NEW BEGINNINGS.

Twelve years ago, Kel was taken prisoner by Scanrans. Now she returns, escaping her prison with her eleven year old Son Wyl, who happens to be the Prince of Scanra and King Maggur's son.

CHAPTER THREE - Reunion - Part Two.

Steadfast, Tortall.

One month.

That's all it had been since their escape and desperate flight for freedom. Just one month, four short weeks. in so little time, it was hard to believe how much could change; how is such a short time, she and Wyl had left their fears behind.

Smiling Kel trotted Peachblossom at the back of the group; she was going to Corus, to her family. Lord Wyldon had sent Dom, Merric, Lord Raoul, Tobe and Alanna to accompany her.

Looking ahead she watched as Wyl talked avidly with all of them, his face split with a wide smile; she didn't know why she'd been worried, her son was too likeable to dislike, after the initial shock he had been accepted without a seconds hesitation.

Kel sighed, her family was another matter; how would they react to her son? It had given her hope to see how quickly her friends had accepted him, but her Mother and Father, her Brothers and Sisters, they were another matter. After living so long in fear, Wyl needed a place he could feel safe, somewhere he could be happy; he needed people who would give him a chance to prove he was nothing like his father.

"Kel!"

Dom's voice shattered her thoughts, jerking her head up she saw she had dropped back from the group. Grinning she patted peachblossom's neck, bracing herself she loosened the reins, "charge." Peachblossom's response was instantaneous, Kel felt his muscles tense, then he was flying over the road, thundering towards them.

xxx

Neal couldn't believe it, he'd read Dom's letter a dozen times before the words had made sense. Kel was alive, she was back; after so long, she was free! He couldn't stop grinning, he'd always known Kel would return, had never doubted it for even a second.

And now she was home.

Beside him Kelanna swallowed, waiting for the group to arrive; she was nervous, all her life she'd been told stories of Keladry of Mindelan, one of the bravest women her father knew. Now she would meet her, her father's best friend. That she was also named after her was cause for added stress, would she approve of Kelanna's choice to be a knight?

Neal looked at his daughter and smiled, "calm down. You're making me nervous." He said quietly, his voice hushed as he went back to staring out towards the gate. He was already nervous, for the last twelve years he'd waited for this moment; now that it was here, he couldn't stop wondering what his friend would be like, how changed she would be.

xxx

She paused when she saw him, Neal strode out in front of the large group of people standing, waiting for her to arrive. His face shone with joy as he broke into a run, laughing Kel leaped from Peachblossom's back and ran towards her friend.

She couldn't breathe as he pulled her into a shockingly tight hug, wrapping her arms around him in return Kel laughed; tears streamed down her face, this was her friend, her best friend, a friend she had thought to never see again.

Neal pulled back, his own eyes filled with tears he grinned. "I always knew you'd escape, I never doubted it for a second."

Kel smiled and looked down, "I wasn't so sure."

Wyl was suddenly by her side, his hand tugging at her sleeve. "Ma, who's this?"

grinning Kel pulled her son in front of her, wrapping her arms around him she looked at Neal. "This, is Sir Nealan of Queenscove." Swallowing she glanced down at her son, "Neal, this is my son. Wyl of Mindelan, Prince of Scanra."

"Oh Gods no!"

The curse hadn't come from Neal, but from one of the assembled group behind him. Kel stared at him, her face paling at the look of utter horror and hatred; not believing that the man showing such emotion could be her own father.

Kel felt her own anger snap, but before she could come to Wyl's defense, she felt him tear himself from her arms; he ran, his choked sobs carried back on the wind.