Disclaimer: All characters and places that you recognize are not owned by me.

Chapter 5

She and Camellia stood motionless for a few seconds before Camellia smirked at Kel and said, "Well, well, it has been a long time hasn't it Keladry."

Kel remained motionless.

"Tell me…are you and Matt still friends? I still have no idea what he saw in you and not in me, besides," she leaned closer and lowered her voice to a whisper so that no one but Kel could hear her, "he did say that I was the better kisser."

"Don't you dare bring Matt into this," she growled.

"MINDELAN. MANNERS!" barked Lord Wyldon.

Both Kel and Camellia jumped as they had forgotten where they were and who they were standing next to.

Kel gave Camellia a quick bow, as etiquette required, and said in a toneless voice, "Please follow me Lady Camellia," she saw her wince as the full name was used and inwardly smirked.

"Please it's just Lady Ellia." Said Ellia, she smiled prettily around the hall.

Her smile grew as sighs were heard from around the room. Kel stalked off in the direction of the now empty food line. She picked up a tray and said in a tight voice, "If you would tell me what you would like Lady Ellia I shall place it on your plate for you. Please take your time choosing."

After five minutes of 'uming' and 'ahing' she finally chose a small bowl of soup and four different pastries. Kel made her way carefully back to her table where, to her disgust, all her friends were waiting eagerly.

For some reason she didn't think that she was the one they were waiting for. As soon as they reached the table all Kel's friends jumped up and bowed to Camellia who curtsied back at them.

Kel eyed her friends with a look of disgust before she sighed as they all looked expectantly at her.

"Lady Camellia of Blue Glass this is Roald, the crown prince of Tortall, Cleon, Faleron, Seaver, Esmond and Neal." She pointed to each of them in turn. "Boys, this is Lady Camellia of Blue Glass."

Camellia took her tray of food from Kel's hands, pushed Kel's tray out of the way, placed her tray in front of where Kel in the middle of the table was sitting and sat down.

Kel shaking with fury leaned between Roald and Camellia grabbed her tray and stalked towards the end of the table, practically threw her tray down onto the table and plonked herself down and continued eating. She quickly slid her Yamani blank face into place.

After ten minutes of silent fuming. Kel got her emotions under control and started to tune into the conversation at her table. After a few minutes of listening to her friends try to flirt with Camellia she found that only Roald, Neal and Cleon were success.

Kel sighed, she knew that at least one of her friends if not all of them would be writing poetry to Cousin Ellia and she would be forced to listen to them because she had to good a heart to hurt her friend's feelings by refusing to listen.

Kel was startled out of her thoughts as Camellia addressed her in the same sickly sweet voice she had used to ask Kel to get the drinks on that fateful day, "So, Cousin Keladry…"

All Kel's friends exchanged surprise glances before fixing their gazes hungrily back on Ellia. A look of disgust appeared through Kel's Yamani blank face and a small smile appeared on Ellia's face.

"You still haven't answered my question."

"And which question might that be Cousin Camellia?"

The smile on Ellia's face grew. She leaned forward on the table placing her chin on her hands and said, "Are you and Matt still friends?"

When Kel stiffened and took her time answering the smile on Ellia's changed into a smirk.

Kel smiled and said in an almost innocent voice, "Actually yes, Matt and I see each other almost every holidays," she paused savoring the look of utter fury that was on Ellia's face, she had expected that Matt had dropped contact with both of them.

Her other friends looked on in confusion.

"And from what he's told me he hasn't seen you since 'the incident' and so that means that he can't have told you that you're the better kisser because he came running after me," she paused as if thinking, "besides," she grinned, "Matt's only done one experiment on you and he's done plenty more than that on me."

Neal and Roald, the smarter ones of the group, realizing exactly what she meant looked at each other completely shocked, before Neal frowned slightly and said, "But who's Matt?"

Ellia turned to Neal with a completely gleeful expression on her face.

Kel gave Neal a look that could kill. Neal quailed under the furious glare and mumbled, "Never mind."

"Oh no no no no no, really I insist on telling you," she paused for effect, "Matt, is Kel's best friend!"

Silence descended over the table as everyone tore their eyes away from Ellia and watched Neal's reaction. Neal looked at Kel with an extremely hurt expression, his green eyes begging for an explanation.

Ellia looked Neal over and mumbled, "Thank the gods she has taste!"

Kel opened her mouth to reply but struggled to find the right words, "Well Neal you see…" she was interrupted by the bell that signaled the end of supper and by Lord Wyldon's voice booming around the hall.

"Can Keladry of Mindelan please meet me in my office straight after the ring of the bell signaling one hour till bedtime. That will be all. You are dismissed."

Kel walked slowly back to her room trying to delay her first 'lady lesson'. Even though she liked pretty things and liked to get dressed up she didn't want to think about her friends reactions.

What if they rejected her? She was practically forcing them to see that she wasn't their 'sexless' friend. She was showing them her feminine side and she wasn't sure if they would like it. All that she knew was that if it wasn't for her friends she would have quit a long time ago.

