Disclaimer:
I don't own the characters.
A/N
The results for the poll are out. They won't be up long, as soon as I
update me other story the poll results for it will be going up.
I
knew I had started this chapter, and got mad when I couldn't find it
anywhere, then I realized I had started writing it out during math
class meaning it was on a sheet of paper and not the computer.
Kel's
POV
I woke up later than usual, the sun
had already risen by the time I got out of bed. Stretching I found my
clothes and put out food for Jump and the sparrows. I finished
getting dressed and headed for Raoul's room. The door opened, and no
one was inside. I shut the door, and left for the King's Own mess
hall. There was no sign of Raoul there, but I spotted Dom sitting
with Lerant. I grabbed some food from one of the servers and sat down
next to Dom, "Either of you know where Raoul is?"
Dom laughed, "He left a few minutes ago. He was called to a meeting with the King and Alanna about something. He told me to tell you that your free until he finds you."
I finished eating and stood up, "Well then I guess I'll go find Neal."
I started with Neal's room, hoping that he had slept in. I knocked on his door with no luck. I walked towards the next place he could be. I hesitated outside the room taking a deep breath before entering. Neal was inside, and sitting alone. I walked over to where he was and sat down across the table from him. He still had food on his plate, having left the vegetables untouched. I raised my eyebrows at him, and he picked his fork up and began eating them. I smiled and put my head down on the table. I wasn't tired, I knew that, but I felt like all my energy had been drained out of me. I heard Neal place his fork down. I looked up as he reached over and touched my forehead. I felt something enter me, meaning he was trying to use his magic to see if I was sick. I heard the door open and turned my head to see who it was. "You know Neal, if you like a girl, you should use a different way to show her."
Joren
had came in through the door, and didn't understand the situation. I
shook my head lightly, "I'm fine Neal. It's just with
everything that's happened lately, I'm a little off."
Joren
smiled, "Everything that's happened, you mean your
disappearance, or after you returned?"
I took another deep breath to help me calm and keep my face composed. "I would definitely have to say after Joren. Some of them were surprising."
He sat next to me. Neal glared at him. I felt Joren's hand rub against my leg, but said nothing, I didn't want Neal to start a fight over this. I have proven time and time again that I can beat Joren on my own. I moved my hand down and grabbed his. I moved it away from my leg, and went to pull it back to my side, but Joren held on. I dropped my hand down hoping that Neal didn't think to much about the movement. I smiled at Neal, "What's your plans for today?"
"Lady Alanna has me working in the infirmary with my father while she is busy. After I'm done eating I am to report to the infirmary."
"Always studying medicine, right?"
"From a case of sniffles, to an epidemic if she could."
I laughed, Neal always had a way to over exaggerate things. He stood up and took his plate to the counter, waving just before he went through the door. I waved back before turning towards Joren, "Let go of my hand."
"I'd rather not. Actually, I want you to come with me."
"No."
"I didn't ask now did I?"
"Doesn't mean I'll go."
"Oh the horror, if news gets out that Kel can't stand to be away from the any man for any length of time gets out, you may not be able to complete your training."
"I thought you said you changed."
"I have, but that doesn't mean I won't get what I want."
He tightened his hold on my hand and started to walk away from the table. I followed, only because it would hurt after a while. Joren lead me straight to his room. I followed him inside, ready for a fight. He sat down on the bed and left me standing there alone. He motioned to the chair at his desk. "Please sit."
I carefully walked over to the chair and sat down, not knowing what to expect. "Kel, I should, no, I want, no, I need to apologize for the way I've been treating you since you came here. I don't know why, but I felt like I changed after you arrived."
He looked at me, and I just looked right back. His head titled to the side, as if he was studying me. "I used to only think of ladies in dresses, ready to dance, use their manners, and listen. You came and dressed like every guy, your dance was a deadly one, weapon and all, your manners, while good to those above you, you never hid your dislike of certain people, and never listened. Not once. The first time I tried to tell you to do something, you opposed, instead you stood your ground, leading to the fight. The worst part is, after that fight I never knew if I fought you because it felt good, or because it brought me closer to you. I'm amazed that you don't have the gift Kel, because you've done something to me and I will figure out what it is."
I didn't say a word, I just sat there staring at Joren. It had to be another one of his acts, trying to make me feel relieved in some way. Unless he was only telling me this to relieve his own guilt, or get something from me. "Kel, I have no clue what it is, but I swear I will find out."
With that he closed the distance between us and pressed his lips against mine. I didn't feel the same as when Roald kissed me, but it was something. I had missed the closeness of someone being near by. It may have only been a day since Roald had told me the news, but it felt like years had passed by between now and then. I felt Joren tried to deepen the kiss, but I pushed him away. "No, not yet. I can't."
He pulled away and looked directly into my eyes. "Your not over him yet are you?"
"Not yet."
"Well then I'll help you forget."
He leaned forward to kiss me again, but I stopped him. "Not right now. Although if you wouldn't mind?"
"If I wouldn't mind what?"
"Sword practice, spar with me. Help me at least get him off my mind."
"That I can do."
He grabbed his sword and took my hand before leaving his room. He led me to my old room in the squires dorm. I shook my head slightly and pulled him along to the room next to Raoul's. I grabbed my own sword and let him lead me down to the practice room. We spent the next hour trying to get the other to back down. Neither of us even thought about stopping until I could hear my name being called. Raoul was walking towards us. "Kel, you are to come with me."
I put my sword back in its scabbard and began to follow Raoul back inside. "Kel," Joren shouted, "Are you going to come eat with the rest of the squires tonight?"
"I guess I can." I said smiling, "As long as I have someone to help keep my mind clear."
"Well then, I'll find you so that you don't have to worry."
Raoul looked between the two of us, and lifted an eyebrow questioningly. "He is helping me. For now we are friends, we may become enemies again, but only the gods know what will happen. So for know he is a friend. What are we doing?"
"The king wishes to speak to you about a few different events that have happened. You must speak truthfully."
"Yes sir."
A/N I know you all want to kill me over the whole Joren thing, but I wouldn't worry to much about it. All you have to review, and I shall type the next chapter, and you can be informed as to what is happening with the King, Raoul, and Kel.
