A/N: Please note that as of yet, this chapter is unedited. I actually managed to make it more than three times the length of the first chapter, totaling more than 5,475 words, while triple the first chapter is only 5,451 words. Hope you enjoy!
Alanna was fuming. She couldn't – wouldn't – talk to George, for he was agreeing with everyone else and that really put a bur under her blanket. A part of her was nagging at the rest; Alanna had grown up now. She'd been an adult for years; all her children were adults – even her sweet little Aly.
It didn't matter that she knew her daughter was safe and happy and that she'd visited Aly in the Copper Isles and rubbed her pregnant stomach. Alanna missed her little girl, and this morning's debate wasn't helping her mood any.
She'd waved Dom and Kel off and watched everyone else trickle out to their various afternoon pursuits, but she herself remained. Sword in hand, she stalked over to the selfsame court Keladry and Domitan had used and started practicing. The unusual mixture of Shang methods with her more structured eastern fighting style was physically taxing, yet invigorating. Either way, it helped her lose herself and not have to focus on her anxieties.
The Lioness was getting old; she was not the same knight she once was. Oh, she was just as quick, mind you, but she'd picked up a few new tricks and lost her ability for some of the older ones. This was actually a good thing. It meant no one could ever really learn her style and none her opponents would know all of her secret moves.
Alanna smiled to herself as she thought of the techniques she could pass on to Keladry, and any other girls brave enough to try for their shields. The smile grew wider when she thought of the staff-like work Kel might show her with the glaive. Alanna just had to remember to ask – something she didn't much like to do.
About an hour passed before the first lady knight (still known as a Sir) felt she'd exerted herself enough for one morning. She took a circuitous route to her shared rooms and ordered a bath.
Once she had the place to herself and could soak in the numbingly hot water, she realized she had missed Kel and Dom on their way out. She would just have to see them upon her return. Well, Dom, really. She knew Kel was busy, and she was more interested in understanding Dom's motives with the second Lady Knight.
Kel quickly scrubbed herself clean and proceeded to leap out of the tub Tobe had had waiting for her. Looking amongst her packs, she found a russet gown with copper and gold embroidery and gold trim that was both flattering and suitable for riding. She pulled out her nicer riding boots, the dark brown ones, and found a pair of lighter brown hose.
Seeing her reflection in the room's lone mirror, she realized she'd have to do something more with her hair. The night before, and in the months previous to it, she'd worn her hair in a growing braid. Now it was long enough to reach her mid back, long as it was, and she hadn't worn it loose since she'd decided to grow it long again.
Now, she took the time to carefully brush through all her locks, twisting the tool in order to give her hair a slight curl. Next she pinned in back with a pair of monarch butterfly snaps – it would flow with the wind, but she wouldn't have to worry about it getting in her face. Kel then remembered her small brown cap and placed it on her head, finishing the portrait. She stood and took several steps back, that she might view her entire self in the reflective surface. The stunning effect was undeniably breathtaking, and Kel wasn't in the habit of flattering herself.
To finish it all off, she sprayed a honey, brown sugar, and floral scented mixture about herself; it was a great find (quite expensive, too) that she'd bought off a merchant in Port Caynn during one of the Own's visits. At the time, the men had laughed at her and asked why she was purchasing something so insultingly girly; she'd only laughed back and stowed it away with the thought she would indeed never use it. At this moment, she grinned wide and true; Dom and the others would see just how feminine she could be.
Now that he'd entered her mind again, it reoccurred to her that she was to bring the blankets and the saddled horses to the main gate, while Dom was to take care of the food. Kel grabbed her brown hooded cape – it looked like rain for later – and a few spare sheets of the thick military grade then rushed out the door, heading for the stables.
Dom hastened to finish his wash. He was so quick that he had to do it again, for he'd missed several spots of his body.
He gazed at his reflection in the mirror and realized he'd forgotten to shave earlier that morning. He decided to do so now; it really wouldn't take that long, and he wanted to look his best.
