The days passed slowly. Kel had many a meeting with King Jon and his Champion, Alanna. Though Jon had many powers, he was still in danger. He could protect himself, but not necessarily well enough, and not necessarily in the right way. Sir Myles had more spies stationed, trying to find out what was going on. They didn't get anywhere. The interrogations continued, with little information found.

There were always men of the Own with the royal family. Thayet was complacent, happy as long as she could still see her friends and practice her fighting skills. Her daughters joined her. But Roald would not be kept.

"This isn't right, Keladry," he said one day.

Kel sighed. "This wasn't my decision, Roald, you should take it up with the king. He is your father, after all."

He frowned. "That's not fair." He snapped.

Kel shrugged. "I have to many things to think about to worry about your cabin fever." She snapped back. She was tired. She had not slept more than a few hours a night, and had almost no time to herself during the day. She longed for an afternoon in which she could just curl up with Dom and not have to worry about anything…

But she knew that was not to happen any time soon. Until she could assure the safety of the king, she couldn't rest.

She pleaded with Thayet to speak to her son.

The day Kel almost feel asleep in a meeting, Sir Myles pulled her aside. "You are not the only knight in the realm, Keladry." He said bluntly. Kel didn't move. "Get some sleep. You can delegate. You, of all people, should know that."

"I'm fine, thank you." She said, trying not to let her sleepiness betray her.

Sir Myles put a hand on her shoulder. "As your superior and your teacher, I order you to sleep tonight. Go, now."

"But sir, it is barely after supper."

Sir Myles shook his head. "Go. Relax. If, in the morning, I find you have been working all night, you will have me to answer to."

Knowing she was beaten, and knowing he was right, Kel nodded. "Yes sir." She said, finally.

She went straight from the meeting to her room, exhausted. She had barely lay down on the bed when Dom came in. "Evening, Kel," he said with a sigh. "this is new, seeing you back so early."

Kel nodded, falling asleep. "Sir Myles forced me to take the night off."

Dom smiled as he lay down beside her. "That sounds like a wonderful plan, if you ask me." He said, putting his arm around Kel's waist. She didn't answer. She was already asleep.

Kel was woken by a great shaking boom. The shaking and noise pushed her up and out of the warmth of her bed.

"Oh god." She said quietly, "It's happening, we're not ready." She leapt out of the bed and threw on breeches and boots, tucking her nightshirt into her breeches. She strapped on her sword, grabbed her glaive, and ran out of the room, Dom close on her heels.

"We're going to the royal chambers." She said, running as fast as she could. "What time is it?"

Dom shook his head – it was still dark out, not even dawn. They had no way of knowing until the clocks chimed, which Kel doubted would happen after whatever had just happened.

Kel was shocked when she reached her destination. The door to Jon and Thayet's chambers hung on its hinges, black char marks covering the inside. A man lay slumped against the wall. A smear of blood was on the wall behind him, his chest and face covered also in blood.

Kel closed her eyes for a second, swallowing. Dom squeezed her shoulder, and they quickly moved into the room. There was no one there, save for the bodies of fifteen men. Three of them bore the mark of the Crown on them, guards of the royal city. Five more wore servants costumes, though Kel did not recognize three of them. Two were clerks in the stores, the other five Kel assumed to be intruders. The other seven men who lay, slumped against the far wall, opposite their three comrades, were dressed in plain garb. Kel knew those five must have been the attackers, the three guards, men who had attempted to come to the rescue of the king and his family.

"Kel, look at this." Dom said. He pointed to the dead men on one side of the room. "The men attacking the king are all against the wall. The other three died by the sword. Those twelve died by magic." He pointed to the door. "The char marks on the door are on the inside. It was not knocked down when they entered, it was done afterwards."

Kel looked at the walls. Even in the darkness, they seemed greyer, darker than usual. She went to one wall and touched it. It was covered in soot, charred like the door. She knelt by one of the men. His skin was burned, but no wounds marked his body.

"This was done by magic," she said. "It was the king." She rose. "He may still be alive." Dom nodded and followed Kel back out the door. She had no idea where to go. They could have gone any direction, the palace was massive. But she found herself running down a hallway, not knowing where she was going.

"Where are you leading me?" Dom cried. Guards were running this way and that now, awakened by the thunderous explosion in the kings quarters. Kel and Dom dodged around them as they ran.

"I don't know, I'm going where my feet are leading me." She said in return. They did not say another word as they ran.

They found themselves somewhere they did not expect. They were standing outside the Chapel of the Ordeal. "Kel…" Dom said, his voice quivering with unassertiveness.

