Title: The Forgotten Shall Rise

Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance

Rating: PG 13

Pairing: Not telling [Can you guess?]

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.

- - - - -

Chapter Title: Kirhann-sahd

- - - - -

"You said she was fine." Neal hissed, a safe distance away from Keladry's bed, so that she couldn't hear their, not quite as quiet as they could have hoped, discussion. Only once he was sure her status was stable had he vacated his chair beside her bed. The healer he was currently berating wilted under his glare.

"She was." He protested loudly, before another healer across the room gave him a threatening gesture. "She was," he repeated in a quieter voice. "This has nothing to do with the poison, its something else. We don't know what." He said the last bit in a dejected voice, feeling the failure that came with being unable to diagnose a patient, Neal knew it all too well himself.

"Well is it physical? Mental? Magical?" Neal said, his voice dangerously level. It was only when he sounded so calm that you knew an explosion was coming. If the other healer had known him better, he might have recognized the signs and cleared out of the area as quickly as possible, but, to his despair, he did not know Neal better, and at this rate, probably wouldn't get a chance to.

"Uh, that could be a possibility." The healer said nervously.

"Well then Jon, can I call you Jon?"

"That's not really my name-" The man started, he regretted it quite quickly.

"Is it not?"

"But no matter, you can call me Jon if it makes you happy-"

"You know what would make me happy Jon?" Neal asked, towering over poor Jon.

The healer winced.

"If you incompetent morons some how managed to get a mage in here to check on my friend with out severely injuring yourselves or any innocent, or not quite so, bystanders!"

"Yes sir, right away sir!" The man squeaked. He bowed, gave one last fearful glance in Neal's direction, and ran.

"What does it take to get something done around here?!" Neal cried, quite exasperated by now, only to be silenced by the same healer who had threatened to strangle Jon with his own intestines, paint a target on him, and throw him to someone in the mental ward next door.

- - - - -

Unfortunately for Keladry, Dom, Raoul, Lord Wyldon, and any other person who would be associated with them in next while, the mage poor, terrified, mouse-boy Jon found first, was not the most pleasant of fellows. He wasn't not pleasant as in mean, untrustworthy, or vicious. Oh no, he was much, much worse.

His name was Sebastian of Lhocke.

And he was the single most aggravating, hyperactive, sarcastic, pessimistic, and don't forget blunt, person you could find from here to the Roof of the World.

And, unfortunately for them, he was one of the only people who knew exactly what was going on.

Of course, he and Neal just got along famously.

- - - - -

After a quick introduction, Neal showed Sebastian to Keladry, and told him, pure and simple, to tell him what was wrong with her, or else. He left the last bit to Sebastian's imagination. Big mistake.

"Or else what? You'll boil me in oil? String me up by my toes?" Sebastian asked him dryly.

"Keep it up and I just might." Neal said matter-o-factly, with a disturbing semblance of a grin crossed with grimace stuck on his face. Sebastian scowled and got down to business with Neal hovering over his shoulder.

"Look, it's a little hard to concentrate with you just, there, next to me. Can you move over just a little bit?" Grumbling, Neal went and sat down in his chair on the other side of the bed Kel was occupying.

Just as Neal's patience was about to run out, Sebastian decided to enlighten him. Once they had Raoul, Lord Wyldon, and Dom all in one room with them. Neal seriously considered killing him right then and there.

- - - - -

"She's been Marked."

"Excuse me?" Lord Wyldon asked, a slightly bewildered look on his face. Sebastian rolled his eyes.

"Is it so difficult? I said, she's been Marked." He said in a frustrated tone, he had his arms flung out at his sides dramatically when he had started talking and one had hit a water pitcher. Raoul was watching with interest as the ice water spread rapidly across the carpet and into the wooden boards.

"Would you care to elaborate Lhocke?" Wyldon said, an eerie look on his face, showing that he was seriously contemplating strangling the young man in front of him. Neal, for the first time in history, could fully sympathize with him, having experienced first hand how aggravating the young mage was.

Sebastian ran a hand through his dirty blond hair and shook his head. "I'm dealing with incompetents." He muttered under his breath before launching into a theatrical explanation, complete with more wild hand gestures. "Have you ever heard the story of Princess Celadora and the goddess Marhiv? No?! Do you people go around with sacks over your heads then? Tell me, how do you not run into things? I've always wondered."

Lord Wyldon closed his eyes and took a few deep breathes. "Are we sure he is the only one who knows what's happening?"

Sebastian had the good grace to look insulted.

Wyldon imitated the blond man and rolled his eyes. "Tell us the story Lhocke."

Sebastian smiled and flung one hand out to the side. Raoul again found himself mesmerized as the coffee sunk into the carpet, irreversibly staining it. To the dismay of all others present, he began to tell the tale, in his own, very unique, fashion.

"Once upon a time, there was a young princess named Celadora…"

- - - - -

The Story of Princess Celadora and the Goddess Marhiv

Once upon a time, there was a young princess named Celadora, she lived across the Tynant Sea in the city of Belfirn, Arshei, or, the city of gold. She was well known and loved throughout her country, for her extraordinary beauty.

She had golden curls that cascaded down her back, and sparkling green eyes, like lush fields. Her skin was pale and luminescent. She wore gowns of glittering fabrics. She was held in the highest reverence by all of her people

Celadora had a life filled with happiness and joy in the royal palace, with her parents, the king and queen, her sister Elyria, and their nurse, Parji. At least, she thought she did.

When she was only fourteen, Elyria, who was twenty-three, arranged for her kidnapping by the country across the border, Corijan. She planned to have Celadora murdered by her kidnappers, and for the King and Queen to be killed later, so that she, Elyria, would become Queen.

