Kel

I am dying.

I have been dying for a long time.

No healer can save me.

My soul is damaged.

Death will be welcome when it comes.

My life has been filled with suffering.

Suffering of others.

Suffering of myself.

They say I am the Protector of the Small.

It sounds great but it is a double edged sword.

I not only save the Small but fill their pain.

And I lose more than I can save.

I know Neal is worried about me.

But he can do nothing.

I never married.

I couldn't.

Letting people into my life mealy causes me more suffering.

The defining point in my life.

Alanna has tried to help.

And failed.

Raoul has tried to help.

Even the King and Queen are worried.

After all I am important to the Crown.

But I am no hero.

I still have the children of Jump.

And the sparrows.

But they cannot help.

I cannot joust.

I cannot fight.

My sire retired me from field duty.

Now I just stay at the palace.

Doing nothing.

I have pushed away my friends.

I used to help female pages.

Now I can't.

It brings back memoires of my childhood.

Alanna still helps out.

And begs me to join her.

I cannot.

Dom and his company are worried.

I just push them out.

Lord Wyldon blames himself for putting me in charge of refugee camps.

He did what was best in the situation.

I don't blame him for it.

I cannot blame anyone.

My soul is bleeding toxins into my blood.

I have weakened.

Everyone knows the end is near for the once great Lady Knight.

Neal and his daughter are constantly with me.

They know I will die soon.

And wish for me to be with the ones who were once close to me.

It should be touching.

But it's not.

I start coughing.

And know that this is it.

My death is only minutes away.

Soon my room is crowded with people.

At least I won't die alone.

And in the peaceful realms I can be with the ones I truly love.

My parents.

As my vision starts to blur two people take my hand.

Alanna and Neal.

"She only has minutes left." Alanna announces.

And let's go of my hand.

And Dom takes it.

And whispers as my vision goes black.

"I love you"

The End of Keladry of Mindelan Lady Knight