Well friends I am at it again, it has been a very long time since I uploaded a story for Kingdom Hearts and I hope you enjoy it. I would like to make absolutely clear that I did not come up with the plot for this story it was originally written by a wonderful romance novelist by the name Lori Wick if you enjoy this story then you might like the other Lori Wick book I have up loaded called where the wild rose blooms the legend of Zelda version. I do not own any characters that are mentioned from the kingdom hearts series or any of the final fantasy games.

Magical Kingdom

1531

"What of Ansem of Hallo bastion castle? He's a loyal lord."

"Yes, my liege, he is," Donald Duck, chief of adviser to King Mickey VIII, spoke in agreement. Ansem is most devoted. He's one of your dukes."

"I know my own lords, Donald!" Mickey's voice turned with irritation. "Does Ansem have any sons?"

"Only daughters. Two."

Mickey scowled at Donald as though it were the other man's fault and then frowned at nothing in particular, his gaze on some distant spot. He was silent for just moments, however, his powerful mind moving in consideration.

"Tell me of Sora, Donald. Sora of Twilight Crest."

"Word has come to me that young Sora has just returned from a trip to see his mother. She lives in the north country."

"He hasn't taken a wife, has he?" Mickey's scowl was back in place.

"No, your grace. He's hardworking, engrossed in running of his keep. I do not believe that such a thing has crossed his mind."

"A viscount, is he?" Mickey's mind moved swiftly again, and Donald knew better than to even smile over Mickey's earlier comment that he knew his own lords.

"No, my lord," he said stoically. "He's an earl."

"Ansem's daughter..." Mickey speared his aid with another glance. "Naminé has been to court, but what of the other? Is she older or younger?"

"Younger. Kairi must be 17 by now."

"Ansem would lay down his life for me," Mickey said without boast. "I'm sure of this."

"As would Sora, I believe," Donald inserted gently.

"Yes," the king agreed. "He has proved himself loyal, but as you said, he is young. I think a union is in order.

Donald smiled. If Mickey felt it would be advantageous to the throne, he would marry an infant to a man gray with age.

"Send word, first to Ansem and then to Sora," Mickey commanded. "The choice of the bride is to be Ansem's, but we won't rush things. I want Sora content as well. Tell both Ansem and the young earl they have a year. No, make it six months."

"As you wish," Donald spoke humbly while making notes.

They did not discuss the marriage or Ansem of Hallo bastion castle again. But Sora of Twilight Crest was the subject for long minutes to follow.

And now chapter 1, please enjoy.

(&)

"Who was that, Ansem?"

The lord of Hallo bastion castle turned slowly to see his wife enter the room but did not immediately answer her. Studying her a moment, he thought her beauty timeless; she was al lovely today as she'd been as a bride. But he also knew that her beauty sank no deeper than her skin. His eyes narrowed when he thought of the storm the king's news would induce.

"Ansem!" Larxene's voice was no longer softly curious but harsh with irritation. "Is something the matter? Who was that man?"
"A messenger from Mickey," Ansem told her.

Larxene's eyes widened. "Is the news bad?"

"I fear you will think so."
Larxene's eyes narrowed with anger. She had not bothered with a wimple, so she now swung her head, causing her mane of thick, blond hair to fall from one shoulder.

"What nonsense do you speak?"

"Only that Mickey wishes our family to unite with that of Twilight Crest. He has ordered that our neighbor should marry one of our daughters."

Larxene was well and truly horrified. "Surely not Namine?"

Ansem shrugged. "She is the eldest."

"I don't care!" Larxene's voice was turning shrill. "I will never allow her to settle for an earl. We'll keep Namine hidden. If he never sees her, he can't choose-"

"I am to choose," Ansem cut in.

"Well, it's settled then," Larxene said with a laugh that turned from relief to cruelty. "You'll have to send for Kairi."

Ansem took a breath. "I will speak to Namine first."

This time Larxene laughed in true amusement. "She'll never agree. I'll fetch her myself, and you can ask her."

"You mean she's here?" Ansem's brow lowered. "I thought she'd gone to the Magical Kingdom."

"No, she's not leaving until tomorrow. I'll go now and send her to you."

"No."

Larxene halted in her walk from the great hall and turned slowly back to her spouse. Ansem had to keep form flinching over the hatred he saw in her eyes, but his mind was resolute. He knew that if her mother spoke to her first.

"You will remain here, and we will speak to her together."

Larxene took a seat, but Ansem could see that she was furious. He knew she might not speak to him for days or possibly weeks, but he was determined to have his won way this time.

Minutes later a servant was sent to fetch the elder of Ansem's daughters. Her parents settled down to wait in frigid silence.

