Yes, the chapter was pretty pointless- but they're sometimes the best chapters. It was meant to feature more of Daine and what her animals found out- but I got kind of carried away. You're right; the dog was called jump. That's my goldfish memory for you. Ah well, let's say it had puppies and one of them was called Spot. That'll do for now. Or Daine had a memory lapse- either will suffice.

It's always nice to see new reviewers- and the old ones too. It's made me all bubbly inside getting home and seeing loads of reviews- thanks everyone!

Ok, it's only going to be a couple more chapters- I'm getting to the end of the story. sob This chapter is also a kind of pointless one, although some mysterious unravel. It was fun to write though.

Disclaimer is as always; if you don't know what it is, read the other chapters please…

Chapter Nineteen : Gravy, meetings and roofs

Recap: Shouldn't you be at the stables by now?" Daine and Numair quickly left the room, George lagging a few seconds behind after staying to watch the squirrels fight over some seeds. It was quite amusing.

The floor was a mixture of mud and straw, the roof had holes in it, and it stank like a pigsty. That's why it was a perfect place for a meeting when they didn't want to be overheard- and the fact that Jonathan thought he'd kill two birds with one stone, being next to the horses would save them time getting down here to saddle up anyway.

"Right, is everyone here?" King Jonathan looked down the list he'd quickly written up. "Alanna and George?"

"Aye, we're both here."

"Good, I like people who are prompt. Daine and Numair?"

"Yes your highness…"

"No need to be formal here Daine." A blush crept up her cheeks. "Neal and Dom?" No answer. "Anyone seen Neal and Dom?"

(Dom PoV, 5 minutes previous)

"Where did they say to meet?" Neal asked, out of breath from running around the corridors, checking every room he came across.

"You mean you don't remember!" Dom stopped; Neal carried on running until he realised he was talking to thin air.

"Well, kind of.."

"Kind of? We're going to be late for the most important meeting of our lives and you kind of know where it's being held? My god, you're even more idiotic than I thought."

"Thanks."

"It wasn't a compliment Meathead. So what do you mean kind of."

"I remember it starting with a vowel…"

"Seriously? Well that narrows it down." Dom rolled his eyes- he would get paired with someone who has a brain the size of a pea; or a seed. Whichever is smaller.

"I remember! The kitchens! They're holding it in the kitchens!"

"You do know that K is not a vowel, don't you?"

"Erm, sure I do. Now, quick question- for your benefit only- what's a vowel again?" Neal asked, walking out into the centre of a courtyard.

Dom looked up towards the sky. "Please kill me now; or better yet, kill him."

"I'm positive it's in the kitchens Dom, trust me."

"I wouldn't trust you with my apple, so how am I meant to take your word for it now?"

"Maybe because you don't have a clue where to go either- so give me a little credit." Turning back round to face the directions of the kitchens, he somehow managed to trip over his own feet. He stumbled back up, brushed off the dust, and spat out the mouthful of mud. "If anyone asks nothing happened."

"Whatever you say meathead- I think we better check out the kitchens now though, we're already late no thanks to your superb memory."

"Throwing open the door was not a good idea." Neal muttered his agreement, wiping the gravy off his face. "Who would have thought they'd rig the door with a pot of gravy above it?"

"Well, the Own's pranks have had an effect on people, I'll give you that." Neal said, while Dom rung out his clothes, dripping a trail of cold gloop behind them. "So I guess I was wrong about the kitchens then, huh?"

"From once drenched mean to another, I'd say it wasn't the best idea you've had."

"I think it might be the stables though."

"Not this again. You know when we go in there the straw is going to stick to us- we'll scare the horses to death."

"O, ok then, we'll try somewhere else if you want. Where do you think?"

"No where that has food, that's for sure. Let's try the stables then- but I have an idea that will leave us straw free."

"Care to share?"

"All in good time Neal, all in good time."

"Hey- you didn't call me meathead. That's a first!"

"Don't get too used to it."

(Meanwhile back in the stables…)

"I've called you all here this afternoon because the sooner we set out, the sooner we can bring back Keladry unharmed. Now, do we have any volunteers to bring her back?"

"I'll go." Numair stood up, scared, but determined to help.

"I have something to say, if I may interupt."

"Daine, you aren't going to stop me from going, it's my own choice."

"I understand that, but I have information that my help you find the whereabouts." Jonathan nodded- a signal that she should go on. " I've been talking with some of the woodland creatures, and it seems that two days ago, they felt a disturbance."

"Could that not be anything though?"

"I don't think so, they said they saw a woman dragging another one through the woods."

"Did they see where she was taken?"

"Yes, they saw her being thrown into a cave, then a boulder being put in front of it."

"Well that's not so bad, how many caves can there be in the wood?"

"That's the good news George, there's only one."

"Why are we waiting here then lass? Let's get a move on."

