DISCLAIMER: I won't put one in! You can't make me! Come my fellow authors, let us strike up a revolution against the Powers That Be. Onwards comrades! (sincerest apologies for anyone that may offend). Why do I have to go out of my way to put in something that any smart reader should know on their own?

Shout outs go to 'SpectralLady' for being the FIRST reviewer of this new story AND for reading the Author's Note at the beginning. You rock! A note to all other readers, you should read A/N at the start and end of people's stories, they're there for a reason. Aww, who am I kidding, the only people reading that remark are ones who already follow it.

I got nothing else for now.

Song of the Chapter: I Got Life from the musical 'Hair' (my school recently put on a production of it, and my boyfriend was Claude, the main character. It's worth it to see the movie, or the play if you get a chance)

Anyways... peace

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Kel, her sisters and her mother parted way with the men in the corridor outside their rooms, and the tired commander followed her female relatives into Ilane's room.

"Now why did you bring me here?" Kel asked, wanting desperately to sit down, but afraid to ruin the chairs with dirt. Ilane turned to face her, hands on hips.

"Is a mother not allowed to see the daughter she has seen neither hide nor hair of in eight years?" Kel nodded sheepishly. "Good. Now we have made a request with Buri, and you will stay here in the Palace with us over Midwinter. We thought that it would be better for you to stay with your family. We haven't spoken in a long time."

"Mama, I think I should stay with my group. They'll be needing me."

"Keladry, I believe they will survive a week without their commander. Besides you can still train with them during the day for a time."

"Please stay with us Kel." Oranie pleaded. "We've missed our little sister. And if you don't stay, who then will I talk to about my wedding?" She added slyly.

Kel's cry of delight, "You're to be married?", was muffled by Adie's cry of indignation, "You do have another sister, one who is already married, and I can tell you all you need to know!" The three of them burst out laughing. Kel had not been particularly close to her siblings, but nonetheless, they were family, and it felt good to laugh with her family again.

"Now Keladry," Ilane's voice was businesslike. "It's high time you washed the dirt from your travels. I had the maids draw a bath for you, so go and wash up before the midday meal." Kel stood up to embrace her mother one more time, but remembered herself just in time. It would have been a pity to mar Ilane's beautiful red dress.

Kel sighed in appreciation as she sank into the warm water. It felt good to clean herself with soft scented soaps, instead of the brown lye she was accustomed to using with the Riders. When she stepped from the bath, she was content to see the dirt remaining in the bath. For the first time in weeks she was clean.

Quickly, she dried herself with the linen cloth, and stepped into the clean breastband and loincloth left out for her by the maid. On top, she slipped a petticoat, and walked back into the front room. Adie had changed to a clean dress and was sitting with Oranie on their mother's bed. Ilane herself was standing by the window lost in thought.

"Here Kel," Oranie held out a plain blue shift and a blue woollen dress embroidered in cream at the high neck and cuffs. Kel smiled, seeing the high neck and long wide sleeves of the dress. Even after eight years, her mother knew what she would and would not wear. Quickly Kel slipped both garments over her head, and smoothed the split skirt of the overdress.

"Lovely Keladry," Ilane smiled. "Now let us go to eat. You and your sisters will go to the general mess hall. Your father and I were invited to dine with the Baron of Jesslaw." Kel's heart rose. Maybe Owen was here. She didn't know the round-faced boy as well as the others, but she liked him a great deal.

"Bye Mama, come on Kel." Adie tugged her arm as the three girls hurried to the mess hall. The bell had long since rung, so most occupants of the castle would be already there. They would have to hurry if they wanted to sit together.

As they entered, Kel was surprised to see how many men had returned for Midwinter celebrations, even with the Scanran War in progress. True to their suspicions, there were not three seats together. With a sad smile, Oranie and Adie went to sit with a few other ladies at a table, and Kel looked around for any extra space, that wasn't at a table of pages.

"Kel! Kel!'