Discarding his first choice in tunics, a cliché sapphire matching his eyes, he instead chose a hunter green trimmed and embroidered in a dark crème. It went well with his dark hair, and he had a pair of undyed breeches that were a bit lighter than the crème.
His standard brown boots and darker brown hooded cape completed his attire nicely. He spared only a few moments to admire himself before leaving for the kitchens. Once there, he begged the best meal for two what could be found in this dreary war zone and tucked the repast into the handy basket the cooks turned up.
Marching over to the gate, Dom couldn't contain his excitement; he and Kel would be alone, truly alone, for the first time in their lives. The blue-eyed sergeant planned to savor every minute they were allotted and not dwell on the fact that three – three – armed patrols knew where they would be for the duration of the trip.
Dom saw a cloaked womanly figure with her back to him standing with his and Kel's horses. Her hair was long and light brown. As she turned to answer the call of someone behind him, he gasped at her artful outfitting. The burnt orange gown with its sparkly copper and gold embroidery and trim amazed him. Her coffee colored hose and riding boots were enhanced by the colors of her dress. He also noticed her butterfly hairpin and cute little brown cap. Finally reaching her, he caught a waft of her permeating scent. It was sultry and innocent and the same time. All in all, Dom was pleased, very pleased.
He glanced behind him to see who had been speaking with her and was surprised to find his cousin.
Meathead made a dramatic show of inhaling deeply to recover the breath he'd apparently lost from his frantic sprint. "Kel…Buri…Yuki…and Lalasa, wanted me to remind you that you're to report to them immediately after the lunch hour."
The woman Dom had been ogling rolled her eyes and responded impatiently, "Did they honestly believe I would forget? Though, I did mean to sneak off before they pulled me in too deep." Kel mumbled to herself, or so she thought.
"Yes, Kel, they honestly thought that, and with good reason. You're much like your Knight Master, running around looking for anyone in trouble, just to avoid a few small social gatherings. Unbelievable, that's what you two are!"
Kel huffed exasperatedly. "It was not a small social gathering. It was a Grand Progress!" she hissed back. "And I wasn't the one running."
Dom saw this as the prime opportunity to interrupt before the two took their fight to a physical level. "Perhaps we can be on our way, Keladry? We do have other matters to attend to, such as lunch…" he trailed off as she stared at him blankly.
Suddenly she recalled why she had the reins of two horses in her hands. "Oh, right. Of course, let's go." She held his reins while he first attached the basket to the side of his saddle and then mounted.
Once he was settled, she mounted Hoshi and they Watch Commander motioned for the guards to open the gates wide enough to permit the two riders. The pair rode for several long moments without any conversation, content to simply enjoy the serene and tranquil forest. Kel and Dom soon reached a small meadow with a surprisingly flowered clearing.
After dismounting and grabbing the blankets in one smooth motion, Kel searched for the perfect spot on the tiny patch of grass not overrun with the picturesque foliage. She spread the three blankets wide enough for them both to lounge comfortably without having to worry about displacing their food.
Dom had come up behind her without a sound; just as mutely, he began to lay out the different dishes with which the cooks had graced them: roasted chicken and red potatoes with a buttery garlic and parsley sauce, peppered string beans, spiced almond and red currant rice, and a number of soft sweet rolls that would melt on ice.
Kel's mouth watered and that was before the fragrant aromas besieged her. She sat down beside and Dom and accepted the loaded plate he handed to her with a diminutive thank you.
A few minutes passed before she remembered herself and ventured to make some sort of conversation with her partner. "This is all scrumptious. What did you bribe the cooks with in order to get this lavish meal?"
Dom chuckled before answering, "No bribery was involved – unless you count batting my long lashes with a promising smile bribery, that is."
She couldn't help laughing along with him. It was nice, to be with a longtime friend, without all their worries smothering them; not to mention the lack of their being on a semi-illegal mission into enemy territory. They finished their meal while discussing the antics of some of New Hope's older residents. Behavior and tricks Kel attributed to their earlier times with the members of playful Third Company.
