A/N- This chapter is dedicated to my grandpa, who passed away a few months ago, although it doesn't seem that long ago. I love you and miss you so much, Poppy! Real Life intervenes at the most inopportune moments (not that there ever would have been a good time for this to happen), and this time Real Life was not in the least bit enjoyable. There is also going to be an addition of another character (a member of the Own) in memory of my grandfather in this chapter. By the way, for those of you who don't remember, this is an Alternate Universe-type story in which the Own can marry and the war isn't over yet. Anyways, hope you lot like the newest chapter of the story of Kel and Dom (told through the eyes of the illustrious Sir Meathead)!
Disclaimer- No, unfortunately I do not own any of the wonderful characters in this story (other than Suha and Meerie Rakami, Orienne, Keon, and George of Scope). They are the property of the brilliant Tamora Pierce. The plot, however, is all from my very own mind. It's mine, I tell you. All MINE! HAHAHAHAHA! And the ever-popular line "NEVER FEAR, RAOUL IS HERE!", well that belongs to BrittyWeasley.
Loving My Best Friend
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Previously:
As the man hurried out of the building, Raoul walked back over to our table. "Everyone," he began, his voice clear despite the look on his face, "I have some bad news. Northwatch Fortress has been attacked. The king also wants Kel, Neal, and Alanna to travel with Third Company and myself to Northwatch and see what we can do to help." He straightened. "Let's go. We leave as soon as possible."
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Chapter 8:
Parting Ways
Over the years I've come to learn that no matter how many times you have to leave the ones you love, it never gets any easier. While it may not be a permanent separation, there is always that feeling of dread that you may never come to look upon the face of the one you hold dear ever again. And that is one of the worst feelings one can ever experience.
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Yuki helped me put the rest of the clothes I would need for the journey to Northwatch into a pack, and then buried her head in my shoulder. "Please be careful," she whispered. "I will never forgive you if you go and get yourself killed."
I hugged her tighter to me and kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine."
A knock echoed from our main room and Raoul's voice, though kind, rang firm through the air. "Neal, we need to head out."
"I'll be right there, sir."
Yuki looked up into my eyes and we kissed, long and hard, until I broke away from her. "I have to go," I murmured as she buried her head into my shoulder. I kissed her again and moved to the door. "I love you, Yuki."
"I love you too, Neal."
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The riding that day was thoroughly uneventful. We stopped to camp after Dom's corporal fell asleep in the saddle and almost rolled off his horse (no one was really sure how that happened; We were all too cold to even think about sleeping). We were all in for the night, rolled up in layers of blankets, when a yell echoed from Raoul's tent. I rolled to my feet, and saw Kel do the same, just in time to see the tent collapse around a flailing figure. A bewildered Raoul soon turned angry as the men and Alanna burst out laughing.
"Whu'apened?" Dom asked groggily as the men and my former Knight Master guffawed around us.
I shrugged as Raoul, only his head sticking out of the tent, yelled, "Alright, who did that!"
"Did what, sir?" asked one man, trying to look as innocent as possible while wiping tears from his eyes.
"Don't play that with me." Raoul said, now sounding more weary than mad, "Who put these-" he dropped his bedroll, covered in hundreds of slimy-looking creatures, onto the ground in front of him "-in my bedroll?"
"Oh," another man replied, looking smug, "Those."
The men and Alanna exchanged looks. Suddenly the camp filled with roaring laughter again.
Raoul sighed, and rolled his eyes. "Oh, never mind."
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The rest of the ride to Northwatch was thoroughly uneventful. Nobody could believe what they saw when we got there. The fortress had been close to destroyed, and all around us people were working to rebuild it. We gave our reins to the stable hands and grabbed hammers and nails as we surveyed the losses. First Company's numbers had been significantly diminished: they had lost nearly half of there number to the surprise attack. The refugees, who had been staying at Northwatch until they could be moved to New Hope, had fought bravely, but they had suffered many loses also. No one was sure why the Scanrans had chosen Northwatch as an attack point. Not many soldiers were stationed there, and the refugees weren't really a threat to them. No leaders or major figures were posted there, no one that held the people's trust high. It seemed they had just become bored and decided to attack.
We got to work hauling wood and hammering it into place. I smiled. I could here Kel yelling at someone a little ways away.
"Well, Lady Kel, we know that you, er, aren't that skilled with a hammer, so we thought it best if you just go help in the mess hall," came the calm reply from one soldier. I laughed as Kel stalked off to the mess hall, grumbling to herself.
The soldier walked by me, grinned, and said, "No one in their right mind would give her a hammer!"
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Dom and I were walking to the mess hall that evening when I saw George of Scope, a member of Third Company, banging a sign onto a post with a rock. The sign read:
You are invited to:
WHAT: Sergeant Dom's Bachelor Party!
WHEN: In two Sunday's time
WHERE: The Jugged Hare
Everyone in the Own is invited, only Dom
doesn't know that yet, so don't tell!
And that wasn't the only sign, either. About fifty others were plastered in various places along the path. I stared at Dom, amazed that he was taking this so well. He had told me that he wanted his bachelor party to be, in a way, quiet, only some good friends and some good food. Nothing big. And why would whoever put the signs up bother telling people not to tell Dom when he could just read it himself anyway? "Er, Dom," I began uncertainly, "Do you see those signs?"
He shrugged. "Yes, I do. Why?"
"Do you see what they say?"
"Of course I can see what they say. They're notices to everyone here."
"And you don't care!" I yelled, bewildered.
He looked at me, eyebrows raised. "Did you take a hammer to the head today, Meathead?" And he continued on his way, leaving me to stare at the signs.
"George," I asked, watching the man bang more posters into the wood, "Where did you get those?"
"Lord Rauol gave 'em to me," came the reply, "He had Lady Alanna bewitch 'em so that Sergeant Dom would see notices to the refugees, while everyone else would see invitations to his bachelor party." George laughed. "He said that Sergeant Dom's last celebration as a single man should be unforgettable."
I looked at the group of men standing around one of the posters. Oh, it definitely will be, I thought.
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A/N- Hard to think this was seven pages long on my computer... Anyways, look for chapter nine sometime next week (hopefully before Thursday!).