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

The rest of Kel's friends muttered an apology to Kel who quickly accepted them; she hated fighting with her friends.

"Oh! I nearly forgot. Boys, this is Matt. I'm sure you've all heard of him."

She rolled her eyes; all her friends should remember the incident with Neal and Camellia at dinner that night. She quickly banished that thought. It brought back memories of the other times when Camellia had been at dinner. Painful memories.

Chapter 9

After the quick introductions Kel grabbed Matt's arm and started dragging him towards the practice court doors.

"Kel? Where are we going?"

"We are going to see Daughter Sandra. I have to go shopping if I want to be presentable tomorrow night! It would be no use for me to turn up in a less then fashionable gown if I am going to be escorted by the Shang...what did you say was your naming again?"

Matt smiled craftily, "I didn't."

Kel huffed and started walking faster. Kel's friends watched them proceed out the doors and heard Kel's dieing voice say,

"Have you always walked this slow? I seem to remember different..."

Roald chuckled.

"None of you can say she hasn't given you any reasons to believe she's a girl now can you?"

"No. I don't suppose we can, can we?" said Merric weakly.

All eyes turned to Neal. Kel was his best friend but he had yet to say anything. He was still staring at the door she had just exited.

"How come it took me this long to realise how beautiful she is?" He murmured.

Kel and Matt had just arrived at Daughter Sandra's door, only slightly out of breath. Kel had run out of patience and had forced Matt to run with her. Kel knocked sharply on the door and a few seconds later they could hear a key rustling around in the door. It was Melody who opened the door.

"Kel! What are you doing here?" she asked somewhat confusedly.

"Is Daughter Sandra around?"

"Yes, she's just inside, come in. Your friend can come too."

Matt flashed Melody a grin. Melody just turned and walked into the room. Kel slipped her Yamani Blank Face on to keep herself form laughing. The last time she had seen Melody blush that much was...well...never! Not even when she had to come to the Mess Hall to talk to Lord Wyldon on Kel's behalf and had been surrounded by sighs from the present Pages and Squires throughout the entire meal. The situation in its self had been hilarious for Kel. She still grinned just from the thought.

Kel walked through the door, immediately slipping into 'Lady Mode'. Her posture was suddenly straighter and her walk was suddenly more graceful. She seemed to ooze confidence. Matt, of course, found this change exceptionally funny and struggled not to burst out laughing.

A quick glare from Kel quelled any thoughts he might have wanted to say out loud. To an outsider this would have seemed incredibly funny. An obviously powerful warrior quailing under the glare of a mere woman? What was the world coming to?

After a quick chat with Daughter Sandra, Kel strode out of the room with a small, satisfied smile on her face. Daughter Sandra was going to talk to Lord Wyldon about her being presented the next night and she was having her dress measurements taken within the hour.

The girls had talked in hushed voices about what they wanted the dress to be like and no matter how hard Matt had tried to overhear or coax out of them the plans remained a secret. Matt followed Kel out of the room a bit dejectedly, he wasn't used to Kel not telling him something. Kel had to resist the urge to smile at the look on his face.

She patted him sympathetically on the arm and said, "Don't worry Matt you'll find out soon enough."

When they reached Kel's rooms (after a small detour to the kitchens to satisfy Matt's rumbling stomach) Kel was happy to see that the seamstress was already there ready to take her measurements. Kel hurried inside apologizing profusely to the seamstress for keeping her waiting. Kel quickly stood on the stool provided by the seamstress that was placed in the center of the room. It wasn't till a fair few minutes later that Kel realised that Matt hadn't followed her into the room. I wonder where he's' gone? Kel wondered idly.

By the time the seamstress had finished taking Kel's measurements and had consulted with her on the colour and style of the dress it was time for dinner. It wasn't until Kel had opened the door to her rooms intent on going to dinner that she realise that she hadn't seen Matt all afternoon. She shrugged it off. Matt was an expert at disappearing when he wanted to.

