Hearty thanks, hugs, and kisses to: HyperLittleCatIsBloodyLazy (thanks for the nit-picking, but I'm way too lazy to change it. Good point though!), Wingedrider, Rockin Chick, Stormy Winter (all explained), DarkShadow, Tanydwr (as shown below, I took your advice!), Toni, steelbluechk, lady-of-tormentdeath, Lady Knight 1512, Arcadia (thanks!), elemental-girl (yup, KN!), FanFictionFantom (thank you!), wolfdemonGrl, and Pussin Boots (does P00R mean something…?)!
I will say that I did get a good turnout on the reviews, so I shall continue with this story. For now. But, as always, reviews will keep it going, so please don't let them lag! They really encourage me!
Disclaimer: All TPs.
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Kel followed as her mother and Alanna chatted their way back to the fief. She was still in shock, and occasionally had to remind herself to close her wide-open mouth. Hakuin stumbled beside her, glancing at her every few minutes. Eventually these veiled glances became very irritating.
Kel stopped dead and faced Hakuin. "What is it?"
He looked surprised, but answered smoothly. "I was just thinking milady. If you can already fight like that, why were you interested in becoming a knight? Seems to me like you don't need much more training."
Kel raised her eyebrows. She knew she was good. She also knew that she could be better. "Are you saying that the I'm better than the Lioness?" She hoped that this was a rhetorical question.
Hakuin proved her suspicions right. "Well, no. The Lioness is amazing."
"Exactly. I can still learn more. And I want to help my country," though not my king. "That's why I wanted to become a knight." This last sentence was a little bitter. Old dreams died hard. Especially one that she had had her entire life.
Hakuin had noticed her disappointment. "That hard huh?"
He watched with interest as her face closed over, becoming frustratingly blank. The only betrayal of her emotion was a tight mouth, and he rushed to reassure her.
"Don't worry. I know that this wasn't quite what you had wanted, but working with the Lioness has its perks as well. And you'll be learning from the best."
Kel's face slowly regained emotion, and she gave him a small smile. "Of course."
Hakuin glanced at her quickly, and then put his arm around her. "Don't worry. We'll show them. You will be the next great female warrior no matter what those idiot conservatives in Corus say."
This time the smile Kel bestowed upon him was genuine and happy. "Thanks."
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Upon their return to the fief, Kel, Alanna, and her mother and father sat down to discuss the details of Kel's new arrangement.
"So," Alanna started. "If she accepts, I would expect Keladry to care for my belongings. That includes fighting gear and my horse, along with any chores I may assign. In return, I will feed her, clothe her, and fit her with any weapons she needs. And," there Alanna paused and smiled beatifically. "I will teach her to fight." Alanna turned to Kel, her face earnest. "Keladry, I can give you opportunities that no one else can. I know how much you desire this, and I can help you. Will you let me?"
Kel's face was serious. "Lady Alanna I would be honored to."
"Good." Alanna grinned. "I will be happy to have you Keladry of Mindelan."
Kel grimaced. "Lady Alanna, may I ask a favor?"
"Of course."
"Please, never call me Keladry. My name is Kel." Kel was apprehensive about ordering the lady knight around, it seemed a bit presumptuous, but she could not stand to spend the next years listening to the awful name that her parents gave her.
Her fears were put at rest when Alanna smiled. "Only if you will call me Alanna."
"As you wish Lad- Alanna."
"Good. Now that we have that settled, let me take a look at your fighting gear. I'll need to outfit you well, trouble comes quickly and unexpectedly. It is no use asking the bandits to wait to attack until after we run to the nearest town and buy a decent sword. They don't usually listen."
Alanna and Kel left the parents behind to exclaim over the extraordinary turn of events, and proceeded to Kel's room. Alanna determined that Kel had outgrown all of her armor, and needed a new sword, as well as a new horse. However, she pronounced the shield, bow, and spear all excellent, and was about to leave the room when a glint caught her eye.
She turned to the wall and observed the weapon leaning against it. Long, with a shiny blade at one end, it was imposing.
