Hello all my fellow writers! You inspire me!
Disclaimer: None of it is mine. Period.
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Kel and Neal didn't stop until they were safely locked in Kel's room.
"Oh gods." Neal sunk onto the bed. He ran a shaking hand through his hair before he looked up at Kel. "That was close."
"I'll say." Kel paced across the floor, her slippers padding quietly. "I think he was about to… rape me."
"The sad thing is that that's not even the thing that most worried me then." He saw Kel's eyes start to widen and he elaborated. "Do you know who that was?"
"Some Scanran who doesn't know what's going on. Why?"
Neal snorted. "Hardly. That happens to be Maggur's nephew. Burgad. He's a general of their army."
Kel's mouth opened, and she fell onto the bed in shock "Oh. I didn't know."
"Obviously. Did you even try to pump him for information? Or were you too busy flirting? He's such a great catch. Maybe a bit insane and blood-thirsty, but that's immaterial."
Kel looked at him hard before turning away. How can he think those things about me? I would never do that. Her words were muffled when she finally spoke. "I did try. He steered me away from the topic. Just like he almost steered me up to his rooms. But of course Neal, I just couldn't wait to get him in bed. I'm glad my best friend thinks so well of me." She faced him, her face hard and Yamani smooth, but her moist eyes belied her emotions.
Neal started at the sadness in her eyes. Here she is hurting, and all I can do is act jealous and insult her? Oh great Neal, now she'll love you. "Kel I'm sorry. I was just – worried. I'm so sorry I took it out on you."
The apology wasn't enough. He needed to make her feel better as quickly as he had hurt her. Slowly, he reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "We'll talk about the rest of this in the morning." He got up and strolled to the door, when he turned back and smiled. "Sleep well." Then he quietly closed the door. I can't believe I just did that.
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Kel sat on her bed for a long time. She didn't know how long. He just… He just… I can't believe he just… Finally she smiled. I liked that. Without allowing herself any more thoughts on the subject she took off the 'unremarkable' dress and got into bed.
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Neal was dreaming contentedly when he heard a thumping sound. He looked up and observed the Great Mother hammering a sign to a fence. He walked over to her, wondering why a Goddess was pounding on the fence when she turned to him and spoke in a very familiar voice.
"Neal, you idiot. Wake up!"
Obeying her command, he sat up quickly, and realized the sound was actually coming from his door. Startled, he looked at the window and was alarmed to see the large amounts of sunlight streaming through his curtains. Cursing, he grabbed a pair of breeches and threw on a shirt. Once he was decent enough, so what if the shirt isn't quite buttoned all the way? He pulled open the door. A very much alive and muscular Kel came tumbling through the door that she had been leaning against moments before. Unable to regain her balance, she toppled into Neal, and knocked both of them into the ground.
Kel's eyes widened as she lay on top of a very surprised Neal. Blushing, she scrambled up, quelling all the thoughts bombarding her. Stop it Kel. He's your knight-master and best friend. You don't think of knight-masters in any sort of romantic sense whatsoever. Just don't think. Struggling to keep her mind as blank as her face, she apologized.
"Oh gosh Neal, I'm sorry. I just thought we'd want to talk about this Casr place and maybe try to leave early."
Neal grinned at Kel's uncomfort. "It's ok, dear. Just try to maintain a semblance of dignity next time you fall flat on your face. And remember, I won't always be there to catch you." He then flopped onto the bed, arms and legs flying. Peering up at her slight smile, he added, "and don't try to make me feel hypocritical."
Unable to contain her mirth Kel laughed and followed Neal's example by throwing herself down next to him. They lay there for sometime, each on their backs, simply relaxing.
Ah, this is calming. Neal is so great. I love that we can be quiet together and still be content. Just lying next to him makes me happy. I love being with him. Kel lay there for a few more minutes before the next thought came to her.
"Wait. Didn't I come here about something? Like about Casr, and plans?"
"Oh yeah." Neal rolled onto his side and looked down at her. "So Burgad and his men are headed to a city called Casr, which is north of here, on some special mission. It seems probable that they are going to guard important prisoners, prisoners like Buri and Faleron. I think we should go to Casr as quickly as possible and investigate the situation there."
"Ok," Kel agreed quickly. She got up and started back to her room, before pausing and slowly turning. "How did you know that?"
