A/N- I'm ba-ack! Gir-Rory here, back from the unknown. I am so, so, sooo sorry it took me so long to update, but
really, I have a good explanation! We thought my computer had a virus, which makes it difficult to update stories,
but we only had to reinstall the Internet provider. In addition, BrittyWeasley and Mary had been bugging me to
finish reading her copy of "Trickster's Queen" (hey, I only had for two and a half months, give me a break! looks at
keyboard, ashamed), so I had been trying to finish that before they attack me in my sleep. Anyways, sorry for the
VERY long delay in the posting of this chapter, and thank you to all of you who aren't mad at me even though I
haven't updated in a long time. Please forgive me and enjoy! Oh, and Happy (very belated) New Year, Merry
Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy fill in holiday of choice here...
Disclaimer- None of the characters in this story belong to me, except Suha and Meerie Rakami. Other than them, I
only own the plot.
Loving My Best Friend
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Previously:
Suha grinned broadly and said something, clapped his hands together, and said something else.
The three women looked at him and squealed in delight, and started talking a mile a minute.
And Raoul, Dom, and I were suddenly in a room filled with speech we couldn't understand.
Dom spoke up, a look of mirth in his eyes, "So, Lord Raoul, shall we pick out your dress for the wedding?"
0O0O0O0O0O0
Chapter 6:
Late-Night Encounters
I must say, I was delighted when Dom told me that I was going to be his Best Man. I think the only thing that topped that
was the fact that I got the spot Lord Raoul had wanted, and he had to be the Flower Girl! The Flower Girl! HA! The wedding planning was going great. Of course, there was plenty of time for things to go wrong, as we had only been planning for a day. And in addition to that, there was that little problem of the men not understanding the wedding planners…
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It was late that night when a thought struck me. I climbed out of bed and quietly left our rooms, careful not to wake Yuki. As I crept through the halls bare-footed towards Raoul and Buri's rooms, I heard someone walking towards me. I panicked, realizing that I was still in my nightclothes. I looked wildly around for a hiding place, and my eyes came to rest on a highly polished suit of armor standing next to the wall. As I attempted to squirm behind the armor, I stubbed my toe on the stone wall and swore, then continued my objective.
"Queenscove, what in Mithros's name are you doing?"
I froze when I heard the voice, and replied in a matter-of-fact tone, "Well, my lord Wyldon, I was just out for an evening stroll when I spotted this lovely suit of armor, and, well, you know how much I like shiny things, sir!" I grimaced. 'You know how much I like shiny things?!' What am I, a crow?!
Lord Wyldon was quiet a moment, then sighed. "Queenscove, will you please get out of there?"
As I clamored out into the hall, I saw Lord Wyldon staring at me, eyebrows raised. "May I ask what you are doing, Queenscove, with no shoes and your nightclothes on?"
Although it was phrased like a question, I knew he wasn't asking. "Well, my lord, I was at home in bed, when I was struck with a thought. So I raced out of bed to go see Lord Raoul, and I was walking down the hall when I heard you coming towards me, and considering my current, er, clothing choice, I decided to duck behind this suit of armor so you wouldn't see me."
The Stump just stared at me, his face expressionless. He blinked and said, "Right. Well, goodnight Queenscove."
I bowed, saying, "Goodnight, my lord." When I straightened, he gave a curt nod and I stepped aside to let him pass, then continued down the hall.
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I padded down the corridor, when I heard voices echoing off the walls. I panicked and looked around for a place to hide. Not finding anywhere, I flattened myself against the wall, trying to look inconspicuous. The Lioness and Baron George came into my line of view and I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing hard against the wall. I heard the footsteps stop and opened one eye. Alanna and George were staring at me blankly.
Alanna, who now looked close to laughing, crossed her arms. "Neal, that wall isn't going anywhere no matter how hard you push on it."
Now it was George's turn to speak. "Neal, it's half past midnight. What are you doing out now?"
I scowled. "I might ask you two the same thing! I know you are going to ask, so I might as well tell you now. I'm going to see Lord Raoul."
Alanna sighed. "I'm not going to ask why. Come on, lad." She grabbed her husband's arm and towed him down the hall.
A few moments later, I came to the door of Raoul's chambers. I knocked, and when no one answered, I tried the door. It was unlocked, so I quietly crept into his main room. I got to the bedroom door, and knocked on that. "Lord Raoul!" I whispered, "Lord Raoul!" I sighed and went to knock again, but the door opened and my fist connected with a very large man's chest. I looked up and laughed feebly.
"You-you're not Lord Raoul, are you?"
The man shook his head.
"Sorry about barging in like this. If you don't mind, I think I'll be going now." I turned to race out the door when I felt a meaty hand clamp down on my shoulder. Now, I do not perceive myself as a weakling, and not many others do either, but this man made me feel like a daffodil.
"I don't think so."
I whimpered as the hand tightened on my shoulder, forcing me to turn around. The man's eyes were shadows in the dark, but I could still make out his grim smile. I am …the Mighty…Sir…Nealan…
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I don't know if you have ever flown before, but let me warn you. It's not all its made up to be. After my encounter with the man in the room, he dragged me to a window and promptly tossed me out of his rooms. I crashed through the shutters and rolled into the courtyard. Above me, people in nightclothes were opening their shutters and looking curiously down at me. The man brushed off his hands and stomped back into the shadows of his room. I sat up and rubbed my head, as another large figure strode over to me. Raoul grabbed me under the arms and hauled me to my feet. I spied Buri hanging out of the window next to the one from which I had just been expelled and mentally slapped my forehead as Raoul said, "So Neal, I hear you want to tell me something."
I decided to wonder about how fast word of my flight would travel across the palace later. I opened my mouth to reply. "Yes, well, I was wondering if you…If you…uh…" I frowned. "Did you move rooms or something, because I could have sworn that that was you room-"
"Neal, it's late. Please get on with it."
"I uh, well, I don't really remember what I wanted to tell you."
Raoul narrowed his eyes. "Right. Well, goodnight, Nealan." He walked back over to his window and climbed through it. As I lifted my leg up to climb in after him, he stopped me. "You're not getting in this way."
"Well then how am I supposed to get in?!"
Raoul shrugged. "I don't know. Why don't you try your friend in the room next to this?" And with that, he slammed his shutters closed.
A/N- I know, pointless to the plot, but better chapters are coming! I've been doing some serious planning for this story as well as "Bring on the War", and I'm working on the next chapters of this story right now.