Heart Duel

Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Chapter 12: A Gift From The Heart

"I'll take them, Bertha." Being with my siblings again - mischievous thought they may be, was a joy. I am not a motherly person by nature, but the twins brought out the protective side of me. I was the person they used as a role model, after our parents, of course.

That's the burden of being the oldest in the family. You are expected to excel in everything to set a good example for your siblings to follow. But nobody is perfect; we just strive to be perfect.

The twins wanted to go riding on ponies - a treat Father promised them a few days back, but I just wanted to bring them on a tour of the garrison court, for the obvious reason of not wanting to be near horses while not in a carriage.

"They're not scary, Lana!" whined Nimaric.

"They look really pretty when they have ribbons everywhere!" chirped an excited Brimiar.

I sighed in response. Perhaps I could ask a groom or two to tend to them. "All right, you babies."

The word "babies" induced even more whining and cries of outrage. "We are not babies!" they chorused, as soon as the word left my lips.

Arriving at the stables, the twins immediately ran to the first horses which caught their fancy, only to be disappointed by the fact that they were too small to ride the large steeds. Bracing for another round of whining, I asked the groom for ponies. He shook his head apologetically, "a couple of them are sick, the rest have been taken."

"A problem, Lady Tylana?"

The groom bowed hurriedly when he spotted the speaker from over my shoulder. I turned to see Derrick, Liara, Naria and the Crown Prince all sitting astride various steeds. It was the Crown Prince who had spoken. I bowed slightly and smiled, replying, "My siblings need ponies, but there aren't any left."

Derrick looked to the groom for confirmation, and received a brisk nod. "Well, that's too bad then." He shrugged.

"But Derrick, we want to ride the ponies! A great, big horse like yours would be even better!" I was getting a headache from all their whining. Did I mention that they were a joy to be with?

"Maybe you could join us," offered Naria, as she shifted backwards in her saddle. The twins instinctively lifted their arms to be carried onto the horse. "Only one, I'm afraid," said Naria with a chuckle, as a groom hefted Brimiar into the saddle.

Nimaric soon found himself on Derrick's horse. "Can you handle them by yourselves?" I asked.

"I guess," replied Derrick, "How hard can it be? Besides, we need the practice," he continued, with a wink to Naria, causing her to blush prettily.

"Won't you be joining us Lady Tylana?" asked the Crown Prince.

I shook my head, "I don't ride. Horses scare me."

"But its fun!" stated Derrick, appalled that I did not derive the same pleasure he did from riding.

"I haven't ridden in years! I've lost my touch." I smiled wryly.

"Maybe you could sit with him," said Brimiar, pointing at the Crown Prince, and grinning broadly, proud that she had come up with the solution to the problem.

"What a great idea, Bree!" chimed Nimaric, while bouncing in the saddle he shared with Derrick. "Hurry, Lana, we want to go!" he added impatiently.

"They're right, Lady Tylana. You'll be quite safe with me." The Crown Prince leapt off his chestnut mare with a grin, extending his hand towards me.

I took a hesitant step towards him, unsure of whether I should keep my feet planted firmly on the ground, or enjoy the exhilaration of speed. My hesitation was apparent, as the mare tossed her head with annoyance.

I sighed for the umpteenth time that day, and walked towards the Crown Prince, taking care to stay clear of the mare's head, or more appropriately, her mouth. Placing one foot in the stirrup, I heaved myself over her massive body, and sat astride. The Crown Prince joined me a moment after, encircling me with his arms as he held the reins. "That wasn't too bad, wasn't it?" he whispered, as we set off at a trot.

"No, but its all thanks to you, You Highness," I answered, holding on to the front of the saddle to keep my balance.

"Kaelen."

"What?"

"My name, remember?"

"Ah, yes. Lana."

The weather was pleasant for being out of doors. And we thoroughly enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine beating against our skins. The conversation flowed smoothly, and included the twins from time to time. Then Derrick brought up the adoption ball.

I told them about Lord Felix's idea of a Miyanokian theme, and both Derrick and Naria seemed pleased by his idea. "Never knew he was a man with ideas!" said Derrick with a laugh.

Then I mentioned, that it was only one out of the numerous suggestions both Aunt Mel and I had received, and was not the confirmed theme of the adoption ball. But that it was the one that stood out the most for its ingenuity and historical significance, and had a high chance of being chosen.

"It's a fine suggestion," said Naria, "And imagine the fun we'd have designing our costumes!"

Kaelen sounded dubious, mirroring my thoughts when I first heard this suggestion, by saying, "Why Miyanokian?"