When Kel saw that Neal was lounging outside her room she greeted him while locking the door to her rooms and slipping the key safely into her pocket. It wasn't till they started their slow walk towards the mess hall that Kel realised that Neal had that look on his face that he wanted to say something important. She stopped and looked at him, one eyebrow raised. Neal took a deep breath.

"Kel...I'm really sorry," Kel opened her mouth to protest, "no, don't interrupt me, it'll be easier for me if I can get all this out in one go." Kel closed her mouth. "I'm sorry I didn't realise how much you hate Camellia. I'm sorry I went behind your back about Camellia."

A small smile graced Kel's face. Back to Camellia now is he? What will precious Ellia think of this?

"I'm sorry that I kept things from you and didn't expect you to do the same thing to me. I'm sorry I wasn't the first one to notice that you went missing everyday. I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you told me that you were having 'lady lessons'. I'm sorry I did so many things that need apologizing for and...uh...well...I'm really sorry...please forgive me?

Kel's smile grew.

"As I said earlier Neal, how could I stay mad at you for long?"

There was a slight pause before Neal held out his arms, hoping for a hug, much like he had done earlier on. Kel jumped eagerly into his arms for the hug. Kel's heart thumped loudly against her chest. Afraid that Neal would feel or hear it she hurriedly withdrew from the hug.

She gave him a huge smile and tugged on his hand so that they were walking towards the mess again. She coaxed her Yamani Blank face back on from force of habit. Neal frowned at this. After a short while Kel ventured with a sheepish smile,

"Do you forgive me for not telling you about Matt sooner? I was planning on telling you a month or so before he came to the palace but I didn't realise that he was coming so soon and then Camellia told you first and well, that kind of messed things up."

Neal stopped and put his hands on Kel's shoulders forcing her to look at him.

"What sort of best friend would I be if I didn't for give you for something like that when just a few minutes ago you forgave me for numerous things?"

Kel's smile grew larger as she gave Neal a quick but forceful hug. She grabbed his hand again and tugged him along. Just as they were about to enter the mess hall Neal murmured,

"You know that you're the nest friend a man can ever have, don't you Kel?"

Kel looked at Neal in shock before a slight blush rose up on her cheeks. A smirk appeared on Neal's face. Seeing this Kel quickly retorted in a teasing tone,

"Well I'll just have to find a man the won't I?"

Neal looked at her with shock written all over his face. Kel hid a smile and made her way towards the food line, picking up a plate for both her and Neal. By the time Neal had joined her she had piled a big heap of vegetables on both their plates.

"Keeeel," Neal whined, "I haaate vegetables."

"Too bad," retorted Kel.

"Nobody can make me eat them!" said Neal with a triumphant smile.

Kel turned back to Neal and raised and eyebrow. Neal looked panicked for a second before saying,

"Besides you Mother Dearest."

He quickly shoveled a spoonful of vegetables into his mouth with a slight grimace. Kel smirked and turned back to the selection of pastries. The servants in the kitchen chuckled openly at Neal's predicament but tried to smother them when he turned to glare at them.

When they had both collected all the food they wanted Kel and Neal made their way towards their usual table at the back. After a few minutes they had been joined by all their fellow classmates and were waiting for the arrival of Lord Wyldon. Kel had ended up sitting across from Neal with Roald on her left and empty space on her right. There weren't enough Pages and Squires to fill the entire hall so they had been instructed to leave six or seven yards of table spare at the back end of the three rows of tables in the hall incase they had unexpected guests.

Tonight was no exception. When Lord Wyldon finally entered the mess hall (4 minutes late) he was accompanied by at least twelve other men. Everyone was craning their necks to see if they knew the newcomers. Kel glanced at Neal as he half stood in his seat to wave energetically at one of the men. Kel saw an extremely handsome man with black hair waved back with a hearty grin on his face.

"Who's that?" Merric hissed at Neal.

"My cousin," Neal whispered back, "he's the youngest Sergeant in the Kings Own. He's with the Third Company."

"What's his na-" started Kel but Lord Wyldon interrupted her as he started to speak.

