A/N: I guess I didn't make this exactly clear. This story is set eleven years after Kel steps forward as a page, not eleven years after she's knighted. Sorry about that if it was somewhat confusing! It's only been three years since Kel was knighted. ^.^

Chapter Six

Games

She ran over she had to do that night in her mind.

She sighed heavily and watched her feet as she walked. At least I don't have dinner duty, she told herself in consolation. As soon as the words were in her head, the Master of Ceremonies strode toward her, "Yvenne, I'm going to need you to serve tonight. A company of men came in today, a week early. They must have been pushing pretty hard."

"How am I to-" Yvenne bit off her words. Her workload wasn't his problem, and her discipline held strong. He seemed to half smile; they had trained her well. "Yes Master," she did a slight bow, and he hurried off to greet the next brightly clad page.

She grumbled and resumed walking, bringing old thoughts into her head. She hadn't heard from Aiden in awhile. Sighing hopelessly, she thought of how badly she missed him. She didn't even hear when someone crept behind her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She quickly reached for a knife that wasn't there and grabbed the arm of the attacker, ready to throw him to the ground.

A light kiss on her ear stopped her, "Didn't you even wonder whose company that was?" she could feel him smile against her jaw; his words set her stomach ablaze.

"Aiden?" she whispered and spun. He grabbed her and pulled her near.

"The one and only," he grinned, and she tried not to gasp. He had grown a good two inches taller than he had been. His brown hair was the same, messed in all the right ways. His amber eyes stared down at her with more than she'd have liked, but his features were stronger, more rigid. His voice had taken more authority, and a strange sadness she couldn't place.

She hugged him tight, then jumped away, "I can't believe you're finally back!" she looked at his mud-soaked uniform and shook her head as she looked down at hers and realized that she was now caked in dirt. He blushed slightly and looked down.

"I couldn't wait to see you," he mumbled, and she laughed and practically jumped on him to throw her arms around his neck again. He held her tight and closed his eyes, breathing her in. "It's so good to have you in my arms."

She pulled away and pretended she hadn't heard. She wasn't sure she was supposed to have heard, "Well you'll be late for dinner and so will I if we don't hurry and get changed now. I will see you there, won't I?" she knew Sir Raoul wasn't big on parties.

"You'll see me," he smiled again, for a moment he had looked downtrodden. "Sir Raoul has to at least make an appearance. Who knows, maybe he'll be lucky enough and stay for dancing. You'll save me a dance won't you?"

She smiled and nodded, "Of course I will, if you last that long."

"Good," he smiled and bowed formally as she did the same, then turned to change. She watched him with a look of confusion and ecstasy in her eyes.

"So your boyfriend is back," a malicious voice whispered behind her, and she turned and glared.

"He's not my boyfriend Bray," she retorted angrily. "He was my sponsor, he was my friend. More than I can say for you."

"Thank the Goddess," he answered, and she glared.

"You'll be needing to thank all the other gods too if you get away alive when I'm through with you," she threatened.

"Oh see how I shake," he mocked and laughed; the few friends behind him returned that laugh, though more anxiously. They had all seen her fight with sword, the sword that dangled dangerously at her hip, the one marked Raven Armory. Pages were supposed to wear swords when they began to learn, so they would mold with their swords, become part of them. They weren't supposed to draw them, but Yvenne did. She drew it so fast all they saw was a silver blur; she didn't even think of consequences.

Bray hid a gasp of surprise and countered her movement, but Yvenne realized as soon as she threw her sword down it wasn't Bray's sloppy parry she met. This was someone with experience. She gasped and immediately sheathed her sword, bowing to the man in front of her.

"I'm sorry Lord Raoul, I did-"

"Do you realize you could both be thrown from the palace for this?" he asked mildly. "And not even J-" he stopped, realizing the eyes, and ears, around him. "Another time perhaps," he mumbled, and Yvenne bowed, sparing a glare for Bray, before she turned and walked toward her rooms to get changed.

*

She stepped into the banquet hall and smiled softly at him. Even without the flashy dressed and the make up, she was one of the most beautiful women in the room. She was outshone possibly only by the Queen and Princess Kalasin who were both happily married.

