Here it is: another story! I just had this idea that I really liked, but I didn't want to do it to any of my other stories, because it just would not have worked.

So here it is: After Death.

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Kel stood atop the thick wall and peered through her spyglass. Any day now, she thought. Any day now, he would be here.

New Haven was going wonderfully. After the war against Scanra ended, Kel was still needed at the camp. While the war was over, the refugees still had no homes to go back to. The northern towns of Tortall were being rebuilt, but slowly.

Kel did not mind being at New Hope. Her best friend was there with her, and the man she loved was on his way.

She had gone back to Corus only once during the time she was at New Hope. She was granted a months leave of her duties, but on the road to Mindelan, she ran into another party – one that held Cleon of Kennan. So she made her way to Corus with them instead, glad to know that Cleon was still alive and well, and glad to be able to see him again.

She also learned something else. Cleon was free. He did not have to marry. His younger brother, a good for nothing child that no one expected to do anything, had fallen in love. And the girl he had fallen in love with happened to have a very large dowry.

"You know what that means, my rose," Cleon said, pulling Kel close to him, "we can find a nice secluded spot somewhere. "Unless you've found somebody new, my love."

Kel smiled. "Of course not, Cleon." She said. "I just have not seen you in a long time."

Cleon kissed her. "Well then, we shall make the most of this month you have!"

And so, Kel found herself, two months later, awaiting his arrival at New Hope. No longer needed at the fort because there was no war to fight, Cleon requested post at New Hope, so he could be beside his new fiancée.

"My lady, your post is over." A voice behind her said.

Kel turned. "Thank you, Damien. Carry on." She said, closing her spyglass and walking down the stairs. She sighed as she stepped around stray chickens and pigs that were milling around the courtyard. "This is a wonderful place," she muttered. "Any man would be sure to be impressed." She stepped into headquarters where her clerks and commanders were waiting. "Good morning," she said with a smile. "I'm sorry I'm late."

They smiled up at her. "Don't worry, Kel," Merric said. "Neal's not even here yet."

Just then, Neal burst through the door. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" He cried. "There was a child, she was throwing up, very sick!"

Kel put her hands up to stop him. "Neal, it's alright." She said before he could launch into a never ending explanation as to why he thought the child was sick. "Very well, down to business. Merric, how are things outside?"

"Things are good," Merric said. "We have run into a few small bandit parties, never with more than ten or fifteen men. And that is over three months, so it is going pretty well."

Kel nodded as the clerks scribbled madly. "Neal?"

He grimaced. "Not to good." He said. "There is something going around. We have too many people and not enough space, Kel. When people get sick, I haven't the space to quarantine them, or enough healers to heal them all. I think it may be coming from the water, or more likely the latrines."

Kel ran her hand through her hair. "How much space do you need to quarantine them?" She asked.

Neal furrowed his brow. "I don't know, there are about fifty of them now, but the number is growing."

Kel nodded. "Very well. Take the emptiest barrack and put all the sick in there for quarantine. Tell the refugees who were living there that they are to sleep in provided tents until they can be given either proper housing in other barracks or their own barracks back. I know it sounds ridiculous, but for the time being, we have no better answer. If anyone argues, offer to house them in stocks for the night."

Neal looked unsure, but Kel just rolled her eyes. "Fine, Neal." She said flatly. "I'll do it. But I do not want to hear another word out of you, is that clear?" Neal nodded. Kel sighed. "I will never hear the end of this one." She said. "Do we have the supplies to build temporary housing?" She asked.

Her head clerk, Eurgain, searched through the papers she had. "I'm afraid we don't quite have enough, my lady." She said, shaking her head. "We could build a small one to hold about thirty people, maybe forty. That's probably it."

Kel nodded. "Neal, do we need it?"

He furrowed his brow again. "I don't know. I think the refugees would like it better, but it would take time and manpower, and I don't think it necessary."

Kel nodded. "Very well, I'll speak to the refugees later. You will have your quarantine by nightfall." She looked around. "Is there anything else?"

Everyone shook their heads, contented. Kel sighed in relief. "Oh-" Eurgain spoke. "Sorry, I meant to say before, but we received a message. Along with the knight coming up is a squad of the King's Own. They have been assigned here to help us keep the refugees under control when they get restless for their homes."

Kel nodded, aggrieved. This meant finding beds for eleven more men than she was expecting. "Very well." She said. "Eurgain, have that barracks built for fifteen as soon as possible, and I want it in between the guards barracks and headquarters. Neal, are you sure you can't just block off the main room of the infirmary?"

