(-a/n- !!! A record number of reviews!!! I'm so unbelievably happy! When I started this I was a bit apprehensive, especially as I hadn't really written a story like this before, and as the plot is quite overused I wanted to make it unique and I'm so glad that you all like the plot so far :D So keep reviewing and I'll keep writing :D I have three more days of school left and then holiday so updates (should) become more frequent!)
brezzybrez, alynawatlovers, Luna Dust, Crazy Lady Knight, dawnstar28, oirishgoddess, shadowgryffyn, Ace Ryn Knight, Kayla, Deadmen's Bells, Jo, shamrockgirl07, Golden23, alynawatlovers, Me, AMulata, Kelroxmysox, manicpony24 & dancerboy8.
nativewildmagelol! I know, poor Kel and Neal :(
ErythaIt's going to continue in a logical order from now on, and eventually we'll arrive at the scene in the first chapter, and everything will make sense :D
red rose of loveNo, it's not a Kel/Neal, they're just really good friends despite the age difference, I mean Kel is only eleven…no romance…yet :D
Pie of DoomehThanks, I always imagined that Kel would tell Neal, but not everyone, that would just be too awkward.
SarahE7191nope she's not going to do any of them. Hopefully my idea of what she does with her life will be original, although it won't seem like it for a few chapters.
On top of cloud 9well…the burnt toast in our common room continually sets of the fire alarm, and then this girl starts shouting 'world war three take cover'…(it's a long story) and then my other friend bought this penguin that dances and wiggles it's bum to a rather sinister version of the sorcerer's apprentice! It's the most hilarious thing I've ever seen, and we keep setting it off in lessons and our chemistry teacher chucked it out of the window, where it lay wiggling in the hedge…
x17SkmBdrchiczxxI wish Neal was real! Lol that rhymes, thanks for reviewing (as always!) –author smiles at trusty reviewer :D -
Camilla2 yeah I've had this idea for over six months and now I've finally had the time to sit down and write it up :D
queenoftheostlersyep, I'm addicted to fanfiction ! Nice singing in the church today! I'll have to tell you all about our escapades, but that was the most hilarious carol service of my entire life!
Confusedknight xxx
The next morning Neal was awoken by a heavy hammering on the door of his room. Groaning he sat up and opened his bleary eyes. At that moment four boys burst into his room. Merric, Seaver, Prince Roald and Cleon all stood in front of him with dismayed looks on their faces.
'Kel's gone!' Merric burst out.
Then memories of the previous night flooded back to Neal in painful torrents. Kel wasn't allowed to stay. Kel had gone.
'I know,' said Neal heavily.
'The Stump can't do this,' exclaimed Seaver angrily, 'She was better than the rest of us. It's not fair.'
'She didn't say goodbye,' Cleon said indignantly.
'She left late last night, or early this morning,' said Neal, trying hard to concentrate on the conversation, but it was difficult when his mind was whirling with so many thoughts.
'She said something to you,' stated Roald perceptively.
Neal tried to smile, but failed, and nodded his head instead.
'What did she say?' demanded Seaver.
'Not much,' Neal replied truthfully, 'She didn't tell me where she was going or what she was going to do. To be honest I don't think she knew herself, but she wanted us to carry on training, and to continue to fight against the bullies.'
'Do you think she'll become, well you know, a girl?' asked Merric worriedly.
'She was a girl,' Cleon pointed out bitterly, 'That's why she got kicked out.'
'No, I mean a girl-girl, with face paint and everything,' asked Merric.
They all looked at Neal expectantly.
'I don't know,' he sighed, 'But Kel won't give up, she'll keep on fighting.' He had to say it out loud, make himself believe that she would be alright. But doubt kept creeping into his heart. If she couldn't train at the Palace where would she go? Perhaps to the Yamani Isles, but even there she would only be trained in the naginta or some kind of women's archery.
'Are you coming to breakfast?' asked Cleon in a subdued manner.
'No, I'm going to enjoy my lie in, as it's the first day of the holidays,' replied Neal glumly.
'Ok, but do you want to see if we can find the Mindelan's town house? Kel might be there,' said Merric.
'I think we should just leave her be,' said Roald gently, 'If she wants to contact us she will. Give her some time to gather her thoughts.' And with that he steered the three pages out of Neal's room. Giving Neal a sympathetic smile, he followed them out.
Neal flopped back onto the bed, but he knew that he wouldn't get back to sleep. He simply had too many thoughts crammed into his head.
Kel hadn't gotten a wink of sleep that night, but had packed up all of her belongings into a trunk at the foot of her bed and laid her glaive and bow next to it. She wearily folded her page uniform on the bed, with a pang of sadness that she would never again wear the uniform, or train with the other boys.
She had then scribbled a note to Stephan, asking him to find a good home for Peachblossom or to ask Daine, as she felt that she couldn't ask her family to buy him or pay for stabling. She left the address of her parent's house on top of her trunk so it could be sent there and she also left two coins, one for Gower and the other for Salma.
She was wearing loose breeches and a shirt, her dagger and sword strapped around her thin waist when she slipped out of the Page's wing for the final time. She left the palace quickly, seen by no one except the dozing guard at the palace gate.
