A/n: I'm going on vacation for a week, but there'll be a new chapter as soon as I get back. I have up to chapter twelve already written (I've had thirty hours in a car/train/bus the last six days) so I just need to type it up and it'll be all good. So, I'll be sure to see you when I get home!
Chapter Ten Compromises
"Mithros Yvenne, what's wrong?" Kel demanded when she walked into her squire's room only to find her squire curled up on her bed, sobbing. "Aiden said you seemed upset; you just ran out of the room."
Yvenne looked up at her knight master, "I-through the-" she pointed to the crystal, which was discarded on her table. Kel picked it up but to her it was just a clear stone. She shrugged and set it back down, "He's engaged."
"I know," Kel took a seat next to her squire, looking at her sympathetically, "And I know how you feel but-"
Yvenne shook her head, "This is different."
Kel smiled softly, "The heart always wants to believe it's different, more pain, more joy, but you're only human. You-"
"I know the girl he's engaged to," Yvenne burst out, and Kel barely stifled her surprise.
"How?" she inquired in a whisper.
"Long story," Yvenne choked through her tears. "She's not right for him."
Again, Kel offered that small, sympathetic smile. "He might find a way out of it."
She laughed bitterly and nodded, "I'm sure he will."
Kel stored that tidbit for later analysis, "His assignments will be given in the morning. Jon has stretched a lot for Raoul and I in the past, but we'll see."
Yvenne swallowed her tears and nodded, "Okay."
"Come on, it's time for you to fall down some; it'll take your mind off the pain," Kel helped her to her feet and led her to the tilting yards.
Yvenne did the best she could do considering the circumstances, but after the third time Kel unseated her, her knight master grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her in the eye, "You've got to discipline yourself two times more than anyone else if you want to succeed. You can't let your problems get in the way of your performance; the enemy will always find a way to use that to their advantage. You always go into battle with a clear head unless you don't want to come out."
"Truer words could not be spoken," Dom's voice said from behind her, and Kel turned to find Dom approaching, followed by a quieted Aiden. Kel noticed the opportunity for a lesson and grinned at Aiden, "You feel like tilting?"
"Against you?" Aiden took a step back, which made Dom smirk, and Kel to replace her Yamani mask of serenity to keep from bursting out in laughter.
"No, against my squire," Kel answered, and both Aiden and Yvenne's jaws dropped. They'd sword fought once or twice as pages, but never tilted.
"I can't!" Aiden protested.
"And why not?" Kel asked curiously.
"Because I'll hurt her!"
"Not anymore than-" Kel started but soon realized she had no need.
"What makes you think I won't hurt you?" Yvenne snapped, and Aiden stayed silent, stunned. "Mount up," she jumped into the saddle, and Kel let a smile break through.
"This one has as much fire in her as the Lioness," Dom muttered, and Kel nodded.
"Might get her in serious trouble though."
"Well, she'll learn the hard way then," Dom turned his eyes back to a still shocked Aiden.
"Yvenne I can'-"
"Why? Scared?" she questioned heatedly, smiling smugly at his look of indignation.
"No…"
"Then mount up," she repeated.
He sighed and pulled himself into the saddle, sighing wearily, "If that's what you really want."
"Good," she grinned, "let's go."
He nodded, and they headed to opposite ends of the field.
"My money goes on Aiden," Dom joked as they stepped back to watch. "He was trained by Raoul after all, and admit it, you're squire's a runt."
"I remember a runt who became King's Champion," Alanna smiled as she took a position next to Kel. "I noticed some action, figured I'd check it out," she added for Kel's benefit.
Kel nodded, "How much?" she asked of Dom, and Dom saw a glint in her eye and Alanna's smug smile.
"I fold," he almost squeaked, and the two laughed and turned back to the match that was just beginning.
"Go!" Alanna shouted, and the two went charging forward, both shattering lances on the other's shield.
"Man, she's strong for her size," Dom commented, and Kel nodded.
"It's never wise to make a woman angry," Alanna advised, and Dom took a sidelong glance at Kel who pretended to be immersed in the match but was really listening with all her might.
"I'll keep that in mind," he mumbled while the two went to their starting positions for round two.
"Will you tell him to taunt her?" Kel asked Alanna, who grinned and nodded.
"Sheesh," Dom muttered, "glad I never had to be your squire."
Kel laughed and shook her head, "Just be glad you never had to be a squire."
"Well, yeah, that too," Dom blushed slightly.
Alanna's purple magic flared up around her as she called to Aiden through her mind. Taunt her.
What? Aiden's eyes flew toward Alanna.
You heard me; she's gotta learn.
He sighed heavily, But you explain when she hates me.
Better yet, I'll have Kel do it, Alanna ended the spell and nodded to Kel.
