Disclaimer: Nope, don't own any of TP's copyrighted characters. If I did,
they wouldn't exactly be TP's, now would they? ^_^ I still do, however,
own my version of Neal's daughter. So ha! You steal her without prior
approval, and the Flaming Green Jello gets to have a little fun at your
expense. xD That is, if I can find a way to send Flaming Green Jello
through the computer wires.... -_-;
Thanks to everyone that reviewed! I loved all the nice comments and approval you gave me. *sniff* How sweet!! ^_^ FireFly, thank you for saying I'd make a great writer. THAT made my day! And Tris McGraw, I loved your review! That made my day too. Now on with Chapter 2!!!
Years went by, quickly for some, slow for others. The Scanran War was over. King Maggur had been defeated, and the Scanrans were back to their old tradition of fighting amongst themselves. The knights returned to Corus; in some cases, with their families. Neal was such a case. His family, grown since those years before, absolutely loved it in Corus. Their mother made sure they spent time in the Yamani Islands, learning more about both sides of their heritage. The two oldest loved this lifestyle; though both saw a few problems that affected them only..
At the present time, the second oldest herself was enjoying one of her more favorite pastimes. Akarii of Queenscove had climbed into the branches of one of the many trees in one of the many courtyards, hoping to have some quiet time alone while she read a book on how to speak Yamani. On this day, home was far from being quiet, especially with two year old Meckam running around wildly.
Thirteen years of life had changed the little baby into a teenage girl. Her dark brown hair was long, almost reaching the middle of her back, and wavy only at the ends. Vivid green eyes, like her father's, were framed by long, dark lashes. She had her mother's complexion, though darker from her summer's tan. She was tall for her age, at least a few inches taller than most of the boys. And it was obvious by the rips and stitches in her dress that she acted like them, as well.
Akarii sighed, slightly exasperated as she adjusted her back to keep a knob of wood from poking into it. She wished she could be doing something else, but she didn't have many options. She DID, however, have a second book to read if she became unbearably bored. Shang Fighting Techniques, Volume Three. But still, Mama had demanded that she study up on her Yamani, as the family was planning to go visit the Islands soon.
WITHOUT Trevon, she thought, almost angry as she blew a long strand of hair from her face. That lucky boy gets to stay in Corus and become a knight! While I have to go to the Islands and be stuck practicing my manners and proper etiquette.
Akarii made a face, thoroughly disgusted at the idea. She turned her attention back to her book, only to be distracted again as the tree began to shake violently.
Her hand immediately went to the dagger on her belt. This kind of thing had happened before, when a wandering Stormwing decided to take a rest. While there were no wars, the Stormwings continued to wander through Tortall, though in much smaller numbers.
Pausing for a moment, Akarii realized that the force was coming from BELOW, not above. She looked down through the branches and immediately growled at what she saw. There were two boys, both about two years older than her, shaking the trunk and looking quite pleased with themselves.
"Well that just won't do," she whispered, drawing her hand away from the dagger. In a few swift movements, Akarii had jumped from the tree, and landed quite close to the boys, who stopped shaking the tree. "What kind of lowlife imbeciles would shake a tree with a lady in it?" she asked, her tone indignant and arms crossed.
"What kind of low-class lady climbs in trees?" sneered the taller of the boys.
Akarii clicked her tongue impatiently. "The kind that would rather avoid scum like YOU." She started to push past them. "Now excuse me-"
One of the boys shoved her into the tree, cutting her off. The other threw his fist at her head, but Akarii tilted it, and his fist smashed into the bark. Almost immediately, the first boy launched himself at her with a snarl.
Akarii sighed wearily as she grabbed his shirt and threw him at his friend. They never learn.
-----------------------------------------
"OW!" Akarii protested loudly as her brother placed a hand on her wrist.
Trevon withdrew his hand, the icy green fire plainly visible. Now fifteen, he too had changed from the pudgy little toddler of years before to a tall, skinny young man. His brown hair was much like his father's, swept back from a widow's peak. With his dark brown eyes and Tortallan complexion, he looked every inch a noble's son.
Trevon gave his sister a disapproving glance. "I can't fix it if you don't let me," he reminded her. "Would you rather have our wonderful FATHER take care of that?"
Akarii grimaced. She knew what would happen if her father found out she had been in another fight. "Funny.." She sighed dejectedly. "Go at it."
Trevon continued his healing procedure, looking up at his sister. "Why do you do this?" he asked suddenly, as if the question had been bothering him for some time.
Akarii shrugged. "They insulted me. I won't stand for it."
Trevon grinned as he turned his attention back to her wrist. "Come on, Arii," he teased, calling her by the more commonly-used name. "I know quite well that you insulted them as well."
