OMG! I'm so, so sorry that it took so long for me to get this out! I'm hoping to actually be able to update way more often now that school has started. (I know, its backwards. Summer should mean more updates, right?) Just to let ya'll know that I appreciate the reviews, but due to the number of them all that I am unable to continue with the individual reviews. Although I really do love to respond to each of you, doing so will cause about another week or so delay in updating. If ya'll tell me that you would rather have the responses than more updates, I would be happy to start doing them again.

Chapter 8: Neal's Dilemma

Walking into the tent he stopped short at the sight that met his eyes. It wasn't the first time that he had walked in on the two together, but never before had he been hit in the gut like this. Before there may have been a slight pang, one he didn't quite understand, but a pang all the same. This time it was different, it was stronger and it left him unsure of himself. Without knowing what to do he opened his mouth to release some smart-aleck remark when a physical jarring interrupted him.

It took him a moment to realize that he was being dragged through camp by his shirt collar. Still unsure of his feelings surrounding what he had seen, it didn't register that the men of the Own were laughing at him. When those facts finally filtered their way into his mind he let out a squawk and began fighting against Raoul's iron grip. Finally, after what felt like a life time of humiliation, he was released.

Turning quickly he opened his mouth to protest Raoul's manhandling. One look at the knight's grinning face had him shutting up and contemplating what he had seen. It had been a semi common scene, Kel and Dom kissing, but this odd feeling always managed to work its way through him when he saw them together. It was a feeling that he couldn't quite place; although he knew it was one that he should have been able to.

Just the image of Kel with Dom sent his system into turmoil. He didn't understand the cause of it. He just knew one thing for sure, until he figured out just what he was feeling towards the two he would have to appear to support them. Without the seeming of his support they would never even have a chance together.

"Stop putting it all up to you, Queenscove. You're not the only piece in this puzzle, you just happen to be an important one." While sitting there watching the young knight, Raoul had decided that Neal needed to take a few lessons from Kel and learn how to develop a mask of his own. Entirely too many of his feelings could be seen on his face when he wasn't aware of it.

A branch snapping nearby had the two knights springing to their feet and unsheathing their swords. All thoughts of Kel and Dom's new relationship left their minds as they wearily watched the surrounding trees.

Suddenly Daine's weary voice emitted from their left, "Its okay, its just me. I didn't realize that anyone would be out here, sorry." Her disembodied voice soon materialized into her body.

Raoul and Neal both sighed in unison and replaced their swords. Without realizing their synchronization the two men retook their seats on the fallen tree. Daine held in her mirth at the two and instead told them about what the bats had told her. She could tell that the idea of the king of Tyra being behind the attacks, not only on Kel but on several villages, did not sit well with them. If it was true that Tyra was behind this, it meant war and even worse there was a possibility that there was an unknown threat from a country that they had never even heard of.

Kel and Dom spent as much time together as they could while the company was still camped in the little clearing. Their new relationship was taking some adjusting too, not just for the couple, but also for the other men in camp. Everyone was being forced to reconsider the way they thought of two of their comrades. On top of all this they had to deal with the fact that the possibility of war was eminent. The tension that had mounted while in camp died out some when they finally started back for Corus, at least when they made it back to the capitol they would have some answers and ideas about their future.

King Jonathon did not take the news Raoul delivered, with the assistance of Numair and Daine, very well. When the three walked out of the meeting room they found Kel, Dom, and Neal, along with several of the men of the Own, waiting for them, waiting for news. Too bad there was nothing new to tell them. Jon wanted to investigate more and if what they told him panned out, and then he would investigate ways to proceed.

Whatever Jonathon was finding out he wasn't sharing. George and Myles were both closed lipped about the subject as well. If they even told Alanna what was happening, it wasn't getting past her either. Most of the court didn't even know anything was happening. With the Scanra war so fresh on everyone's mind, nobody wanted the idea of another war to make its way to the public and cause dissent.

It was three weeks before the news was released that Tyra and an unknown country from the other side of the Roof of the World were a threat to the peace that had so recently become the normal pattern in Tortall. Jonathon and Thayet were sure to tell everyone that they were going to explore all avenues available to them before war was declared.

"Dom, what do you think will happen to us if there is a war." Kel couldn't help but think of how the war with Scanra separated her and Cleon, managing to kill the passion in their relationship. The thought of Dom no longer caring for her as more than a friend ripped her heart in two. If just thoughts had that much of an effect on her, what would happen if the reality came to pass? But those were selfish thoughts. The refugees and their plights in the last war still haunted her dreams, mingled with the smell of blood and death. It was not something that she wanted to experience again and not something that she wanted more Tortallians to go through.

"I don't know Kel, but no matter what happens I just want you to know that I love you." At her startled gasp, he realized that he had never told her how deeply his feelings ran. With so much going on he just assumed that she had known, it had never crossed his mind to worry that she didn't reciprocate the same feelings. Now that the idea was in his head, he was eager and at the same time terrified to hear her response.

He loves me? Goddess, I don't know what to think. He loves me? She was flabbergasted by his confession. It seemed to her that he was rushing into things with that kind of statement. She just wasn't sure how to respond. What did she feel towards him. Oh sure her feelings were more than friendly, some might call them amorous. But love, did she love him? She surely didn't know. Looking over at him she knew that she absolutely could not give him the response he wanted right then. "Dom, ummm, you have no idea how thankful I am to hear that, but I need some time before I can even consider giving you the response that you want to hear. Excuse me."

With panic rising inside him, he let the woman he loved walk away from him, quite possibly for forever.

Big, big thanks to my beta Blue Mariposa! You saved me girl!

Again, THANK YOU to all of my wonderful reviewers: Pandora Markku, PsychoLioness, French Chipmunk, Clair-a-net, Desatre, Piglet 12345, on top of cloud nine, blue mariposa, Queen Tigress, Sorceress Shadow Rain, Aura Rayne, Demented-dreamer, TouchingTheSky, Kelly Masbolle, Elaora Glen, Bambolieblue, Godsgirl 16, USNA, Dom's Angel, Maxie Fonseca, Guacamole 13, Commander Rhade, Nutz Nina, Pussin Boots, Lady of Masbolle, Domluvr4ever, FanFictionFantom, Jasmineb, TP Freak, Moomlit Mouse, A Dragon's Rose, Sir Jess Lady Knight, NativeWildMage, and Tortall Princess.