A/n: Thanks for the reviews! Please send more! Sorry I haven't updated in forever and a year, I'll try not to do that again. You probably all thought I was dead. Well, I hate to disappoint you but... I'M ALIVE!!! Murhahaha!! Anyway enjoy the story.

-TrebondsKngiht

Disclaimer- The only character I own is Lorein, and Tortall and all other characters belong to Tamora Pierce.

The Gallant Damsel and the Knight in Distress

Lorein woke up the next day near the body of Miguel. She felt sudden quilt about what she had done. Relax; she told herself, He killed my mother. He deserved what he got! Somehow she couldn't bring herself to believe it.

She glanced down again and them up at the stormwings circling the bodies. She didn't have the strength to bury them, but Lorein hated the thought of leaving them for the stormwings. No one deserves that, not anyone. Lorein began packing up. When she was ready, she turned back to look at the mess she made of two human beings. Lorein didn't want a slaughter like this happen again. While she was starring at them, both bodies had suddenly burst into flame. Lorein stared open-mouthed at the fire. "Goddess," she whispered. How did that happen? Lorein had never shown any sign of the Gift, except for summoning arrows. Her mother had been really disappointed when her child shown none of the signs.

Lorein continued to stare wide-eyed at the scene until she remembered herself, and walked away. A male stormwing flew in front of her momentarily blinding her. He looked at Lorein and gave her a death glare. "Thief! You stole away a perfectly good meal!" Lorein didn't answer, but simply summoned an arrow and aimed. She hesitating, hoping he would get the hint. When all he did was glare, Lorein fired. The arrow pierced his shoulder, and he began shaking violently from the electric wave. He cursed and flew away, after yelling back at her, "I'll get you for that!"

Lorein sighed and proceeded to walk up the road. She began to hum as something to do. On and on she walked, and boredom consumed her. Eventually, the trees on either side of the road began to thin out; she was getting closer to Corus. Finally, maybe I can get some food there, she thought wishfully. Lorein began to happily skip down the road. She stopped when she heard a muffled scream to her left.

Why me? Lorein thought bitterly, why do these things attract me? She ran towards the screams, knowing she would regret it if she didn't. As Lorein got closed, she was a black-haired man trying to fight off two spiderens, who were viciously attacking him. One was attacking him from behind and the other from the front. Not even stopping to think, Lorein summoned an arrow and shot the one in the back. The arrow went into its shoulder blade. It screeched as the electric wave ran through its body. The spideren turned towards Lorein, a snarl escaping its mouth. Lorein could barely tell, but she assumed it was female. The spideren advanced toward Lorein, but before it could take more than a few steps, Lorein had shot again. This time the arrow pierced its skull. It fell over, its dead body twitching on the ground.

Lorein looked to towards the 2nd spideren, but found it dead, its body impaled upon the man's spear. Lorein walked over to the man, he was sitting on the ground looking exhausted. He was hansom with bright green eyes; he was also bleeding. "Come on let's get you to a healer." Lorein bent to help him up.

He shook his head and replied, "Nonsense, I am a healer." As an example he began to clean and bandage his own wounds, occasionally adding some healing magic.

Lorein smiled but asked, "Do you need any help?"

"No," he began sarcastically, "I'm going to do this all by my self." He rolled his eyes. "Can you bandage this?" He indicated a gash on his right arm. "I would but I can't do anything left-handed."

"Well after that attitude, I'm not sure if I should. You should watch your tongue sir. For all you know I could be a sorceress and will change you into a mouse."

"I highly doubt that. Now will you help me please?" He didn't look truly sorry, but Lorein helped him anyway. Lorein ripped off a strip of cloth, and began to dress his wound. "I don't mean to be rude, but who sure you?" He asked her politely.

"Lorein Vida, and you?" She finished bandaging and stood up. Lorein help out her hand to help him up.

The man took it, and then bowed and said, "Sir Nealen of Queenscove at your service, m'lady, but you may call me Neal." (A/N: How many of you saw that coming?)

"Since when did knights start needing to be saved by a lady?" Lorein teased.

Neal coughed nervously before replying. "This doesn't usually happen, it was unexpected."

Lorein smiled. "Aren't knights supposed to expect the unexpected? How would they survive if they didn't?"

"Alright, alright! You saved me! Do you want me to throw you a parade?" Neal asked angrily.

"As a matter of fact, yes!" Lorein smiled evilly. "And I want there to be fireworks, and candy, and magic, pretty colors, and a band, and costumes..."

"Grr... why did I have to open my big mouth? Maybe my friends are right: I am a Meathead!" Neal was somewhat downtrodden at the thought that all his friends were right.

"Well you know what?"

"What?"

"Your friends are right." Lorein stated as a fact.

"This is not fair," Neal whined, "I just met you and already your teasing me! I know! You're all jealous of my manliness!"

"Of course," Lorein replied sarcastically, "I'm so jealous of your manliness!" Lorein snorted. "Or should I say lack there of?"

"Stop picking on me," Neal said sadly. "So since I have no intention of throwing a parade, than what can I do for my gallant rescuer?" He cocked an eyebrow and winked suggestively.

Lorein spotted his game and decided to play along. She started walking towards, swaying her hips as she went. As she got closer she smiled and said, "Oh I don't know, but I'm sure we can arrange something."

A/N: So what did you think? Was Neal OOC? Please R&R! If you don't I usually end up thinking anyone hates my work. I have more, but I haven't finished typing it all up. Hopefully, I'll finish typing the next part soon. If I don't yell at me so I remember.