(A/N: Look guys, I did it! It's finally here! The sixth chapter!

Yes, Rie, your imagination vibes did work!

Some notes—I reeeeally don't like the beginning of this chapter. I don't like the dialogue, I'm still wondering about the introduction of a certain blue-eyed buffed-up hot King's Own solder, etc. etc. But, it was fun traumatizing my favorite redhead, the Merric we all know and love. Can you guys tell how hyped up on Mountain Dew I am?

Also—in case you couldn't tell, I basically stole the whole Death setting from the first Alanna book. Heh. That, and all the characters, are Tammy's. The only thing that is mine is the plot, which isn't worth much…::cries::

Hope you enjoy it!)

Merric paced outside the infirmary, arguing with himself on whether to push open the innocent-looking oak door. ::There's no reason for you to go in there,:: he told himself firmly. ::No reason whatsoever. Kel's fine, Neal's fine, and they'll be much better off if we don't go bashing in there interrupting things. No. We are not going in there. No. Absolutely not. It will not do any good whatsoever.::

And yet despite his firm convictions against it, he still found himself shifting from foot to foot nervously outside the entrance. He DID want to go in, just to make sure Kel hadn't gotten worse; the niggling worry in his mind had begun to consume him until he desperately wanted to check on the both of them every five minutes. But there was no real REASON to go in there! Surely if he did, he would be doing more harm then good!

"Oh, gods curse it," he muttered, and entered.

The infirmary was dim in the dusky light, and Merric stopped for a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness. He wondered why Neal hadn't bothered to turn on a lantern. Maybe he had gotten so caught up in his healing that he hadn't noticed anything else? Merric wouldn't put it past him.

He smiled, rather wryly, when he saw Neal's drooping head and his lanky form sprawled out, almost protectively, over Kel's unconscious one. He knew the worn-out healer would succumb to sleep sooner or later. And better that he had quit fighting it, really…it would be better for both him and Kel when he awakened with a good rest under his belt.

Speaking of Kel…Merric traveled closer to the cot. In the dim light, it was hard to see her features. In fact, in the dark, lying so still like that, she looked almost—

Merric shivered as a chill rolled up and down his spine. Curse those irrational fears of his! Of course Kel was still alive. ::Look::, he told himself, more to quench his worry than anything else. ::I can even prove she's still breathing.:: He gently picked up Neal's arm, flung out over Kel's torso, by the sleeve, moving it to lay beside her on the cot. This way, he could watch Kel's ribs as they gently rose and fell. Except—

He frowned. Was the light playing tricks on him, or was her chest completely still? No—it couldn't be. He got closer and hesitantly laid a hand on top of her sternum. It rested there, completely immobile. Merric's eyes widened. Kel wasn't breathing.

He half-turned. "Neal!" he yelped, "Neal, something's gone wrong with Kel! You've got to help! Neal—" Reaching out, he shook Neal's shoulder, and stopped. Neal was cold, almost as cold to the touch as the metal frame that formed the chair he sat in. Merric struggled to breathe—no, not Neal too—

He stood up and began to stumble toward the door, his mind feeling as if it had been stuffed with cotton. But Neal had been fine when he last had seen him—he had been laughing, even—

Merric somehow made it out of the infirmary. Something had to be done—someone, surely someone could help them. Surely they couldn't be dead…

He didn't know how long he stood in front of the infirmary, shaking like mad, before he realized – Alanna. Everyone and his mother knew that she was one of the most powerful healers in Tortall, and Neal was her former squire – she'd come back, to save Neal. Merric walked faster and faster, until he was nearly sprinting – a dangerous thing in his unbalanced state.

He was so intent on his task that he didn't see the person in his path until the impact sent him sprawling. A callused hand helped him up, and Merric looked up a scant inch into concerned blue eyes.

Domitan of Masbolle, resplendent in his King's Own uniform, had worry written all over his face as he looked at the pale, sweating Merric. "Sir Merric, are you all right?" he asked slowly. "You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"Dom!" Merric rasped, grabbing Dom's shoulders. "You've got to help me. I need Lady Alanna!"

"But – why? What's wrong?"

"It's Kel and Neal!" Merric explained, exasperated. Why was Dom being so thick? Couldn't he see that the more time he wasted, the less chance that either of them would ever talk to Kel and Neal ever again? "I walked in – in the infirmary, and they were – dead."

A flurry of emotions made their way over Dom's features, ranging first from disbelief, then to shock, and finally to deep anguish. "Dead? But – how?" he stammered.

Merric shook his head restlessly. "It doesn't matter!" he said urgently. "Lady Alanna's the only one that can help; you have to summon her, quickly!"

Confusion and worry still clouding his eyes, Dom nodded slowly. "Right. Right," he said with more conviction, turning and jogging toward his horse. "I'll be back!" he called, kicking his gallant palomino into a gallop and racing past the rest of his squad, who stood, mouths agape. Merric, knees suddenly weak with fatigue and relief, collapsed on the dirt path.

(A/N: Sorry for that crappy introduction. Here's the part we've all been waiting for: the interaction between Kel and Neal!

In the beginning, when Kel's just walking along, tra-la-la, she's only unconscious. As she's falling, she's dying. Thought I'd establish that.)

