Hey, everyone! I'm revising (with the help of my amazing beta, who I will mention in just a few) this whole story-well, I'll be doing all of them at some time or another, if you're interested, but we wanted to start here. So here it is.
Disclaimer for Morons: As you all know, I am not Tamora Pierce. I am not half the writer she is (though one reviewer once gave me the compliment of sharing a writing style with her-I fail to see it, but any inflation to my ego is nice. lol). So this will be my disclaimer for the whole story! MWAHAHAHAHA! (If I were on MSN, I'd be adding the sound...lol. Unfortunately, I can't do that!)
Now, on to thanking my wonderful beta (grins This is the fun part..)...Many thanks to PrincessPeach31 for correcting all the little mistakes (or not so little, as the case may be...lol) and adding your own little bits in here to make it flow beautifully. You did a wonderful job, and I couldn't be more pleased-I'm so happy I have you as a beta! You're as good at doing this as you are at writing-which is saying a lot, as I've read your writing, and am absolutely in love with it. It brought me back from "the Dark Side", i.e, Harry Potter fanfiction! The horror! lol. Ok, so everyone, go read her stories...They are awesome, and I'm sure anyone who loves Neal will absolutely adore these! And, for the sake of not writing an authors note longer than the prologue (though I probably already did) I will stop now! lol. Hope you enjoy!
dreamerdoll
"They're sending me back to Corus," she told him suddenly before calling herself a dunce. Of course he would already know this. He was a healer and helped at the makeshift infirmary when he could. They would have told him.
Still, Neal answered diligently, "I know."
They looked over the wall and stared at the land past their fort in silence for long moments. Finally he told the Lady Knight, "Be sure to write me."
Kel nodded her head, choking on tears. She usually didn't grow emotional like this, but she was returning home, for the first time in over a year, leaving her best friend to fight in a battle with men he didn't know where he could very easily die. And there wasn't really anyone left in the castle at Corus besides the few courtiers who prefered to stay there instead of on their own land. All the knights, the Own, even the Riders were out fighting.
Neal wrapped a comforting arm around her and drew her in. She sobbed into his chest while he smoothed back her hair, murmuring incoherent words that were comforting nonetheless into her ear.
Eventually she lifted her head. The tears were dry, though her eyes were still red. "It'll be all right, love," the other knight consoled. "You'll only be gone for a few months. It'll do you some good. Even if your shoulder wasn't like that," he gestured to where the bandages barely concealed the recent wound.
Kel winced. "I suppose. But I still don't want to go." She told him stoutly and glared at him, as if daring him to argue. With what, he had no idea.
"I know. I'll miss you, but you have to." He visibly brightened, though it was obvious that he was only doing it to lighten the mood. It was easy to tell that Neal was not happy about a thing at that moment. "Hey, now no one will be nagging at me to eat my vegetables, clucking over me like a mother hen."
She gave him a shaky smile. "But you'll still be a good lad and do what mummy says when she's away, won't you, Nealan?" She gave him a pat on the cheek before brushing past him to go pack for the trip- she left on the morrow.
Something warm tugged at her hand. She looked down, clearly startled. Seeing his hand, she smiled slightly before reaching up to give him a tight hug. Finally, prying his hand away from hers, she went to get ready for her unwelcome, but apparently necessary, trip.