"Oh, the bargirl told me. She pointed him out to me."
Kel's eyes grew stormy. "So you only noticed him groping me because she pointed him out? What were you too busy trying to get a warm bed for the night to pay attention to the sufferings of you best friend? Thanks a lot." She stalked over to the door. "I will be at the stables in half a bells time. You better be there." Neal was left with a disappearing shoe and a slamming door, debating the age-old question. What do women want?
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Neal was greeted with a cold stare upon his arrival at the stables. Avoiding Kel's glare, he attached his saddlebags to his horse, mounted, and started forward. He hoped that Kel was following, but was too afraid of her hard eyes to turn around and confirm that notion. Finally he heard the sound of hooves behind him and breathed a sigh of relief. Why is she so mad about this anyway? I thought that I was just following the plan. It almost seems like she's jealous…
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Kel's temper didn't cool after a whole day of riding. Her frigid behavior kept Neal as far away as possible as she and Neal set up camp. She ate quickly and disappeared into the tent without a word. Neal sighed and began cleaning up. He was in no rush to join Kel in the tent, and gave her a wide birth. He was just extinguishing the fire when he heard a scream.
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Kel shifted in her sleep. Her once peaceful dream had changed.
She stood on the top of a tree, wind whipping her hair in front of her. Biting back her nausea at the height, she looked down and promptly forgot her fright at the sight in front of her. Soldiers in Tortallan colors scrambled like ants before a… monster. Kel had seen and fought hurrocks, spidrens, and all other sorts of monstrous creatures, yet this was by far the most terrifying sight she had ever witnessed. The monster was metal, obviously manmade, and was equipped with every deadly extremity possible. It was a killing machine. She watched as the men fought it persistently, even though they looked like they stood no chance. After what seemed hours later, and after watching many men breathe their last breath, Kel saw the troops ensnare the creature in ropes. One man clambered on top of its head and flung his axe deep into the monster's skull. Steam rushed out of the slice in the metal, followed by a wispy shadow. It floated to Kel's level and spoke in a lost, childish whisper. Mama? Chilled to the bone, Kel stared at the shadow as it drifted away.
Suddenly she felt herself lifted, and she followed the ghost over miles of land. She briefly recognized the capital of Scanra before she dipped into an inner courtyard of the palace. There, a short, chubby man nibbled nervously on the end of a pen as he directed others around. She noticed many of the monsters lying on the ground immobile. It occurred to her that this must be where they were manufactured. As the chubby man strolled over to one and chanted, he held a doll over one of the monsters, and it sprang to life. Suddenly, a pile of dolls thrown in one of the corners distracted her. She approached them, and she observed the fine detail of the dolls, extending even to the bruises that marred their faces. Wait, bruises? Examining them further, she realized that these weren't dolls. Hurrying over to the doll that the man had been holding a moment before. She quickly noticed the red liquid gathering underneath it, and her gaze was drawn to a gash in the… child's throat. Looking around as the man killed another child, she heard a scream being ripped out of her.
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Neal flung aside the tent flap and hurried in. There was Kel, sitting in up in her blankets with tears streaming down her face. He rushed to her, taking her in her arms and soothing her.
"Shhh. Kel it's ok. It was just a dream."
"No it wasn't. It wasn't. Neal he was killing them. For It. They were dying. Just so more men could die. And what did they do? They were innocent. How could they?" Kel subsided back into tears, holding onto Neal as hard as she could.
Neal hugged her back, trying to comfort her. He had never seen her cry before. I wonder what could be this bad? But he turned his attention to soothing his traumatized best friend.
Kel relaxed into his arms, worn from the day's events, and from her dream. Her last thought, before submitting to her exhaustion, was: He will not murder any more children. I will stop him if it's the last thing that I do.
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Hey everyone! Sorry it took me a while! I've been trying to apply for summer jobs (Ugh), so I've had my plate full. Plus I just had to attend the Maroon 5 concert on Thursday cuz they rock! And I'm on tech week for theater, which means I'm there till 9 pm. So I've been busy. Anyway, I hope this chappie is good. I'm trying really hard, but I feel as if it's going downhill. Is it just me? If it isn't just me, if any of you have suggestions that will help to tow it back up the hill, I would be oh so happy to hear them! So, REVIEW! Please. Love, peace, and bullet proof marshmallows (isn't that just funny?)!
PrincessPeach