| The next morning dawned crisp and cool, autumn had fallen on the city of Corus. Ellie was still yawning from the nights festivities as she jogged up the palace grounds towards the stables. She had managed to trick the Palace Gaurds into letting her pass, if there was one thing she had to pride herself on, Ellie decided it would be her toung. Though it had landed her in many tough situations, it had alson pulled her out of a fair lot. She rounded the bend, watching as the Stables slowley came into view. She had come here, to pick up an important letter from the Rouge in Tusaine. The best way to recive important mail was via Stephen, the Palace hostler. Stephen was a timid but jolly old man who loved horses, and, was conveniently sealed to the Rouge. As she reached the stabling area, Ellie swung herself up into the giant hayloft. Stephen greeted her happily, telling her that there was no unexpected news from Tusaine. Pocketing the parchment he handed her, Ellie swung down, landing squarely infront of a young Knight. The man was obviously startled, but recovered quickly. "And what's a loveley lady like your self doing in a place like this?" he said in a joking mannor. "Wouldn't you like to know" Ellie replied, equaliy as lightly. She surveyd the youth, he was taller than she with dark brown hair and green eyes. He was dressed in a deep green tunic and hose, wich bore the Queenscove crest. He was gaping at her, pobably for her disrepect to a Noble. She grinned at him playfully, "Don't gape like that, it's not becoming of a Noble" she tutted, watching his face. The man frowned " Hey! You look really familliar... who are you? what's your name? Wh-" He was cut off at this point, as a large bail of hay mysteriously toppled out of the above haloft, knocking him down. Ellie used this as a getaway opportunity. As she ran through the palace gate, she made a mental note to thank Stephen. Nealan of Queenscove got to his feet, dusting the straw off his tunic. Who was that girl? Why did she look so familliar? He was sure she wasn't a Noble, her clothing and the way she spoke convinced him of that, but... she did have an odd twinge to her accent... He thought again about her face, she was a pretty thing, those green eyes and curly hair, but there was nothing about her that jumped out as unique. The girl was probably a servant, that would explain her business in the stables, but she acted like none Neal had ever met. Still, there was something about her... Neal sighed as he groomed and curried his mare. Just then it hit him. That smirk! Where had he seen that stupid little half grin before? "That's my smirk!!" he realized allowed. His horse butted him, obviously agitated by this unnecissay use of volume. Keladry of Mindelan stepped into the dim stables. "I didn't think horses could smirk" she remarked seriously. Neal didn't look up "Not my horse this girl-" He stopped abruptly looking up. "Kel! How are you? Mithros! It's been ages!" He cuffed her around the shoulder, looking her over he whistled "God's Kel, I wouldn't have belived it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes! You've gotten taller!" Kel rearded him, staight faced "Don't stare Neal, it's impolite, didn't Master Oakbridge teach you anything?" Neal grinned "Since when do I care about good manners? and besides, I've already had one ettiquit lesson from a girl today." "Oh really?" siad Kel, eye's dancing with amusment "Who? don't tell me you're still fawning about after the Queen?" Neal sniffed, putting on a melodramatic face "No, the Queen is as beautifull as the sun, and as lovely as a rose, but un-attainable to me, as she is wed to the man I am sworn by duty to serve...but broken hearts mend, and I have found a new object to wich I direct my attention, even more lovely than the Queen, and more worthy of my affections." Kel stiffled a yawn "And who, pray tell is this perfect woman?" "Ah, Sir Keladry, the new light of my life is , the lovley Lady Yuki" "Yuki!!?" Kel dropped her Yamani like expression. It wasn't that this was unexpected, it was just that, comming from Neal, Kel had been anticipating someone compleatly out of his reach. Someone like... the Mother Goddess. As far as Neal's taste went, Yuki was well within the scope of possibility. But, the mental image of Neal and the Mother Goddess dancing together had Kel nearly on the floor in fits of giggles. Neal huffed "Laugh if you will! I am off to court destiny" and with that he turned on his heel and left. |