"Kel?"
Kel, who was about to exit the doorway, turned back inside.
"Yes?"
"What is that?" Alanna pointed at the unusual weapon.
"Oh." Kel looked as if she was caught with her hand in the sweets jar. "That's my… naginata. Or glaive, in the Eastern tongue. I brought it back with me from the Yamani Islands."
"Can you- Can you use it?" Alanna was flabbergasted at the thought of anyone using such a formidable and deadly weapon.
"Yes." Kel was had switched her guilty expression to a guarded smile.
"Show me." Alanna, despite her commanding words had a pleading tone in her voice.
Kel took the glaive off the rack and strolled outside, Alanna following in her wake. Once she was sure that she had enough room, she started a simple pattern dance taught to her by her teachers in the Yamani Islands. Her blade whirled faster and faster, until finally it came to a halt. Kel was exhilarated from the movement, but she stopped dead when her eyes rested on Alanna's slightly stunned expression.
"Alanna? Is something wrong?"
"Kel, I just changed the conditions on your apprenticeship." Kel panicked. Oh no! She can't be jealous can she? She won't take it back right? I need this. I can't just have blown it! Stupid Kel! You wrecked it. You-
Alanna interrupted Kel's thoughts. "Please, teach me how to use that thing."
Kel was caught of guard and laughed suddenly, which snapped the tension. She bowed deeply to her idol. "I would be honored to."
Alanna laughed and grabbed Kel's hand, towing her out of the courtyard. "Kel, we are going to have fun."
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Kel and Alanna did have fun. Kel learned about fighting and commanding, while her respect for the King's Champion grew each and everyday. She learned to live with Alanna's constant mood changes and violent temper. During the lady knight's rants and raves, Kel donned her Yamani face and waited for the storm to pass.
Kel also became fast friends with Hakuin. The patient man matched her temperament, and was one of the few that could make her laugh. He was also the only other man that her irritable horse would trust.
Kel had acquired Peachblossom from Stefan, the holster in Corus. Although Alanna had refused to return to the capital, she had contacted Stefan to bring her new standard bearer a proper steed. Though Stefan had brought a different horse for Kel, Kel had taken pity on the horse he was taking to a nearby farm. Now Peachblossom was just one of the crew. Alanna despised him, but as only Kel cared for him, Alanna was content to simply grumble under her breath.
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It was four years after Kel's savior showed up at Mindelan. Alanna approached Kel somewhat cautiously.
"Kel, our plans have changed. We're going to stop at Pirate's Swoop next."
"Okay." Kel wondered why Alanna looked so nervous. They had stopped at Pirate's Swoop before, and stayed long enough for her to become fast friends with Alanna's children. "Why?"
"Oh, well you see I'm doing a favor for my old friend the Duke of Queenscove. His son was becoming a healer, but now he's a page, well actually becoming a squire but his father doesn't like that and he wants him to become a healer, and…" Kel raised an eyebrow. Alanna rarely rambled on without making sense.
Alanna seemed to realize how little sense she was making. "Well, the Duke wants me to take his son Nealan as a squire." She took in Kel's astonished expression. "I know, I've never taken a squire, but I love his father, and he really wants Neal to learn some healing, and I can teach him."
"Oh," Kel donned her blank Yamani face. I am a stone, I am a stone. "Okay."
Alanna squinted at her face. "Are you sure you're fine with that?"
"Yeah sure." Kel smiled briefly and then walked away to Peachblossom. So she needs a squire. Am I not doing well enough? Oh I'm sure that's not it. I think. But this will really be rubbing my failure in my face. This boy, he's not even all squire, he's trying to be a healer too. He gets to be two things, and I can't even be one. I-
Kel heard someone calling her name. Blanking her face once again she went to go assist Hakuin.
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A/N: Well I hope that satisfies. I'm still trying to get the groundwork in. But next chapter I get to bring in a certain Meathead! Yay! Yes, this will be KN. Majorly KN. Because Neal is amazing! So review review review for lots of fluffy moments! And maybe even a plot!
Kisses!
PrincessPeach