The night was calm, horses stood still as the water in a pond. A dim light
shone where the sun had once been. Kel stood quietly not wishing to disturb
the peace. New Hope had just blown out its candles leaving her alone with
only her thoughts for company.
The winter had been tough but, hope for a year of good crops as well as an
end to the war was born with each rising of the sun. Kel felt so unsure,
after last summer she felt something she had never before felt. Something
almost indescribable could it be she did not know was it true love or was
it just a thing that would pass by the next sunrise. "No", she told herself
and the dark night, "this will not pass, it just keeps coming back and I
don't know what triggers it.
Today Neal received a letter from his cousin, Kel's former knight master
and some of the Kings Own would be there next week, Dom would be with
them." Finally it struck her or at least she thought it did, Lord Roul
would be coming and she missed her friend and almost secondary father very
much. This was a rather stupid conclusion since Kel knew in her heart that
she yearned to see Dom (Neal's cousin) for so long. Her mind denied the
fact and would not set her heart free to love him as she desperately wanted
to in the depths of her soul. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"Kel", Neal's voice called though the door "are you still awake I need to
talk to you".
"Come in I haven't even changed into my bed cloths yet" Kel said her voice
still shaky from the start he had given her.
Neal opened the door "its to dark in here to even see you", he sent out
some of his gift to light the candles as he spoke "much better I can
actually see you now, which might not be such a good thing for this
conversation".
Kel looked at him suspiciously "what was so important that it had to be
discussed now, I was thinking".
Neal looked nervously around the room, "well I had thought it would be
better if nobody else was awake for this conversation. You remember the
that letter that I got from Dom today right, well the truth is that I
didn't read you the whole thing".
"Neal stop drawing this out and get to the point. It has to be a large
surprise or an upset for you not to go directly to the point" Kel said in
exasperation.
"Well what did I disturb you from that made you so grumpy" Neal asked in a
rather upset manner.
"I was just thinking" Kel said annoyed with Neal.
"What about", Neal asked continuing to investigate.
"Same thing you are I supposed to be talking about, that letter" Kel was getting rather frustrated with Neal, "I am feeling kind of weird about it".
"Who are you looking forward to seeing the most", Neal asked straying as far from the original topic he had come to discuss, " I'm looking forward to seeing my father the most, but I don't know why he is coming on a routine inspection". Neal knew all to well why his father was coming, it had been mentioned in a second letter that had arrived in the same envelope.
Kel spoke quietly "I'm not sure, but at least I wont have to decide since they are all coming" Kel knew that Neal knew she was lying to him but neither of them mentioned it.
"So what did you come here to tell me again" when Kel said this the atmosphere in the room began to lighten.
Thinking quickly Neal spoke "Dom is coming a little before the rest, I don't know why though".
"How much before" Kel asked Neal could sense the excitement in her voice.
"Well", Neal said holding her in suspense just for the fun of it, "well..........".
"Spit it out Neal" Kel yelled disturbing the silence that had blanketed the conversation.
"How does dawn sound" Neal said calmly even though he was laughing hysterically on the inside.
"Gods we don't have much time and all the spare rooms haven't been cleaned since they were built, which one will we put him in" Kel was shielding her emotions now that she had gotten them under control there was no point letting Neal know anything unless he needed to because it would always come back to haunt her. "Well I had been thinking the room next door would be good" Neal smiled as he said this.
Kel looked at Neal her shock almost visible through her best mask, "that, well I don't think its such a good idea".
"And why not he would be in the perfect location" Neal looked amused when he saw her cheeks go a slight shade of pink. "Why not" Neal said
"Um........." Kel was a little nervous.
"You two slept in tent right next to each other for 4 years before you were knighted. Now I'm using my small amount of power that I have in these matters to tell you that's where he is going no questions asked" Neal was enjoying this thoroughly, "come on we will go set it up right now".
"I guess we can, do I need to call some one to go get a cot for the room" Kel was trying to think through what they need for the room.
Neal spoke in a fairly calm tone "I brought one up before I came here. There is still some cabinets in it and a desk". "What we really need is something to cheer the place up. Maybe some of your stuff would make it look a bit brighter. One of those lucky cats your parents sent you would work." Neal said, "first though I think we need to kick out some bugs because I don't think they are as well appreciated by people other than you" Neal referred to her enemas love of animals particularly the ones that don't have families.
The two of them began immediately, sweeping, wiping off the few pieces of furniture that were in there. To finish it all off Kel and Neal added a few things from their own rooms since everything down to the blankets was military issue and rather dull. Included in these decorations were some of Kel's luck waving cats that sat on the mantel Neal had recommended.
They finish it just before dawn and Neal headed back to his room completely exhausted from a nights work. Kel on the other hand was wide awake and unable to sleep. She decided to take a walk along the walls. A new shift of guards had just been set to duty and they were so awake and attentive that Kel couldn't help but feel proud of her people. Every member of the camp was now confident with at least one weapon more in some cases. As she passed most of the guards saluted her their smiling faces showed the confidence of someone who knew how to defend themselves and their home.
The sun began to peak over the hills, in their light the shadow of a rider was cast. Kel raced quickly down to the barns and saddled Peach Blossom. Quickly and quietly she had a guard open the gate and let her out. She raced towards the hills at a gallop in the direction she had seen the shadow, but when she got there it had disappeared along with the maker of the shadow. She spun around surveying her area carefully looking for the rider. Suddenly she felt a sword point at her back. A mysterious yet familiar voice spoke, "looks like I caught a knight off her guard".
Kel started telling herself silently "stupid, idiot, why did I forget my sword, stupid idiot".
