This is my sequel to Good Things Come to Those Who Wait. If you haven't read it, read it first. It is probably better than this one, and there is a lot of stuff leading up to this.

Just so you know, I am completely making up the names of the royalty and stuff. Though TP probably wrote a bit about them, I am not going to look it up. So royalty is getting new names, as are places and people.

Here goes!

After hours of waiting, the ship finally pulled into the docks of the West most island. Great wooden planks crashed to the docks, and ropes were tied up as handrails. Kel paused as she stepped onto them. It was a breathtaking sight. The Yamani Islands looked so different from Tortall. There were different trees, different buildings, different people. She was so excited that she didn't notice how high from the water the planks were.

They went into a small inn by the water. It was very different from Tortallan inns; very open, with many windows and large rooms and plants set around. Kel changed into a dress, while waited for her.

"What do you think?" She said, spinning around.

Dom smiled. "You're gorgeous." He said, exasperatedly. "Now let's go!" He took her by the hand and dragged her out of the room.

"Calm down, Dom. I was ready to leave anyway." She slipped her wrist out of his grip and slowed down.

Dom grinned. "Fine, fine." He said, taking her hand again, much more softly this time. They walked through the streets of the town together, looking at stalls, looking into storefronts. They stopped off at a small grocery stall and bought some fruit, which they retired to a park to eat.

"I think I like it here." Dom said as they sat in a gazebo.

Kel smiled. "Dom, you have not seen very much of it yet." She said. "There is so much more to these Islands. There is the royal city, of course, situated on the next island over, which is one of the most beautiful things you have will ever see, but there is also the smaller islands, where the villages are. They are all very close together. In fact, most of them are just separated by a few metres. They usually have bridges between them."

Dom smiled. "Stop lecturing me." He said. "It's making me feel stupid."

Kel kissed him. "That was not my intent." She said softly. "But I must tell you of one more thing! In the Royal city, there are all the experts of the Yamani fighting. You will be able to learn whole new techniques from experts."

Dom smiled. "I am ecstatic."

Kel laughed. They sat quietly for a moment, until Kel stood up. "Come on. Let's go back to the room before it gets dark." As gracefully as she could, Kel walked down the stairs of the gazebo and attempted to glide through the park.

Dom was walking with a bounce in his step beside her. Kel smiled. "You might not want to look so excited here. It might turn people off you. They even try not to smile."

Dom rolled his eyes. "I know that. I'm trying to bring some happiness here!" He said, flinging his arms up.

Kel smiled. "When we get back, I want to do some practicing before supper. Do you want to learn the glaive?"

Dom grinned. "Not on your life. I'll stick to sword and spear for today."

They gathered a crowd when they practiced. While there were Tortallans in the Yamani Islands fairly often, few of them were experts with the staff. This was a new wonder for them. They were also used to much older nobles now, and few of them practiced as well or as hard as Kel and Dom.

Kel collapsed on a bench with a flask of water when she was done. Dom hobbled over and sat down beside her. "Good practice." He said. "We need some work, though."

Kel laughed and put her head on his shoulder. "I think what we really need is some sleep."

They went to the royal city the next day. They took a small ferry that went between the islands. Kel was right. The royal island was spectacular.

"Keladry of Mindelan." She said to the man at the gate, when they got to the gate of the palace. The gates in the Yamani Islands were much more well guarded, as the Islands were so easy to travel between. Dom raised his eyebrow at her. "They know me as a Mindelan, not a Masbolle." She whispered as the great gate was lifted. "They recognize my fief."

They were led into the palace, which was as great a hall as they had ever seen. Towering pillars lined the halls, great tapestries covered the walls. Historic weapons lay in cases around them, and everything was golden. There was total silence in the hall.

Dom let out a low whistle, and even through the silence, their guide did not make any notice of it. Kel nudged Dom to be quiet. He grinned at her and winked. "It's fine." He whispered.

They were led through the palace to the gardens behind, where the emperor and his family were relaxing. The guide bowed very low, then quickly backed up and disappeared into the house. Kel curtsied as deeply as her sense of balance would let her. When she stood, the emperor had risen.

"Lady Keladry of Mindelan. I remember you." He looked up at her through old eyes. The emperor had been an middle-aged man when his wife had first born him children. Now he was very old, but he still moved like a young man. Kel felt very strange being taller than him.