As Kel and Dom were repacking their utensils, she noticed an unusually somber silence from him. Kel paused and turned so she could face him more directly.
"What is it?" her words shocked him out of his seeming reverie.
"What is what?" he appeared surprised. Indeed he was; he hadn't been aware that he'd been acting differently.
"You've been staring at me with that solemn expression for almost two whole minutes. I thought maybe there was food in my hair or on my dress."
He smiled minutely. "There is nothing wrong with your hair or dress." There isn't anything wrong with you at all, he thought to himself. No, that wasn't true, if he was being completely honest with himself, as he'd silently promised to do since that morning, there were some things he found less than appealing about her. The way she hid her emotions from everyone, including him, and behaved like one of the Old Knights (the noble, I-fight-alone knights) both irked him to no end.
But, he thought. I could persuade her to open up, as long as I don't overwhelm her with an onslaught of prying questions.
He remembered himself. "I was just admiring you lovely apparel. Such workmanship is the product of your dear Lalasa, I presume."
"You presume correctly. She gave me multiple dresses the last time I was here. You really like it?" she asked uncertainly.
Once again, he was shocked by her words. "Of course I like it. It fits you quite well and favors your complexion most astoundingly. All of garments suit you in a breathtakingly natural manner."
Kel blushed at is overt flattery. No one had ever made her body tingle the way Dom did. Before she could lose her nerve, Kel kissed his cheek.
"It's refreshing to have at least one of my friends who sees me. I thank you profusely for that, Dom." She mounted Hoshi and took off at a brisk trot.
Dom hurried to catch up to her – he wanted exploit their time to the fullest.
Dom and Kel reached the innermost gates and separated to their individual tasks, letting the waiting Tobe take their mounts. Dom went to guard duty until the middle of the evening, and Kel to matrimonial plans that promised to last well into the night.
On her way her rooms to drop off the blankets she cursed her crazed actions.
She'd kissed him, actually kissed him. What had she been thinking? She hadn't; that was the answer. She was sure he'd see it as a sisterly chase kiss, one his real sisters might have given his at any time in their lives. One thing was absolutely certain: it most definitely banished any inclinations he might have harbored as to her romantic interests.
Kel continued to berate herself all the way to Raoul and Buri's shared rooms. Sure, they'd maintained pleasant bantering conversation the whole ride back, but it felt like all the other times she'd spent time with him – they were friends and comrades in arms, nothing more. It pained her to think Dom might be stuck with that mentality of her.
She reached the door and paused for a moment to collect herself. Kel breathe in through her nose and out through her mouth slowly until she was the portrait of Yamani calm. There, she thought. I'm as ready as I'll ever be, and I can't do anything to change his feelings right now. So here I go.
Kel knocked delicately upon the door, waiting for someone to admit her. It was a full five minutes and three increasingly hard knocks later when Lalasa opened the door.
"Lalasa, what are you doing in here? Don't tell me we're doing a dress fitting today!" Kel added after noting the older girl's mischievous look.
"Lady Kel, dress fittings are the least of your worries." Chuckling, Lalasa dragged Kel into the rooms. Kel was greeted by the sight of Yuki and Buri, both seated at a Yamani-style table with various throw cushions surrounding them, sipping green tea and laughing with much mirth.
Buri spoke up first, "Kel! You're finally here. Sorry about this morning, but Daine and I aren't going to tell you what happened, so you can just forget it."
Kel harrumphed in response and took a seat in between Yuki and Lalasa. "Where is Daine, by the way? Surely I'm not the only one you three roped into this."
Before her time in Tortall, Yuki would not have hesitated to hide her good-natured smile behind her fan. Throughout the duration of her stay she'd been losing her stiffness even faster and more effectively than Kel. Now she grinned openly at her friend's indignation.
"She and Alanna will be over to dine with us and will both stay to help us finish up."