I craned my neck to face him, but found it impossible to do while seated in front of him on a moving horse. "He said that it would compliment the marriage as well as the alliance," I replied, adding a "Whoa" when the horse turned a corner.

It was then that I realised I wasn't all that fearful of horses, just of their mouths, tongues and teeth; or anything that can inflict injury to my person. Maybe the conversation had a calming effect on me, or maybe I felt just a little bit safer with Kaelen sitting behind me, his arms wrapped protectively around me, his breath tickling my ear, his - Well, that was just a possibility!

He fell silent at my reply. I could practically see the gears spinning in his head as he tried to figure out the reason for Lord Felix's suggestion.

~*~

"To be sixteen!" sighed Liara dramatically.

She had seated herself on the couch next to my dressing table, twirling a lock of hair around her fingers. I was getting ready for my Flower Day party with the little help she had promised me.

The gown I wore was simple in design. The pearl white skirt hung past my ankles, and long sleeves of the same colour were cinched at the elbow and flared at the wrist. It was the bodice that drew the eye, with its dark green velvet and exquisite embroidery. Curling pea green vines and white rose buds had been patiently stitched on to the bodice, and were tipped with small clear crystals.

"No jewellery?" asked Liara, with her fan waving in the Query mode.

"Simplicity is the whole idea, although this isn't as simple as I'd like," I replied with a frown.

Liara argued that I'd only be sixteen once, and the only way to draw the eye was to be adorned with jewels and gems. I refuted each of her suggestions with one of my own, and we finally settled on a white silk choker on which hung an emerald, and a corsage of white roses surrounded by baby's breath; both of which represent innocence and purity.

~*~

Liara had beautifully decorated the ballroom, and I received numerous congratulations from the many guests present. Liara was right, people seemed to have adorned themselves with precious stones and gems, though none as liberally as Lady Tamora. Diamonds and sapphires hung from her ears and encircled her wrist and neck. She looked like a chandelier, or a shooting star to put it kindly.

My father and I opened the ball by leading the first dance. The guests soon joined us. After that came dance after dance with numerous lords, one of who was Lord Felix. He asked me about the adoption ball, and whether the Miyanokian theme was to be chosen. I revealed that it was one of the top contenders, and asked him if he had any Miyanokian performances in mind.

"The Si Shan Wu, or Silk Fan Dance," he translated.

Curious, I asked him what the Shan Wu was about. He explained that it was a dance performed by female dancers with fans and male acrobats with sashes. Apparently, it was a courtship dance performed by the Miyanokians at weddings.

"Is it interactive?" I asked, as I twirled under his arm.

He nodded as I returned to face him. "It isn't all that hard to perform, but it requires a certain jewel to enhance the whole effect. Clear quartz, to be precise."

Clear quartz?

He seemed to read my mind as he continued, "It would adorn the neck of the lead female dancer, and would twinkle like a star amidst the fans and swirling sashes."

The dance ended before I could ask him any more questions, and Kaelen claimed me for the next dance. This dance was a slow waltz, and made for easier conversation. He complimented me on my attire, and stated that I'd already received a mountain of gifts.

"Jealous?" I asked.

"I would be if I were a girl."

"A woman, I'm sixteen now, remember?"

His laughter bubbled like a river in spring. "A woman, yes. Don't you want to know what I gave you?"

"Let me guess, nothing?" I replied with a knowing smile. "Wait, don't tell me you intend to make it up to me by giving me a kiss."

He laughed yet again, "I don't think you'd like another round of gossip to circulate around Athanarel, right?"

I agreed with a slight nod of my head, as the "rumours" - as many people formulated their own theories on why the kiss happened - of the fencing incident had just begun to die down. Most of these "rumours" consisted of us being secretly engaged, like Derrick and Naria; or that I was pregnant!

We began discussing the adoption ball as I put forward Lord Felix's new suggestion. Kaelen agreed that it was a splendid idea, but added that clear quartzes were not easily procured. That left me something to think about.

But hadn't I heard of Clear quartz before?

As the steps of the dance placed us near a pair of doors that led to a balcony, Kaelen paused in mid-twirl and pulled me out of the dance floor and on to the balcony. A few of the guests milling about the doors glanced at us curiously through the glass panes, but Kaelen ignored them and pulled a slender box out of his pocket.

I took the offered gift from his hand, and looked at him enquiringly. "Open it," he said.

