Chapter Ten

Disclaimer: see chapt one.

Author's Note: sorry, it's taken longer than usual to update. Wow, the second last chapter! Roald gets a bit of a big head in thischapter, a bit ooc but bear with me!Won't keep you waiting any longer.

Many months passed.

Kate spent them holed up in the country. Winter passed, then spring, summer and autumn, then the whole process repeated. Slowly Kate's heart healed.She found herself pointing her face at the sun again, looking up at the birds nesting and the deer grazing. She found the emptiness in her heart that Roald had filled disappearing. Day by day she found it harder to recall the exact shade of his eyes, the very timbre of his laugh, things she had once felt she could never forget.

In time Jayne returned to the palace and found her sweetheart; Kate heard they were announcing the engagement in a month.

Jasper of Tonac, from a neighbouring fief, started to come by. At first Kate loathed him, she couldn't help comparing him Roald in everything he did, she didn't laugh as hard at Jasper's jokes, he couldn't shoot as well as Roald but he grew on her, his awkward, well-meaning advances were sweet although not the very height of romance.

On a bright spring morning Kate was going about her normal daily tasks when from the window she caught sight of a messenger trotting down the gravel path, he was from Tonac and Kate hoped it was not Jasper's proposal, she had been dreading it, but expecting it for a few weeks now. Kate tried to concentrate on the book she was reading but couldn't focus on the words. Half an hour later Kate's father called her to his room.

"Kate, that was a messenger from Tonac. He brings good news. The lord of Tonac has just heard that Prince Roald is to be wed, the Yamani Princess arrived yesterday." Kate sat silently, this was good news? She thought. "We assume you will be allowed to go back to court now." William's voice took an angry tone; Kate's parents had not been pleased at her banishment from court. Kate didn't know whether to cry or laugh. She would see Roald again, although it would be only a few weeks before his wedding.

"Go and pack."

Kate was dismissed.

At the palace Roald was also sitting in his father's room, also with mixed feelings, he had met Princess Shinokami, she was breathtaking to be sure, but she wasn't Kate. A traitorous part of him said she was better than Kate. His pride however refused to accept this, he had promised to make Kate queen and he couldn't break her heart.

Even if you don't love her? He thought guilty. She probably mourned everyday the loss of me, andI barely think about her. As Roald was mentally killing himself with remorse his father entered the room.
"Son, you know your mother and I don't want to force marriage upon you but we really need this to work, we need the Yamani as our friends, besides, you like her don't you?" "Yes, but…do you remember that girl…" Roald drifted of. "Oh, Roald, you don't still think of her? It was a child's summer love, nothing more. Even you know that. She will be happier without you. You weren't meant to be. I remember as a lad I thought I was in love many times, but until you know the real thing…" It was Jon's turn to drift off.
"Go, there's a ball tonight, the chance for all the nobles to meet Shinkokami. Get ready."

Fairly short chappie, I'm sorry, I'll update soon I promise! Review please!

jollyrancher-j2k thanks for reviewing once again! The finale is coming up, you won't have to wait that long!

bookworym aww, too bad, I know what it's like. I read wild magic and then the lioness books, its annoying! Thanks for reviewing.

FanFictionFantom heh heh, your idea is very tempting, you'll soon find out!

wild-wizard-women Kate and Roald fell in love at first sight, like Romeo and Juliet, they knew each other for, like, two days! Sorry, we're studing it in English and I've got it on the brain! did you know Juliet was only fourteen? Thanks for reviewing!