"I'm here now because, with three women as disinclined as you, Lady Alanna, and Miss Daine, these sensible two will need all the help they can get. It doesn't exactly help that the bride and groom were cut from the selfsame unsocial cloth." Lalasa deiced to throw in her two coppers.
Kel was immensely incredulous. Never had her former maid been so bold with others, let alone Kel herself. It was a bit pleasing to know the other girl was comfortable with people besides her dear Tian. Kel felt the hope and serenity for Lalasa that she so rarely turned upon herself.
Smiling amusedly, Kel answered almost immediately. "I don't think we're all quite that bad, Lalasa. Perhaps everyone else is just too outgoing and party-oriented. Maybe the whole country should shade things down a few levels." She finished with an expressionlessly bland visage.
Lalasa appeared bewildered for some time before fixing Kel with a slight glare. "'Perhaps,' nothing, Keladry of Mindelan. If anything, you are the one in need of a change. Just you wait and see, in less than five years' time, I'll have you craving even the smallest gatherings and you'll have a man on your arm to show off to the other court ladies.
Kel shuddered copiously and banished the less-than-ideal thought from her unsettled mind. She did not think she would mind marriage, in time and to the right man; Kel just wasn't sure it was in her future. The parties and outings she would never accept, although the friends-and-family events Raoul had held during the Midwinter she was knighted seemed appealing, and she started to plan the low-key fun they could all have once the war was over and they returned to Corus.
"How my life got to the point where I would actually say this, I don't know, but can we please get back to the planning?" Buri was actually exasperated.
"Alright, alright, back to the wedding. We already agreed on red and white roses darkened with deep brown powders for the bouquets." Lalasa began. "I think your dress should be cream with scarlet embroidery and gold trim. Milord's tunic should be scarlet with gold embroidery cream trim and his hose should be a darker gold. Does everyone agree?"
Everyone nodded their heads in unison and Kel was struck with a miraculously romantic epiphany. "The bridesmaids' dresses should of a darker cream than Buri's and our embroidery and trim should be paler than hers. It would clash beautifully with hers without drawing people's attention away from her."
The other women were more than surprised that Kel could or would think such a thing, romantic and fashionable as the idea was. Yuki especially was touched. Maybe she and Lalasa could cut down their time to three years instead of five, if Kel already knew how to look good. It occurred to Yuki that Kel always wore outfits that complimented her figure, when she wasn't preparing to train or fight, and even when she was, her clothes all matched.
"That's great, Kel! We'll all look fantastic." Yuki finally commented. "Ooh, and our bouquets should be wrapped with gold ribbons. This is going to be so amazing!"
"I don't want this getting too out of hand, girls." Buri intoned.
"Oh, don't worry, my lady. We'll keep it simple, just for you and my lord; we know how ironic you two prefer to be." Lalasa chimed.
"First off, I'm not a lady until I marry him; secondly, how exactly are we ironic?"
"Well, he is one of the richest nobles alive, in terms of property under his jurisdiction. And you are a close friend of her Majesty. You have not refused all the gifts she and the King have bestowed upon you, but neither of you likes to show off any of your wealth or power in any way. It's astounding what you nobles will put yourselves through, sometimes." Lalasa responded nonchalantly.
Buri gasped angrily and turned away. Kel and Yuki just stopped drinking their tea long enough to laugh merrily.
Yuki found a way to distract Buri, "I think everyone not on duty at the time of the wedding should be invited. You're already having it here within the fort, which makes them all identify with the occasion. Making it open to all allows everybody to join in the happiness and the gods know they could use some cheering up."
Kel yawned dramatically and spoke with Neal's drawl. "This is all well and grand, but you are inviting soldiers to your wedding and presumably reception. Most of those soldiers are male; they have stomachs, big stomachs. A soldier is a soldier is a soldier. What exactly are we going to feed them? The wedding is the second day after today; the cooks need to know what foods to make as soon as possible, for it will take them at least all of tomorrow to prepare and probably part of the morning on the day of the wedding, and they will most likely wish to begin their preparations tonight, in order to ease the work of the next two days."