When she reached her parent's house, she let herself in with a key taken from her belt-purse. Her father and mother were still awake sitting in the study. Kel pushed open the door and went in.
'We just received this,' said her mother, showing Kel a letter with the palace seal on it.
Her parents face were Yamani smooth yet their eyes were filled with pity.
Kel fought back a lump in her throat, 'It was always a possibility, and like I said when I started, I still know more than I did a year ago.'
Ilane of Mindelan rushed forward to hug her daughter.
'Oh Kel, life is so unfair sometimes.'
Kel nodded into her mother's warm embrace.
'What do you want to do now Kel?' her father asked, his voice rich and soothing.
'I thought maybe go back to the Yamani Isles?' she questioned, turning her head to look at Piers of Mindelan.
'Well your father and I have to stay in Corus for the season to present Adie and Oranie.'
'I don't want to stay here,' said Kel quickly. It would be torture, knowing that the others were all still training, not to mention that she would have to attend Court functions and would probably see all of her friends still enjoying themselves as pages.
'Well you could go to Mindelan,' said Ilane slowly, 'But Conal is staying there at the moment, as well as Patricine, Anders and his family.' Kel didn't like this idea either, Conal would bully her as relentlessly as he had done seven years ago and she would also have to endure unpleasant comments from Anders' wife, not to mention all the other boys who lived in Mindelan.
'I don't want to go there either,' said Kel quietly.
'Well I don't see where else you can go Kel. Next year you can return to the Islands with us, that's not a problem, it's just where can you stay for a year?' explained Ilane.
'Well, she could always go to the City of the Gods,' suggested her father. 'It would be a useful experience, you could learn the other half to being a Lady in Tortall. Then after a year come back with us to the Islands, then whatever you decide to do with your life you will know the very basics at least of Tortallan etiquette.'
Her father was as diplomatic as he always was and Kel had to admit it wasn't a bad plan. She would be far, far away from Corus, yet also far from Conal and her sisters. The skills she would learn at the Convent didn't interest her much, but then again she reasoned their might come a day, when like Alanna the Lioness she was required to be a Lady. Maybe she could find a guardsman up there who would train her…It was only for a year after all… But then again it was the Convent. Everyone would think she'd given up, realised the 'error' of her ways and was trying to redeem herself. The old Yamani proverb drifted into her head.
Ladies of the Yamani Isles are both beautiful and deadly.
That's what she would be; beautiful and deadly.
'You know, I think that's a good idea Piers,' said Ilane, having mulled the idea over in her head. 'Our other daughters have all learnt a lot from the Sisters there, and it will be good for Kel to meet some girls her own age.'
Kel would've liked more time to think this over, but it seemed like her parents had decided for her.
'It will take a while to travel to the City of the Gods,' said her father.
'But the new term doesn't start for months,' reasoned Kel.
'The Convent term starts sooner than the Palace's,' said a new voice from the doorway. It was Adie, 'I think that a spell at the Convent will do you a world of good Kel.'
'I'll call Simonn and ask him to arrange a coach to the North for sometime this week,' said Piers, getting up and leaving the room to find the manservant.
'Kel, I'll send a letter ahead with a sum of money so that you can get some dresses made and buy all your other equipment. You can take your trunk with you too…' Ilane said, scrutinizing her youngest daughter. 'Kel, don't beat yourself up over this. It wasn't your fault, life just goes this way sometimes.'
Kel nodded mutely.
At that moment Piers came hurrying in. 'Simonn says that there is an envoy of coaches leaving for the North in about an hour. Kel will be safe with those, but her belongings will have to be sent along tomorrow. If she wants to get a place on this coach she'll have to go now.'
'So soon?' asked Lady Ilane.
Piers shrugged, 'You'll be alright won't you Kel?'
Kel nodded and realised that she would have to be alright, for her family's sake if for nothing else. Both her parents hugged her tightly and without so much as a word of goodbye from her sister, she left the house, trailing after Simonn.
The envoy was comprised of sixteen or so shabby horse-drawn coaches. Some were coaches for people, but others contained livestock or trading goods. Simonn lead her to a particularly small, rickety coach near the back of the convoy. With a bow he left her completely alone. The driver indicated that she should climb inside, and so she did, seating herself on the hard, worn seat. She shivered, despite the fact that it was a warm night, and drew her legs onto the seat, hugging them tightly. It comforted her slightly as she fought to keep salty tears from sliding down her cheeks.
She had never felt more alone, travelling with people she didn't know, to a place she'd never been. It was hard to believe that twenty-four hours ago she was happily sleeping in the Page's wing without a care in the world, still a page, her friends all around.
I won't give up, I'll never give up. She chanted over and over again, as a mantra in her head. So when the carriage began to rattle and roll it's way out of Corus, she didn't cry, but kept her face smooth as a lake, her heart clenching painfully at leaving her parents and Neal behind.
(-a/n- So what do you think? I promise you that this will NOT be like all of the other convent stories :D it will be way different, but I can't tell you any more. )
Confusedknight xx