AN: *hides behind computer* I know, I know! But this is the first week I haven't been swamped with homework or sick or in the hospital (my mother had a baby). I hope you all don't hate me for the broken promise. Please… show you still care by reviewing Chapter ten, whose title has changed.

Chapter ten: Footsteps in the Night

         Sounds of footsteps echoed in through the dark palace hallways. No squire in their right mind was awake after a long day of studies and training – except Kel and Neal. And, given the current situation, Kel was not entirely in her right mind. The only thing she focused on was getting to the infirmary as fast as possible. Neal, left with the daunting task of keeping up to speed with her, gave in and assumed they'd meet up in the same place.

         Much further ahead Kel was running down the halls, taking sharp turns and jumping stairs. As she took a left turn around a corner she ran straight into Raoul. Kel was so taken unawares that she feel down in front of the tall knight.

         Raoul looked down with great concern for his squire. "Kel, are you alright?" He offered a hand to Kel, who was panting heavily.

         She gladly took it, but instead of answering his question she got up and began running again. Raoul called after her again. "I'm fine milord, but I have to get to the infirmary." She yelled back. Kel stopped, only for a brief second, offering her simple explanation, "Joren." She said quietly.

         Raoul began, "Yes I thought so, but Kel! Joren isn't…" However she had already gone. He shook his head and turned to walk back to his quarters. Soon, though, more footsteps coming from the direction Kel had just come barreling warned Raoul before Neal turned the infamous corner. This time Raoul stopped Neal in his tracks.

         "Sir." Neal said, regaining his composure. "How are thing going?" He questioned.

         Raoul looked down. "Not very well, I'm afraid. Are you chasing Keladry?"

         "Yessir." Neal said. "It was Joren's squad, you know."

         Raoul nodded. "Yes, I am aware of that."

         Neal moved to commence his chase. "She's headed to the infirmary, and there I'll meet her. Pardon my leave."

         These two, Raoul thought. "Good of you to go, your skill may be needed." Neal waved an arm in reply as he ran down the hallway. "Though I assure you Joren is not there." He spoke into the now empty hall.

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

         Kel raced down one last hall and came to a jolting stop in front of the infirmary door. Her head was pounding at the same rate her heart was – and that was pretty fast. In front of the door she froze; her body, once warm from the run, was now as cold as ice. The fear of what may lie behind the tall wooden door overcame her. Kel slumped to the ground, ashamed of her fears, and silently wished someone would go in for her.

         Minutes later footsteps once again filled the dark hall by the infirmary. Neal causally walked up, only to find his best friend sitting against the door. He understood the anguish she was going through, for it was written all over her face.

         "Neal," she began. "Go in for me. Tell me if he's here."

         Neal bent down and forced her to look into his eyes. "Look at me, Kel, this isn't like you. You have never let your fears get the best of you. Never!"

         "But…"

         "But nothing! Don't start letting them control you now. Not when Joren needs you." Neal picked her up by the arms and taking her hand, placed it on the handle of the door.

         Kel glanced at her friend. The hand Neal had placed on the handle was her left one, and despite the lack of light in the halls, her ring shone bright. She nodded. Watching her hand turn the handle she said, "You're right. Thank you."

         Kel opened the door and walked in, surveying the patients. Neal stayed behind; admiring his gallant speech and the motivation it had given his friend. Suddenly he realized Kel had already gone into the infirmary, and he darted in after her.

         She was standing between the two rows of beds with her shoulders slumped and head down. She turned slowly to Neal, who was by her side in a second. She buried her face in his chest and stifled a cry. Nela began to wrap his arms around her when she started to pound her fists into his chest. "He's not here!" She yelled. "Where is he?! Where?!" Slowly the yells became quieter and quieter.

         Neal tried to think of something to say, some gallant speech of a famous quote, but neither seemed necessary. Instead he played the big brother role and consoled her. "Kel, do you love him."

         "What?"

         "Do you love him?" He repeated.

         Kel's face filled with confusion, but she answered anyway. "Yes, of course. With all my heart."

         "Well then you should know. Does your heart tell you Joren's alive?"

         Kel shook her head. "I don't know, Neal. I just don't know."

         "Joren?" The voice belonged to a soldier lying in a bed close to Kel and Neal. "So you're Joren's girl, eh?" He struggled to sit up, and with Neal's help he did. "He told me about you. Said you'd be looking for him when everyone got back."

