Snow fell softly outside as the nobles from throughout the realm of Tortall congregated at their tables. The brightness of the hall was made even more delicate by the soft white glow of outside. Jon and Thayet sat at the head of the hall exchanging a kiss or two while people greeted one another.

"It's snowing." Kel said as Neal and she entered the room.

"Well thank you captain obvious," Neal smiled and playfully tapped Kel's side with his elbow. He led Kel to her seat with Raoul and ran off to Yuki. Kel sighed as she saw her best friend wrap his arms around his girl and kiss her neck. She stood across from Buri and Raoul and looked toward the door.

IIIIIIII

"Dom what are you staring at?" Alanna asked as they walked into the door. Dom just gaped. Alanna shifted her gaze to follow Dom's and landed on an elegant woman in a purple gown. She smiled as Kel sat down across from Raoul and began exchanging in conversation.

"Wow." Dom sighed as he let go of the Lioness and walked to his reserved seat…right next to Kel.

"What are u staring at Sergeant?" Kel asked as Dom folded out the napkin onto his lap.

"Nothing, milady, just feels an awful lot like a grape patch." Idiot! He thought as he attempted shifting his eyes from Kel.

"I would say that I feel the same." Kel looked Dom up and down, more down than up. My gods why are you tormenting me!

Dinner was served and all ate in peace with the occasional glance sideways. Snow fell outside with ease as the Hall glowed with the murmur of conversation. Dom looked sideways at Kel and breathed a sigh.

"Dom, are you okay?" Kel asked placing a hand on his shoulder. I'm touching him! Wait a second…this is so not me.

"Kel, I don't know…" Dom began to say but was interrupted by a loud crash from the southern end of that hall.

"Owen!" Kel yelled as she leaped out of her chair and to her friend. Owen collapsed into Kel as she arrived. "Owen tell me what happened!"

He coughed up a bit of blood as he tried to talk, the crimson fluid running down his mouth, "Scanrans…Tortall…in the gates." Owen blacked out as Alanna called for a medic.

King Jon stood up, "Raoul get all the men you can ready. Those who will not fight stay in this hall and do not move until further orders are given!"

There was a mad rush in the hallways as men ran to their rooms to grab weapons. Kel leapt up for her rooms, running down the halls. She grabbed her glaive and forced the heals off her feet and replacing them with snowshoes.

Neal gasped as he pressed his arms against her door, "You aren't going in a dress, are you!"

Kel shoved him out of the way, "I am going in whatever is necessary to do my duty as a Knight of Tortall. Neal and Kel ran to meet the rest of the Own by the stables and mounted their horses and were off through the snow. Scanrans were all over then once they hit the woods.

Dom rushed into the fray with his sword in hand. He pinned a scanran to a tree with his horse and turned around to face three more. Quickly he dismounted and drew a dagger from his side, flinging it through the air into the forehead of the charging opponent. He lunged at one of the remaining two, twisting the sword in and out in a combination of defense and attack, metal clashing on metal. The head of one rolled to the floor as Dom made a lunge at the other and taking him down with his leg and ushering a quick blow through the heart. Wiping the sweat from his brow he turned to see Kel facing off with four more of the Scanran terrors.

Kel sliced through two Scanrans in one shot as Domnitan ran to her aid. Back to back they fought more and more of the enemy. One by one the Scanrans feel to the sword and glaive of Dom and Kel.

"Keep it up Dom, no need to get lazy on me." Kel said as she uppercut another man. "Lady Knight, I wouldn't dream of getting lazy when there are fine people like you who could take away the glory that is so rightfully mine." Dom sliced off another head. He turned to where Kel had been a second ago and saw her running into the distance. As he began to follow a large man stepped in his path, a mace twirling above his head. "I guess Ill just have to deal with you first" A/N – Okay it's a bit longer…at least it felt longer. I hope you enjoy it. I will try and upload another as soon as I can but there are no promises. I hope u enjoyed. There is only a lil bit left I think…yeah…I think. KEEP REVIEWING AND THANKS SOOOOO MUCH!