Author's Notes: This chapter is mainly characterization; the development of Kerri and the introduction of new characters such as Zarien's family members. So, if you want action, skip this chapter...

Disclaimer: This is based on work by Mercedes Lackey, some of the details and settings are not original.

A big thank you to ice-wolf325 for his/her review! (sorry, the underscore btw ice and wolf always gets warped, so I'm using'-'s instead)

To ice-wolf325, this chapter is dedicated to you, hope my punctuation meets with ur standards!

Chapter 6 Happy Moments

"So, you are Kerrayrlia, the lady friend my son often speaks about. I am very pleased to meet you," Lord Marshal Revay Arian smiled. He was a portly middle-aged man who still managed to retain some of the charm that he must have possessed when he was younger. His thinning gold hair was cut short, close to his ears, which gave him a distinguished look. Yet anyone who thought that he was a soft old man was going to be in trouble, Kerrayrlia could see. His flashing green eyes alone told her as much. This was a man who would be trouble incarnate if crossed. Kerrayrlia thought that she had finally found the source of Zarien's piercing grey eyes and intense demeanor.

The object of her thoughts was currently the opposite of his usual self. Kerrayrlia thought she saw a blush creep across his face as Zarien protested, "Father, Kerri and I are just that: friends and nothing more. She's a friend, father, a friend of mine from the Bardic Collegium. " Zarien's protest amused Kerrayrlia to no end; it seemed ages ago when she had suspected that Zarien had an ulterior motive… Then again, he might not want his father to know if he had an ulterior motive. Doubt started to plague her again. I only came to this party because I had promised that I would. I hope that…I won't have cause to regret that promise.

The party that the Lord Marshal was holding was being held in the garden of the Lord Marshal's townhouse, beneath the night sky spangled with stars. Candles, which were closely tended to by servants, were set all over the garden on intricate metal stands, in order to achieve adequate lighting. Pages dressed in pale blue livery were in charge of serving nibbles to the various lords and ladies in attendance. Ah yes, the lords and ladies. All dressed to the nines in their expensive clothes, each striving their very best to outdo their peers. Yet interspersed amongst the gaily coloured peacocks were pure, magnificent doves who were no less striking in their simple white plummage. Dressed all in Formal Whites, the Heralds, in their simplicity, presented a brilliant contrast to the opulent lords and ladies.

Lord Marshal Revay's words drove her thoughts out of her mind. "She is the first lady friend you've ever brought to a party, my son. The ladies at Court were all starting to wonder if you are shaych." That was an interesting development, certainly not something Kerrayrlia had expected given Zarien's devastatingly attractive looks. "Just because I'm not interested in the Court…ah, socialites, Father, does not mean that I am shaych. The ladies at Court have tastes that are just too…refined for me. As for Kerri, she came with me because she is interested in the story between Bard Stefan and you, not because of me or my…meager charms."

"Nicely put, my son. The first part was quite polite, although your last sentence was a bit sharp. We'll make a diplomat out of you yet. As for Kerrayrlia," he glanced at her with an apologetic smile. "I'm afraid I do not have the time to tell you the story now. Get Zarien to bring you along for a visit next time, and I'll make time. Duty calls and I must…interact with the - socialites, as Zarien so nicely put it."

Kerrayrlia nodded and smiled. It was a genuine smile, directly from her heart. The Lord Marshal had made her feel at ease at a party where she was a stranger. Once he was out of hearing however, Kerrayrlia turned on Zarien, eyes barely narrowing. "The Lord Marshal's eldest son…" It was a flat statement, devoid of any emotions, but somehow, Zarien winced upon hearing it. He shrugged, grinned sheepishly and looked into her eyes. "I thought everyone knew. It's not exactly the latest news, you know." He became serious and said, "I'll never inherit anyway, since I'm a Herald Trainee. Somehow, it wasn't that important a fact to mention explicitly to anyone."

Kerrayrlia's eyes softened. She started to say something, when the sound of laughter cut in. Kerrayrlia turned her head and frowned. "I'm sorry; I did not mean to interrupt. But, brother, what you just said seemed so different from what the younger Zarien would say." The laughter belonged to a woman with sleek dark brown hair who looked to be about twenty. Her grey eyes sparkled as she reached forward and tugged at Zarien's Formals. "You look really like a proper Herald Trainee, brother mine, and not at all like the trouble-maker you used to be." Zarien faked being pained for a moment; "Ouch, I'm wounded, 'Rielle. You're embarrassing me in front of Kerri." The lady laughed again, then reached out and gathered Zarien into a hug.

