A/N: Another chappie uppp. I was re-reading this story and realized my disclaimer only extends to the first chapter. So I have decided to just make that the disclaimer for the whole thing. My power is out right now which made me think about lighting in this thing and I realized (kind of stupidly) they had magic, candles and fire. Nothing like realizing how stupid you sound in your own head….Enjoy!
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Kel slept lightly in a chair next to Dom's bed, waiting for him to wake. Her dreams were unsettling; depicting images of bloody battlefields and throngs of immortal and human corpses littering the countryside. A hand on her shoulder made her start, and she opened her eyes to glance up into the very green eyes of her best friend, Nealan of Queenscove.
His smile was strained but there nevertheless. "I thought you might need this back," he handed her a polished Griffin.
Startled, she accepted it, "I didn't realize it was missing." She grimaced as she remembered sticking it into the spidren's belly. "That was stupid," she muttered and mulled over the days events.
"What ever would you do without me here to look after you," came Neal's drawl, interrupting her thoughts. She glanced at him in alarm because although he had tainted his voice with sarcasm, it quavered with worry for his cousin.
Kel stood and sheathed her sword, turning to face Neal, "The healers did all they could, now it is his turn to rest and heal."
Neal didn't look convinced. "If only I had been here!" he said furiously, striding across the room to stare broodingly out the window.
"And what would you have done that the other healers couldn't," Kel replied, trying to stay quiet. Neal didn't answer, staring out across the countryside.
"As soon as he is well enough, we ride for Corus. Your father will attend to him and he will recover." Kel walked over to Neal and made him face her, "He will get well." Kel said this to convince herself as much as Neal.
Neal was sick with worry. "Kel…" he stuttered, lowering his face into his hands. He took a deep breath and tried again, "Kel I'm worried," he waved his hand about the room and at Dom, "this, this all….I am…I…I don't want him to die."
Kel carefully breathed in and out, imagining herself a serene lake; it took a great deal of effort to keep her face Yamani blank. Neal hadn't yet looked at her, thank the Goddess, or else she would have lost it. She could think of nothing to say to comfort her friend so she drew him into her arms and hugged him. He hugged back tightly, with only the shaking of his body to give away his sobbing. She had never imagined how much Dom meant to him, they were as brothers she supposed.
A slight rustling from behind them made them both turn. Dom groaned and tossed lightly. Neal hurried over to him and placed a cool hand on his cousin's feverish brow. A soft green light grew around Dom's forehead, glowing bright, then subsiding into a dim shimmer, until it was nothing. Tight-lipped, Neal stood, "I can ease the fever a bit but it will be back soon." He ran his fingers through his hair, but looked more composed. Kel smiled despite herself.
"You need food and rest," Kel gave him a light shove toward the door. "I will watch Dom, it was a clean heal. I know it was a scare but think how annoying he will be when he wakes up and all he wants to do is eat." She ushered him out of the room.
He allowed her to direct him to the door. He stepped out and turned around, "Kel I…thanks." Cheeks flushing, Neal spun around and strode down the hall. Kel sighed and shook her head, men, she thought. Musing over Neal's reaction she sat back down next to Dom's bed, feeling the hilt of her sword, letting her thoughts drift once more.
She wasn't able to daydream for long, however, because her former knight-master stepped in the room with all the silence of a cat, leaning his bulk against the door frame. It took her some moments to notice his presence. Startled, she tried to stand and bow in one movement, and nearly tripped over her chair.
Raoul's eyes lit up with amusement, "You know that isn't necessary with me, youngster."
Kel smiled, "What do you make of the spidrens popping up out of no where?"
Raoul sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Who knows what they are up to this time. I think its best if we leave a few squads here to guard the town." He looked at Dom, "I will not appreciate it very much if he dies on me, hard to find good sergeant these days."
Kel shook her head, "He will pull through." He has to, she added silently. "We leave when he is able."
Raoul stood to attention and saluted her, "Yes Sir, Lady Knight Sir," and spun around leaving Kel once more alone with the sleeping Dom. Now it was her turn to sigh and return to her post, yet again, not to be disturbed for the rest of the day.
