That night, as Kel lay in bed, the words of Yuki and Alanna kept rolling through her head. She had put a lot of thought to them throughout the rest of the day, yet they were still an enigma to her.

"If you both truly love each other, a way to be together will reveal itself. It may be unexpected, or surprising, but it does exist," Yuki's words echoed strong in Kel's mind. Although it was a wonderful thought, Kel didn't see how it could be true, she and Dom were much too different. No matter how they would like to change that, they couldn't, a fact was a fact.

Restless, Kel rolled over. To her, there was no possible solution, no way for Yuki's words to come true. She lay still for a few minutes, wishing for sleep. When it wouldn't come Kel rolled out of bed, deciding to do something other than lay there and brood.

Looking around her room, Kel's eyes landed on her glaive. Silently, she dressed, then took her weapon from the rack and walked outside. The call of the midnight hour and the full moon greeted her as she went through the door.

Standing outside her room Kel stretched, then began a pattern dance. As her blade speeded up, Kel let her mind empty of all thought. The complex whirls, thrusts, and cuts of the dance seemed to melt her confusion away, and for a while the only thing she felt was the glory of being one with her weapon.

Staff under her arm, blade angled across her chest, Kel finished the dance with a thrust and sweep. Gently she wiped the sweat shine off her face, and walked back inside. Sitting on her bed she cleaned her glaive, and once again lost herself in activity for a few more moments.

Done with the task of tending to her weapon, Kel placed it back on the rack. She now realized that although the practice had helped to clear her mind, it put her in no mood for sleep. With a disgruntled sigh, she walked over to her desk and sat down.

"I might as well go over those orders. Now is as good a time as any to begin planning," she said quietly. Kel pulled the documents from a slot in the desk, setting the letter from King Jonathan aside and unfolding the other papers. Grabbing a blank sheet of parchment and a reed pen, she uncorked a bottle of ink, so she could note some of the more important matters.

Before Kel began to write, she reread the note at the top of the list and smiled. It seemed Queen Thayet didn't quite agree with her husband on this topic.

Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan,

My lord, King Jonathan of Conte, has asked me to write out a list of orders for you. Although I knew he was upset with your actions, he did not specify what I was to tell you, so I was left to use my own judgment. I will say it now, I do not believe that what you did was wrong, so the orders I give you will not be considered a punishment by me, although my lord thinks they are. He did not look at them before he sent the messenger with these letters.

So, the list below this contains my orders to you, Keladry of Mindelan, to be carried out as soon as possible, to the fullest extent of your power. Do not shirk, and these will be the last you receive from Corus for some time. Fail, and more punishment will ensue.

Truly,

Queen Thayet of Tortall

Finishing with her notes an hour and a half later later, Kel smiled. It felt good to be done, and the work had also given her an incentive to sleep. Kel set the parchment aside to let the ink dry, then changed back into her night clothes.

Curling up in bed, her knees by her chin, Kel fell deep into a dreamless sleep.

OOO

Dawn was tinting the sky a delicate fawn pink when Kel awoke, feeling refreshed although she only had a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Getting up she arched her back, then wandered in the direction of the washroom. Finding a basin of warm water already there, Kel smiled. The servants never failed to make her comfortable.

Kel washed her face and neck, then brushed her teeth. With another stretch, she reentered her room, and wandered over to her desk. Picking up her list from the night before Kel read it over, to make sure the late night hadn't done anything funny to her judgment or comprehension of the orders.

My orders from the Queen,

1.) I have to make sure the wedding of Raoul and Buri goes smoothly, as both are too important to have any problems arise.

2.) Upon my return to New Hope, I am suppose to help Headwoman Franche and the other women in watching the young ones at least twice a moon.

3.) The larders of New Hope are to be supplemented with more food provided by the crown, I have to send a wagon to collect the provender from Corus.

4.) Make sure New Hope is fortified for the coming winter season. If any supplies are needed, I am to send word to Fort Mastiff. If the request is within reason, they will see to it that I am provided with it.

It did make sense. That's good, thought Kel. Now that the ink was dry, she folded the parchment and placed it in the slot with the other papers, then shut her desk.

Looking out her window, Kel smiled as she began to dress. The wedding was today.

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'Twas short, I know. Sorry.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas/Holiday! I did! Yay!

Thanks for the reviews everybody. They keep me going when I think I suck at this writing thing. They're much appreciated!

I'll update as soon as I can, promise. I really want to get to the wedding. I have an IDEA!

I'll leave you all alone now, except to ask, R&R please! Okay, so that's not leaving you alone, but hey, what can you do.

Later!

Sull89