Um... permission to through my reviewer cookies at me granted, i um see that i've disapeared for um... a while... sorry... no excuses... i'm not sure if i even like this fic yet, it seems kinda like a good movie with a bad sequel. but i'll do my best.

November 12- Mastiff

Dom had re-read the letter at least a dozen times, and now he just sat there, staring at it, as though her voice may emerge and talk to him. He was worried about her, she was too reckless.

-No that's not the right word, she always knows exactly what shes doing and how to do it, she just takes so many risks!- He pulled out his quill and bit his lip. -She'll go mental if i try to be protective again. But i'm not trying! i just don't want her to die. but if i say that it sounds like i'm not trusting her ability as a knight. Drat. why can't life be easy?-

Raoul, unnoticed by Dom had been leaning in the doorway for some time, watching the multitude of expressions passing the younger mans face. He could remember quite clearly how difficult it was to write to your lover, he still had to after all.

"it's not easy to love a military women is it?" Raoul said, walking into the room, making Dom jump and stab himself with his quill point.

While he muttered incoherent swear words, Raoul slid in, strectched and smiled down at the younger man, "I remember trying to write to Buri when we first started being together, luckily I had Kel nearby to ask stupid questions to, you unfortunetly are writing to Kel. No offense meant, but you're hopeless."

"It's just that, I sound too protective, and I seem like I don't think she's capable of defending herself. I don't sound protective, and suddenly I seem like i don't care if she fights and dies." Dom gave an anguished noise and flopped backwards onto his big red armchair.

"At least you know where she is... most of the time." Numair strode in, careful not to bang his head on the door frame. Dom groaned again, he could see where this was headed, a long drawnout comparison of who had the worst lover/wife in the military world... perfect, just what he needed, more manly troubles.

"I don't know where Buri is half the time," Raoul sighed wistfully, "It would be alot easier if i did."

"Oh come on, you know as well as I do that she's been at New Hope since the twin's birth, on Thayet's orders," Dom said, feeling himself being dragged into the conversation, "And yeah, I know where she is, but that doesn't make me any happier, all she has for protection is a band of common folk, unacostomed to weilding weapons, a rider squad and Sir Meathead."

"And the children." Numair reminded him, a funny look in his eye.


November 13 - New Hope

"So Tobe, what's the strategy?" Kivik whispered to Tobe while on line for food in the mess hall.

"No idea as of yet, we have many plans... but we're not sure how many of them we're going to reveal to the whole group." Tobe hissed back.

"Oh..." Kivik looked crestfallen, "But, you're definitely putting on a play right?" They went and joined Loey, Gydo and Irnai at their corner table.

Tobe bit his lip, "Yeah... we think, but it's not the big thing this year... we're getting a little bit worried that people will expect us to do a play, and then as soon as the main characters are revealed, the two people they're portraying will know immediately what we're doing."

"Exactly," Loey lamented, "You see Kivik, the big thing about the Kel and Dom escapade was that, it was, well a surprise! Neither of them knew what was coming, but now..."

"They expect us to target a couple!!" Gydo sighed, "And if anyone starts to notice specific tricks played on a particular set of people, then well... everyone will know what we're doing!!"

"So, we've got to keep them on their toes, make everyone think it's about them until opening night." Tobe said absently stirring his porridge with his spoon.

Kivik looked around at the three of them, a mix of respect and awe in his eyes, "You know, I've never been so happy to not be you."


November 16- New Hope

-This time, I WILL get the letters. If i have to read every singal report the Kel and Buri get, i wil get something good.- Neal was staring out Kel's window, the post bird was to arrive today, and he had every plan to get his hands on Kel and Buri's letters.- I must find out what's going down between those two... really, if theres anything good in them, I need it. Then i really will be able to blackmail those little rugrats into not making me appear like a dolt!!-

"Sir Neal?" Loey's voice broke into Neal's thoughts.

"Wha? Oh, Loey, hello."

"Uhm... Hello Sir Neal, is there a particular reason that you're staring out Kel's window?" Loey looked a little bit worried at his bizarre actions.

"Actually," Neal thought franticaly, maybe the children would respect him a little bit more if they knew what sleuthing he was up to, it was worth a shot, "I'm waiting for the mail, I enjoy reading Dom's letters to Kel."

"Oh? So then the information about the fact that you didn't notice that Dom's letters have been concealed in reports is false?" Loey enjoyed watching the smirk slide off Neal's face, "Really Sir, it was rather easy to figure out, It took me only a few minutes to deduce." She turned and started to leave.

"Waait!! You're reading their mail, but how?"

Loey began to laugh, her back still facing him as she paused in the doorway, "Well, if i told you, that would be rather silly. Any way, if i were you, i'd stop staring out the window, the mail came earlier, nothing fantastic in it, Dom simply doesn't have a romantic quill... but then again, neither does Kel." And with that blow to Neal's ego she skipped merrily from the room.


November 20- on the road

Evin had been up all night, his eyes were bloodshot, but he still couldn't sleep, it was funny, how thoughts like this would pop up in his mind late at night, and he wouldn't be able to get them out of his mind, pathetic even. He shouldn't be thinking of things like this, ever. So why did his subconcious insist upon making him remember that time at that Ball...

-You mean the time that you kissed her?- Evin groaned, his inner self, -he had nothing else to call it, except maybe the truth- was awake again.

Yes, and can't you ever let me forget that?

-No. You kissed her, you liked it-

I was drunk. It was Buri's Wedding.

-SO? She wasn't drunk, and she liked it too...-

She was too drunk, she must've been inorder for that to happen.

-No, Miri hasn't touched liquor since that party with the cake and Commander Buri-

Oh yeah! I nearly forgot that, funny that was... oh dang it, she wasn't drunk then.

-Right. You might've been, but you remember it. You liked it. You like her.-

Of course i like her, she's practically my sister, her and Daine! Miri and I trained together.

-You love her.-

The wildmage?? Dream on, she may be a friend, but she scares me.

-Oh go on, pretend you don't know who I mean, don't forget, I'm you, I know when you're lying.-

I hate myself.

-Maybe, but you love Miri, get used to it, it's not going to change. Why do you think you spend so much time with the ladies and then ask Miri to help you out of the conseqeunces?-

-to make her JEALOUS-

But Miri doesn't show jealousy

-Which is why you love her.-