Hope you like chapter 10
Dom was waiting on the opposite side to Raoul.
He waited for the signal to attack.
They had found the immortals 2 days after they set out from Corus.
Dom knew he shouldn't think about Kel at that moment but he couldn't help himself. He wondered what she would do if he died out here today. Would she cry and grieve?
She already had one brother why keep on at the other one?
Maybe he should take himself out of the picture today to make things better for her.
Dom's next thought was that if he died today then he would never see her smile, her deep hazel eyes and hear her laugh.
No, Dom wouldn't go down that easily.
When he returned he would tell Kel how he felt and then maybe everything will be alright.
He heard the signal and gave a loud battle cry and headed straight for the immortals.
A large centaur came at him welding a broad sword. Dom lunged and missed the creature. He turned and cut his enemy's forelegs which crippled him badly. Dom gave slit his throat and turned to face the next immortal.
He could see his men fighting hard and many were falling.
He heard something behind him but he wasn't quick enough. Something hard hit his head and he dropped.
Raoul saw his Sergeant drop and cried out. He tried to make his way towards his friend but the immortals got in the way.
He watched helplessly as a centaur picked Dom up and ran away into the forest. There was nothing Raoul could do. The fight was over since many had left once the centaur had left. It seemed that all they wanted was Dom.
Raoul shouted to the rest of his men to take care of the wounded and he mounted Drum and galloped after the immortals.
Raoul tracked them for the rest of the day.
His only thoughts were about Dom and how he had let that happen.
He knew in his heart that it was none of his fault but Dom was in his responsibility and he had to try. Raoul felt Drum tiring and slowed.
He dismounted and peered through the trees. He found a clearing where there seemed to be a permanent camp made by the immortals.
He saw Dom lying next to many other prisoners. Raoul squinted and just saw the slight rise and fall of Dom's chest. He was still alive. He had no idea why these immortals had collected all these prisoners but many were still alive. He had to get more help.
He noted land marks around them and headed back to his men. His heart heavy.
Wolest came over to Raoul when he came back to the men. He noticed the commander looked upset. Wolest couldn't see Dom anywhere. He thought of the worst.
"My Lord, what happened? Where is Dom? We have set up an infirmary. Only a few injured. Two dead." Raoul nodded grimly.
"Dom has been taken captive by the immortals. I saw a number of prisoners with him. From what I saw most were still alive. I don't know why but they were. Send word to the palace for back up." Wolest bowed slightly and went to carry out his orders.
Raoul went to see the injured. Ten of his men were lying on the cots. Many had bloody bandages wrapped around them. Raoul sucked in a breath. With so many down Raoul would be forced to wait for back up from the palace to rescue Dom. He left the men and went to talk to the ones not badly injured.
"I need two of you to go and watch the immortal camp for me. We need to keep an eye on them just in case they decide to move. Sit in a tree above them and just watch, if anything happens send the birds." Raoul told two of his men with them went a hand full of sparrows from Kel's flock that had decided that being with the Own was more fun than staying at home. Raoul blessed the day Daine came to them. Without her magic with animals they wouldn't be able to communicate easily.
Wolest's messenger rode hard for the palace.
He went straight to the King's chambers. A footman let him in while a maid fetched food and water for the young man. King Jon surveyed the messenger. He knew it was from Raoul and he waited patiently for the man to drink before he asked what the matter was.
"Lord Raoul attacked the band of immortals about 3 days ago. Many were slain. Sergeant Domitan was knocked down and taken captive by a few centaurs. Lord Raoul tracked them to their camp but there were too many for him to take right away. He found many other prisoners being held with the immortals. Lord Raoul requests back up to rescue the Sergeant and the rest of the prisoners." The messenger gulped his water. "He asked for the Lady Knights Keladry and Alanna to be part of the back up." Jon got up and paced.
