A/N: First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Second, I'm SOOOOOOOOOO sorry for the wait. It was a rough patch, writing wise, at least for this story. I'm back on track now and will be updating often. In any case, this fic will be FINISHED by January 27, as that's when I start school again.
Disclaimer: Nothing in this chapter is mine.
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Previously
"So what if we all went riding tomorrow? All of us, together, like it used to be. It might ease some of the tension."
"Good idea, I'll go tell everyone," Merric said, pushing himself off the desk.
As he departed to find all our friends, I wondered if I'd done the right thing. Sometimes, it was better to leave well-enough alone, but when it came to Kel, I just couldn't help myself. She was to be protected at all costs.
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My Greatest Fear
Chapter 6: A Dream Come True
We saddled our horses and led them out to the courtyard. We were eleven in number with Kel, Owen, Cleon, Faleron, Merric, Esmond, Seaver, Yuki, Roald, Shinko and me, myself all present.
I double-checked Magewhisper's girth strap and mounted up, looking around at the group when I'd done so.
Roald was helping Shinko and Yuki on to their mounts, Kel was of course already in the saddle and the others were in various positions between being on the ground and on their horses.
Kel swung Hoshi's head around so that she could survey her friend's movements. The look in her eyes betrayed her weariness but she smiled when I caught her eye. It slide from her face as Cleon rode to her side and struck up a conversation.
I sat on Magewhisper's back, brooding as I watched the encounter. I wonder what everyone will say if I go over to them and tell him to shove off.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to find out as Owen rode up to me before I could move.
"Are we ready to go now, Neal? Everyone's waiting!"
I looked around. He was right; everyone was. "Sure we can go. You didn't have to wait for me; you all know how to ride for yourselves, don't you?"
There were a couple of murmurs of assent as we left the palace grounds and trotted out into the Royal Forest.
For all that it was Midwinter, the sun shone brightly through the trees, making the layer of snow that had settled during the night sparkle like millions of tiny diamonds.
Riding at the back of the group, I chuckled as I noticed Magewhisper prancing daintily around the slushier drifts of sugar frosting.
"You're as bad as me sometimes," I said aloud, rubbing her neck gently.
As we rode on, I absently watched my friends. Roald and Shinko were off to one side having a heated discussion, as they so often did, Merric and Faleron were just ahead of them, riding in companionable silence. Yuki, Seaver, Esmond and Owen formed a laughing group in the centre and Kel and Cleon led the lot of them, though Hoshi seemed to be a few strides ahead of Cleon's stallion.
Funny, I thought to myself, Everything is going to plan. They're actually enjoying themselves! Good job Neal!
I dimly registered Kel wheeling Hoshi around and riding back through the group to come up alongside me. It didn't really sink in until she poked me in the ribs, at which point I jumped slightly and turned to face her. She smiled smugly and laughed.
"And what, pray tell, are you laughing at?"
"The look on your face. It was so funny! You looked like a fish." This last statement was said with all seriousness.
A corner of my mouth deepened and I raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Well, I am glad you've deigned to continue comparing yours truly to edible substances."
Kel giggled. "You did, you know."
I huffed and laughed, roughing up her hair annoyingly. I turned back to the trail and after a moment said, "So, you got away from Cleon pretty quickly."
Kel bit her lower lip and wrinkled her nose. "Yes well, he kept calling me 'Pearl of my Heart' and 'Sunflower'. It was getting slightly sickening."
"You don't like pet names?"
"Not if they're as disgusting as those."
"Some people might find them romantic."
"True, but not me!"
I laughed at the look on her face. I could read the horror of liking that kind of thing in her eyes. That was the beauty of having the kind of relationship I had with Kel. We were so attuned to each other, that there was no real need for words. I loved that there was someone around who knew me so well. Even if she was in a totally separate room, I could feel her beside me.
"So… why are you here by yourself and not with Yuki?"
The guilt I'd felt inside since visiting the Chamber bubbled up and I averted my eyes from her face.
"There's just no reason for me to be with Yuki."
"Why not? Because you can spend the rest of your life with her?"
I shook my head. "Noooo… I've decided it's best that we go our separate ways. We're just not right for each other. Marrying would be the biggest mistake of our lives."
"And that would have to be one of the biggest decisions of your life. Am I right?"
"Almost. It is the biggest decision I've ever made."
"What about leaving university?"
"This was bigger."
Kel looked confused. "I don't understand. By leaving university, you pretty much determined the course of your life."
"Even so, but who knows if I'll ever find anyone else I could possibly spend my life with? I'd rather be in the wrong occupation with the right woman rather than the right occupation with a woman I don't love."
Kel had gone from looking confused to looking shocked in a matter of seconds. "Neal, I- I do believe you're being sensible."
I chuckled. "You believe right. Course, after four years with Alanna, I was bound to grow some responsibility."
Kel smiled gently. "Neal, if we weren't on horses, I'd hug you."
I was taken aback. "Really? Why? What for?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Just for being the best friend I could ever dream of having."
At this point in most conversations, I would usually make a stupid remark but this was Kel and what she'd just said made my heart swell, for more reasons than one.
