DISCLAIMER: I don't anything by Tamora Pierce.

This is making up for not updating for so long. Another chappie!!!

Kel grimaced as she woke in the morning, knowing what the day was going to hold for her. Looking out the window was evidence enough that it was not yet dawn. Slowly and quietly, the page rose from her bed hoping not to wake the maid in the next room. Her sparrows protested softly and her new dog, Jump, didn't even twitch. She had saved Jump at the beginning of the school year stealing sausages from the cook. Kel still smiled about the event.

Shaking her head to clear it she noticed that her dressing gown was a bit tight. Trying to stretch all of her seams ripped and fell completely apart. She had to dive under her covers to keep her skin from the harsh air.

"What?" Kel asked disbelieving that her close had literally fallen apart. At her question a head popped out from behind a screen. Lalasa saw her and scurried into the room.

"You should have woken me." She said and then stopped, noticing Kel under the blankets and a pile of fabric on the floor. "What happened?"

Shrugging she answered, "I don't know. I was trying to stretch when it fell apart." Lalasa gathered the fabric and studied the seams.

"It looks as if milady needs a new dressing gown. I will have to make you a new one. And it looks as if you need your uniforms patched as well. I thought you were having trouble hiding your corset." Kel rubbed her nose grimacing.

"Yeah, and for some reason my chest hurts." Kel said trying to keep the blush from spreading across her face. Lalasa grabbed a robe and handed it to Kel turning her back to give her privacy. When Kel gave her permission to turn back around, the older girl laughed.

"Milady needs more clothes." Kel looked at her confused. When Kel looked at her dumbstruck, Lalasa became blunter. "It looks as if milady is going to need breast bands." Kel looked at horror at the two lumps on her chest.

"No breast bands. Just a better corset." Kel looked at the gown in the corner. "Alright, maybe a couple breast bands." Lalasa hid a smile and collected the money from Kel's desk.

"Milady, I will have it by midday. Remember to come here quickly after practicing." Kel nodded and looked at her maid.

"Lalasa, I told you to call me Kel." This was their continuous argument ever since Kel had hired the older girl on. Every time Lalasa changed the subject, as she did now.

"Why, it isn't even dawn yet milady. Are you having trouble sleeping?" Kel wasn't about to admit her feelings about a certain green eyed friend of hers to anyone.

"Not really, I just thinking about the stupid ball tonight. That reminds me, I have to find someone." Kel got dressed in her practice clothing and went in search of a fiery redhead.

When Kel found the door she knocked smartly on the door. After a loud 'thwump' and few curse words the door flew open. Kel looked straight into a pair of purple eyes. They looked at her and grimaced.

"Hello cousin, may I come in?" Kel pushed her way into the room and noticed George wearing breeches leaning on the door frame between their bedroom and sitting room. "Hello George."

"Kel, what in gods names are you doing here?" Alanna snapped as she pulled her robe around her tighter and slammed the door.

"Well, for one, I was wondering why I haven't heard from you. Two, why George has been telling quite a few people of who I really am, and three, what the Black Gods' name are you going on about bringing me to the ball." Kel said calmly, her Yamani mask now in place. It had been coming back ever since she had returned to the palace, no matter how long they had worked that summer to reverse it. She had lived the Isles longer than she had really thought.

"Oh." Alanna said sheepishly sitting in a chair near their now burning fire.

"Well then, I will leave you two at it." George disappeared back into the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Kel looked into the fire as Alanna took time to wake up.

"All right. I am sorry about not contacting you sooner." The older woman rubbed the back of her neck as Kel took a seat across from her. "I just thought that you would enjoy being a girl for a night. I know I did." Kel looked at her friend and nodded.

"I am sorry, but with all of this it just seems like I will never stop being surprised. I don't like to be surprised." She muttered as the Lioness chuckled. "Doesn't mean that you are going to get away with it."

"Fine." Alanna looked out the window. "Gods, it's not even dawn yet. Shoo. I am going to get some more sleep." Kel soon found herself looking at a closed door. Slowly Kel made her way back to her room, thinking about the ball, dejectedly.

"Well, up quite early aren't we?" Kel looked up and smiled. Joren was walking down the hall towards her.

"And what are you doing out of bed?" Kel asked hands on her hips. He just laughed and kept walking towards her. "Where are you going?"

"I am going to talk with my mother. Unlike my father, she loves me." Kel nodded and waved bye as he kept walking.

"Lalasa, why did you have to alter that part of it?" Kel put her hand over the low cut part of her gown. Lalasa had taken in the waist and let out the chest while cutting it lower. She had completely altered the gown. The sleeves ended at her wrists, making her hands look dainty and the collar of the dress accented her newly grown chest.

"Because I am accenting your best features." The front of her gown was a rich emerald with tiny stitches of silver making it look as if there were stars sewn into her dress. The dress had a low waistline accenting her slim stomach and hiding her muscled legs.

"Yeah, right." Kel was standing in Alanna's rooms getting ready. The woman changed Kel's hair back to her normal mousy brown. Her shoulder length hair had been curled and arranged on her head. The Lioness had given her silver hair pins to put into her hair, matching the star affect of her dress.

"Well, Kel, are you ready?" George asked from the next room. He and his wife were waiting for them. Kel looked at herself in the mirror and gasped. She looked beautiful, at least, as much as she could. The face paint and Lalasa had gotten onto her face was light, but evident.

"Milady, you look so pretty." Lalasa said tearfully. Kel looked dumbstruck at her maid.

