Disclaimer: Yea yea yea You all know what I own and what I don't

Sorry it took so long. Anyway here is the answer to the much dispised cliff hanger. Anyway. I'm absolutly thrilled so many people like Lathander. He's in this chapter! Yes my lovely reviews he is indeed back.

Chapter eleven-- Complications

"No." the boy cried but the tears evaporated as they left his eyes. "I was supposed to help."

"There's too much power you can't control for you to do any good." the man said.

"There's been an attack."

"What?" Kel froze. The glaive fell from her suddenly numb fingers.

"I'm so sorry." Neal whispered wrapping his arms around her. He hugged Kel tightly.

'I can't think when he's this close. It doesn't seem real. They can't be...' Kel hugged him awkwardly.

'She's.....warm.' Neal thought. 'She smells...clean.' He shook his head slightly. 'I can't be thinking about such things now.'

"Oh Mithros." Kel breathed. "I have to tell Tya."

"I'll tell her." Neal whispered into her hair.

'OK I really can't think.' Kel stepped back from him. "N-No no. I need to tell her. She deserves that much."

Neal nodded and handed her a sword. "You might want that."

Kel nodded in return and walked away from him. "Oh Goddess how am I going to tell her?" she whispered and found herself standing at Tya's door. Kel raised her hand and knocked.

Tya opened the door , just enough for her to slide out. "Kel?"

"Tya. I-I need to talk to you." Kel began. "We should go inside you might need to sit."

Tya's eyes widened. "What is it Kel?"

"Tya, There was an accident." Kel began. The tears were finally coming.

"Kel what happened?" Tya asked fear evident in her voice and stance. She stood hands clasped together.

"The band was attacked."

"Kalerik?" Tya asked eyes wide. "Is he?"

Kel handed her the broken charred sword. "Tya."

Tya took it in shaking hands. She leaned back against the wall and slid to the floor. "He...He's gone."

Tears slid silently down Kel's face. She crouched down in front of her friend. "Tya I'm sorry." she whispered.

"Kal." Tya hugged Kel. "I loved him Kel. I really loved him." she whispered sobs racking her thin frame.

"I know." Kel whispered.

After Kel got Tya settled enough to go in her rooms she headed to the mess to get some breakfast for her. She walked in and Cleon approached her.

"I heard what happened is Tya all right?" he asked running a hand through his red curls.

"I think she'll be OK." Kel replied. She got a plate of food and headed back to the door.

"Aren't you eating with us?" Cleon asked.

Kel shook her head. "No I'm going to take some breakfast to Tya."

"Why don't you come eat with us after you take her the food." Cleon suggested.

Kel shrugged. "Maybe. I have to get this to Tya." with that she walked out. Kel carried the plate of food to Tya's room and knocked.

"Kel?"

"Yes."

"Come in." Tya's voice said.

Kel entered to find Tya sitting in a chair Kal's sword still in her lap. "Tya." Kel said quietly. "I brought you food."

Tya looked over at the plate and nodded. "OK." Her eyes were red and puffy her skin splotchy.

"Come on Tya you have to eat." Kel said. "You do realize the Wildcat will never let you out of training for more than a say if that." Tya nodded. "You need to eat to get strength."

Tya nodded and began to eat. "Why aren't you eating?"

"I ate this morning." Kel lied. "You'll be OK a few hours?"

Tya nodded. "I'm not a small child Kel." she said with a sarcastic smile.

"OK. I'll get you for midday." Kel said and walked out. She went into her rooms and laid back thinking.

"I have to leave for a few days I hope you'll await my return." Lathander had told her.

The thoughts rang through her head as a realization came to her and pieces began to fall into place.

Kal's sword was charred.

Lathander isn't near the palace.

She thought back trying to remember what exactly Neal had told her.

"There was an attack.."

"What?"

"The own saw a fire a big one a day or two walk from the city. Well uh.."

"What is it Neal?"

