Chapter One

"Kel!" Dom yelled as he rode on Winter down the creek, looking with desperate blue eyes at the water. His dark hair was matted with cold sweat, fear as Keladry realized that it was for her. The mare was also covered in moisture, her white flanks dripping with sweat, her breathing coming out of her mouth in small, shallow clouds of air. The blue Own's blanket on the noble animal was slightly ripped in places, a sign that Dom had been riding through the forest and bushes, following the small river.

"Kel!" Dom yelled once again in despair. Kel cringed as she followed him, flowing lightly above the ground, completely forgetting how uncomfortable she felt when she was higher than a couple of feet of the ground. Though the climb from Bachelor's Needle did cure her fear of heights, Kel still wasn't their biggest fan. As she followed the white mare, she realized just how tiered Dom was. He was flopping around in the saddle, barely hanging on and his head with the charming black locks kept falling to his chest. Winter slowed down into an easy trot, stretching out her neck but the young man didn't seem to care.

"Dom!" Raoul's deep voice made Kel turn ninety degrees and she floated closer to the forest to see her knight master ride out, looking just as wary and beaten, Amberfire grunting underneath him from the unusual work. The large man's face was pale, his eyes had dark bags underneath them and he looked sick. A lump stuck in Kel's throat. She never imagined that the Commander of the Own and Third Company could be so worried. "Any sign of her?"

"No sir," Dom shook his head, his own face dead pale. Winter stopped, shook her mane and whined. Amberfire pawed at the ground and snorted in reply. The horses were having their own conversation. Jump whined from his basket, Kel noted with surprise and amusement, which now hung from Raoul's saddle. Absently, the large Knight scratched the dog's one lone ear. "I'd keep on looking but I am afraid Winter is run in. If only I could use my spare mount, I could—"

"No Dominique, I think you have done quite a lot," Raoul shook his sad head, the droplets of his own sweat falling onto Amber's soaking shoulders. "We couldn't find her and I am afraid we never will."

"This can't be sir! I believe that Kel is still alive!" Dom's eyes were wet and shining.

"Dominique, listen to me! The Goddess has taken Keladry, be it for the better or worse but there is nothing I can do now," Raoul sadly looked down at Jump who wagged his broken tail half heartedly and wailed.

"Sir, how can you say that? This sounds nothing like Kel, nothing at all. She would never be caught off guard and that mean gelding of hers is a squad all in himself. I can't, won't believe that that girl would throw away her future because of some silly thing. Mirthos help us; I don't know how she was able to disappear like that. She couldn't have drowned..." at his last words Dom chocked and looked up at Raoul with eyes that sparkled wet.

"I don't know Dom," the taller knight ran a huge hand through his dark curls, his own eyes filling with tears. "Damn it, I don't know anything at all! I wish I knew what happened but Daine is the only one who can ask the animals and I am not sure Jon will grant me such a request over a girl."

"Over a girl? Sir, she's a squire, a future knight! Won't the king realise that this is important?" the young man shook his head in disbelief. His commander closed his eyes.

"Dom, I'm sorry but Jon won't see the need. I can't even ask it as a favor because that would send tongues wagging and then it would make the monarchs look bad. They don't rush to do things and favours for small reasons or a single one."

"But sir..." Dom's voice was cracking as he tried to fight back tears. "Sir, this is Kel we are talking about. I can't just give up looking and neither can you!"

"We'll try but we have other things to do besides look for my squire. The world isn't perfect Dom and the faster we learn that, the quicker we can move on. Now come, before you and that horse fall down from exhaustion. We will search again later..."

Boromir had been pacing restlessly outside the door for at least two hours, running his hand through his hair more than once and trying to unsuccessfully calm himself down. Ever since he and Faramir brought the girl back to Minus Tirith and the healer scurried her away with the help of two soldiers, the young man was unable to stop the worry that was ripping him from inside for no particular reason that he could see or name. He wanted to know so much about the young lady, the strange outfit that she wore, the weapons that were with her. He was curious about her because no other young lady he ever met was anything like her. But now his brave young heart was being scratched by the claws of fear because in the past couple of hours the healer didn't leave the guest room and that was a bad sign. Boromir hit the wall with his fist and let an agitated sigh leave his mouth. Why was it taking so long?

Suddenly, quite slowly the heavy door that led to where the stranger left the girl opened and a small man stepped out. His maroon robe indicated him to be a healer, mayhap even a mage. Boromir pushed from the wall and with two long strides ended up beside the elder who just closed the door.

"Will she be okay?" he asked impatiently, making the old men jump. The mage made a sign against evil and twitching turned towards the young man.

"Yes master Boromir," he said slightly agitated. Clearing his glasses the man continued. "The girl, or should I rather say the young lady since she appears slightly older than your own brother, will be fine in a few hours. She nearly drowned but with her frame, strength and the fact that it wasn't," he paused again, looked up at the slightly flushed Boromir and decided to soften the matter. "Well, it wasn't that time of the month for your young friend—"

"Master Grenscove, must you?" Boromir asked as he lowered his eyes in embarrassment to the floor. The old mage shook his head and readjusted his glasses.

