Post by allymarty on Mar 8, 2010 18:38:43 GMT 10
Title: Kinsmen 18 - Undone
Rating: G
Length: 345 (not including the book quote)
Competitor: Faleron
Round/Fight: 2/A
Summary: Eighteenth in a series of stories about the relationship between two kinsmen and the eventual object of their mutual affections.
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Kel rose and bowed, trying not to grin at Owen's tumbling chatter. When she straightened, she was startled to see his eyes bulge. "Mithros's spear, Kel!" he exclaimed. "When did you turn into a real girl?"
"You said she was a girl already," muttered one of his cousins - was it Iden or Warric? Kel hadn't gotten them straight.
"But not a girl-girl, with a chest and all!" protested Owen.
...Boys continued to drop by over the course of the afternoon: Seaver, Esmond, Merric, Faleron (a glorious fourth-year now), Prosper. Yancen of Irenroha even stopped in. Lalasa disappeared, and returned bearing a basket of pastries and a pitcher of juice. The pages welcomed her with cheers. Lads, she told Kel, were always hungry.
-- Tamora Pierce, Page
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Mithros! He was undone. One look at Keladry of Mindelan and her newly-developed bosom, and Faleron of King's Reach was completely undone. Of course, he wasn't alone. Several of the other pages and squires noticed the way that the girl page suddenly reminded them of other girls and young ladies with whom they were acquainted. Seeing her in a dress at the evening meal only made matters worse.
"Great Mother Goddess!" Merric exclaimed the next day when he and Faleron had finished their morning meal and were out for a short ride to exercise their horses. "Did you see everyone staring at Kel's, um ... chest?"
Faleron clenched his jaw and nodded. Of all the things he and his cousin could discuss during their last day of free time before Lord Wyldon's training began again, Kel's chest was not a topic he wanted to consider. Not out loud, anyway.
It wasn't just her bosom, of course. Kel radiated confidence this year. Joren and his nasty year-mates were squires now and they wouldn't be back at the palace until it was almost Midwinter. Very few pages dared to go up against Kel and her band of friends, so this year felt more easy-going already. Sure, there would be other challenges ahead, but Faleron could sense that Kel was ready to face them head-on.
Keladry of Mindelan was becoming a woman now and Faleron realized that he was powerless to keep his mind and heart from acknowledging his deep and abiding love and admiration for her. It had taken him such a long time to control himself and to keep his feelings for her hidden when he was around Kel. He'd done everything he could think of doing to force himself to see her as just 'another one of the boys' and now, his efforts had come undone.
Part of him felt doomed, but another part of him rejoiced with the anticipation of the times to come. Faleron smiled as he raced his cousin across the field. Perhaps, he thought, this wouldn't be so bad after all.
Rating: G
Length: 345 (not including the book quote)
Competitor: Faleron
Round/Fight: 2/A
Summary: Eighteenth in a series of stories about the relationship between two kinsmen and the eventual object of their mutual affections.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Kel rose and bowed, trying not to grin at Owen's tumbling chatter. When she straightened, she was startled to see his eyes bulge. "Mithros's spear, Kel!" he exclaimed. "When did you turn into a real girl?"
"You said she was a girl already," muttered one of his cousins - was it Iden or Warric? Kel hadn't gotten them straight.
"But not a girl-girl, with a chest and all!" protested Owen.
...Boys continued to drop by over the course of the afternoon: Seaver, Esmond, Merric, Faleron (a glorious fourth-year now), Prosper. Yancen of Irenroha even stopped in. Lalasa disappeared, and returned bearing a basket of pastries and a pitcher of juice. The pages welcomed her with cheers. Lads, she told Kel, were always hungry.
-- Tamora Pierce, Page
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Mithros! He was undone. One look at Keladry of Mindelan and her newly-developed bosom, and Faleron of King's Reach was completely undone. Of course, he wasn't alone. Several of the other pages and squires noticed the way that the girl page suddenly reminded them of other girls and young ladies with whom they were acquainted. Seeing her in a dress at the evening meal only made matters worse.
"Great Mother Goddess!" Merric exclaimed the next day when he and Faleron had finished their morning meal and were out for a short ride to exercise their horses. "Did you see everyone staring at Kel's, um ... chest?"
Faleron clenched his jaw and nodded. Of all the things he and his cousin could discuss during their last day of free time before Lord Wyldon's training began again, Kel's chest was not a topic he wanted to consider. Not out loud, anyway.
It wasn't just her bosom, of course. Kel radiated confidence this year. Joren and his nasty year-mates were squires now and they wouldn't be back at the palace until it was almost Midwinter. Very few pages dared to go up against Kel and her band of friends, so this year felt more easy-going already. Sure, there would be other challenges ahead, but Faleron could sense that Kel was ready to face them head-on.
Keladry of Mindelan was becoming a woman now and Faleron realized that he was powerless to keep his mind and heart from acknowledging his deep and abiding love and admiration for her. It had taken him such a long time to control himself and to keep his feelings for her hidden when he was around Kel. He'd done everything he could think of doing to force himself to see her as just 'another one of the boys' and now, his efforts had come undone.
Part of him felt doomed, but another part of him rejoiced with the anticipation of the times to come. Faleron smiled as he raced his cousin across the field. Perhaps, he thought, this wouldn't be so bad after all.