Mage Storms
July 20, 2009
Chapter 3- Safe
Disclaimer: The only thing here that is mine is the plot. Everything else belongs to Tamora Pierce. (Applies to all future chapters)
A/N:
Thanks for sticking with me and reading my story. Enjoy!!!
Kel was being shaken to her senses. She heard a loud whistle and her eyes fluttered open but she couldn't see anything. No. Not blind, please not blind. Kel didn't think that she would be able to take being blind. She might as well die right here.
"Kel?" a voice asked her. She recognized the voice but she couldn't place who the owner was. Finally she saw something- an outline of a person standing over her. It was blurry but at least it was something.
"Dom," Kel asked now remembering the voice she had heard so much of and had secretly longed to hear when she got to Steadfast.
She heard him sigh in relief. "Yes. Yes Kel, it's me."
"I feel… terrible…" Kel told him wearily. She did not want to tell him she could hardly see. She didn't want to worry him more than he already was. She would tell Neal later.
"I know, love. I know. Don't talk. You're ok. You're safe" Dom told her. Since when does he call me "love"? Kel wondered. She didn't pursue the thought partly because she was too tired and partly because she liked it, she would never admit it though.
"Stop shaking me and let me sleep."
"Kel, I'm not shaking you. You're shivering and probably because you're hypothermic." Kel felt Dom take off his coat and place it on top of her. She began to close her eyes and try to go back to sleep but the shivering didn't stop. "And don't go to sleep. Just listen to me, alright? Stay with me." She did hat he told her and listened to his voice. It was soothing, comforting.
Where in the world are they? Dom thought thinking of his squad. He blew his whistle again and Kel moaned in protest. Seconds later he heard the whistle call telling him that no one could come to their aid. Looks like I'll have to take her to them. He lifted her carefully lifted her cold, fragile body. Kel barely felt anything in her hypothermic state.
Dom carried her to his horse. He was grateful that the Wildmage, Diane, had trained all of the squad leaders' mounts. Dom ordered the animal to lie down. The beast buckled its legs so that it was laying down and Dom was easily able to get himself and Kel on the beast. He placed Kel on the saddle, all the time talking her through what was happening. Once he was on the saddle as well he ordered the horse to stand. He and Kel rushed towards his men as fast as the poor horse would go. Kel quietly asked if they could slow down because the fast movement was hurting her. Dom pulled on the reigns, making the horse slow to a fast walk. He knew the dangers of letting her go untreated but he did not want to cause her pain. Besides, from the sound of the whistle the party was close by and Neal would be able to heal her.
Neal was the first to see them come through the fog that now blinded the soldiers. One of the men told Dom that the fog was the reason why no one came to his whistle. They would likely get lost if they tried to get to him. Dom nodded to the man. Oddly it was only in a small area, that area just happened to be the area that the squad awaited. Dom sat behind a pale, shivering Kel, one arm around her waist to keep her from falling off the horse. He was murmuring softly in her ear. Poor Kel, she looks terrible. Thank the gods she is not dead, Neal thought, but she sure looks it.
The squad members quieted and parted to let them walk past. Dom stopped when he reached Neal. "I'll take her up to the place that we found you." Neal just nodded and mounted his own horse to follow them. The others did the same and started silently up the hill. Dom cursed. Neal was still angry at him about their argument. And he has the right to be, he said to himself. The gods know I would if I were him. I'll have to talk to him later.
"Neal, I …feel… horrible," Kel told him in between shivers. "Could you-" Before she could finish Neal bent over and placed his hand on her forehead to heal her. The green fire of his Gift glowed. Kel's shivering stopped instantly and her eyelids began to droop with weariness.
"Go to sleep love," Dom told her quietly so only she could hear. Neal, his hand still placed on Kel's head, shot and odd look and mischievous smile at his cousin. Shoot, Dom thought. He heard me. Neal realized that there was a burning sensation in his hand, much like the burning Kel had experianced before, and and he quickly drew back.
"Ouch!" he exclaimed, drawing the attention of the surrounding people. He looked back at Kel. She was now asleep,exhusted fom the day's events and being healed.
"What's wrong?" Dom asked. It was the question everyone was wondering. Dom knew something was wrong but he was greatful for an excuse to change the subject before Neal could question him about the name he had called Kel just seconds ago.
"Nothing," Neal said. In a lower voice he said "I'll tell you later." Clearly it must not be good if Neal won't say it in front of everyone. Dom remembered when he and Neal were younger; Neal had conveyed his love for a lady in front of the entire court. He chuckled at the thought.
Neal urged his horse on to the cave after telling Dom he would get blankets and a fire ready for Kel and giving his cousin a wicked smile.
Dom and Kel were left alone to make their way to the shelter. She was still shivering, but only slightly so he grabbed another blanket that was tied to the back of his horse and put it around her. "Better?" There was no reply. She was fast asleep. "You know that once you get better you will have to explain yourself." Kel just turned in her sleep and buried her head into his shirt. He held on th her a little tighter- to make sure she would not fall off the horse of course.
Dom was able to ride slower now that Kel was healed. He hummed a tune in her ear that filtered into her dream. He was at peace now that Kel was in his arms. She was finally safe. Oh, if only he knew how wrong he was…
A/N:
So… another chapter up. I hope you enjoyed it ! The next one might be short but then again who knows! PLEASE REVIEW- They make me want to write more and I want to hear your thoughts! I might not update for a while after the next chapter- I have to do summer reading and gather my thoughts. Should I make it a cliffie or not? -tell me what you think! A special thanks to Miss. Pure and Olive-Whisperer for reviewing the first chapter (sorry I forgot to put this in chapter two)