Arii laughed, grinning back at her brother. "You know me well," she admitted.
"Akarii!" a voice shouted from the entryway of their home. Both Arii and Trevon winced. Their father had come home..and had, apparently, found out.
-----------------------------------------
An older Neal, hair just starting to gray at the edges, placed a hand over his daughter's eye to reduce the swelling. Thirteen years had not changed Neal a great deal. He still was the same opinionated Healer, with a heart to match his big mouth. One thing was different, however, and that was the growing appearance of worry lines on his forehead. The majority, he claimed to his wife, had been caused by their oldest daughter. This same daughter was staring back at him, almost daring him to say something. He finally did.
"Did you really think I wouldn't find out?" he demanded.
"I didn't think," Arii declared stubbornly. "I hoped."
Neal shook hi head, accompanied by a sigh. He withdrew his hand and placed it on her wrist. "Arii, you know quite well that when a noble is hurt, they come to me."
Arii scoffed. "And believe me, those....THINGS acted nothing like nobles."
"And I doubt you did either." Neal examined her wrist closely. "Very nice..did Trevon do this?"
Arii nodded. Though he hadn't had a great deal of training, Trevon was quite skilled with his Gift.
Neal smiled proudly. "If he weren't becoming a knight, I'd send him off to the university to master his Gift."
Arii stared at him, disbelievingly. Didn't he KNOW how much she wanted to do that? "Then why don't you send Trevon to the university, and me in his place?" she asked in a somewhat strained voice.
Neal appeared as if he hadn't heard her, but Arii caught a flash in his green eyes. "Well, I think that's about it. Any pain anywhere else?"
Arii shook her head, repressing a sigh. "No. I'll go get some food and sleep."
Neal smiled, though a bit tiredly. "That's my girl."
-----------------------------------------
Arii wandered through the house, stopping only to play with Meck for a few minutes, before continuing on to her destination. She entered a small room, sparsely lit by a few candles. Trevon sat at his desk, hunched over one of the many books he had borrowed from the library in the royal university. He glanced up to see who had come in, then turned back to his book.
"What's wrong, Arii?" he asked, scribbling something down on a scrap of parchment.
Arii flopped onto the bed, picking at the covers with her long fingers. "Papa," she replied, disgust evident in her voice. "He STILL refuses to speak about being a lady knight."
"Of course he refuses," Trevon replied, keeping his eyes on the book. "He knows nothing about being a lady knight. He isn't a lady."
Arii gave her brother a withering look. "About MY becoming a lady knight," she said dryly. She continued to pick at the bedspread, pressing her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she searched for words.
Trevon set down his quill and turned to face his sister. "There's something else. Tell."
Arii sighed, rolling over onto her back. "All my life I've been surrounded by women who dared to step out of tradition. I've been in the company of the Lioness, for Mithros' sake! And Keladry of Mindelan-"
"Aunt Kel," Trevon interrupted. "You know she prefers it."
Arii shot him another withering glare before continuing. "The point is, it really gets to me that I can't do the one thing I've watched people do all my life. The one thing I've WANTED to do all my life."
Trevon sat silent for a moment, brow furrowed with thought....and even concern. "I know exactly what you mean." He spoke quietly, looking at the floor. "That's how I've felt for a long time."
Arii rolled back onto her stomach, looking up at Trevon with surprise. "What?"
Her brother looked up, dark brown eyes staring levelly into her vivid green ones. "Ever since father took me to the university when I was seven, I've wanted to study there. Forget the knighthood, I wanted to be a scholar. When I first discovered my Gift, I wanted to study and learn how to master it. And now...." He sighed, shrugging his shoulders helplessly. "I STILL want to, but what can I do?"
Arii propped herself up on her elbows, mind racing and a new fire alight in her eyes. "Trevon, Queenscove is one of the most important fiefs in all of Tortall. It's the duty of our boys to become knights and serve the Crown. It's a great honor-"
Trevon groaned, interrupting her as he ran his fingers through his long hair. "Don't you think I know that? And here I am, wanting to throw away my duty to my fief...to the Crown."
Arii sat up, leaning forward eagerly. "So do it! Pass on your duty to someone else, and take up the life of a scholar!"
He snorted derisively, before replying, "And how will THAT work? All our uncles have daughters, and no sons! And we can't exactly wait for Meck to grow up-"
"Me!" Arii exploded, angrily taking one slipper from her foot and throwing it at his head. "Are you truly so dense that you don't remember I've ALWAYS wanted to be a lady knight?"
Trevon stared at her for a moment, then turned back to his book. "Oh yes, EXCELLENT idea Arii," he retorted, voice completely sarcastic. "Let you run off and leave me to face the wrath of our father. Just BRILLIANT, Arii."
