Disclaimer: I own..OK you get it right? I am not the all powerful goddess Tamora Pierce.

Ok this chapter is for Physco Lioness13 because there's someone in here for her.

I'm sorry dear reviewers. I know I suck. School started and the office screwed up my scheduel and I had to get that sorted out and everything it's been crazy. You like Kel/Neal???? Look at my profile .

Chapter twelve -- Gone

"How could I have?" the whispered staring at the body lying in the road. "I would never have.." the air around him rippled with heat. He'd killed her...

Kel swung the glaive in a twist and stopped, panting. She was tired. More tired than she should be. After swinging the glaive in a few more patterns she leaned herself against the wall.

"Neal." Tya addressed quietly. The man in front of her turned around looking at her curiously. "I'm worried."

"About what?" Neal asked quietly. 'He was too.'

"Kel." Tya said resting her head on his shoulder. "She's working herself to death."

"I was afraid she was but she'd never admit it." Neal replied. "Where is she now?"

"The training courts." Tya replied bluntly.

"Maybe we could go talk to her." Neal suggested.

Tya sighed. "Not that it'll do much but let's try."

Neal nodded and the walked toward the courts. They stood in the doorway and watched Kel swing the glaive.

"She's going slow." Neal muttered.

"She's tiring out." Tya whispered. "She's exhausted." They watched until she stopped. Kel started to sway standing.

"Uh oh." Neal whispered her ran forward and just barely caught her right before she hit the ground. He lifted her up off the ground. "Gods Kel."

"What's this?" Lathander's voice rang through the air. He was glancing between Tya and Neal before he saw Kel. "What happened." He appeared at Neal's side. "Here let me take her."

"I got her." Neal hissed. "I'm going to get her to my father." He walked toward the door leaving Lathander to glare at him in the middle of the court.

When he was gone Tya walked over to Lathander.

"What happened?" he asked quietly.

"She's working herself too hard." Tya replied. "We all knew she was going to."

"You counted on it didn't you?" Lathander turned to her green eyes glowing with anger.

"Of course not!" Tya growled as Lathander grabbed her arm roughly.

"Look at me and tell me you didn't at least hope for this to happen!" her demanded. .

Tya looked up at Lathander defiantly. "I didn't want her hurt." she hissed and turned around heading for the door.

"That's not what I asked." Lathander called after her. He growled under his breath. Tya had planned this somehow. He knew it. He picked Kel's fallen glaive up from the ground. Lathander shook his head and headed toward the infirmary.

Neal carried Kel to the infirmary. His father looked up when he entered.

"Neal?"

"She collapsed" Neal gasped setting Kel on one of the beds before falling into a nearby chair. He glanced up at his father who was scanning Kel with his gift.

His father stepped away from Kel shaking his head. "She needs to rest and to eat." Neal nodded. "Her body's too tired." he added.

Neal pushed himself up from the chair. "I have to go talk to Alanna I'll be back." he muttered.

"Neal." his father said before he'd walked out. Neal turned around to look at his father. "You're going to watch over her." he said bluntly.

Neal nodded. "Yes."

"Why?"

Neal froze. Why did he feel the need to watch her. "She's a friend." he replied finally.

"You didn't watch over Cleon when he was here last time." Baird replied with a smile.

Neal stared at his father not sure how to respond to him before his father walked out of the room into an office. Neal walked out of the infirmary. He approached his rooms when the door opened and a frazzled looking Alanna was standing there.

"Where were you?" she snapped.

"There was an inc-" he began but Alanna cut him off.

"We're leaving for the border." she snapped. "You need to pack!"

Neal stared at her dumbfounded. "Leaving?" he repeated. He couldn't leave now!

"Yes." Alanna snapped tartly. "Leaving."

"We I can't!" Neal cried suddenly, surprising Alanna.

"Why not squire?" she snapped losing her patience quickly.

"I-I just can't I have to watch Kel." he added before he could stop himself. Oh Mithros now he'd have to explain.