Namine' never hurried unless it pleased to do so, and Ansem hated to be kept waiting. Having taken lessons from her mother from the past 19 years, Kairi was an expert at irritating her father. More than 20 minutes passed before she made an appearance, but Ansem was still calm- in truth, he was filled with an amused anticipation. He knew his daughter to be deceitful above all women; and for the first time he rather looked forward to the creative excuse she was sure to give for not coming on time.

Sure enough, Namine's look when she entered the great hall was one of regret. Her eyes were wide with remorse, her lovely face apologetic, sweet even.

"I was told just this moment that you wanted me," she said softly. Her humbleness was so real that Ansem could only shake his head. To those who did not really know Namine, she seemed so sweet. Ansem did know her, however, and wasted no time informing her of the situation.

"King Mickey has ordered that our household be joined to that of Twilight Crest," he spoke without preamble. "You will be married to Sora."

All humility fell away. Namine's face became a mask of hatred and disgust, turning her normally lovely features into a repulsive sneer.

"Never," she nearly hissed. "I am not ready to wed, and when I am, I will never settle for an earl."

Her words so echoed those of her mother that Ansem mentally gave up. However, Namine was not through.

"You may wish to play lackey to the king, but not I. I'd rather die than be married to that oaf at Twilight Crest, and if you don't have the spine to tell Mickey, then I will!"

"It's just as I told you, Ansem," Larxene's cut in, her voice so like Namine. "You will have to send for Kairi."

"Yes!" Namine caught onto the idea. "Send for Kairi. She'll do anything for you; even sacrifice herself for the king."

Namine suddenly turned to her mother. "I've changed my mind. I'm leaving for the Magical Kingdom today." She turned back to her father. "You must think me a fool to even suggest such an arrangement. Well, I'm not. I'm leaving now. I can't stand the thought of one more day in the same castle with you!"

Ansem stood still as both his wife and daughter, so similar in temperaments and looks, swept from the room. He should have known that is was useless. Laxene had done an admirable job on Namine's mind all these years, but al least he'd tired.

Send for Kairi.

The words still rang in his ears. He could see that he had little choice. At least Mickey had given him six months. With a plan forming in his mind, he rang for his scribe. He would replay to his king, as well as send for Kairi, but by the time she arrived he would have the situation firmly back in his control.

(&)

Sister Marryweather, one of the older nuns at the Hallo Bastion abbey, made her way sedately down the corridor lined with small, sparsely furnished bedrooms. When she was less than halfway along, she stopped outside one wooden door and knocked softly. The door was opened immediately by a short, plump redhead whose wimple was asked and whose face and hands were dusty.

"Yes, Sister Merryweather?" The voice was husky and breathless.

"The Reverend Mother wishes to see you, Kairi."

"Now? I've only just returned from the village." Kairi did noting to hide the horror she felt, and the older sister had to fight a smile.

"She said 'immediately'."

Kairi sighed, but not even the dirt could dim the brightness of the blue eyes or hide any part of her adorable, expressive face.

"All right. I have to see to a particular need, and then I'll go."

Again Sister Merryweather wanted to laugh. No one else in the entire abbey would have dared refer to the need to relieve herself, but then no one else in the abbey was anything like Kairi.

Kairi thanked her, and in her hast nearly slammed the door in the older woman's face. Merryweather made her way back to her Superior's office to report on her conversation, which the Reverend Mother accepted calmly.

"I thought Kairi was due back from the village just after lunch."

Merryweather had taken a seat by the window and answered for there.

"I believe you are right, but Kairi hasn't been on time in eight years; I can't think why she begin now."

The revered Mother smiled, but only slightly. Sister Maerryweather was dying to ask about the message she knew had arrived, but she remained silent, praying for acceptance of whatever was to pass. Her eyes had been on the window, but they now shifted to see the Revered Mother watching her.

"We're going to lose her," the older nun told her softly.

Sister Merryweather's habit lifted with a huge sigh as she tried to deal with this news. They had all know it would happen someday. After all, Kairi was the daughter of a duke, something all of them had constantly lost sight of, and it had never been her father's intention that she join the order.

"When?" Merryweather now felt free to ask.

"The end of the week."

She nodded and when she spoke again, her voice wobbled only slightly. "Would you mind my not staying, Reverend Mother?"

"No, Sister Merryweather. I quiet understand."
Such permission was granted not a moment too soon, as Kairi knocked on the door just seconds later. Sister Marryweather answered it, but exited soundlessly once Kairi was inside. The young redhead noticed the older sister's departure, but she was so self-conscious about her appearance that she had eyes only for the Revered Mother, a woman whom she held in the highest esteem.

"Come and sit down, Kairi."

"I'm sorry about my cloths, Revered Mother, Flora. I didn't have time to change."

"You have just come from the village?"
Kairi hesitated, knowing that her answer would evoke many more questions.

