Redemption

Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns all of PotS. Everything you recognize is hers; everything you don't recognize is mine.

A/N: Originally, this was part of the previous chapter, but I had to work with it a little more. Everyone seemed to like the fluff from the last chapter, so I'm sorry that this is another transition chapter. Plot does matter! I promise more fluff next time. Thanks again for the great reviews!

Snake Pit

Joren nervously ran his hands through his loose hair. Moments ago, everything in his world was fine. He had slept until midday and his headache was gone. Of all his guests, most of whom had also slept late, only Lady Keladry had departed. Joren had known that the commander would return to the fort as soon as possible. When he finally got up, Joren planned to surprise Lady Celeste with a late 'brunch-in-bed' tray, but when he entered her room, everything looked neat and tidy - as though no one had slept there recently. When he asked his mother if Sir Alwin and Celeste had departed early, she told him no. Now Joren was confused and he really didn't like the way the hair on the back of his neck was standing up.

"But, Mother, isn't the second room on the left the one that Lady Celeste has been staying in?" Joren had asked. "I know that's the room I came out of this morning."

"Yes, Lady Celeste did stay there when she was visiting after the earthquake," said Lady Virryn in a casual tone. "However, this time she asked to stay in a room closer to where her brother's room was, especially since we were expecting so many other guests. I believe Lady Keladry stayed in the room to which you are referring. Of course, she was up with the dawn and gone after breakfast. We had a lovely conversation before she departed."

"Lady Keladry stayed in that room?" asked Joren as the color drained from his face. "The second room on the left? The room that's empty now?" "Kel ... stayed ... there ... in that room?"

"Yes, Joren." replied Virryn firmly. "Why do you ask? Is there something wrong? I thought the maid already cleaned that room."

"I was sure that ... I thought that ..." Joren continued to comb his fingers through his hair absentmindedly. "I have to check on something." And he hurried down the long hallway until he saw Sir Alwin sitting in a chair reading over some notes.

"Good day, Alwin," Joren tried to sound calm. "Is your sister up and about?" "Please, please, please ..."

"Hello, Joren," Alwin looked up. "I believe she is packing up her things. We'll be heading back to Jennsmont later this afternoon. Celeste was rather upset that you never came to console her after the incident with the spilled wine. Frankly, I told her to grow up and realize that you have to seek greener pastures than hers." And he winked at Joren knowingly.

Joren was appalled that Celeste's brother could refer to her so crudely, but then he realized that he hadn't been the best example of polite chivalry toward his friend's widow either. He knew he had used Celeste before, but now he thought that they had just experienced the most wonderful night of his life together. Joren wanted Celeste to know that he would always cherish the memory of it. He couldn't bear to let her go completely if they had the potential to have such amazing intimacy. Joren was more confused than ever.

"Is everything alright with Celeste now?" Joren spoke slowly. "Is she in her room?" "This can't be happening! Why isn't she in that other room?"

"Sure, she'll probably speak civilly to you now," Alwin gestured his head toward the next door down the hallway.

"Good morning, Celeste. How are you today?" greeted Joren as he poked his head inside the doorway. "Did you ... sleep well last night?" "Do you remember ... wasn't that you ... please tell me ...?"

"I'm fine," Celeste's voice was polite, yet distant. "Thank you for asking, but since you asked, it was rather chilly in my room last night. I waited for you, though I suppose you took my declaration seriously. After all, I did tell you not to expect anything more from me."

"I ... uh ..." mumbled Joren, until Celeste held up her hand to stop him. "Oh gods! Oh no, no, no ..."

"Joren, we've had fun haven't we?" she began, looking at him without any spark of passion. "I think it is best that we part as friends, don't you? Thank you for the lovely gown - I'm so glad the maid was able to remove that wine stain. I do hope you find what you're looking for, but if you don't ... well ... Jennsmont is not too far away." She shrugged casually and returned to packing her things.

Joren could only nod his head as he began to realize that Celeste had just dismissed him. There was no way that she would have waved him off without mentioning last night's activities unless ... unless she hadn't been involved. And if Celeste was not the incredibly passionate woman with whom Joren had spent the most exciting night of his life, then who...? "No, no, no ... that's impossible!"

Lady Virryn looked up from her knitting to see her son standing in the doorway. He was panting from having run up and down the hallway, checking different rooms and greeting the lingering guests. She smiled a wry smile, knowing that Joren was a smart boy and that he would soon understand at least part of what happened last night. She waited patiently as Joren slowly came into the room and closed the door behind him. When he stood directly in front of her, Virryn put her knitting aside and looked into Joren's haunted eyes.

"Mother, do you know something that I don't know? What's going on here?" asked Joren warily, as Lady Virryn sat smugly in her big comfortable chair. "I know you've done something - I can see it in your eyes. I just can't imagine ... what?"

