Part 10! Wow. Part 10. Never thought I would get this far. This is the farthest I've ever gotten in a story before. Don't worry, I'll finish it:) *pats herself on the back* Oh and sorry it took so long. Explanation at the bottom.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Tamora Pierce. I just own my own. *to tired to think up something creative to say*

Kel ran down the halls of the castle towards the quarantined wing, towards the room of Neal. Kel couldn't even think, her head was too muddled for thought. She ran blindly down the hall not hearing the shouts from the healers to stop. Finally, reaching the door, she threw it open and fell to the floor breathing hard, all of her strength rushed out of her. Looking up, she saw Sir Alanna standing by Neal's bedside with a surprised and tired look on her face.

"Keladry! You are Keladry, correct? What are you doing in here?" Kel continued lying on the floor and stared at Alanna. "Are you okay? Are you sick too?" Alanna walked over to the collapsed Kel and helped her up, feeling her face. "Your face is red. Oh my goodness, we have another sick child."

Kel got over her initial shock and shook her head; her breath returning to her. "No, Sir Alanna, I'm fine. I'm not sick. I came to see-Neal." Kel began to cry again, remembering her reason for coming.

"Oh, Keladry. What's the matter? Neal will be fine." Alanna held Kel and soothed her. Kel immediately opened her eyes and wiped her tears.

"What do you mean he'll be fine?"

"Well, I just got done healing him."

"What?" Kel began to stutter. "But Lalasa told me that Neal was dead. She said she heard it from the cook in the kitchen."

"What? Oh my goodness Keladry, you must have been worried. The servants are gossiping again. I didn't think it would get around that fast. Here sit down. Let me explain what happened." Alanna pulled up a chair for Kel to sit in. "Look at me. First of all, Neal is not dead. He is going to be fine. I healed him."

"But how?" Kel didn't understand.

"Well, Neal did die, Keladry, but only for a moment. A long time ago when I was a page, a big sickness epidemic passed through Tortall, just like this one. Well, King Jonathan, the Crown Prince and a squire at the time, fell incredibly ill and none of the healers knew what to do. To make a long story short, I healed him. I did the exact same thing I did for the King to Neal. It was hard and took a lot out of me, but I did it. He'll be okay. All right?" Alanna patted Kel's and stood up. "You can go over to the bed and see him. He's not awake yet though, but I'm sure he'll hear you if you talk him. I believe the unconscious can always hear what goes on around them." Alanna stood up and walked to the door. "Oh and Keladry?" Kel looked up from her spot on the floor. "I think your doing a fine job. Keep up the good work. Don't tell the King I said that, all right." Kel nodded her head slightly and watched the first lady knight of Tortall walk out the door and into the hallway. Kel stood and walked slowly to the bed. Neal did look better. He wasn't as pale as before.

"Neal? Can you hear me?" Kel watched Neal for a reaction and got none. She continued. "Sir Alanna told me you'd be alright. I'm glad." Kel felt awkward talking to someone who couldn't answer back. "I was really worried about you." Kel's eyes began to stream over in remembrance of her earlier thoughts. "I don't know what to say." Kel began to silently cry on his bed covers, but this time in relief. She had been so worried and she needed to let out the stress. She laid like that for a while, just letting out the relief when she felt a hand touch her head lightly. Kel jerked up and found herself looking into the sleepy eyes of Neal. "Neal. Oh my gosh." Neal tried to smile, but found he didn't have the strength.

"You crying over me?" Neal's voice came out raspy and quiet.

"Neal, don't talk. Just sleep. You're going to be okay. I was worried about you." Kel looked down at Neal and smiled. He was actually awake. The first sign to recovery.

"You know what?"

"Neal, don't-"

"Kel, let me talk." Neal interrupted, his voice getting stronger as he spoke. "I had the weirdest dream while a sleep..."

"About what?"

"Well, you were in it and me and... You know what? Never mind it's not important." Neal got a far away look in his eyes as if remembering. Kel noticed that Neal was beginning to drift off. Brushing Neal's hair off of his face, she gave him a long, studied look.

"Neal, why don't you rest for a while. You need it. You've been through a lot." Neal snorted in humor, but began coughing immediately. "Neal. I'm sorry." Neal shook his head while still coughing.

"I'm fine." He said after the fit had calmed down. "I just need to be careful about what I find funny." This time it was Kel's turn to snort. She started cough from the action.