"Yes. I know I was supposed to return earlier..." Kairi's rather low-pitched voice was earnest. "But one of the village woman had her baby, and, Reverend Mother," Kairi's voice turned dreamy, "she's the loveliest thing I've ever seen. She has so much hair, and she's so pink and soft. I just couldn't tear myself away.

Studying Kairi's lovely young face, the abbess fought for control of her emotions, thinking things would never be the same after she was gone. She forced herself to remain calm.

"I was under the impression that it was your turn to go to the village and teach the children to read."

"Oh, I did that," Kairi told her, her large eyes widening. "But you see, they were doing so well that I let them go early."

"But still you didn't return?"
"No, Revered Mother. Old Mrs. Pots was working in her garden, and you know how bent her back is. I simply had to help her."

This explained the dirt, but all the Revered Mother said was, "Then the baby was born?"
"Well, yes, but I didn't see her until after I'd talked with Riku. He still has it in his mind to marry me. I told him how unsuitable I would be, but he won't listen."

Kairi's distressed face was comical, but the word marry brought the Revered Mother firmly back tot he task at hand.

"It sounds as if you've had a busy day. As much as I appreciate your telling me honestly where you have been, that is not the reason I sent for you."

Kairi nodded, having surmised as much.

"Your father wants you home, Kai." The older woman had used her nickname, a rare thing and one that warned her of the Reverend Mother's emotions.

"He has written to me, and you're to gather your belongings and return to Hallo Bastion Castle by the end of the week." the older woman, by Lord Ansem's request, omitted the news about marriage.

Kairi said nothing. She rose and went to the window, her eyes far away. Not one of the nuns would have risen and turned from the Reverend Mother without permission, but Kairi was not a nun. She was the daughter of a titled lord, and a girl who has lived with them since the day after her ninth birthday. She was now 17, and the Reverend Mother knew that the abbey had truly become her home.

Larxene, Lord Ansem's wife, had never wanted Kairi. She was happy with her beautiful first daughter and never desired another child. If rumor could be believed, she had tried several purges to rid herself of her unwanted second pregnancy, but all attempts had failed.

Larxene might have forgiven Kairi had she been a male heir, but the fact that she was a girl, and redheaded as well, was enough to cause her to shun the child. However, much to Lady Larxene's horror, Kairi proved to be more than stalwart. The stouthearted little girl did everything in her power to gain her mother's attention, until it became obvious to Ansem that the two must be separated lest Kairi come to physical harm at Larxene's hand.

When Kairi arrived at the abbey, she was insolent beyond description and so active that the nuns thought they would lose their minds. She ran away no less than twice a week and swiftly became a master at hiding and wearing disguises. The Reverend Mother thought they would never survive the first years, but much of that changed as Kairi matured. Then near the time of Kairi's fourteenth birthday, her heart became sensitive to spiritual matters.

On one occasion, when Father Yen Sid was making his regular visit, Kairi sought him out. The kind priest, who had come under the influence of Luther and other reformers, spoke to her about her eternal soul, and she humbly gave herself to Christ. The change from that point was remarkable.

Kairi was still a hard worker and compassionate to a fault, but the peace that surrounded her was extraordinary. Her temper was still a struggle, and when it came to defending someone less fortunate than herself, no one would put it past her to take on a giant. Her conversion, however, had been very real.

She had learned to label her sins for what they were and also learned the sweet fellowship of obedience to God that comes from a wholehearted desire to walk with Him.

"Does my father say why I am needed?" Kairi finally spoke from her place by the window. "I mean, he's still not ill is he?"

"No, Kairi, your father is fine, but as for the reason, I will leave that explanation to him."
Kairi nodded. She had a feeling this was something serious, but she could hardly expect that Reverend Mother to be the bearer of the bad news.

"Does he say how I'm to arrive home?"

The reverend Mother smiled her first genuine smile since Kairi had entered the room.

"Transportation has never been a problem for you before, Kairi."

The young woman smiled in return. It was true. In her days of escape, she had hidden in hay wagons and cattle carts, dressed as a gypsy and walked with traveling bad, and even gone so far as to dress as a lad and go on horseback. Her generous curves had prevented that disguise in the last few years, but it was, Kairi always knew how to get where she was going.

The Revered Mother told her that guardsmen from the castle would be arriving on horseback that Friday, just six days away. Kairi accepted this news graciously, and when she was ready to leave the Reverend Mother walked her to the door. No words were spoken, but Kairi hugged the older woman fiercely before leaving, thinking it felt as though she were already gone.

Ok before you bight my head off for making Namine a villain please listen. She was just perfect for the part I could not resist. But for all the people who really love her I will be writing another story for her and Roxas so you will have to be patient until this story is done.