The voice spoke again, "did you miss me much", the voice seemed softer and the sword point had disappeared from her back.
"Dom" Kel said throwing herself out of the saddle to hug him.
"So I take that as a yes to the did you miss me question", Dom said, "Hey where's Meat Head? Better yet where is your sword?". Dom just laughed and returned Kel's embrace. She began to blush but the remaining dark hid it.
"Well 'Neal' is sleeping, we just finished your room a little while ago. As far as the sword issue, I haven't slept in a long time so I guess I was just so tired that I forgot it in the barn".
Dom laughed again, "well you didn't have to come out and meet me, go take a nap! By the way where am I sleeping, you said you guys were getting a room ready".
Kel smiled "well, we put you in a room in headquarters since we had a spare. Now Tobe lives in the barn, he really loves the horses. Lets head back in". Dom looked at her with a look in his eyes that she had never seen before. They started to trot on a well worn path to the camp, all was silent except for the pounding of the horses hooves on hard packed dirt.
"I was just thinking" Kel said annoyed with Neal.
"What about", Neal asked continuing to investigate.
"Same thing you are I supposed to be talking about, that letter" Kel was getting rather frustrated with Neal, "I am feeling kind of weird about it".
"Who are you looking forward to seeing the most", Neal asked straying as far from the original topic he had come to discuss, " I'm looking forward to seeing my father the most, but I don't know why he is coming on a routine inspection". Neal knew all to well why his father was coming, it had been mentioned in a second letter that had arrived in the same envelope.
Kel spoke quietly "I'm not sure, but at least I wont have to decide since they are all coming" Kel knew that Neal knew she was lying to him but neither of them mentioned it.
"So what did you come here to tell me again" when Kel said this the atmosphere in the room began to lighten.
Thinking quickly Neal spoke "Dom is coming a little before the rest, I don't know why though".
"How much before" Kel asked Neal could sense the excitement in her voice.
"Well", Neal said holding her in suspense just for the fun of it, "well..........".
"Spit it out Neal" Kel yelled disturbing the silence that had blanketed the conversation.
"How does dawn sound" Neal said calmly even though he was laughing hysterically on the inside.
"Gods we don't have much time and all the spare rooms haven't been cleaned since they were built, which one will we put him in" Kel was shielding her emotions now that she had gotten them under control there was no point letting Neal know anything unless he needed to because it would always come back to haunt her. "Well I had been thinking the room next door would be good" Neal smiled as he said this.
Kel looked at Neal her shock almost visible through her best mask, "that, well I don't think its such a good idea".
"And why not he would be in the perfect location" Neal looked amused when he saw her cheeks go a slight shade of pink. "Why not" Neal said
"Um........." Kel was a little nervous.
"You two slept in tent right next to each other for 4 years before you were knighted. Now I'm using my small amount of power that I have in these matters to tell you that's where he is going no questions asked" Neal was enjoying this thoroughly, "come on we will go set it up right now".
"I guess we can, do I need to call some one to go get a cot for the room" Kel was trying to think through what they need for the room.
Neal spoke in a fairly calm tone "I brought one up before I came here. There is still some cabinets in it and a desk". "What we really need is something to cheer the place up. Maybe some of your stuff would make it look a bit brighter. One of those lucky cats your parents sent you would work." Neal said, "first though I think we need to kick out some bugs because I don't think they are as well appreciated by people other than you" Neal referred to her enemas love of animals particularly the ones that don't have families.
The two of them began immediately, sweeping, wiping off the few pieces of furniture that were in there. To finish it all off Kel and Neal added a few things from their own rooms since everything down to the blankets was military issue and rather dull. Included in these decorations were some of Kel's luck waving cats that sat on the mantel Neal had recommended.
They finish it just before dawn and Neal headed back to his room completely exhausted from a nights work. Kel on the other hand was wide awake and unable to sleep. She decided to take a walk along the walls. A new shift of guards had just been set to duty and they were so awake and attentive that Kel couldn't help but feel proud of her people. Every member of the camp was now confident with at least one weapon more in some cases. As she passed most of the guards saluted her their smiling faces showed the confidence of someone who knew how to defend themselves and their home.
The sun began to peak over the hills, in their light the shadow of a rider was cast. Kel raced quickly down to the barns and saddled Peach Blossom. Quickly and quietly she had a guard open the gate and let her out. She raced towards the hills at a gallop in the direction she had seen the shadow, but when she got there it had disappeared along with the maker of the shadow. She spun around surveying her area carefully looking for the rider. Suddenly she felt a sword point at her back. A mysterious yet familiar voice spoke, "looks like I caught a knight off her guard".
Kel started telling herself silently "stupid, idiot, why did I forget my sword, stupid idiot".
The voice spoke again, "did you miss me much", the voice seemed softer and the sword point had disappeared from her back.
"Dom" Kel said throwing herself out of the saddle to hug him.
"So I take that as a yes to the did you miss me question", Dom said, "Hey where's Meat Head? Better yet where is your sword?". Dom just laughed and returned Kel's embrace. She began to blush but the remaining dark hid it.
"Well 'Neal' is sleeping, we just finished your room a little while ago. As far as the sword issue, I haven't slept in a long time so I guess I was just so tired that I forgot it in the barn".
Dom laughed again, "well you didn't have to come out and meet me, go take a nap! By the way where am I sleeping, you said you guys were getting a room ready".
Kel smiled "well, we put you in a room in headquarters since we had a spare. Now Tobe lives in the barn, he really loves the horses. Lets head back in". Dom looked at her with a look in his eyes that she had never seen before. They started to trot on a well worn path to the camp, all was silent except for the pounding of the horses hooves on hard packed dirt.