Kel was held outside the court room. She could hear murmurs of conversation inside, but she knew not what they were saying. She dreaded the moment when she walked into the room, and she could not focus because of it. After a while she felt a hand nudge her towards the door.

"You go in when they call your name." The guard said.

Kel nodded slightly and closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She was stone. She would not cry, would not show her weaknesses.

She didn't hear when they called her name. The guard behind her had to give her another nudge and she stumbled forward into the bright room. She regained her composition before she approached the bench, and walked forward with her head held high.

There was a murmur through the crowds as she walked in and took her seat before the court. Kel just closed her eyes and tried to block it out.

She answered all of the questions as best she could. When she didn't know the answer, she said that, so not to lie at all.

"Why, exactly, did you leave Tortall in the first place?"

Kel took a deep breath. They had asked her what she had done, now they were asking her why. This would be the most difficult question for Kel to answer.

"I had just returned from my honeymoon in the Yamani Islands. When I was there, there was a bandit attack on the palace. I attempted to save the emperor, but I could not. I felt guilty from it. After a while I began to hear things, to make connections that were not actually there. I told myself that I had been doing things wrong, that I had been making bad decisions all my life." Kel opened her eyes and looked to the audience. Dom was leaning forward, barely sitting at all, gazing directly at her.

"I remembered all the times in my life when people had told me that I did not belong in this world. People who told me I didn't deserve to be a knight. People who told me I was too rash and was making bad decisions that would get myself killed. People talking about normal things in their lives, even, but I was so weakened, so sure that these thoughts were connected that I was convinced that those words were directed at me.

"I was so sure that staying another day would make things worse. I would destroy more lives. I had friends, a husband, people I didn't want to see get hurt.

"When I returned to Tortall on orders of the king of Chatra, along with my lady in waiting, Zonta, I realized that I had been mistaken. But I could not show myself. I knew that it would be treason. I knew I would be forced into exile, so I stayed hidden. I hoped that I could disappear just as easily the second time and maybe even hide somewhere where I would not have to be near the palace in Chatra, if only for my conscience.

"Zonta's words and my love for my husband showed me how wrong I was. I realized that where I lived my life was not the important thing. I realized that I would rather risk exile in both countries and have my husband and friends accept me than live peacefully away from them forever."

Kel closed her eyes again. She was done. She would speak no more. There was nothing else to say. When she opened her eyes again, she saw the king lean over and whisper something in Thayet's ear. She glanced back at Dom, who was looking past her, staring straight at Lord Turomot as he lifted his hand and called the court to order.

"The jury will make their decisions. The court will adjourn in one hour." He rose from his seat and walked out the door. Kel stood and bowed with everyone else when the king and queen rose to leave, and she was then escorted herself by the guard who had watched her before.

He led her into a small room, the same one, she assumed, though she was not sure, that she had been held in before her trial.

She had an hour. She couldn't think, couldn't focus. Kel, remembering her Yamani upbringing, focussed all of her energy on her thoughts and took control of herself. What was she to do but await her fate? She was not usually one to run from her fears, but her fears usually consisted of large men with swords.

There was a knock on the door. The guard, told to keep Kel comfortable as well as contained, looked at her unsure. Kel just shrugged, so he answered the door.

Dom stepped in when the man opened the door. Kel smiled. It was good to see a familiar – and caring – face. He came over to her and hugged her. "How are you doing?" He asked.

Kel shrugged weakly. "I don't know how I'm supposed to be doing. Did that go well?"

Dom looked anxious for a second, but quickly hid it, a smile and a fast nod coming to his face. "I think so. I mean, there's no way to know yet, but Raoul seemed confident."

Kel nodded. Both she and Dom knew that if Raoul thought the outlook was good, it probably was.

"Dom, I-" She paused. "Never mind."

"What is it?"

She looked at him uncertainly. "Well," she said quietly, "there was something I had planned to do this morning before the trial, but I didn't know the guard would be coming so early."

Dom raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I wanted to go into the Chamber."

Dom sighed. "Why, Kel? I know you went in again after your Ordeal, but why? Why would you want to submit yourself to that?"

"Because it knows! It knows what I should do! It has the answers, Dom. It speaks to me." Kel stood up. "I want to see if they will let me go. I still have almost an hour before I have to be back."

The guard was wary about letting her go into the chamber. He was unsure that she would be properly contained, as he certainly would not be joining her inside. Kel assured him that there were no exits from the Chamber, save the main door, which he of course would be guarding. She promised that she would only be a few minutes, and if he was even remotely worried, all he had to do was give a good hard knock on the door and she would come right out.

He agreed, and Kel bade farewell to Dom and prepared to enter the Chamber.