"Your Shang band... well we think they were attacked. They couldn't find any bodies just charred remains. They had things to positively identify them as Kalerik's. Sorry Kel but your band is dead."

Charred things, no bodies. Lathander wasn't here. "Oh Mithros." she breathed. "Lathander he couldn't have.."

'Yes he could have. Do you need to look at your wrist to remember that?'

'He wouldn't....'

'He burned you after claiming he loved you.'

"Damn it!" Kel cried out.

"Kel?" Neal opened her door and saw her lying on her bed looking frustrated. As soon as she noticed him the emotion drained form her face.

"Neal?"

"Kel are you OK?" Neal asked walking into her room. He closed the door and pulled a chair over to her bed.

"Tya's in her room if you'd like to see her." Kel said sitting up.

"I know she is I saw her already." Neal replied. "I asked if you were OK?"

"Me." Kel said. "Yes I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Neal asked. Kel nodded. "How's your wrist?"

Kel looked at her arm. "It's burned." she replied dryly.

Neal sighed. "Is it better?"

"A little."

"Good."

"OK. Is that all you came for I need to get to the library." Kel asked pushing herself off the bed.

"No actually." Neal began and Kel say back down with a sigh. "First of all you weren't at breakfast. Cleon said you didn't eat."

"I ate earlier." Kel lied again.

"No you didn't" Neal said. "You're forgetting either I or Tya was with you all morning." Kel sighed. He was right. "Also. I found this in one of the lesser libraries." he held out a beaten leather bound book.

Kel took it. Embossed in gold writing were the words. 'The tales of the Shang.'. She opened it gently. "Is it in here?"

"I wouldn't have brought it to you if it wasn't." Neal retorted.

Kel looked in the index for the story and found it. She scanned the first page before opening her mouth. "The other version."

Neal nodded. "I looked for it last night. It says that the fire was a gift from Mithros."

Kel groaned. "A gift from Mithros." she repeated. "And how exactly are we supposed to stop that?"

"Well according to the both the fire was too much for the boy to handle." Neal said and Kel nodded. "It consumes him in the end."

"Yes but he comes back. It's like a phoenix." Kel cut in. "Fire can't hurt him as long as he has it." she thought a second. "Wait I'm supposed to assume Lathander some how got a gift from Mithros. The boy got it directly from the god in the tale."

Neal froze. "I hadn't thought of either of those."

Kel sighed. "So we have found the other version just haven't gotten anywhere with it."

Neal raked his fingers through his hair.

"I wanted to ask you something." Kel said suddenly.

"What?" Neal looked up startled.

"Why were you the one who told me?" Kel asked. "About Kal and the other I mean."

"Well the King asked Alanna to tell you. He figured if a woman told you it would be better." Neal began. "Alanna said she knew we'd been spending time together." he continued leaving out the fact that Alanna had hinted at them spending some time together sexually. "She asked if I would tell you. She sort of shoved me out the door and locked me out."

Kel nodded. "Why did you tell me before Tya?"

Neal froze. "I-I don't know."

"One more question." Kel said.

Neal looked up at her. "What is this? I already took both the little and the big examinations you know."

Kel sighed. "Do you know if there was still fire burning when they found everything?"

Neal shook his head. "I don't think so." he paused and raised one winged brow. "Why?"

"Just wondering." Kel replied distractedly. Of course Lathander wouldn't be so careless. If it was Lathander that it.

"I need to get back to Alanna. I think she'll have let me back in by now." Neal said getting up. "I'll see you at midday?"

Kel nodded. "Yea probably."

"You have to eat sometime." Neal said and left.

Kel laid back on the bed and sighed. It couldn't have been Lathander. He wouldn't do that. Not when he knows what it's like to lose someone. She closed her eyes and drifted off.

Neal knocked on Kel's door. "Kel?" When no one answered he knocked louder. "Kel it's midday!" he called through the door. "I've looked all over for you so I know you're in here." He knocked a little harder and the door opened. The shutters were closed, the room was dark.

