AN: This is the backstory of Kellin, to help with the understanding of my very erratic murder mystery, Masqued. Any questions, click on 'fili' and read what's on my main page.

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Kellin retreated to the Gardens. She wandering in the maze. The events of late had her in turmoil, and she couldn’t think anymore. She just let her mind wander…

She was adopted by the Prince. He was on his tour when her father, the king of a tribe of Delga, decided to attack the entourage, thinking it was easy pickings. He apparently bit off more than he could chew when it came to the escort of the six Imperial guards, with the Prince himself, underestimating them to the point of bringing his infant daughter into battle. All the Delga perished in the ensuing battle, with the exception of the baby. At a loss of what to do—there was no village for leagues around, and to wander asking if anyone knew whom the baby belonged to seemed ridiculous—the Prince took the child along, caring for her as best he could. By the time he reached the next village, he was too attached to even think of giving her up. Despite the difficulties, he took her with him across the world, even to the Hugi kingdom, where the princess fell in love with the fierce young man with the sweet little baby.

Kellin was raised by the Prince and Princess as their own. And when Yvonne and Sinjuin were born, she took care of them, like their parents took care of her. She loved Sinjuin, but she was as close to Yvonne as they could be.

Chase became part of their group at childhood, and Kellin fell in love.

The serious little boy joined their group when the Princess’ cousin and Ambassador to the Empire visited, and then he was killed. His mother had died in childbirth, and the boy was adopted by the Princess and Prince. As the Princess said, “We love you. You’re here. We’re not going to send you away. Do you want to go home?”

Awed by her openness, her friendliness, he had shaken his head. Kellin loved him at that moment. Loved her parents, and loved the lost little boy like her.

Then the assassinations.

She and Yvonne had been whisked away to a fortress in the northern part of the Empire. It was her homeland, and she felt an ancestral ease in the area. She and Yvonne, young girls though they were, had begun learning all sorts of things then, under the watch of a retired General—schooling, but cooking, healing, and weaponry—practical as well as theoretical things. Kellin watched and encouraged Yvonne grow from her self-centered concern to her concern about conflict, and easing it. And Kellin thought, reflected on the world. She did her chores, helped others around her, and when there was nothing else to do, wove. She wove robes, rugs, and, when she was feeling ambitious during the wet and windy winters, tapestries of glorious stories: triumphant homecomings, joyful reunions, happy births.

She was happy with her quiet life, with the glimpses of glory from Yvonne. But then the Empress died, and she was dragged back into great events. And so help her, she would face it with the quiet humor and temperament that she faced the rest of her life with.

And if Chase just happened to wander back in, then she wouldn’t regret it.