Part Seven

Contemplation

"Let us now rest and celebrate our victories," called the King, "We'll begin official Midsummer celebrations at sunset, with a feast provided by the Lord of Cavall. Thank you all who came to compete, and remember that losses can be turned to victories and that victors shouldn't become complacent."

Kel thought about the Kings closingwords as she made her way through the throngs of people, waving to those she knew and congratulating those with medals and ribbons. She extracted herself from the idle conversation onemercahnt had been making over the quality of her sword.She chuckled to herself; he had thought her Raven Armory sword wasn't a top quality weapon and one of his would better suit her. Mirelle isn't top quality, she thought to herself, or is she? Goddess, what have I done? It was thoughts like those that drove her to solitude of the lake. She sat down next to a boulder and sighed heavily. A sparrow fluttered over and landed on her shoulder, chirping happily.

"Cheerful little fellow, aren't you... if only my life was simpler," she mused, "I don't suppose you'd mind my chattering on, would you?" she remarked as the bird preened her hair.

"You see, my lord Wyldon is married to Mirelle, a highly dispicable woman who doesn't even love him. I think he tries to love Mirelle, but she doesn't accept it...she throws it in his face. Literally. Anyway I had a little spat with her, and told her that she should just leave him and if her brother didn't agree to her decision to take up her claim with the Goddesses temple. Would you believe that she agreed with me?" Kel frowned and ran a finger over the sparrow's speckled back.

"Now though, for the crux of it, I've destroyed Wyldon's marriage and I had no right to do so. I've probably doomed the fief and kingdom to war. Everyone is going to hate me," she moaned. The sparrow chirped and lightly pecked her ear. "Well maybe that's extreme...who knows maybe I did help him. I mean, who could possibly enjoy being with a person who constantly insults and berates you? It must have been awful to be stuck in the marriage for the better of his family and his kingdom. He never once cheated on her. I saw it with my own eyes at at tavern on the road here. She doesn't deserve him..." she paused to wipe at the tears running down her face. She couldn't fathom why she was crying or when she had started. She exhaled and rested her head on the cool boulder. The sparrow evidently satisfied that she was done, flew off into the setting sun.

Kel was roused by a warm, calloused hand rubbing her shoulder. "Mindelan . . . Mindelan. Wake up, the banquet has already begun," said the deep voice. Kel blinked and lifted her head off the rock, squinting in the darkness, she didn't remember falling asleep. ..

"My Lord? What are you doing out here?"

"Finding you. You didn't arrive at the feast and then Numair found me and told me you were here, rambling on abo-" he stopped and took his hand off her shoulder.

"Numair told you what? How? There wasn't a soul near me, just a sparrow. . . Oh. Daine?"

Wyldon nodded. "She saw you sitting alone and thougt you needed some comfort. . .she told me what you said to her."

Kel blushed, thankful for the dim light from the far off bon fire and covered moon. "I'm so sorry my Lord. . .I had no right to do-" Wyldon cut her off with his hand and shook his head.

"Please don't apologize. Stevan was right in what he said, and you were right in what you did. Mirelle has already packed her bags and spoke witth me. She plans to leave in the morning with most of the revelrers. May I?" he indicated the space beside her and settled next to herwhen she nodded.

Theysat together in a amicable silence for quite sometime, listening to the faint Midsummer music playing in the background. He finally turned and looked at her and said softly, "Thank you. . .Kel."

He stood up with a sigh and walked back towards the keep, leaving Keladry speechless. He'd never called her by her first name before. Always Mindelan. . . Slowly she got to her feet and followed Wyldon's path back, her mind elsewhere. She half-smiled as people wished her Midsummer luck and felicitations, making her way up to her room.

Once inside her room, she flopped down her bed, suddenly tired and confused. She was beginning to feel more strongly about Wyldon, either a deeper friendship or something else she couldn't. . . didn't want to admit to. In a sense, it frightened and worried her. . .he was a knight, as she was. What would she or he have to give up? Could she give things up in exchange for something else- something of different importance? Would he even reciprocate her feelings? She sighed heavily, trying to push her thoughts far away,and rolled over, eliciting a tiny yelp from Jump. "Sorry fella," she murmured and patted his head as she drifted off into a restless sleep.


AN: Hokay, I took out the original chapter and put this one in, cause well. . . I just didn't like it. Enjoy if you will and review please! I'd love feedback. Oh and the other chapters will also be recieving "face-lifts". . .

Assthorn and BadBugz+ Thank you a million times over! I really appreciate the advice and I've taken out the last two chapters and plan on making a story about them in their own right, and I won't kill Wyldon off so quickly ( I'm also going back and "fixing/modifing" portions of the story because I agree with you both. (I have no idea what I was thinking when I wrote those chapters...blech...)