"What is the secrecy all about?" I muttered, as I tugged at the ribbon that sealed the box. Lifting the lid off, I found myself gazing at a five-inch- long Miyanokian hairpin, on which dangled three oval-shaped beads. The first bead was made of Turquoise, representing friendship and loyalty. The second bead was a Mother of Pearl, which signified faith, charity and innocence. The last bead was of Jade - or the Lucky Stone, meant to maintain peace, serenity, memory; increase vitality, encourage harmony, inspire wisdom, and prolong life.

All three beads dangled side by side, encircling a tassel of green, blue and silver threads. A lot of effort had gone into the choosing of this gift, a combination of both thoughtfulness and labour. It was a gift from the heart. "Thank you, its beautiful," I said with a smile, looking up at Kaelen to find him peering at me a little worriedly. His features relaxed at my expressed gratitude, and he smiled in return.

Clearing his throat, he asked, "You like it? That's a relief. I thought it brought out your eyes, and the beads each signify something. The Jade represents - " He would've continued babbling if I had not placed a hand on his arm to stop him.

"I know," I added with a smile. "Were you babbling?"

He might have blushed, but I couldn't be sure in the dim light. "I hope not, it wouldn't be becoming of a Crown Prince, would it?"

"No indeed," I replied.

"Help me put it on?" I asked with a coy smile as I turned my back to him.

Gingerly, he pulled my hair away from my face, combing his fingers through my unruly curls before bunching them up into a ponytail. I talked to him as he worked, and asked him whether he helped women tie their hair often. With a chuckle, he admitted that only three women have had the misfortune of letting him touch their hair.

"And who are these unfortunate souls?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"My mother, Naria and you," he replied, twisting my hair into a knot at the base of my skull.

"Well, then, I ought to be honoured shouldn't I? I mean, I am the only one who is not related to you," I asked, trying to ignore the tingling sensations I felt when his fingers brushed against the bare skin of my neck and shoulders.

"It depends on how you look at it, I guess," he answered. Taking the hairpin from me, he slid it diagonally through the knot, allowing the tassel to dangle at an angle, brushing my shoulder whenever I turned my head. "Done!" he exclaimed.

Turning to face him again, I asked him how I looked. His reaction secretly pleased yet embarrassed me, as the word "Beautiful" escaped his lips in a husky whisper.

Complimenting him on his choice of gift to change the increasingly uncomfortable atmosphere, I smiled and pulled him back into the ballroom. Joining our family and friends, Father mentioned that it was time for the toasting. Following his lead, I joined him in the middle of the ballroom. A dance had just ended, and he silenced the musicians in the corner with a wave of his hand.

I proposed a toast to all the guests present, thanking them for celebrating my Flower Day with me. I then received a toast from them - led by Lord Russell, wishing me a happy Flower Day. After that, the dancing resumed, and went on into the night.

~*~

I began opening my gifts the next morning, surrounded by my immediate family. Most of the gifts comprised of precious stones and valuable silks and fabrics. All of which I accepted with much gratitude, but it was what I received from my close friends which I truly appreciated.

Derrick and Naria gave me a book on horse riding, and on the first page were written:

'There are two important rules in horse riding -
The first is to mount the horse.
The second is to stay mounted.'
- Derrick

I laughed out loud at the joke, but was indignant that Derrick thought me such an incompetent rider. Naria was kinder in the giving of advice, and proved to be much more encouraging:

'A horse is like a harp; first it must be tuned,
and when tuned it must be accurately played.'
- Naria

From Liara, I received a watercolour painting of the sunset. I knew that Liara was an artist, as she sketched or read about painting techniques whenever she had the time; but I did not know that she was so talented with the brush! A note also accompanied her gift:

'Do not cry if the Sun sets at the end of the day,
because the tears will not let you enjoy the beauty of the Stars.'
-Liara

Notes accompanied the rest of the gifts, some with words of congratulations, others, witty sayings and quotes. But one particular gift came alone. That gift was a dagger. An unusual Flower Day gift, but a gift nonetheless. It was no ordinary dagger however, as its hilt was made of Goldenwood. The most precious of the Colourwoods. The smooth hilt felt warm in my hand, and the Malachite embedded at the end of the hilt glistened as I gave it a few practice swings. This gift must have cost a fortune!

(A/N: I am not sure whether or not the Goldenwoods can be used for such a purpose, but if I recall correctly, the throne was made of Goldenwood.)

Staring at the Malachite, I asked my mother what it meant. "It is 'The stone of Transformation', and is said to assist one in changing situations and spiritual evolution," she replied while sipping at her tea. A gift with a hidden meaning, that just means another thing for me to think about in bed!