Glaring, Arii stood and left the room. Moments later, she stalked back in to retrieve her slipper. So obviously she wouldn't have Trevon's help on this matter. At least, not willingly. She would have to do this on her own....and it wouldn't be the first time.
Thanks to everyone that reviewed! I loved all the nice comments and approval you gave me. *sniff* How sweet!! ^_^ FireFly, thank you for saying I'd make a great writer. THAT made my day! And Tris McGraw, I loved your review! That made my day too. Now on with Chapter 2!!!
Years went by, quickly for some, slow for others. The Scanran War was over. King Maggur had been defeated, and the Scanrans were back to their old tradition of fighting amongst themselves. The knights returned to Corus; in some cases, with their families. Neal was such a case. His family, grown since those years before, absolutely loved it in Corus. Their mother made sure they spent time in the Yamani Islands, learning more about both sides of their heritage. The two oldest loved this lifestyle; though both saw a few problems that affected them only..
At the present time, the second oldest herself was enjoying one of her more favorite pastimes. Akarii of Queenscove had climbed into the branches of one of the many trees in one of the many courtyards, hoping to have some quiet time alone while she read a book on how to speak Yamani. On this day, home was far from being quiet, especially with two year old Meckam running around wildly.
Thirteen years of life had changed the little baby into a teenage girl. Her dark brown hair was long, almost reaching the middle of her back, and wavy only at the ends. Vivid green eyes, like her father's, were framed by long, dark lashes. She had her mother's complexion, though darker from her summer's tan. She was tall for her age, at least a few inches taller than most of the boys. And it was obvious by the rips and stitches in her dress that she acted like them, as well.
Akarii sighed, slightly exasperated as she adjusted her back to keep a knob of wood from poking into it. She wished she could be doing something else, but she didn't have many options. She DID, however, have a second book to read if she became unbearably bored. Shang Fighting Techniques, Volume Three. But still, Mama had demanded that she study up on her Yamani, as the family was planning to go visit the Islands soon.
WITHOUT Trevon, she thought, almost angry as she blew a long strand of hair from her face. That lucky boy gets to stay in Corus and become a knight! While I have to go to the Islands and be stuck practicing my manners and proper etiquette.
Akarii made a face, thoroughly disgusted at the idea. She turned her attention back to her book, only to be distracted again as the tree began to shake violently.
Her hand immediately went to the dagger on her belt. This kind of thing had happened before, when a wandering Stormwing decided to take a rest. While there were no wars, the Stormwings continued to wander through Tortall, though in much smaller numbers.
Pausing for a moment, Akarii realized that the force was coming from BELOW, not above. She looked down through the branches and immediately growled at what she saw. There were two boys, both about two years older than her, shaking the trunk and looking quite pleased with themselves.
"Well that just won't do," she whispered, drawing her hand away from the dagger. In a few swift movements, Akarii had jumped from the tree, and landed quite close to the boys, who stopped shaking the tree. "What kind of lowlife imbeciles would shake a tree with a lady in it?" she asked, her tone indignant and arms crossed.
"What kind of low-class lady climbs in trees?" sneered the taller of the boys.
Akarii clicked her tongue impatiently. "The kind that would rather avoid scum like YOU." She started to push past them. "Now excuse me-"
One of the boys shoved her into the tree, cutting her off. The other threw his fist at her head, but Akarii tilted it, and his fist smashed into the bark. Almost immediately, the first boy launched himself at her with a snarl.
Akarii sighed wearily as she grabbed his shirt and threw him at his friend. They never learn.
-----------------------------------------
"OW!" Akarii protested loudly as her brother placed a hand on her wrist.
Trevon withdrew his hand, the icy green fire plainly visible. Now fifteen, he too had changed from the pudgy little toddler of years before to a tall, skinny young man. His brown hair was much like his father's, swept back from a widow's peak. With his dark brown eyes and Tortallan complexion, he looked every inch a noble's son.
Trevon gave his sister a disapproving glance. "I can't fix it if you don't let me," he reminded her. "Would you rather have our wonderful FATHER take care of that?"
Akarii grimaced. She knew what would happen if her father found out she had been in another fight. "Funny.." She sighed dejectedly. "Go at it."
Trevon continued his healing procedure, looking up at his sister. "Why do you do this?" he asked suddenly, as if the question had been bothering him for some time.
Akarii shrugged. "They insulted me. I won't stand for it."
Trevon grinned as he turned his attention back to her wrist. "Come on, Arii," he teased, calling her by the more commonly-used name. "I know quite well that you insulted them as well."
Arii laughed, grinning back at her brother. "You know me well," she admitted.
"Akarii!" a voice shouted from the entryway of their home. Both Arii and Trevon winced. Their father had come home..and had, apparently, found out.
