Dislcaimer: I do not own any of the character or places.

Lord Raoul and Lord Wyldon, as well as all the ladies and lords that came for the wedding left the next day. Since Lord Wyldon was due to Corus for Owen's Ordeal he escorted all the nobles to the capital. Neal, Seaver, Esmond, Merric and Faleron were given leave to go home for the midwinter season. Owen was thrilled that Neal was going to be the second knight to instruct him in the ceremonial bath for the Ordeal. Lord Raoul went back to Steadfast. Third company stayed at New Hope.

Kel and Dom didn't talk about the kiss at all. They just kept on going as if nothing had really happen. They could be found at every sunset on the wall in a little niche.

The battles had slowed down a little bit since winter was starting to set in. There was barely a battle in a week. New Hope had been reconstructed so the refugees were no longer in barracks. They now had built little houses. New Hope was now a small town where most families had a house. The only barrack left was mainly for the army.

The whole camp then threw itself in the holiday preparation. Even knowing that they were on the enemy's line, and that they were in the middle of a war, they enjoyed the winter season so much. When the first snow fell, Kel and Dom took all the children out in the woods. Squads were posted around the area for protection, even if it wasn't necessary. Kel had the mage in town put a finding charm on every child so they could find them later on. Then Dom and Kel made two teams. And then issued a snow fight. After several hours with several few incident, such as a snowball right in the face nicely launched by none other than Tobe, a well laid out plan which ended with Dom being close to a snowman and a eventful moment when all of Dom's team bombarded her once she walked into the clearing, she found herself walking silently in the wood trying to get back at Tobe.

He was almost within reach of her snowball when someone shook the tree behind her. All the snow in the branches fell down on her. She was truly buried. She looked up to see blue eyes smiling down at her. He laughed as she tried to free herself of all the snow. He started to run, when he realized that she was free. He led her on a chase for a few minutes. She had just caught up with him. He was cornered between a cliff and herself. Just as she was about to pounce on him, the horns sounded. It was the first attack in a few weeks. She ran out towards the sound. As she passed a few adult who had come to watch the snow fight she yelled at them to get all the children inside and tell Aiden to take care of the wall.

She was running towards the clearing followed closely by Dom and the rest of his squad. She saw another squad of the Own on her right "Go around them and we'll corner them" she yelled. The sergeant nodded and took off into a different direction to do what she had ordered.

When they reached the clearing they saw several scarans. She signalled Dom's squad to get into line formation. There they advanced slowly on them, to give time to the other squad to corner them. When she saw the other squad she signalled everyone to attack. She was fighting alongside Wolset, when she was an archer draw his bow. Her gaze looked at what he was aiming for. When she saw that his target was Dom, she threw herself in the path of the arrow.

Has he turned around to fight the enemy that was coming at him from behind he saw Kel fall. She twisted, as she fell so she could land on her back. That is when he saw it. The arrow buried deep in her chest. He screamed with rage. He killed several men to get to her side. When he was beside her, he signalled Lofren to stand cover. He looked down at Kel. Her eyes were closed. He bent his head and sighed with relief as he heard her ragged breathing. He looked around to see that the fight had some to an end. The only casualty was Kel. He nodded to Wolset, telling the corporal to take command has he lifted Kel in his arms and carried her in.

The refugees looked at his burden and sent prayer to the gods. The arrow sticking out of her torso was very visible. He wondered for a second if he should've removed it. But he didn't have enough medical knowledge to be sure of what he would have done.

Emmit of Fengirth was the most skilled healer in the camp and set to work immediately. He sat there in the chair beside her cot and just stared at her, hoping she would survive this. He wouldn't know what he would do if she died. She meant so much to him. That is when he realized that she was his life. He loved her. He looked at the headboard of her bed where all her sparrows were watching. He looked down when he felt something against his leg. He leaned down to pet Jump "She'll survive" he whispered to the dog "she can't leave us"

After several hours Emmit looked up "She'll make it" he said. Dom sighed with relief. He went outside to announce the good news to a anxious camp and third company. They all thanked the gods for her survival.

All she could remember was cornering Dom to extract her revenge and then the horn had called. She had run to fight. And then the arrow had sailed through the air to hit Dom. She had placed herself between the arrow and Dom. Then she was in the infirmary looking up at anxious blue eyes.

"Kel? Are you awake?"

"Yes" she replied, she tried to sit up but he pushed her down.

"Don't move Kel, you were hurt pretty bad" She was happy that she had woken up and that Dom was the one on her bedside (much better manners than Neal, he probably would've asked her why she felt the need to be in the path of an arrow, a question she did not want to answer to Neal).

It took Kel several week to get better. During that time all the refugee came to visit her and left her flowers and such tokens. They offered her prayers and hoped for her recovery. Her most frequent visitors were the kids and Dom. Dom was always there to help her. He would bring her food, help her sit up, stay up with her late at night talking about nothing in particular.

During her times in bed she wrote to the king informing him of what had happened. He had replied saying that everyone hoped that she would get better. Neal sent her a letter, in it he asked her the question she did not want to answer. Why had she put herself in the path of the arrow?

The only answer that came to mind was because she couldn't stand to see Dom hurt. She denied to herself that she was in love.

Raouls also sent her a letter saying he was upset she was hurt. Yuki also sent her one saying that she was pregnant.

"Great" said Dom. He had received a few letters too and he was reading them while Kel read hers.

'What?" she asked

"We'll have a Meathead Junior soon" he replied making her laugh. "He'll probably be a little devil"

"What if it is a girl?" asked Kel

"Oh, then she'll be as lovely and delicate as a Yamani blossom" said Dom with a grin.

"I think it's a girl" said Kel

"Why do you say that?" asked Dom intrigued.

"Irnai told me that Neal's daughter would be the next girl page" she replied with a smile.

"Another insane child" he said while shaking his head. "Well you and Alanna have raised the bar very high for lady knights"

"What do you mean?"

"Well don't you know all the tales of the lioness?" Kel nodded "and don't you know that you are also a hero and that, according to meathead and Lord Raoul, songs of your adventures are sung everywhere? And that you are the people's hero? The protector of the Small? The one who will always fight for justice? The lovely Lady-knight? The ... Ok I'll stop" he said when he saw her glare.

"I've been thinking" said Kel

"Uh-Oh" he said. She smacked him before continuing. "I think I want to adopt Tobe. I mean he's got no family and if I die in battle I'm sure someone will take care of him, but I want him to know what he means to me. He's practically my son"

"He would be thrilled, but I don't think the king would let him inherit land"

"Well, it's not like I HAVE any land. I don't have a title, I'm the youngest."

"Well my dear Keladry, ask the king" he said

"I shall"

Thank you to Pyrena93 and soccachix101 for your reviews