He was much the same. Girls flocked to speak with Sir Raoul, girls that could easily be his daughters if he had any. No one doubted the speeches they made weren't for Sir Raoul, but for his squire. Still, he only had eyes for the young girl page who patiently waited on nobles and tried to avoid their hungry eyes.

*

"Well isn't that interesting? A girl warrior who's also belle of the ball," Alanna grinned as she watched Yvenne seemingly glide across the room, serving drinks and appetizers.

"We're making all kinds of leaps with her, and she's doing very well," Kel too had eyes on the page.

"And what about this Bray?" Alanna carefully tasted the wine in her hand.

"Bray will tread carefully, but I don't doubt he'll cause more trouble," Kel answered, keeping Yamani calm though her heart clenched with worry. Bray was even more vile than his brother. She had no idea what he had up his sleeves.

"Well, she'll just have to teach him a thing or two," Alanna grinned confidently, and Kel nodded with her best Yamani lump face.

Kel and Alanna talked for awhile longer until George led his Lioness away, and Kel went to seek out Dom, because Neal was busy re-wooing Yuki.

*

Yvenne had never been jealous over a man before, but when Aiden bowed and dropped the hand of his sixth dancing partner that night, heat flared inside her.

He smiled and walked toward her, but she just turned and buried herself in the kitchens. Before he could speak, someone had caught his arm and pulled him back onto the dance floor.

She pretended to drop her tray, shattering the glasses. She knelt to pick up the pieces of bowls and cups, and the Master of Ceremonies rounded on her, "Clumsy f-Yvenne?" he knew she was never clumsy, though he grimaced at the lie she gave for her grace. Serving tables for thieves, he hid a slight shudder, "Are you feeling well?"

"Actually, no master, but I'm sure I'll be f-" he cut her off sharply.

"You will not," he interrupted shortly. "You will go to your room and stay there all night without arguments. You will not attend any of your classes tomorrow either. I'll speak with someone to tend your table and inform your teachers tomorrow. I do not want you dying of a fever when I could have prevented it. You will not move from your bed, not even to answer the door."

She hid a smile of satisfaction and bowed before hurrying off.

*

She closed her door and locked it behind her, before pulling off her uniform and gingerly putting it on her bed. She thought of the day when she would have no need to wear a uniform of the palace, but for now it was part of her life.

She quickly replaced it with a light blue dress trimmed in silver that flared in the arms and hugged tightly to her body, not revealing too much, but leaving the eye wanting more. She blushed wearing it, even though it was nothing less than the nobles were wearing, but it looked good on her. It had been a gift from Rispah the last time she had been in Corus with a note that said, 'Don't forget your other roots'. She scowled at the note now but brushed by it in order to pull out a velvet lined box that held a sapphire and diamond choker. It had been a gift from the Rogue himself when she first began working for them. She put it on and added a silver charm bracelet that held a small charm of a horse running toward some unknown destination. She put in eardrops that were small sapphires in the shape of hearts that had been a gift from the Lioness. They were spelled with a spell woven so finely that it was nearly impossible to tell they were spelled for protection at all unless they were probed with the Gift.

Next, she curled her long golden locks, though rather quickly and left two to dangle down her high cheeks before she put her golden hair into an intricate bun. She closed her eyes and concentrated her magic before turning her Gift onto herself and using an illusion to turn her hair brown and her eyes a light blue, a combination nearly impossible, but highly desired. She looked in the mirror before sighing heavily and deciding on one more touch.

Her fingers stroked the velvet box that was lined in black silk before she reached for its contents. It was something only worn by noble ladies, and she was no longer noble, but for tonight it would serve a good purpose. She lifted the fragile silver chain to her head and set it in her hair so that the single sapphire dangled just above the center of her eyes.

She stood once more and stroked the silk velvet dress before twirling and smiling to herself. Not even those who knew her would ever recognize her. She grinned and ran from the room, ready to face anything, even this.

*

She entered the room with a stately grace and her head held high, giving the impression she was much more confident than she actually was. Her skills were rusty, but soon men were descending upon her. She was swept into a sea of handsome men and high ranking officials and some men three times her age. More than once, she managed to catch Aiden's eyes on her and had to smile more to herself than to him.

