AN/ I don't own anything.
I brought back Fulcher and Lofren from the dead, because I liked them both very much and this if my fanfic so for now they both live.
And now on with the story.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

New Hope's Happenings

A New Post

Domitan of Masbolle could feel the summer sun on his back through the worn but still suitable fabric of his Riders uniform, the day was a beautiful one, warm. The air filled with smells from the summer harvest, the leaves blowing softly in the breeze. Yet all this beauty was lost to the Sergeant...

'I wonder if Meathead is behaving himself at New Hope. Well with his beloved Yamani Lady there as a permanent residence and the coming baby...and Kel, he has plenty to keep him out of trouble.' The young man smiled at the direction at which his thoughts had gone, 'Yes, and how long has it been since I've last seen mylady Mother? And how beautiful would she be surrounded by brown haired, blue eyed children?' Dom was still thinking of such things when he was thrown from his thoughts by a loud crash,

"Careful with those lads! We can't afford to ask the crown for more!" The leader of the Kings Own and master of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, was heard from across the yard almost as loudly as the crash that had been the object of his yelling. Dom smiled at the man,

"Don't you mean you can't afford to ask their Majesties for more supplies, my lord? Yes sir, I do believe that it was you who was in trouble with the King this week, something about not attending his meetings again, wasn't it Dom?" Wolset, (notories as the rest of third company for aggravating their commander), was trying to keep a straight face as he commented on Raoul's recent headbutting with the king.

"Careful Wolset, you don't want my lord to saddle you with latrine duty right when we get to our new post do you?" Smiles were seen all around from the men, who knew it was a favorite form of punishment from there commander, who seemed to hold it for the lucky few that couldn't keep their foot from there mouths. Wolset was usually one of them.

"Oh your just impatient to be off. You never like to stay in one place for too long Dom." Wolset ducked the dirt clod thrown his way, which was followed by Dom himself, the two wrestled for a bit, the rest of the third shouting encouragement for both combatants. Both broke away laughing, "I'll get you for that my dear commanding officer." The men, including Dom, laughed at Wolsets' comment, and would have continued to laugh had it not been for the booming voice of their commander,

"Now listen up boys.", laughing and joking aside the men gathered closer listening as intently as before a battle, "We all have jobs that need to be done before we head out to our next assignment, until then, get these supplies loaded, and get your gear packet. I'm not sure exactly when we are leaving but it won't be more than a few days. We'll talk again tonight after the evening meal. I should know by then." Dom watched as his commander walked across the yard to Steadfast muttering about kings who used there army like a lapdog and orders over meetings. Shaking his head, Dom starts walking in the direction of his gear,

"Nothing is ever dull around the own."

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

"I realize this Jon, but you can't expect me to just do what your asking with no explanation!"

The king, known for his diplomatic ways, was losing his patience with the man in front of him. In a small office in the Fort of Steadfast, the king of Tortall sat at a desk, the wind gently blowing in from the only window the room had, on such a nice day the beauty of it was also lost to this man. Gently he drummed his fingers on the carved wood that held his many papers. Before him was his life-long friend and Commander of the King's Own. Both had grown up together, fought battles side by side and both had done great thinks for their country.

"I can and I do Raoul. You might not like this and you must know that i don't, but what choice do i have?" Finding that a simple drumming of the fingers was not going to alleviate his inpatients the king decided to pace behind his desk, as the Own's Commander clenched his fists in his breeches pocket,

"Tell them no, that is your choice. That is your right choice."

"You know i couldn't. Not with the war with Scanra still fresh. Not with Maggur still firmly seated on his thrown. I had no other choice."

"If you let this get out you will endanger them all. Not even the entire Own would be able to keep them safe, let alone just the third. What are you thinking Jon?" Letting the leash on his temper go, the man pounded his hands again the desk, instead of the face before him. Hearing this rare show of temper the king turns to his friend, 'He looks old'...'I wonder what the years have done to me.', after a long pause, one that brings both men to think on the past, Jon breaks the silence,

"I am thinking about ending this war with as little loss as possible, old friend." It is these words alone that stop Raoul from slugging his king, and make him look at his friend...