This was the second immortal battle they had had in a month. Something was up and he needed to find out what. He beckoned to the footman. "Fetch Lady Keladry and Lady Alanna here immediately." The footman bowed and left. Jon continued to pace his chambers while the messengers got up, bowed and left.
Kel was writing letters to her family about her engagement as Nathan lay on her bed when someone knocked at her door. Opening it she found the King's personal footman waiting.
"The King is asking for you in his chambers milady. Lord Raoul is in need." Kel needed no other persuasion. She said goodbye to Nathan and headed straight for the King's chambers, a place she had only gone once before when she was given the co-commander title. Entering she found Alanna next to her King.
"My Lord. You sent for me." Kel bowed low to the King as etiquette told.
"I did Keladry. Please have a seat I have some grave news." Kel sat. "I have word that Raoul attacked a large group of immortals. Two died but Sergeant Domitan was taken once he was knocked down." Kel looked up shocked. "Raoul tracked the immortals to their camp and found many other prisoners with Domitan. There were too many immortals to take them on at that moment but he has asked for back up to go on a rescue mission. Will you help? He has asked for you and Alanna both with the second company." Kel didn't say anything but she nodded. She only thought about Dom and how she wouldn't be able to cope if he left this world.
"Jon, we should take Nealan of Queenscove as well. An extra healing hand might help." Alanna told Jon matter of fact.
"Of course Alanna. You can take care of him no doubt. Please try and come back in one piece. Gods bless all." Kel and Alanna walked from the room. Kel felt numb. Alanna put her arm around Kel.
"We'll get him back. Don't you worry. He'll be fine Kel. Now go get your men I'll meet you at the stables with Neal." Alanna watched Kel walk to the stables until she turned and headed to find her ex-squire.
"Move out. We have to ride hard." Alanna called out to the men seeing that Kel was in no position to give the order. She worried about the young girl. Maybe it was a bad idea that Kel was coming too but she wouldn't object. Alanna nudged Darkmoon closer to Hoshi.
"Kel you have to wake up. You need to be on top form. Please Kel it's the only way you'll be able to rescue Dom." Kel perked up a bit at Dom's name.
"Sorry Alanna. I don't know what I will do if anything happens to him, if he…" Kel trailed off. Alanna knew perfectly well what Kel would go through if the didn't manage to rescue Dom.
"Kel you can't think like that. If you do I will send you back with a note saying you are not fit to fight. We will find him."
Kel just nodded and rode off towards the head of the company making sure everything was in order. Neal moved up next to Alanna.
"Is she alright?" he asked. Alanna was shocked. It was one of the few un-sarcastic things he said.
"She'll be fine once we reach Raoul. She's worried about Dom." With that Alanna moved away from Neal and went to talk to some other men.
"Fine don't tell me anything, it's not like I care or anything." Neal muttered to his horse that shook his mane. He rode in silence thinking about his life and friends.
Raoul's scouts sounded the alarm for friends. Raoul went to greet the back up team. He found not only Alanna and Kel and the second company as he requested but Neal as well. He felt better knowing there was another with the Gift with him.
"Alanna, Kel, thank the Gods you've come. We need to make immediate plans to attack the immortals."
"Raoul we shall do no such thing. Neal and I need to check the injured ones first then we will make plans. Please we have to do what we can for those that are still alive." Raoul knew better than to argue with the Lioness when she was in this state.
Annoyed he allowed her to check their wounded and he stalked off.
Kel stood where she was; not knowing what to do.
She felt numb again.
She wanted badly to go charging at the immortals but she couldn't move.
"Kel, we will get Dom. Don't you worry." The men told her as they set up their camps but nothing made her feel better.
She wanted to see Dom, to hear him flirt and tease Neal, to see him up and about laughing with the men and pulling pranks on Raoul but he wasn't here.
He was alone and hurt with the immortals and right now there was nothing she could do to help him.
Thinking of nothing else Kel went to climb a tree feeling that she could conquer anything up high.
