A/N: Hey guys! I had a complaint again from the same person as last time, and I just want to remind you that this fanfiction is slightly AU. In this universe, there's no Alanna the Lioness, Larsen and family are there instead.

OK, I want to thank all of you for taking time to read and review to my fanfiction. You have my undying love and gratitude, so give yourselves something yummy and tell yourself that it's from me. (Wish that the TV chocolate invention from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory existed. Then I could adapt it for computer and do it properly! ) Enjoy!

Chapter 7

Kel twirled around the floor. She could feel Larsen's arm, strong and confident, pressing into her waist and his hand in hers as he waltzed her around the floor. Kel sighed happily and leant closer to his strong chest, snuggling in. Although Kel was tall, Larsen was taller again, by about a head, so Kel's head fit nicely under his chin, excepting her hairstyle tonight. They turned and spun together, her dress swirling and swishing. Much as I'd hate to admit it, especially to Lalasa, she thought happily, I'm glad I came tonight. When the music ended, Kel curtseyed clumsily and said, "Thank you for the dance, Sir Larsen." She tried to leave the floor, only to be stopped by Larsen, who was still attached to her hand.

"Lady Keladry, please don't leave. Could we dance again?" he asked.

"Well…" Kel dithered for a moment, "Alright. But please, call me Kel," she replied shyly. She didn't know what it was about Larsen, but he made her feel different than the other boys did. She could almost feel a bond between them, even though she'd only known him for a short while. To cover her uncertainty, she quickly started a conversation.

"So, Sir Larsen, how-how old are you?"

"So, Sir Larsen, how-how old are you?"

Internally, Larsen winced. How old was he? He realized he would have to make something up. He couldn't very well say he was a 13 year old knight.

"I am-18. I was part of the last group of squires to go through the Ordeal," he replied, again feeling a twinge of guilt, "How about you?"

"I'll be 19 next month. What's your family like? Siblings?"

Larsen relaxed slightly, this one he could answer truthfully, "My family? My father's name is Lord Argen and my mother is Lady Leda. They control Fief Pirate's Swoop. I have several siblings, 3 older sisters; Nerella, Salandra and Chanakra; 2 younger brothers; Darann and Anderon, who are twins; and 2 younger sisters; Glarissa and baby Poleena." In this way, Kel and Larsen spent the ball together, dancing and chatting amiably. Larsen was enjoying Kel's company so much that the guilt of his lies was growing steadily.

After the ball, Kel said, "Thank you, Sir Larsen, the night has been most enjoyable." She curtseyed clumsily again. Larsen took her by the arm and gently raised her up, saying, "Surely, Kel, you would care to take a walk in the grounds before you retire for the night?"

"Well…I don't know, Sir Larsen. I have a busy day tomorrow…" Her protests died on her lips as she looked into his eyes. His deep, vivid, sapphire blue eyes, which disarmed her, disengaged her mind completely. Thoughts and images filled her mind, images that made even Kel, who was nowhere near as delicate as any of the other ladies, blush deeply. Images of sharing his bed, snuggling into his bare, muscled chest…Kel mentally shook herself. Larsen was waiting for a response.

"Come on Kel…" he beseeched.

"…Alright then," she replied.

Kel took Larsen's offered hand and together they walked into the castle grounds.

Kel and Larsen strolled together in the moonlight, hand in hand, not saying anything, merely enjoying the company. Larsen led her around the stables, and stopped under a tree, a magnificent elm tree with spreading branches, forming a canopy over their heads. Larsen stopped, turned to face her and broke the silence.

"Kel…I have something I want to ask you…would…would you be my lover?" he asked. Kel looked into those eyes, eyes that burned with passion. Passion and desire for her.

"Yes, Larsen, I will," she replied. To her surprise, she felt Larsen's hand cup the back of her head gently, and his other arm slide around her waist. She looped her arms around his neck as he lowered his face towards hers, their lips meeting and pressing together passionately.

The sun lifted above the horizon, its rays lighting Kel's face. She slowly opened her eyes, thinking about last night. About the ball. About the handsome and gallant Larsen. About their walk. About his kiss, which had left her lips tingling pleasantly and her heart beating with unsuppressed…Lust? she thought confusedly. She dressed and fed her animals, and was about to start her glaive exercises when she heard a knock at the door.

"I'll get it, milady," said Tobe, who had just finished dressing. He crossed and opened her door, whilst Kel began her glaive exercises.

"Um, Lady Kel? There's a Lady Yukimi 'ere to see ya," said Tobe.

"Yuki? You can let her in please Tobe," said Kel, finishing her exercises with a twirl of her glaive and a stomp. She then hooked her glaive back up on the wall and sat as Yuki entered.

"Kel! How are you?" asked Yuki.

"Hi Yuki! I'm great thanks. How are you? Tea?" replied Kel happily.

Kel and Yuki bowed, Yamani style, and sipped their tea.

"Kel, I came this morning to ask a favour of you," said Yuki, "Neal and I have decided on a date for our wedding. We were hoping to have it next Wednesday." Yuki paused to sip her tea, "Neal and I agree that, if you are willing, we would like you to be a bridesmaid."

"I would love to, Yuki! I'm honoured that you should ask me," replied Kel. In truth, she wasn't relishing the idea of dressing up and performing such a role, however Neal and Yuki were two of her greatest friends.

The week passed in a blur of fittings for her bridesmaid outfit, weapons practice, and dates with Larsen, with whom she was beginning to feel closer to. However, the feeling she was experiencing wasn't love, she knew, but was a strange physical attraction and desire for, which left Kel confused, but longing for his every touch, kiss, and even his company. She relished every moment they spent together.

Larsen was feeling the same way as Kel, however his guilt at his lies was growing. Of course, the one lie he had begun with had grown and forced him to tell more, growing from a white lie to a web of deceit. If she knew the truth, he felt, she would never have even considered becoming my lover, or even dancing with me at the ball in the first place. It's for her own good. Yet he knew, deep down, that this wasn't true. He knew that someday, someone would tell her, whether deliberately or unknowingly, or he would slip up, for he was having trouble remembering all the lies he had told. But he was enjoying her company too much to give it up. Every moment he spent with her was pure bliss, bliss such as that which he had never experienced before. He thought that he loved her and she was his destined match. However, Larsen was mistaking love for lust, having never experienced love. Kel knew she was experiencing lust because, deep down, no matter how much she tried to deny it, she still loved Dom.

Kel stood on a dry plain, sword in hand. Bodies lay around her. Scanrans. Neal. Yuki. Merric. The refugees from New Hope and Haven. All bloodied corpses, matching the blood dripping from her sword. Kel sank to her knees. "What have I done?!" she cried, the tears running down her face into the dust, mingling with the blood dripping sluggishly off her sword.

"Kel," came a voice from behind her. Larsen. She stood, intending to run to him, into his arms, when she heard another voice, soothing.

"Come here Kel." Dom. She looked back at him, confused. She stood halfway between the two, looking back and forth.

"Come here, Kel." Dom said again, holding his arms out to her, offering her a warm, safe haven.

"Sweetheart, come to me," Larsen called.

"Kel…who are you going to choose?"

"Choose me, Kel."

"Choose me, Kel."

The voices bandied back and forth, growing, vying for her love and attention. They grew to an unbearable volume…

Kel woke with a fright, dripping cold sweat, shivering, confused. There was a knocking at her door, which further confused her, until she realised why they were knocking. It was only hours until Yuki and Neal's wedding.