Y'all, I am really sorry about not updating sooner. The thing is- I'm about to take my horse to a trainer and leave him there for a few weeks, and I've been spending most of my time with him. I'll try to post soon with chapter five, so don't start cursing me into oblivion, yet. I'm really sorry to those of you who love Dom (and I'm included in that group), because he isn't in this chapter. A certain red-headed son of a lady knight and a former thief king will, though. I really hope y'all enjoy this chapter. It's not super-long, but it's all I've got right now. I'm righting this story as I go, and I don't want to leave it un-updated for a long time-hence, the un-lengthy chapters. Now, on with the twisted output of my mind that is disguised as a story...
You're Not a Little Girl Anymore- Chapter 4
"Can she eat now, then?" Neal called jokingly across the hall. Kel shoved him aside and sat down to her food. The males around her talked while she ate ravenously. She stopped eating when she realized that the rest of the table was silent. Kel looked up and saw them all looking at her.
"What?" She asked exasperatedly. They all looked at each other before Merric spoke up.
"It's just...Mithros Kel! You're eating enough for two people. Why are you so hungry all of the sudden?" Kel looked down at her plate, which was almost empty now. She supposed she had been eating more than usual due to her monthlies. The thought of telling her friends, her male friends, that piece of information was enough to make Kel blush…and that was saying something.
"Boys," Kel began, causing all of the men to glare, "I'm just under a lot of stress, okay? You all know that I hate being at court." They all settled down at that, but Neal looked unconvinced.
"Kel, I'm the healer here. I've never known you to eat because of stress. What aren't you telling us?" Those comments made the group start thinking again. Out of nowhere, Seaver asked something that would change Kel's life.
"Kel, are you pregnant?" He was extremely ill timed, because there had been a pause in conversation from surrounding tables at that moment. Cleon reached over and smacked the back of Seaver's head.
"Oh…sorry." Seaver muttered. The hall was silent for an instant before the murmuring broke out. Kel just sat in shock- knowing that the rumors were already spreading. Kel was not new to rumors about her love life. This, however, was to top them all. Kel stood up and walked out of the hall towards the stables. She wanted to be alone and away from the wondering stares that she was receiving. As she passed a doorway she heard the giggling of several women. She stopped and, against her better judgment, listened into their conversation.
"Really? How did hear that?" A lady's voice asked excitedly.
"My maid was in the kitchens and she came to me as soon as she heard," was the reply.
"So it's true, then?" A nasal voice questioned. "The Lady Knight is pregnant." Kel's eyes widened as she realized exactly whom they were talking about. She turned and walked briskly outside, trying to escape the women's giggling and gossiping. She felt like pounding Seaver thoroughly. However, despite his mistake, he was still Kel's friend and she new that if he came within range of her fists, she would probably regret her actions later. Keladry walked outside towards the refuge of the stables and gazed at the ground while thoughts raced through her head.
'Great. Perfect. No telling what stories they are spreading through the halls. It's ironic, really. By trying to evade an embarrassing moment, I have possibly destroyed what little good reputation I had. Who will they say is the father? Perhaps my ex-lover, Cleon, is to blame. Oh no! Of course, it would be my old knight master Sir Raoul. There had to be a reason he picked me as his squire.' Kel ranted to herself. She got so caught up in her sarcasm that she didn't realize that she began to speak aloud.
"No, those are too obvious. Ah, of course! The father is Thom of Pirate's Swoop." Kel says to the air, before mocking a court lady, " 'Can you believe her? She's known the man for a day, and already she's shared his bed.'" Kel took a breath to continue her imitation. With her eyes on the ground, she ran into something solid and fell to the ground. Kel looked up to see Thom grinning down on her. He reached down his hand to help her up and she grudgingly accepted.
"Oh, Keladry! It pains me to think upon it." Thom said in an overly dramatic way.
"Think upon…what?" Kel inquired, with a sense of suspicion.
"That I was too drunk to remember what was undoubtedly the best night of my life!" He flashed her a smirk before grabbing her hand and pressing it against his heart. He looked skyward in his best impression of a love stricken, pained expression. Just Kel's luck, a group of twittering ladies walked by at that moment. They stopped for a moment and gasped before hurrying on their way. Kel looked angrily at Thom for an instant before hitting him on the chest.
"You…you're...just…ugh!" Kel sighed outwardly in frustration.
"What?" Thom asked innocently. "I just heard that 'the Lady Knight' was pregnant and, seeing as how my mother is married with children already, I deduced that they must be talking about you. It's not my fault."
"No! You just added fire to the flame! " Kel replied, before getting a smug look on her face that caused Thom to look confused. "But, I really shouldn't worry. You should be the one worrying. You, a man on the way to becoming a powerful mage-" Thom interrupted her.
"I'm already a powerful-" Kel continued her tirade.
"-the son of the realm's King's Champion, fathering a child out of wedlock. To make matters worse, you're the father of the child of the only living female knight of Tortall besides your very own mother. Tsk, tsk. What will the lords and ladies of our noble kingdom say?" Kel stared into his eyes with a fake concerned expression. Thom glared at her playfully for a second before answering.
"I'm not sure. But it was worth it."
Kel groaned in exasperation prior to asking him, "Why do you take it upon yourself to make my existence more painful, after knowing me only a day?"
Thom's retort sounded agonizingly familiar. "I just felt like annoying you." He winked at her before walking around her towards the palace gardens.
"That tongue of yours is going to get you into trouble." Kel called after him.
Thom turned around and countered, "Kel! Honestly, love- isn't that how we got into this mess?" Kel watched him saunter away then spun around to go to her original destination of the stables. She was shocked, though, to see a group of pages that had observed Thom's antics. One opened his mouth to speak, but the extremely irritated lady knight stopped the page from spouting the comment.
"Just…don't. If you all want to live to become squires, just don't." Kel warned before walking pointedly past them.
Don't worry. Kel isn't going to become pissed off at everyone for breathing, it was just a few pages. BTW- It was SO hard to say "You all.." in this chapter. I kept having to retype it. Oh well. I just wanted to let y'all know that I am open to suggestions about what you think should happen, or who Kel should end up with, or maybe another minor character you want me to include in the fic (a real, Tamora Pierce written one, though). I hope y'all still review- it's so much fun to read what y'all have to say- even when it's not necessarily about the fic.
Thanks toNolee of Stone Mountain
oceanspike
dreamerdoll
Alianne Cooper
Suzie-blue-shoes
ProwlingKitKat
Kelly Masbolle
ossini
Artemis Teranika Ryann
rachel32
Mango Sam
Rubber Duck
sYaOrAnRoXmiSoX
The Final Stillness of Saturn
Squirrel Maiden of Green
jazy716
Lady-kitty
Kore Yan
Trickster's-Lulaby
Sunrise Daughter
warrior of tortall
and to all those who read this story and didn't bother to review. I'm still glad that you read my fic,...even if you are lazy. I mean- honestly. Just a little click and a little comment...p-p-pwease?
My closing phrase in everyone's favorite language: pig-latin.
-- Aymay ethay umorsray eadspray icklyquay oughthray ethay allwayshay ofway ouryay ifelay.
P.S- Eviewray? Ustjay ickclay atthay ittlelay ilaclay uttonbay.