Disclaimer: I own none of the characters used in this story, they all belong to Tamora Pierce.

A/N: Took me a week to get this out, not bad considering I rewrote this about five times. Things will start to get interesting after this chapter, I promise. THIS WILL NOT be one of those stories that Joren follows Kel around and suddenly becomes pleasant, willingly falls in love, and offers himself to her. No . K/N next chapter...so make sure you read. Thanks to everyone who reviewed:) Now on to the next chapter. F.Y.I the dream will be ooc but thats because it's a dream:P

Emotionless

By Chicken Puffs

Can't take it anymore
Shaken till we move the floor
what are we waiting for
LET"S GO
Tired of being ordinary
Don't care if theres people starring
I know you said you'd carry me ... on
I"m not invisible like you

"What do you want," his cool eyes observed her, leaning back against the door.

"Give this to Sir Paxton when he returns tonight," she met his gaze solidly, handing him the letter sealed with the Goldenlake crest.

"You interrupted me to give me some stupid letter?" He sneered at her, grabbing the letter from her, toying with the wax seal.

"Just give it to him Joren. I'm not in the mood to play your games." She glared defiantly at him, trying to calm herself. He always managed to make her angry no matter what he did, his very presence flared up feelings she had never felt toward anyone before.

"That's a shame Mindelan, because you're the one I want to play with at the moment." His blue eyes turned a grey shade, casting a dark look at her, but it was not returned, as she stared up at him in utter confusion. Giving her a smirk, he pulled himself away from the door, closing it as she again told him to give the letter to his idiot of a knight master.

His eyes roamed down to the letter he held in his hand, putting it into his pocket to read later.

"Who was that, Joren?" A petite blonde lay on his bed, draped under heaps of blankets, her voice a tiny sound in his spacious chambers.

"No one you need to concern yourself with, just a Lump who doesn't know her place in society, thinking she can be something she's not."

"Well then, if it were no one, come back to bed Joren, it's getting cold."

Joren growled at her, grabbing her face and edging his lips onto hers. It was disgusting how easily these girls came onto him, with no dignity at all, but of course one woman came to mind. His eyes closed, and he saw her hazel eyes, her wispy brown hair...

As he heard the girl beneath him moan, Joren opened eyes, mentally smirking over the power he had over women. He could have anyone he desired, but there was only one that he wanted to play with.

He broke the passionate kiss, his eyes roaming over her disheveled appearance.

"Joren," she all but whimpered his name as he got off the bed, running his hands through his messy hair.

"I have places to be," with that he walked from the room, slamming the door shut behind him as he heard the girl start to cry. How disgusting these court women were, she thought that because he'd slept with her, that he was in love, and would stay by her side forever, writing poems about his devotion to her. It made him want to retch.

Joren walked toward the mess hall, wondering for the first time what his ordeal would be like. He was more than confident that he would make it through the chamber, no one from his family had ever failed the ordeal, and he would not be the first to shame his family name.

He grabbed his tray of food, and sank down next to Garvey who was eating his food without a care in the world. He too had returned early to prepare himself mentally and physically for the soon coming ordeal, not that it would help him much in any case, for Garvey it wouldn't matter if he came out alive or dead, he was the youngest son of three, and wasn't likely to inherit much.

The dinner bell had rung at least an hour ago, and the mess was deserted except for a few odd knights scattered around tables.

As he surveyed them, his eyes came to rest on a head resting on the mahogany colored wood. Her eyes were closed, and if it hadn't been for the dark bags hanging menacingly under her eyes, she would have looked at peace with herself.

He continued to watch her as Garvey talked about his latest conquest with Lady Mandy, but Joren watched her, not paying any attention to him at all.

A small smile graced her lips, and he watched as her cheeks became flushed, and her eyes fluttered opening, the smile shattering as she took in her surroundings.

Her gaze met solidly with his, and he held it, refusing to look away from her penetrating gaze. He could have sworn on Mithros' name that he saw a tear slide down her face before she broke all contact.

She ran along the cobblestone path laughing as footsteps rang out from behind her and a strong pair of arms gripped her waistline, turning her around to face him, his eyes teasing her.

His touch made her shiver inside, as his hands traveled along her body, exploring the curves of her body as she ran her hands through his silky hair.

As their lips met, it became an internal battle to keep control over themselves, in which both were failing miserably.

Kel felt herself going weak as Joren pushed her against the rough alley walls, his hands running up the sides of her hips. A moan escaped her mouth and she could no longer process what she was doing.

Joren pulled away, and she looked up at him, his eyes going from pale gray to a blackened color.

"Joren..." she stopped as he put a finger against her swollen lips, silencing her.

"I love you Keladry."

Kel looked up at him shocked, silence closing in around him. Slowly though, a smile engulfed her face, and she knew what she felt for him. Love.

She rested her head on his shoulder as he embraced her, the silence perfect because anyone could see that no words needed to be spoken for him to find out how she felt.

Had anyone seen them at that moment, they would have seen two lovers infatuated with one another, the man seeing no one but his lady, and the lady giving herself over to the man, her spirit, her essence, and her body.

Kel woke with a start, trying to find her bearings. She looked around, ready to scream in frustration when the mess hall came into her line of vision.

Something didn't feel right, and as she looked around, seeing the almost empty hall, she saw that he was watching her.

Joren observed her and he dismissed the idea of looking away from her, and she held her gaze, as they had a silent staring contest. Silent. Silence.

Tears pricked at her eyes as the dream flooded back to her, and she hastily got up, forgetting about dinner, she'd lost all appetite for food.

She walked down the long corridor, and was heading towards her room when a hand clasped her shoulder. She sucked in her breath, it was him, it had to be him.

"My lady," her heart sunk and she knew it wasn't him, although the voice teased, it almost sounded like...

She turned around,only to be nearly knocked over and pulled into a hug. He laughed as she stared at his emerald green eyes in surprise, as he finally registered in her mind.

"Neal! Your back early, I thought you'd be gone at least another week!" She smiled at him, laughing at the silly grin on his face. Mithros it was good to see him.

From the shadows, Joren watched their reunion, sinking away into the darkness as Neal embraced her.