"As you may have noticed we have many guests this evening. The majority of them are a squad from the Third Company of the Kings Own. They have, unfortunately, missed their own supper so they will be joining you. Tonight, we also have Lord Matthew of Genola. He has recently acquired a Shang title and there will be a ball held tomorrow night in his honour." He sniffed disdainfully. "Lord Matthew has requested that all Pages twelve years and over attend the ball after serving at the feast." He glared around the hall as excited whispers broke out. "I expect all of you to be on you best behaviour." He glared around the hall again for good measure.

He then turned to the men that were waiting his signal of approval that they could get their food. He nodded to them. The soldiers raced towards the food line jostling each other along the way.

"Lord Matthew? Sergeant Domitan?" called Lord Wyldon. Matt and the handsome black-haired man that Kel knew was Neal's cousin turned to look at him.

"You are both invited to join me at my table."

Matt smiled at him and gave a short bow, "I would be delighted."

Kel was a bit disappointed that Matt would not be joining them but she supposed it was for the best.

Neal's handsome cousin also bowed but said, "I would prefer to eat with my men if you don't mind My Lord. I also have family in this room that I haven't had a chance to humil- I mean, talk to face-to-face in a long while-"

Neal leaned across the table towards Kel and said in a secretive whisper, "That's me!"

Kel could barely hide her smile. She saw Neal's cousin and his men walking towards them. All of them had big grins on their faces and obviously (to Kel) were up to something. They quickly sat down on the spare table behind Kel's group of friends with Neal's cousin ending up next to Kel. Up close, Kel realised, Neal's cousin was as breathtakingly handsome as Neal. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by Lord Wyldon starting the evening prayer.

"So mote it be," murmured the hall.

Kel chanced a glance at Matt and he winked at her. Instead of ducking her head like she would normally Kel winked back at him. Kel turned to introduce herself to Neal's cousin.

"Hello," she said smiling warmly, "I'm K-"

Domitan cut her off, "you're the beautiful Keladry of Mindelan, I've heard so much about you." He quickly grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips kissing it lightly. His eyes sparkled with mischief. Kel glanced at the rest of his men and saw that they kept darting looks between the two of them and Neal trying to hold back laughter. Kel saw Domitan sneak a glance at Neal and smirk so she turned her head slightly in his direction and saw that Neal's face had turned an interesting shade of red. Kel quickly deduced what was going on and decided to play along.

She giggled and brought a hand up to shield her mouth. Her friend's mouths dropped. Kel smiled prettily at Domitan and acting very much the flirtatious court lady said in a sugary voice,

"How is it that a handsome young man such as yourself knows of an insignificant name such as mine?"

He kissed her hand again and replied with a flirtatious smile, "How could a man not know the name of a beauty such as you?"

At this point they were both struggling not to laugh. They both glanced at Neal at the same time to see how he was holding up and their façade was lost one they saw that he was as red as a ripe tomato with his mouth opening and closing soundlessly making him look like an angry fish. They collapsed on each other laughing their heads off creating quite a scene. Many head around the hall turned to look at the commotion.

"Oh Meathead, that was hilarious!" cried Domitan wiping his eyes.

"Neal you should have scene your face!" said Kel also wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

Suddenly she stopped and turned to the Sergeant beside her. She held out her hand and grinned.

"Thank you! That's the most hilarious thing I've seen all day!"

"Always willing to serve a lady," replied Domitan with another flirtatious grin, shaking her hand.

"I don't believe we've met," she replied rolling her eyes a bit at his flirting but still grinning.

"Ah yes, how thoughtless of me! Seeming as Meathead over there," he jabbed a finger in Neal's direction, "is currently incapable of speaking," Neal started spluttering, "I'll introduce myself. My name is Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle of the Third Company of the Kings Own, but please call me Dom."

Kel grinned. "Will do Dom. I see no need to introduce myself, as you already know who I am. However I shall introduce my friends."

Kel proceeded in pointing at people around the table ticking off their names on her fingers as she went. Dom then did the same as Kel introducing the other members of his squad. Kel smiled and shook hands with all of them.