"Why does Keladry need watching?" Alanna asked putting her hands on her hips glaring up at the boy.

"She's overworking herself she collapsed this morning. I had to take her to the infirmary." Neal replied.

"There are a thousand other people who can watch her." Alanna said trying to calm herself. "We have to go. Now pack!"

Neal nodded. "I'll go tell father." he muttered and walked off down the hall. 'How could he leave now?' He entered the infirmary. "Father I have to go." he muttered standing next to Kel's bed. He reached his hand down but stopped himself right before he touched her.

"Go?" his father asked walking in. He saw his son's hand snap away from Kel's head. "Where?"

"The border." Neal replied. "I guess it was stupid of me to think the King would keep his champion here for long."

"I'll watch her." Baird said quietly. Neal nodded.

"I have to go pack." Neal replied. "Goodbye." He hugged his father once before walking out.

As he rounded a corner he ran right into Lathander. Neal glared at him. "You had better not hurt her!" he hissed.

"Tya?" Lathander asked with a slight smirk. "Of course not why would I hurt Tya?"

"Kel." Neal hissed.

Lathander leaned against the wall a few feet from Neal with his usual grin. "If I were you I'd be more worried about the woman you're courting. Are you courting Kel now too?" he asked.

Neal gritted his teeth. "Don't hurt either of them!" he snapped.

"I won't." Lathander replied sounding sincere. "You have my word." he added and stepped back from the wall, and walking past Neal to the infirmary.

Neal scowled to himself and went to pack before Alanna found him and dragged him back.

Lathander entered the infirmary silently. He stood beside Kel's bed. "I'm sorry." he whispered quietly. "I won't let them hurt you. I promise." He reached out and touched the hair the fanned out around her head.

"I need to check my patient." Baird walked up behind Lathander. "You can come back and see her later."

Lathander glared at the tall man. He could feel the heat rising under his skin. He sighed. "OK." Lathander stalked from the room. He headed down the hall cursing himself. He was letting this magic get away from him.

"Lathander!" Tya's unmistakable screech sounded down the hall.

Lathander cursed the gods for allowing Tya to be created and turned around. "Yes Tya?" he asked with exasperation.

"Is Kel OK?" Tya asked with a smile flicking long black hair over her shoulder.

"I think so." he replied coldly. His green gaze was glowing with anger as his eyes narrowed at the girl.

"Don't give me that!" Tya growled. "I'm stuck in this just like you!"

"You wouldn't leave if you got the chance and you know it!" Lathander snapped angrily. Tya stepped back at the air around him heated up. "You would never leave him. You're too in love with him." He turn to walk away.

"Like you're to in love with Kel." Tya hissed at his back. She smiled when he froze and went rigid. "You know she doesn't love you. Not like she used to."

Lathander clenched his hands. 'Damn her!' He felt the burn spreading to his hands. He shook his head and walked away.

Kel blinked and groaned as she shifted. She hurt all over. Sitting up she groaned again when she realized where she was.

"You're up." She turned toward the voice and found Duke Baird standing not far from her. "You had a few visitors while you were out."

"How long?" Kel asked pushing herself up.

"Just under a day." the Duke replied. "I just came in for the day." Kel groaned and he smiled.

"How'd I get here?" Kel asked suddenly. She remembered training and then....nothing.

"Neal saw you collapse and he brought you here." he replied. "About that," he began. "You need to cut back on your training and eat more. Your body is tired."

"Where is Neal?"

"The Lioness and Neal had to go to the border." Neal's father replied quietly.

Kel stared at him. 'left?'. Kel nodded numbly. She wasn't sure why but it didn't feel right if he wasn't here. She went to swing her feet over the bed biting back a moan from pure soreness.

"You need to stay in bed!" Baird exclaimed.

"Can I stay in bed in my room?" Kel asked with a sigh.

"No." he replied pushing her back into the bed. "If Neal were here he'd make you stay too." he added.

Kel nodded and laid back a moment before sitting right back up. "I missed training with the Wildcat!"

