Title: The Forgotten Shall Rise

Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance

Rating: PG 13

Pairing: Not telling (But it's not K/N)

Summary: Keladry finds herself trapped between the threat from Scanra and Galla. When New Hope is attacked, and devastated, she can't even ride off to rescue her people, because this time, they were all killed. When she does something both crazy and extremely stupid, she is ordered away from the battlefield. A squad of the King's Own is to accompany her on the long ride back to Corus. But something unexpected is thrown their way. Besides the obvious, that she wasn't going to go without a fight. Thrown into the lies and deceptions of everyday life, Keladry has to fight for what she believes in, and a way back to the front line.

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Chapter Title: Free Falling

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The ground thudded beneath Peachblossom's hooves, echoing in her mind, it was probably the last time she would hear that noise. Somewhere in the distance, she thought she could see Fort Mastiff, but she wasn't quite sure. The ringing in her ears wasn't helping much. It was all she could do to keep from falling from Peachblossom's back, but she had to wait for the opportune moment. If not, they could go charging into Scanra, meet their deaths, and Tortall would be taken, just because they hadn't seen her fall. She didn't want to be the cause of that.

Just a little further, she thought grimly. Then it would be all over, for good or bad. She wrapped Peachblossom's reins tightly around her hands and sat up straight, just incase she met anyone on the road, which wasn't very likely. She hadn't seen anyone since she had left what was left of New Hope, except for a couple animals of course, but even they were scarce. If she hadn't been delusional, she might have been worried by it. As it was, nothing could be further from her mind.

Her brown hair was too short to blow back as she and Peachblossom raced towards Fort Mastiff, but it certainly had become exceptionally messy. Thing was, she didn't have the strength to raise a hand to smooth it down; all her energy was being used up to hold her onto Peachblossom's back.

The few trees on the landscape raced past in a blur. It was getting darker, but not much, after all, it was summer, even this far north. If Keladry had cared to look, she might have noticed that it was getting late. But, even if she had, it was doubtful she would have realized this. It was coming in on seven o'clock at night, and dusk was beginning to fall. Luckily, she didn't have much further to go; she wasn't sure how much longer she could hold on.

Despite herself, she could feel Peachblossom tiring, as before, she didn't want all his speed getting used up. She blinked fiercely, trying to focus her eyes, and slowed Peachblossom to a walk, a speed walk, but a walk none the less. It was getting down to the final moments now, and timing was critical.

As her temperamental gelding continued his walk towards the fort, Keladry tried to compose her thoughts. She didn't shut her eyes, she didn't know if they would ever open again if she did, but she did clear her mind. Whether or not this was the right thing to do, it was done now, and nothing anyone did could change that.

She just had to make sure she made it. That much had a lot depending on it. If this went wrong, she didn't, and didn't want to, know what would happen, but she had no doubt that Tortall would come off the worst.

Glad to hear you have so much faith in us. Keladry blinked. That voice was painfully familiar. Do you really think we are that vulnerable? The voice was laughing at her. We can take those damn Scanrans, what do you think we are? Cowards? The Lionesses voice was taunting, yet strangely comforting.

"I'm imagining things now, aren't I?" Keladry whispered to herself.

I wouldn't be surprised, it's only so long before a knight goes mad, it goes without saying, and always has. Why, look at Raoul, he used to be the sensible one!

"Get out of my head." She demanded, her voice still not much above a whisper.

Sorry sweetheart, nothing doing. Keladry bit back the impulse to scream and cry, to do so would only use up the last of her energy, energy she desperately needed to make it to Mastiff.

"Stop it! It's been done! You can't change it!" Kel said, her voice loud and clear this time, if a little wobbly. Peachblossom turned his head to look at her quizzically, he quite obviously thought she had gone crazy, which, she reasoned, she had.

We all go mad sooner or later… The voice faded away until the last word was little more than a whisper. The real challenge is to stop it from taking over… And then there was blessed silence.

Peachblossom swung his head back around and continued to plod down the road, energy restored from his short break. Keladry slumped forward onto his neck, and let a single tear fall. Maybe the Lioness could combat her own mind, but Kel couldn't, and didn't have to. Strengthening her resolve, she sat up stiffly and looked straight ahead. Mastiff was waiting, maybe a five minute gallop away.

It was time, time for everything to end. It was now, or never. Keladry could feel her strength failing as she whispered one single word to her moody gelding.

"Charge."

And he did, his legs churning up dirt as they sped along the dusty dirt road. Again, Keladry slumped forward onto his neck, and murmured a prayer to the Black God. As Peachblossom picked up speed, she saw the ground flash past below her. She didn't know how much time had past, she only knew that her arms were dangerously close to giving out. As she neared the gates of Mastiff, Keladry felt her eyes close, and let them. Mere seconds later, her energy was finally spent, and she started the slow slide to the ground.

Up above, the guard was due to change in approximately ten minutes. The guards had become increasingly bored since they had begun their shift about four hours and fifty minutes ago. They all shifted restlessly as they waited for the bell to sound. A group of them were involved in a poker game, while the others watched on from various places on the wall. The game ended and everyone handed over money to one lucky sergeant, including people who hadn't even been a part of the game, but had bet on the outcome. Grinning, he looked up for one final sweep before shift change after collecting his money and pocketing it, and his eyes focused on the horse and rider nearing the gate.

As Keladry fell to the ground, a single word was screamed. Her mind couldn't comprehend it; all she could focus on was that her body was free falling to the earth, and the welcome darkness that came with it.

"KELADRY!"