Not part of my Goings on at Steadfast story…don't hurt me for posting this before I post the continuing chapter to that. Please.

This story came to me the other day when I was on the train back home, when I was meant to doing an assignment that I still haven't finished, so if I fail Career Planning On-line (yes that really is a course) then this is to blame.

I'm trying to work on my ability to write fluff…cause, for some reason, I have great difficulty with it. So you may see a few more "out takes" from the Protector of the Small series, especially Squire and Lady Knight, as I work this problem out.

"Neal!"

Although he could tell that whoever was shouting was doing it directly beside him, it still sounded far away and Sir Nealan of Queenscove found it easier to ignore the voice rather than pay attention to it.

"Neal! He's gone, leave him"

This time the shouting was accompanied with a shake on the shoulder and when he didn't respond straight away, the shaking increased.

"Neal there are others who need your help" the voice said quietly but clearly "and we still haven't found Kel"

Lifting his eyes from the body laying in front of him, Neal looked at his elder cousin.

Looking down on him, Dom could see the weariness etched in his cousins features and felt for him. He thanked the Gods again that he was neither a first son nor a great mage, able to help some but never able to help all that needed it.

"Where's Kel?" Neal asked, as Dom heaved him to his feet. Neal averted his eyes from the lifeless body of Gil that lay at his feet and turned his attention to Dom, steadying himself by gripping on tightly to the other man.

"She went after Blyce. No ones seen her since" Dom replied.

The two men, as close as brothers, stood side by side and surveyed the damage. Small fights where still taking place though those diminished by the minute as the men, and women, from Tortall out numbered their foes. Striking down those who still wielded sword or spear while those who dropped to the ground in defeat where given the mercy stroke.

None where left alive.

"We should find her" Neal said and tried to take walk toward the tower.

It was only Dom's quick reflexes that prevented him from ending on the floor.

"You are doing nothing," Dom said, and with the help of Owen, dragged Neal across to a bench and sat him firmly down "apart from sitting here and tending people's wounds. Without the aid of magic, save it for those who might need it"

Neal gave up trying to glare before he even began and let out a sigh, nodding his head in submission.

"I'll need bandages then" Neal replied, leaning back on the cool brick "and some water"

"I'll see that its done"

Then they fell into silence.

The sounds of battle decreased into nothing and Dom set about issuing orders. Those who where not injured scrabbled to help those who where. Others made their way to the stables, eager to gather up as many horses as they could and make a start on the journey home.

Some, like Owen, volunteered for the job of making a start on the funeral pyre. It was the work no one really wanted to do, the work they had hoped they wouldn't have to do but they did it to the best of their ability in honour of those who had fallen.

Dom stood in the centre of it all. A funeral pyre going up on one side of him, mounds of dead enemy soldiers to another, while Neal sat on the bench behind him doing the best he could with his limited resources.

Dom let his eyes shut for a moment, rubbing his hand across them. He knew what he had to do, and he took no pleasure from it. Surely she would have been back by now if she had…unless…

Opening his eyes and finally sheafing his sword, he signal Wolset across.

"Keep an eye out. Make sure everyone keeps working, we need to be out of here as soon as possible"

"Your goin' after My Lady?" his corporal asked, the bandage on his arm leaking a small amount of crimson blood.

Dom only nodded before striding purposely striding across the courtyard, opening the heavy wooden door and entering the tower.

"I cant do this" he thought as he closed the door behind him and Lent back on it, giving into the rapid beating of his heart. He was sure that if Kel was in any fit state, she would have made it to the door and out into the court yard. As it was, he dreaded what he might find.

The cold, stone foyer with marble flooring was silent though Dom was sure his beating heart could be heard outside as it thudded away in side his chest.

Gathering himself together and preparing for the worst, he pushed off the door and rounded the corner.

"Oh Kel" he said softly, padding over to her side. Ruffling Jumps head with his hand as he past the small dog who was sitting stiffly by Kel's feet.

His first thought was that she was dead, she was so pale. Almost the same colour as the marble floor she sat on, apart from the dark red stain covering the majority of her left arm. The blood slowly dripping from her clothes to the ground.

Dom let out a sigh of relief as he knelt down beside her and saw her take a breath. Shallow though it was, she was still breathing and that was something to be thankful for.

He brought his hand up to her face and moved the hair from her eyes. Digging a handkerchief from his boat, he wiped the sweat from her forehead and her face watching as she mumbled in her blood lose induced state.

Gripping her good shoulder, and bringing his face close to hers, he whispered her name.

Her eyelids flickered but didn't open. She mumbled some more before moving her body, tilting it to the side where he sat, resting her head on her shoulder and his hand which sat upon it. Nudging it.

He watched her for a few moments more before his intelligent thought process came in and kicked his love struck one out, reminding him that she was in fact injured and could probably do with some medical attention.

Before scooping her into his arms, he brought both of his arms and cupped her face. Drawing her to him slightly he placed the lightest of kisses on her forehead, sending a silent prayer up to the gods that she was still alive.

"Dom?" His name came from her lips as he pulled away.

Keeping his hands where they where, he tilted her face upward and watched as her eyes fluttered open and she looked directly at him.

They stayed like that for a couple of seconds before her eyelids dropped like dead weights and she smiled.

"Its over" she stated, falling unconscious once again.

Dom shifted her glaive from where it lay before lifting her into his arms, one arm under her legs while the other curled round her upper body, and standing up.

His heart rate, which had sped up when she had looked directly at him, slowed once more to a comfortable rate as she burrowed herself closer into his chest. Strong and steady with a slight skip in it, as though it was dancing to its own tune.

The other dogs who had been waiting round Kel stood as Dom did but Jump remained seated, sending a pained look up at Dom who nodded.

"I'll send someone in to fix you up. OK?" he said. Jumps tail wagged in response as the small dog let out a whisper of a whimper.

Dom walked confidently toward the door of the tall stone tower, by passing the stairs up to the magicians workshop. It never occurred to Dom to check that the mage and his dog where dead. If Kel was alive then it meant they where not, that was enough for him.

He stopped at the door and looked down at the woman in his arms, chuckling in disbelief at the smile she had on her lips.

"Its over" he said, repeating her words before his face broke out into a smile.

"Ready to give my cousin a heart attack?" he asked the unconscious Knight in his arms before stretching his leg out, kicking the door open and striding out into the courtyard.