"She gave you a couple days rest now lie down!" Baird cried. Kel thought about what her mother would say to her now and lied back down.

"Are you causing problems?" Lathander asked with a grin from the doorway. He walked in and Neal's father walked out muttering about other patients. "Are you OK?"

"Yes." Kel replied not looking at him. "I'm fine."

"You need to rest." Lathander said quietly. "You were working your self to death. It only got worse when you found out about Kal."

"Is Tya OK?" Kel asked ignoring his comment.

Lathander stiffened. "Yes, she's fine." he replied through gritted teeth.

"Good."

"Kel you know I would never hurt you on purpose." Lathander whispered to her.

Kel didn't move. 'He wouldn't would he? But Tya I never did let him explain. He left after that.'

"I wouldn't" Lathander persisted.

"I know." Kel replied quietly.

"Then why don't you trust me?" he asked.

Kel blinked. 'Not again'

"Kel trust me, please." he whispered. His fingers slid up to her cheek. .....Neal

"Kel are you alright?" Lathander asked worriedly. He smoothed her brown hair back.

"Yea sorry." Kel replied. She shook her head. Kel looked up into his green eyes. 'Emeralds...Neal'

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." she replied.

"OK." Lathander nodded. "I have something to do." he said quietly. "I'll come back and see you." Kel nodded. "Bye."

Kel watched him walk out. She sighed. "Stupid." she muttered cursing herself. Lathander was so,...something. Sighing again she laid back and closed her eyes.

Kel was startled awake in the night by the sound of something falling through the infirmary window. She looked around, hazel eyes wide. She realized she had no weapon to defend herself, before she scolded herself she didn't need a weapon!

Kel climbed from the bed and stood on slightly wobbling legs. She waddled to the window. Laying on the floor was a boy not much older then her it seemed. She looked at the blood and dirt matted blond hair. Squinting in the dark she gasped and realized who it was.

"Lysan!" she cried in a hushed whisper. She tried to pull him up but was too exhausted to lift him. She had him sitting when he opened his eyes.

"Kel?" he asked quietly. His eyes were paler then normal. They kept sliding closed.

"Lysan?" Kel whispered. "I thought you were all...Oh Mithros!" she whispered noticing the shoulder wound bleeding heavily. "I'll be right back!"

Kel pulled herself up and headed to the office as fast as she could. "Duke Baird?" she called.

The man stood up. "Keladry you're supposed to be in-"

Kel cut him off. "Please help. Lysan...he's"

"Where?" Baird asked suddenly.

"He came in through a window." Kel replied. The Duke rushed past her. Kel followed him. He'd reached Lysan before her. "Is he OK?"

"He's lost a lot of blood." Baird murmured. "I might be able to help him." Before Kel knew it healers had Lysan on a healer's bed and were working on him.

After a while of Kel standing there she was led back to her previous bed. "Sleep a while." the healer told her. She nodded and drifted off into an exhausted dreamless sleep.

Shortly after dawn Kel woke to whispers by her bed. Cursing whoever it was for not letting her sleep longer she opened her eyes. Lathander sat on a chair by her bed looking less then thrilled as Tya, who stood next to him was going on about something.

"Kel!" Tya cried when she noticed Kel awake.

"Shh." Lathander snapped.

"Is is true?" Tya went on ignoring Lathander. "Is Lysan here?"

"Lysan." Kel gasped. "I wonder if he's OK."

"He's fine." Baird said walking in. "For now. How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Kel said shaking her head. "So he's OK?"

"Yes." Baird replied. "He's sleeping and should be fine. He's very weak."

"Can we see him?" Lathander asked quietly.

"When he wakes up." Baird replied. He closed his eyes and Kel a wave of coldness go over her. She knew he was examining her. "Looks like you're better but please don't train until at the earliest tomorrow and only once a day."

Kel nodded. "Yes Sir." He walked out.

"Kel, I'll go get you clothes!" Tya said grinning and heading for the door.

