Disclaimer: Put simply, I don't own any of this.

Chapter 9: Messengers

~~~~~~KEL'S POV~~~~~~

It had been three days since Kel left Steadfast. Three long, tiresome days. The first day had bee the ride to New Hope, it wasn't a long ride, but it was boring, with nothing to do but talk to Tobe or one of the animals with her. Upon reaching the camp, she had gone to bed after a quick meal.



The second day was no better, with helping Merric get out of the camp and handling the major problems that the refugees wouldn't bring up with Merric. Merric had been eager to leave the 'squalid situation' at he so affectionately deemed the town. Kel wasn't even sure what squalid meant, and wondered where Merric had picked it up. With all Merric's eagerness, Kel learned he was rather exasperating and forgetful when he was excited.

The third day had just begun and Kel knew it would be no better then the last two. A couple of drunken refugees woke her earlier than normal with their shouts. She'd stormed out to the small yard in from of headquarters and pulled them apart, taking the two men to the infirmary for minor healings and sobering up. She left the infirmary to find the fight had roused a small group of refugees. They stared at her as she emerged from the infirmary. It took her a moment to realize that when she and rushed to the fight, she had neglected to change from her nightclothes. She blushed and headed back to headquarters.

The day had not improved, she found herself unable to fall back asleep though dawn was hours away. So she went back outside, this time remembering to change clothes. She practiced with her glaive before someone interrupted her. "You had the decency to get dressed I see."

"Yes," was all Kel said. How could I reply to that anyhow? She wondered. It was then that another fight erupted, disturbing the otherwise peaceful camp.

"You harlot!" A man screamed. Kel rushed over immediately. Two men and a woman stood outside one of the more private houses to have been built. A building with separate rooms instead of a one-room bunkhouse. One man was shouting about the woman being a whore. The woman was shouting that she was a 'big girl' and would do as she wished. The second man was silent, glaring at the first.

Kel took them to a more private location, speaking with each in turn. The woman, it seemed, had an arranged marriage with the first man. When her father died, she saw no reason to cling to that, she went to the second man, someone she'd had her eyes on. The first man, however, held the girl to the marriage and was upset that she'd been sleeping with the second man.

Kel was torn between the two stories, unsure what to do about it, it was her job to make peace between the three. She sent them off, purposely keeping them away from each other by keeping them busy at different tasks. The entire process had take a few hours and Kel set off to the mess that was just opening.

When Kel was through with the meal, she headed back to her quarters to get some of the paperwork done. Unfortunately, she didn't get there, because as soon as the refugees saw her, they bombarded her. The less urgent things she had pushed aside the day before were suddenly back - problems between refugees that needed an impartial view. Kel spent most of the day sorting through the chaos. Why couldn't they ask Merric? She whined silently as she listened to a couple of refugees fighting over some kittens that were recently born. One owned the mother cat, and the other had nurtured the cat and kittens during the pregnancy.

Kel couldn't get a minute to herself all morning. The midday meal was a break from acting as the judge. It was a short break. A very, very short break. When had she finished her last bite, she was once again surrounded by arguing and complaining refugees.

Finally the crowd died down, and Kel migrated to her rooms, only being stopped a couple times for simple questions. Kel collapsed into her chair getting ready to start the much-needed paperwork. As she pulled out a quill, someone knocked on the door.

"Who's there?" She asked with a sigh.

"Tobe, milady." Tobe answered.

"Come on in." She replied.

Tobe cracked open the door and pushed his head through. "I just came to tell you, milady, that a rider is approaching the gates. He's in a big rush."

"Why wasn't the horn sounded?" Kel asked.

"It was, milady, but you may not have heard it." Tobe said, quietly. "You've been busy."

Kel groaned as he left. Why can't I get this done? She asked herself. Why? Why, Why, WHY? She stood up and headed to the gates, just as they opened. The rider rode a light horse with dark socks. The rider was dressed plainly, in brown pats and a torn white shirt. She saw red spots on the white, and realized her was bleeding.

"Tobe," Kel beckoned, he arrived at her side. "Take care of the horse and get the man to the infirmary. Tell him I'll speak with him soon."

She returned to her rooms, and finished some of the paperwork before deciding to visit the messenger. Just as she was leaving, a man ran into her. "Lady!" He said urgently. "A messenger from Mastiff just arrived, it's urgent!"

Kel raced down to the courtyard to see the messenger. The first would have to wait; his business couldn't be too urgent if he hadn't announced it to be so. Someone took the man's horse, and Kel led him to the meeting room. She got him a drink and some food, letting him calm a bit before asking for the urgent news.

"King Maggur has sent a large army to attack your camp, Lady Keladry. Mastiff is sending reinforcements, they should arrive sometime on the morrow." The man stopped, taking a breath. "Steadfast is sending many soldiers also, but will attack only when the enemy does. The commanders are determined to slaughter the enemy, this could prove a key battle in the war, Lady. Moreover, the enemy is not visible, mages cover them rather well. They're approaching on the road to Steadfast."

Kel was speechless. This has got to be big, Kel thought, for Mastiff and Steadfast to send soldiers. The other man, the first to arrive, must be from Steadfast, that would explain the blood and mangy look about him. He must have run through the woods, perhaps run into a scout. "We haven't got much time to prepare then. When should the enemy arrive?"

"In just a few day's time, Lady."

"Thank you, anything else will be discussed when the Mastiff men arrive, I suppose?" The man merely nodded. She gave him a room and a bed and he was content. She knew she shouldn't worry the refugees, but they would worry if she didn't tell them now and an army arrived on the doorstep the next day.

