A/N- Heya, everyone. I'm back from camp for a few days due to a concussion given to me courtesy of the horse I was trying to tack up. Anyway, I'm almost done this little ficcy cheers there're only a couple more chapters to go, so depending on how much ego-stroking I get I may be convinced to post the rest before I return :P Anyway, enjoy.

Chapter Eleven

Raoul kissed Kel, gently drawing her our of sleep. When her eyes opened they registered faint surprise, but she kissed him back warmly. Raoul combed his fingers through her hair, and grabbed a handful of it, holding her head still and forcing her to look him in the eye. "Who are you?" He asked quietly.

Kel stared at him in confusion for a moment before she answered. "Lady knight Keladry of Goldenlake."

Raoul released her hair and bent to kiss her, passionately, possessively. She was his and his alone, nobody would change that. When he freed her mouth she was gasping for breath, laying limply in his arms. But he wasn't done yet. Raoul's kisses burned over her flesh, his hands seared her skin.

She writhed against him, shaking and moaning his name until they both collapsed, exhausted and covered in a thin film of sweat.

When their breathing had returned to normal Raoul saw that Kel was crying. Silent tears streaked hotly down her cheeks and Raoul immediately felt ashamed. How could he have treated her like that?

"Kel, I'm sorry." He touched her cheek, brushing away her tears. "Did I hurt you?"

She shook her head. "I'm fine." She whipped her hand over her cheek and smoothed back her hair.

"No," Raoul said. "You're crying. You never cry."

"I told you I'm fine."

"Kel, if I hurt you, you have to tell me."

"You didn't!" She exclaimed. "I hurt you, and you still love me. That's what's wrong. I don't deserve this." Kel rolled onto her side, facing away from Raoul.

He gently brushed her hair away from her neck and kissed her soft, smooth skin. "I still love you." He said, wrapping his arms around her. "And you made a mistake. I understand that now."

Kel turned in his arms to face him.

"Really?"

"Really." Raoul kissed her again, gently this time. When he drew away she was smiling, albeit a little sadly.

Leaning forward she gave him a quick peck on the lips and nestled against him. After several minutes Raoul stirred.

"I need a bath." He said. "I'm all sweaty. You are too."

Kel sighed. "I don't want to get up." She complained.

"Stay here, then." Raoul rose, pulled on a robe and went to find a servant and order a bath. He knew he'd have to deal with the rebuilding of the stable and purchase of new horses eventually, but Raoul would put it off for an hour or two more.

When the tub was full he retrieved Kel from the bed, carrying her to the bath.

"I can walk." She protested.

"You can," Raoul answered, lowering her carefully into the tub and climbing in himself. "But you said you said you didn't want to get up." Raoul grabbed the soap and took hold of one of Kel's arms, working her way from her fingertips to her shoulder.

"What's this?" He frowned, touching new bruises. "Did... did I give you those?"

"You've given me worse." Kel said. "Don't worry about it, it doesn't hurt. I didn't even know they were there."

Raoul's eyes travelled down her body, finding more bruises on her other shoulder and her hips.

"Don't worry," She said firmly, taking the soap and lathering it over his chest. "I'm fine."

Raoul sighed, leaning against the back of the tub and allowing Kel to give him a thorough scrub.

"So, what are you going to do about the horses?" She asked when they had dried off and were getting dressed.

"I'll ask Mother and Father, but they'll probably want me to go looking for new horses to buy in the spring."

"Now? But the snow..."

"Shh." He silenced her with a kiss. "I don't know what they'll want. That's why I'm going to go find them and ask. I'll be back soon." He promised before leaving the room.

Raoul walked quickly to his parent's room. His mother was there, his father was not.

"Where's Father?" He asked.

"Out helping with the stable." She sighed. "I suppose you want to know what you should do."

"Yes."

"When the weather clears enough for you to get out I'd like it if you went and scouted out new horses." She said. "With so few... we need to get more before spring."

"I thought as much." Raoul nodded.

"I hate to ask you, when you and Keladry are just getting settled, but it needs to be done."

"It's all right, Mother, I understand. It will be days before I can even think about leaving anyway."