"Please get me MY clothes." Kel flinched remembering last time Tya brought her clothes.

Lathander grinned. "Remembering last time?"

Kel nodded. Last time Kel had needed new clothes Tya had brought her, Tya's own clothes. They weren't every day wear kind of clothes either. "Yea."

Lathander smiled slightly but it faded quickly. "So Lysan's alive."

"He looked really bad." Kel replied. "Maybe he escaped the attack."

"Maybe he left them." Lathander replied bitterness seeping into his voice. He'd never liked Lysan very much. He tolerated him but didn't like him.

"Lysan wouldn't leave them." Kel replied defensively. "Even Kalerik always said he'd be the one to die in battle. He always rushed into things."

"I guess." Lathander replied quietly.

Kel sighed and sat back. They sat in an awkward silence until Tya came running in.

"Clothes!" she said triumphantly holding up a set of Kel's own clothes.

"Thank you." Kel replied. 'How could Tya be so damned happy right now?' She disappeared into the privy chamber to get dressed in the clean garments.

"Tya." Lathander hissed quietly. "Could you please at least try to contain your glee?"

"I get to see him!" Tya whispered.

"I know! But you can't go around acting like this."

"I know that!" Tya replied tartly.

"Then act like it!" he added. "Remember we just found Lysan! If he's here already things aren't going as planned!"

They hushed when Kel walked out.

"What's going on?" Kel asked suspiciously. She'd heard the whispering.

"Nothing." Lathander replied annoyed.

"I said maybe if Lysan was alive that Kal would be too. Lathander told me he didn't think they were and that I shouldn't get my hopes up." Tya replied swiftly.

Kel's eyes flashed to Lathander who was sitting decidedly silent in the chair by the bed. He looked up at her expressionlessly. Tya was lying.

"Kel Lysan wants to talk to you." Duke Baird said popping his head from Lysan's room.

Kel nodded and walked in.

Lysan sat half up in a bed looking pale and tired. "Hi." he grinned.

"Hey." Kel smiled and took a seat near him. "You don't look so good."

"I could still take you." Lysan replied with a slight grin before it faded. "I have to talk to you."

Kel frowned at his sudden seriousness. She leaned forward in the chair a little. "What is it?"

"They're not dead." Lysan said quietly. "Kal and the band. They're not dead. It was faked."

You know you hate me. I'll update when I can I promise!!! I know this one was short but I thought I owed it to you to try to get it up after so long without an update.

Thank you:

Jumping-Jo: I hope you liked this chapter as well

Mango Sam: Killing people is hard.....I think....I'm really sorry it took so long!

Chisakami Saiyuki: All in good time. I'm glad you like it

PsychoLioness13: This chapter is for you because I brought Lysan back for you. I really hope you liked it.

Wake-Robin: I'm actually thinking about doing a prequel when this is finished and do Lathander's story.

Oceanspike: Ok honestly I'm really torn. I don't know who it's going to be..........

Chicken Puffs: It's OK to obsess over Lathander. I know Tya is annoying but sort of important I suppose.

Alianne of Conte: Here's another update for you I hope you liked it

Da Vinci-san: Bet you thought I stopped updating. I'm thrilled you like it. I hope you continue to like it.

soccerchick08: Ok so I'm a little late on the updating thing but the beginning of the school year is crazy!

CrazylittleKiwifruit: Sorry it took so long. I hope you like this one.

Ossini: Whoa....sorry....so you like Lathander?

Living People: But did I really kill them? Mwhahahahaha

Shannon of Tameron: Ah foreshadowing such a lovely tool....sadly I suck at using it inconspicuously

TehFlamingKetchup: Um thank you Ian and Angel. I updated!

Parcheezie: I had thought about putting that in this chapter and then I didn't because well I dunno I suck.

boo!: Yea the first chapters do suck! Thank you for your oh so lovely review. It's even better how apparently you didn't feel the need to read the last half of the story. Great job.

Thank you everyone! I 'm really sorry it took so long! I will try and really try to update. bows