Title: untitled as of yet
Author: jessalae
Disclaimer: Any people, places, or things that you recognize belong to Tamora Pierce.
'I am stone, I am stone.' thought Kel as she raced through the halls of the palace. 'I am stone, I am stone.' Her heart was pounding, and she couldn't for the life of her sort out the thoughts running through her head. In fact, she didn't even try. All she was trying to do was get to her rooms before she started crying. She dashed around a corner and ran smack into Cleon.
"Ouch! Oh, sorry, Kel. I didn't see you." He helped her up. She looked away. "Kel? Kel, are you okay?" He turned her head gently until she was looking into his face. His eyes were worried and kind, and that was all it took. Kel let out a wail of anguish, pushed away from Cleon, and sprinted to her rooms.
Slamming the door, Kel screamed, just screamed. She splashed her face with water and stormed out to the stables, grabbing her armor and lance.
She saddled Peachblossom and rode out to the practice court. She faced the tilting dummy, got her lance up, and whispered to Peachblossom, "Charge." They rocketed down the field. She hit the dummy perfectly, and went riding past, circling around for another run. After about five more runs, tears started to stream own her face. Her eyes blurred, she went once more, and hit wildly off-center. The sandbag whacked her, and she tumbled to the ground, too emotionally exhausted to stay on the horse. Peachblossom whinnied and nudged her, but she just lay on the ground. Thunder crashed, and it started to rain. But Kel sat there.
It was late when Raoul found her. He had been looking out his window at the storm, when he noticed a horse standing by one of the practice dummies.
'Stupid pages and squires,' he thought. 'Never take care of their horses, and that saddle is going to be ruined.' He pulled his boots on and trooped out into the mud.
"C'mere horsey. C'mere! I'll see to it that your master is given some punishment work," He called, coming closer. Then he noticed something on the ground. "Oh, Mithros..." He quickened his step, rushing over to the unmoving lump. He rolled it over and was shocked. "Kel?" She was unconscious, soaked through. He picked her up with a groan, hoisting her over his shoulder. "C'mon, Peachblossom. Let's get you two inside." He put Peachblossom in Stefan's care, and carried Kel off to the healers.
A/N: I've split this chapter into two parts. The second part should be posted shortly; I just have to add a few finishing touches. Review! Suggest Titles!
-- jessalae
Author: jessalae
Disclaimer: Any people, places, or things that you recognize belong to Tamora Pierce.
'I am stone, I am stone.' thought Kel as she raced through the halls of the palace. 'I am stone, I am stone.' Her heart was pounding, and she couldn't for the life of her sort out the thoughts running through her head. In fact, she didn't even try. All she was trying to do was get to her rooms before she started crying. She dashed around a corner and ran smack into Cleon.
"Ouch! Oh, sorry, Kel. I didn't see you." He helped her up. She looked away. "Kel? Kel, are you okay?" He turned her head gently until she was looking into his face. His eyes were worried and kind, and that was all it took. Kel let out a wail of anguish, pushed away from Cleon, and sprinted to her rooms.
Slamming the door, Kel screamed, just screamed. She splashed her face with water and stormed out to the stables, grabbing her armor and lance.
She saddled Peachblossom and rode out to the practice court. She faced the tilting dummy, got her lance up, and whispered to Peachblossom, "Charge." They rocketed down the field. She hit the dummy perfectly, and went riding past, circling around for another run. After about five more runs, tears started to stream own her face. Her eyes blurred, she went once more, and hit wildly off-center. The sandbag whacked her, and she tumbled to the ground, too emotionally exhausted to stay on the horse. Peachblossom whinnied and nudged her, but she just lay on the ground. Thunder crashed, and it started to rain. But Kel sat there.
It was late when Raoul found her. He had been looking out his window at the storm, when he noticed a horse standing by one of the practice dummies.
'Stupid pages and squires,' he thought. 'Never take care of their horses, and that saddle is going to be ruined.' He pulled his boots on and trooped out into the mud.
"C'mere horsey. C'mere! I'll see to it that your master is given some punishment work," He called, coming closer. Then he noticed something on the ground. "Oh, Mithros..." He quickened his step, rushing over to the unmoving lump. He rolled it over and was shocked. "Kel?" She was unconscious, soaked through. He picked her up with a groan, hoisting her over his shoulder. "C'mon, Peachblossom. Let's get you two inside." He put Peachblossom in Stefan's care, and carried Kel off to the healers.
A/N: I've split this chapter into two parts. The second part should be posted shortly; I just have to add a few finishing touches. Review! Suggest Titles!
-- jessalae