-----------------------------------------
An older Neal, hair just starting to gray at the edges, placed a hand over his daughter's eye to reduce the swelling. Thirteen years had not changed Neal a great deal. He still was the same opinionated Healer, with a heart to match his big mouth. One thing was different, however, and that was the growing appearance of worry lines on his forehead. The majority, he claimed to his wife, had been caused by their oldest daughter. This same daughter was staring back at him, almost daring him to say something. He finally did.
"Did you really think I wouldn't find out?" he demanded.
"I didn't think," Arii declared stubbornly. "I hoped."
Neal shook hi head, accompanied by a sigh. He withdrew his hand and placed it on her wrist. "Arii, you know quite well that when a noble is hurt, they come to me."
Arii scoffed. "And believe me, those....THINGS acted nothing like nobles."
"And I doubt you did either." Neal examined her wrist closely. "Very nice..did Trevon do this?"
Arii nodded. Though he hadn't had a great deal of training, Trevon was quite skilled with his Gift.
Neal smiled proudly. "If he weren't becoming a knight, I'd send him off to the university to master his Gift."
Arii stared at him, disbelievingly. Didn't he KNOW how much she wanted to do that? "Then why don't you send Trevon to the university, and me in his place?" she asked in a somewhat strained voice.
Neal appeared as if he hadn't heard her, but Arii caught a flash in his green eyes. "Well, I think that's about it. Any pain anywhere else?"
Arii shook her head, repressing a sigh. "No. I'll go get some food and sleep."
Neal smiled, though a bit tiredly. "That's my girl."
-----------------------------------------
Arii wandered through the house, stopping only to play with Meck for a few minutes, before continuing on to her destination. She entered a small room, sparsely lit by a few candles. Trevon sat at his desk, hunched over one of the many books he had borrowed from the library in the royal university. He glanced up to see who had come in, then turned back to his book.
"What's wrong, Arii?" he asked, scribbling something down on a scrap of parchment.
Arii flopped onto the bed, picking at the covers with her long fingers. "Papa," she replied, disgust evident in her voice. "He STILL refuses to speak about being a lady knight."
"Of course he refuses," Trevon replied, keeping his eyes on the book. "He knows nothing about being a lady knight. He isn't a lady."
Arii gave her brother a withering look. "About MY becoming a lady knight," she said dryly. She continued to pick at the bedspread, pressing her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she searched for words.
Trevon set down his quill and turned to face his sister. "There's something else. Tell."
Arii sighed, rolling over onto her back. "All my life I've been surrounded by women who dared to step out of tradition. I've been in the company of the Lioness, for Mithros' sake! And Keladry of Mindelan-"
"Aunt Kel," Trevon interrupted. "You know she prefers it."
Arii shot him another withering glare before continuing. "The point is, it really gets to me that I can't do the one thing I've watched people do all my life. The one thing I've WANTED to do all my life."
Trevon sat silent for a moment, brow furrowed with thought....and even concern. "I know exactly what you mean." He spoke quietly, looking at the floor. "That's how I've felt for a long time."
Arii rolled back onto her stomach, looking up at Trevon with surprise. "What?"
Her brother looked up, dark brown eyes staring levelly into her vivid green ones. "Ever since father took me to the university when I was seven, I've wanted to study there. Forget the knighthood, I wanted to be a scholar. When I first discovered my Gift, I wanted to study and learn how to master it. And now...." He sighed, shrugging his shoulders helplessly. "I STILL want to, but what can I do?"
Arii propped herself up on her elbows, mind racing and a new fire alight in her eyes. "Trevon, Queenscove is one of the most important fiefs in all of Tortall. It's the duty of our boys to become knights and serve the Crown. It's a great honor-"
Trevon groaned, interrupting her as he ran his fingers through his long hair. "Don't you think I know that? And here I am, wanting to throw away my duty to my fief...to the Crown."
Arii sat up, leaning forward eagerly. "So do it! Pass on your duty to someone else, and take up the life of a scholar!"
He snorted derisively, before replying, "And how will THAT work? All our uncles have daughters, and no sons! And we can't exactly wait for Meck to grow up-"
"Me!" Arii exploded, angrily taking one slipper from her foot and throwing it at his head. "Are you truly so dense that you don't remember I've ALWAYS wanted to be a lady knight?"
Trevon stared at her for a moment, then turned back to his book. "Oh yes, EXCELLENT idea Arii," he retorted, voice completely sarcastic. "Let you run off and leave me to face the wrath of our father. Just BRILLIANT, Arii."
Glaring, Arii stood and left the room. Moments later, she stalked back in to retrieve her slipper. So obviously she wouldn't have Trevon's help on this matter. At least, not willingly. She would have to do this on her own....and it wouldn't be the first time.