Author: jessalae
Disclaimer: Any people, places, or things that you recognize belong to Tamora Pierce
o-o-O-o-o
Kel woke up, groggy. "Where ab I?" she asked, sniffling, Her nose was completely stuffed up.
"In the healer's wing, thankfully. Why on earth were you lying in that rain?" Duke Baird asked.
"I'b dot sure, your grace. By bebories are kind of fuzzy." She looked around, and Baird handed her a handkerchief. "Thanks."
"Well, the important thing is, you're here now. Be thankful you only have a cold and not pneumonia."
"I ab."
"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go visit my other patients." He walked away.
Kel frowned. What had happened last night? She remembered tilting, and falling off her horse, and crying, and something about Cleon, and Neal-
Neal! Kel sat straight up in bed. That was what she had been crying about. She remembered now! He had been whining about Yuki, and shouting, and she tried to calm him down, and he had kissed her. Just like that. Kel closed her eyes and groaned. When she opened them, a young healer was standing over her.
"Don't move, Milady. You should be resting." Kel lay back.
"Oh, by head hurds..."
"Don't worry," soothed the healer. "I can't help right now, but master Nealen will be up in a few minutes. He can help you then."
"What!" Kel sat up again. "Hib? Cobing here? I have to ged oud of here!" She leaped from her bed.
"Milady, please! Lie down!"
Duke Baird rushed over. "Keladry, you're in no condition to be up! Get back in bed this instant!"
"I don't wadt to talk to hib! I dod't wadt to see hib ever agaid!"
"Who? Who don't you want to see?" Kel dashed out of the room. Duke Baird sighed and turned to the startled healer. "Now what did you do, Ideran?"
"I didn't think I was doing anything wrong, Your Grace! All I told her was that your son was coming to help out! I didn't know she would jump up like that!" Ideran said, putting his hands up in a 'How was I supposed to know?' gesture.
Duke Baird sighed. "Very well. There's nothing we can do about it. You tend the patients; I'll deal with my son." Right on cue, Neal walked in, rubbing his back. "And there he is now!" Baird said. "I need to talk to you, Neal."
"Sure, whatever." Neal replied absentmindedly. Baird steered him into a smaller room off of the large ward.
"Is something going on between you and Keladry? She was in here a few minutes ago, but she ran out as soon as she heard you were coming."
"Is that what she was running about? She nearly trampled me in the hall. I think she's mad at me."
Baird eyed his son skeptically "Oh, really? I didn't notice."
"Father..." Neal sighed.
"Well, what happened?"
"Well, yesterday I was up all night thinking about the Yuki Thing-"
"Ah, yes, the Yuki Thing. You need your sleep!"
"Father, don't start. Anyway, I was really in a bad mood in the morning, and Kel was teasing me, and I kind of lost my temper. So then she was trying to calm me down, and I- I-"
"Yes?"
Neal's voice dropped to barely a whisper. "I kind of kissed her."
"You what? Speak up, boy, my hearing isn't what it used to be."
Neal raised his voice slightly. "I kissed her."
"Can you just say it? You don't have to whisper."
"All right! I kissed her!"
Baird stared, his mouth open "Why in the name of Mithros did you do that?"
"I don't know! I just felt like it!"
"You just felt like it? That's no excuse!"
"Well, what else was I supposed to do?"
His father glared incredulously at him. "What else were you supposed to do, you say. What else were you supposed to do. Anything else, that's what!"
"Well, I was confused!"
"You were confused? How do you think Keladry felt?" Baird paced back and forth. "What am I going to do with you, Neal?"
"I don't know! I really don't! What are you going to do with me?" Neal shouted. "I'm confused and sad and I really don't know what to do next!"
Baird sighed. "Calm down, Neal. Just go and apologize to Keladry."
"Go and apologize to Keladry, he says. Just like that. Easier said than done! How do I know she won't slam the door in my face? How do I know she won't chop off my head with that glaive of hers? How do I know she-"
Duke Baird cut him off. "Neal, you're being ridiculous. Keladry will not chop off your head. I very much doubt she will do you any physical harm."
"She already did! She slapped me!"
"If you were a girl, and someone kissed you without your permission, what would you do?"
"I'm not a girl!"
"I didn't say you were! Honestly, Neal. You're twenty-four years old; I suggest you start acting your age. If she slams the door, well, you deserve it. Simply knock again and wait, or go away and try another time. Now, go apologize," Baird said firmly.
Neal sighed. "All right, I will. If I die, I said 'I told you so.'" He strode out of the ward and away. Baird shook his head.
Neal walked briskly through the halls, slowing as he approached Kel's room. 'What will I say to her? What will I do? Gods, I've made a mess of this.' He hesitantly approached her door and knocked. He heard a rustle of cloth, a muffled groan of frustration, a shuffling of feet towards the door.
"Cad't a girl ged ady sleep around here?" Kel muttered, opening her door.
"Kel, it's me, Neal. I need to talk to you." Her eyes widened and she started to close the door. He stuck out his foot to hold it open. "Please," he said softly. Kel hesitated for a moment, then gradually opened the door again, as if it was against her better judgment to let him in. He stepped inside and seated himself on a chair. After closing the door, Kel perched on the edge of the bed and stared at him.
"Well?"
Neal took a deep breath and began. "I know you might hate me now, and you'd be perfectly justified if you never wanted to speak to me again. But I hope you will, and we can still be friends. I screwed up bigtime, and now I wish I hadn't, but what's done is done. So I'm just hoping you'll be able to accept my apology. I'm sorry," he said, staring at his feet. When he didn't hear any response from her, he looked up. Kel was looking at him so intensely he felt as if she could see into his soul. He looked right back at her, seeing in her eyes a mixture of sadness, empathy, and some emotion he didn't recognize.
"I accebt your apology," Kel said clearly. The strange emotion was gone from her eyes. She offered her hand. Neal smiled and shook it.
"Friends?"
"Fredds." Kel grinned impishly. "Dow, how log did you practice that speech?"
"Practice? I made it up on the spot!"
"Dod't dry to fool be. I've read your poedry."
Neal raised his eyebrows. "Are you insulting my poetry?" he demanded, pretending to be offended.
"Yes." Kel smirked.
"Well! Don't think you can insult me and get away with it!"
"Are you suggesding a fight?"
"Oh, no. I've been beaten up enough recently. That slap hurt!"
"Sorry."
"No you aren't."
"You're right, I'b dot." Neal whacked her on the shoulder. She grabbed his arm with two hands and twisted them in opposite directions.
"Ow! Mercy! Mercy!" Kel let go of him. Neal massaged his arm, glaring at her. "You know, I could make your cold better, if I wanted to."
"Will you? Blease?'
"Maybe. Maybe not."
"Bleeease? Id's gedding really addoyig talkig like dis."
"Only if you promise to stop beating me up."
"Okay, fide."
"Promise!"
Kel sighed. "I Keladry of Bidelad, do probise dat I wod't hurt you, as log as you dod't hurt be. Now ged rid of dis code!" Neal laughed and reached for his Gift to heal her.
A/N: BIG NEWS! This story is untitled no longer! When I post the next chapter (which will hopefully be soon) I will change the title to Trust Betrayed. This is a slight variation of Alanna-of-Olau's suggestion, Trust Destroyed. "Destroyed" just sounded a bit too final, like things would never get better. I know it's been angsty so far, but that will hopefully change. : ) If anyone has suggestions for happy things that should happen, feel free to tell me! Now, review!
-- jessalae