Breaking for lunch
As the last of the circle left the room, Kel and Dom remained, eager to snatch a moment of alone time together. These past few hours had been quite strenuous on Kel, and she knew that it would only get worse, much worse. When the harder times came, she wasn't sure she would be able to refrain from finding comfort in her sweetheart - but at the same time, she wasn't sure that she was ready to reveal her relationship to half the court!
Dom had similar feelings. Even the slightest mention of Kel being in danger in the scrolls set his heart racing and his hand twitching for hers. It broke his heart to think about the fact that he may not be able to comfort her when it came to more tenuous topics, like Lalasa's rape and the Scanran War.
Kel and Dom had remained seated, but now Dom was happy that he could reach for her hand. He broke the silence, beginning "Kel, I can't believe I'm finally going to read about your experiences at the Palace as a young girl. This is pretty much a life dream fulfilled for me. I'm just really worried about how I'm going to cope, and obviously, how you are going to cope?"
"Dom, of course, I feel the same way. I'm so nervous about everyone reading about my crushes, my failures, my insecurities, even my monthly's for goddesses sake." At this, Kel flushed.
However, Dom eased her worries "Don't worry Kel, at least it's mainly your close friends and family in the chamber, and also, I'm sure we could have a word with the Goddess and ask her to remove the more personal aspects of your history from the scrolls?"
Kel silently affirmed this. But vocalised her next worry; "Dom, we need to consider revealing our relationship to everyone? No one knows about us yet; not Neal, not my parents, not even Raoul."
Kel and Dom continued to discuss what to do about their courtship, for of course, they not only wanted to share this with their friends but they wanted the opportunity to be open about their feelings for each other in such close proximity with others. However, they had to consider what this would do to both their reputations. People would assume that Dom had taken Kel's virtue when she was a squire. They would assume that Kel slept her way into her role as Lady Knight Commander. They would also question their working relationship, as Dom was Captain of Third Company, and thus her direct subordinate. In the end, they decided they would tell her parents about their relationship, as well as Raoul once they read about her becoming a squire and meeting Dom. Meanwhile, they'd hopefully surprise everyone, especially Meathead, with the news of their relationship some time later on. This would annoy Neal especially, and could be quite a fun little game to play.
Meanwhile, in the mess hall, individual groups were reflecting on their own experiences with Kel and at the Palace themselves.
Alanna, Jon, Raoul and Gary reminisced about their time as pages together.
Raoul's booming voice could be heard across the room; "I remember when you were but a scrawny little git, Alan!"
Gary quickly commented "Ha, she still is, old friend. Look at her, nothing much as changed!"
Talk then shifted to hazing, as Alanna recounted her frequent 'trips down the staircase' with Ralon. It was surreal to read about Kel's time as a page, as it brought back memories of their times as pages. Sometimes Alanna wish she could re-do it all, change events, even relive moments. But in the end, she knew that she wouldn't be able to stand everyone reading her thoughts. Kel would do it, if it meant changing policies and opinions about female knights, and female empowerment, but Alanna recognised that she really wasn't the same kind of woman as Kel, and her desire to be a knight truly had been a selfish desire, rather than a desire to serve and protect the vulnerable.
At the table across, a different set of year mates were discussing the exact same thing, separated only by decades.
Neal couldn't help but think about his first meeting with Kel. Did he know then what an extraordinary woman she would become?
Cleon was also absorbed in thought about the woman Kel once was, and what she had meant to him. Oh joy, he thought, we're going to have half of Corus' court read about our own courtship!
The only thing running through Owen's mind was 'jolly hell Kel had it rough!' He couldn't wait to read more about the girl who had inspired him.
All of the knights were brought out of their reminiscing by Kel entering the mess hall, and grabbing a plate. She stood on the dais and announced; "Let's head back to the Chamber and read some more, I for one can't get enough at the moment! Although I'm sure to be more hesitant later…"
Grabbing her plate, she tapped Wyldon on the shoulder, requesting to have a chat with him, as everyone else filed back into the Chamber.
"Wyldon, I want you to remember that no matter what happens in these books, I absolutely forgive you for your treatment of me as a page. I really do think we've gotten over all of this, during the Scanran War. And you know that I have come to respect you greatly."
"As you know that I have come to respect you greatly, Lady Knight," was Wyldon's simple but meaningful response.
Wyldon and Kel re-entered the Chamber, reflecting on their camaraderie over the past few years since Kel's knighthood.
Kel re-took her seat next to Dom and Neal and noticed that Alanna had taken the scroll; she wasn't sure this was the best idea, as her first few months at the Palace did not go smoothly! Kel had no choice though, as the Lioness read out "Chapter 3: The Practice Courts…."