"Thank you."
Kel's face became pink tinged and she trained her eyes on Hoshi's neck.
Gods, I love this woman, I thought, happily.
We'd ridden only a few more feet when a cackle sounded in the air above us. Each member of our party looked upwards. A flash struck my eyes and I blinked to clear them, hearing a voice as I did so.
"Well well, looky here! Chicks that have wandered from the nest!"
I froze and Magewhisper drew to a halt, snorting. I knew what was above us. But it couldn't be. Surely if they were this close to the palace, Daine would have checked them out?
"Stormwings," Kel whispered, pulling Hoshi up.
"What is your business here?" Roald asked, sounding every inch the crown prince.
"Business? Why we don't have any, do we lads?"
The Stormwings flew lower so we didn't need to strain our necks. The leader was a pale-skinned female; the rest of the flock was made up of males of varying appearances. They all seemed relatively young, though one could never tell. They weren't called 'immortals' for nothing!
"If you have no business, I must request that you leave that vicinity."
The female Stormwing looked Roald over. "And who might you be?"
Roald straightened. "I am Prince Roald of Conte but that makes no difference. Will you leave?"
The Stormwings cackled again and a shiver ran down the length of my spine.
"It is our duty as Tortallans to report your presence to the King, who will send the King's Own to you."
The female raised her eyebrows. "Really? Ain't that sweet lads? They're willing to send out a formal welcoming committee!"
The males laughed and I noticed that everyone had drawn weapons. Hastily, I drew my own sword, hoping I wouldn't need to use it. Maybe they were peaceful Stormwings.
Neal, you are a coward! said the voice in my head and I scowled.
One of the Stormwings saw my facial expression and flew right up to me. The stench was overwhelming and, somehow, I kept myself from gagging. The fact remained though, that I was petrified. Only Kel knew of my fear of Stormwings.
"You have a problem, green eyes?" asked the Stormwing.
I opened my mouth shakily to reply but Kel's sword tip came to rest at the beast's throat before anything came to mind.
The Stormwings eyes turned to watch her but he remained silent.
Kel's voice, when she spoke, was quiet and deadly. "Leave him alone. Neither you nor your flock are welcome here. Take them and go."
"And if we don't?"
Kel's face took on a rueful expression. "If you don't, you'll find yourself littering the forest floor."
"Oh," the Stormwing said slowly, and flew back to his mates. "We'd better bet going then."
"Right," remarked the female, "Go."
The whole flock drew back slightly in unison before flying straight at us.
Having no choice but to overcome my fear, I kicked Magewhisper and charged into the fray, sword raised. I would have to take care not to be sliced by those steel feathers.
It was chaos, to say the least. Swords flew, horses reared and Stormwings mercifully dropped.
As I beheaded one male I kept an eye on Kel, not that she needed my help. She was the best fighter amongst us. Had she been male, she might not have been but, as a girl, she'd been expected to be better than the boys. She'd spent countless hours working extra hard to gain her level of skill. She couldn't beat Alanna but then, the Lioness had had years of practise.
Cleon's sword swiped through the air and glanced across the lower metal half of the female Stormwing, creating an ear splitting screech that caused everyone to wince.
Oddly enough, it was Owen's sword that came out of nowhere and pierced her through the throat, ending her life.
We were silent as we surveyed the damage. The horses bore scratches but they could be taken care of. The Stormwings littered the ground, but wait, where was the one that had tormented me and that Kel had threatened? I couldn't see him.
The screech from behind us identified his position.
We all turned and I watched with growing horror as he swept down towards the group. He seemed off mark though, as he flew for the gap that separated the main group from Kel.
Quite suddenly I realised what he was planning.
"Kel! Move!"
She turned to me. She couldn't see the danger; she thought she could kill him.
I kicked Magewhisper into a gallop but the Stormwing was already there. He flew down and I watched with dismay and dread as the right wing sliced Kel's stomach.
With unrivalled hatred, I yanked my dagger from its place at my belt and threw it at the monster where it connected with his throat. This was a trick I'd learnt from George Cooper, Alanna's husband and the former King of the Thieves.
I didn't watch him drop; I didn't hear my friend's voices. All I was aware of was Kel, who was doubled over in the saddle.
I rode over to her just as she fell forward into my arms. What should I do? I couldn't handle something like this!
Neal! The voice in my head this time sounded like Kel. You need to get her to your father! She'll die otherwise!
Hurriedly, I pulled her on to my saddle. I could feel her blood soaking through my shirt.
I turned Magewhisper in the direction of the palace and she broke into a gallop of her own accord. I trusted the others to fetch Hoshi and follow me.
As we flew back down the path, I noted that my hands were slippery with Kel's warm, red blood.
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A/N: Well, there we go. Not in the same tone as my previous chapters but we had to take a different path. There are actually only a couple more chapters in this story. It's actually quite sad.
Anyway, I know the characters are a little OOC but this is MY fic and I'll write them the way I want to!
On a nicer note, could you possibly review? I've missed receiving them for this fic.