She held up a hand. "Quiet." She said. Slowly, she pushed open the door to the Chapel. Silence surrounded her. Before she could act, she was thrown across the room, where she hit the cold stone wall and fell to the ground.

"Kel!" Dom cried.

"Keladry!" Another voice cried out. "Gods, I'm sorry! Domitan, close the door, quickly!"

Kel's world spun before her. She couldn't bring herself to move. She felt Dom's hands take a hold of her and lift her to him.

"Get out of the way, Sergeant." A voice said. Kel tried to see who it was, but it just made her head spin.

Another set of hands took hold of hers. She felt a cool surge of energy flow into her. Light poured from the man's hands into hers. The world slowly came back into focus. More faces than she was ready to see were staring down at her.

"Goddess bless, Keladry, I'm sorry." Kel blinked. The king was staring down at her. "Are you alright?"

Kel pushed herself up. "I think so." She said, holding her head with her hand. Her brain hurt. "What was that for?"

Jon smiled. "I didn't realize it was you. The only people around were people trying to kill me, so I assumed they were the only ones who knew we were in here." He was whispering. The royal family was safe. They were all there.

"What happened?" Dom asked quickly.

Thayet shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Keladry needs to rest, as does my husband. He has done a lot of magic this evening."

"We can't stay in here." Kel said finally. "It's a dead end."

Jon sighed. "I was hoping no one would bring that up. But yes, we should move somewhere else."

Dom shook his head. "Stay here. Don't move until I get back. I will knock so that you know not to throw me against a wall." He said.

Jon nodded, and Dom disappeared.

Kel felt warmth on her forehead. Blood was trickling down it. She touched two fingers to her crown, feeling a sharp pain as she found her wound.

"Here," Thayet said, ripping a strip off of the bottom of her night shirt. "Jon shouldn't do any more magic, he will tire himself out too much.

Roald shook his head. "I can at least do this much, Kel." He said. He touched a hand to her wound, and she felt the pain in her scalp disappear. Thayet used the strip of her night shirt to wipe the blood off of Kel's face.

Fifteen minutes later, they were getting restless. "We need to move," Jon said.

Kel shook her head. "We wait for Dom," she said. "He won't fail us, I promise you that. We just need to stay quiet, and no one need know we are here."

"You found us." Jon said grumpily.

Kel shrugged. "I didn't think. I just followed my feet. I didn't do anything."

Thayet smiled. "I trust you, Kel. We will wait."

Sorry it took so long to get this all out… I had to reread the books before I wrote any more, it was really bothering me… and then I sort of went away for a while. meh.

heartdamoose: moose are patient. I like moose. "At the end is the worst thing imaginable… the room… with A MOOSE!" "AHHH – wait, that's not scary." "And the moose is eating WALNUTS." "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Oh Invader Zim, you are my hero.

Pinky: see, I got kinda bored with this story line. I decided that there are just too many things wrong with it, so I am wrapping it up pretty quick like.

Lady Belle of Masbolle: I shall get around to it. for sure.

Naruke: Didn't we talk about this already? Please stop talking about the sex stuff here. It's a little creepy.

Lady of Masbolle: thanks!

Lady Crystaline of Jewel Cove: thanks!

Blonde bitch: of course, I shall!

Wake-Robin: that's what I was hoping for!

Alannalovingwriter: thank you! That is a very good compliment!

Lady Belle of Masbolle (again): thank you!

Queenofdakittys: there shall be plenty of teh fluff. Mucho.

Lady Crystaline of Jewel Cove (again): thanks again!

PureEsparenza: good stuff, or god stuff? Because they are very different – though both very nice. And I shall check out your story… it might take me a while, though.

DOMLUVR4EVER: umm… I actually already have a story where that happens. It is called After the Deed. I finished it already, and a sequel is in the works, though there is the possibility that I'll scratch the idea… I have a few too many going on at once… but you should definitely check it out. It's one of my first ones.

Lady of Masbolle (again): dude, there is nothing wrong with short reviews, but there is something wrong with math.

PsychoLioness: I'm glad that you liked it. At first I thought you were complaining, and I was really sad because that was one of my favourite things I have ever written in this story… I just loved it. They story wasn't very good, but it totally sounded like something out of a movie. That's the problem with my writing… I write like I am making a movie, so sometimes things don't make sense. :)

Horsiegurl: thanks, I will.

Avchocaholic: I can see why it would seem like it wasn't her, but I felt like I have been writing this story for long enough that she had developed to it. If I had done this in the first few chapters of a story (don't forget, this is a sequel) then it would seem a lot more out of character. As it is, I feel like it could happen, with what I've written for her.

I am far too lazy to go on the web for a quote today. I will make sure it is extra hilarious next time.

unolimbo