*

"Who is that?" the women who had lost their dance partners asked scornfully.

"I've never seen her before."

"She's probably a peasant dressed up fine come to scheme and bag herself a rich husband."

"This isn't Scanra, she doesn't have to wear a dress cut that low," Kel hid a giggle at this women, whose dress was cut far past the mysterious stranger's.

"But I really would like to know who she is, I see something in her," Kel admitted to Dom who nodded in agreement.

Kel smiled and shook her head, "Does her name even matter to you Dom?" she jested.

He glared at her, "You know sometimes I can see past a pretty face, even yours."

"You know, sometimes you sound like Neal," she retorted.

"And the problem with that is…?" Neal and Yuki joined them. Kel exchanged an expressionless Yamani glance with Yuki and said no more.

Neal muttered, and Dom laughed. Both were used to their subtle glances by now.

"Look what your gosling is doing now," Numair strode over to them, Daine on his arm.

"What?" Kel inquired.

"Exactly what I thought," Alanna dropped her hold on a strange stone on her neck that Kel knew was used to see when someone was using the Gift. "Rather clever of her if I do say so myself."

"Alanna, where's George? He might want to see her in action. He's always wondering about her potential," Daine's words made no more sense to Kel than Alanna or Numair's.

Alanna made a face, "Called away on business. We rarely see each other of late."

"I'm sorry, but what's going on?" Kel asked politely.

"That lady is Yvenne," Alanna informed her and seemed disappointed when her jaw didn't drop.

"Testing Aiden, that's dangerous," Kel nodded to herself.

"Will he pass?" Yuki asked quietly.

"I doubt it," Neal and Dom answered in unison.

"She's setting him up so he can't win," Dom started.

"If he doesn't notice her, she'll think she's not good enough. If he does notice her, she'll think he's unfaithful. There is nothing he can do that will be right," Neal elaborated.

"Well that seems rather fickle," Kel hardly understood normal women, being among men so long.

"You forget that in a way she's still noble, and noblewomen were born and bred to be fickle. Those who don't have left wing parents who send them off to be a knight," Dom grinned at her, and her inside melted. Now who's being fickle? She asked herself harshly. Well, I was born noble. No, another part scolded. You were born to be a warrior. Stop making excuses.

Her face held no signs of the strange battle in her mind.

"Well that's not very practical," Kel began to think of the talk she'd have to have with Yvenne.

Dom and Neal grinned, "That's why we love you so much Kel," Neal told her, but she wouldn't admit not knowing what he was talking about. Instead, she put on a Yamani mask and smiled, which only made them laugh outright.

*

She gracefully declined the man who offered his hand as a new song began to play and headed toward a nearby page who was serving refreshments. She had forgotten how tiring these parties were, even without having to maintain her magic disguise. She knew she couldn't last much longer; she had to make her move now. Gulping down a glass of water and hoping no one saw the unlady-like way she did it, Yvenne regained herself and floated toward Aiden.

Raoul looked at her and chuckled to himself, setting down to hear another flowery speech addressed to him but meant for Aiden.

Yvenne smiled at him and put a delicate hand to her mouth to cover a giggle before she began, "I'll not be a dolt and pretend it is you I want to speak with My Lord. I am not so much of a fool as to desire a battle even in words with the commander of the Queen's Riders."

Raoul laughed and nodded his approval before Yvenne continued.

"It is your squire I wish to have by my side so-to-speak," she tried not to wince at the mess up as Aiden's eyes widened in shock.

"You're of the Rogue?" he kept his voice low. "Is she well? She just left, just like that. I wasn't sure if she was ill or…"

"She is well," amusement fell on her lips and into her eyes. So she was having an effect on him after all, "Let us walk."

"I-" Aiden started, but Raoul shook his head.

"Jon would never allow me to stay, deprived of my squire. I was getting fatigued anyway," he winked, and Aiden smiled back, nodding to himself before he turned back to Yvenne and offered an arm.

*

Large white flowers that looked like bells wound their way around the outer walls of the garden they walked through. The flowers' leaves were shaped like hearts, and she bent to smell one.

"Moonflowers," Aiden commented near her shoulder. "They only come out in the m-"

"Moonlight," she finished and smiled at him.

