I've been having major writer's block, plus I've been busy w/ my novel (yes, I'm writing a novel! Isn't that the cooliest?) So I haven't updated in a few days. That's a long time for me, cuz usually I'm addicted to updating. It's better than being addicted to drinking or smoking though. Updating is the best drug ever!!!

Disclaim: I disclaim everything. Mutters I wish I could 'disclaim' this stupid writers block!

Ooh, writers block reminds me of a little anecdote: I was at a concert w/ some friends once, and afterwards the band was signing autographs and when we finally got up to the front of the line it had been a good hour. We asked one of the guys, "so are you getting writer's cramp?"

He answered, "Well, mostly I'm just getting writer's block—I can't remember how to spell my name!"

Har-de-har-har… Ok, the chapter…

Kel and Neal walked back to the pages' wing together, hand in hand to wash up before breakfast. Neal was content just to be with her, and grateful that she was all right. He looked down at her. Her shoulders were slumped and her face was troubled. He stopped abruptly. Kel walked another few steps, not realizing that he wasn't with her until a gentle tug on her hand alerted her. "Neal?" she asked, her hazel eyes questioning.

He pulled her close to him with one hand and when she tried to avoid his gaze, he slipped the other her chin and gently tipped it up to look into her face. "Kel, what's the matter? You aren't beating yourself up about this whole thing, are you?" he murmured softly. She didn't need to answer, he could tell she was blaming herself for the whole thing just by the look on her face. He sighed and shook his head. "Listen to me," he said, "This, you disappearing and us getting in trouble is not all your fault. I know if Joren hadn't had you abducted, we never would have gotten in that mess in the first place, but it's all over now. Everyone's fine, and we got off lucky with some punishment work. You don't need to worry about it."

Kel saw the concern in his face and felt terrible. "But it was my fault Neal! I knew better than to just open my door and I should have gotten help somehow. Now I've nearly gotten all of my best friends kicked out of page training, and you're being punished for trying to help me. How can you say that's it's not my fault?" she cried.

Neal wordlessly drew her into a tight embrace. To her disgust, she had to fight the urge to cry. I've botched everything up, made everyone's lives more difficult, and they're still nice to me. I don't deserve this… She stiffened slightly. Neal noticed and said, "It's okay. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. So what if you messed up? You can't be perfect all the time you know, it makes the rest of us look bad." She looked up and saw the small smile on his handsome face. I'm blessed, she thought as he kissed her forehead and left her to bathe.

As she slipped into the hot water, Kel sighed deeply. She let the warmth ease over her tired, aching body. She had been too preoccupied to give much thought to her own physical discomfort. Wyldon had told them that breakfast wouldn't be held up for them, so they could bathe and dress properly. For that, she was very grateful. The peaceful environment gave a lot of room for thought. Her mind slipped over the troubling issues in her head like water over rocks in a creek as she absently scrubbed. It was hard to be upset or worried about something when she was so relaxed and comfortable. She made a dim mental note to write a letter home next chance that she got. Should I tell them about me getting abducted? They wouldn't take it too well, I bet. They might not even want me to stay here! I'll figure out what I'll say later… She must have dozed off for a short while because she woke up to a pounding on the door.

"Kel, come on! I'm hungry!" Neal called.

"I'm coming, just a minute!" she answered, hurriedly drying off and pulling on the clean clothes that had been draped across her chair for the last couple of days. After briefly running a comb through her newly clean hair, she swung the door open to admit her impatient friend.

"Finally, she emerges," he teased, ushering her out into the hall and closing the door behind them.

Kel grinned as she grabbed his hand and pulled him along. "Come on, I'm starving!"

The mess hall was comfortingly noisy and crowded, and Kel was glad to be around her peers again. She and Neal received steaming porridge with honey and warm biscuits from the cooks and joined the rest of their friends at a table.

"So you finally got here!" Merric exclaimed, passing Kel the butter crock. "We thought you'd drowned in the bath."

"Oh she did! I had to come and rescue her," Neal proclaimed dramatically. The others raised eyebrows at the meanings that could be taken from the statement. He blushed profusely.

"Not like that, you dirty-minded clods!" he shouted, throwing his biscuit at Faleron's head.

Faleron managed to dodge and turned his attention to Kel. "Hey Kel, do you think you could come and help me with that windmill problem from mathematics?"

Seaver looked up and nodded. "Yeah, I can't get that one about the dog!"

"Me neither," added Merric.

Kel grinned. "Yes to all of you. Bring the problems to lunch, and I'll help you figure them out."

Faleron clapped her on the shoulder. "It's good to have you back, Kel."

She smiled at Neal as he wrapped an arm around her. Don't I know it…

Sorry, it wasn't the best chapter, but I had to get another one out, and this might've helped me get over my slump. So throw me a bone, review please!