Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or places.

Beautiful and amazing dearest,

Your beauty has touched my heart and my love is forever yours. The way your eyebrow arch above your eyes makes me melt. The way you look atop that monster only made my love for you stronger. Please say you will meet me! I cannot stand the thought of us being apart for so long. I long to see you. Come see me at midday to share a picnic with me in the clearing to the west. My day will only be complete once I lay eyes on your beautiful person.

A secret admirer.

Kel was laughing at the note. A serving boy had just given it to her. She look at the sky, it was almost midday. She scribbled a note back and told the serving boy to give it to the one who had given him the first note. Laughing she strode out to the wall. The note was obviously from Neal. Eyebrows? Wasn't that Neal's favourite subject in poetry? Monster? Only Neal referred to Peachblossom has a monster. He should have tried to make it sound more like Dom.

Dom was staring at the note in his hand. A love note nonetheless. This must be their new plans to get Kel and I together, he thought. This is where we start fooling him, he thought with a grin.

Neal just got a note back from the serving boy he had sent to Kel. Opening the new note he read

I am sorry to inconvenience you, however I cannot be made available for midday because I have to look over the reparation of the northern wall, it cannot be delayed.

Sincere apologies

Lady knight Keladry of Mindelan.

He looked out his window to see Dom going to saddle his horse.

He rushed to the stable. Dom had just finished saddling his horse. "Where are you going oh great cousin of mine?"

Dom turned around "None of your business meathead." He replied with a grin.

"Well we need you to... euh.... look over the reconstruction of the Northern wall" Neal said.

"Well, I did book the morning off and was assured rest. Isn't Kel looking over the reconstruction of the northern wall?"

"Well... euh...."

"You know she can't be trusted with a hammer!" finished Lord Raoul who had come to Neal's rescue.

Neal shot Raoul a grateful look.

"Well why don't you look over her, My Lord? I mean I have plans for the day"

"Well I have to look over the troops and the horses and I can't save her from hammering her hand"

"And I have to heal people!" replied Neal, brilliantly.

"Well Neal you'll have to heal Kel's finger pretty soon then" he mounted his horse and galloped out of the fort. He was laughing so hard. The look on their face had been priceless.

"FAILED!!! WE FAILED!" Neal yelled at everyone.

"What?" asked Lady Alanna.

"Kel sent a note back saying that she couldn't make it and now Dom is currently in the wood awaiting someone for a romantic picnic." Explained Lord Raoul.

"Uh-oh" said Wolset "What do we do?"

"Well I DON'T KNOW" screamed Neal. Just then Kel popped her head in "What are you guys talking about?"

Owen started to open his mouth to talk. Neal was faster though and covered Owen's mouth with his hand. "Nothing"

"Well ok then, have you guys seen Dom?" she asked

"Euh... No" they replied

She nodded. "What's that?" she asked, pointing at the parchment with the betting pool on it. "Oh! What are you betting on? Can I bet on it to?" Her face was completely Yamani straight.

"Euh... Actually... the bet is done... so... too late?" replied Neal. It sounded more like a question.

"Oh I see. And what was the bet?"

"Oh it was on Neal, and how many time he got hit by that Shukusen of Yuki on his wedding day. I won. I bet she would hit him 26 times" replied Alanna

"Oh wow, she was holding back for the wedding wasn't she? Too bad you guys didn't invite me to bet, although never mind, I'm glad you didn't. I would have bet higher" she replied grinning at Neal

"It is my fate to be misunderstood!" he yelled at them.

"Anyways I have to go help with the northern wall again, next time let me know when there is a bet"

"That was close" whispered Wolset.

"Ok so here is the plan, Daine should send her animal to harass Dom and then send a cute little sparrow with a note attached to it's leg leading him on a 'treasure hunt' that will eventually lead him to Kel but we should make..."

"That's enough" said Lord Raoul "Why don't we just send a boy to tell him the 'lady' cancelled?"

Kel walked away from them. She knew perfectly well what was the bet, but it was so funny to watch Neal squirm. She'd have to tell Dom. It was also funny to see them trying to figure out how to tell Dom to come back without sounding suspicious. Fooling them was so much fun.

"Mom? Did you just...giggle?" Tobe said as he came up beside her.

"Tobe, I am a woman, I do giggle from time to time" she replied

"It's just too.... girly for you" he informed her

"I'll keep that in mind"

"Are you gonna marry Dom?" he asked bluntly

She was shocked, not expecting this. "Euh... we're not at that point yet" she replied awkwardly.

"If you do... will he be my dad?"

"I guess" she replied "But it's not happening anytime soon. Dom and I are now planning on fooling all of them"

"Oh I guess I could help you then. They are planning on stealing all of Dom's clothes and hiding them in your room, so he'll have to come to your room half-naked." He told her.

She started to laugh "Mithros I can't wait for that. Oh, I really wish I could see their faces! What about the betting pool? I want someone good to win!" she said

"Well the way I see it, Lord Wyldon will win"

"Lord Wyldon?" she asked dumbstruck

"Yes. He said that they were a little childish in their pranks and he thought you didn't need help in getting Dom and that you were together before they started everything. Everyone disagreed. He only agreed to join to keep Sir Neal in check. Some of Sir Neal's ideas are rather... crazy..." he told her.

Just then the alarm sounded.

Dom was just peacefully carving a small figurine in the forest. He knew his part well. He was going to go back to Giantkiller in a little while looking all dejected. Then someone would ask him what was wrong. Then with the exaggeration of a player he would tell whoever it was that he was heartbroken over a lady who had played with his heart.