He smiled back and nodded, "So, why are you here exactly. A spy, a-"

"I'm not of the Rogue; I'm a noble, Alianore of Amherst," she tried to proclaim in her most haughty voice. She tried not to wince at the mention of her old fief. Aiden had never asked, and she had never cared to tell. "I heard the expression used by Yvenne once and knew you would see me if I used it. I came looking for her once, because her parents asked but mostly because I was a friend."

Aiden chewed on the story before seemingly accepting it, "So what, may I be so outright to ask, are you doing here now?"

"Now? I heard Yvenne had finally become a page, and I was staying in Corus a week or so and decided to visit," she tried to seem innocent, and by Aiden's gentle look, she guessed it was working. Fool, she didn't know if she was cursing him or herself, bloody fool.

"That's good to hear. I'm afraid to admit Yvenne's friends in the palace are slim. I'm certain she'd be delighted to greet an old friend," Aiden was obviously trying to keep his words formal, but the way he was subtly moving forward suggested anything but.

"And what about you Master Aiden, would you be delighted to greet me?" she tried not to wonder at the seductive tone she took or the forwardness of her words. Maybe those lectures from her mother years ago really had registered.

"I-" he had to wet his lips before he could continue. "I-"

A knife whirled past them and landed in a nearby tree.

Yvenne's shriek was delayed and forced. She had to remind herself a noble would be scared.

Aiden approached the knife and pulled off the letter.

Promises in the Rogue are not taken lightly. Not even old ones.

Keep yours, it might be wise

His head spun, promises? What promise had he made to the Rogue? He looked back to Yvenne who tried to look shaken up instead of angry. So, the only thing that was keeping Aiden in line was the Rogue, "I think I may need to leave Lady Alianore, and you should as well. Maybe we will be able to speak again soon."

"I look forward to it," she dipped a curtsey while he bowed, then turned and hurried off. She waited a few moments before she lifted her skirts and began to run, knowing he would be going to see her.

*

She hurtled through the door and ripped off the dress, burying it in her chest along with her jewelry. Next, she put her uniform back on with fumbling and trembling fingers, pulled her hair down, releasing her spell and immediately feeling exhausted. She ran a brush through her hair to remove the curl and scrubbed her face with a dry towel; she didn't have time to call for water.

When she heard a knock on her door she threw the towel down and opened it to admit Aiden. She let him in and bit back her rage only by reminding herself Yvenne didn't know about Alianore.

"How are you feeling?" he put the back of his hand to her forehead, but she ripped away. His touch still made her heart race.

"Fine," she responded, trying to keep her voice pleasant, "I was only tired."

"Oh," he nodded, realizing he couldn't ask her about the note from the Rogue. How would that sound? 'I was walking through the gardens with a beautiful noble girl who claimed to know you. We were talking about me being delighted to greet her when a knife whirled by my head with a note.' He would not only never touch her again, he would be lucky to ever speak with her again. The thought of losing her only made him hunger for her more. He slowly put two fingers under her chin and raised her bright green eyes to his. He reached in to kiss her, but she turned away and pulled from his hold. "Please don't turn away from me this time," he whispered into her neck, and she tore away.

"If you want a bit of fun why don't you go talk to My Lady Alianore? I'm sure she'd entertain your desires!" Yvenne shouted, and he took a step back.

"How did you-"

She laughed bitterly and shook her head, "So there is truth in her claims. She always was a snake, a friend of the family. I mentioned you once, and she came to test her skills against mine. I guess she doesn't know I don't play those games anymore."

"Listen, Yvenne, we talked, mainly about you. She hinted something else, but I never-"

"What stopped you?" she looked to the ground and pretended not to be interested.

"Why would you say that?" he asked suspiciously. Had she seen him? No, that wasn't possible, he would have noticed.

"Any man with sense would accept her offers. At least, that's what she claims," she smiled ruefully.

"I would have said no," he mumbled. "Even before the knife from the Rogue, saying something about promises."

"Well that just proves you were on the verge of saying yes."

"What?" she knew too much, he would never be this close to her again. He cursed himself, falling for a pretty face, even one so pretty as…he caught the hint of a slight curl in her hair, and his eyes widened.

