Her food now gone, most of it having been shoved down Neal's ever-hungry gullet, Kel leaned back in her chair and cradled the back of her head in her hands.

Watching with a smile as Neal looked around for any food he might have missed Kel said, "One would never think you were a twenty-five-year-old man with a wife, and the oldest son of a ducal house, the way you hoard food as though you'll never get it again."

Neal brushed off her remark with, "Ah, but it is my seemingly foolish and carefree nature that confuses those whom would attempt to injure me. Their puzzlement is what then gives me ample enough time to harm them first."

"What do you mean, 'Seemingly foolish?'" Kel laughed, "You are one-hundred percent pure."

As Neal put down the small piece of bread he had found on the corner of his plate, a disdainful sniff was his only reply.

OOO

"Buri!"

The K'mir female turned around at the sound of her name. Opening her arms, she pulled Kel into a hug as the knight walked up to her, "Hey Kel, it's good to see you!"

"You too Buri." Kel returned the hug, "Your wedding was amazing."

"Thanks." Buri let go of Kel and gestured for her to follow. As they walked Buri said, "It meant a lot to me that you would be there, and help like you did."

"Buri, I felt privileged to be able too." Kel increased her pace until she was could turn and see Buri's face clearly, "I mean it."

The smile that warmed Buri's features was all Kel needed for a reply.

Kel fell in behind Buri as she made her way through a door. Coming out of the sunlight and into the darkened room, Kel's eyes took a moment to adjust.

Before her vision had cleared completely, Kel felt her feet leave the ground as she was swept up into a large hug by her former knight-master. He whirled her around in a circle once, and then set Kel back on her feet.

He then pulled Buri in close as a huge grin covered his features, "Kel! It's really good to see you!" He stopped as Buri nudged him in the ribs and gave him a look. With a cackle, Raoul pressed his lips against hers, and then said, "It is good to once again have you close to me, my love." He kissed her again for effect, and then looked back at Kel.

"I'm really glad you made it to the wedding." Raoul's sincerity shone in his eyes as he finished, "You were one of the ones I wanted there most."

"Thanks Raoul." Kel broke into a large smile, "I've missed you. We never really got to talk, that first day I was here."

"I know." Without so much as a single grunt of effort, Raoul picked Buri up off her feet and carried her into the next room, "C'mon Kel, we'll sit down and catch up on things."

Stifling a laugh at the antics of the two newlyweds, Kel followed them into an office and joined them at the large table situated in the center of the room. Raoul propped his feet up on an empty chair and wrapped one arm around Buri's shoulders, pulling her close. His other hand he let rest on the table, loosely balled up.

"So Kel, how are things back at New Hope going?"

"Really good sir," She hid a smile behind her hand at Raoul's raised eyebrow, knowing it was the 'sir' that had caused it. "Our harvest gave us a bountiful yield, and it is all in storage. The fortifications are strong, and we have plenty of willing and able people to defend them," Kel put her chin in the palm of one hand, "We are well prepared for the coming winter."

"Very good, Lady Keladry." Raoul grabbed her shoulder in a firm, assuring grip, "I knew you would make an excellent commander, and you are."

Flattered by his compliment, Kel said aloud, "It was all because of you and your help," Inwardly though, she was asking herself, What is it with people telling me I'm famous or important lately? I don't know where they get these ideas!

Knowing that she couldn't form an answer to that question, Kel let it slide without further thought, instead turning her mind back to the conversation at hand.

For the next forty-five minutes Kel, Raoul, and Buri caught up on everything they had missed. As she talked and laughed with her former knight-master, Kel came to fully realize how much she had missed him.

He had always seemed like a second father to her, and he still did. He listened attentively whenever she spoke, and he had advice for her whenever she asked. Buri treated Kel as an equal, and talked with her as such.

Buri had just reclaimed her seat after getting up to gather drinks for the three of them when a rapid knock sounded at the door. Raoul, with a curious look on his face, got up to answer it.

He rushed back into the room shortly after, "Buri, Kel, I'm sorry, but I have to go!" He then ran into another room, and came back out carrying his broadsword and an axe.

Buri stepped in front of her husband, slowing him down. "Lord Raoul, what is the problem? You know I'll help."

