Chapter Fourteen

Setting Off

Alanna the Lioness, the King's Champion's eyes were wide in something between shock and protectiveness. Her former Squire and the other Lady Knight of the realm were curled up together. Neal's arms were firmly around Kel as she slept soundly, her head just below his chin.

George grinned gently and pushed her from the room, blocking the door from anyone who might dare to enter.

Alanna turned back and looked at her husband who stood in the doorway and pointed. She couldn't think of any words to say. Who was she protecting? Neal or Kel? George nodded and pulled her hand down, placing a quick kiss on her cheek. "She…he…" she stumbled, and he laughed.

"He's alive my dear, alive and well I fear. He'll be causing trouble and raising havoc yet."

Alanna let out a heavy sigh and decided to leave what she had just seen for another time and place. For the mean time, she settled outside Neal's door and waited for Kel to rise and realize that there might be people outside wanting to know how he was.

*

Kel yawned and stretched. Remembering the night before, she blushed and fell back against the pillows. She turned over and looked at Neal who was awake and staring at her gently. His intense green eyes made her blush and look away. He took a finger and put it under her chin, raising her eyes to his. "Morning love," he whispered and kissed her cheek.

"Morning," she mumbled and rose once more, quickly dressing.

"Where are you going?" he asked playfully.

"To tell the dozen people probably already outside that you're…" she stopped, her face paled. "You don't think…they…no…"

He got the idea of what she meant and quickly stood to dress as well. He winced, and Kel caught him quickly, helping him move about and dress before she placed him delicately back in the bed.

She ran a few fingers through her shoulder-length brown hair and sighed hopelessly. Then she ran to open the door. She was right, there were a dozen or so people outside waiting admittance. She thanked George with her eyes when she realized that he had been keeping them out. Maybe the Sight wasn't so bad.

"He's…" she tried to control her fluttering heart, "alive."

Duke Baird was the first to move. He rushed into the room without saying a word, and Kel slipped out to let Neal have moments alone with his father.

For the next few hours Neal was pummeled with visitors- Alanna and George and King Jonathan and Queen Thayet, Yuki and Shinko, Cleon, Merric, Seaver and Owen, Numair and Daine, Dom. It was only when Lord Wyldon stepped from the room with a half-smile, that she dared enter.

His scowl was quickly replaced with a grin when he saw just who it was, "Kel," he smiled warmly, and she walked in nervously almost. In three hours he might have changed his mind. Only when she sat next to him, and he seized her in a passionate kiss did she feel comfortable again.

She curled up next to him and waited for him to start, "Alanna scolded and cried, and George merely grinned and shook his head, cursed Sight," he whispered vehemently. "Then there was King Jon and Queen Thayet, they just showered me with gratitude for something I can barely remember doing. Apparently we saved the kingdom. I really don't remember thinking about the kingdom though, but they told me my duty was strong. Yuki and Shinko, I…" Kel's heart clenched. "I don't know what they thought. They just extended their utmost relief that I was safe and unhurt and one of Tortall's Knights was restored, cursed Yamani's…" her fear disappeared, and she grinned. "You think that's funny?" he asked mildly, and she shook her head, but then erupted in a fit of giggles. He sighed and rolled his eyes, "Cleon, Seaver, Merric and Owen wanted battle details and when they weren't talking about that they were talking about all the action they're missing. I told them I'd gladly change places, well maybe not with Cleon…" he kissed the top of her head, and she smiled. "Daine was all smiles and get well soon, but Numair treated me like an experiment. I swear, once he's got a project in mind he stops at nothing. He was starting to probe me with his Gift when Daine shoved him out of the room with a wave. But Kel, Lord Wyldon!" he breathed deeply. "He said that he was glad I was alive!"

"Neal, when you were asleep, he told me he thought you were a 'good lad' with a 'good heart'," Kel told him.

"He did not," Neal refused to believe anything like that had come from the man's mouth. "You're lying to please me."

"Would I lie to please you?" Kel shook her head in a 'no I wouldn't,' way, and Neal rolled his eyes and glared.

"No, but maybe you can do something else to please me," Neal hinted, and Kel blushed deeply and smacked him playfully.

Something dawned on her then, "Neal…what about Dom?"

Suddenly his green eyes grew solemn, "He's glad I'm alive, don't doubt that, but…he- he never thought I'd tell you. He thought there was a chance…he wants the best, if not for me, for you. I just feel so guilty…"

"What do you mean?" Kel inquired as she sat up on one arm and looked at him curiously. He did the same and met her gaze levelly.

"Remember when I was teasing Dom about a girl being on his mind?"

Kel nodded hesitantly, "Yes…"

"Well, that girl was you."

"What?" Kel whispered after a long pause.

"Dom was thinking about you," Neal repeated, and Kel shook her head.

"Impossible."