"The Rogue wouldn't have interfered had he-"

He cut her condescending tone short, "Have you ever worn your hair in curls?"

"What?" she snapped. "No, why? Do you want me to be like that gutter tramp and-"

"How about brown?" he persisted.

"Brown? You truly do wish me to be that lit-"

"What fief are you from?"

He threw her off-guard with that one. She couldn't even think of another fief he wouldn't know to lie with, "You know I don't like to talk about it," she tried to keep the fear from her tone. "Don't you think you've done enough tonight Aiden?"

He smiled sadly and shook his head, "Don't play games huh?" he quickly strode to the chest at the end of her bed and opened it before she could so much as lift a finger in protest.

His fingers swept over the silk dress in a sad caress as he lifted it from the chest, "You tricked me; you set me up to fail, and all I ever did was care about you."

She tried to look away from him, but the pain in his eyes lured her. His voice was so calm, he should be shouting. She had made a grave mistake, "Aiden I-"

"No," he whispered and shook his head. "You want me gone that badly, I'm gone. I don't need to be given much more of a hint. Just remember what you lost," he turned and walked from the room.

"Aiden!" she called after him, but he never turned, though the sound of her tear strained voice was enough to make his heart break all over again. He would soon be a knight; knights were strong. He needed to be strong now.

"Aiden," she whispered and sunk to the floor, sobbing. She really was just a stupid, fickle noble girl, jumping from one idea to the next. This had been a bad idea. She never should have come, "I'm sorry Fianola, I'm sorry Carri."

*

"Maybe it's time you went and spoke to her," Raoul commented at the door. Aiden had barely left the room in two weeks. He came out only to eat or wait on Raoul. On all these occasions he and Yvenne barely even glanced at one another, let alone spoke.

Aiden stirred from his window seat only to turn his head to Raoul, "I will do whatever you wish master."

Raoul's skin crawled. He had been speaking like that for days. 'Whatever you wish master. Wherever you want me to go master. Whatever you command master.' It was beginning to annoy him. "This is for you boy, toughen up and stop skulking. Go to her and tell her you'll take her back because you obviously can't live without her. I'm sick of your sulleness. You used to have a brain in that head of yours. Why don't you use it now?"

"I can't do that to either of us. Care to joust?" he stood and tried a weak smile.

"So now you're contemplating suicide?" the Lioness stood in his doorframe.

He scowled, "I can hold my own against the best."

Raoul chuckled; at least his fire was still burning- slightly.

"I'm sure you can Aiden. Raoul, Jon wants you. He said something about migrating geese staying too long in one stop," Alanna turned to Raoul who scowled.

"First he tells me that I'm too much of a warrior, and I need to return to Corus, and next he tells me that I need to stop lazing about and get back to work. I wish he'd just make up his mind."

"Unfortunately for us, he doesn't have to make up his mind, being King and everything," Alanna grinned, and Raoul laughed.

"That's always has been a problem between you two. Very well, I'll go, Aiden will not be needed?"

"No," said this firmly and addressed it to Aiden.

"I don't need to be spoken to as a spoiled child who won't leave his father's side," Aiden snapped.

"No," Alanna mused. "Only like a little stray puppy who won't leave his new master in fear of being abandoned."

He scowled and turned his head.

"Are you still sore she bested you in sword? She's the best swordsm-woman in the Realm. She could easily strip me of my blade if I was stupid enough to face her. Everyone makes the mistake once, some make it only once," one of Raoul's best attributes was that he wasn't afraid to admit his faults.

"His blood just needs to be cooled," Alanna smiled sweetly at Aiden's scowl. "Let's go Raoul."

Raoul patted his back, then shut the door behind him and Alanna.

Aiden glared at the door a moment and was about to go back to the window seat when an idea struck him. He would go speak to George; he was of the Rogue and was married to a woman whose temper was only matched by Yvenne's. He smiled and walked off, hoping he didn't run into Yvenne on the way, not yet anyway.

A/N: Thanks for all the encouraging reviews, and I really hope I can live up to my summer work. As it is I didn't get nearly enough time to edit this, so I'm sorry about all the mistakes in there. I'll try to find time to edit the next chapter.