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A few days later, Dom recovered enough to travel with the rest of the King's Own and early midmorning the fourth day after the spidren attack, Kel and the band of warriors set off for Corus. As they rode through the gates, Kel gave one last worried glance at her fort. Neal rode up beside her, "Your little ducklings will be fine. You left them in capable hands." Kel snorted. She had to agree with him. What amazed her most was she had successfully persuaded Tobe to stay behind.
Kel grinned up at him, "Race you to the river." And with that, she spurred Hoshi into action, laughing as Neal tried to keep up. Reaching the water, she reined Hoshi in, breathless from the crisp morning air. Neal slowed to a halt beside her. He glanced at her face and saw it glued on the town of New Hope.
"How will you spend your days now, with no one to fuss over?" Neal teased.
She glared at him. "There's always you," she said simply, riding back to the head of the company. Neal followed not an arms length behind and began to bother her more about her plans for the coming months at the palace.
An hour of riding later and he was still blabbering. Kel mostly ignored him, keeping her eyes out for possible dangers, and trying to remember why she allowed him to come with her in the first place. Surveying her surroundings, she noticed Raoul deep in conversation with some of his sergeants. She smiled, he never stopped working. Abruptly, she turned Hoshi and went to check on Dom.
Before they set out, she made sure Dom was settled comfortably in his own wagon. Peachblossom, after getting particularly snappy at some of the other horses, was banished to the back of Dom's wagon, still baring his teeth at anyone who dared come near him. He quieted when he saw Kel. She looked lovingly at the irritable animal and produced an apple from her pocket. Peering inside the wagon, she looked to see how Dom was doing.
He opened one eye and looked at her smiling, "Ah fair lady, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Kel grinned happily, "Meathead won't stop talking. You are merely an excuse for me to avoid his incessant rantings."
Dom chuckled and propped himself up on an elbow, fully looking her in the eyes now. Those eyes of his, Kel sat there dreamily for a moment, realizing a little too late Dom said something.
"Hmm?"
"I said, maybe when we get back to the Palace you can teach me to use your pigsticker."
This startled Kel and she looked quizzically at him.
"If another spidren decides to lunge at me I'd like to be able to use something a bit more deadly than a staff."
The argument made sense, and at the same time, thrilled Kel. She could spend loads of time with Dom this way! Noticing she hadn't yet responded she said stupidly, "Of course." Cursing herself for not being wittier, she blushed. "I should probably get back up there."
"It was nice of you to visit," came the calm voice that made Kel's heart thud in her chest, "don't stay away too long." Kel nodded a reply, not trusting herself with words. As she rode forward, she wondered what it would be like to kiss him….
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They rode without any disturbances and not too long after they set out, Dom began to ride, teetering on his horse, refusing to sit a day more in the wagon. Kel sighed, Raoul laughed and Neal looked like he was about to skin Dom alive when he came up to ride with them. Kel studied him from under her eyelashes, glad to just be near him again. As he laughed and joked with the men, Kel realized how deep her affections ran.
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That night, as Kel sat on a rock, peering out over the landscape deep in thought, she received the surprise of her life.
"It's chilly out here," Dom remarked, and came to sit down beside her.
She nearly jumped but quickly regained her composure. Turning to face him, she realized they were very close to one another, "Yes," she whispered.
Dom suddenly leaned forward and gently pressed his lips to hers. Her heart was beating so loudly she was sure it would wake the whole camp. When they parted, Dom spoke, his voice raspy, "I…I'm sorry Kel. I just…I should go." He got up and walked as quickly as his arm allowed, across camp, back to his bedroll.
Sleep for Kel didn't come until much later, into the early hours of the morning. Her mind spun with that kiss, her lips throbbed, and for the first time since they had left New Hope, she allowed herself to relax.
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A/N: YAY! This took FOREVER to write. Hope you enjoy! It feels a little off so if anyone has suggestions to make it flow a bit better I would appreciate it! Thank you, you all are wonderful!. Muah kisses nightnight.