"Do you really think it might work?" The mens quiet breathing is the only thing heard for several minutes, finally the king sits down and stares at his desk, 'So full of papers, papers for me to sign, many papers sending men to their deaths, their very early deaths.' Looking down at his king, Raoul sees the man that he has followed all these year, make one of the hardest decisions that could be made,

"Yes...I, do."

Raising his hands off the desk, Raoul turns toward the door, "Alright."

The king was yet again wondering if he had made the right decision, if this would be good for all of Tortall, when his thoughts were interrupted,

"Jon."

Looking up the king saw his friend turn around again and look him in the eye, "I just hope that with all they have been through that this is the right thing."

"I do too." But the words were lost to the ruby cheeked man, Jon was meet with nothing more than the face of a closed door.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

"Sargent!"

"Sargent Dom!"

"In here boys." Domitan was busy cleaning the tack of his horse when he was meet with the worried faces of his corporals, Fulcher and Wolset. "Well boy's what is it, you're not hoping to get back at me this early are you Wolset?" Laughing Dom turned back to his tack,

"No Dom, listen, it's my lord, He's Drinking!!"

"Spirits!"

Dom looked at the men unsure if he had heard them correctly, commander Raoul drinking...spirits? Was that possible? Throwing his work over into his horses stall, he gathered himself up, "Take me to my lord. Hurry."

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The mess hall was nearly empty, and dark with few candles being used between meals. The meal wasn't for another few hours and soldiers were used to the cooks shooing them out for taking up space in their hall before a meal, but the big figure of the Own's commander was seen slumped in a corner. The cooks to intimidated by his bulk to come forward for the usual act of shooing. It was this way that Dom found his lord.

"My Lord what are you doing? You're scaring the men and myself if I may be so bold as to say." Raoul turned toward his young Sargent, his eyes were still focused, it was obvious to everyone there that he Haydn't been drinking for long,

"I am enjoying something i haven't done in many years." He turned back to his drink, only to have it snatched away. "Give that back Dom before i demote you."

"Demote me all you want, back to foot soldier in the regular army if you must, but I will not let you continue to drink this." After handing the bottle to Fulcher with an order to make it disappear, he turned back to Raoul and said, "Now tell me what this is all about." Through-out this conversation the rest of the third had made their way into the dark corner of the mess hall. All were waiting intently for Raoul's response, all nervous to hear the reason that could bring their commander to drinking. After a long pause, in which Raoul did't look the least bit sorry to see his drink gone, he looks back at Dom and braces himself for the reaction to come.

"Dom, we have our next post." Not seeing how this could possibly bring his commander to drinking, he waits for Raoul to continue. "It's at New Hope."

Racking his brain for something that could be wrong, Dom losses sight of his commander's face and sees only the walls of New Hope and the people who called it home. Then, "Oh no. Kel! Is Kel alright? Has she been taken?" A long pause is the only answer the man gets, a pause that has Raoul thinking about how nice it would be to see his old squire, so much like a daughter to him, surrounded by little children that looked alot like the man in front of him,

"No Dom, Kel is fine. We will be staying at New Hope for some time, we have strict orders to keep both her and her Fort safe." Another long pause is shared between the men, "Word has gotten out to Maggur... he knows who destroyed Blyce and his killing devices, he knows it was Kel."

Never had third company had so many silences, never had they all been as scared for someone as they were for their Lady Knight. All of them remembered what had happened, two years ago, all had witnessed the death and carnage from rescuing Kel's people. All had witness the tears shed over the dead by their lady.

"Does she know?" Was all Dom could bring himself to ask... 'He loves her.' Looking up at the young Sargent before him Raoul came to the conclusion, 'He really does...love her.' Looking the man in the eye he could see his fear for Kel.

"No she doesn't."

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

AN/ Ok I know that kel wasn't in this chapter, but she will be in the next one. After all this is a kel/dom fic. I'm not sure how long this story will be but i promise to make the trip interesting. Please R&R but no flames only constructive criticism please. See you all in the next chapter!