Title:  The Traitors in Our Midst Author:  The Lady Rogue (Should I change my pen name? I know there is already a Lady Rogue on FanFiction.net and I have a few ideas for new pen names but I'm going to ask you, should I change my pen name?) Rating:  PG-13 Genre:  Action/Adventure/Romance Pairing(s): Kel/Cleon Summary:  In her first year as a knight Kel discovers a bit more about traitors than she ever wished to know.  She finds that in the war against the Scanrans one of the most trusted of her friends is really the most traitorous of enemies.  To make matters worse her relationship with Cleon deepens and in a moment of distraction the one she finds most traitorous is herself. A/N:  Kel doesn't hate Cleon, she is just very angry about her situation and since it is his fault she has turned him into a handy-dandy scapegoat.  So sorry for the late posting I've been way to busy with camps, being a counselor, 4-H stuff, and finishing a short story for a deadline.  If anyone cares to read the story I'll be posting it once the proofreading/editing is done and I think off a good title for it.  It's short(er)/later, I'm sorry I just went totally brain dead for this chapter even though I knew I needed to get through it so I could in time get through to the more fun parts to write.  I beg of thee REVIEW!  If you care a wink about this story REVIEW!  Going from seven reviews a chapter to one review a chapter does very little to encourage me to keep writing. Disclaimer:  All rights reserved for Ms. Tamora Pierce.  These are only being borrowed for the amusement and enjoyment of the author and the readers of this fan fiction.  No money is being made off the distribution of this story and even if money was being made I have no money for a lawsuit. Chapter 3Marito Cleon walked into Neal's room knowing to expect the worst.  Neal was fiercely protective of Kel at the best of times, there was no saying how much pain he would be suffering from when he left the room of the older, though less experienced, knight after he told him about Kel's situation.  "Neal where are you?  I need to talk to you and I need to talk to you now."  Cleon's voice boomed, and subsequently Neal's head popped from the closet with a stray stocking resting on it.   In a second the rest of Neal appeared wearing beat up breeches and a near threadbare shirt. "Spring cleaning," Neal said as if it explained everything.  He was troubled when Cleon did not chuckle or even crack a grin.  "What's wrong with Kel?" "Sit down."  Neal obeyed without a word.  "You know how you told me to tell you what was wrong with Kel when we got back from the healers?"  Neal nodded and a worried expression crossed his face.  "Well, um Kelispregnantwithmychild." "She's what?!  You are by far the worst, slimiest, lowest, most vile person.  Do you know what this will do to her?  Her reputation?  Some of Joren's group is still around and you know how much of a living Chaos they will make for her."  Neal stopped talking and drew back his fist , letting it fly with a sickening crunch on Cleon's face. ~ Eat well, get lots of rest, exercise lightly, stop playing knight , don't stress yourself.  What CAN I do?  I'm not a damn porcelain doll, I don't break when I "play knight" as she not so aptly put it.  Doesn't she understand that it is my JOB to "play knight."  I don't want to grow senile and weak waiting for a stupid child I never even wanted to be born.  Then I have to wait at least six months before I can leave the baby entirely with a nanny.  As soon as this stupid child is born Cleon will have a boot lodged in his chest for being so careless. "Honey, I'm home" And here the dense oaf is right now.  And with a lovely berry colored eye. "Whatever it is, no.  I already slept for three extra hours.  Another second of sleep and this child is likely to be born in an asylum for the not-so-sane." "Ah the joy of suffering through your mood swings.  Don't think for a second that I'm enjoying this any more than you, I have the threat of three overprotective brothers and two sisters you said were very gifted in revenge looming over my head.  If Inness isn't the very protective I shudder at the thought of what Anders is like."  Cleon's voice began at a level of high sarcasm and ended in a grim tone that summed up how he expected the announcement to the Mindelan family would go.  "I do have something considerably more joyful than my impending death to tell you."  Cleon dropped to one knee. "Keladry, would you marry me?"  (A/N I'm a poet and I didn't know it!) Kel's angry expression turned soft, her face the exact opposite of the way it was a minute ago.  "Of course.  Why wouldn't I?"  "Well you seemed so mad at me the past couple of days that I didn't think you wanted to marry me or even have anything to do with me any more." Kel's voice hardened into a defensive tone.  "I wasn't mad at you, I was just mad and you were a convenient person to let out my anger on because you were its cause if indirectly.  I'm sorry Cleon, it's just that I wasn't planning on having kids for a long time, if ever.  Now I'm pregnant before I'd had even one whole year as a knight of the realm."  Losing all semblance of Yamani calm Kel burst into tears and she clung to Cleon for dear life.  Soon Cleon's tunic was heavy and tacky with tears but, he did not mind.  Kel was not really mad at him, just at what had happened as a result of their actions. "It's okay Kel, it will be fine.  We're getting married and we can tell your family.  You'll stay there at Mindelan until the birth.  After the child is born we can give him to a foster family who will raise him as their own child.  No one will ever know he existed and you'll be able to go back to adventuring and competing in tournaments,"  Cleon said in what he hoped was a soothing voice. "I don't know what I want to happen Cleon.  This is going to be my child and I sort of feel as though I'm obliged to take care of her and keep her safe.  But then this other part of me want to forget she ever existed after she is born and never acknowledge that she ever existed.  I don't know, I just don't know."  Kel grabbed the dagger that Alanna the Lioness had given her as a page and threw into the door that Cleon had just realized was riddled with chinks from other such acts of frustration. Cleon spoke softly trying to relay a semblance of calm though he himself was far from it.  "We can and will make it through this.  Whatever you decide to do about the child we'll cope with and with any luck, make work to our advantage."