Hey guys. I started this story a while ago and never really got a chance to do anything with it. Then the whole drama of school reared its ugly head and then I was so swamped I REALLY didn't have any time for it. Now that I'm getting that whole thing under control, I've gotten back into the whole fan fiction thing. I've been reading a lot of Tamora Pierce fics and I realized I kind of missed my own, so here it is. I'll try and update the story every Tuesday. I might be a day or two off, because of school and what not, but I'm really hoping I'll be able to get one up a week. Anyway, I really hope you guys like my story and PLEASE review. It makes me happy.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the people or much else for that matter. I'm just not that special. All characters and that fun stuff are all owned by the amazing Tamora Pierce.

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Keladry of Mindelan sighed as fat drops of rain began to fall on her and her horse, Peachblossom. The company of men was grumbling with her as they walked though the muddy forest and onto the road. Kel agreed with the general consensus that the faster they got to Fort Steadfast the better. Aside from the rain, she was eager to be on her way to see Raoul and Buri. She couldn't wait to congratulate them on their betrothal in person. Whether she admitted it to herself or not, she was excited to see Dom as well. He, along with the rest of Third Company, would be at the fort for the wedding. Seeing the look on her face, her best friend Neal nudged his gelding into a canter and smirked as he slowed beside her, "Thinking about a certain cousin of mine?"

As Kel came out of her pensive state, her gaze flicked up to look at Neal. Surely he was jesting. There was no way he could know what she was thinking about, even if she knew who she was thinking about. She tried to remain calm, hiding her feelings behind what little remained of her Yamani mask. She tried to adopt an indifferent look, fixing her gaze forward, trying very hard to ignore Neal. She could tell she was failing miserably by the look on Neal's face.

"Very funny. I was actually thinking about Raoul and Buri's wedding." She shifted in her saddle.

Neal arched an eyebrow before returned to the road ahead. "I see."

Although there was no proof, he had been thinking for some time that both Kel and Dom were simply stupid, both liking the other and being too absorbed in their own dumb feelings to realize those of the other. He'd wanted to say something for awhile, but whenever he brought it up, one of the women he was around, either his betrothed Yukimi, or his ex-knight-mistress Lady Alanna, would tell him sternly that it was none of his business and that the two lovebirds had to figure it out on their own. He always accepted defeat when it came to this, because he knew both women would hurt him, or as Alana had put it 'shove his severed arm so far up where the sun don't shine that he could smack himself in the face so she wouldn't have to lower herself to his dumbass level'., if he said anything to either Kel or Dom.

Suddenly he sat up in his saddle, eyes straining as he tried to see something in the distance. He let out a whoop and kicked his gelding into a gallop. Bending low over his mount's mane, he urged him towards the fort on the horizon.

Kel chuckled quietly to herself, remaining at the same steady trot they had been at for the last half hour, though she wanted to gallop towards Steadfast just as much as Neal did. She wouldn't want anyone, especially not Neal, to suspect why she wanted so badly to get to the fort.

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The man Kel and Neal had been discussing moments before ran up to the ramparts and the towards the watch tower as he heard shouts. He took the stairs two at a time, nearly knocking a few men off as he rushed passed them, half dragging himself up by the railings. He stopped to breathe at the top of the stairs, his palms on his knees, before he looked up. He ran his fingers through his hair and jogged along the wall. Seeing a knot of men looking out over the land, he headed towards them, pulling out his spy glass as he went. He put it to his eye, smiling as he saw the chestnut form streak through the forest. He followed the path behind who he knew was Neal to find a squad or two of mixed knights, foot soldiers and Riders. He pocketed his spy glass, a broad grin spreading over his face, as he broke free of the knot of men. He half threw himself down the stairs to the ground level, sprinting towards the gates as he heard them creek open to allow Neal inside.

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As Neal dismounted, Dom came striding towards him, smiling. Neal handed off his big gelding to a hostler and went to hug his cousin. He snorted with laughter at the slightly embarrassed expression on Dom's face. "Where are Kel and the rest of them?"

Neal didn't even try to restrain the laughter that burst out of him. Seeing the confused looking on Dom's face, he shook his head. "She's coming in a minute, Dom. Don't wet yourself." He stuck his tongue out at his cousin before turning around as he heard a shriek behind him. He groaned as a fast moving multi-colored form slammed into him, knocking the wind from his lungs. For a moment, he was completely confused as to what was going on, but quickly registered that the person was Yuki, his betrothed. He hugged her, and was then led off towards their rooms, chuckling as Yuki chattered incessantly. He made a face at Dom, who was laughing hysterically at him.

The creaking and groaning of the fort doors brought him back to reality, looking up just in time to see Kel and her company ride through the closing gates. "Kel!" His smile broadened as he walked over, giving Kel a big hug as soon as she had dismounted. She was slightly surprised to be greeted so quickly from Dom, but she couldn't complain. She stepped back and smiled at him happily. "Surprised to see me?" She handed her mare Hoshi off to a hostler and her big gelding to her servant Tobe, afraid the temperamental horse would bite someone. She smiled up at Dom as Tobe and the hostler led Peachblossom and Hoshi away.

"Not really. My lord said you were arriving some time today." He laughed as her face fell, then led her off. "Can show you where your rooms are and then around the fort. And I think my lord wants to talk to you. He mentioned something about dress fittings." He guffawed at the horrified look on her expression.

She hit him, hard, on the arm and made a face. He rubbed his arm, pouting slightly as he looked at her. "I think I need to discuss this dress fitting with our dear commander."

"That hurt."

"Good."

She rolled her eyes and followed him as he led him towards her rooms, glad to be back with her friends again.

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Sorry this chapter is so short guys, but hopefully my muse will be able to whip up some longer ones. Anyway, like I said, hopefully by next Tuesday I can get Chapter 2 up. I know that would make you all very hunky dory. Yes, I really just said hunky dory. Criticism is fine, just don't be nasty about it. \ Anyway, see that little scroll box down there? Put it on review. See that little button that says go, click on it. You know you want to. And remember to stay crunchy, even in milk. But not crunchy milk, because that would just be weird.