When Celadora learned that her kidnapping would result in the deaths of her parents, she tried to bargain with the gods. Every night she prayed to them, offering fantastic treasures, if only they would save her parents' lives.

Only the lowly goddess Marhiv answered her desperate prayers.

There was an elaborate plan devised to free her, but in the end, she would have to forfeit her life in payment for all the lives lost helping her.

Reluctantly, because there was no other feasible way, Celadora agreed.

Marhiv called on favors from her otherworldly friends and acquaintances. They were going to pull Celadora from her own world, into a parallel one, travel to the place equal to where they wished to be in her world, and take her back. From there, she would have the help of another people to overthrow the plotters.

So that she could be taken from the tapestry of life forces that created her world, the goddess Marked her. The Mark would enable the beings that were going to relocate her to distinguish her from all the other life forces.

The plan was begun just two days before the day of her execution. She was transported into the parallel universe and traveled with then for fifty days and nights. From there she was returned to her own world and the real fight began.

For weeks the forces enlisted to aid her hunted all the rebels down. They had to identify them from nobles, royals, citizens, merchants, thieves, convicts, and slaves. Celadora lead the scouring of her country from behind the lines.

In the end, when they were all eliminated, she fled to escape death. But she forgot about the Mark.

Marhiv found her easily and was angered because of the broken promise. She killed Celadora through the Mark, and displayed her in the city square of Belfirn.

To justify Celadora's death, the King ordered the execution of every single rebel, all the slaves, the convicts, and any petty criminal or dishonest citizen. The day of the killings, the 17th of Serhann, was named the Day of Innocent Blood, or Kirhann-sahd.

- - - - -

"What exactly does this have to do with anything?" Dom asked, Raoul, and Wyldon nodded. Neal however, was looking quite green. Sebastian sighed.

"She's been Marked."

"Look, you've said that enough! What does it mean- oh." Wyldon looked down at his hands, Raoul resumed watching the different liquids blend together before ruining the carpet, and Dom looked back and forth from Neal and Sebastian, a look of horror on his face.

"Does that mean-?" He asked nervously, he had no need to finish the sentence, they all knew what he was going to say. Sebastian nodded.

"Either they want her for some otherworldly plan, or they want to kill her."

"Great, just great. One of my knights just tried to kill herself because the entire refugee camp was destroyed, and now some jumped up mage is telling me that she's either going to be used as a pawn, or killed. This day really isn't looking up." Wyldon commented dryly.

"Hey! I am not jumped up!" Sebastian protested indignantly.

- - - - -

"She tried to kill herself?" Sebastian asked Neal quietly as they headed back to the library to find out what could be happening that involved Kel.

Neal nodded grimly and looked at his feet again, he didn't really feel like talking about the psyche of his best friend with some psychopath he had just met a few hours ago, much to his great despair. Sebastian may have been right about him not being jumped up, but he sure was energetic. Neal wasn't sure how much more time in the man's company he could take before he tried to kill himself, or better yet, Sebastian.

For now he just had to ignore the feeling inside of him that made him want to rip his arm off and beat the other man with it. Or at least try to, after all, it's the thought that counts.

"Oh."

And for a moment, there was actually silence. Well, as silent as it could get with someone screaming bloody murder a few hallways over. Neal was just glad they weren't in this hallway, then he would be guilty of two murders, not one.

Sebastian appeared to be thinking, but in the all of four hours Neal had known him, he hadn't really been able to tell.

"So, where is she going to be for the next while?"

Neal groaned and lifted his head in defeat. "They're sending her back to Corus."

"They?" The blond asked, stopping to look curiously at Neal. Neal couldn't really blame him though, it wasn't everyday a grown man tried to strangle himself with his own hands.

"Lord Wyldon and Lord Raoul. They are sending her back to Corus with a squad of the King's Own."

"I don't think that'll be enough." Sebastian commented lightly. Neal spun to look at him.

"What do you mean?" He asked quickly, grabbing the mage's shoulders and shaking him like a doll. "Enough to do what?"

Sebastian gave him a look that could have frozen hell over. Neal smiled sheepishly and let go. He sniffed and brushed off his shoulders where Neal had grabbed him.

"Well?" Neal had a maniacal look in his eye, again, about to explode. Unfortunately, Sebastian had not been there to see Jon wilt, and did not know Neal's limits.

"I was getting there." He said is a patronizing tone.

And Neal snapped. He shoved the blond up against the wall and stared him in the eye. "Well get there faster." He hissed.

"Calm down." Sebastian said, his voice slightly higher than usual, most likely due to the fact that Neal had a hand around his throat. "Enough to keep her alive. She's being hunted by the gods. It will take more than just soldiers."

- - - - -

Hey, me again.

Alright, it said in Chapter 1 in the end note that there would be a contest thing in this chapter, and so there will be. I need to know a few things.

1. Who do you want to go with Kel to Corus?

a) Dom and the squad.

b) Dom, Neal, and the squad.

c) Dom, Sebastian, and the squad.

d) Dom, Neal, Sebastian, and the squad.

e) Dom, Neal, Sebastian.

f) Neal, Sebastian, and the squad.

Let me know which for that! And also, who do you want Kel to end up with?

a) Neal

b) Dom

c) Sebastian

d) No one

e) Other (specify)

Please tell me in a review! I would really appreciate your feedback. It may influence my final decision! There will be other bits where the reviewers have a say later on as well, just so you know.

I know it took me a while to really get started with the plot, and I am sorry. Anyway, please read and review!

That shall be all,

Seadragon.