~*~

In the days that followed, Aunt Mel, Mother, Liara and I, were always busy with the matter of the adoption ball and wedding preparations. We finally settled on Lord Felix's suggestion, and began the laborious search for dancers, acrobats, musicians and artisans. Then came the sending of invitations and the choice of food.

The designing of our costumes followed those. Miyanokian fashion had hardly changed since the Islands were first discovered, and both men and women dressed rather alike. The men wore coloured tunics that ended at the knee over light coloured mid-calf-length robes that went over long trousers that cinched at the ankles. The sleeves of the robes were long and stiff, and flared out from the shoulders to the wrist. A sash was knotted around the waist over the tunic, and allowed to dangle at the side. The men's hair was always braided, regardless of their length, although the longer one's hair was, meant that one's rank was higher. The same applied to the women.

The women's clothes were much more complicated. First on was a piece of silk shaped roughly like a square, which was used to cover the chest. The back was left uncovered except for the ribbons that held the silk in place. Then came the light and baggy trousers that seemed to balloon out as one walked. An ankle-length, pale-coloured robe that was securely fastened with ties went over that, and was followed by a brightly coloured silk or gauze blouse that ended beneath the bosom, and was secured with a ribbon at the back. The sleeves of the blouse, like the men's robes, were rather stiff, and flared out from the shoulders to the wrist. Their hair however, could not be braided, and were always parted in the middle and allowed to either fall straight down their backs or tied into a simple knot or ponytail at the base of their necks.

(A/N: Boring stuff, but it helps for you guys to visualise, right?)

~*~

With the making of our costumes well under way, we began working on the décor of the ballroom. Instead of tapestries, huge pieces of floor-to- ceiling silks and gauze hung around the perimeter of the ballroom. In accordance to the theme, they were all coloured different hues of yellows, reds and gold. Basically, the colours of autumn, as those colours were the royal colours of the Miyanoko Islands, and only royalty could use them. The billowing silks gave one a sense of airiness and space, making it difficult to see where one wall ended and another began.

Small tables and white cushions where the guests could kneel at while partaking of the food provided, littered the perimeter, and the honoured two kneeled on a raised dais at their own tables and gold cushions. This gave them a clear view of the dance floor, and made it easier for them to propose toasts.

(A/N: Boring, boring, boring, but READ it anyway!)

~*~

The completion of the menu, décor and costumes, allowed us to heave a sigh of relief, but all this preparation would be for naught if the performances did not go as planned!

~*~

*A/N: Ah.*wipes away perspiration* I completed this chapter in two days! Hope you guys like it, because I've minimised conversation after receiving some comments from a friend, otherwise known as IDIOTIC GAL, who really is idiotic, because she didn't think I knew who she was. Just joking, Mitchell!

For the record, Lana is still AFRAID of horses! Just because she rode one, doesn't mean she no longer fears them. Reasons for her doing so: 1) Pride, 2) She gets to ride with a cutie! (that's just my POV), 3) She is just afraid of getting hurt while riding, e.g.: getting bitten or thrown off or kicked (for those of you who missed it in the story, but this is still a FEAR!)

Give comments on the Flower Day party! It wasn't as long as I originally planned for it to be, but strangely enough, I'm pretty happy with it. No kissing in this chapter, but that can't be helped. I mean, everyone's just friends!

Is it just me or do you guys think Kaelen is sweet? Okay, before you guys start complaining about his behaviour or whatever, let me just say that his giving of the gift is a form of apologising for what he did in the previous chapter, although there could also be hidden motives *hint hint*. But they are still just FRIENDS, so even though I had wanted Lana to give him a peck on the cheek for his gift, I decided against it in the end, because that would be a little too friendly for friends, and would allow the "curious courtiers" who can see them, go gossiping. As if one round of embarrassment wasn't bad enough!

All right, the ending was very boring, since it's all technical stuff, but I like doing the planning for this sort of thing! It allows me to VISUALISE, and "see" everything. READ it if you haven't because I spent a lot of time designing the costumes by combining many elements of Asian dress. In case you were wondering, for the males, I drew my inspiration from: Japan, China and India. For the females: China, Japan and Korea. Hope you guys like it!

Also, I want LONG reviews, although short ones are also welcome! Give comments and critique on anything and everything. What needs improvement? What has shown improvement.yadda, yadda Thanx!

**A/N: You guys should READ the replies I give to my reviewers, ALL of it, because I spend a lot of time replying to each and every one of them, and drop HINTS about future developments from time to time. *Looks smug*, especially this time round.so READ them ALL!