After a moment, they separated. As Kerrayrlia watched them, she felt an unfamiliar pang. When she realized the reason behind that, her jaws almost dropped open. But her self-control was too good for that. Sweet lady, that was homesickness that I felt! But I haven't felt anything like it since I left home. Sure, I've written letters back to Sofi and Felly, but I've never thought of them much except when I went back to visit them during the Midwinter holidays. I've never been very close to anyone, except Mother, who is dead now…

With that realization, she started thinking again of her family. She recalled memories of her sisters, kind and cheerful Sofina, cheeky but sweet Fellyna and her little brother, shy Jerwain, who must be nearly six now. Yet the darker facets of her family crept into her mind. Her father, whom she doubted had changed his lascivious habits since she left. Her father's second wife, gullible and petty Leestara, who had by now given birth to a brood of children, despite being married to her father only for five years. Let's see, Sofi's letter said something about twins; Lena and Stariel, I think. Both are not even one year old, and I haven't seen them before. And of course, there is spoilt, bad-tempered Ceralyce…

"I've missed you, brother." The lady's soft, warm voice cut into her thoughts. "We've rarely seen you since you became a Trainee. The whole family misses you." Zarien smiled, teasingly. "By the word "family", I assume you mean yourself, 'Rileen and 'Ris, instead of Tanvis, Joserlyn, and the rest of the Ashkevrons, right?" Turning to Kerrayrlia, he grinned. "Sorry to have neglected you for so long, Kerri. This is my eldest sister, Zarielle Arian Ashkevron. She's married to Tanvis Ashkevron, the…let me see, eldest true-born nephew of Herald-Mage Vanyel. And she has been rather preoccupied with her new family of late." The last was said in a mock-whisper, as Zarien winked conspirationally at Kerrayrlia. He gave a small yelp as the lady proceeded to cuff him lightly on the head. Grinning, he turned back to Kerrayrlia. "Sister, this is my friend, Kerrayrlia Lestatras. She is a Bardic Trainee who prefers to be called Kerri."

With a scowl at her brother, Zarielle Arian Ashkevron turned to Kerrayrlia and gave her a smile as bright as her yellow dress. "Isn't he irritating, Kerri? He can be really annoying when he sets his mind to it." Kerrayrlia had half-expected Zarielle to be formal and polite. It would certainly have suited her first impression of the lady, with her elegant full dress and glossy hair pulled into a knot at her neck. Lowering her mask a little, she responded, "Oh, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference, Lady Zarielle. Zarien's like that most of the time."

Zarielle's laughter was akin to the sound of the tinkling raindrops. As Zarien mock-glared at both of them, she patted Kerrayrlia on the shoulder and winked. "I'm glad to have meet you, Kerri. Take care of Zarien for me, won't you? He needs a caretaker. To keep him out of mischief" Winking at Kerrayrlia, she drifted away from their group sedately, leaving Zarien spluttering, caught between amusement and exasperation.

At last, he shook his head resignedly. "Since 'Rielle gave birth to little Joserlyn, she has been quite motherly towards my younger brother and me. But I'd never expected her to become a gossip, much less say that to you... It seems that my family thinks you're my, uh, girlfriend."

Kerrayrlia raised her eyebrows at that. Does Zarien really not have a girlfriend? Somehow, Kerrayrlia found that hard to believe. And she could not believe that Zarien's family thought that she was Zarien's girlfriend. I'm just a Bardic Trainee, not especially pretty or anything. I don't have Court connections and I'm not high-born either. Why would Zarien's family think I'm his girlfriend?

Shaking her head, Kerrayrlia said uncomfortably, "Why would they think that? Surely they must credit you with better taste than having me as your girlfriend…" Zarien looked into Kerrayrlia's eyes with utmost seriousness, his intense grey eyes sparkling in the candlelight. "You're beautiful, Kerri. You're also intelligent and talented. That combination is enough to make anyone think that I'm smitten with you."

Kerrayrlia shifted her weight almost unnoticeably. However, Zarien caught the gesture and frowned mentally. What is she thinking? Have I offended her? Maybe I shouldn't have said that; it was too intimate. Strange. I seem to forget myself around her. "I'm going to take a walk," Kerrayrlia stated abruptly, shocking Zarien out of his trail of thoughts. When she caught sight of Zarien's face however, she softened her expression and curved her lips into a slight smile. "I'm not angry at you, Zarien. There are some things that I need to think through." Zarien heaved a mental sigh of relieve, then nodded slowly. Without another word, Kerrayrlia turned away.