"Look at you, Kel, thinking like a commander. And to think you were worried, actually worried, about how you would handle your position. Lord Wyldon made a fine choice that day. You really are great at what you do." Buri said.
"Wait a second. How did you know about that? My qualms, I mean."
"Neal and his cousin Dom noticed it while working with you, then the sergeant let it slip to Raoul, who wasn't able to resist my powers of persuasion." Buri smirked smugly.
"Stinking, meddling cousins. They really are Fruithead and Meathead. I suppose I'm not permitted to upset with milord?" Kel spoke it like a question.
Buri snorted. "Of course not, and we're your friends, Keladry. We wouldn't give those rotting conservatives the perverse pleasure of enjoying the fact that you felt what any one of your year-mates might have felt, had they been given your command. Actually, you probably felt less. They all know how accomplished you are as a leader and a weapons master; most of them (including knights a few years ahead of you) never achieve the level of confidence of self that you've reached at such a tender age. It's good for people on your side to know this though, because it reminds us your human and it reinforces our feeling able to relate to you and your struggle."
Kel didn't much know what to say to thought, or even it there was something she could actually say. This was a revelation to her, although she believed she should have thought of this on her own. Either way, she wanted the mood to be less serious and the attention less focused on herself. Kel did next what she thought she would never do,
"Let's start the dress fittings. Lalasa, have you designed them yet?"
Each of the other three women gaped open-mouthed at her, the silence and incredulity showering upon them with great force. For three full minutes, they were not able to utter a single sound.
It was Lalasa who recovered first. "Um, yes, Kel, I have already designed the gowns according Buri's wishes. I've actually already started on them. I've had recent measurements from all of you. Their ready for you to try on, if that is what you desire." The girl called Kel by just her nickname for the first time ever, and it seemed she only did it to keep her from regretting what she said and changing her mind about the fittings.
Lunching by herself didn't help Alanna's mood any. In fact, it made it worse. While she normally would love to skulk and curse all of creation for the rest of her life, there was a wedding in two days, and she had a lot of questions, questions she wanted answers to by that time.
Knowing that Kel and Dom would have been back for hours by now and that the latter had guard duty on the west wall, the purple-eyed knight stalked of to that end of the fort. For most people, it would have taken a good ten minutes to cross the entire fort, due to the many obstacles, alive and inanimate, putting themselves in a pedestrian's way. For Alanna, the time was cut in half, because everyone and everything moved out of the angry knight's way. Word had gotten round of The Breakfast Dispute, as it had been rightly dubbed, and no one wanted to join Wolset in facing the end of the King's Champion's blade.
Alanna marched up the stairs and looked left and right for the dark-haired male she sought. Seeing him only twenty-three yards away from her position, she made an effort to step as quietly as she knew how and approached him from behind.
Tapping the shoulder on his opposite side, she began, "So, Domitan." She enunciated each syllable of his name carefully and with an increasingly harder tap on the same shoulder. "How was your picnic ride with Keladry?"
Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle was really scared now. The lady knight had already shown she was on to him this morning, now she was seeking him out? This could not be good in any way.
"It went, umm…well. We had much time to catch up on things we had missed." There, he thought. I was honest, but I didn't reveal all my cards. "How was you lunch, Baroness?"
Not the right way to go; if possible, her expression got even more livid. Clearly, she was not over her earlier embarrassment, and Dom quite possibly just made things worse.
"I'm asking the questions here, Sergeant." She responded tersely. "Where did you two go?" Her tone grew more and more brusque with each and every word.
"We roamed for awhile, then stopped at a small meadow where we picnicked. Afterwards, we took our time getting back."
"What was she wearing? A dress, or a shirt and breeches?"
"She wore an orange dress with brown hose and boots and cape."
"That's it? That's the most you noticed?" the Lioness sighed exasperatedly and looked at Domitan as if he were the stupidest person she had ever had the misfortune of meeting. "What shade of orange was it? Was it embroidered? What color was the trim and did she have any accessories?" Alanna made sure to talk very slowly, although she really should have known better than to ask a male to describe the attire of another person, even if he had an affinity for that person. Not all men were like her George, noticing and noting everything about everything.