"Kel come down please. We need to make a plan." Kel looked down to see Raoul and Alanna both looking up at her. Slowly she began her climb down.
With her feet on the ground once more the two Knights lead her to a large tent.
Raoul showed them where the prisoners were and the main tents were located. Kel was to command a group who would focus on rescuing the prisoners while Alanna and Raoul would command two other groups that would focus on the immortals. They would attack in force at one time to confuse the immortals. All would have to be prepared to fight and fight hard.
"Let's get to it. We have a lot to do tonight." Everyone moved out. Kel pulled herself together and made her way to her tent to collect her gear. They would be fighting on foot because of the trees that we in the way of the horses. She prayed to every God she knew that they would all make it out alright.
Coming out she mounted Hoshi. They were riding to the clearing to save their strength. She also noted that there were extra horses for those that they were rescuing. Neal looked around grumpily. He was staying behind with two other men who had the Gift. He was not happy. Kel went over to him.
"You will have the hardest job once we return." She tried to cheer him. It didn't work.
"But I won't have the girls falling over me because I saved a bunch of prisoners from a horde of immortals."
Kel was confused. "But you have Yuki. You can't have girls falling over you. You are married."
"Don't think I don't know that but I would then have the satisfaction of saying I'm already taken and seeing their fallen faces."
Kel shook her head. Neal could be a down right pain. She left him when she saw Raoul was ready to go.
"Bye Sir Meathead. I am sorry for your situation. You should hope I won't tell Yuki about your fascination."
Neal's eyes widened. "You wouldn't. Would you?" Kel just smiled at nudged Hoshi over to Raoul. "Goddess and Mithros bless you Kel." He whispered before going back into the infirmary to check on his patients.
The whole company rode in silence.
Even the horses and dogs were silent. Everyone and every beast seemed to understand the utter importance of the ambush.
Kel wanted to run ahead and charge straight in. she could tell Raoul and Alanna hated their slow pace, it showed on their faces, but like Kel they had to keep the plan or everything could be ruined.
Raoul called for a halt.
Everyone dismounted quietly and went to their assigned places.
Kel took her men around the far right with Alanna and her men went to the far left.
Raoul and his men stayed where they had stopped.
They would come at the immortals from three sides.
Kel settled with her men and waited patiently for the signal to attack. Gathering herself together she nodded to her men. They gave the reply signal that they were ready and they heard battle cries from across the clearing.
Kel and her men charged.
They were on the side where the prisoners were being held. Many looked half dead. Most covered in dried blood and had bruises all over them. Kel turned and cut down a Spidren was guarding the prisoners.
"Two to one if they are unconscious. Other wise get them towards the horses. Quickly!" Kel called to her men as they started to untie the people.
She looked around for Dom.
She could barely recognise the man. His black hair was mattered with blood and his right eye was closed, swollen. His left arm and right leg stuck out in an awkward position so Kel assumed they had been broken.
Dom wasn't moving which wasn't a good thing.
Kel tried to make her way over to Dom but there were still immortals to deal with. She pushed Dom's condition from her mind and went to work taking down the ones who had left him in such a state.
"Victory! Victory!" Raoul's voice steamed distant in Kel's mind. Like he was miles away or she was on a different planet. Kel cut down the last centaur. Breathing heavily she looked around. Raoul and Alanna were tending to their wounded. A captain in Kel's group was doing the same. Kel climbed over dead immortals and made her way towards her Sergeant. She heaved a carcass off him and picked him up gently.
"Alanna! Help! Please." Kel called to her hero. The red haired knight ran over to Kel. She immediately examined Dom.
"He can be moved. It won't make any difference." Kel just nodded. Alanna offered to carry half of Dom but Kel shook her head she wanted to do it herself.
Alanna watched Kel stumble and carry Dom towards her horse.
She noticed the Hoshi had come forward ahead of the rest of their horses.
Smart horse thought Alanna as she helped her men gather up the wounded and dead.
