A/N: Yeah, well. I spent ages looking for Deltora Quest slash fanfiction, and I couldn't find one single story. So I wrote one! Yeah…don't flame me too much, please?

This is set in the Isle of the Dead (DQ3, Book 3, for those who don't know.), when Leif and Barda have just washed up in the Sleeping Sands. I set this story as if they'd washed up in the night and it wasn't quite light yet. You know, that time when it's very cold in the morning, right? The ship (The Lady Luck), has made them all despairing and woeful. And that's basically the setting. Enjoy!

'Leif…'

Barda was saying his name. Leif looked up. He was sitting with his legs drawn up to his chest, and he was shivering.

'Leif, are you all right?' Now Barda was worried.

Leif held up a hand to wave him away, but it was shaking too much and the air on his side was so cold. He pressed the hand back down to his side to stop the chill.

'Leif?' Barda was very concerned now, 'Oh, come now. What's the matter?'

Leif was shaking harder, and tears were beginning to roll down his cheeks.

'Cold.' His mouth didn't seem to be working how it should, so he tried again, 'I'm cold, Barda.'

Barda scrambled to his side and put his arm around the boy. For pity's sake, he thought, the boy's frozen!

'Come, Leif, you can sit with me for a bit.' Barda made a move to stand and pull Leif up with him.

'No,' Leif muttered, clutching his sleeve, 'No. I want to stay here. I- I don't think I'd be able to walk, anyhow. Not right yet. I want to stay here.'

Barda tried to stand once more, this time leaving Leif, but, once more, Leif pulled him back down.

'With you. I want to stay here with you.'

'Look, we should move away from the sea, into the dunes. Come.'

And he pulled Leif up. Leif nearly collapsed back down, but Barda held him up. He half dragged, half supported Leif on the walk to the dunes. Leif nearly fell twice. But each time Barda caught him. He lowered Leif down into the sand.

'Well, we're here now.' Barda said. It was a very obvious thing to say, and Barda regretted it. He tried again, 'It'll be warmer up here.'

They exchanged a slight look, but neither of them mentioned the Lady Luck, drifting on the water, crewed by dead men. But they were both thinking of it.

Barda sat down slightly away from Leif, got comfortable in the sand, and held his arms out wide, invitingly. 'Come back here if you really want to sit with me, Leif.' He said.

And Leif shuffled back, curling in at his side, leaning heavily against him. He let Barda wrap his arms around his cold body and rested his head on Barda's shoulder.

'Now, what's wrong?' Barda asked again.

'I'm cold and now, after that ship, I'm just so, and we nearly didn't get out and it was so hard and we lost Jasmine and the kin –and –and we…' He trailed off and the tears began again.

And Barda lent down and kissed Leif. Leif stiffened and let out a whimper of surprise. Barda broke the kiss quickly and let his arms drop from around Leif.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean…' He shook his head and began to get up.

'No.' Leif put a shaking hand around the back of Barda's neck and pulled him down again. The kiss was quick, but sweet. 'Don't go, Barda.' Leif mumbled against his lips.

Barda sat back down, and Leif relaxed against him. The boy wasn't as cold as he had been, Barda noticed.

'Barda?'

'Yes, Leif?'

'Thanks.'

And they kissed once more, longer than before, and much softer. And so perfect. And Barda felt Leif grow warmer under him.

Barda smiled. He was just doing what he'd always done. He was looking out for Leif.

A/N: And just after that, Leif gets the call from Veritas, the Amethyst dragon. See, it all fits in nicely!

Er…please don't kill me? I'll be good…
Jessi