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"So, you never told me your story, "Duke Baird began. The man had turned to hang his cloak, Baird's eyes went wider as he saw the man's dark hair.

The man turned around and smiled, amusement playing in his eyes, "And here I was hoping I wouldn't have to explain myself to my own uncle." He grinned at Baird's shock, "No hug for your nephew? And here I thought I was your favorite, what a disappointment."

"D-dom? Mithros' shield, boy, we thought you were dead!" the duke rushed to his nephew and hugged him. He stepped back, giving him a look over with his eyes, "You're in pretty bad condition, what happened to you?"

Dom's mud splashed and bloody clothes had tons of rips in them. The cloak looked new though, as if he had gone to his rooms but was in too much of a rush to change clothes, covering him enough so none of his recent wounds were visible.

Dom sighed and sat on one of the healer's cots, "I'm not to sure myself. Did you hear the report about the attack on New Hope, what did they think happened to me?"

Baird shook his head and leaned against the wall, "They think you died, or were captured by the Scanrans."

"Figures. Anyways, we were about half way through the fighting, most of the Scanrans were down, and someone knocked me over the head. The next thing I remember is waking up on the side of the Great Road, about twenty five miles from Corus. I walked the whole way here, that was two days ago." He shrugged and looked up to his uncle.

"That doesn't make much sense. You see, you've been gone for two weeks." He mimicked the shrug, but walked over and urged his emerald Gift into Dom's abused body.

When Dom woke up, he was lying in his rooms, 'I wonder why I'm here,' he thought. Suddenly realization hit him and he understood, 'No one's going to come in here, everyone thinks I'm dead. Great.' He let himself sink into his thoughts as he changed into fresh clothes, he examined himself and was pleased to find that all of his injuries had disappeared. A thought struck him then, 'Wait a minute, does Kel think I'm dead? Is that why she was crying? Gods, I've never seen or heard of Keladry of Mindelan crying'. She was the strong one, almost emotionless. 'I have to go and talk to her; I have to know that she's alright.'

His need to see Kel fell second though, Dom felt like he was going to die of hunger. He sat down again and was wondering how to slip out of his rooms and get food without being recognized. 'too many people in the palace would know me, and I can't walk around in that cloak all day.' He finally settled on finding a small pub in the city.

He sat down and smiled at the woman who passed him a plate piled with food. The plate was clean within minutes, and Dom felt much better.

"That stupid Lump," Dom's felt anger rising deep in his chest as his ears caught the words. He turned to find the speaker in the crowd; it was a boy, a few years younger than himself. He was tall with white-blonde hair and ice blue eyes, he continued, not noticing Dom's warning glare. "I knew she wasn't fit to be a knight. Now the Queenscove's cousin died, she's worthless. Always crying and moping in her room. I say 'good riddance, finally.' I'd like to congratulate that sergeant though, he did what you failed to do," he looked at each of his cronies with a triumphant gleam in his eyes, "Always melting when the pressure is too much, just like the weak, useless girl that she-"

He was cut off however, by Dom's fist meeting his chin squarely. He stood over the dazed noble, "Never insult the Lady Knight again," he said, voice full of barely restrained fury. He flipped a coin towards the bartender and walked out. He needed to think about what he had overheard.

Hands shoved into pockets and head down, Dom made his way through the crowded streets of Corus. 'Why does Kel miss me so much? As far as she knew we were only friends. Does she just miss me as a friend or does she love me?' these thoughts swirled through his head, plaguing him and he wasn't getting any answers.

As he thought, his feet carried him to Kel's room. He stood outside, straining his ears for any sound of movement from within.

Kel was sitting in her room, thinking as well. She was lying on her bed, when she heard the quiet knock on her door. She decided to ignore it, whoever it was would hopefully go away.

Dom was not giving up, 'She has to be in there, and I have to talk to her.'

Kel was annoyed, 'Why won't they leave me alone?' she didn't want to talk to her friends, 'I'd have to act cheerful, or normal at least, and I can't. Not anymore, I can't deal with it.' She didn't move from her position, refusing to make noise and let them know she was there.

'If she won't answer me, I have one choice left,' Dom gripped the handle with both hands, and slammed his shoulder into the solid wood.

Kel didn't even open her eyes, if someone had come to kill her, it was well overdue, she didn't care anymore. Without Dom there was nothing to live for.

He stood there watching her, 'She's really depressed, not even opening her eyes when someone breaks into her rooms.' He gazed at her for a moment, wondering at her obvious depression, before letting himself whisper, "Kel…?"