Kel tied Dom to Hoshi and looked for Raoul. He was watching her.
He nodded. Kel turned away mounted Hoshi behind Dom and headed back to their camp.
Raoul sent a prayer to the Gods. Please let Dom be alright. Please make Alanna and Neal be able to save him.
Raoul turned away from the place where Kel had been and returned to helping his men free the rest of the prisoners, gather the carcasses of the immortals and burn them.
"That's everything. Move out!" Raoul cried mounting Drum. Alanna nudged Darkmoon into a gallop racing to get back to camp to start her work as a healer. Raoul let her go. He had to take care of those still with him.
Kel rode into the camp.
"Neal! Gods dam it, Neal get out here!" Kel shouted. All she wanted was Dom fixed and fixed soon. Neal came out of the tent.
"Kel what is this…" He spotted Dom's body draped over Hoshi. "Right. Come on quickly." He helped Kel to get Dom down and carried him into the tent. Lying him down on a spare cot Neal ordered Kel to get clean water and some cloths. She raced to do as he asked while he checked Dom with his magic. Kel came back with the things Neal needed.
"Is he alright?" she asked when Neal drew his magic back from Dom.
Neal shook his head grimly. "He's got concussion, broken leg and arm, a couple of broken ribs and slight internal bleeding."
"But you can fix him right?" Kel looked to Neal with a look in her eyes that made Neal feel terrible that he had to be the one to tell her.
"I'll try. But I don't know. I hope so. I've mended the internal bleeding but I need to wait for Alanna for the full healing and I have to save my Gift for others." Kel knew that would have always been the case and she knew that it was selfish to ask him to save all his magic for Dom alone. She nodded, seeing that there was nothing else she could do she left the tent that made her feel unhappy. Sitting on a rock in the clearing Kel watched as her childhood hero gallop into the clearing, dismount and head off towards the tent where Dom was. Kel felt better that Alanna was her because she could do anything. Noticing more people arrive Kel got up and went to take care of their horses seeing as she couldn't cope with seeing any more injured.
It had been 3 days since the rescue mission and many of those injured were on the mend thanks to Alanna and Neal and the few others who had the Gift.
Kel was sitting alone inside the infirmary taking care of Dom while Alanna and Neal slept.
It was late at night but Kel wasn't tired. To be honest she hadn't slept in days. Dom was constantly on her mind.
Now sitting with him Kel felt more alone then she had ever felt in her whole life. She held Dom's hand and leaned in.
"Dom please wake up. We all need you. I need you. Please I have some news to tell you, pleas Dom you need to wake up. Neal is being annoying" Tears fell down Kel's cheeks.
Alanna and Neal had both done their best for Dom but nothing seemed to wake him up.
She began to feel the way Dom must have felt when she was hurt. It hurt so much to be so close to him and yet so far away from him.
The next morning Neal found Kel next to Dom.
Kel had spent so much time with his cousin but he needed the extra pair of hands.
Dom's condition was getting better slowly but not at the rate he and Alanna would have liked.
He had lost a lot of blood and they needed to get Dom back to the palace as soon as possible. Neal had talked to Raoul the day before and had organised to move back to Corus. Neal must have made a sound because Kel woke up.
"Sorry to wake you but we are moving back to Corus today so we need to get Dom onto a horse." Kel just looked at Dom troubled.
"But he's not awake yet. We can't move him." Her voice broke in desperation.
"Kel we have to. I need to get him to my father. He should be able to help." Neal began to tidy up some of his things. Kel got up.
"Fine he can ride on Hoshi with me. She won't let him fall and I'll be with him the whole time." Neal knew there was no arguing with Kel so he just nodded.
She left to gather her things and Neal checked Dom with his magic. To his surprise there was a slight improvement. Dom was nearly out of his coma. Neal wasn't going to tell Kel just yet. He didn't want to get her hopes up. Two men came in and together they got Dom out of his cot and strapped onto Hoshi. Kel had her mask on so Neal couldn't tell what was on her mind.