By the time they were finished Neal had recovered enough to speak. Kel hid a smile as she glanced at him. Dinner proceeded normally after that. Kel and Dom fast becoming friends to Neal's displeasure. The men had already returned with and eaten half of their third helpings by the time Kel picked up on the interesting nickname Dom had for Neal.

"Why do you call him Meathead?"

Neal scowled as Dom grinned at Kel.

"Well...my men and I are a close knit group so we have taken up the practice of reading out all letters that we receive to each other and because Neal always has his head up in the clouds about some court lady or," here he smirked at Neal, "some other ladies," Neal paled and shot Dom a pleading look before glancing at Kel, "we came up with the nickname of Meathead. Don't you think it suits him?" a grinning Dom inquired

Kel rolled her eyes and suppressed a grin as she glanced in Neal's direction.

"Only sometimes."

Neal pouted at Kel and she mentally had to control herself from swooning. She succeeded barely suppressing a sigh of longing. By the end of the meal Kel and Dom had agreed to exchange letters, despite Neal's many attempts to persuade them otherwise, jealously written all over his face.

He sulkily told Dom, "I found her first go find another beautiful warrior maiden to flirt with."

Dom grinned and slipped his arm around Kel's waist bringing her closer to him.

"I rather like this one Meathead."

Neal scowled at Dom and then said with the air of a hardhearted noble, "The lady herself can choose."

They both immediately pouted in Kel's direction. Kel struggled to hold back a smile. She glanced around the rest of the table. Everyone had stopped to watch the exchange and were now watching Kel curiously, awaiting her decision.

"Do you really expect me to choose?"

They both nodded, their faces turning serious before returning to their pouts. The man sitting next to Neal, who Kel knew as Wolset, leaned over and said to Kel,

"It's always been a competition between them," he jerked a thumb in Neal and Dom's directions, "especially as to who the ladies like more."

He grinned wolfishly.

"Most women can't resist men form the Kings Own."

Neal scowled at him as Kel inwardly smirked. That was Wolset's way of saying that Dom usually won with competitions concerning the ladies. Kel put a thoughtful look on her face as she pretended to deliberate but in her mind the choice was clear. She gave Dom an apologetic look and said,

"I am afraid that I am going to have to choose Neal."

Neal grinned.

At the questioning look in Dom's eyes Kel blushed slightly and grinned just as wolfishly as Wolset had not a moment before and said, "I prefer green eyes to blue."

Kel's friends looked at her in shock. They had not expected such a girlish thing to come out of Kel's mouth. Neal poked his tongue out in Dom's direction, not that Dom saw it. His eyes still hadn't left Kel's. He searched her eyes for some thing and finally understanding dawned in Dom's eyes. One of his soldiers chuckled. Then another. A couple of minutes later they were all howling with laughter, once again creating a spectacle causing many head to turn in their direction.

When Wolset had caught his breath he explained to Kel and her friends that this was the first time since Dom had joined the Kings Own that a lady had chosen another man over him. A few of Kel's friends chuckled and Neal had a strangely triumphant look on his face.

Kel just shook her head and got up to leave the hall. She caught Neal's eye and he quickly jumped up to join her. Kel stopped quickly on their way out to speak to Matt and it was decided that Matt would pick her up from Daughter Sandra's rooms at the 7th bell of the evening. Neither Kel nor Neal spoke as they walked back to their rooms. Kel unlocked the door to her room and murmured a soft 'goodnight' to Neal.

Neal caught her wrist as she was about to walk into her rooms. He looked her straight in the eye and said,

"Thanks Kel. That meant a lot to me."

Kel smiled but said nothing. Just as she was about to turn into her rooms Neal quickly bent down and kissed Kel lightly on the lips. Neal blushed and hurried down to his rooms quickly unlocking his door and going inside. He glanced back at Kel as he was closing the door and saw her turning into her rooms, her fingers lightly brushing against her lips. She had a small smile on her face.

A glimmer of hope flared in Neal's chest. Maybe he still had a chance.