I don't know where Queenscove and Masbolle are located in relation to each other, so I am deciding that they are sort of near each other.
Tamora Pierce owns all the characters/places not me.
Last lines from Ch. 2
Looking up quickly from his opponent, Dom caught sight of a fifth attacker, behind a fairly large tree, pulling the string to a longbow, aiming at Kel.
Kel was completely involved with her fight and barely heard Dom's panicked shout,
" KEL, WATCH OUT!"
Ch. 3- Raoul's Confession
Kel tried to get out of the way of an arrow flying at her, and was halfway through her turn when the arrow went deep into her right arm, right into the cut she already had. Kel screamed, the last thing she saw before blacking out was Dom slicing through his opponent and running towards her.
Dom watched as if it were slow motion, he shouted to Kel, saw her turn to dodge the arrow speeding at her, and watched her scream and collapse to the ground. His heart skipped a beat when he watched her fall. ' I have to get to her!' That was all Dom was thinking as he killed the bandit he was fighting and came at her opponent. He slit him through so quickley from his momentum, that the guy didn't know what was coming, then he turned to the shooter.
His vision blurry with silent tears streaming down his face, he ran at the fifth and final bandit. He cried in fury and started attacking the guy with all his rage, finishing him off, Dom ran to Kel.
' No, please be breathing, please be breathing!' Dom knelt down to Kel, unconscious and breathing….but barely. Dom carefully picked her up and put her beside their campsite. He then proceeded to make camp and start cooking food and tea with packets of medicine. Preparing Kel, to get her wound clean and take the arrow out.
By sundown, Dom had a bonfire going, and warm food cooking. He turned, and what he saw madetears roll down his face again, but he was so happy he didn't notice it.
Kel woke up to quickly fading light. ' Oh my head… why does my head hurt?' Reaching up to feel her head she fought for consciousness at the mind numbing pain shooting through her right arm. When she went to feel her head, this time with her left arm, she felt a huge bump with a small cut already scabbing over. ' How'd that happen?'
Kel tried to move into a sitting position, but couldn't do it. She then saw Dom coming over with a watery smile coming over to help her. ' Gods I love him so much' she thought.
Dom picked Kel up, careful of her arm, and moved her closer to the fire. 'She looks a bit dazed, but otherwise good!' " Are you okay Kel?….Gods, I thought I had lost you for a while!" Kissing the top of her head gently he moved to get the tea and handed it to her.
Kel took the tea and slowly sipped it. Then she remembered what had taken place that day and a rush of questions went through her head. " What happened?" she started. " All I remember is you shouting to me, and then a sharp pain in my arm."
" We were both on the last people we were fighting, but you were cut in the arm, and I heard movement, so I quickly looked over toward you and saw a fifth bandit with a longbow aimed at you! So I shouted and then you were in the process of dodging it and it hit you right where you got cut…so I killed the rest of the men, then came over to you. You slept most of the day, and I want you to sleep more." Dom stated this anxiously, looking at her for any more harm he might not have found when bandaging her.
" Yeah….Thank you Dom" Kel whispered. Tears were starting to come to her eyes.
Dom looked at her and gave a short affectionate laugh and moved quickly to her side and enveloped her in a hug that made Kel feel so safe and protected.
Kel looked up at her Husband, still getting used to thinking of him like that, and kissed him, she felt like everything would be alright as long as he was with her, and snuggled closer to Dom. Feeling sleepy again, Kel finished the tea and fell asleep in Dom's arms.
Dom carefully moved her into the bedroll and tucked her in. ' It'll be easier on her arm if we have different bedrolls.' he explained to himself.Then he stayed up until there were only embers in the fire, and went to sleep. Not getting too much sleep because he was too worried about Kel, Dom kept getting up and checking on her every hour.
The first thing Dom did when the sun rose, was get out his pendant. The pendants that officers in the Kings Own had for communicating to each other without the Gift.