He didn't have time to ponder it because Raoul signalled for the companies to move. He ran to get his horse and gear for fear of getting left behind. It had happened before and he didn't want it to happen again.
Duke Baird waited in his office. It had been 2 days since he got the message that Kel and Neal were coming home, with them a badly injured Domitan. The Duke worried about his nephew. Battle wounds could be fatal. He got up and paced the room. Surly they should be home by now. It has been 2 days and he hadn't heard anything. There was a knock at the door. This must be them he thought. Opening the door he found Kel puffing.
"Please, Your Grace. We have only just arrived and Alanna is getting very worried. I've never seen her like this before. We need your help." The Duke didn't reply only grabbed his bag and ran to the infirmary. Kel trailed behind him. Once inside, he assessed the situation. He saw Alanna streaming her magic into his nephew. Neal was next to her ready to help at any time. He went over to them and on the other side of the bed he checked out Dom. His heart pace was racing faster then anything the Duke had seen before. One of Dom's broken ribs had pierced his lung. He was loosing oxygen fast.
"Neal, get the deep balm and come back ready for a hard battle. Alanna you ready?" Alanna looked at the Duke, her violet eyes blazed with determination. She nodded. Kel watched as purple and green light surrounded her friend. She couldn't bear to watch but couldn't find the strength to move away. She sat in a corner. She felt so helpless. Neal returned, ripped open Dom's shirt to reveal his chest and began smothering it in the balm he had fetched, muttering.
"Please Mithros, Goddess, anyone please help save my cousin. I promise to be good from now on. Please." Neal didn't care if anyone saw how worried he was now about Dom. He had never seen his father in such a state nor Alanna this worried. With the balm spread he reached out his magic, a shade of darker green than his father's, he lent help to the Duke and his former knight mistress.
Nathan walked into the infirmary. He had just been told that Dom was home. He rushed to his brother's side.
"How is he? Neal? Tell me, how is Dom?" Nathan looked at his cousin. He noticed dark circles under his eyes like he hadn't slept in days. "Gods Neal you look terrible. Have you slept?"
"Sorry if I'm not up to your standards but I have been keeping your brother alive. Yes I have been sleeping but not much." Neal was frustrated. No matter what he did Dom wouldn't wake up.
"Neal I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Neal just nodded. "So what's the verdict? Will he live?"
"For now yes. Dom will live. We just have to wait for him to wake up before we can be sure. We managed to fix his lung and rib so that he could breathe. We brought down his fever before it killed him and we are all worn out. I'm sorry but it's all we can do. Dom has to wake up on his own. If we try to force it there could be serious damage."
"I see. Thanks Neal. For doing your best." Nathan left the room not being able to bear the thought of losing his younger brother and seeing him lying there helpless. Neal settled into the chair next to Dom's cot. He didn't look up as he heard the next person walk in.
"Neal." He looked up to see Kel looking almost as bad as he did and his wife Yuki. He got up and crossed the room in large strides. He wrapped his arms around Yuki and kissed her passionately. Kel moved over to Dom. "Neal." She said again. "Go back with Yuki. I'll look after Dom tonight."
"If you're sure." Kel nodded. "Fetch me if something changes, no matter what okay?"
"Of course." Kel watched Yuki and Neal leave feeling jealous.
She couldn't wait until Dom woke up and then she could see him laugh and smile again. She started talking to Dom about all the things they had done together. "Remember when you came after me when I went foolishly went into Scanran on my own. I was so glad to have you with me. I might not have shown it but I was over the moon because you had come. I know it was silly of me to think that I could go into enemy territory by myself. But please Dom, you need to wake up. Please Dom."
Kel sat in silence. She wished, prayed and hoped that Dom would wake. She got up to fetch a cup of water.
"Kel." Croaked a voice from behind her.
Cliff hanger!! I know hehe. Please review