Two days later, it was time for the Midwinter Banquets to commence. Kimi and the boys were extremely nervous, and kept checking each others' hair and clothes to make sure they were straight. Kimi and the other first year pages – excluding Jon, who never had to serve at these things – would be back in the kitchens and far out of sight, but that did not soothe their nerves.
"Don't worry about it," Furtan consoled a stricken Ulric after he was berated for having a loose string on his tunic. "You won't be seen, and the master of ceremonies is having a hectic day. Don't let it get to you."
Honestly, thought Kimi as she passed the first course to a third year page, Addam Slama, Furtan has the calm and patience that I, as a Yamani's daughter, should have had.
The night continued without mishap, much to the relief of the pages.
"Very good," said the master of ceremonies at the end of the night. "Meet here again tomorrow at the same time. Have a good night."
Kimi sighed with relief and turned to her friends. "Are we going?" she asked.
"I'm not so sure about this," Gary demurred. "You go to the party because of your parents, I'm going to eat dinner in the Mess Hall and go to bed."
There was a party after the Banquet for the Yamani circle. Kimi had been invited, along with her parents, the royals, and the ladies-in-waiting of Princess Shinkokami. Kimi was welcome to invite her friends but they were all now politely declining.
"That's fine," she said, only slightly disappointed. "I'll see you all tomorrow then." She hurried to her room to change clothes.
I'll have Jon to talk to, and his sisters, she assured herself and swallowed uncomfortably, and hopefully my family. She hastily threw off her clothes and pulled her Yamani box out from beneath her bed. Inside were a few of the kimonos she had brought with her at the beginning of the year. They were not as splendid as the one her mother had sent her for Jon's Birthday Banquet, but they would get her point across: she was not ashamed.
Kimi pulled out a light pink kimono with a light blue underrobe and a medium purple obi. She was able to put it on without too much trouble, and she brushed her mussed hair when she was finished. She was still too young for face paint, but she honestly did not mind. She looked in the mirror and smiled. The smile slowly slid into a frown. Something was missing.
There was a knock on the door and Kimi quickly answered it. "Jonathan!" she cried happily. "How was the banquet?"
"Boring. I would have much preferred to serve with you," said Jon sincerely.
"Poor Jon," she teased. "Forced not to work hard and instead sit and eat delicious food. Royalty does have its down sides, doesn't it?"
He rolled his eyes at her. "Ready to go?" He was wearing fashionable Tortallan raiment. It was necessary for Jon to look Tortallan to win the hearts of the people he would one day rule. Why didn't I see that before? She asked herself silently.
"Almost," she answered, and frowned again. "Something's missing, but I can't figure it out."
"Maybe your shoes?" Jon suggested after a pause.
Kimi gasped. "That's it!" She giggled at the prince's expression and hurried back inside. She pulled on her Tortallan style boots and looked in the mirror again. She grinned happily at her own reflection. She represented two peoples; and it made her very happy to do so.
"Ready?" Jon repeated, but with more impatience in his voice.
"Oh, yes," Kimi said. She scampered down the hall to the room they were to meet. She talked animatedly to Jonathan. "And then," she said when they made it to the meeting room, "the master of ceremonies turned on Ulric and yelled at him for having a loose string on his tunic!"
"Sounds like it was a tense night for everyone," a familiar voice drawled. "A loose string? It is a wonder you made it through the night."
"Da!" she exclaimed. She gave him a hug, which surprised him slightly, but he returned the gesture. "Yes, I can hardly believe he blew up over such a small thing! I can't imagine what he'll yell at us for tomorrow night."
"A hair out of place, no doubt," replied Neal. He opened the door for them and led them in.
It was a small affair, with no more than twenty people in the room. There were lots of children running about and playing together, and the adult nobles sat or stood around and caught up on the latest news. Everyone in the room had known each other for several years. Jon hurried off to greet his parents.
"Where's Mum?" Kimi asked her father.
Neal smiled gently at his daughter and his green eyes were kind. "She'll be here in a moment with Baird, Hideaki, and Keladry in a few minutes." He knew how important it was for Yuki to see her daughter in Yamani garb, and so patted Kimi's arm. "It takes a while for your mother to tie them to a leash."
"You brought my brothers and sister?" Kimi asked with excitement. She decided to ignore her father's humor. "I've missed them."
"Kimi!" a voice called her and Kimi whirled around.
"Aunt Kel!" Kimi rushed forward and hugged the Lady Knight.
"How's the lady page doing?" Kel asked. "You look very pretty in that kimono."
"Thanks," Kimi blushed. "I am doing well enough. How are things doing for you?"
"Well, I am now in command of some troops in the east," Kel said. "Things are finally settling down in Tusaine again, and so we were allowed to come home for the winter."
"What, nothing for me?" Neal interrupted. He tried to act offended.
"I don't believe my ears. Meathead, jealous of his own daughter," Domitan of Masbolle edged up to the group and put an arm around his wife, Kel.
Neal sighed, exasperated. "And I thought my cousin would be a better example for my children and not use that name in front of them."
