a/n. This is my first Fic, so please, go easy on me, even though I will accept flames and anonymous reviews.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, the settings, or anything like that. All I own is the plot. Maybe.

Chapter One

She loved him. It was that simple. He was the one for her, and she knew it.

But he didn't. At least, she didn't think he did. Sure, he flirted with her, smiled and winked at her, but it still wasn't the same. He didn't look at her as Cleon once had, as if she were the most precious thing in his life and he wanted to be with her forever.

Although, thinking back, the thing with Cleon hadn't gone so well.

Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan looked at the sunrise through the window of her room in New Hope's headquarters. She should be out practicing, she knew, but she was thinking about the squad of men who would be arriving later that day.

Well, she was thinking about their blue eyed sergeant, to be specific. They were coming to New Hope to bring correspondence from Forts Mastiff and Steadfast. Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, Kel's former knight master, told her a couple of months before at his wedding to expect the squad in the near future.

A messenger had been through New Hope the day before, alerting Kel to the squad that was even now riding toward them.

She tried not to show her excitement, but it took all of her skill to place the emotion behind her Yamani Mask, and even then she wasn't sure if it was working.

"Lady," a small voice called. "Lady, there's some riders coming up to the gate. Friendly. Figured you'd want to know."

Kel turned around and smiled. "Thank you, Tobe. I'll be right out."

Tobe bowed his way out of the room and shut the door. Kel watched him go with a smile on her face. He'd changed in the couple of years since she'd known him. But it was a good change.

She quickly changed into breeches and a tunic for the day and then looked in the mirror and smoothed her hair before she realized she was doing it. She brought her hand down and scowled at her reflection in the mirror.

She made her way as fast as possible to the infirmary and knocked on her best friend's door.

She was greeted with a loud snore, and laughed before pushing the door open. "Neal," she said. "Neal, the squad of the King's Own is here," she told him, going to shake him by the shoulder.

He turned over and grunted, but didn't wake up. Kel rolled her eyes. "Hey, Meathead!" she exclaimed, pulling his blankets down.

He awoke with a jolt, sitting straight up. When he saw it was just Kel, he groaned and tried to lay back down. "What are you doing here? I need sleep!" he exclaimed.

"The letters from Mastiff and Steadfast are about to gallop through the gate," she told him. "So get up!"

With much grumbling, Neal got out of bed and went to the other room to change. When he took too long, Kel sighed in frustration. "I'll meet you in the square," she told him, and left the room.

She walked through the town and stopped near the entrance. The gates were opening slowly already. Kel crossed her arms over her chest and tried to hold in her heart, which was suddenly beating too fast.

The ten man squad rode into New Hope in two lines. Kel scanned them for the man she was looking for, and she found him in the back of one of the lines. Domitan of Masbolle. Dom. She strode forward to greet the men, smiling widely.

"It's Mother!" one shouted, and then they were all dismounting to clap Kel on the back and greet her.

Kel laughed at the nickname. "How've you lads been?" she asked.

"Been better, been worse," one of the corporals, Wolset, said.

"You big oafs, stop crowding her," an amused voice rang out. Kel recognized it and tried to quell the shivers that raced along her spine. The man walked up and held out a hand. Kel grasped it and smiled into his sparkling blue eyes. "Kel," he said.

"Dom," she replied.

"Where's Meathead? I thought for sure he'd be here to welcome us. We do have letters from Yuki, you know."

"I don't think he knew that," Kel replied, laughing. "He probably thinks it's just notes from Lord Wyldon."

"We've got a few of those," Dom told her, nodding. "And a few from Lord Raoul, and a couple from Lady Alanna. She heard we were coming."

"I'll take them and Tobe can show you to your rooms." Kel turned and saw that Tobe was standing right behind her. "Tobe, will you show Sergeant Dom and the others to their rooms?" she asked him.

"Right away, Lady," Tobe said bowing.

Dom went back to his horse and reached into his saddlebags. He pulled out a few letters tied together with string and handed them to Kel. "Here you are, Lady Knight," he said, bowing slightly.

Kel laughed and took the letters. "Thank you. We'll take care of your horses, so don't worry about that. Just go with Tobe."

Dom smiled at her again and her stomach did a little flip. He was handsome as ever, even covered in the grime of the road. "See you at midday, Kel," he told her, and followed the young boy waiting for him and his men.

a/n. I hope you liked it! please review if you liked it, if you hated it, and if you want me to continue. Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter and that you will let me know how to make it better. Thank you so much. Sincerely, LoveIsBooks.