"Shhh." a smooth voice said in the dark. "She's sleeping. Don't wake her up."

Neal gritted his teeth. When his eyes adjusted he could see Lathander sitting next to Kel's bed in the chair he'd pulled over. "What did you do to her?"

Lathander sighed. "Nothing. I came to see her. She was sleeping. She's beautiful." Lathander reached a hand out and stroked her cheek gently.

Neal hissed. "Don't touch her!"

"I'm not going to hurt her." Lathander whispered gazing at a sleeping Kel.

"It's to late for that." Neal growled.

"Why do you care?" Lathander asked his green gaze snapped to meet Neal's own. "You have Tya."

"I- I" Neal began. "Kel is my friend." he finally got out.

"So you're this protective with all your friends?" Lathander said carefully whispering.

Neal's eyes narrowed. "If you care for her as much as you think, if you love her so much how could you burn her?"

"It was an accident." Lathander replied. "I didn't mean to." his gaze dropped down to sleeping Kel.

Neal noticed that his gaze softened. "I'm assuming you heard?"

Lathander nodded gaze not leaving Kel. "Yes."

"Were you there?"

"No."

Neal felt oddly inclined to believe him. "How could you fall in love with her if you hated her so much?"

"What?"

"Your brother." Neal said softly.

Lathander finally looked up. "Tya told you." Neal nodded. "I doubt she told you all of it."

"What do you mean?"

"Her version is radically different than any other you'll hear except maybe Kel's. She doesn't know as much as she'd like to." Lathander whispered.

"How did you fall in love with her?"

Lathander shrugged. "I just did."

Neal nodded and they stood in silence until a voice snapped them both out of it.

"As much as I love hearing you two talk and take trips down memory lane, and speak of Lathander's undying love, would you please continue outside I'm very tired and would like to sleep."

Both men looked over at the bed. Kel was lying her eyes partially open staring at them.

"You're up?" Neal said.

"Once again wonderful observational skills you have." Kel noted dryly. She pushed herself up. "Lathander why are you in my room?"

"You weren't waiting for me when I came back." he grinned.

Kel groaned. "Mithros would it kill you to let me sleep?" she muttered. "OK so it's midday. Let's gather Tya and go eat." She stood up and motioned both of them out of her room. She walked out and locked the door after them.

"I think I shall leave you here." Lathander said. "I'm not hungry and have things to do."

Kel knocked on Tya's door. "Tya! It's midday!" she called through it.

The door opened and Tya blinked. Her eyes were still red. "OK." she froze. She flipped her hair back. "You look like the dark god took you and brought you back." Tya muttered. Kel glared at her.

"Speak for yourself." Kel shot back. Tya sighed and wrapped an arm around Neal's waist and starting leaning against him. Kel turned and led them toward the mess. She got in line and grabbed her tray.

"Do we have to deal with the Wildcat today?" Tya asked finally untangling herself from Neal.

"As far as I know." Kel replied walking toward the table and sitting down in an empty seat next to Faleron. Neal and Tya sat beside her. Neal between the two.

"Great." Tya said sarcastically.

"Are we practicing tonight?" Owen asked Kel and was elbowed by Merric. He yelped and glared at the older boy.

Kel smiled ruefully. "Sure."

"Really?" Faleron asked startled. "We didn't think you'd want to."

Kel shrugged. "It'll help me keep my mind off things." Neal frowned at Kel.

"Are you sure?" he asked her. "I mean we'd understand."

Kel looked at him with a slight smile. "Yes. It'll be fine." Neal nodded slightly eye's not leaving her. 'She still looks tired.' he thought. 'She needs rest.'

Cleon took a seat across from them. He glanced at Neal and Kel and cleared his throat. "Hello."

Kel looked at him. "Hello."

"How are you?"

"I'm fine." she replied simply.

"That's good." he replied. He turned to Tya. "How are you?"

