Sorry for leaving you like that. I'm, erm, not very good at updating, it seems. Still though, I've been doing it more frequently than some, and I'm updating now. I'll try to update more later on. I made up Neal's mom's name. Anyways, without further ado, Chapter Four!

Disclaimer: Oh yeah, gotta have this first. Don't own it. Wish I owned it, because if I did, it would TOTALLY be KN all the time. sigh

Chapter 4:

Present

Kel's eyes fluttered. There was a hammer pounding in her head, resonating deep within her skull. She groaned, wishing she hadn't woken up. Opening her eyes, she blinked until she adjusted to the light. She was in the infirmary. Duke Baird was sitting beside her bed, looking tired and worn. He smiled wearily as she sat up.

"Good, you're up." He gave her a mug filled with a steaming liquid. "Drink it; it'll make you feel better." She certainly hoped so, because she felt like she had been dragged across the Eastern lands by a mad racehorse. She held her nose as she gulped the stuff down, wincing at the vulgar taste. However, her headache disappeared and she felt much better. She yawned and stretched.

Shouting came from the hall. Vaguely she discerned the words "Yuki" and "my wife". Memories came back in a flash. She jumped up. "I've missed Neal's wedding!" she cried. Duke Baird looked at her. There was something odd in his eyes as he replied, "No, you didn't, my dear."

The Wedding

Neal blinked. One, two, three times. His mind wasn't functioning; he was in a state of shock. Kel – Yuki – wedding – wife – WHAT!

The face uncovered by the lifting of the veil was none other than Kel's. Now Keladry of Queenscove. The guests started to whisper to each other. A lot of "I heard"s came from the area where most of the gossips sat.

Neal looked down at his new wife. Her eyelids were closed, covering her dreamer's eyes. Her delicate nose looked small in her face, but still seemed to belong there. Determination could be seen in her mouth and chin, and Neal knew that her eyes weren't always dreamy. When they were open, that is.

This could not be happening. He pinched himself. When that didn't work, he pinched himself again. He sincerely hoped he was dreaming, or hallucinating. I mean, sure, maybe I had a crush on her when I was a page, but I wouldn't marry her! thought Neal. She was his best friend! What was going on here?

The king strode into the room. In a loud, booming voice, he announced, "I must ask all of you to leave the room immediately except for Nealan of Queenscove, Keladry of Mindelan, Baron Piers and Baroness Ilane of Mindelan, Duke Baird and Duchess Moriana of Queenscove, Daughter Elizabeth, Alanna of Olau and Pirate's Swoop, and Numair Salmalin. Thank you." The guests filed out, casting worried glances over their shoulders.

King Jonathan of Conté turned towards the ones named. "Please, sit down, all of you. We must discuss what has occurred today." They all sat down in the pews (with the exception of Kel, who was simply laid down) and waited. The king sighed. "Obviously, there has been some sort of mistake. Keladry of Mindelan, or, now Keladry of Queenscove, has somehow gotten married to Nealan of Queenscove in the place of Yukimi noh Daiomoru. Now, I must tell you, I do not know if I can reverse this. I may be the king, but marriage is like a coronation; it is magical and not easily irreversible, other than by death. As I have no wish to kill either Keladry or Nealan, it is going to be nigh on impossible for this situation to be reversed."

The ones present mulled this over in their minds. Alanna spoke up. "Jon, where is Yukimi? The one who was supposed to marry Neal?"

The king's bent head rose. "I hadn't thought of that," he admitted. "Guards!" he called. "I want you to search for a person gone missing, but tell no one of this except for the other guards taking part in the search." King Jon looked around. "Can anyone here describe her?"

Neal started describing Yuki in a hoarse voice, which felt dry and unused to him. "Yamani, long black hair, about 5'6", black eyes." He listed everything about her he could. The guard bowed and exited.

Neal put his head in his hands in exasperation. There had to be an explanation for this. He smiled wearily at his former knight master, who was patting his back. But what kind of strange explanation could it be?

A/N: Hope you liked that chapter. I'll update again soon (hopefully), as I've got the next chapter planned already.