(A/N) Just so you people know I've been squealing for the past 3 minutes from your reviews! I'm a second try fanfic writer and I just
got onto a fave strory list and into a c2. Well I can't actually squeal but you get the point. Right now, I'm writing an article for the school
news paper so I'll try and make it good.It's probably too long but hey that's better than too short!Whoa I just checked 7 pages… well
that's what happens when I get hyper…
shireen aka tricksterslioness
to the reviewers love you guys thanks for the encouragement and i made it double spaced! hehe LOL thanks again!
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is from the books by the goddess Tamora Pierce.
"It says that we are to be betrothed for three years and get married after the Ordeal…" Neal said absently, still looking at the
paper.
"Neal, I'm not sure you completely comprehend this."
"I'm no idiot."
"I get to become a knight." She said dreamily.
"I think that is very obvious."
"I get to live my dream."
"With your best friend."
"I'm not sure I can commit to a-"
"It's alright for now I can make sure Mindelan gets it's supplies and we can"change our minds" later on."
"It seems wrong but if it is what it takes."
"We obviously have to play the part and let everyone know… Is there anything else in there?"
Kel shook the envelope and found a red pouch. She drew the golden cord and peered inside.
"Well I think your father doesn't believe that you're capable of proposing properly." Kel concluded after she found out what was in the red pouch.
"Why?"
"He left you rings."
"May I see those?"
"Well?" Kel asked after handing him the pouch
"He didn't leave them, I had them with George a long time ago."
"Now I know why they look familar. The necklace and bracelet you gave me have the same design."
"They came in a set."
"You gave me the necklace on my birthday and the bracelet as a midwinter present."
"I didn't give you this because I thought it would be inappropriate, and the fact that Roald, Merric, Seaver, Esmond and Prosper would gang up on me and beat me up if the stump made you leave because of me."
They smiled.
"Don't worry they're off with their knightmasters too busy to beat you up."
"Kel?"
"Yes?" he got down on one knee, opened the pouch and gave her the ring. It was a golden band with black jewels cut for the base and an emerald shone at the top.
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes, I will."
With that they were betrothed.
The pair -or couple rather- played their parts well. Whenever Alanna came with the Own, Neal would ride from the farthest part of the
camp to take her out on strolls, whenever at the palace they were consistent in attending each ball, not only to serve but Alanna and
Raoul would allow them attend as guest regularly, as both their knight masters hated balls. In proper attire, they'd enter through the
grand stair case in place of their "sick"knight masters. They'd talk to their friends as they served and laughed about what lucky squires
they were that they didn't usually have to follow the king's orders because their knight masters or mistress were friends with the king.
The fact that their masters were anti- social also played an important role. They'd dance. Neal as the male lead Kel who followed
having a hard time at first but getting the hang of it later on then they'd do more complicated routines growing from turns to jumps and
flips to over head presses the court was in awe of their ability to dance so well.After the first few dances they'd rest and talk on the
balcony.
All in all they were believable.
When Neal would steal her for a walk they'd talk about life and training and such. Their friendship grew stronger and steadier
than ever. They shared every spare minute together just as any couple.
Three years passed quickly and it ws already their last few days as squires.
Two days before Neal's Ordeal the two had to choose. Would they go on with the betrothal or would they break up?
Mindelan had its needs Kel was no longer obligated to marry him. It was an easy decision at least that's what Neal thought or
wished.
"Neal,"
"Yes love?"
Love. Kel thought. He'd been calling her that for a while now. Usually only in public
but it had become a habit.A good habit. Kel concluded.I hope I'm making the right
decision. She thought.
"Remember the day you proposed?"
"Yes, why?"
"I want to go through with the wedding."
"I was hoping you'd say that."
"I'm relieved that you hoped that."
"I guess this is our extremely long way of saying "I love you." or was that just me?" he smiled pulling her close.
"Well I'll have to think about that first." she replied jokingly, steering him to the bed.
They sat in the middle of her bed.Kel in Neal's arms breathing steadily.
"I love you." Neal said kissing her lips softly and then he brushed his lips on her forehead.