"Good. I'll tell your father when he gets back."

Raoul nodded and headed back to his room with a heavy heart. He didn't want to leave Kel, but he wouldn't dream of asking her to come with him. It would be miserable enough riding around the frozen countryside without dragging her into it. He wouldn't even get his own horse, either. He'd have to borrow one.

When Raoul returned to his room he found it empty. Of course she wouldn't sit there by herself doing nothing. She probably went to the great hall. Raoul's rumbling stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten yet that day so he went that way himself.

As he had guessed Kel was there, sitting at a table near the kitchen door chatting with a cook.

"Hello," Raoul sat beside Kel, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"Hello." She said, then looked up as the cook excused herself. "You don't have to go."

"His lordship will be wanting food, no doubt." The young woman said. "'Sides, I've got work to do." She disappeared into the kitchen, returning only briefly to hand Raoul a bowl of porridge.

"So when will you be leaving?" Kel asked, prodding the remains of her breakfast.

"Not until the snow clears. There's no way anyone can travel in this weather." Though neither of them mentioned Dom, they were both thinking that he would be trapped here, unable to leave until the weather changed for the better. Raoul didn't much like that idea, but he could hardly kick Dom out.

When Raoul finished his breakfast he headed outside to see if there was anything left to be done about the stable. He found that it had been completely torn down, the wood from the structure stacked neatly. The bodies of the dead horses had been taken away and burned. There was nothing left to do until the roads cleared.

"So, what do you want to do today?" Raoul asked Kel, who was standing just behind him.

She shrugged. "What is there to do?"

"Not a whole lot." Raoul admitted. "But it's cold, so whatever it is we decide to do I hope we do it inside."

Kel agreed and they returned to the relative warmth of the indoors. Despite the fire places and braziers that were sprinkled around the entire castle it was still cold and drafty inside. Raoul and Kel found themselves holed up in their room, sitting on the floor in front of the hearth in a nest of blankets. There wasn't much to do besides cuddle.

The days passed, slowly but not dully, until the roads began to clear. Raoul had only seen Dom a handful of times but always at a distance, and never anywhere near Kel. Raoul was somewhat impressed with Dom's sneakiness, Raoul doubted he could go unnoticed for so long in another's home.

"Kel?" Raoul asked one lazy morning.

"Mmm?"

"I checked the road last night and it's cleared up enough for a determined traveller."

"Oh," She sighed, sitting up. "How... how long will you be gone for?"

"I don't know." He stroked her back. "Probably a week or two at least."

Raoul saw that she struggled to keep the disappointment from her face.

He hugged her tight and kissed her forehead. They sat silently for a moment, before Kel drew away.

"I'm coming with you."

"No," Raoul shook his head. "It will be completely miserable. I don't want you stomping around out there if you don't have to."

"But I can't just stay here and wait!"

"Why not?"

"Because," She said. "That's not who I am. If you leave me behind now, who's to say you won't try to do the same next time we're called into battle? You can't try to protect me all the time."

"And I won't." Raoul said, realizing for the first time that she would, indeed, be called away and he wouldn't be able to stop her. He hated the idea, but he knew he would let her go because it was her duty. This was not. "I wouldn't ever keep you from your orders, but this doesn't really have anything to do with you."

"It does! Your home is mine too now, in case you've forgotten."

"I know." Raoul massaged his temples. "But Kel, think. If you come we'll be riding around for days in the cold, and I don't think any of the horses will truly be able to handle it- the ones that are left are hardly more than riding ponies. The horses will be tired, we'd be tired, and another storm could blow up at any time."

"You're right." She said quietly. "The horses won't be up to it. Except Peachblossom. You'll have to take him."

"What? He won't let me anywhere near him."

"He might if I asked." She said determinedly. "Look, if you don't take him I'm coming with you."

"Fine." Raoul sighed. "I'm sorry about Hoshi, by the way. I didn't know the stable would..."

"None of us did." Kel said sympathetically. "She was a good horse. So were yours."

Raoul smiled sadly. "They were, that. Let's go have a chat with Peachblossom, then."