Kel smiled. "Good afternoon, your majesty." Kel said.

He turned to Dom, but did not make any acknowledgement of him for a moment. "I do not know you." He said finally.

Kel smiled. "This is my husband, your majesty. Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle."

For the first time, the emperor smiled. "I still remember you as the young girl who roughhoused with all the boys." He said to Kel. "Come. Do you remember my children?"

He spread his arm to the group of girls and a few boys behind him. They all put down what they were doing and stood.

"I know you are well acquainted with my eldest daughter, Shinkokimi, married to prince Roald of Tortall, and I believe you knew Nokuro, my eldest son." They young man bowed at Kel. She curtsied, trying not to smile. She remembered when they had played together. "Yokimi, my next daughter," the eldest girl bowed gracefully. Kel wanted to run up to her and give her old friend a hug, but she stopped herself. The emperor introduced two more children who had been infants when Kel was a child, as well as three whom had not been born.

The emperor's eyes still smiled at Kel. "I have business to attend to. I trust my children can entertain you while I am gone?"

Kel curtsied. "Of course, Majesty." She said. The emperor turned on his heel and glided out of the room.

As soon as he was gone, Kel ran over and hugged Yokimi. The young woman hugged her back. "Kel, it has been such a long time!" She said.

Kel grinned. "Far too long."

Yokimi sat down on a nearby bench and motioned for Kel to sit down as well. "Pray tell, what have you done these many years?"

Kel smiled. "I became a knight."

Yokimi put a hand to her mouth, giggling. "Please, be serious, Keladry!"

Kel shook her head. "No, it's true. I commanded two camps, among other things, went through eight years of school, and, of course, I got married."

Dom nodded to Yokimi, who bowed her head. "I am sorry," she said quickly, I have acted in shame to your husband."

Kel placed a hand on her old friend's. "It's fine, Kimi."

Dom nodded. "Don't worry, I do not command any more respect than my wife."

Kel smiled at him.

She greeted Nokuro as well as the other children as old friends, just in time before the emperor returned. "Sergeant, I would be pleased to welcome you and your wife to stay in my home. You are always welcome here."

Dom bowed in thanks. "I am gracious, Majesty."

The emperor waved his hand, and he walked out of the room. "Nagi, show them to their rooms." He said over his shoulder to the old woman by the door. She kneeled on the floor as he spoke. "Yes, master."

The woman rose and gestured to Kel. "Right this way, my lady." She said, and led Kel and Dom out of the room. "These are your rooms, my lady. Please do not hesitate to ask if anything is needed. Dinner is served at seven o'clock sharp in the dining room. Shall we expect you?"

Kel nodded. "Thank you, Nagi."

Kel collapsed on a chair. "Who knew walking around could be so exhausting?"

Dom laughed. "Not me, I daresay." He said, sitting in the chair beside Kel's.

"I am looking forward to glaive practice. It has been a long while since I practiced with a skilled Yamani warrior." Kel said. "Are you going to join me?"

Dom looked at her disdainfully. "Kel, I would get slaughtered thrice times over. I will watch from a safe distance."

Kel smiled. "Don't worry, I will teach you some of the simple moves tomorrow." She looked out the large bay window in their room. "It's as beautiful as I remembered it." She said. "There are some different buildings from when I was last here. They often get burned during attacks from various savages. But the palace, one of the only stone buildings, is exactly the same. Even the people are the same. The housekeeper for this wing, Nagi, she was a maid here when I was young. We often bumped into her in the halls."

Dom smiled. "It probably makes her feel very old."

Kel shrugged. "I don't know; being married to you makes me feel older every day!"

They laughed. They spent the afternoon, resting and exploring their suite, and had a lovely first day in the Yamani Islands.

The first few days on the Royal Island passed quickly and peacefully. Kel was brushing up on her glaive skills, while Dom was learning them for the first time. They spent hours walking through the royal gardens, smelling the array of exotic flowers. "The Yamanis cherish flowers. They are godly to them." Kel said.

They borrowed palace horses and rode down to secluded parts of the water front to swim in the ocean, and attended quiet, serious royal dinners.

All went well, until their seventh day on the Island. On that day, something happened that would change the way the Yamanis lived for a long time.

The death of the emperor.