"I love you more than you can possibly imagine." she replied.
This was what she loved, the perfect stillness of time when she was with
Neal. It felt so intimate and perfect.To Neal, this was the highest joy in life, lying on a bed with the love of his life, no troubles and the
beauty of the moment. How it all fell into place. This was true love-being so comfortable with each other. The feeling of protecting her
with his arms. The way his breath fell into step with hers. The fit of her in his arms, like she belonged there for eternity. Kel fell asleep in
his arms and soon Neal also dozed off into a serene sleep with smiles on their faces they knew they would get through it together.
The day before the Ordeal, Kel and Neal visited the City to keep their minds off the Ordeal.Neal suggested an inn to visit and Kel
agreed. At the Dancing Dove (A/N: I don't remember which of George's people died so pretend other people died pls and tnx)an old
man sat at the door sleeping.
"Solom! Get up old fool. I've brought someone." Neal called waking up the man.
"Morning to you too Squire Neal, Squire Keladry."
"Neal, how does he know me?"
"Can't you just accept that you're famous?"
"How does he know you then?"
"Let's get a table and then let's talk."
"Neal! You haven't visited!" greeted a woman sitting at a table with a man.
"I haven't seen you two since I last visited Trebond. When did you get here Coram?"
"Just yesterday." the man called Coram replied beckoning them to sit at their table.
Neal followed bringing Kel over."Allow me to introduce Squire Keladry of-."
"Queens Cove. Pleased to meet you sir, madame."
"So this is her?" the woman asked.
"Well yes."Neal blushed.
"A pretty one she is. Surely one to best the Lioness." Coram replied. Giving her a hand to shake. Kel took it and shook it firmly waiting for him to try and test her strenght but it never came.
"Of course not sir- " realization sunk in. "Wait you are Lord Coram of Trebond? Lady Alanna's care taker?"
"That I am. Changed her diapers myself." he winked.
"And you are Lady Rispah of Trebond?"
"Sly one you are."Rispah said.
"You are probably wondering why I brought you here."
"Well yes."
"You see the Lioness made erm- friends here with ummm- certain people."
"The rumor is true? Baron George was a thief?"
"King of thieves." Rispah added.
"This is a surprise." Kel said.
"Anyway, why are you two here?" Neal asked.
"Of course Alanna told us to be here for your Ordeal." Coram replied.
"And to see you wed." Rispah added.
"How do they know?"Kel asked.
"There isn't much you can keepfrom the servants at the palace."Neal said.
"I only told Raoul, Lalasa, my famimly, Merric, Seaver, Prosper, Roald and Owen."Kel protested.
"Where did you tell Merric and the others?"Neal asked.
"At the horse stalls- Stefan" Kel hissed.
After a few drinks they bid the Trebonds good bye and went to the mid-winter fairs around Corus.After sometime they rode back to the palace.She brought Neal to his rooms and he prepared tea.
As they were drinking Kel suddenly got up and hugged him.
"If you hurt yourself I will never forgive you."She said.
"I know and I won't."
They stayed in that very odd position despite the fact that Kel was cramping and Neal had a stiff neck. They remained that way
for long moments, Kel standing from the other end of the table and Neal craning his neck so that his face was in her hair. One would ask
how the hell could they stay in such an uncomfortable position for so long. The fact is that they didn't feel the ache, they were so in love
that they were worrying if they'd meet again after his ordeal.
Finally Neal let go of her. "Kel you better leave else rumors'll be out that you'd been magicked by Alanna." He kissed her passionately and shooed her out of his room.
"I love you Neal." Kel said before she left.
"I love you more than humanly possible Kel."
They embraced and Kel left.
Kel worried herself to sleep so did Neal. They would wake up occasionally from a bad dream and try to sleep again to no avail.
In the morning Alanna woke Neal up and Kel woke up Raoul.
"Sir get up!"
"Kel there is no need to push and pull and tug. I'm up. Gods you're like a little child dragging her fatheer out of his bed to bring her to
the city."
"Well that's me." she said walking to Raoul's dresser.
"Wash-up and get dressed!" Kel exclaimed. "Please!" She yelled only loud enough for Raoul to hear her.
