Amarante

A/N: As in the usual author's note, I claim no character in this story is mine except for the ones that I created. Just for the reader's information, this story is constantly going through re-workings. Where Eagles Fly was an early addition of this story. There will probably be more editions to come and with luck I might get happy with one and actually finish it. Hopefully it will be this one J. Without further ado then, enjoy the story!

A shout that came from the guard of the west wall turned the attention of the lady commander from her sword practice. She swore, she didn't think they would be back so soon.

" Kel!" The guard called again, "five humans are approaching on the north side!"

Although Keladry of Mindelan was a rather thick set-sturdy girl, she was fit and a rather fast jogger and reached the top of the wall in good time. She pulled out a spyglass from her belt and pressed it to her eyes, brushing the sandy banes of her hair out of the way. The dread that had accompanied her now had vanished. Just a few weeks before, the last major battle with Scanra had been won. The surrender of Scanra was complete in all except in formal proclamation. Even though with most of their armies vanquished, and the child-possessed machines destroyed, Scanra was still dangerous and could have more then one trick up their sleeve. But in any case, the five people approaching hardly appeared to be five super warriors; On the contrary these people looked ragged, dirty, torn and weary. Kel pulled the spyglass away.

"Dom, those look to be refugees," she said to one of her lieutenants, " take some of the men to go fetch them. Some of them look to be children!"

………….

The thundering of hooves could be heard at a distance. Wearily, Amarante looked up to see four riders approaching them.

"Danante, you and the children get behind me!" She breathed as she pulled out a dagger from her belt.

"Sister look they are caring a blue banner! They mean us no harm!"

But it was useless to say so. Amarante, in every way exhausted, in the months they had been journeying, only knew of a foe. No longer did 'friends' exist. The world that she knew consisted of death, hatred, and pain, but she was not going to let it touch the only people she had left. Amarante lifted the dagger to throw at the leader of the rushing entourage. She staggered and collapsed. The whole world went black.

………….

The front gate of New Hope opened, admitting Dom, his men, and the five others. Kel rushed to help them, then noticed that one of the refugees was slung over Dom's horse. He dismounted, and then carefully lifted the woman and held her in his arms. Looking up at Kel, and reading her expression, shook his head.

"She's not dead, dehydrated and sun-beat though. All of them are," he said, motioning to the others.

Kel turned her worried expression to the others; the eldest among them was a girl who looked to be about sixteen. The other three were mere children, each looking to be about six.

"What is your name?" She asked the eldest who was conscious.

"Danante." She replied, " That's Leanne, Salin, Janieva," motioning to the others.

" My sister Amarante, will she be alright?" She pointed to the woman who Dom was holding.

She held herself well, thought Kel, in fact all the children did. They stood firm; their voices steady and their faces were controlled. In fact the only thing that gave away their real feelings of the situation were their eyes. Every so often they bespoke of the worried ness they had to feel.

" Can you walk?" She asked Danante. "Your sister will be fine after a sleep and some good food and water. It's what you all need. Neal, our healer, will take care of all of you." Beginning

………….

Domitan of Masbolle was a lieutenant of the King's Own and for the time being was placed at New Hope under the leadership of Kel. Dom, throughout his life, had been given many blessings: Rugged good looks, boyish charm, intelligence, wit, a happy disposition and a wealthy home. But every character is prone to some particular evil and his, was to think a little to well of himself and perhaps having to often his own way. But in any case, he had a good heart and felt nothing but concern for the woman he was carrying to the hospital ward.

Neal immediately took charge of the five newcomers upon entering. He had Dom lay Amarante on a clean bed, while Kel escorted the other four into rooms of their own.

"What do you think?" asked Dom

"What do I think about what?" Neal replied as he shuffled about the room, sometimes grabbing a balm from this table, or some bandages from that one.

"The girl lunkhead."

Neal paused. "Well she certainly will live, if that's what you're worried about. She probably will need to sleep a few days to get her strength back however."

Kel walked in after settling the children in their beds.

" Those children are the most behaved ones I have ever seen. They are so emotionless. I do not know how they do it." She shook her head, then turning to look at who Danante said was Amarante asked "How is she?'

" You and my dear cousin seem to be of one mind. Like I told him, she's not on the verge of death."

She stepped closer to the bed and looked down at its patient. She was a tall thin woman. No doubt thinner then she should be. Her brown hair was tangled with every possible dirt and grime. Every part of her body seemed to be beaten and battered. Bruises and scratches lined her cheeks and brow. But it was her arms that caught her attention. Blue tattoos ran from her wrists to the top of her shoulder blades: Markings of suns, rain, and lines running in between.

" Neal do you know what these markings are for?"

Busy as he was, applying the balm and his gift to all the woman's wounds, gave a short irritated 'I don't know'.

Dom seconded that opinion when she asked him next, so there was nothing left to do but frown and wait till Amarante or the others woke to ask questions about who they were, where they came from, and what had happened to them. Perhaps this Amarante's blue tattoos were rather impertinent and useless to wonder about. Kel could not help but shake the feeling that somehow these tattoos were important.

………….

Birds chirping and sunlight were the first thing that Amarante's eyes and ears met when she awoke. Where am I, she wondered? The last thing she could remember was a voice screaming her name. She struggled to sit up and looked about the room; She was lying in a comfortable bed, wearing a clean nightgown. The tables next to her bed, held every sort of wrappings and medical instrument she had ever seen. Instinctively she brought a hand up to her forehead. There lay a bandage, neatly and carefully wrapped.

Suddenly she remembered who was screaming her name before; Danante, where was Danante? The children? She had to go find them. They could be hurt or captured or… or even worse. Her feet trembled, as she set them on the floor. They seemed at any moment to collapse under any pressure that might be put to them. Amarante took a deep breath, and then…

" Hey, Hey, Hey! You're not well enough to get up yet!"