Chapter Two:

Kel jogged across the hall, late for a meeting with Lord Raoul. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door, which was instantly answered by a rather rumpled looking commander.

"You're late." He informed her before pointing to a chair.

She nodded her head. "I know, sir." He had told her to call him Raoul, but she couldn't get used to it. 'Sir' was the closest she had come.

He rolled his eyes and was about to reply when someone stepped out from the other room.

"Oh, Kel. Your finally here." Thom said with a smile. She smiled back, though it was slightly confused. "Yup."

"I suppose you want to know what he's doing here." Raoul said from beside her. She nodded her head, and he continued. "Once he heard from his mother, who also happens to be late, that you were going to be here, he insisted on coming. And he wouldn't shut up until we agreed." He sighed and ruffled his nephew's head before asking, "Why don't you go get her, Kel?" She nodded her head and stood up, and Thom quickly followed. "I'm coming with. Can't leave you to deal with her alone." He grinned.

She smiled in return before heading for the Lioness' apartments.

After the meeting, Kel invited him to join her for lunch in the mess. As they sat down at her usual table, which was at the moment empty, Thom asked with a smile, "Protector, I don't suppose you'd like to join me for dinner tonight, would you?"

Before she could answer, a voice said from behind her, "Please, say yes. My cousin hasn't shut up about you since you met the other day." Roald and Neal sat down beside them, both grinning. Neal reached over and patted the younger man on the back.

Thom blushed at his cousin's words.

"Hey, squirt. How goes it?" Neal asked after a moment of silence.

Thom winced at the name, which the knight insisted upon calling him before answering, "I was perfectly fine until you had to grace me with your presence." He looked back and forth between his cousin and Neal.

"Thom, I'd love to go with you." She smiled warmly at him. "Besides, it'll get me away from these louts." She nodded to the two men at the table, and the others which were sitting down.

They protested to the name, as she knew they would. "That's what you get. Being rude." She sniffed and put her nose in the air, looking much the court lady.

Thom choked on his laughter at her expression, and her face broke into a large grin.

"At least they can make each other laugh." Roald looked amused.

"They're the only ones." Neal returned to his food with a slight shake of his head.

Kel stood up, taking her tray with her. "I have work to do. See you guys later." She turned to the young man who was on the bench beside her. "Thom, what time?"

He thought for a moment. "How about we meet at, oh, say six o'clock right outside the Great Hall?"

She nodded her head in agreement and walked out the door, thinking of what the evening would bring.

Gods, that sucked. Especially the end. Oh, well. So sorry for taking this long a time to update...I promise I will get more up very soon.

oceanspike-no prob. hope you liked!

Gwen- yup, thats exactly what it is. oops. i was meaning to write raoul and roald, but confuzzled them.

pinky-ok. glad you liked

wakerobin-thanks

TheWildMage-thanks. i just wanted to clarify so i wasnt getting complaints

Nolee- i read that story! just forgot...hmm..interesting about the triplets. i will dedicate a k/j to you very soon, i swear.

LilianaRose-thanks.

PsychoLioness13-thanks.

Fanta- i swear i will. glad to hear your intrigued.

sorry to everyone else, i swear i will write an acknowledment to you later, i just dont ahve time now!