"I have insured the future of Stone Mountain," she replied calmly. "After all my years of faithful devotion, the Great Mother Goddess is finally answering my prayers. She allowed me to see you awake and well again. You are a full knight and you have taken your father's place as Lord of Stone Mountain. And now, I will live to see your heir. The Goddess had assured me of that."

"What do you mean by that? What are you talking about?" Joren was trying to make sense of what his mother had just told him. "Mithros! What has she done?"

Lady Virryn reached into her pocket and pulled out the little green glass vial. She held it up in front of her face and saw that it was still over half filled. A slow smile spread across her face. Watery pale blue eyes locked on to bright sky blue eyes.

"I trust you had a splendid time last night. The crone told me you would - and Lady Keladry, too, I imagine - although there's no telling who she thought she was with." Virryn began to explain to Joren about the potion and how it worked, as well as how she had acquired it. Then Joren's mother scolded her son for wasting so much time dallying with the barren Lady Celeste. Virryn admitted that while Keladry of Mindelan's 'pedigree' would never have satisfied Joren's father, she deemed the lady knight not only worthy, but highly desirable as a bearer of future Stone Mountain heirs. Finally, she explained to him how she had received the stone necklace from the high priestess at the temple of the Goddess. She knew it came from the Goddess herself because of the perfection of each tiny stone.

"The priestess said that there was a powerful spell embedded in the stones. As long as the wearer has it around her neck, no pregnancy charm in the world can do its work." Virryn's smile became wistful and her eyes unfocused as though she was having a vision. "So now the Goddess has given me every advantage I could hope for in this stage of my life. Joren, I couldn't give you brothers, but I will make sure that you have sons."

Joren stood there, dumbfounded. His mind couldn't even form words to ask a coherent question. So many thoughts were bouncing around inside his head; all he could do was to plop down in the chair across from his mother. Virryn gently patted her son's hand and watched his face as he processed all the information she had just given to him. Suddenly Joren withdrew his hand as though he had touched fire.

"Mithros, Mother! What have you done? You ... you should have told me!" he exclaimed. "I could have ... I would have ..." "What does this mean? Did Kel and I...? Oh no, NO, that can't be what happened!"

"What, Joren?" interrupted Virryn, a hard edge seeping into her voice. "You could have stopped romancing your mistress? I know the gifts you've given to her - the latest one being that dress she wore last night, just like the dress you gave to me." She laughed bitterly. "You're so much like your father. He would bring me marvelous gifts, too. And then I found out that his mistresses received the same or similar gifts at the same time. I know it's my fault for turning a blind eye and indulging the both of you. I kept hoping and praying that all the running around might eventually produce at least a bastard. But now, the Goddess wants me to rely on her benevolence, so we will follow her instructions and rebuild the Stone Mountain line. Who knows? With Lady Keladry's strengths and your own good traits, we may yet provide the realm with great warriors far into the future."

Joren sat there with his mouth open and his face a deep red. Again, he was speechless. He could not believe that his refined and frail mother was talking about him and Kel as though he was a stud horse and Kel was a brood mare. Joren never would have suspected his mother of such conniving and trickery. He never before realized the longing in her soul for heirs for Stone Mountain. But then he remembered back to one of his very early 'visits' when he was in the Chamber. He had experienced his mother's longings - painfully. Joren had felt how much she wanted more children. His mother's actions now should not shock him, but he felt as if he had been pole-axed anyway. No child wants to think about his parents knowing the details of his intimate life.

"Mother, I ... I don't know what to think about all this," Joren admitted. "Oh gods! What do I do now?"

"Well, Joren, the beauty of this plan is that you really don't have to think much about anything at all," explained Virryn. "I want you to continue to train with the lady knight. Spend time with her at the fort. Be nice to her. See if she begins to respond to you in any way. I will invite Lady Keladry here for another visit, and she must wear the stone necklace again. It will be up to you if you would prefer to have your illusion, or if you'd rather start learning to love her for yourself. She really is a fascinating young woman and I am growing rather fond of her. But I do think it will be best if we dose her drink, though. I understand she threw you out of her bedroom when you were training at the fort, so we'll just have to give her time to get used to you. Yes, it will be better for Lady Keladry to enjoy her illusions while she can."

Now Joren's face showed his complete dismay.

"Don't look at me like that!" Lady Virryn snapped. "You should appreciate what I've done and what I'll continue doing. If I let you do what you want to do, we'll all die and the House of Stone Mountain will perish. The King would probably give our lands to some unworthy commoner with a sword - or worse yet; divide up the quarries amongst our neighbors. I know Jennsmont would jump at the chance. No, my son, this way will work out for the best. You'll see." And she outlined the rest of her plan to Joren, who could only sit there, shamefaced and horrified, and wonder about the 'snake pit' in which he had been raised.

A/N: Mwahaha ... cue the ominous background music. Please R&R. Thanks!