"Her dress was auburn with gold embroidery and trim, and some copper embroidery. It matched her dark brown boots and cap nicely, as did her lighter brown hose. She wore her hair pinned back with a butterfly pin, though I don't know the particular species. She also had brown hooded cloak. Would you like to know the number or stitches in her cap?" Dom was indignant enough to forget who he was talking to and slip in that sarcastic bit at the end.
After saying it, he realized it was both rude and suicidal of him to do so. Somehow, knowing he was about to meet his own demise actually put him at ease. At least then he would be under the scrutiny of a spy's wife.
Alanna, for her part, was inclined to be irate with him; she thought better of it when she recognized he'd finally displayed some real emotion. Moreover, she became cognizant that he'd described Kel's appearance with great detail. No man paid that much attention to a woman he didn't want. Alanna needed time to digest this information before continuing her interrogation. She also wanted to get her husband's take on matters.
Dom cleared his throat to remind the Lioness that they were holding a conversation. It startled her out of her reverie.
After shaking her head to clear her mind, she bid him adieu and left to look for George; she needed his expertise in this delicate matter.
Daine was in the middle of heartwarming chat involving roughly two-thirds of Steadfast's animals. The rest couldn't be spared as they were Lord Wyldon's hounds, the soldiers' horses, or the birds used for sending messages or scouting where two-legger parties could not. Those present would spread word of their discussion to the People who could not attend.
The Wildmage had been with the creatures since leaving the mess hall after breakfast. She knew Numair had a working and that Buri wouldn't need her until around dinnertime and Wyldon had no assignment for her, so she had decided to see what was new with her resident friends of the People.
One tomcat was complaining that another had stepped into his territory and was trying to sweet-talk one of his humans. Daine just laughed and promised to have a word with the offensive feline.
All the animals had something or other of interest to tell her, but around noon they started to trickle away, back to their daily activities. It was half a bell before the first dinner hour when the last animal, a female squirrel who reminded Dine of Flicker, left the Wildmage to her own devices.
Feeling her belly rumble – she'd talked right through lunch – she decided to meet up with Buri and the others early. She was going up the stairs when Alanna ran up behind her, puffing with exhaustion.
"Daine…have you…seen…George?"
"Not since breakfast, I haven't. You look hungry though; why don't you come with me – I'm to dine with Buri and Yuki. Kel is supposed to be there, too, remember?" the young woman asked.
Alanna took a moment to think. She really could wait to talk to George until later, and dining with Kel would give her a chance to analyze that half of the blossoming relationship.
By the time she finished thinking, Alanna had regained her breath. "I would love to, Daine."
The smirk the knight-mage gave Daine was more than slightly disconcerting, but as it wasn't necessarily directed at her, the youthful mage shrugged it off. They walked together to the end of the hall and Daine knocked on the door.
The four women had more than recovered and Lalasa had finished fitting both Yuki and Kel by the time they all heard a light knock on the outer door.
Buri saw her chance to escape her own fitting and ran to admit the new arrival. It turned out to be arrivals as she opened the door and saw not only Daine, who was a bit early, but also Alanna.
The former Commander of the Queen's Riders didn't waste time enlisting her old friends. "You've got to help me! I'm trying to put off my fitting until at least later tonight. Come inside and one of you start asking about our dinner plans."
Alanna and Daine chuckled at Buri's antics and Daine responded, "What else besides food could have brought me here so soon, do you think? Have you forgotten that I, too, have to be fitted for a gown, or am I no longer one of your bridesmaids?" Daine finished with heart wrenching pout.
"Oh, right. Of course, you're still one of my bridesmaids. You and Alanna have both been mandated by her Majesty to be a part of the bridal party. I can't have her here, so you two will just have to do."
The violet-eyed mage spoke drily, "So nice to know we're appreciated."