Well, gang, I am SO sorry that I have not updated in such a long time. Well, technically, it's not updating ... oh well. I'm sorry it took me so long to write this chapter in the first place. But I was away at camp for two months, and then I just got back to a computer for short bursts of time, and I never had a stinkin' story idea! I started writing the first chapter for this and then realized that before camp I had written three pages worth...so I had a useless two pages that I had wasted time on...and... ahh! It's just so much! Anyway, here it is.

And by the way, anyone waiting for Aftermath, Chapter 14: it could be a while. It was quite far in, and I don't think I have access to the computer I wrote it on anymore. I can definitely get it, it just could take a while. Sorry for the delay!

Lady Helada: yeah, yeah.. here it is.

SeaStar: well, I do realize that this chapter of this story had remarkably little fluff, especially since nothing happened, but the action is going to kick up in the next chapter – quite obviously. And thank you for the compliment!

Rubber Duck: well, she hadn't been home in a very long time, so she just had not held a child in years, is all.

Kerowyn-Dawnfire: hmm...I guess you're right. And to get a story on the site, you need to register your email with , and when you are logged in, go to document manager, add your already typed document, and then go to create story. Add chapters with chapter management.

Of course, seeing as you asked this question almost three moths ago, I am going to assume you already have an answer...

Lady of Masbolle: wow...so much enthusiasm in such a small space... but thanks!

Gwen of Helmsgrove: Score! Master of the universe! Go me!

Lady-kitty: yes, sequels are very nice. I can definitely agree...it's kind of annoying to write, though.

Lady Helada: wait, what are we talking about now?

Alyios: cool...gah! School starts again tomorrow! NOOOOO!

Pinky: cool... thanks.

Jenny: that is actually a really good idea. I recall reading your review before I left and starting it, but I think I gave up, because I had to many chapters to go through to figure it out. But maybe I should start again. And whew, that's some crazy run on sentences! Gotta love 'em!

Wait, did I say I was gonna give an extra chapter? Cuz I was kinda just going to write a new story. It seemed like a better idea.

Java: actually, I don't think I have an ideal ending. And I live in Canada, which should explain my grammer, if that is what you were wondering.

AJ 4EVA: thank you, I will!

Queen-of-sapphires: I guess...but Dom always struck me as being very impatient, and I always thought Kel could be patient, she just got anxious before battles.

Turntable Aurora: thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Oh, and great name! 

PsychoLioness13: thank you! You seem very enthusiastic about it.

Ali-Dreamer: thanks.

Kerzikahn: that's cool. I have lost the ability to type myself. Yeah, I didn't think it was my best either, but what can you do? I promised people a chapter, and I had a very short period of time in which I could write it, and I had no ideas...gah. It was horrible. I'm sorry.

Fhire: yay sound effects!

Lotrfreek: whatevs, i don't mind. I didn't write in a long time, we're even!

SeaStar: wow ... it looks like a poem at first. Crazy...I can't help but obey!

Anna: thanks...I am in love with Dom too, don't worry. There is no shame here. There is no shame in being in love with Harry Potter...or Legolas Greenleaf. They all rock. Actually, I am in love with every single good guy in LOTR except Frodo...isn't that weird? Yay Carl Urban! So pretty! And I'm done...

JoslynSparrow: I have read it so many times...I own the whole thing, and it's the only series I've read I really like. Actually, I've only read the Alanna ones as well... I didn't like them. Oh well! I read two of them in an hour, that could have something to do with it.

Miliko01: aw, thanks. Don't worry, I have such good ideas, it will never end!!!

Lady Crystaline of Jewel Cove: thank you. I love TP's writing, but I recently reread the series to make my stories better, and I noticed something I did not notice when I read them two years ago: TP's writing style is very simple! (I think I already said this...oh well...) she has brilliant stories, but I think I might be outgrowing the a wee bit...oh well. I still love them!

Warrior of Tortall: thank you. Don't worry, there is more coming.

Eeppoonnaa: such a complex name! but yes, I agree. They are so cute.

Well, again, I am sorry it took so long. And this year the chapters will be sparse, maybe one a week, as I really have to concentrate on my schoolwork more. But don't worry, it will still come!

"I'd like to be buried Indian-style, where they put you up on a high rack, above the ground. That way, you could get hit by meteorites and not even feel it."

I'm sorry if I already used this quote. I will get it all into order soon.

-unolimbo