"Not bad for a girl!" Aiden shouted at Yvenne whose jaw dropped. "But it was probably just luck!"
Yvenne's anger pitched. We'll see what's just luck, she thought fiercely, lowering her lance.
"Just what was it you saw through that crystal, me beating you?"
Yvenne's grip slackened, and Kel saw it. Lesson one, "Go!"
Both of them spurred their horses forward, but Yvenne's grip wasn't firm enough to even shatter her lance. In fact, as soon as it met Aiden's shield, she dropped the weapon and went flying through the air.
"Yvenne!" Aiden did a running dismount, whistling for his mount while he ran back to the fallen squire. "Are you all right?"
She gritted her teeth and accepted his hand, "Besides my wounded pride, I'm fine," she answered, getting to her feet.
"Wonderfully done Aiden," Kel commented, then turned to her squire. Yvenne thought she saw a hint of amusement dancing in those eyes before it faded or was banished, "As for you; I cannot tell you enough to clear your mind and learn to control that temper. It makes you rash and careless, and sometimes you just cannot afford mistakes."
"But I-"
"Anger is good for battle, when harnessed," Alanna added. "But it must first be controlled before you can learn to use it in the right place."
"Yes My Lady," Yvenne did a quick bow to her knight master.
"Now, go take a bath; you look like hell," Kel instructed, and Yvenne nodded, took the reins of her mount and headed in.
Aiden rubbed his shield arm gingerly, "I pity the man who tilts with her in four years."
Alanna laughed and raised her brows at him, "I pity the man who loves her anytime."
His eyes lowered, and he suddenly had something better to do, "Lady Keladry, Lioness, Dom," he bowed and remounted, heading after Yvenne.
Kel sent Alanna a scolding glance, and she grinned and shook her head innocently, "What? I do!"
---
"Yvenne," Aiden grabbed her arm while she untacked her new stallion, which she'd so rightfully named Argilla.
"Kel made you do it right?" she asked, not looking at him as she threw the saddle against the door. He nodded, and she smiled, "I knew you wouldn't do that naturally."
"But I really do wanna know what you saw," he whispered as she gently took the bit from the stallion's mouth. She met his eyes for only a split second before she dropped them again.
"I-how long have you known about the engagement to the Coltsbrook girl?" her stomach turned again. It was still hard to believe, and she was too weary to be even angry.
"She-" his eyes lowered, and he ran a hand through his hair, "wow…"
"As I thought," she ripped a currycomb from the shelf and began to rub Argilla down.
"No, I don't think you know," he pulled her into his chest, and her knees weakened. "Not at all. The engagement was set when I was just a boy; she wasn't even named. Then Coltsbrook took over Amherst after a raid crippled it. I was eight then, I didn't think I'd still be involved after that. Our fief isn't that large, Coltsbrook and Amherst united shouldn't want anything from us. I didn't know it was still on until you just said it. They've kept her locked up for years. She-I've never seen her, but Yvenne, you're real and here. You're what I want."
"You can't marry her," Yvenne whispered into his chest, and he laughed weakly and nodded.
"I know."
"No, you physically can't."
"What?" he pulled her away to see tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I-I knew her; she's dead."
"Mithros…"
"I-I'm sorry."
"I'm not," he pulled her tight and kissed her hair. "Yvenne, I don't care if you're of the Rogue, if you're a displaced noble, a girl squire. I love you and only you, for years."
"Aiden, we can't, it won't-"
"Why? The Lioness is happily married to a thief," he joked, and she laughed weakly.
"But-I'm not ready."
"You don't have your shield," he smiled when she nodded and kissed her nose gently. "I know, and I'll wait. I'll be the first person at your side when you get out of the Ordeal, besides Kel, of course."
She laughed, "You might have to beat up the Lioness first," she commented, and he smiled.
"Don't ever lose that spark Yvenne, never."
"Keep it lighted, and I never will," she teased lightly, and he kissed her gently, then released her.
"Time for a bath; my muscles are ready for the same, and we both smell."
She laughed and nodded but when she turned back to Argilla he had already been brushed and put inside.
"He was getting a little impatient My Lady," Stefan informed her, and she thanked him warmly. "Don't thank me, thank Tobe."
"Tobe?"
"Aye, Lady Kel's runt," he teased roughly.
"I'm no longer a runt Stefan," Tobe came from the back and brushed off his hands. Yvenne smiled and thanked him.
"Tobe then, well, I guess you already know my name's Yvenne."
He nodded, "My Lady," before he turned and headed back into the tack room.
"Who's that?" Aiden inquired.
"A friend," Yvenne answered, watching Tobe as he worked. "He's gotten me out of a few tight spots."