Buri gave her one of looks capable of chipping paint and responded. "Just come inside so I can get something to eat!"
The three women walked in and found Yuki clutching her stomach, trying not to laugh at Kel's expression.
Lalasa quickly explained that she had accidentally stuck her former mistress with a pin and Kel had shed a few tears. When Lalasa said she could stop acting like Neal after being sliced with Kel's pigsticker, Kel had become furious. Now every other woman was laughing hysterically at Kel's indignation.
It took them all several long minutes to quiet down, then they finally had one of Yuki's servants from two doors over leave to fetch their dinner.
The servant returned with not only the food, but also Neal, Raoul, and Numair. The men were following the young girl so closely, she almost lost her load. Yuki reprimanded them and thanked the kind girl for her patience and service.
The women hurriedly moved their planning materials out of the way and the group of nine sat down to their evening meal. No sounds save but those made from their heavy chewing could be heard until a loud knock once again interrupted the goings on.
Everyone looked at one another long enough for the visitor to knock again, harder this time. Finally, Lalasa sighed and rose to open the door. She figured her having the lowest status out of all those present required her to be the one to leave their plate first.
A third, rougher knock reached her ears before she could make it all the way to the door. Huffing angrily, she yanked it out and demanded to know, "Just who exactly thinks they're the most important person alive and can't be expected to wait more than a few moments for anything in their pampered life?"
The girl saw just who exactly it was and covered her gasping mouth while simultaneously trying to apologize for her rudeness over and over again.
"It's alright. Lalasa, isn't it?" the dark-haired noble asked her.
She simply nodded minutely.
"I knew milord was dining here and wasn't in the mood for the noise of the mess. Mind if I join you?"
Lalasa doubted that Raoul was the real person this blue-eyed man wanted to see, but she let him in anyways. Her suspicions were confirmed when his eyes went right to her former mistress, Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan.
A/N: I was so happy to finally be finished that I couldn't wait to update. It ended in a weird place, because I:
1. Wanted to make the next chapter include dinner.
2. Wanted to leave enough for the next chapter so it would be long too, but not quite as long, and
3. I haven't really thought of what else to include about plans for the wedding, which means everything after this is most likely going to be about the next day and the wedding. And honestly, the wedding deserves it's own chapter, so this is what we're left with.
I bid you all adieu and hope you review.
Chapter 3's title: "Conscious and Renewal" "Conscious" was chosen because most of the people who are "telling" the story are changing who they are, both essentially and superficially. My older sister took AP psychology and I wish to take it next year. Exploring the dynamics of the Tortallan society will help me with the course, or so I've been told. It also adds to the levels of the story. In AP English: Language and Composition, we're discussing how good stories have a basic emotional level everyone can relate to, but the great ones also have a deeper meaning or motif that requires some thought and much meditation to fully understand or grasp. The latter is what I'm shooting for.
The "Renewal" part comes from the bathing and rain themes throughout these chapters (by the way, the rain Kel was expecting will happen in chapter 4), and hopefully in the next few to come. In the same English course mentioned above, we're using the book How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines. Before even opening the book, our teacher mentioned the things it would discuss; themes and motifs and patterns were just the beginning. If it rains in a movie or book, or a character takes a bath/shower or crosses a body of water, getting doused, it usually means something. Things will more likely have symbolic meaning than not.
The characters' bathing rituals are included with increasing detail to mirror the mental and emotional changes they are all undergoing. It signifies a sort of cleansing or purification, by means of which the character has gone on a journey and come out the better for it. Notice which characters are said to have bathed and which are not. It most definitely has symbolic significance. What does it mean when I stop writing about one person's bath in each chapter, and start writing about a new one? Also, the cleansing of a character is only mentioned from that character's POV, so to speak, unless he/she is being talked of collectively with other. People not in the fic previously, in the current chapter of the fic, in the fic yet (you know they will be), or in the fic period aren't mentioned when it comes to "renewal". There's a reason for that other than it would most likely be totally random.