"Not that pretty." Kel said and hugged her maid. When she entered the next room George whistled.

"Wow, you look wonderful Kel." Alanna said embracing her. She was wearing a purple dress that matched her eyes. It was plain, but looked wonderful on the older knight.

"Let's go." George said brightly and opened the door. Just as he did, he was nearly hit in the face by a rather flustered Neal.

"Well, if you two couldn't have taken all night. Have you seen Kel at all?" He asked hurriedly. Alanna pointed to Kel behind her and left with her husband, leaving the two alone. Neal looked at Kel and blushed.

"Well, do I look that bad?" Kel asked worried. She ran her hands on her skirt and looked at her gown.

"N-n-no, not at all." Neal stammered as he took her hands in his and placed her hand in the crook of his arm, leading her to the ball. "Do you mind if I escort you?"

"This is wonderful, thank you Neal." Kel smiled at him. He, too, was wearing emerald green. He noticed Kel looking at his clothes.

"Ahh, the King said that everyone going to ball is to represent their fief, not status. So I got to wear Queenscove colors. Do I look that bad?" Kel laughed at his stricken face.

"No, Neal, you look wonderful." Kel bit back the rest of her answer and looked anywhere but at Neal. She was fighting hard to keep her heart from racing and her breathing under control.

"At least you get to be 'Kel.'" Neal whispered into her ear. Kel held her breath schooling her features. His breath on her neck tingled as it tickled.

"Yeah, but you must remain 'Neal.'" Neal laughed as they came upon the doors to the ball and the waiting nobility to be introduced. Kel looked panicked.

"I didn't know they were announcing." She said quietly, looking pale. Neal looked at his best friend and laid a hand on her back. It came to contact with her skin and he hand to fight hard to keep his hand steady.

"It will be alright. Just smile and be careful when you curtsy." Kel grimaced as Neal laughed. They approached the doors and Neal gave them their names.

"Nealan of Queenscove, Lady Keladry of Mindelan." Kel smiled and leaned towards Neal.

"You are going to pay for that." Neal grinned as they descended the stairs. After they bowed and curtsied to the monarchs, Kel grinning at Roald, who grinned back, they went to find their friends.

"Well, hello there." Kel turned around and saw Cleon, Merric, Faleron, Seaver, Owen and Joren standing there. Kel preteneded to stiffen at the sight of Joren, but he just grinned in return.

"Hello boys." She was wrapped into large hugs, all except for Owen, who clearly never met her before.

"Owen, this is Lady Keladry." Neal yelped as her slipper stomped on his foot. Everyone laughed as Owen looked at her, mouth open.

"Dear boy, if you don't close that mouth of yours, you are going to catch some flies." Neal said looking at him. Owen quickly closed his mouth and bowed to her.

"I am just Kel. It is a pleasure to meet you Owen. Now," Kel turned to Neal, "What did I say about my name?" Neal raised his hands in defeat.

"Okay, you win." He left claiming thirst. As soon as he left, the group grew silent. Kel looked up and saw Cleon looking at her funny.

"What, do I have something on my face?" Kel reached up and feigned surprise. "I forgot, I was hogtied and tortured." Her friends laughed and they began to talk. Kel knew they were wondering if she had changed.

"Well, hello Lady Kel." Joren came up and kissed her hand. Kel raised an eyebrow, but didn't get very far when an older man approached the group.

"Why, isn't it Keladry of Mindelan?" Kel stiffened as Lord Burchard of Stone Mountain approached the group.

"Hello milord." Kel curtsied to him and then turned back to Joren, completely ignoring the older man. She could see out of the corner of her eye that his face was turning red.

"Would you like to dance?" Neal had come back carrying two glasses, but shoved them into Owen's hands, saving Kel from Lord Burchard's anger. When they began to dance, Kel visibly relaxed.

"Thank you. I can't thank you enough." Kel said as they began to waltz.

"No problem." No one but one blue eyed black haired boy noticed that the two were dancing closer than really necessary for the dance. He smiled and joined his friends to tell them of the news. Roald always wanted his friends to be happy.

"No, Kel and Neal?" Merric asked as they looked at the dancers. Then he smiled. "I guess so!" The group talked excitedly about their friends.

"What do you think they are talking about?" Kel asked nodding to their friends. Neal just shrugged; he couldn't keep his eyes off of her. What is wrong with you? Fawning over your best friend! It's Kel! Hello, Kel? Your friend? He looked at watching their friends. Yeah, but who else has her grace with that glaive of hers?

"Probably some new court lady they think is pretty." His tone caused Kel to look up at him. What she saw there caused her to catch her breath. "Would you like to go for a walk?" Kel nodded numbly and he guided her out to the balcony without anyone noticing.

They watched the stair and Kel shivered in the cold. The balcony had a roof to it, but had an opening overlooking the palace gardens. Neal saw her shiver and put his arm around her shoulders. She looked up at him smiled.

"Thank you." Unconsciously she leaned into the embrace. Neal looked at her in wonder. Could she like me? Wait, she is your friend. Neal shook his head, but kept his gaze on her. He liked her normal brown hair and hazel eyes. He hadn't really realized he had missed them. Feeling his gaze, Kel looked up. She caught her breath as he lowered his lips to her, they were about to kiss when someone laughed loudly nearby. They stiffened and stood straight. Hoping and wondering all the same.

Okay, there, a treat for all of you!!! But wait, it's a cliffy!

dreamerdoll: Thank you!!!!!

MistyFox14: Well, as you wish!

soccerchick-08: Well, they are starting now..hehe.