Kimi giggled and hugged her Uncle Dom. "Are Chrisail and Ilane here?" she asked.
"No, they were tired from the traveling and so they went to bed early," said Kel. Chrisail and Ilane were Kel's two daughters, ages six and seven.
"I still haven't received my hug from either of you," Neal said pointedly.
Kel broke apart and hugged her best friend. "It's always good to see you, Neal."
"Come here, Meathead," Dom said as Neal grimaced, but he embraced his cousin warmly.
At that moment two children were guided into the room and followed by Yuki. Her face was Yamani smooth, but her actions cried out that she was agitated with her children. Baird and Hideaki rushed up to Kimi and each gave her a hug, and then went to greet the other children in the room, far away from their mother. Baird and Hideaki were one year apart, but they might as well been twins. They inherited more of their father's looks than Kimi did. They each had fair skin with dark brown hair and emerald color set into almond shaped eyes. They looked almost identical at ages seven and eight, though Baird, the elder, was slightly taller.
"Where's Keladry?" Kel asked. It was an odd question coming from her, but she was speaking of the youngest of the Queenscove clan.
"She is in bed. It is late for her and she was acting testy," Yuki explained. She finally looked around the group and spotted her eldest daughter. "Kimi," she said breathlessly. "You're wearing a kimono."
"Yes, mum," Kimi said in Yamani. "I hope that it pleases you." Neal and Dom looked completely lost. Kel turned and watched Kimi's face carefully.
"It does please me," Yuki replied. "But does it please you?"
Kimi sighed happily and felt the tension go out of her. She smiled at her mother, knowing she wouldn't mind. "Very much so."
Yuki nodded and placed a gently hand her daughter's head. "That also pleases me." She turned to Kel. "I think this is an appropriate time to give the gift to her, don't you think?"
"We were going to wait until the last day, but we can give it to her now," Kel said agreeably.
"Do you think if we just started speaking in Common they would get the hint?" Dom asked Neal.
"I don't know. You're lucky Kel doesn't teach your daughters to speak Yamani. Half of the time I don't know what's going on," confided Neal.
"He doesn't know what's going on half the time even when we are speaking Common," Yuki said, her eyes dancing with mischief. The females of the group laughed.
"See? It's a conspiracy. They are constantly plotting against me," Neal cried.
Yuki kissed his cheek. "We'll return in a bit." She swayed her hips as she walked back to the door. Neal gulped as he watched then went to check on the boys. Kimi was oblivious to Yuki's behavior and Neal's reaction, and followed after her mother with Kel.
"What are you going to give me?" Kimi asked. She loved happy surprises, and she hoped this was a good one.
"You'll see," Kel said. They walked to Neal's rooms and Yuki unlocked the door. "Stay here," Kel ordered, and the two women walked in and closed the door. Kimi mediated as she waited. Her face was as smooth and emotionless as stone when Yuki and Kel returned, and Kimi could feel her mother's approval. Though Kimi didn't show it, it made her very happy.
"Here you go." Kel gave the girl a plainly wrapped, long box. "A little bird told me this is what you needed for page training, so following tradition, the lady knights of the realm are making sure you succeed with the proper equipment."
"Your father and I chipped in," Yuki added.
Kimi carefully opened the rectangular box. She held her breath, for she knew exactly what it was, but she didn't wish to ruin the moment. She gave the plain paper and cords to her mother and almost cried when she saw the emblem on the wood. It was Karasu Armory, the best and most famous crafters of tsurugi swords. The lid was lifted, and inside laid a beautiful tsurugi sword. She gasped and it seemed to echo down the stone hallway.
"I don't know what to say," Kimi said. She looked up at Kel and her mother. "Thank you."
Kel smiled. "Come on, we should return to the party. I'm sure a lot of people will want to see your early Midwinter present." Kimi nodded and followed the two women quietly while they talked like the good friends they were.
It seemed as if everything was turning right again. She was with her family and friends, and loved, and well on her way to making her dream of becoming a knight come true. She knew life would not be perfect, and that she would continue to meet hardships. Frantisek still hated her and called her a slut, but he did not provoke her with her Yamani blood anymore, which was a start. She had heard from along the grapevine (Theo), that the Rezek family had thrown out their daughter Alisande and her daughter, and the two were now taking refuge in the Temple of the Goddess in Corus. Kimi knew that Frantisek would never make peace with her now because of it.
"Kimi," called Yuki when she realized her daughter was lagging behind. "Are you coming?"
Kimi hurried up to catch up with her mother and aunt. "Yes, I'm coming." I'm coming along just fine.
A/N: That's it! I had already finished the story, so I just decided to put this up and complete it. Thanks again for all your reviews!
Ok, ok, I think I am going to do a sequel... You'll talked me into it... plus, as Kings Lioness said, something couldevolve out of Jon's protectiveness... ;-) I've already planned all of Kimi's page years (as I've planned all the details of Tortall between TQ and my story) so all I have to do now is write it. Well, it does give me something to do until NaNoWriMo. Look for a Kimi sequel sometime in the near future. This story's complete.
-Anaroriel
Feel free to email me!