"Hold on, Kel." Dom whispered to Kel as she fell asleep. "We'll be home tomorrow."
Kel awoke in the middle of the night. Her vision was blurred, but the moon shone brightly into the tent. She could see Dom sleeping beside her. His brow was furrowed, and he looked scared.
He's scared for me, Kel thought. She felt something deep down inside of her push itself up in her throat.
She stuck her head out of the tent and vomited on the frozen snow.
Dom opened his eyes. "Are you alright?" He asked.
Kel nodded as she took a sip of water to wash out her mouth. She couldn't talk, and getting up to vomit had tired her out. She put her head back down and went to sleep.
Dom thought Kel had been recovering, but in reality, she was getting worse. She had taken a sudden turn during the night, and now she was getting worse with every step her horse took.
She could barely see anything, the world was spinning so fast; she could not eat or drink at all; she began to sweat and shake like never before.
An few hours before they were to reach Corus, Kel keeled over and fell of her horse, hitting the ground with a thud.
"Kel!" Dom cried out, leaping off his horse and running over to her, slipping on the ice. Kel was unconscious. "Wake up!" He cried. "Kel, wake up!" He held her head in his lap, shaking her. "Wake up." He whispered.
Before he had time to give up on himself, Dom picked up Kel. Her cloak was heavy and dry, weighing her down. He hauled her up onto his horse and then climbed up himself.
With one hand he held Kel up, with the other he held the reins. "Peachblossom!" He called out. "Follow me, or be left behind!" He set off at a gallop, a difficult thing to do on the slippery ice. He would be back at Corus hopefully within the hour, but would that be enough? Kel was unconscious and burning hot to the touch.
He rode straight into the city towards the infirmary. He almost fell off his horse, he got off so fast. Kel slid off into his arms.
A healer poked her head out of the building, ready for any accident awaiting her. "What happened?" She asked calmly.
"We were travelling... wet and cold... sick... help!"
The healer sighed. "Fine. Bring her in."
Dom laid her down on the bed in the infirmary. The healer felt Kel's forehead and sighed again. "She has a fever. Could be hypothermia, could be something else. Please go and get Sir Nealan. He's the best healer at the palace right now. He'll be in his room, resting."
Dom nodded and quickly ran out of the infirmary and into the palace. He found Neal, like the healer had said, in his room, reading. Yuki was standing over Andrea, pinning her hair.
"Hello, Dom!' Neal said cheerfully. "You two took your time getting back. it's too cold to be-"
"We need you in the infirmary." Dom interrupted his cousin. "It's Kel."
Neal stood up wordlessly and followed Dom to the infirmary. Kel wasn't conscious when they got there. The healer had made surprisingly little progress.
"She has an unbelievably high temperature, she lost consciousness two hours ago, and her heart rate is way above normal. I can't get it down!" The healer looked upset.
Neal nodded and placed one hand above Kel's heart. "I'll do my best." He placed his other hand on the other side of Kel's chest. Green light flashed from his hands into Kel. Her chest rose, then fell again.
Neal lifted his hands off of Kel and swayed. Dom sat him in a nearby chair as the other healer checked Kel. "Her temperature is receding as we speak, though it is still above normal. Her heart rate is normal. She should wake up in a few hours."
Dom sighed and sat down beside Neal, who was very pale. "I'd probably be able to wake her up if I wasn't so bloody tired." Neal said shakily.
Dom put his head in his hands. He wanted to sleep more than anything else. He had gotten almost no sleep for the past four nights, what with worrying over Kel and trying to help her. he had rode far and hard through those days, and he had nothing left.
"Go back to your wife, Neal." He said with a yawn, putting his hand on his cousin's shoulder. "I'll stay here with mine."
Neal smiled. "Welcome home, cousin." He said, pushing himself up.
Dom smiled weakly. "Thanks, Meathead." He then proceeded to fall asleep in his chair.
-----
Kel woke up in near darkness. A lone candle burned on the table beside her, illuminating the corner of the room. She looked around the palace infirmary. She recognized it instantly, the crest on the wall, the feel of the blankets on the bed. And, she realized, peering over the end of the bed, the man sleeping in the chair across from her.
"Dom?" She whispered, unsure if he was awake or asleep. "Dom!" She said louder.
He lifted his head drowsily. "What?" He looked over at her. "Kel!" He cried, leaping up and hugging her. "How do you feel?" He asked, sitting beside her on the bed.
Kel smiled. "My head is pounding and I feel overheated, but much better. I already feel better than I did a few minutes ago. What happened?" She asked, running her hand through her hair, and feeling a sharp pain in her head.