She threw his clothes at him and thrust a basin of warm water into his arms.
"Get ready or I will go with out you."
"Kel, you aren't even supposed to go to the vigil and bath."
"Since when do I obey rules? I can wait outside. Go on, Stop procrastinating."
Soon Raoul was dressed lookining semi-presentable.
"Let's go." He sighed.
"Kel, we are three hours early." he said to his squire. He looked next to him and found Kel asleep standing up while he was sitting down. He pulled her to lie down on the bench and rested her head on his lap.
"So this is what it feels like to be a father." he smiled and fell asleep.
An hour later Alanna and Neal came.
"Raoul get up!"Alanna shook him.
"What? Oh yes. Morning, Alanna."
"Kel wake up." Raoul urged.
"Already?" she yawned. "Wait wasn't I standing up?"
"You were- an hour ago."Raoul replied.
"Oh. Neal!" Kel exclaimed hugging him.
"You should go back to sleep Kel. You aren't supposed to be here yet."
"I don't care."
"Stubborn." Neal said.
"Hey, you're here early."Kel pointed out . "If you're allowed to come early so am I."
"Funny. I wonder if all Lady Knights will be as stubborn as you Alanna. Kel sure is."
"Ha ha. Raoul, have I ever mentioned how much I hate you in the morning?"
"You hate everyone in the morning.""True. But I still like saying so.""Kel, I won't be able to concentrate if you're going to be out side while I take the bath."
"Fine but I'll be here waiting for you when you go in."
" Just go get food and sleep. Raoul will get you when I enter."
"Try not to fall asleep when you take the bath." Kel said not wanting to say good bye.
"I'll see you later."He said.
Kel did as Neal asked. She took a nap. After a few minutes she went to Lalasa's Palace quarters to check her dress.
"Kel it's early shouldn't you be off practicing your glaive?"
"I already did."
"You didn't get a wink of sleep did you?"
"I don't want to talk about it. May I see the dress?"
"Sure. I made four. Two Kimonos and two dresses." Lalasa yawned.
"Why four?"
"You can pick either a kimono or dress for the ceremony and a kimono or dress for the reception, to dance in."
"I think I'll wear the kimonos to the rehersal ceremony and the other kimono for the rehersal dinner. The two dresses I'll wear to the actual wedding."
"I also made a new batch of dresses, breeches, shirts and tunics for you."
"My clothes still fit.""Your shirts are too small; they don't set well on your muscle.Your skin tone changed so I made new colors. And we found a new kind of material that is good for training. We just made a set for the pages."
"Am I going to be fitting clothes?"
"Yes. At least it beats waiting out side the chapel while he's taking the bath and the vigil."
"I'm not sure."
"Don't worry; Yukimi is already out side to check her maid of honor kimono style dress. Lady Haname is also out side, here to check on her bride's maid kimono-dress."
"Well that's better, I have people to talk to and we can have glaive practice, then I can get ready.Does that sound good to you?"
"Yes sure. It does." Lalasa answered welcoming the Yamani ladies.
"Morning Yuki, Lady Haname."
"Morning too Kel." Yuki greeted.
"Good morning Keladry." Haname said happily.
"Did ou already have naginata practice?"
"We are about to. Your mother, Queen Thayet, Shinko and I will be meetting with the queen's ladies. Unfortunately Haname can't come because she has to make Shinko's wedding preparations."
"Isn't their wedding next spring?"
"Yes but the whole court will be there and they need hand written invitations. You'd be surprised at how little court ladies know about reading, writing. Culture and economics." Yuki said as Kel fitted her four dresses.
"Well I guess page training is better than lady lessons that way."
They all laughed. And soon they finished their fittings and they were off to practice.The queen's ladies paired up weilding practice swords had practice combat
The main pairs were:
Shinko &Yuki Yuki won
Patricine (thanks goes out to lady knight keladry for pointing out thar Ilane was dead Well maybe she came back to life LOL)&Buri Patricine won. (patricine by the way is Kel's sister, she's the eldest girl and comes right after Anders check serch for Keladry)
Kel &Thayet Kel won. The queen of Tortall was good in using the glaive but not one to best Kel. The lady squire easily beat the co-ruler of the realm.On the second round their pairs were different beacause Haname and the Shang Wild Cat came to practice their pairs were:
Thayet Patricine Patricine won
Haname Yuki Haname won.