At supper Kel made the announcement. Changes would need to be made. She had all construction halted, save that on the defensive and offensive buildings. The carpenters who couldn't make weapons would work on these buildings. The others would make bows, arrows, and staffs. They had some weapons, but not enough.

After the discussion, Kel remembered the first messenger, maybe he had more information. She went to the infirmary, hearing complaining in the patient's quarters before she even set foot in the building.

"I have to get out of here!" A man said distinctly. "I'm just fine, just tired is all!"

"No, you sit and rest yourself, I'll let you leave when you are able."

Kel approached the patient wing and waited for the healer to leave the room. "What's the problem?"

"It's the messenger from Steadfast, Lady Kel." The healer said, shaking her head. "He's been cut somewhat. From branches and such. Some of the cuts have poison in them, natural poison, not man-made, and he needs rest."

"Is the rest so important that I can't see him for a moment?" Kel asked. "This is a matter of importance also."

The healer was torn between her choices. Finally she gave in. "Go see him, Lady, but make it quick, and keep him in bed."

Kel tanked the healer, before knocking lightly on the door. "Go away!" The man said, his voice was muted some by the thick door, but Kel heard him.

Kel opened the door. "I will not go away, I need to speak with you." Looked for a match to light the only lamp in the room. She moved a chair to the bedside; the messenger lay with his back to her. She pulled the pillow off the patient's head saying "The healer would be very upset with me if you suffocated yourself. Now why are we in such a bad mood?"

The man turned his head to glare at her, but smiled instead. "Kel!" Dom exclaimed, he turned the rest of his body around.

"Dom? What're you doing here?" Kel asked, "Not that I'm not happy you are."

"I was going to tell you about the battalion marching onto New Hope, but that…" He saw Kel's scowl, and changed the word he was about to use, "…wonderful healer said I wasn't fit enough. Then I got news someone else told you." He didn't seem too happy about that.

Aww…how sweet, Kel thought. The cuts, they aren't bad are they? "Let me see your lovely war wounds." Kel ordered, reaching out to remove the thin blanket covering Dom.

Dom caught her hand and kissed it. "Surely a sweet girl like you wouldn't want to see a few minor cuts." Kel worried more, why wasn't he letting her see? She glared at him and yanked the cover off of his chest and gasped. There were numerous small scratches, some looking poisoned as the healer had said. "From branches. I was going to fast to dodge all of them." But there was more also, something the healer hadn't mentioned…

"What's this?" Kel asked. A larger wound covered his side, bruised and a lager, deeper-looking cut.

"Nothing." Dom said.

"Dom!" Kel said, her voice a bit higher than it should have been.

"It's really nothing." Dom reassured her.

Why won't he tell me? Kel wondered. "Tell me!" She ordered. He shook his head, smiling slightly. Kel frowned, resorting from verbal attack to physical. She leaned over him slightly, to look down on him, making sure to press gently on his injury. Dom yelped. "Tell me." She said quietly.

"Get off me, I'll tell you! Just let go! Please!?" Dom begged, he tried to sit up, but Kel had him pinned.

"Tell me." Kel repeated. She hated hurting him, but he wouldn't tell her, and if someone hurt him, Kel would be forced to hurt that person.

Dom stopped struggling, but was shaking slightly. "I fell off my horse."

Kel moved her body so she wasn't hurting him, but could still look down at him. She smiled, shaking her head with amusement. "How did you do that?"

Dom's face was red, "Hit my head on a branch and fell on a rather sharp rock in a creek."

That would explain why he wouldn't tell me, Kel thought. "Your poor ego."

"My poor body." Dom corrected.

"Your body will heal," Kel informed him, "but you'll never hear the end of this."

"Who's to know?" Dom asked. "The healer just tended to it without a question."

"I'll know." Kel said, "And everyone else I tell."

"Kel!" He said, springing up in bed, knocking his head on Kel's. Kel placed a hand on his shoulder and forced him back down. He rubbed his head gently as

Kel smiled threateningly. "Neal will love to hear about this. And Raoul. And Wolset. Maybe…"

"Kel," He said, dragging her name out into two syllables with urgency.

"I won't tell anyone." Kel promised. She brought her head down to kiss him gently, making sure to put none of her weight on his body. She pulled away, and Dom tried to sit up once again.

"The healer said not to let you out of bed." Kel told him, gently pushing him down again.

"But Kel, I am in bed. You're perfectly welcome to join me if you wish," Dom said, moving over, presumably to make room for Kel.

Kel swatted his shoulder lightly, careful not to hit something tender. She wasn't sure she was ready to bed him just yet, but she could still flirt. She stood up and walked to the door. "Go to sleep Dom, the sooner you get better, the sooner I can accept that invitation." Kel saw Dom blink in surprise and grin before she extinguished the lamp and shut the door.

Kel massaged her head as she headed back to her own quarters. It helped the pain she felt from when her head had collided with Dom's as well as the confusion she felt. Will I take him up on his invitation? Was he really serious? What if he acts on that? Did he think I was serious? Why did I do that? Was I serious? Do I want to take him up on that invitation? Unanswered questions bounced around in her head.

As she tucked herself into bed she pushed these thoughts out of mind. "Let's just get to tomorrow, what happens, will happen. It's no use thinking about it until it does." She told herself aloud. One of the sparrows peeped encouragement before the room fell silent again.

A/N: Ha! The longest Chapter yet. But not by much. Review please. Please, please, please?