Summary, rating etc. see first chapter. Disclaimer see second.
Beldaran smiled sweetly as her father stood back to allow her and Kheva to pass. "Go on through to the sitting room. I have a morning free today." Beldaran carried on through, loosely holding Kheva's hand. Whilst her father went to get something for them to drink, she took the opportunity to kiss Kheva's cheek.
"This should be a lot easier than I thought," She said, "Mother doesn't appear to be here."
"I don't think she'd argue too much anyway, 'Daran. She loves you just as much as your father does." Just as he said that her father walked back in, carrying a tray of drinks. Kheva stepped forward to take the tray from him and set it on the table.
"Father, I don't know why you don't get a servant to do that."
"Well, I need to give you two your private moments to mutter about me and your mother." She blushed furiously, and then was angry with herself for blushing.
"I thought maybe you would have grown out of eavesdropping by now."
"No. I am just an untutored farmer, after all."
"That's your excuse for everything. And you're not really untutored any more."
"No, but I can still us the excuse." He sat down on the couch opposite them. "Anyway, I'm sure you didn't come here just to tease me. How are you keeping? I haven't really had a chance to speak to you properly yet."
"Well, you've been shutting yourself away in the council room."
Her father looked her in the eye. "Beldaran, when are you going to come home? Your mother needs you. She needs your help with your sisters."
"There are nurses and servants back at Riva. I'm sorry father, I hate Riva. It's a cold, impersonal place. It's like a fortress, but on the inside too. I just feel trapped there. I can't stand it."
He considered this. "Well, you do seem happier now."
"How is mother? Really?"
"She's a bit stressed, but she's coping. She's trying to do too much. And I think she's pregnant again."
"Have you told her this?"
"No, not yet. But I'm pretty certain. I've got to know it by now. We'll know soon."
"Of course you've got to know it! If she is, this will be her sixth. You needed an heir, not several!"
"Well, it doesn't matter. Why did you come to visit me anyway?"
She looked at Kheva. He met her gaze. There was an unexpected command in his eyes. She had to tell her father. She decided just to recite the facts. "Don't interrupt me." She meant this for both her father and Kheva. "When I first came to Drasnia, I only knew two people. Kheva helped me. He was kind to me. He took me to all the dances and introduced me to some lovely people. After I had been here about eight months or so, we got close to each other." She looked up into her father's eyes. He was not as shocked as she thought he would be. "We've had something of a close relationship for over a year now, and-" He voice faltered. She looked pleadingly up at Kheva. He nodded.
"My Lord Belgarion, your daughter and myself have spoken about this at great length. We have decided that we would like to get married."
Beldaran watched her father take in the news. He wasn't too shocked. She squeezed Kheva's hand gratefully.
"Are you sure?" He asked. "I mean, you're both quite young still."
"Father, I'm almost seventeen, and Kheva is twenty three. I think we are old enough to know what we want."
"I suppose you are at that. I suppose you'll want me to talk to your mother?" Beldaran nodded gratefully.
"Can you speak to Porenn as well father? I think the news will be better coming from you."
"If you've spoken about this at all, I would say she already knows. This is Drasnia after all." He smiled at Kheva. "You have my agreement. Although I'm not to sure about Ce'Nedra's. I'll speak to them.
Beldaran jumped up and wrapped her arms around her father's neck. "Oh, thank you so much. I love you!"
"I love you too. Anyway, I have to go and find Ce'Nedra." He turned to go. "Oh, and just in case she asks, because she will, when are you planning the wedding to be?"
"We would like it to be just after Kheva's coronation. About a year or so away still."
"Very well then. Have a good day." He left.
Beldaran turned to Kheva. "Well," she said, "That went better than I expected it to"
They laughed, and walked hand in hand out of the room. Or they tried to. Beldaran looked up, stunned. He mother was standing in front of her.
"What went better than expected?" Her mother's voice was icy. Beldaran winced.
"Um… Maybe you should talk to father…"
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Kheva watched Beldaran stammer at Queen Ce'Nedra. It was hopeless. She would lose all resolve, and they would have to wait until Belgarion found them. Ce'Nedra took in a deep breath. She was obviously not happy with them, and was probably just about to go into one of her famed tempers. Beldaran had sensed he anger too. He hoped she wouldn't start an argument, but he didn't have much hope. They really were very alike.
Ce'Nedra started shouting first, and Beldaran yelled back. Their voices quickly rose to screeching, and what they were saying was barely understandable. He quitly walked around them and out of the door, heading up towards his room. If Beldaran needed him, she would know where his was. That was one of the things he loved about Beldaran. Like her mother, she could get into an argument fast, but unlike her mother, it was usualy over quickly, and she would be sorry about it afterwards
A/N: I'm not too sure about these last two chapters, but they're kind of a build up to the actual story, so they have to be there. Please review and tell me what you think of them. I do think they sound a little rushed.