"See? I'm contagious. Get out of here. You seem to need rest more than I do." Kel bent over and kissed him on the forehead.

"I'll be seeing you later. Go to sleep." With that Kel turned to the door and walked out, leaving a lonely Neal to drift off to sleep, remembering the dream.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Roald sat quietly in his room staring out the window. He had been sitting like that for awhile now, not moving. For days he had sat in his room, not leaving his room. The servants had been forced to bring his food to him. His parents had come by a few times, trying to talk to him, but didn't allow anyone to enter. He was depressed, truly depressed. He was past the stages of crying, now he was in the stage of denial. Lysse wasn't sick, she was fine. She would come by and knock on his door any minute now. Roald sat and waited. No knock came, this depressed him even more. At that moment a knock came at his door. Jumping up from his seat, he ran to the door and opened it.

"Lysse." There was no Lysse, only one of the servants. Not saying anything, he was about to shut the door, but the servant called to him.

"Your Highness, wait." Roald stopped, but only because of the sound of urgency he heard in the man's voice. "Your Highness, I have been ordered by Duke Baird to come and get you. Her ladyship, Lysse, would like to see you." Roald's eyes widened at her name.

"What?" He opened the door all the way. "She's okay? She's awake?"

"I do not know the details, your Highness, only that Duke Baird has ordered me to come and get you." Roald shot out the door and raced towards Lysse's room, leaving the confused and shock servant to close his door. He got there in what seemed immediately and almost broke the door down, trying to get in.

"Your Highness." Duke Baird said surprised. He had not been expecting that kind of entrance. The Duke walked quickly over and whispered to Roald. "She's been calling for you. I finally allowed after a few check-ups to go get you. She's going to be all right, thanks to Alanna." The Duke pressed Roald's shoulder and walked out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Roald was too shocked to move.

"Roald?" He looked at the smiling Lysse calling from the bed. Slowly, he felt like he was walking on air, he walked to her bedside.

"Hello, Roald,"

"Lysse." Roald stuttered out. He didn't know what to say, but after that one little word the words came out in a current. "Oh by the gods, Lysse, I'd thought I lost you. Don't do that again. I missed you so much. I cannot believe I'm actually here talking to you. You're awake. I still can't believe it." Roald continued to babble until Lysse stopped.

"Roald, it's all right. I feel fine, tired, but fine. I've been wanting to see you. I didn't think I would. I've been awake since yesterday, but no on ever went to get you. I got worried, no one was telling me anything-" Lysse stopped and blushed. "Look at me, now I'm babbling." The two stared into each other's eyes for what seemed an eternity. Before either knew what was happening, they were both in each other's arms. Roald sat on the bed with Lysse in his arms stroking her now short hair.

"I love you." Roald told her quietly, not wanting to break the moment.

"I love you too." They just held each other tighter.

"The Yamani princess has passed away you know." Roald told her quietly. That had been one of the reasons, the king and queen had stopped by his door. The marriage contract had been cancelled. Lysse was quiet for a moment.

"I know." She said after a while.

"We can get married now."

"Roald," Lysse pushed Roald a way slightly so she could look into his eyes. "No, we can't. I still have a duty to my family and you to your country. I want to marry you, I do. I love you Roald with all of my heart, but we can never be." They sat quietly. "Besides, what about Joren?"

"I've don't know yet, but somehow...I have a plan."

"A plan? Another one? Roald do not do anything drastic. Will you please just stop? For me?"

"Fine," Roald gave her a fake promise. "Fine, I'll stop, but I'm not going to stop loving you."

"I know," Lysse gave sigh. "I don't think we'll ever stop." Lysse moved back into Roald's arms where they held onto each other, neither wanting to let go. Roald was left to his thoughts. He's coming. Hopefully he'll be here soon.

There we go! I told you there was a surprise! I'm very sorry everyone for leaving you hanging this long. That was not my intention. No, Neal is not dead, I was just leading you on. Told you I was evil, ne? The evilest of you all. Bwahahahaha! *ducks all the objects being thrown at her* Sorry! Anyways, don't know when the next part will be out. I won first at my Forensics competition and my teacher wants me to go to another this weekend. All day!! No literally, all day, no exaggeration. I'll try to get one or maybe even two out during the week then. That's not a promise though! I'll try. Leave you hanging? Well, I'm just being my mean self and that's the way it's going to stay. Who's the person we're waiting for? Who knows. Hehehe. *shrugs shoulders*