"OK." Tya replied quietly eyes not leaving her plate. She looked like she was going to cry again.

"I'm done." Kel said suddenly. "I'm going to head to the practice courts and warm up."

"I'll go with you." Tya said standing up.

Kel nodded and stood up. "See you guys later." After a jumbled mix of good-byes her and Tya walked out. They walked in silence a few minutes before Tya spoke.

"It doesn't seem real." Tya said quietly as they walked down the corridor.

"I know." Kel replied.

"I sat all afternoon waiting for him to come in and tell me about one of the stupid things someone did." she continued. Tears slid down her face. "Kel. I...we.."

"Were together." Kel finished for her.

"You know?" Tya asked with a strangled gasp.

"Yea." Kel replied. "I found out at the ball." she hadn't looked over at her friend.

"Oh." Tya said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Not telling you." Tya whispered. "I just loved him so much. I didn't want it to get spread around and have it ruined."

Kel shrugged. "It's your business." 'I just wish you wouldn't lead Neal on that way.' she added silently. "What about Neal?"

"He's nice. Sweet really." Tya continued. "He's not that interested really."

Kel nodded but decided not to press the issue any further. They reached the courts and Tya sat down on the fence while Kel stretched.

"You're early." the Wildcat approached them. They nodded in response. "We can get started early."

"That had to be the most she's worked us since we got here." Tya whined as they headed back to their rooms.

"I thought she went surprisingly easy on us." Kel replied rubbing her bandaged wrist.

"Easy?" Tya asked incredulously. "I hurt all over."

"You let yourself get hit too many times." Kel replied. "You were distracted. It's understandable."

"Yea." Tya muttered. She opened her door. "See you at dinner."

"Yea." Kel replied and went in her room. She walked in and grabbed her bow before heading back out. Tya was opening her door.

"A bow?" she asked.

"I'm going to go practice shooting." Kel replied simply. "I need it."

"We just got out of practice!" Tya cried. "You're going to kill yourself!"

Kel sighed. "I just need something to do." she replied. "I need to practice shooting." Tya shook her head at her companion. "Where are you going?"

"For a walk." Tya replied. "I need to think."

Kel nodded. "See you later."

"Bye." Tya muttered.

Kel stood facing a target and let one of the arrows fly. She shot them all and went to collect them. After shooting them a couple of times she sat back against a nearby fence and put her head on her knees.

This was all too much to take. Kal and everyone dead. The idea that Lathander killed them. Tya finally admitting she was in love with Kal.

"Still training yourself to death instead of dealing with your problems?" Lathander asked from behind her.

Kel groaned and lifted her head. "Can you please leave me alone?"

"Someone has to stop you from killing yourself." came his reply.

"I'm sure you volunteered." Kel replied sarcastically. She stood and turned around to face him. He stood looking at her.

"Kel I know how you feel." he whispered. "They were my family." he vaulted himself over the fence.

"Lathander where'd you get the fire?" Kel asked really not wanting to talk about anything emotion related with him. "I read the other version."

Lathander sighed. "You don't think I got it like the boy did?"

Kel shook her head. "Not in a literal sense. No."

Lathander's green eyes met her hazel ones. "You're right." he replied. "Not in a literal sense."

"Than how?"

"I can't tell you."

Kel glared up at him. "I have to head in for dinner." She picked her bow and quiver up off the ground. "Goodnight Lathander."

Lathander grinned at her and hugged her from behind. Kel dropped the weapons. "Goodnight love." he whispered and kissed her cheek.

Kel stepped from his grip once again and turned to face him. "Lathander." she whispered. He smiled and walked away. Kel growled and sat down right where she was. This is not supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to be as fickle as a court lady. She was supposed to hate Lathander.

She stood up from the ground muttering. Gathering the fallen weapons she headed back to the palace. After dropping the weapons off Kel headed to the mess. Getting her food she sat down ignoring the odd looks she was getting.