Kel walked along a convoluted pathway near a dark, brooding forest. Though the path was rocky and her feet unshod, she felt no pain as she dreamily stepped through the rough dirt. The sky above her was a cerulean blue; a gentle breeze weaved its way through her hair. Funny how the day had turned so beautiful, considering it had been drizzling when—

She stopped abruptly. How had she gotten here, anyway? The last thing she remembered was…the heart-wrenching sight of Neal's worried eyes as she strode out into battle. And if she had been killed in battle (she gulped), shouldn't she be in the Realms of the Dead by now?

"Hello!" she yelled, voice cracking slightly in desperation. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

The only answer was the wind rustling through the branches of the nearby pine trees. Kel sighed, feeling desolate. She began to slowly walk again. Maybe there'd be a sign of civilization once she got past these dratted trees.

Turning a corner in the path, she suddenly stumbled and fell – and kept falling. Gone were the forest and the rocky path; instead, she plummeted down a deep, dark well, an intense pain consuming her shoulder and side. Screaming and wailing could be heard all around her; the sound sent shivers down her spine. Still she fell as unseen hands grabbed at her? Was this hell, she wondered, to be forever falling in a bottomless pit of doom and despair?

Suddenly, she hit a stone floor; the wind was violently expelled from her lungs. She shakily got to her feet and looked around, rubbing her burning shoulder. Dank, moldy stone walls surrounded her on all sides. A cold wind abruptly blew through her, freezing her soul. She turned slowly – and saw a cowled figure standing silently a few yards away. She gulped. If this was the Black God, she was going to be very dead, very soon.

He moved toward her, and Kel was startled to feel tears prick at the back of her eyes. She had planned on so much, and now she would have no chance to live out her goals, to see her dreams. All at the hands of some gods-curst Scanrans…

She bowed her head so that the Black God wouldn't see the tears trickling down her cheeks. Closing her eyes, she heard him approach closer and closer – felt the shift in the air as he reached toward her—

With her eyes closed, she missed the flash of green light that briefly illuminated the well, but she did hear a familiar voice yell, "NO!" Her eyes snapped open in time to see a tall, dark-haired youth appear, bracing himself protectively between the Black God's skeletal hand and Kel.

She looked at him, flabbergasted. "Neal!" she managed to choke out. "What—how—why—you don't belong here!"

He turned to look at her for a split second. "Neither do you," he replied quietly, then swiveled to face the Black God. "You can't take her," he said firmly. The figure cocked its head, obviously unused to refusal. Neal continued hurriedly. "Just look at her. She's the second-ever Lady Knight in the realm…the Protector of the Small!" he said, obviously remembering Irnai the seer girl's proclamation some three years before. "She has goals to achieve, people to save…it is not her time," he finished, panting slightly. As an afterthought, he added, "If you must…take me instead."

The Black God studied the two of them for a long moment, then nodded once. Kel felt herself involuntarily rising above the stone floor, back towards the distant light of Life. Below her, she saw the small figures of the Black God and Neal. As the Black God reached for her friend, she dimly realized what he had meant when he said "Take me instead." A sudden, sickening fear filled her then, worse even than when the Black God was reaching for her. "Wait!" she yelled back down the well, frantically trying to stop herself from continuing to rise. "You can't take him! It's not his time either!" Neither Neal nor the Black God gave any sign of hearing her, however, and she continued to ascend, scrabbling at the dripping stone walls to no avail. "NO!" she yelled, her voice echoing desperately one last time before she was gone.

Neal waited, breath held, as the Black God turned toward him and reached out a black-robed arm. He suddenly remembered that in rescuing Kel, he had used up the last of his Gift that provided his life force. His green eyes widened.

Unlike Kel, he did not bow his head or close his eyes as he waited to die. Instead, he faced his fate, reminding himself that he had died for a worthy cause. Better Kel live than he; the world had more need of her.

The hand creeped closer, and Neal felt a wave of cold fear wash through him. He swallowed and stared down the Black God, knowing that despite everything, he did feel a tinge of regret. If only things had turned out differently…

A slightly familiar voice shattered the silence, making Neal jump and the Black God draw his hand back into his sleeve. No, the voice sighed. Neal blinked. Hearing the voice had thrown him back into his thoughts, into memories of stone doors, seer children, and visions that had haunted him for months on end. Coming back into the present, he frowned. It was so familiar, and yet he couldn't place it…

No, you cannnot take him, either, said the voice, chilling him down to his bones. The Black God must have replied silently, because it went on: Cousin, I am aware that mortal affairs have little to do with our kind. But can you not see they are important? Pausing for a moment, it then continued, The Protector of the Small has not yet fulfilled her life's destiny, and he--there was no question of who the voice referred to--must help her along the way. Without him, she will fail. If she fails, the balance fails. You must let him go.

Resigned, the Black God looked at Neal. He nodded. The voice spoke again, in Neal's own head. I have aided you this once, but do not expect to tempt Death again, mortal. I can only input so much, and he does not appreciate his work being undone before his very eyes.

Neal tried to reply, but his throat felt as if it had closed of its own accord. Finally, he stammered out, "Who—what are you?"

Later, he could have sworn there was a touch of amusement in that cold voice. Ask your Protector of the Small, it said. She will know.

With this last thought, Neal began to rise. He turned his face up to the hazy light up ahead, thanking the gods—one in particular—that he had received a second chance.

(A/N: Actually, I didn't mean to end this chapter here, but it just kept going on and on as I continued it, so I decided to cut it off. Did you like the whole Death scene? This was more of a fill-in chapter, I know…sighs Don't worry, we'll get to the fluff eventually.

About the Tobe/Loey thing, YES, I am working on it! Give me time, thou impatient ones!

See ya.)