sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter out. To be honest I just ran out of time... ): Sorry.
I hope you like it.
The morning air held that end of summer chill, one that she remembered well from her days in the palace. It seemed foreign to her now, like the memories of her old life were superimposed over the image, the sensation, that she was seeing and feeling through a strangers eyes. The Courtyard of the Three Bows Inn was empty, broken in the morning light. It was nice to have something so familiar to her something that she could hold on to as she fought to reconcile old and new memories. The long slow stretches that made her muscles wake and burn. The deep cleansing breaths, pushing out the world until her focus was precise. The swift movement of blade and first a carefully choreographed dance. Both partners knew the moves, both partners moved with intent. Kel breathed it all in and let her purify her.
Soon, to soon, the dance was finished and the world came rushing back in demanding attention. For a moment she simply stood in silence her hands clasped on the hilt of her battered sword, contemplating the cobblestones beneath her worn leather boots. A voice startled her from her reprieve.
"Kel, The King heads for Corus in about twenty minuets, we have to get ready to go." Dom's hands were firm and comforting on her tense shoulders. She nodded and followed the group of fighters back inside. In a small window above the courtyard Alanna and George watched.
"Something is different about her…" Alanna's voice was scratchy and low. Her husband stood beside her, his back to the wall his sharp eyes seeing everything and betraying nothing.
"Do you remember how it was for you to come back from getting the Jewel?" His voice matched is wife's for tone and pitch. Alanna nodded, still watching the now empty courtyard.
"multiply that by a hundred. Imagine being forced from your home. Sold as a slave in another country, dragged around the world by meddling gods, fighting to stay alive at every…" Alanna interrupted her husbands tirade.
"I get all that George. I'm not saying I don't understand all of that… I'm just saying that she's different. That's all." George clasped her cold hand in his.
"I know that, lass." He smiled gently at her and moved away to finish packing.
Alanna watched him for a moment, but her eyes were drawn back to the courtyard below. She had seen the burden that Keladry carried. It was one that she knew well. The burden of loss, of seeing and knowing to much… she had hoped many years ago, when she had first seen that look in her own eyes, that no one else would know the cost of being a hero… Kel knew it well and it had shaken her to her core.
Meanwhile, Kel and Dom, quickly freshened up and finished packing there belongings. They where nearing the main room of the inn, when Kel felt hesitation wash over her. Stepping back, almost filling the doorway to the kitchen, she called out.
"Dom?" her voice was soft… but it didn't matter, he heard it. He looked at her without speaking and waited for her to finish her thought.
"How does this end? How can it end well? I know that we have to do this… that we can't talk our way out of this fight… but are we ready…?" Dom said nothing, he smiled tightly and grabbed her hand. His hand was warm and calloused but like so many times before it held the comfort that Kel craved. Their eyes locked and the world faded around them… at least until a throat cleared behind them.
Kel and Dom turned to see Raoul staring at them with a crooked smile on his face.
"Care to explain?" Raoul raise his famous eyebrow high and waited.
"Well, Sir. If you must know. Kel is my legal wife in three countries and I'm going to marry her good and proper here to. Which reminds me… consider this my resignation. I'm gonna' be a married man if my luck holds out." Dom's grin was wide. "I don't want to leave Own, but my place is beside Kel." His fingers tightened around hers briefly as they waited for Raoul to respond.
"I'm not accepting that resignation. You don't get to leave the Own." His answering grin was open and honest.
Dom's face was close to priceless, Kel thought to herself, All red and flustered...
"I'm gonna' marry her, Sir. If that means I have walk away from the Own, then so be it." Dom's voice was cold. Like it had been many times before on this long strange journey of theirs. If Raoul was surprised by the anger and darkness in him, it didn't show.
"Oh, make no mistake. You'll be marrying her. If you don't you'll have more than just me to answer to." Raoul said nothing more, staying curiously vague.
"Pardon me, Sir. Do I take you to meant what I think you mean?" Kel's voice was tinged with hope. She stepped in before Dom's poor head little head exploded under the strain. It wasn't Raoul who answered, but the King.
"Yes, Keladry, It's true. Toward the middle of last year several noble families approached me with a proposition. If I allowed their sons and daughters in the services of the crown to marry they would provide the financial support I need to work toward turning the northern forts into permanent outposts along the boarder. Remember all those years ago when you asked me to change the law regarding your maid?" The king waited until she nodded before continuing, "It is much like that. They wanted the law changed and in return they would give something up… in this case the gold needed to secure the northern boarder."
Kel nodded in understanding. The King continued to look at them for a moment and then spoke in a carefully even tone.
"I have wrong you Keladry. My law… that law… is something we will need to discuss. Now is not the time, but soon. I want you to understand that I am sorry. To express this I will grant my blessing on this union and as soon as we reach Corus, we'll get you two married in this country as well." The King moved away before she could ask any questions or thank him for his generosity. Raoul clapped them both on the shoulder and moved them toward the front door of the inn once more.
"One last question, my dear… when are you going to teach me to use all your new toys?" He eyed the Knife-punch dagger and bola at her waist and the oddly shaped khopesh blades on her back.
Kel threw back her head and laughed as they stepped into the morning light.
"Soon, My Lord… soon."
A chorus of voice greeted them as them moved toward the riding party. Kel could see a flurry of activity as servants packed the last of their supplies and several watchful guardsmen standing close at hand. What caught her attention, however, were the groups of men standing lazily about. Kel knew instantly who they were. After all she'd ridden with them for years before she was kidnapped.
"Ah, I see you men haven't changed." Kel's loud voice carried over to them, but it was Dom who got their attention.
"Well done men. I see the skills I taught you finally stuck." The voices grew louder as the men of Third Company made their way swiftly over to welcome them home. Wolset's voice ringing out above the din.
"Of Course. You taught us well. Never exert yourself, never do something that you can convince someone else to do for you, and of course the most important lesson you taught us... if it can be put off until later, then it doesn't need to be done now." Dom's face was comically serious as he replied.
"My babies... all grown up..." He buried his face on Kel's shoulder and began to weep tragically while the other members of the riding party watched with half amused/half confused expressions.
Kel looked at the bright blue sky and breathed deep.
... it was good to be home...
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