"I haven't come to the bad news yet- that cave belongs to a family of Spidren."

"Ah."

"That's not even the bad news- I wondered, how was one woman able to move a boulder in front of the cave, without them attacking her? Then it hit me- she wasn't alone."

"But didn't the animals say they only saw one woman dragging Kel?"

"Yes, that's all they saw. But she had to have help- and I think it was from a God."

"What makes you think that?"

"Well your highness, animals have an acute sense for these sorts of things, it tells them to run away actually- and not only did I feel it too when I was out there, but Alanna said she felt it when she was blown out that window."

"I'm not one to argue with my champion and a wildmage, so I don't intend to. I just hope for Keladry's sake that you're both right." Jonathan looked around, "Where are Dom and Neal?"

Their unplanned descent through the roof of the stables had perfect timing- as soon as he'd finished asking the question, everyone heard the splintering of wood, and looked up to see Dom and Neal panicking on the roof. Luckily the group were able to dodge the falling ceiling, and the straw broke the unfortunate pair's fall. What they didn't realise was that they'd fallen into a horses stall- Peachblossom's to be precise.

"Mithros be, you've wrecked the stables!" Jonathan didn't look like a happy bunny, he was more of an unhappy-fuming-about-to-explode-with-anger sort of bunny. While Alanna and George decided to take the more light-hearted side of things i.e. roll around in hysterics, Numair tried to comfort Daine, saying the horses were fine- that there was no need to fret. It wasn't looking good for the boys though.

Staggering to their feet, Dom was the first one to realise the immediate danger they were in, not from the beetroot red King, but from the horse. He wondered why Peachblossom hadn't tried to bite him yet, then saw the cornered Neal and decided to make a run for it.

"Sorry meathead, but it's every man for themselves." With that he'd jumped over the still standing stall, and ran to meet the others. "Thought we'd just drop in, you know."

"You're late." Jonathan did well to hide his anger, but it was a volcanic eruption waiting to happen.

"Ah- blame the goldfish man over there." Dom replied, pointing over to the cowering Neal.

"You mean you left him in there to fend for himself!" Alanna stepped forward, her infamous temper showing. Coming towards him, she started to push Dom back towards the direction of the stall. "What sort of pathetic cousin are you? He looks up to you, even admires you, and you leave him in his time of need?"

"He's a Knight, and a grown man, I'm sure he's more than capable-"

"That's not the point! You left him alone, he could die in there, and how would that make you feel? Having your cousin's death on your conscious for the rest of your pitiful life? Hm? If you were in his position, he'd be the first in there to rescue you. I hope you're ashamed- you should be. Poor defenceless Neal is fighting for his life-"

"-Against a horse...?"

"Yes Dom, a flippin' temperamental horse! It doesn't matter whether it was a sparrow or a griffin he's fighting, you left him and that's all that matters. Now get back in there, or I'll demote you, Sergeant!" With one final push, he was in the stall along with Peachblossom and Neal- currently trying to dodge having his leg bitten off.

"Well aren't we in a pickle here cousin? I'm having any limbs bitten off, and you're standing there watching. We'll next time you're fighting for your life, don't expect me to come running. Dom looked around for some sort of weapon, not to hurt Peachblossom, but it would make him feel more confident. He seemed to be out of luck, not that he'd had any lately.

"Stay still Neal!"

"What? I think that gravys gone to your head…" He lunged left, but made a break to the right- and was free! Actually he was just behind Dom who had legged it out of the stall moments before him. He was at the gate- and that's when it bit him, right in the butt.

"Shut the door, shut the door!" Daine ran to close the stall gate, soothing the kicking Peachblossom while she was there. "Where were you when I was stuck in there with that…that…demon?"

"I was tending too other horses- luckily they're all unharmed or I would have been really annoyed."

"Neal, are you alright? You're walking with a kind of... limp."

"Uh huh…"Tears welled up in his eyes, but he was unable to hold them back.

"Neal, let me heal you. Where are you hurt?"

He turned round and showed Alanna his wound, she couldn't help but smile. Five minutes and one embarrassing healing later, they were ready to depart.

"Numair, George, Alanna, Dom and Neal, are you ready to go?" He scanned the rescue party, he wished he could go as it looked like it was going to get interesting- but his other duties held priority. "Daine and I are staying here, if you need us use the powder Numair has. You throw it in the fire and say the name of the person you wish to make contact with. Good luck to you all, I want all of you to come back in one piece preferably. 'Till we meet again." He turned and wandered back up to the palace, only pausing for an emotional Daine to catch up with him.

"Now we're all set, think we should set off on our rescue."

"You're right Alanna, let's head on out. Isn't this going to be a grand adventure?" George grinned to himself, it was a long time since he was this excited.

"I'll race you all to the woods!" The words had hardly left Neal's mouth before he had sped off, leaving a dust cloud behind him. This was going to be one unusual experience, that's for sure.