He stopped, and a look of semi-anguish crossed his features. "Buri, I'm sorry," He clipped the axe to his belt, "I can't really say, but I want you to stay here."

Buri was born and reared a warrior; that was not what she wanted to hear. "Raoul. Out with it. Now."

"I have to go protect Thayet, I'll…" He seemed to realize the moment the words were out of his mouth they were the completely wrong thing to say.

"Thayet?" Buri's voice took on an incredulous tone, "You thought to leave me here while my queen, my friend, is in danger?" She ran into the same room Raoul had just left, "I think not. I'm coming with you, Thayet is still my charge."

She came back out with a sword clipped to her left hip, and a bow and quiver of goose-fletched arrows slung across her back, "Where is she?"

Raoul sighed, knowing he had just lost the argument, "Headquarters."

"Fine." Looking to Kel, Buri said, "I think your assistance would be welcome too, lady knight, if you wouldn't mind."

Kel nodded to Buri, "Just let me go get Griffin, I'll be there."

"See you then." With that, Buri and Raoul ran out of the building, headed for headquarters.

Kel ran out the door, but was brought up short by the figure standing in front of her.

"Kel," Dom breathed. "I… I…"

He stopped, and then threw his arms around Kel's waist. Before she could even so much as think, he had pressed his lips to hers, and was kissing her with such a fiery intensity she had never even imagined could exist.

After a moment, in which Kel's brain was trying to catch up to what was happening, she returned his kiss with just as much passion, and wrapped her hands around his neck, burying her fingers in his hair.

Deepening the kiss, Dom laced his own fingers together behind the small of Kel's back, and drew her closer to him.

Kel was now well aware of every location on her body she and Dom touched, and she felt her insides begin to melt at being so wrapped up in his kiss and his hold. Bliss surrounded her, and she never wanted it to end.

After a second long eternity had passed, Dom finally broke the kiss, although his grip on Kel never loosened. "I'm going out there today, and by the look of things, it's going to be a hard battle…"

Kel heard the unspoken implication in his words. Frightened at the very prospect of what it was he didn't have to say, she pulled him even closer and rested her head against his shoulder.

"You had better come back to me alive."

He ran one hand slowly down her hair, "I'll try." He then let go of her and headed off, going straight toward the gate.

"Gods Dom, please don't die on me," Kel whispered before running to get her Griffin.

OOO

Kel dropped into a chair, her bloody sword clasped in one hand, its point resting on the floor.

She was covered in bruises and cuts, but had no major injuries. Going to wipe the sweat off her face, Kel recoiled at the blood covering her hands.

The battle had been fierce and violent, bloodshed heavy on both sides. The Tortallans had prevailed though, fighting until every last one of the enemy had been cut down.

They had faced roughly a quarter-thousand men, one hundred of which had been mounted on cavalry. The soldiers had borne no insignia, and the horses were clean of it too, meaning that the Tortallans could not mount an attack against them.

"At least Queen Thayet is safe," Kel said to herself. "That's the most important thing."

A large thump in the chair next to her made Kel lift her head. It was Raoul. "We lost roughly ninety men out there today," He told her.

A lump was quick to form in Kel's throat. Was Dom among that number? She thought, although she could not bring herself to ask. Instead, she nodded in silent acknowledgment to Raoul's words.

"You did very well you know, saving the queen from that assassin," Raoul placed his hand in front of Kel's face. "She wanted you to have this."

Kel looked at what Raoul held in his fingers, it was a signet ring. Emblazoned with the royal crest of Tortall, this ring was obviously Thayet's own.

Kel waved the ring away with a hand, "We all protected her together, you, Buri, and me. I don't deserve anything for it."

"Thayet wants you to have it, she won't take it back." Raoul sighed, then dropped the ring in front of her, "You are the one that killed him before he could loose that dagger at our queen, you saved her."

"One of you two would have gotten him if I hadn't," Kel said. "I was just closer."

"It doesn't matter Kel," Raoul lifted her chin, "You killed him, that's what matters. You have to begin to accept the fact that people think a lot of you, and they will want to reward you for what you do."

"Accept the ring Kel," He used his little finger to push it towards her. "Come on."

After a shrug of her shoulders, Kel picked it up and slipped it on her index finger.

"Good." Raoul stood up, "Let's go."