DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone except Jeriko, Ellyn, Jossyln, and Jessamine's/Neitro's/anyone not explained in the books personalities. Everything else is all Tammy.
THIS WILL GO FOR ALL CHAPTERS HERE AND ONWARD! I ALWAYS FORGET THIS!
Chap 2- Arrival
A carriage rolled to a stop, and all of the boys gathered, nearly thirty, leaned forward eagerly. They all wanted a glimpse at the new ladies.
A guard and a herald stepped out. The herald announced, "Lady Krea of Marmist!" A plain-looking court lady, around sixteen or seventeen, stepped out, to be offered an arm by her brother. A long line of court ladies stepped out of the next four carriages in the next hour. At last, a final three carriages arrived; one looking like it carried royalty. Roald smiled grimly. This would be his first glance at the woman he was to spend the rest of his life with.
The herald cried out, "Prince Neitro and Princess Shinkokami of the Yamani Islands!" Roald drank in the sight of his betrothed. She was absolutely beautiful, although much shorter than he had expected. The Yamani royalty came to stand next to the prince, but then turned their attention to the carriage.
"Prince Jeriko of the Yamani Islands and Lady Yukimi noh Daiomoru!" The herald called out. They joined the princess. The rest of the Yamani delegation joined them.
The second carriage followed the Yamani one. "Lord Tilaine and Lady Patricine of Teresian!" the herald announced. (Husbands fief) They stood by the Yamanis.
"Ladies Adalia and Oranie of Mindelan!" The sisters walked out arm in arm, looking eerily alike though they were a year apart.
"Lord Avinar and Lady Keladry of Mindelan!" The herald cried out finally, his voice going slightly hoarse. The study group stared at Kel. She was tall and lean, with long, rich hair tumbling down to her middle back. She still had her dancing hazel eyes and stubborn chin, but they seemed... different. Almost more regal. She was wearing the full kimono in honor of the Yamanis, but they were in her fief's colors.
She and her brother came and stood by their sisters, but Kel kept her eyes on the boys. She softly excused herself from her family and came to stand behind them. Although Kel couldn't see, Neal watched Prince Jeriko's eyes follow Kel. He wasn't sure why he felt a pang of protectiveness, still, after four years apart.
"Hey guys," she said quietly, not sure how she would be received.
"Kel!" Seaver, Merric, Prosper and Faleron exclaimed, embracing her.
"My dove, my flower! You have returned!" Cleon dramatically said, joining the hug. Neal laughed and hugged as well.
"My sister didn't smother you with her over-dramatics, did she?" Neal drawled, stepping away.
"No more that you did, Meathead." Kel drawled the same way his sister did, having learnt it from her. Neal looked astounded, thinking she would never find out about that unfortunate nickname. "Jess told me all about your family nickname and gave me permission to use it." Kel said, dropping into a curtsey under the Daughter's eyes. Neal nodded; understanding based on Kel's and his sister's letters.
The third carriage rolled up, and the herald sighed. So much yelling! Maybe being a clerk would have been a better job…
"Lady Jessamine of Queenscove and Lady Jossylyn of Stone Mountain!" The two ladies stepped out to be offered an arm by their respective brothers. Jess's hair was painstakingly curled, as her father had instructed. Her dress was a modest pale green outfit appropriate for a Duke's daughter to be both riding in a carriage for hours and meeting royalty. Her emerald eyes blazed against the eyeliner that took forever for the girls to put on. Her dark, wavy hair was falling down her back. Joss was wearing a baby blue dress in the same style as Jess which brought out her bright blonde hair and ice blue eyes. For a split second, you could see all three glaring at Joren, a fourth year squire. Joren tried to lead his sister to his friends, but Joss forcefully followed Jess until Joren had to follow to save face.
Lady Ellyn and Margarry were both escorted by Merric, as Margarry didn't have a male relative of that generation. Ellyn's hair was extremely curly and strawberry blonde, much like Aly's, so much that they often get confused as sisters. Margarry's hair was straight, sandy blonde. At the corner, as they waited for the rest of their year-mates to be announced, the girls and boys talked quietly among themselves, catching up on lost years. They had written letters, but hadn't seen each other in nearly four years. Joren had slipped away as soon as he could without being noticed.
The herald interrupted just as they got to Kel's summers in the Yamani Islands, including Jeriko. "Princess Lianne of Conte and Lady Alianne of Pirate's Swoop!" The two were picked up by Alan and Prince Liam. They came and joined the fifteen year-olds.
The final ladies announced; King Jonathon came up to announce something. "We will be holding a Yamani event in five days time to welcome our future Princess. It will be all Yamani- the food, the entertainment, the clothing. That is all."
The squires and ladies looked at Kel with panic in their eyes.
"Kel-" Neal started.
"Help us." Jess took on the sentence.
"We don't know a thing." Aly explained.
"Nonsense." Kel insisted. "You took all of those classes on the culture. You have so much more knowledge than most of the men and ladies in the castle. However"- Here Kel cut off, looking at her brothers and sisters across the courtyard. "I guess my family and I will help you in any way we can." The teenagers cheered, especially Roald. He, from where the Yamanis stood, could hear every word. Jeriko, Yuki, and Shinko looked over, then led the people they were arm in arm with over to the squires and younger ladies. The Mindelans came over as well.
"Now, now, now, Kel-" Shinko began.
"You aren't thinking of hosting a Yamani party-" Yuki continued.
"Without us?" Jeriko finished.
"Fine. You three can come with. Goddess knows I need all of the help I can get with these incompetents." Kel said, pointing to the Queenscove siblings.
"Hey!" Neal and Jess said at the same time, and then burst out laughing.
Yuki grinned at Kel behind a fan, saying "Tell us the time later. Now we must go get fitted for all of the kimonos we will need!"
Merric backed away slowly. "We'll leave you to that then," he said, then turned around as if to run away.
"Ah, I belive you misunderstand, Kel's friend. Men must wear kimonos fact, we are only getting fitted for the men, for I believe the ladies came prepared. You're coming with us." Jeriko demanded, a mischievous glint in his normally unfeeling eyes when surrounded by foreigners.
A/N Not as long as my other one, but I couldn't extend it and I felt I had to get something up, so this is what you get.
As much as I love reviews telling me how good my story is, that doesn't help me improve. Constructive Criticism please!
alanna9631 and LadyKnight Miakoda- Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! I tried to write as quickly as possible. :)
And if anyone could help me write some of the romance, then please review any help. I'm thinking Kel/Neal, Kel/Jeriko, and maybe one other. I will definitely Dom flirting though, although it won't be serious. You see, I only just turned 13, so I have trouble writing flirting and kissing scenes.