Neal frowned. "Fine," he snapped. "I'll make do with what I've got. But I'm coming back to you if it doesn't work."

Kel nodded. "Fair enough." Kel said. No one else spoke up, so Kel dismissed them. "What have we got today, Eurgain?" Kel asked.

Eurgain looked at the schedule. "Well, you did promise Neal you would look into bringing another healer up here..."

Kel made a face. "I couldn't tell him that I already applied for one, Eurgain. It would break his heart, knowing they didn't care what happened to his patients. It broke my heart, too."

Eurgain nodded. "Very well, my lady. You have time to get some work done. May I beg time to go get breakfast?"

Kel raised an eyebrow, and Eurgain blushed. "I was at fighting practice with the children." She said. "I do need practice, you know!"

Kel smiled. "Carry on, Eurgain."

The young woman thanked her and left.

Kel had been working at her desk for almost an hour when she just gave up. "This is useless!" She groaned. "Why can't things just work the way they're supposed to?"

"Oh, surely it's not all that bad."

Kel looked up. "Cleon!" She cried, leaping at him. "You're here!"

"I'm glad you noticed." He said, hugging her.

Kel pulled back. "Oh, this means the squad is here too. I have to welcome them properly, do the whole commander thing... bloody hell. Give me a few minutes, Cleon."

Cleon nodded. "Of course, love." With that, Kel quickly ran out of headquarter doors and down the steps to where she saw a group of men milling around, as well as Neal and Merric.

"Welcome to New Hope. I am Sir Keladry- you!" She cried.

Dom put a hand to his chest in surprise. "Me?"

Kel put her hands on her hips. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

Neal rolled his eyes. "Honestly Kel, I don't see-"

Kel pointed a finger at Neal. "Shut up, Neal. And shouldn't you be tending to those sick you were complaining about having so many of?"

Neal glared at her, but skulked away none the less. Kel gave Dom a hug. "It's wonderful to see you." She bit her lip. "I'm afraid there's a bit of a problem with your housing, though." She said, pointing to a square of timber on the ground. "That's it."

Dom nodded with a sigh. "I see."

"I'm sorry," Kel said, "I just found out you were all coming this morning, but you should have a proper building within the week. I'm afraid tents will have to do for now. Actually – I don't know, we might have a bit of room in headquarters, that would be nice, then wewouldn't have to build anything. Eurgain!" She called to her clerk, who had just came, "how much room have we got in headquarters?"

Eurgain checked her books. "About fifteen empty beds, my lady! It is perfect!"

Kel grinned. "There we go. You all have somewhere to sleep. You're lucky we don't have many commanding officers."

She called over to the men who were building and told them to stop. "Come," she said to Dom, "I can show you all where you will sleep."

She led them into headquarters, then went to her office. Cleon was there, waiting patiently. "You took more than five minutes, love." He said with a grin.

Kel smiled. "I said a few, Cleon, not five." She walked over to him. "But that doesn't matter anymore." She kissed him. "Come with me on my rounds. I would have to show you around, anyway."

She showed him the mess hall and the infirmary, the barns and the latrines, the pens and the refugee housing. She ended with the guards barracks. "This is where you'll be sleeping," she said. "You'll be under Merric's command. And please," she said, looking him in the eye, "actually listen to him. I know he was below you in school, but he is good at what he does."

Cleon lifted an eyebrow. "Would I cause trouble?" He asked.

Kel looked at the big redhead in front of her. "Yes, you would." She said with a smile. "Come on, I have to check in with Eurgain. She has to record everything I do. I don't know why she wasn't here in the first place."

They celebrated that night. The refugees were always happy to see new faces, especially those who looked powerful. It made them feel as though people cared. They danced and sang late into the night, and Kel found herself staggering back to headquarters with a bit too much drink in her.

"Oh come now, dove!" Cleon called out from behind her. "Hold yourself tall and proud! You are a woman who can take her drink!" He grabbed her by the waist and spun her around. "For instance, you should be able to stop me from doing this!"

Kel screamed and laughed. "Put me down, Cleon of Kennan, before I regurgitate my dinner onto you."

He put her down and pulled her close to him. "I'm glad I'm marrying you, Keladry." He said. Kel smiled, and he kissed her. "Goodnight, love. Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you?"

Kel chuckled. "Good night, Cleon."

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I hope you all enjoyed it so far. It is going to be a short one, only about five chapters, probably... oh well. It shouldn't be too bad!

-unolimbo