"Very possible, and now he's a little put out, but…I have a feeling he'll find someone in due time," Neal fell back among the pillows. "For now, I talked to him, and he's accepted it and will get over it, I hope. I just feel like it's my fault. I…"

"I don't want Dom, he's handsome and fun, and when I was sure I'd lost you to Yuki I tried to turn my affections on him, but…you've always been first to me," Kel confessed what had been hidden inside for years, and Neal smiled and kissed her swiftly.

"I love you Keladry of Mindelan."

"I love you too, Nealan of Queenscove."

*

Kel bowed to the monarchs and the King's Champion.

"We're sending you to the Yamani's to finish the treaty with them because Prince Roald and Princess Shinkokami wish to remain here after their last voyage," King Jonathan told her, and Kel's face paled. Neal had been up and walking for a week now, but a week wasn't long enough. She didn't want to leave just yet!

"Unfortunately the matter can't be handled without a bit of…glitter. I'm sending a small delegation of nobles and soldiers alike. No more than twenty people will be under your command, and you'll only need to protect fifteen nobles or so. There really shouldn't be any trouble as you know the Yamani's so well," she blushed under King Jonathan's somewhat hidden compliment.

"Thank you Your Highness, I would be honored to return," she bowed but didn't feel honored she felt…angry.

"We trust you to be able to command and…choose a capable squad by now. Among these will be soldiers, knights and…Mages," Alanna wasn't able to hide a grin. "Choose well."

Kel put on her best Yamani mask and bowed, "As you wish your Highness, Lioness," Kel bowed and tried not to run from the room.

She soon found Neal and told him the news. He grimaced at having to return to the Yamani Islands but was glad to do anything with her. "Now, I'll need five other Knights and two Mages, that leaves…" she thought in her head. "Eleven soldiers, but I'll need someone to command them as well," she looked at Neal who nodded his agreement. "Do you think he'll do it?"

"It's worth a try," Neal shrugged, and Kel agreed and ran to find Dom.

*

He chewed over her proposal and tried not to look distressed at her pleading little glances and the begging in her voice.

"Come on Dom, I need a commander like you, the Crown needs a commander like you."

He wanted to snap at her how he cared nothing for the Crown at the moment, but held back and sighed, "Fine," he agreed, and she grinned and hugged him quickly. He held her close and then let go, "For you."

She smiled and kissed his cheek, "Thank you Dom, for everything."

"Your welcome, Lady Knight," he bowed to her and sighed again as she left. She was happy and that was all that mattered.

*

A week later they were saying goodbye at the harbor as the delegation boarded the boat.

"Be good," George grinned wickedly, and Neal scowled at him.

"Cursed Sight," he whispered, not for the last time, Kel was sure.

"I don't know," she winked at George; she had learned to accept his constant teasing, "I think it's gotten us out of a few scrapes."

George burst out laughing and hugged Kel tight, "Goodbye Lady Knight."

"Goodbye King of Thieves," she answered, and he grinned and looked around him.

"Now you two better serve us well. Don't forget you actually have a reason for being in the Yamani's," Alanna told them severely. "Especially you," she growled at Neal who scowled back and turned his head in a mocking manner.

"I don't ever forget I have a purpose," Kel told Alanna calmly, and Alanna nodded, as if judging her for her former Squire then embraced her quickly. She turned to Neal and hugged him as well, which obviously caught him off-guard.

"I'm just that glad to be rid of you," Alanna informed him when they separated.

"I guessed," Neal answered dryly.

Raoul turned from giving Dom last minute instructions and hugged Kel and kissed her forehead, "I always knew you'd find your way."

She smiled and hugged him firmly back before he turned to Neal.

"You better take good care of her Sir Nealan," Raoul warned in a dangerous voice, and Kel hid a grin when Neal gulped and nodded. "Because you never want me to teach you how to fly."

Neal swallowed a yelp and promised to take care of her.

"Sir Nealan of Queenscove, Lady Keladry of Mindelan, Domitan of Masbolle, serve the Crown well," King Jonathan said in his most formal voice, and they bowed low to the monarchs.

"Go with the Goddess," Thayet whispered and smiled warmly at Kel as she kissed her Queen once on both cheeks.

"Thank you, your Highness'," Kel bowed once more and boarded the ship.

She smiled to herself as they set out for the Yamani's once more. She felt the light breeze against her cheeks and watched for the oncoming Islands, not the fading Tortall.

Neal put his hands around her waist and kissed her neck, and she grinned. This was all she ever needed.

A/N: Well, that's a wrap. Stay tuned for my next fanfiction, A Test of Acceptance. It's a Kel/Dom though, to please the other half of the readers who didn't get their way in this story. I really kinda like it though, and hope you will too. Enough advertising, thanks to those of you who read this far those reviews get me to update! Ja ne for now!