"Be careful," Dom said before he left. "You still have a sentencing to attend, alright?"

Kel nodded. "Don't worry." She kissed him. "I love you."

Dom gave her a hug and did not let go for a long time. Kel knew what he was afraid of. She was afraid of it as well. If the sentencing went awry, Kel would be leaving Tortall forever, this time with no chance of return. "Goddess bless, Kel." He said as he stepped away from her and she walked down the empty hallway towards the Chamber.

"How long do you need?" The guard asked nervously.

"How long do I have?"

He thought about it for a moment, then spoke. "About fifteen."

Kel frowned. "It's half an hour, and you know it. And don't knock even one minute before unless someone comes and tells you the sentencing is starting early, do you hear me?"

The man nodded and Kel slowly opened the door. A rush of cool air met her face. Whispers flew through her ears as she stepped into the room. The second the door closed, the rushing stopped.

There was nothing. "Come on," Kel called out to the blackness. "I don't have time for this."

Then why are you here?

Kel sighed. That's better, she thought. At least I got it talking to me.

"You know why I'm here. I want to know what's going to happen to me."

Go to your sentencing. That will tell you.

Kel shook her head. "I need more than that. I need to know what will happen to me, not just whether I will go or stay. I need to know-"

You want to know if you will be happy. Your happiness is not important.

Kel frowned. "I don't care whether I'm going to be happy or not. Whether the court will admit it or not, Tortall needs me. I need to know if they will make the right decision. Not for me, but for them."

There was a pause. Kel's eyes sped around the black room, trying to see something. Images flashed before her eyes of her various deeds; the children in New Hope, crawling down Balor's Needle, shooting an arrow through the eye of the king of Scanra, leading the army that would bring the next king down. The Chamber was thinking. Suddenly, a face appeared on the stone in front of Kel.

They will survive.

The doors to the Chamber flew open. The conversation was over, Kel knew that. She stormed out of the Chamber towards the frightened looking guard.

"We have five minutes, my Lady. I was about to come and get you."

Kel nodded, tucking a lock of loose hair behind her ear. She took a deep breath and put on her Yamani face.

"I'm ready." She said, and the guard led her back down the hall and into the now full courtroom.

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I'm sorry it was so short… I just really wanted to update because I won't get to do it for a while.

Dreamerdoll: oh, I think I will keep going after the trial. I'll come up with something!

Wake-Robin: ooh, tension mounts! And after this chapter, you still don't know!

Alannalovingwriter: of course!

GrapeStarburst: why thank ye. If you get criticized for your spelling, then proofread. I don't usually make too many mistakes that Word doesn't catch anymore, so I don't really need it… I usually have a few per chapter. But if it bothers you, then I say definitely proofread. It does wonders. Especially if you do it the day after you write it. An I can't answer that question, that would be wrong!

Allimba: ooh, hello new person! (I think… I haven't been on here in a while, maybe you aren't a new reviewer) I'm glad you liked it!

The Lioness Mage: Hee hee. Swimmingly.

Laelai: wow, this is really causing some reader tension! Score! I'm glad you liked it!

Lady of Masbolle: Thanks!

ZIA00013: thank you! That is so nice, new reviewer person!

Goddess Usagi: you can do it! (Does anyone else remember that weird line/ song thing?)

Mage Light: Aww, thank you!

Lady Crystaline of Jewel Cove: Your name is way too long. Anyway, I'm glad you're interested.

Allimba: ok, I will do my best!

AJ 4EVA: ok, thanks!

October Nights: aww, thank you… you should try Aftermath (unless you've already read it…) because it is pretty similar, and it's finished! You can still review it when it's finished!

Gray Eyed Fighter: thanks!

Rowenhood: thanks!

Heardamoose: ooh, more poetry! I feel so special… I don't usually use too much of that type of poetry. I'm much more of a verse person. But thanks!

Smiles28: thanks!

HeartLioness: I don't even really know what's going to happen. But I shall try my very best. Ooh, candy! I'll do what you want, I'll do what you want!

Lady Smoothie:thanks! I'm glad you like it! Do you not like my other stories? If you don't feel free to critique them. I think disliking a story is no reason to not review. In fact, I review more when I dislike stories or when I think they need work. Tell me what you think!

Irish Violinist: ok ok ok!

Well, that's all. Enjoy, and thanks to all the new reviewers! You guys rock! (and of course, the old ones…)

"Contrary to what most people say, the most dangerous animal in the world is not the lion or the tiger or even the elephant. It's a shark riding on an elephant's back, just trampling and eating everything they see."

Oh Jack Handy. What would we do without him?

-unolimbo