Reini = Keladry {{transformation happened during the 3rd chapter}}
Disclaimer in First Chapter
Tsair rode through the groups of men, swiftly, eyes searching each passing. Where was she? Did they capture her? His hand tightened on Shadow's (his horse) reins. Onward, the two passed more men, hopes slowly sinking.
~
"Let go!"
Reini struggled fiercely against her captor, lips set in a scowl. Dom, slightly amused, hugged her.
"Kel! We thought you'd perished!"
"You will soon if you do not release me! Who is Kel?"
Bewildered, the sergeant's mind wandered and Reini immediately seized the opportunity. In one fluid motion, she slid out from beneath his arms and faced him, quickly placing a silver dagger against his throat. Dom looked upward.
"Kel…"
"Stop that or you shall be silenced!"
"It's me, Dom."
At this name, she felt something tug. No, Reini told herself, he is a stranger. The expression in his eyes suddenly changed and he leapt forward, not caring about where the knife was placed.
"No!"
A sudden blackness overwhelmed her and she slumped down. {{A/n: I really should stop making her faint…}}
~
Tsair leaned against his saddle, trying to sort out the thoughts he'd just received. He had formed a mental bond between himself and Reini, even if she didn't know that. Reini... she's in Tortallan hands; no doubt she'd be brought back into their lands. However, they couldn't break the potion effect he'd place on her, not even another black mage could; he had it bind with his life source. The mage leaned back and slammed his palm against the rough bark of an oak. He had to get her back.
Leading Shadow back into the camp, he went into Reini's tent. There laid her simple possessions. Weapons and clothes, but no Reini. Tsair slapped himself mentally. Don't think of her now, he scolded. Yet, against his mind's wishes, images of her smile and glittering eyes appeared in his head.
~
"Why did you do that?!" roared Dom, very frustrated and annoyed.
Neal's eyes gleamed sorrowfully for a moment and his lips thinned, inwardly, he winced at how vulnerable his older sibling could be sometimes.
"Face it, Dom, she doesn't remember who anyone is. Besides, she was about to pop your head off. I only knocked her out by taking away her energy. Best we keep nice to her, or she'll think we're the enemy."
"Nice job convincing her, Meathead."
"Just rushing things along."
Neal turned around and stalked back into his tent, thin cloak billowing out from behind him. Dom turned to look at the unconscious beauty in his arms and sighed.
"Kel, please try to remember…"
He hugged her closely and brushed his lips against her forehead. No. He could not lose her. He, Domitan of Masbolle, would win her back, once again.
~
Again, Reini woke up in a far different place than Scanran. Here, the room was decorated scantily, whereas the Scanran's had furs of various animals lining the walls and floor. There was a warm breeze flowing through the open window and surrounding the room with a home-like warmth.
She opened the cloth compartment and found a thin walking dress to her liking. It was not so cold here as her Scanran home. Reini dressed in the light, white cotton material and suddenly stiffened. Though the Tortallans seemed to be nice, she couldn't trust them. As she pulled a riding boot up, she slid her prized dagger through a small pocked located in the inner side.
~
Dom, slunked against the table, half-asleep and dying of hunger, was waiting for breakfast to be served. A movement caught his eye and he looked up. Reini stood at the bottom of the stairway. Her long hair hung loose and the white dress complimented her features expressively. Domitan, sergeant of the King's Own, gaped.
"It's impolite to stare."
He shook himself and grinned at her.
"Enough beauty rest?"
She scowled and sat at the opposite end of the table, farthest away from him.
"Oh, please grace my presence, with your loveliness."
"I'd rather drown."
"I'm not THAT bad!"
She choked on a sip of water. Dom glared back. Then, his face split into a charming smile, lighting the twinkles in his sapphire eyes.
"There will be a ball welcoming your return, Kel. It's going to be held in the day after tomorrow. Best be prepared."
This time, she genuinely gagged.
"Ball? I'm a Scanran! Please don't tell me Tortallans are always this……."
"Polite?"
"Insane."
"I'll tell you how we Tortallans are, if you accompany me on a ride through the woods of our lovely palace."
She looked at him over the rim of her glass, calculating him. Shockingly, she nodded her head, giving consent.
~
Reini paced the stables and stopped when a soft neigh was heard nearby. She turned to a brown mare with a white star upon her forehead and smiled, the creature looked familiar. The luminous brown eyes turned to stare into her own and Reini knew, somewhere inside, that she'd met the horse before.
In a few moments, the mare was saddled and ready to go. She pawed the ground nervously and Reini smiled.
~
Domitan sat upon his grey gelding, waiting. Reini's sudden appearance beside him, took him by surprise but, nevertheless, he turned to smile at her. And froze when he saw the horse.
"Hoshi?"
"What?"
"That was one of your horses you had before you left us…"
Reini rolled her eyes. Another trick, trying to pull me over to the Tortallan side.
"Okay…let's go."
~
They rode for a few hours, finally setting down by a small pond. Ducks quacked merrily and twitched their tails as they swam by.
"Kel…"
"I. am. Not. This. Kel. Person."
"Yes, you are."
He gently took her face in his hands and peered into her eyes. Reini felt herself slowly drowning in the sapphire blue.
"I know you are Kel, please remember!"
She broke away, shaking her head softly.
"I'm not Kel-" Reini's said as her voice rose. "Stop trying to trick me!"
Dom clasped her hand, forcing her to look at him.
"Please…"
She couldn't take it anymore, and started to pull her hand away.
Then…he kissed her.
Shocked, she froze. Then, a fire lit inside her heart and slowly grew. She must've known this person. Whether he was a Tortallan or not, she knew him. Somewhere, someplace, Reini knew she must've loved him before. Slowly, she leaned toward him, returning the kiss.
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Thank you's:
Keita ~ I'm sorry for not destroying enough Tortallans L I'll try to … do that sometime? If I can add it in I mean J
Eccie87 ~ So true!!! Yes, cliffhangers do suck, but we just like torturing our readers, hmmm? Jk, I'll try not to do it again :D
Fire Phoenix ~ Thank you for the compliment, it was, rite? Hehehe, well, thankies anyways ^_^
Lady Arabian Knight ~ Did it!!! Soon enough? :D
Snow*flake ~ you know I can't tell what'll happen, it'll ruin the plot =o.0= Yes, I think it out during my math class, lol…I think I should start paying attention to the teacher now…
Kenta Divina ~ well, the potion was suppose to alter her features…to make her unrecognizable…
Ndblue123 ~ Thank you for the review J
Magelet ~ yes, Reini is Keladry, just…with a new memory and appearance, sorry for the confusion
Hoppuschick182 ~ =_=;; am I still going to get speared? :P
{{anoynomous}} ~ Thank you.
Cami of Queenscove ~ yes, a love triangle will appear, just have to figure out when…
Lady of Shadows ~ :D
StarFire ~ Fluff!!! More to be added, I promise :D
Angel Of The Storms ~ heh. Heh. Heh…
Squire Kali ~ Oh, yeah, the kidnapping was much too easy, but the Scanran's had a mage. :D To tell you the truth, I'm growing fond of Domitan and am starting to think of keeping him for myself…
Kere ~ Can't blame me for being myself, eh? :D
I've finally found a way to add the fluff!!!!! This is my first time, so…I'm not really good at it yet. :D At least it's there, right? Lotsa thanks to Cami, for teaching me how to do the Bold stuff and Italic stuff. :D I finally learned!!!
Okay, so anyways, I hoped you enjoy the ending of this chapter, it was a struggle for me to write, as I've told you I'm for romance, but am terrible at it…hope it was well. There will be more, soon, hopefully. ^_^