Author's note:
This is just a quick little piece I did to help battle my horrid writer's block that I'm having for my other story in progress 'The Tormentors' if you haven't read my Assassin Series yet you really should, its really good, well I think it is any way ;D

Please read and review

And there is a poll up to determine the top fic in the TP fandom, please remember to vote, there is a link on my profile to the page :D

I am not Tamora Pierce

Chapter 1:
Passing of the Protector

"I'm here to tell you all the great deeds of our fallen comrade." The man looked out over the crowd with his green eyes that were red rimmed from sobbing and his mouth trembled, but his voice was still clear, "But she was so much more than just a comrade, and the honor her great deeds brought her meant little to her." His knuckles turned white as he clenched them on the podium set up on the dais of the chapel. He looked down at the dark wood under his hands to hide the sorrow coursing through him.

~x~X~x~

A tall woman looked through a spy glass on the walkway of the wall . Her mouse brown hair was blown around by the wind and she shoved a lock of it back, away from her face, before bringing the spy glass back up to her eye.

A raiding party was charging at them. Supplies were already low and their outer forces of soldiers were in the opposite direction but riding hard to get back to them.

She handed the spyglass to her friend before she looked up at him with hazel eyes. "I'm heading out," she told him calmly, "Two squads will stay here with you, and I'll take the other with me."

He nodded knowing he couldn't convince herr not to go, and had never failed with anything before.

She looked over her shoulder and a young boy and girl were already running to her to help her dawn her armor and weapons.

~x~X~x~

His eyes opened and his green gaze took in the room around him; knights, squires, men of the King's Own, women of the Queen's Riders, healers, nobles, and even royalty and commoners sat -or stood- together in the over crowded chapel. "She was a leader, a companion, a teacher, a hero." As the last word left his mouth his gaze glazed over like he was lost in another time.

~x~X~x~

Metal glinted in the sunlight as the two short columns of soldiers lined up inside the gate. As soon as she gave the signal, they would charge off into battle. Her arm dropped down in a swift motion for the men behind her to move out. The horses they rode were kicked into a trot and the large wooden gate groaned in protest as it was pulled ajar to allow two riders through at a time.

He watched them trot out into the open, and into the danger. She was in the lead but he listened to the hooves pounding the hard ground, and watched silently until the barrier was firmly in place protecting the people within its interior.

~x~X~x~

"Her deeds were great and small," his voice filled with pride, "She stood up for anyone who couldn't stand up for themselves, or those who feared to do so. She refused to stand down even when the Gods themselves seemed to be against her. She was forced to prove herself to everyone time, and time again but far too many still could not get past their own prejudices." His intense visage stunned some of his audience, for once again, in his brief pause, he sank back into a memory that they could not follow him to.

~x~X~x~

He stood on the wall watching, as the squad of soldiers charged out to meet the oncoming attack. He raised her spy glass to his eye to see how their defenders held out agianst the brutal assault. He watched in horror as the bandits broke the small party in two and attacked with great force.

She held most of her attackers off with her long, bladed weapon, and fierce determination. Her powerful war horse reared back and to keep the other raiders at bay with his hooves and the color drained from his face and he moved the spy glass aside as he wiped the sweat from his brow before moving the glass lense back up.

One man got by her sharp blade, and her gelding's hooves before he shoved his sword deep into the animals chest. The horse fell to the ground and she barely had time to jump off his back and avoid being crushed under the animals weight.

She rose from the ground and sliced the man's neck before time began to move desperately slow.

An arrow sprouted from her thigh, then another in her shoulder, and her body trembled with each impact. Two more arrows flew at her, one making its mark in her abdomen, the other plunging deep into her chest.

~x~X~x~

"She gave her life for others and I know she would happily do it again, because she just couldn't understand how much she was worth to all of us." A small, grim smile curled his mouth, "Some days, I think it would have been easier to explain that to a rock, rather than her." Sad chuckles came from the crowd.
"But she was a true hero, wether she was battling a bully," he said while looking at the young knights who murmurred her praises, "or she was standing up agianst something she thought was wrong." The royalty present nodded in agreement.

He shut his green eyes to force back the onslaught of emotion as he saw the rest of that tragic day unfurl in his mind.

~x~X~x~

Tears blurred his vision as he watched through her spyglass. She fell to a knee before slowly crumbling to the ground. Blood poured from her wounds and soaked her clothing. She placed her empty hand upon the arrow in her chest and saw that the crossbow bolt had hit her directly in her heart. She raised her fingers to her face and was mesmerized by the feeling of finality it held, because she knew there was no hope for her life as it pumped itself out of her her body.

Her time had come to go to the Peaceful Realms and she would embrace the Black God warmly; she had escaped his merciful grasp too many times already, and she had done her duty--but she still wished she could have done more.

The hand she had inspected fell to the ground, it was still clenched and covered in the thick red substance. Her head rolled to the side so that she was looking at the weapon that she still had a firm grip on, and smiled gravely at the blood stained blade before her last breath passed through her lips.

~x~X~x~

Sir Nealan of Queenscove bowed his head as if in prayer but his voice was full of adoring passion, "She was a proud commander, a Lady Knight, The Protector of the Small, and above all, my best friend. May she remain in all our thoughts with great reverence, and may we carry on her life's duties, to honor the memory of our hero, and dear friend, Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan

A/N: What did you think? PLease tell me in a review. This little piece kinda just hit me in the middle of the night and forced me to write it. I was thinking about doing more for other characters so if you think I should please let me know and if there are any specific characters yoou want to see as well :D

THANKS
KATE