"As I was saying before you distracted me with your modesty," Master Grenscove shot the young man a rather amused look, the corners of his eyes cringing ever so slightly. "Your friend should be coming around soon because her body was able to keep out most of the colds and snuffles and your quick rescue made it possible for my own spells to reinforce that."

"Thank you," the young solider breathed out with relief, as he followed the old man down the corridors of Minas Tirith. Grenscove laughed sadly and turned to Boromir.

"Tell me," he said as he stopped to fix his shoe. Boromir stopped as well, not just out of courtesy, but also because the old man intrigued him. "Are you planning to marry that girl?"

"What?" the question caught Boromir completely by surprise. In all truth, he thought about it a few brief times as he carried his mysterious girl home and— did he just call her his?

"I saw how worried you were about her. You worry as much about your brother and your father. Do you really think I missed that relief you felt a moment ago or the fact that you were nearly killing yourself with pacing outside the door? No Boromir, though I may look old, I do have good hearing and eyesight. Don't misunderstand me and answer my question!"

"Grenscove, please, keep your voice down," Boromir paled greatly and to his relief the old healer laughed. "I don't even know what my father will decide. I know that Faramir probably told him about the mysterious girl that we found but I am not sure what he'll choose."

"And if he let her stay and become a young noble lady, giving her a title and some land?" Grenscove asked again, looking into Boromir's eyes. "Don't lie to me boy!"

"Yes," Boromir replied, slightly blushing, "Yes, I would marry her if I could, when I could. But I will have to wait and see if the gods will favour me my wishes or if they have other plans for me."

"Then may the gods be with you," the healer smiled and bowing slightly took his leave, leaving the young man to ponder about what he just admitted and to hope for the best.

"Where am I?" Kel asked in her mind. Or was it out loud? She didn't know and she didn't care. She was warm, dry and tiered. Probably a healer rescued her or maybe she was in heaven. Did she even deserve Heaven? Maybe this was Hell?

"She spoke Faramir!" A pleasant masculine voice sounded in the darkness. Keladry tried to remember if she ever heard that voice before. It was painful, perhaps too painful to remember anything besides her name.

"You imagined it Boromir!" a more boyish voice replied accusingly. "You have been here for what, three hours, first pacing outside the door, now sitting beside her. No wonder you are imagining things."

"No, you don't understand!" the first voice shot back angrily. "I heard her!" Kel cringed as she listened to the argument. Perhaps it was time to wake up? Could she wake up? It was worth a try, at least to stop the argument that was about to break out. She wouldn't be able to survive it then. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking against the sudden light and tried to focus on the person in front of her. The man was young, a bit more than a boy, probably the age most of the boys became knights. His grey eyes were full of concern and reminded Kel of storm clouds right before the rain came; they had the same deep power and calm, yet could hold anger and sadness at the same time. His golden brown hair fell to around shoulder length, making the young man's nose stand out and giving him a rather pleasant and trustworthy appearance. From what Kel could see, he was tall, taller than her and well build like a knight.

"Where am I?" Kel asked again, slightly louder than before. The young man smiled slightly and turned to the youth that suddenly, or as it seemed to Kel, appeared behind him.

"See Faramir?" Boromir, as Keladry realized after a second of remembering, said as the lad shrugged and rolled his eyes. "I told you she spoke. It's good to see you recovering so quickly milady. You are currently in Minas Tirith, recovering after nearly drowning in the Girlain."

"I'm sorry, but who exactly are you?" Kel asked, quietly trying to remember the places she was just named.

"Me? I, well, I'm Boromir son of Denethor, Commander of the Guards of the White city and—"

"Boromir, shut up!" Faramir, or so the young girl guessed, once again appeared behind the older youth. "You could have stopped at son of Denethor. You don't have to confuse our guest."

"No, it's quite alright," Kel tried to protest but Boromir stopped her.

"He's right," the young man lowered his gaze. "Here I am, ranting about my titles when I haven't asked you even how you are feeling."

"Fine, thanks," Kel replied with a small smile.

"That's great," Boromir grinned. "This might seem like a foolish question but who are you?"

"Such a good question," Faramir muttered sarcastically but didn't go on after catching Boromir's gaze.

"I'm Keladry of Mindelan, the youngest child of Baron of Mindelan," Kel closed her eyes trying to remember some details of her life. "I have three older brothers and two older sisters. My mother is a known hero of the Yamani Islands and my father is the royal ambassador between the two countries."

"What are the Yamani islands?" Faramir asked interrupting Keladry and receiving a smack of the back of his head from Boromir. Kel had to smile.

"Um, they are or rather were one of the enemy nations. Then my mother saved their two most sacred swords and my father arranged an agreement. After that, well many things happened. Why, you never heard of the Copper Islands?"

"Not here in Middle Earth," Boromir replied slightly concerned. "We only have Mordor on to the East, Rohan to the West, The Southern Lands to the South and Mountains full of Dwarfs and Orcs up north. There's the Shire and the Elves even further West but that's it."

"So I'm not in Tortal anymore?" Kel gasped as she looked from one to the other. When both young men shook their heads, Keladry started to feel lightheaded again. She managed to see Boromir say something to Faramir before everything went dark once again.