Kel sighed. I guess I just won't tell them for as long as I can...I mean the longest it could be is two years right? Kel was uneasy at the thought. She mentally shuddered. Daughter Sandra should let me take my exam before then at least...I mean...it's not like I'm going to always be at the palace...unless my knight master is a desk knight...Kel shut off those thoughts, feeling uneasy. Kel paused as she reached her door.

She had been about to open it, knowing what, or whom, would be awaiting her inside when Neal called out to her, "Hey Kel! Aren't you coming to the library to study?"

Kel looked up and quickly slid on her Yamani mask before answering, "Uh...I'm going to write some letters home so I'll be along in a while."

"I guess I'll see you there." Said Neal with a strange look on his face.

Was that just me or did he look disappointed? Kel dismissed the thought immediately. Why would he be disappointed?

Her thoughts turned to her upcoming lesson. She took a deep breath and opened her door. She was surprised to see Daughter Sandra already in her room sitting comfortably in the armchair beside Kel's fireplace. When Kel entered Daughter Sandra gracefully stood and moved over to look at Kel.

Kel quickly shut the door behind her and turned around and bowed deeply to her murmuring, "Daughter Sandra."

"Stand up girl and turn around slowly, I want to see exactly what I am working with."

Kel complied with her wishes and as she was turning she noticed for the first time that there was another lady in her room who was taking notes on what Daughter Sandra was saying.

"Oh yes excellent posture...and it seems she has a natural grace in her movements...she'll be an excellent dancer..." then suddenly she said, "stop!"

Kel immediately stopped and found herself once again face to face with Daughter Sandra. Daughter Sandra eyes moved slowly over her face taking in every detail.

Then in a soft voice she said, "Having your hair back in a horsetail all the time helps to draw attention away from your face, and from your eyes."

She hastily broke off what she was saying and turned back to the other lady in the room.

"She will be my easiest student yet, I think she should be ready for her exams in a little over six months."

Kel stared at her in shock, she had thought that she would have had to have the lessons for the rest of her page years!

The other lady stood and said, "Well then, let's see exactly what you know." So for the next hour Kel was demonstrating all that she knew in the world of court, which, surprisingly enough was quite a lot.

For Kel, the next few months seemed to fly pass. She had explained to Neal about her and Matt and he seemed to accept was she said but it had taken him a few days to loosen up and treat her as he usually did.

She quickly learned to juggle her schoolwork and lady lessons, finding a perfect balance between the two. Many things had not changed, her cousin was still being a bitch towards her, her feelings for Neal had not changed, but if anything they had grown more intense.

Although she did not know, her friends had noticed subtle changes in her. They had finally noticed the small things, such as, how long her hair had grown, and how she seemed much more graceful.

It was Roald who first noticed her disappearances. He decided to confront her in private, rather than with an audience, as for which, Kel was very grateful. He caught up with her one Saturday afternoon, on the return walk from the markets.

"Hey Kel?"

"hmm?"

"Can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure. Shoot."

"Where do you disappear to every night and on some Sunday?"

Kel stopped in her tracks, before turning to Roald and shaking his hand smiling. "Oh well done Roald! I was wondering who would be the first to notice! I thought it might be Neal but he's been seeming a bit distant of late."

Roald just looked at her, slightly confused. Kel sighed.

"I suppose you want an explanation now?"

Roald nodded.

"Do you want to find somewhere to sit?" he asked.

Kel nodded and led him to a small bench that sat under one of the many trees lining the final few meters to the palace gates.

Half-an-hour later Roald sat back impressed.

"So when your exam?" he asked seriously.

"Next week." She said gloomily, but then she brightened. "Would you help me with that?"

"With what?"

Kel sighed in exasperation, "With my exam of course silly! You wouldn't really have to do much, dance two songs with me, a slow and a fast, and have two conversations with me, a flirty one, and one where you have to seem bored stiff with me...it wouldn't be too much to ask would it?"

Roald smiled slightly, "Not at all."

They both stood and started making their way towards the gates, Roald slinging an arm around her shoulders. They had identified themselves with the guards on the palace wall and were making their way through the gates when Roald started shaking with silent laughter.

Kel watched him warily, "uh...Roald? What's so funny?"

"Oh I'm sorry Kel, I'm just imaging the guys faces when you tell them that you've been taking Lady Lessons."

Kel smiled, "Yeh, I was thinking of not telling them until the night that I'm being presented. That way they have to accept it," She paused, looking slightly worried, "thought I am worried at what Neal's reaction might be...I mean we are supposed to tell each other everything."

By this time they had reached Roald's rooms, Kel just shrugged, "I guess I'll just take whatever he throws at me, besides, there are things he hasn't told me."

She made to walk away but Roald stopped her, "What hasn't he told you?" he asked in a soft voice, already knowing the answer.

Kel looked at Roald long and hard before saying, "His court life."

Roald just nodded and released her, watching her walk down the corridor. Just before she turned the corner, she looked back at Roald and said, "Could you please inform Neal of this fact, as well of all our other friends, and give my greetings to Lady Anais."

Roald watched her go, stunned. Well, that proves how well we boys can keep a secret...but how did she know I am courting Lady Anais? No one but Anais and myself know...ah...we have found the loophole...Kel must be on better terms with the court ladies then we thought.

Roald shook his head at the irony of it all. I wonder what else Kel is hiding behind that mask of hers?