Of course he knew pretty much everyone knew that he was supposed to be meeting Kel. They would all have to try to make it look like they didn't know anything. He was pretty sure Neal was going to squirm. It was just his favourite pastime, make Neal squirm, or squeal like a girl.

He looked at what he had been carving. It was a small pendant. It was a tiny griffin. It wasn't that good. He had tried his hand at carving recently. He wanted to surprise Kel with a little figurine. Well he'd have to work harder to produce something good.

Just had he bent his head to the figurine he heard the alarm go off I in the distance. He put the little figurine in his pocket and rushed to Giantkiller. When he reached the Fort he saw Kel lead three squads towards the approaching raiders.

Their eyes met for a moment. She smiled at him before turning towards the invading Scarans.

It was really only a little skirmish, with no loss on their side. But still the whole time he stood on the wall with a bow in his hand, his heart had been in his throat.

The fight wasn't that big. It was small really. Nothing bad happened. When she came back in the walls, she looked around. Everyone was cheering her, for yet another victory. While people were clapping, she scanned the crowd. She found what she was looking for. A pair of worried blue eyes. She smiled into his eyes.

The men of the Own had made sure that Dom slept in loincloth that night, or better yet bare. Then they had snuck in stole his clothes and brought them into Kel's room.

They were now all waiting in the Own's barrack. They were staring at Dom's door waiting for him to open it, come out with barely anything on and then go to Kel's room.

The door opened slightly. And out walked Dom wearing... "A TUNIC?"

Dom turned toward him. "I beg your pardon Meathead?"

Oups, he had yelled that? "Alanna you tell such good jokes about clothes!" he informed her.

Nice save! He thought to himself. "Really, what was the joke?" asked Dom.

Neal squirmed a little bit before Alanna said "I think that we should go eat now!"

"If I didn't know better I would have thought you stole all my clothes last night and hid them somewhere" replied Dom. "Oh, by the way Meathead, Kel needs a new jousting partner and told me to inform me that she is expecting you in half an hour"

"When did you see Kel?" asked Raoul.

"I didn't, I just got a memo from her telling me to inform Meathead!" He walked out of the barrack whislting.

"Fail, AGAIN"

"I hurt"

"How come he had his clothes?"

"I hurt"

"It doesn't make sense!"

"I hurt"

"So frustrating!"

"I hurt"

"What do we do?"

"I..."

"WE KNOW NEAL" they all screamed "We know you hurt" finished Alanna "That's what happens when you joust with her!"

They were currently at the GKDT meeting. "Ok so what is the next plan. " asked Wolset.

"We should get them to go scouting together for a few days!" said Raoul.

"That could work! But how would we spy on them? And she's the commander, why would the commander go on a extended scouting party?" said Fulcher.

" My birds will spy for us!" said Daine. She had given birth to a child recently, and even more recently had the child only kept up ONE form. Little Sarra was now sleeping in her cradle in the Wildmage room.

"I can scry to" finished Numair.

"And I'll just tell Kel she needs to know the land around Giantkiller and she'll go on this scouting mission" said Raoul.

"Perfect!" said Lofren.

"I got mail from New Hope! The stakes are getting higher still!" said Wolset "I got bets from Sir Merric, Sir Esmond, Sir Seaver, Sir Faleron, Sir Cleaon, Yuki, Fanche, Seafas, Sir Inness, Sir Conal, Prince Roald and Princess Shinkokami. "

"Wow!" everyone whispered awed. They were probably going to have one of the biggest betting pool in history if things continued at this rate.

Lord Wyldon was shaking his head at them. "You are blind!" he told them. Everyone laughed at him. "Didn't you see the look that went between the two of them when she came back from the fight? I won't help you with the pranks, but I'll keep the bet I made. They were together before any of this started"

Meanwhile in Corus.

King Jonathan was sitting in his office. Wherever he turned all he could see was the flag. It was a distaff flag with an owl and crossed glaive. Gray, blue and cream ribbons were seen in little girls hair. He saw children playing at being the Protector of the Small. They especially loved to act the New Hope Fight. A painter had come to him the other day to show him one of 'his greatest piece' he had been told. The painting was the Lady Knight. It was the description he had received from Lord Raoul and Lord Wyldon. Her sitting atop her rearing horse, glaive held up high with the Sunset behind her. After looking at it more people could see the sparrows surrounding her head, scarred dog at the horse feet and the man behind her. If someone looked even more closely they could see the fight and courage and bravery in her eyes. He had bought the painting and it was now in the great hall.

People from the city came to view the painting. People from foreign country came to see the painting of the famed protector of the small.

He could see what drew people to the painting. He himself felt the draw. Every time his eyes feel on the picture he felt pride that this was one of his knights.

He was in front of the painting now, looking at it. "She's become quite an icon"

He turned to see his wife. "Yes" he told her.

"Did you hear what Sir Myles has said?"

The king shook his head.

"Maggur has sent assassin, to kill her. George is now on his way to Giantkiller to help about the assassins. And have you heard? Maggur just sent us a letter, negotiating for peace"

Jon turned "All thanks to one green knight" he said.

"Sir Myles also informed me that the New Hope fight was mainly done for a test against us. Maggur told his chief advisor that they would be able to beat us easily. So they threw away young, green men to fight at New Hope. If they had won, we would've had to face experienced soldiers and knights. We could not have survived that without loss."

"It seems we owe Keladry quite a lot" said Jonathan.

"So it seems" replied his Queen.

Thanks for the review! Let me know what you think of this chapter... and if someone could be kind enough to review for mistakes before I post chapter it would be greatly appreciated! I hate having mistake but I can't seem to get rid of them.