"Oh," Aiden didn't much appreciate the tone she took but stayed silent. He had to speak to his parents right away.
---
"Jonathan wants us to head up toward Scanra, there's some skirmishes up there to throw you into," Kel told Yvenne gently, and she nodded.
"Sounds good My Lady."
"Does it?" Kel's eyes showed that hint of amusement once more, this time, she made no attempt to banish it.
"Of course, I'm anxious to get out there," but Yvenne's heart wasn't totally in it.
"Something's bothering you."
Yvenne shook her head and smiled, "Just a little cooped up is all."
"Well, in a few weeks you'll be begging for the castle, so I'd enjoy it while you can. I should teach you in math and supplies, but I think I'll give you the last day off."
"I-really-" but her heart was aching, and she couldn't refuse, "thank you My Lady."
Kel smiled, clapped her shoulder and headed out.
"Um…My Lady?"
Kel turned, "Yeah?"
"H-have you ever been in love?"
Kel laughed lightly and nodded, "Well…once, for awhile," she answered and took a seat on Yvenne's bed, "Neal."
Yvenne barely kept her jaw hinged, "What happened?"
"I didn't tell him, and he fell in love with Yuki. It faded after time, and I moved on. You always move on, the pain always dulls," the mask came on, and she couldn't see the hurt in Kel's eyes. She hadn't been with her knight master long enough to know it was there, so she simply assumed there was no pain.
"But-how do you know, when it's love?" Yvenne persisted.
"Well…" Kel sighed, "I hear it's different for everyone, but I knew when I was thinking about him more than I was thinking about my shield."
Yvenne laughed and nodded.
"I wanted my shield more than anything, putting him above it was a guarantee that I loved him. The thing is, they'll attack you for it. The nobles out there will destroy you if you fall in love and let it get to your head. I know you won't abandon your shield, but don't abandon your heart either. You can make it work if you both love enough, and if you don't, it's not worth fretting over. I know that too. Just don't let it cloud your mind, always keep your goals in sight," Kel coached.
"Thanks My Lady," Yvenne mumbled, and Kel gave her a half hug before she exited.
---
"You never told me that," Dom informed her when she reentered her room.
"Tell you what?" she inquired, settling back to her numbers.
"That you were in love with my meathead of a cousin," he joked weakly.
"You were listening?" she persisted mildly.
"Kinda hard not to, considering the subject manner," he responded, refusing to meet her eyes. She took the opportunity to look him over. His hair, lightened by the sun covering merry blue eyes and a body built for work, a nervous smile twitched on her lips.
"I guess I can understand."
He moved from his place leaning on her wall to take a chair opposite hers, "Does he know?"
She shook her head, "And I'd rather keep it that way. Besides, it was a long time ago, before Cleon, before y-my shield."
He cocked his head slightly but didn't realize her slip, "I understand, guess I'm just surprised you didn't tell me."
"Why?" she easily calmed her anger.
"Aw, come on, don't give me your Yamani training, let me see you. You tell me everything."
She smiled bitterly inside but kept her face smooth, "Or so you think."
He lowered his eyes and sighed heavily, "Right, of course."
"Now, we'll need at least one spare horse for each of the knights with us," Kel started.
"Damn Yamanis," Dom muttered, and Kel cracked a tiny smile before they went back to their plans.
---
"I'm assuming that because you didn't come to me that you're going home," Yvenne mumbled quietly, lowering her head.
"I-King Jonathan made a compromise with my parents and Raoul."
"A compromise?" she rose her green eyes hopefully.
"Come in," he opened the door, and she entered hesitantly. "Uh…"
"Sit, sit," he urged, pointing to the bed, but when she sat, he didn't follow, merely began pacing.
"Come on," Yvenne laughed weakly, "it can't be that bad."
"It's-" he looked at her before he resumed pacing, "I'm going home for as long as it takes for me to find a wife."
She could have guessed, but the blow still stole her breath, "It's good," she managed finally.
"Good?" he spun to stare at her, amazed and confused.
"Aiden," she stood, and headed toward the door, "I'm a thief, a squire, a girl; you're a noble, a knight, a man, we were just a child's dream."
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him, kissing her deeply. She could do nothing but kiss him back and pray the moment never ended, "Dreams never feel this real," he whispered hotly in her ear, showering her with kisses and pushing her onto his bed.
"Aiden," she struggled through kissing him, "this is wrong."
He pulled back, so she could sit up, "What part of this is wrong?"
She took a deep breath and calmed her stomach, "You're going to be married, and I'm going to want the same-eventually."
His eyes looked hurt, "I won't let you walk out of my life now that I finally have you."
She smiled and stroked his cheek as she stood, "Forget about me Aiden," she turned and walked to the door, not even turning when he called her name.