"Raoul…are you up Raoul? It's Dom, it's an emergency…please speak!" Dom was getting panicked….' What if I can't get in touch with anyone….Kel won't be able to make it!'
" Humph…I'm coming…Wait…DOM!…what's wrong… is Kel alright?" Raoul was starting to get the idea of why Dom was getting in touch with him.
" Raoul…she is badly injured... We were eating lunch and four bandits attacked us, then a fifth appeared by the trees, and shot Kel in her already injured arm...I don't know how long she can last.." Dom's voice cracking at this point continued, " Raoul, I don't know what to do….I am so scared that she isn't going to get better…where is the closest town with a healer in it…we are a days ride out of Corus."
"Well, Queenscove is a little ride to the west, and your Uncle is there taking care of the house for a while…can she make it there?" Raoul asked nervously.
Dom glanced at Kel's sleeping form, then quietly replied, " I think so, if we are heading to my uncle's it isn't that far,I remember the way, so we'll just take it slow…I stopped the blood from flowing out, and she's all bandaged up and drank tea to keep out infection... I think she can make it."
" Good, I'll have Jon contact Baird, someone will be waiting at the gates... Dom, I think of Kel as a Daughter…I have never told anyone that. I completely trust you with her life and I wouldn't tell that to anyone. I don't think anyone could've taken care of her like you did. I'm proud of you Dom, and I thought you might want to know that." Raoul almost whispered this, everything he said true.
Dom considered what Raoul said, " Thanks Raoul... you know I'd give my life for Kel. I have to go I can hear Kel waking. Bye."
" Bye Dom." Raoul went immediately to get Jon to send the message.
Kel opened her eyes, and saw Dom just cleaning up breakfast. She saw a plate of food, and tried once again to get up, shejust couldn't do it. She used up too much energy and sat back down.
Dom came over with breakfast, and started to spoon stew into Kel's mouth, keeping her from using too much energy. Kel looked up at him, and he felt so helpless to her condition. " Kel?...Kel I have a huge favor to ask of you."
" …What is it?…" Kel looked up at him weakly.
" We have to go to Queenscove, My uncle is there, and he can take care of you. Then we can go to Masbolle after you recover. Do you think you can stand?" All of this spilled out of Dom in a breath.
" I don't think I can make it on my own…if you help me I am sure I can…if I pass out please tie me to my horse." Kel said. Then leaned a little and kissed Dom, feeling her energy rise with the heat of this kiss.
Dom stood Kel up and walkedher to Hoshi. He sat Kel on her horse and gave her the reins in her left hand. ' I hope she can make it.' he keptrepeating tohimself.
" Dom. Dom, please tie me to Hoshi…I can feel my strength draining…please." Kel asked weakly.
After carefully tying Kel to Hoshi, Dom and Kel made their way to the rode and started riding. The horses stayed at a walking speed.
After an hour, Dom saw Kel slumping down in the saddle, and was relieved that he had taken Kel's advice.
Soon they were at the gates to Queenscove, and to Dom's surprise his Uncle was there personally.
Taking Firm control of the situation, Baird noticed how emotionally wreaked his nephew was and how Kel was unconscious.
" Give her to me Dom, go to your rooms and get some sleep. I'll take her to the infirmary, and healher asbest as I can." Duke Baird wentover and took Kel's horse and led her down to the infirmary, with Dom watching, praying to the Gods that his Uncle would be able to heal his wife.
I'm not quite sure that this is where I wanted the chapter to be, but I got what I needed to put in it. I hope you like it.
Imakeladrygirl: Thanks for your support!…hope you like this chapter
Buffyvh: Thanks…my mother was amazed that I am actually writing….( I used to hate writing!)
Yukimi-Daimouru- sorry, but you weren't online when I typed this so you couldn't edit it…it'll probably show…I just wanted to get it at least past ch. 3 before I went to bed…. (3:11 AM here!)
Thanks for reading so far….
Next chapter: Queenscove