Buri Shinko Shinko won
Kel & Eda Bell (was that her name i can't recall let's just call her that. Trust me you'll get tired of me if i keep on calling her the wild cat).
had the longest match. Shang training was envolved with all kinds of weapons, swords, daggers, axes, arrows, knives, glaives and others.
Eda was particularly gifted in glaive and sword play. As soon as Kel and Eda took their positions Kel completely forgot Neal's Ordeal. She
concentrated on Eda's blade. It was spinnning in a gray and brown blur of wood and steel one false move and she could get seriously hurt.
It took Kel a while to gain advantage but she did and when she did she knew it woldn't last long so she decided to end it as soon as she
could. When she got her chance she disarmed the Shang. Using the Broom Sweeps Clean movement Eda's naginata was skidding on the
ground. As soon as Kel looked up from the ground the queen's ladies, Yuki, Shinko, Haname, Eda, Thayet, Buri, Raoul,and Patricine were all clapping. Kel just smiled and picked up Eda's glaive and handed it to her.
"You have come a long way child," Eda said hugging her.
"Thank you."
"How does it feel liek to best the Wild Cat?"Yuki asked.
"She was going easy on me."
"Don't be modest Kel." Raoul said.
"She was going easy on me it's true,"
It really was true. Kel could see Eda giving her so many openings. Eda just made it look hard and Kel played along.
I could be very convincing player. Kel concluded.- lying to herself.
"Sir is it time?"
"Not yet an hour more."
"I have to go to Lalasa now. I'll meet you there."Kel ran as fast as she could to Lalasa's palace rooms to get her new clothes.
"Thank you Lalasa!"
"You're welcome Kel! Give Neal my luck!"
"I will."
Kel ran to her rooms to put on her clothes. She tugged off her breeches, tunic and shirt. Quickly she put on one of her newkimonos.
It was a deep emerald green. Like Neal's eyes. Kel thought as she struggled to pull it on. Then her obi it was a dark earthy brown with
golden griffins. She then took out two fans.One was a regular fan another a shukusen. Her shukusen took the place of her sword. As
rules stated by Wyldon, they were to go nowhere without their swords,this was an exception, a shukusen is twice as deadly as any
sword. One hard hit to the victim's oxcipital lobe ( thanks to cynic.in.a.fishbowl for correcting me)from the lady carrying it could knock the victim out. The razor tips could be used for
piercing as well as slicing.So one would think twice before crossing a yamani trained lady with a shukusen. Lastly she pulled her now
shoulder length hair into a tight bun at the back of her head.She looked at herself in the mirror-something she doesn't do very often.All in
all she looked "presentable" as she put it. From her shukusen hidden in her obi a small glass globe contained a pair of small wooden but
life like figurines, a girl and a boy hugging in the snow. Around them sparrows were flying and a dog was jumping. Neal and Numair
worked hard on this for her mid-winter present.The figurines were moving and dancing in the small globe. Kel smiled praying the gods of
all the lands she knew off for the safety of her betrothed.
She knocked on the adjoining door of her room to Raoul's.
"Come in Kel."
"Are you ready?"
"Yes." he said turning around. "Kel you loook astounding!"
"I look like I usually do."
"Yes you still look like you but you look better than Princess Shinko."
"No I do not, besides you've seen me in dresses and kimonos this doesn't make any difference."
"Will you just accept the compliment?"
"If I do may we leave?"
"Yes."
"Fine." she replied. "Thank you very much sir!" overly perky.
"Now may we leave?" Kel asked again in a blank voice.
"Let's go."(A/n: i think its too long to be one chapter so I'll cut here.) R&R? Pls and tnx!
Love reviewers! Flamers are welcome just no swearing pls and tnx again!I'll put some stuff tomorrow.
tricksters lioness