She heard the man's whisper, it was familiar but she couldn't place it, and opened her eyes. When she saw Dom standing at the foot of her bed she covered her face in her hands, pulling her knees up to her chest. She only had her eyes showing, and they were bright with tears. "Goddess," she whispered, "what have I done to deserve this?" She buried her head into her knees and trembled, letting the tears spill again.

Dom realized what was wrong, 'She thinks I'm a ghost or an apparition or something, she's hurt too much to think I could be alive. "Kel," he said softly, rushing to wipe away her tears with a cool hand and take her in his arms, to comfort her and stop her tears. "Kel, it's me, it's Dom." He sat there letting her cry into him, making soothing quieting noising and holding her as tightly as he could in the circle of his arms.

After a while, Dom pulled her out of the hug, he tucked the hair behind her ear and put a hand under her chin, "Kel, there's something I should have told you to your face a long time ago. It was stupid of me not to; I should have told you every time I saw you-"

Kel silenced him with a finger over his lips, he was trying to rebel, "I have to tell you, Kel, you have to know," she silenced him this time with her whole hand.

"I know, Dom, I know. And I should have told you. Dom, I love you too."

He looked at her, slightly off-balance, then he smiled. "Really?" his voice cracked, he had never expected to hear Kel, Keladry, actually say that to him. It had been one of his day dreams for many years now, for far too long.

She nodded at him and he looked into her eyes, then kissed her, pulling her closer and pinning her arms to her sides. She slid her arms under his and wrapped them around his back, hugging him even closer.

They sat there for some time, simply content in each others' arms at last. Finally Kel whispered, "I don't care what happened to you, Dom, I'm just glad you're back." He gave her another warm kiss

He smiled at her, "I'm glad I'm back too," he kissed her cheek and looked deep into her eyes. After seeing them so dead when he walked in he was now relieved to see them shining as usually. It had scared him more than anything to see her eyes so empty and hollow, and was now pleased to see that they had regained their old dreamy cast. He knew then that he wanted to be there, to see her wherever he turned, to protect her, to always make her happy.

"Dom?" she whispered after a while.

"Yes, Kel?"

"How are you going to explain your coming back to life?"

He sighed, "I don't know, Kel," he shook his head, as if hoping an idea would come loose to aid him.

She rested her head on his shoulder, her nearness still caused his heart to jump, but at the same time it made things seem clearer and more complete.

She sat up suddenly, "I have an idea, listen: I can ask for a private audience with the King, then you can come with me and explain it to him. There's one hitch though, I'm going to make you talk to Neal before I do this for you."

He looked at her incredulously, but eventually sighed, and conceded, "After all, I'm not getting blamed when he throws a temper tantrum."

Dom chuckled, "How do you think he'll take it?"

All Kel did was laugh and put her head on his shoulder again as he pulled her closer once more.

Kel and Dom walked down the corridor to Neal's room hand in hand. Kel was whispering tender encouragements in his ear. Dom smiled at her and gave her a soft kiss before she turned and knocked on his door.

Dom was to the side of her so when Neal opened the door he only saw Kel. He nodded to her and walked back inside. She pulled Dom in after her, keeping him as a shadow, and looked at Neal, "There's been some news about Dom."

Dom stepped out from behind her, "Hi, Meathead." He smiled at his awestruck cousin.

After a minute of silence Neal rushed at him and landed a wild punch across his jaw.

"Well," Dom turned to Kel messaging his face, "that didn't go too well." Turning to Neal he asked, "What was that for, Meathead?"

"One: you called me Meathead, Two: you scared the hell out of us, letting us think you were dead." Neal wasn't even glaring at him, he was so happy to have his cousin back that there were a few unchecked tears spilling over in his eyes.

Dom was still a little upset over Neal's crazy punch, "Well, if you were so concerned, would you like me to tell you what happened, Princess Meathead?" Dom asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Not even waiting for a 'yes' from either of them he continued, "I'm sure you heard of the attack on New Hope. We had ridden out, and I got knocked over the head. The next I woke up I was at the fork in the Great Road North. I walked here, was healed by your father, had a meal, beat up some guy who insulted Kel," Kel made a questioning noise that this, but Dom continued, "came and talked to her and came to talk to you. Does that suit you, Sir Meathead?"

Neal stood there, and then leapt forward again; Dom shielded his face with his arms this time, he had nothing to fear however, except for a bone-crushing hug.

Kel waited until Neal calmed down once more. She was smiling, "Neal, would you want to help us 'reintroduce' Dom to the world of the living?"

"Yes, but how? You know I'll do anything to help. Did you even have to ask?"

"Good, here's our plan."