"Keladry of Mindelan, look over this way."

"Hey Kel on your left!"

Mixed shouts reached her ears. Turning, Kel saw Neal frantically waving in her direction. Sitting behind him were Merric, Seaver, Esmond and Faleron. To Kel's horror, sitting next to Neal, arm wrapped around his waist was Tanwyn of Sebell, one of her convent year mates. Her low necked red dress all but gave away her pastimes. To add to Kel's horror, Kieran of Syrigane and her Convent friend Aimee were respectively latched to Merric and Faleron, though Kel saw Kieran shoot Tanwyn a jealous glance.

"Yes Keladry," Tanwyn spoke in a honeyed tone. Kel had forgotten about this girl and how much she hated her. "Please come and sit with us. I'm sure dear Nealan can move over to make some room." Kel smiled inwardly when she saw Neal flinch at the use of his full name. She was debating whether to run and skip the meal or bite her tongue and sit when a merciful voice came to her rescue.

"Kel, there's room here. Come and sit." Kel turned quickly and sat beside the owner of the voice she recognized, across the width of the hall. She and her Rider group had on several occasions travelled with Dom's squad of men from the King's Own, and they had all grown friendships with the men. Kel sat between Dom and Wolset, waving at Lerant of Eldorne across from her. Flyndan glanced at her and returned to his meal, but Kel had expected no less from the captain.

"I saw you there, and figured you needed a break from the court ladies and Meathead." Dom said to her.

"Our Kel's no court flirt." Wolset jokingly placed his arm around Kel's shoulders. "She's a right fine warrior and commander she is. Right Keladry?" Kel laughed and shrugged his arm off.

"Enough with the complements, you'll be turning my head now." she laughed. "And Neal looks none too happy about our friend, Tanwyn, on his arm. So cut the remarks Dom. Send him a little sympathy." She looked up in time to see Neal send a pleading and slightly angry look in her direction.

The rest of their meal passed quickly, the men all laughing all around her, especially when Tanwyn had tried to kiss Neal, who nearly fell from his seat as a result. Kieran on her way out with Merric conveniently elbowed Tanwyn in the face. Kel could barely contain her laughter. She was only interrupted when Orie and Adie came by to say their goodbyes as they left with friends.

When she was finished eating, Kel left the hall, waving to Neal and Esmond, who were looking quite uncomfortable. She ran out, and hurried to the Riders' barracks.

Hey Colleen! She called out. The Rider companions had extended their limits to nearly five miles from each other.

Colleen's voice was tired. What do you want now, Kel?

What were you doing?

Sleeping, as was the rest of the group. Come and join us.

Sure you don't want to came and practice with me?

NO! Kel we slept hardly any time while we were away, cut us some time.

Fine then, I'm coming to the barracks. Kel sighed as she realized that Colleen had fallen asleep again. She hurried to the Riders' barracks, a difficult feat with a dress she was unused to wearing. Arriving there, she tore up the stairs to her rooms. As a commander, and with the diminished ranks, she had a room to herself. Riders in a group each slept two in a room.

Quickly Kel changed out of her dress and into a shirt, breeches and a green tunic and a blue cloak. Taking her glaive from its hook beside the door (servants had come in previously to bring her gear to her room) she left for the practice courts, far too awake now for any sleeping.

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Heya,

Summatives are starting up now, so my updates might be fewer and further between, but I'm really trying to finish up this story. I promised that I wouldn't give up on it, and I won't.

By popular demand, at the start of the next chapter, I'm going to write in point form the important bits of the previous story, just to catch everyone up.

So that you don't panic, I promise that next chapter starts the big events. Stuff will start happening, I just need to get some other things cleared up.

By the way, Sam (The ORIGINAL Meathead) What's the deal with your story? I really liked it and you seem to have left it.

Shout outs go to Stealth Jade Jr. Kay you are the best beta I could ask for. Thank you so much, you rock!

peace

Alanna