon, was staring at them. Then she remembered that Wyldon wasn't the training master any more, and felt rather sheepish for their forgetfulness. It was simply habit. All of those at her table were knights and, although they hadn't been pages or squires for over a year, he would always be their training master. Wyldon just stood there shaking his head with a disapproving look, as he had often done when they were pages. Neal took the opportunity to live up to his reputation of being the center of attention.

"M'lord," Neal bowed deeply and all of the others got the idea and a murmur of 'm'lord's along with laughter was heard as the whole table bowed. The whole table, that is, except for Kel. She was trying so hard to keep her Yamani mask in place without laughing, that she was a step behind the others in their bows and also came up just as the others were sitting down. Wyldon eyes rested on her and he walked over to the table as she finally sat down.

"You're insolent, all of you." He said with dignity. He then turned to Kel. "Keladry, it is good to see you well. Congratulations on your victory." She stood up and bowed to Lord Wyldon of Cavall, her training master, her sometimes hero, and her cause of total embarrassment at that moment.

"Don't you mean 'our' victory, m'lord?" She replied with her 'Yamani' face.

"Still as modest as ever, I see. Very well, it is still good to see you well." He turned and walked to the front table to take his seat next to Lord Padraig haMinch

"Can she eat now, then?" Neal called jokingly across the hall. Kel shoved him aside and sat down to her food.

Thank you to all of my reviewers for the last chapter: ProwlingKitKat, Alianne Cooper, Nolee of Stone Mountain, Mango Sam, Kelly Masbolle, oceanspike, Trickstergal33, The Final Stillness of Saturn, Lady Page, crystalambaia, ossini, chicken-puffs, shinadagami, Rat Child G, flashrider, dreamerdoll, LiLy MaLfoy13, and CTHKSI. Y'all are the best! Special thanks to those that are being patient with my slight incompetence of mastering the art of actually posting. The whole "save it to this, then do that"...well, I kept messing up. But I think I've got it now. BTW- Is anyone else psyched that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban comes out tomorrow?! I am...incase you couldn't tell. James Phelps (Fred Weasley) is so hott! hehe- anywayz...I hope you all have a marvelous day (or night!). Don't get into too much trouble!!

And- May the rumors spread quickly through the hallways of your life. =o)