"You were unconscious when you fell off your horse." Kel looked confused, so Dom continued. "I guess it was your sickness, but you passed out. I rode back to Corus with you in front of me."
"I don't understand." Kel said. "Why did this happen to me? I never get sick!"
Dom shrugged. "No idea. Maybe you caught something when you were away, but it didn't come up until you got a cold out here. Who knows."
Kel curled up in a ball. "I've never felt so sick in my life." She said. "Except the last few days, of course."
Dom raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were feeling better."
Kel smiled. "I changed my mind."
Dom put his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry," He said. "Neal should be back in the morning, and then maybe you'll be able to come home with me. For now, I think I will stay here, if that's okay with you."
Kel smiled. "That's sweet, Dom, but I don't think it's the best idea, because you could get sick. Then again, it would be nice if you stayed. Oh, do whatever you want."
Dom smiled. "That's my girl. Always so decisive!"
Kel punched him, and went back to sleep.
-----
Neal did come the next morning, and he did allow Kel to go back to her room. She was confined to her bed for three days before a healer came and said she could get out of bed. It was just in time, too. The next day was the first day of Midwinter, and Kel still had to figure out what she was going to give her friends.
She wandered around the city, looking in shops and stalls until she finally had enough gifts for everyone. Afterwards, she went to Lalasa and asked her if she could make a dress on short notice. Lalasa, still happy to see Kel home and safe, complied instantly.
There was a messenger waiting outside her room when Kel got back. She knew what it was.
"Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan," he said clearly, staring through Kel at the wall behind her. Kel nodded, and he continued.
"The hearing of your crimes shall be presented to the Lord Magistrate and jury of the King of Tortall, Jonathan IV, in the capital city of Corus on March the twenty-first at sunrise. You will appear before the court at this time with your defence, and the jury shall decide your fate."
He turned and walked away.
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Seirien: glad to hear it!
Lady Crystaline of Jewel Cove: Hmm... I think it gets slightly more obvious now, doesn't it? I still haven't decided what will happen, though... and I thought I had writers block!
Wake-Robin: umm... who knows?
GrapeStarburst: Ah, I understand... but who? Maybe someone more annoying and assholish... eh. Glad to hear that you are paying attention to Queen. (that sentence made sense, I promise!)
Goddess Usagi: I know... I actually was really hapy with the way she came to Mindelan, but not so happy with the time she spent there... I didn't really know what to do with it. Hmm, I did take a break, and now I don't have writers block!
Alannalovingwriter: yay!
Lady of Masbolle: umm, I think she just got sick (I still haven't decided why she left, though...)
Pinky: I'm sorry, I think it's not right when people aren't interested in what happens next!
Smiles28: of course! Ooh, Australia! There are a lot of people reading TP down there, eh? (I am so Canadian on fanfiction... I ALWAYS say eh)
Dreamerdoll: glad to at least hear someone's happy dance! Dude, I wouldn't do that (at least not yet – heehee) and don't worry, I react well to butter. It is so much better than being marginerized!
PsychoLioness13: ooh, you're a bit behind! Anywhoo, I thought it was very Mindelan as well. Very cool and calm.
PurpleLight: glad you like it! You should read my others, they are all very similar because I am not very creative.. hmm.
Mage Light: I love run on sentences. They are highly underrated. I haven't read any of those books. Actually, I have only read the Kel books, and I read the Alanna books briefly. Skimmed them, really. I should get around to that, shouldn't I?
AJ 4EVA: cool!
PeaceBabe: I will be sure to check in to your story when I have time. You usually have good stuff to say. Glad you liked it!
Rowenhood: cool name, dude! And come on, it's been less than a month! Jeez!
Does anyone else notice that everything happens in this story and Aftermath at the same time? Kel goes away at the same time (I mean update time, not chapter time) Kel gets put in bed at the same time, Kel loses Dom and gets him back around the same time... I just realized, they aren't very creative... oops. Oh well. I try!
I also realized that I use the word "after" a lot. Three stories are title that, and there is another one that I am writing that will as well. Only problem is, I'm running out of thigs to happen to Kel. It is very difficult! I think some of these are ending... I am having an epiphany!
Actually, I am just realizing I have to spend more time on school work and less time here. Interesting.
Don't worry, that doesn't mean that I am done. I am just doing other stuff too.
K, I'm just going to shut up before I dig an even deeper hole.
Sorry the chapters so short, it's just taken me a long time, and it was a good place to stop.
"Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can make a child look like a deer."
That's all for now, folks!
-unolimbo