         Kel stared at him for the longest time. "Is he…" she couldn't even finish the question for fear of the answer.

         "Dunno. He was helping the wounded get out of there before the enemy could regain themselves. As he helped me, though, he gave me this. "In his hand was the silver chain Kel's ring had been on. "He told me to find you and give this to ya. Said, 'Tell her I love her'."

         Kel took the chain in her hand and gazed at the way light reflected off of it. At least he had received it, she thought. Her hand closed tight around the chain as she thanked the man.

         "He was very brave, Joren. Risked his life for us. If my intuitions are right, I'd say he's alive. Someone that strong of heart could take anyone down."

         "Do you know anything else about what happened to him?" Neal asked.

         "Naw. I blacked out as soon as Joren got me to safety. Some of the others may know, once they wake up."

         Neal began to ask around, trying to figure out if Joren was okay. He didn't notice that Kel had left his sight once again.

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

         Kel had retreated to her favorite hideout – the bench in the palace gardens. Usually this place held such happiness for her. Now it only held memories of a Joren he feared she'd never see again. She sat on the cold stone bench and looked up towards the heavens. Even though it seemed like days had gone by, it was still about an hour till daybreak. Kel's Yamani mask may have failed long ago, but the darkness cloaked the emotion on her face well.

         Neal's words echoed in her mind. "Does your heart tell you Joren's alive?"

         "Yes." She spoke into the night. Deep inside her, past the logic and reason, she knew he was alive. Despite everything, there was still a glimmer of hope.

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

         It was well past dawn. Kel hadn't realized she'd fallen asleep. As she opened her eyes Kel also noticed there was a blanket draped over her and that Joren's chain was gone. With that last discovery she was up in an instant, looking around for someone. Something sounding like footsteps made her look to the tree behind the bench she laid on. Kel squinted her eyes, thinking it was a shadow she'd seen. She quickly discovered it wasn't a shadow, but a person.

         "I've been looking for you everywhere." He said.

         "So have I." Kel replied. In less than a second Kel was in Joren's tight embrace. There she stayed for over a minute, and there she would be willing to stay forever. "Joren how…"

         He smoothed her hair. "Ssh. I'll answer everything later. Right now I just want to keep you here."

         When he finally let her go Kel began with the simple question, "Where were you?"

         Joren stroked her cheek gently. "I got away without severe injuries. I'm still not sure how that happened. One other guy and I were the only ones competent enough to report back."

         "You were the ones talking to the King?" Kel said, stunned by her inability to think of that possibility. She shared her night journey with Joren, and by the end of it they were able to laugh a little. The fear she had experienced, though, still hung in her mind. "I was so worried." She said suddenly, breaking a brief moment of silence.

         Joren took her left hand in his, looking at the ring she wore now. " A couple of time I didn't think I'd come back. I thought 'I'll never see her again.' But then something would always remind me that no matter what I had to get back to you."

         Kel gazed into his blue eyes. "And what was that?"

         He pulled the collar of his tunic and revealed the silver chain he now wore around his neck. "Once I got your letter this last month I knew I had to get back. I had an entire life to spend with you, and I wasn't about to let some raiders take that away from me." Joren took her into his arms and kissed her. "I love you."

         "Me too."

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

         Neal had heard from a healer that Joren was reporting to the King and his council. He searched for Joren everywhere, and had eventually found him at Kel's room. They both assumed Kel would be in the gardens, and there they found her asleep. Joren stayed behind while Neal retreated back to his room. After dawn Neal awoke and looked out his window, and saw Kel and Joren together.

         For the longest time I never understood, he thought. I couldn't understand what made her forgive him when he messed up, or agree to marry him despite her previous beliefs. Seeing them together now, he smiled. He understood now. That's why, he thought. The love between them was undeniable. Love changes a lot of things, Neal thought to himself.

AN #2: Question for ya'll. I have two different endings thought out for this story. On one hand we can bring in Joren's dad again for one last obstacle to overcome before Kel and Joren get married, as if they haven't had enough. This would mean two more chapters till the end. On the other hand I could just end it in the next chapter. Either way the final chapter will be a songfic – I began TBT with a songfic and I'll end it's sequel with one. It's up to you. Whatever you want. I'm fairly sure you'll want the extra chapter, but you never know. Write your preference in a review. ^_^ Tata. I am off to dream about hottie band guy!