"Kel?" Tya asked across from her.

"What?" Kel looked up at Tya irritably.

"Why are so dirty?" Tya asked.

"I tripped going to collect my arrows." Kel lied. She wasn't about to explain everything to their entire table.

"You have a dirt hand print on your arm." Tya added.

Kel looked at her shirt. It wasn't a dirt hand print it was slightly burned. 'Curse him.' she thought. "I did it when I pulled myself up."

Tya nodded and looked down at her food. She knew Kel was lying and kept glancing up at her.

Kel ate in silence and finshed before everyone else as always. "I'll see you guys when you're done." she got up and walked away. She looked at the sleeve of her shirt. He'd just barely burned it. It was a light brown print. When she reached her room she changed her shirt and gathered her things.

When the boys arrived she was leaning against the wall boredly.

"Hey." Neal greeted.

"Hello." Kel replied. She handed Neal the glaive and told him to start with the first pattern dance and went to help the others.

"You're doing well." she was watching him when he'd finished.

"Thank you." Neal replied quietly.

Kel nodded. "Just watch you hands. You keep shifting them." She moved his hands to where they should be. "They should be here but you move them down. Don't do that or the blade will get too top heavy and you'll drop it."

"OK." Neal replied. "Lathander burned your shirt." he added quietly.

"What?"

"The hand print." Neal responded. "It wasn't dirt it was a burn. Did he hurt you?"

"No." Kel replied. "He grabbed my arm when I was practicing to get my attention."

"You're lying." Neal replied. He looked down at her gently.

'Damn him.' Kel thought bitterly.

"If you trust me why aren't you telling me the truth?" he asked quietly. He caught her gaze and held it.

"I told you the truth." Kel replied looking into his eyes. She couldn't have looked away if she'd wanted to.

"I don't believe you." Neal whispered. He reached down and grabed her hand. "Please Kel. What are you hiding?"

"Nothing." Kel responded quietly. She pulled her hand from his. "Try that dance again and don't shift your hands." she walked away from him to work with the others.

Neal sighed and watched her. She was holding three stars between her fingers. She flicked her wrist and they landed in a straight line in the floor a few feet away. He shook his head and tried the dance.

As they were walking out Neal stopped Kel.

"I'm sorry." he said. "I don't want anything to happen to you...to anyone."

"I know." Kel replied and then smiled. "You're just over protective of all your friends. Goodnight."

"Yea." Neal muttered. He watched her turn the corner. "All my friends."

::Gasp:: I killed them! I hope everyone liked this installment of Shang Fire. Sorry it sort of stops being intresting after the first page.

A little more K/L and a bit more K/N.

Thank you:

Vanilla Chocolate: Mwhahaha I am still smartie goddess and Syaoran is my smartie god! Ahem. I'm glad you liked the chapter and the Kealness in there. I'll have you know I'm working on the Keal message board and it's almost finished.

Wake-Robin: I hope I answered you questions...

Chicken Puffs: cowers and hands Lathander doll for you? Don't hurt me

Mango Sam: Glad you liked it!

Lizai: Well heres another one

Alianne of conte: There was indeed some Lathander in there. I hope you liked this chapter and that you survive school

Ti-Ti: Thank you and uh...wait?

Parcheezie: Thank you! You are much too nice.

pasSioN-FrUiT: I think everyone loves Lathander and hates Tya.

Imogenhm: I updated Cliffie no more!

Chisakami Saiyuki: I suppose you'll have to wait and see. I don't want to be mean but I don't want to ruin anything

Living people: Thrilled you think so.

Ossini: I think you'll have to fight ALOT of people for him.

CrazylittleKiwifruit: Well update! I'll try to keep doing it at a steady pace but unfortuneatly school in three days. I hope you like this chapter.

Psycho Lioness13: I'm sorry. I updated though.....I hope you liked it.

Shannon of Tameron: I'm glad you did! I hope you enjoyed this one as well.