A/N: Well, I'm glad to hear that you liked the first chapter. Now we'll find out how Kel feels.
Review Returns: native wildmage- thanks for being the first reviewer! Please keep reading. Nutz Nina: Thanks for reviewing. anonymous girl: Thanks for r and r ing. Kelly Masbolle: Please keep reading. Thanks for your review. imakeladrygirl: I know; I'm evil. Always killing Dom off. I've actually wanted to write a KD story lately. I'm glad your enjoying this. Keep readin'!
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Hope Comes From Within
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Chapter Two: War's End
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April 17
462
New Hope
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Neal waited while Kel absorbed the news. Slowly she moved her own hand to her stomach and smiled sadly.
"I can't believe it," she said in a voice so low that it was almost a whisper. "Dom wanted this so bad. And now…" Kel trailed off, her voice lost in tears. She started shaking and sobbing uncontrollably. Neal came over and put an arm around her shoulder.
Kel pulled away after a few minutes.
"Neal, I need to be alone for a little bit. I need to think this over."
"Of course," he said. "Do you want to stay here for awhile?"
After Neal spoke, a loud crying filled the lobby. He peeked out and saw a mother carrying her young daughter, who had spilt her lip. Neal turned back to Kel.
"No, I'll go. This is a little less alone than I had meant."
Kel slipped out of the infirmary and wandered out to the stable. She went to Peachblossom's stall and climbed up to sit on the rail. She slipped her arms around the gelding's neck as he nuzzled her, happy to have her near. She took out his brush and stroked him, letting her thoughts wander.
When it wandered to the past, remembering Dom's death, Kel steered her mind to the future. What would she do with the baby? Could she be a mother? Kel knew she didn't want to leave New Hope, but she also knew that she couldn't hide her pregnancy from her superior officers.
"Are you okay?" Tobe asked, startling Kel.
"What?" she asked, with a jump.
"You've been brushing that same spot for a long time," the boy asked. "Peachblossom looks like he might give your hand a nip."
"I'm fine, Tobe," Kel said, patting his shoulder.
"Alright, milady," he said, continuing on with the mare he was leading out to the training ring. Kel was alone with Peachblossom for a few more minutes before Neal's voice pierced her thoughts.
"You don't look so good," he said, leaning against the rail Kel was perched on.
"I don't feel so good," Kel retorted.
"That would be the morning sickness, a foe you'll come to be very well acquainted with." Kel looked down at him.
"I'm tired. I need to take a nap, but every time I close my eyes I see Dom's face. Or I doze for a few minutes and that horrible night replays until I wake up screaming. It hasn't happened here yet, but at Mindelan, Mama slept on a cot in my room so that she was nearby."
"Kel, it's going to be alright."
"I wish I could believe that," she said. "I'm going to be a horrible mother, and they're going to send me home, and New Hope… what will happen to New Hope?"
"We'd get Marti's Hill back," Neal offered. "I don't think that I could handle that."
"No. I won't let that happen. The war is almost over, and we should be sent home soon. If we don't have orders by the time I enter my third month, I'll write to Lord Raoul. He'll find me a suitable replacement. But I don't want to leave if I don't have to."
"Well you need to think about the baby as well. This is the smallest life that you've ever had to protect. You don't need to be pregnant and stressed here."
"I'm happy here," Kel argued. "I don't want to sit around waiting for the next several months. I want to feel useful."
"I wasn't aware that you felt that useless at Mindelan. Kel, you could talk to several ladies in the camp who would tell you that you are not useless. You are this baby's only chance at life. Kel, you're carrying a miracle in your belly."
Kel looked away from Neal, her head jumbled full of thoughts. Her gaze rested on the wide-eyed Tobe.
"What is it, Tobe?" she asked.
"You're-?"
"Yes, I am," Kel interrupted, carefully climbing down from her perch. "But don't think I'll go soft and you can get away with shirking your chores."
Tobe smiled. Then they boy did something that surprised Kel. He stepped forward and gave her a quick hug. Then he busted away, making an excuse that he had chores to finish.
Kel looked to Neal in wonder. He grinned.
"You'll be a better mother than you think. Now, I suppose I'll go get something to eat. Would you two like to join me?" he asked. Kel blushed and nodded.
"I'll catch up." Neal brushed past, giving her arm a squeeze.
When he was gone Kel put her hands on her stomach, thinking about her baby.
"Oh Dom," she breathed sadly.
…..
After supper that evening, Kel sat down to write a letter to her mother, explaining her situation and her plans. As she was penning the closing, a rider came to the gates of New Hope.
A few moments later, Kel heard cheers from the entrance of the little town. She stood and went to the window of her room to look out, and Tobe burst through the door.
"My lady!" he shouted. "The war is over! It's official!"
Kel rushed down to the commotion. On the high walls, soldiers at their posts set off firecrackers. A drum and fiddle were produced, and cheerful marching tunes began to play. Every inhabitant of New Hope, from the oldest soldiers to the youngest refugees, was gathered in the courtyard., dancing and shouting with joy.
Kel wandered through the crowd, forced smile on her face, watching the others carry on, until she felt a small tug on the back of her pants leg. Turning, she found Loesia and Meech, Tobe's friends.
"It's wonderful, isn't it?" Kel asked.
"Yep," Loesia said.
"Yay!" shouted little Meech. Loesia looked down at her feet, holding on to her brother's hand.
"Is something wrong?" Kel asked. Loesia stared into her eyes.
"What's going to happen to us now?" The girl asked. "Will all the soldiers leave?"
"Probably,' Kel answered honestly.
"What about you, Lady Kel? Will you leave?" Kel sighed sadly, and dropped down so that she was eye level with Loesia.
"I have to. There are things that I have to do at my home," she said. "But I promise you that I will make sure that you're always taken care of. I'm sure Fanche Weir will too. New Hope is your home, now and forever."
"Will you visit?" Meech asked.
"As often as I can," Kel promised.
"I'll miss you," Loesia said, slipping her eyes around Kel. Kel hugged back, glad for the small body that was in her arms.
