A/N: Hey guys, and welcome to another chapter of The Protector of the Small! Our school holidays have just started, so there will most likely be more chapters coming your way soon! Thank you all for your reviews, and keep them coming! : ) Give yourselves a big hug for reading this far, and tell yourself it's from me. You all deserve it! Anyway, enjoy chapter 5!

Chapter 5

The brightly coloured shields adorning the walls of New Hope, glinting in the bright sunlight, caught Kel's eye as she topped a hillock. She stopped Hoshi, signaling that the others should do likewise.

"There it is, folks. New Hope," she announced. She turned to the group and noticed Yuki and Neal were holding hands. She was about to make a quip about it when she noticed Dom and Mio were also holding hands. She felt a pang upon seeing this, and sighed despondently to herself. No matter what Yuki said, she thought, it still hurts. She signaled the company to ride onwards, and nudged Hoshi to a trot.

"Nari, would you please fly ahead and tell Merric that we're on our way?" requested Kel. Nari peeped at her and flew off.

When they approached New Hope, the gates opened to reveal Sir Merric of Hollyrose, Fanche, Saefas, and Sir Inness of Mindelan.

"Inness!" Kel quickly rode to him, dismounted from Hoshi and hugged him tightly.

"Kel, I've missed you, little sister! How are you?" he asked.

"I'm well, thank you. How are you? How is everyone? Mother, Father, Anders?"

"Everyone's great!"

"My lady…" Tobe tapped her on the shoulder.

Kel turned, "Yes, Tobe?"

"Will I take Hoshi in fer a clean?"

"Thank you Tobe, if you wouldn't mind."

"Not at all, lady, that's wot I'm 'ere fer an' all." Tobe led Hoshi and his piebald mare away.

"Kel, I need to go and sort out a few things with the clerks, but I'll see you later for a tour?" asked Inness.

"Of course! I have to start packing up, anyway," replied Kel.

Inness turned and walked off to the clerks' office, whilst Kel turned and headed for the stables. She saw Tobe finishing up with his mare.

"Have you decided on a name for her yet, Tobe?" she asked. Tobe jumped.

"My lady! I di'n't know you was 'ere! I'll call 'er Sprite, 'cause she's one o' the lightes' 'orses I ever knowed," he replied.

"Very nice. When you've finished out here Tobe, please come back to our room. We need to start packing up."

"O' course, milady."

To my dearest Tamsin,

I'm glad to hear your training is going well. Everyone is well here at Cavall. I haven't heard from Wyldon, but I assume all is going well at Fort Mastiff. Congratulations on your improvements, my dear, and keep working at your tilting, but do make sure you are careful. I would not like you to be injured.

Please tell Sarara and Doran that I said congratulations. Now, my dear, if your heart likes Niralo better, I suggest that you ask him to be your lover first. Do not worry about Larsen, he will find a lady love. If Niralo is not interested, then you could ask Larsen if he still wants to be your lover.

Continue trying your hardest, my dearest, and make yourself and us proud! We wish you all the best!

Love,

Lady Lili of Cavall.

Yuki knocked on the door, and heard footsteps crossing the room inside. She took a deep breath to calm her agitated nerves. The door opened, and she was pulled into a tight hug. She could feel a pair of hands running up and down her back, and she buried her face in Neal's chest, wrapping her arms around him.

"Yuki, my darling! What a surprise!" said Neal happily, closing the door behind her.

"Oh Neal, I had to come and see you," she replied. His hands guided her to sit on his bed.

"What can I do for you, my dear?" he asked.

"Neal, I have something to tell you. Do you remember when we met at Fort Mastiff, and we…um…" She pulled out her shukusen and began to flutter it delicately in front of her face.

"Ah yes. Our night of passion and love," he replied.

"Yes. Well, do you remember that I kept you all waiting the following morning?" Neal nodded.

"Well, I went to see Duke Baird in the infirmary, and I got him to run a pregnancy test on me. I…I wanted to tell you that…I…I am carrying your child, Neal."

"You-you're pregnant, my flower?"

"Yes Neal!"

Neal laughed, and scooped Yuki up in a hug, then lowered her back onto the bed, undid her obi and pulled down the shoulders of her kimono, whereupon he began to kiss her neck, hot, passionate, open-mouthed kisses. She gasped, and twined her hands in his light brown hair.

There was a knock at the door. Neal hastily pulled away and crossed to the door, while Yuki covered up again. When Neal let Kel in, Yuki was innocently folding Neal's shirts and placing them into a box.

"Oh, Yuki, hello!" Kel said. Yuki looked up and smiled in greeting. Kel continued, "Well, you're nearly ready Neal? Wonderful!"

All day, Tamsin tried to find a time where she could talk privately with Niralo. However, no matter how hard she tried, she was always interrupted, or someone else was with her or Niralo. It was so frustrating. When the time came for them to rest, study and bathe, she was at the end of her tether. I'll go and visit him, she thought. She quickly bathed and dressed, then headed to Niralo's room, passing Sarara in the hall.

"Tam, the library's this way," Sarara said, pointing back down the hall.

"I know, I'll be there soon, there's something I have to do first," she replied. Sarara nodded, and Tamsin continued down the hall. She knocked at Niralo's door, and nervously straightened her shirt.

"Come in," called Niralo. Tamsin entered and closed the door behind herself.

"Ah, Tamsin, I was just about to come and see you," Niralo said.

"Niralo, I-were you?"she asked. A glimmer of hope flared inside her. Maybe… she thought.

"Yes, I wanted to ask you something."

"Me too."

"Will you be my lover?" they both said it at the same time. Niralo laughed, hurried over to her, and pulled her into his arms, pressing his lips to hers in a fiery, passionate kiss.

Tobe led Peachblossom, Hoshi and Sprite out of the stables. Hoshi and Sprite were saddled and ready to go, and Peachblossom was tethered to Hoshi's saddle horn. The big gelding was carrying a pack with his tack and Kel's armour, as he needed to be ready for attacks, being Kel's warhorse. Tobe handed Hoshi's reins to Kel and mounted Sprite.

"We ready to go, milady?" asked Tobe.

Kel surveyed the group. "Where's Jump?" asked Kel. Jump barked and loped over to Kel from behind the latrines.

"Goodbye, Kel, and don't worry, I'll take good care of them," said Inness.

"I know you will, Inness. Goodbye, Mistress Fanche, Master Saefas," said Kel.

"Goodbye, Lady Knight. I 'ope we meet again soon," replied Fanche.

"Goodbye, lady," said Saefas.

"Make sure you take care of Inness, he needs just as much, if not more, looking after as you do," laughed Kel. Fanche and Saefas laughed. Inness looked mock hurt, then laughed.

"Goodbye all!" called Kel.

"Take care, Protector of the Small!" called Irnai, the seer child. Kel waved.

"Mount up!" she called to her companions. Merric, Seaver, Neal, Yuki, Mio, Dom, Dom's squad and Kel mounted. Nari and her flock took to the sky, and the gates of New Hope opened. Kel felt a few tears trickle down her cheeks as she surveyed her camp for the last time. As soon as I ride through that gate, she thought, it'll be Inness' camp. I'll probably never see these people again, with the exception of Inness.

"Until we meet again, Lady Keladry, Gods all bless!" called Fanche.

With a heavy heart and a tear-stained face, Kel led her squadron through the gates of New Hope, looking back at the hundred arrow salute fired from her archers on the palisades of New Hope.