*** Thanks to the Reviewers~

Katie: Really glad that you enjoyed it, and about the Lana-Kaelen-Felix situation? I'm gonna keep you guys guessing! It seems pretty obvious to some, but it all depends!

Charmgirl: I do get confused myself, at least I forget some of their names, but that only applies to the minor characters! GOOD? I received a lot of criticism for chapter 11, but it comes with the territory. Glad you found it good, anyway.

Shuyan: Yup.she IS too perfect, "surreal". True. I'm almost afraid that by writing about her riding in this chapter, would make her even more perfect. For the record, she still fears horses, it's the kind of fear which scars you for life and never goes away. Especially since it was invoked by a traumatic experience. I am trying to make her seem less perfect, but its hard to do, because we all want our characters to be perfect, to be able to do what we are unable to. Anyway, give me suggestions to make her less perfect! (This applies to ALL OF YOU!)

Deliandery: Calm yourself, seriously. In the words of Kaelen, "It would be unbecoming" of a fanfiction writer. You idea sounds great, and I was kind of thinking that Felix is already Lana's swain, one way or another; while Tamora is a flirt with Kaelen. I'll probably elaborate on that later in the story. Characterisation-wise, I'm kinda putting that on the shelf for a while, because I gotta bring my plot out first. I really think this chapter has done that though.

Elanial: True. Hopefully you see more of his character here. Thanks for the encouragement!

Castella: Another TOO PERFECT review. I mean Lana, not the review. Read the A/N and reply to Shuyan for my answer. Give me suggestions to make her more realistic? About that line: "I know I'm far from special, except maybe to my family and friends. But what is true love like? I've often wondered", she is just saying that she is a nobody, but yet her family and friends find her special. Thus she is pondering whether or not her true love would see her as an ordinary person, yet find her special and love her for who she is, or fall in love with her instantly and treat her like some precious gem. Does that make sense? *shrugs*

ChocolateEclar: Nothing! Are you sure you ain't seeing nothing?

Faeriegurl: Am taking your idea into consideration too, my main idea is basically the same, but a bit more.dangerous? I don't know. Wow! And improvement? Thanks. I kinda thought that Lana and Kaelen being friends had to happen, because it's be stale if they continued to be enemies. Someone mentioned that.was it you? But I can't guarantee that they'll stay friends forever, or anything, because you get to know a person better when you are just friends, as compared to lovers or enemies. For all you know, they may just change their minds!

AniHope: Thanks for being so understanding. Glad that you like Meridanaria

Shadowed memory: Are Lana and Kaelen gonna be lovers? Sorry, but I can't answer that question! Without a doubt this fic is more romantically inclined, but as Faeriegurl mentioned, its great too keep you guys guessing!

=): Thanx!!! But a bit embarrassing of you to introduce this to your senior.thanks though! I know, that line was funny, but I didn't know how to change it.another time.what is your senior's nick, btw?

Idiotic gal: Fine, fine, no need to get so worked up! I've minimised the talking in this chapter, as for the suspense and foreshadowing part, its there! For a hint, its something about the Miyanokian adoption ball. When that chapter finally comes, it will seem as if nothing great has happened, but there is a huge FORESHADOWING. In fact, this chapter is gearing up for that, isn't it? *MAJOR (wink) HINTAGE*

Dracorum: Should I take that as an insult or a compliment? I'll settle for the latter, because if you didn't see the kiss coming, that meant that I threw something vaguely like a curve ball. Which is good! Thanks for the review.

Lotrlover911: Demonstration of Naria's powers would be limited, because people in Remalna fear magic to a certain extent (That is just my own interpretation). You are another one who didn't know the kiss was coming, but that's good, in a way. Hope the little action in this chapter lived up to your expectations. No kiss, I'm afraid, but they're FRIENDS! I will try to tie them up more, but that's hard for me as I write the story like watching the scenes of a movie or play being acted out. Maybe I could be a playwright in the future!

Hannirose: Thanks for the compliment. Get well soon!

Meghan: You can't please them all! Some of you guys found Kaelen frightening in chapter 11, but I explained myself in the message boards, yeah? Trust comes with time, besides them being friends would slowly build up trust between you and him, right? Whether or not Tamora will pull a stunt, honestly, I'm not sure, we'll just wait and see!

Aqualyne: Funny? Their names aren't funny! * Looks at their names*, okay, maybe a little, but its cute! His personality will slowly but surely emerge as this progresses.

Undomiel Evenstar: Yup, I did get an A for English. An A1 no less! Oops, sorry for showing off.

Cheler: Here is more!

ME~: I laughed when I read your review. You want more violence? Well, gotta see how to add more of that element in.