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I'm back so I hope you enjoy my story!

CHAPTER 5

Sweat poured from Dom's brow as he sparred against Sir Raoul, among the most famed knights in Tortall, though routine for a man of the King's Own Dom still found it hard to beat this man without the proper training of a knight. Though he was in good shape, lagging behind could mean death to bandits or immortals, the blows of Raoul tired him. With each of the knight's thrusts came a desperate block, and a weak parry. Raoul seemingly tired of humiliating Dom disarmed the man in a swift twist sending him sword flying.

"Once more Dom, your sword work is good, but not good enough," Raoul said when he had caught his breath. Though beating Dom was no challenge, the younger man was fast and tired slowly.

"Sir, I hardly find this fair, besides the Lioness and perhaps the King you are the finest swordsman in Tortall. I am competition enough for everyone else, you know that," Dom replied his voice filled with exasperation.

"Hardly an excuse, I'd say," Raoul chuckled.

Dom was restless, things had not seemed right between him and Kel lately. He went for a walk in the Royal Forest to sort out his mind, while Raoul headed back to his rooms.

He walked listening rather than hearing, the sound of fall leaves crunching beneath him, a young bird chirping as he took his first flight. The thought of Kel's sparrows brought him out of his calm state, he was reminded of why he had come, Kel. Dom had never felt quite the same when he was with Kel. She had an effect on people, she changed them, and he knew that she had and would keep doing the same to him. Once he could say that any court lady was good enough, then they were just toys for him. But now, now he only wanted one.

'Do you want her because you can't have her?' a voice rung in his head, it sounded suspiciously like Meathead. His cousin was suspicious, knowing who Dom once had been.

'No, I am changed,' Another part of him argued.

'She is the only one in court you have wanted but not yet had your way with, when that's the case it's easy enough to say you have changed.' To that he could not respond, but only wonder how he could know if his intentions were right. He would never hurt Kel on purpose.

Looking around he saw the long shadows and a silence that had passed over the forest, it was dusk. A magical time in which day and night were one, and everything was connected, such a powerful moment that the creatures of the forest treated it with the highest respect of silence. Energy surged through every vein of Dom's body, the hair on his neck rose as the feeling was gone just as quick as it had come. Spooked Dom ran back to the palace quickly, stopping only when he reached the comfort of the Own's barracks.

Dom entered his unlocked room looking to see that nothing was taken. Everything was in place but a single letter placed neatly against his pillow. In his hands it felt cold and crisp, like the lettering addressed to him, Domitan of Masbolle. It read:

I shall speak to you as a friend and nothing more, for that is what we shall be from now on. Our kiss, our entire relationship, it was a mistake. You are a well bred noble's son of the Kings Own and I am the second Lady Knight of the realm, I thought that though these were the circumstances that I could be happy with you. However I know now how wrong I was, I am just another prize for you. How can you be happy with yourself, you have avoided me since that day, was it that bad? I hope you can be happy, go and brag that you kissed that oaf, Protector of the Small. I have found it in my heart to forgive you, but only because I am leaving.

I will be leaving soon, possibly by the time you receive this letter, but chances are I won't be back. I am on a mission; few know of my where abouts or that I have left. If I do return maybe we can be friends, but if I don't know that though you took advantage of me you were among the dearest friends I had. Remember I loved you, though my heart now lies elsewhere, I loved you once.

Keladry of Mindelan

He flung himself onto his bed, eyes pouring over with emotion as his tears soaked the bed, Dom clung to the letter wrinkling the edges he held. She had misunderstood everything, and now her "Heart lies elsewhere".

'Who else would take a slut like her?' An cold, angry, and distant part of him asked.

'She was great and loved by many, it could be anyone. More important is where she is going and why she might not come back.' A calmer and more reasonable voice from within replied.

Bleary eyed Dom walked to Raoul's chamber knocking on the wooden doors forgetting how late it really was. He stood outside waiting for an answer as he continued pounding with the letter still clutched tightly in his hand. Raoul opened the door and Dom hardly noticed as the older man lead him to his dimly lit study and sat him down.

"I see that you have heard of Kel and your cousin, Neal, and their new life," Raoul stated as soon as they were settled in his plush armchairs.

It was minutes of Dom's confused stare before things clicked and he responded, "You mean to tell me that it was him? Neal, my Neal, he stole her from me and now they are gone?"

"Excuse me?" They were both in a state of immense confusion.

"The letter, it, it said that she loved someone else and that she was on a mission from which she would never return. That mission? Please tell me it isn't marriage," though he was emotionally exhausted, Dom fumed at the thought of such betrayal. Like usual, his emotions had rushed to it's own conclusions.

"As your Head of the King's Own I can tell you that Kel and Neal, they are on a mission for the King. I know it is dangerous and at the very moment they are traveling to Port Caynn, this is the first step, beyond that I have no knowledge. As your friend I must tell you that yes it seem that Kel and Neal are in love. I know nothing of marriage."

Dom would have collapsed had he been standing, though he was relieved that Neal and Kel would not be married, he was upset that they did like and possibly love each other. Raoul saw the desperation and loss of hope in his Sergeant's eyes all at once.

'Telling Dom was a mistake, I will take it all back right now. How can it hurt him, he will never know,' A rash yet caring side part of Raoul thought.

'He deserves better than that, he deserves the truth whether he can handle it or not. Like you said before he is a friend and a friend should be respected,' a more sensible part argued. Raoul knew that this was right, so instead of being caught in the painful emotion he rushed to heat tea for his friend over the blazing fire.

It was a dark hour of the morning until Dom was seen leaving Raoul's chambers. He had spilled his heart and soul out to the man; it seemed as if he had no other choice at the time. He had been drunk with emotion and now regretted his actions.

Dom made a rash resolution to himself before he slept soundly in his chambers. He would forget Kel and his stupid cousin Neal, they had betrayed him and now that they were gone there would be no reason to remember them.

He was somehow bound to this loose promise and in later days when he would think back on his two friends he would realize the mistake he had made. No longer would he remember the intricate detail of Kel's facial features, or the sarcastic nature behind Neal's every movement. They would forever be a shunned blur in the deepest pits of his memory.

End

So? Did I completely bomb my return or what? Please I would love to know! Review!