A/N: Sorry about the LOOOOOOONG gap between chapters! I thought you'd all lost interest, until I got a review asking for more. So, here's another one! Just a reminder for those who've forgotten: this is AU, in that Alanna the Lioness doesn't exist, and "Will you be my lover?" is the equivalent of "Will you go out with me?". Chapters may be spread widely, although there won't be too many more, I'm afraid; we're getting to the end of the story; because I've just started Year 12 (final year of high school) and so I may not have time between huge amounts of homework. I'll get them up where I can. Thanks for sticking with me!

Chapter 10

"...and the only way to bring down one of the killing devices is to make a hole in its head. See, the killing devices run off a spirit of a dead child, and you need to let it out to bring down the device," Kel finished, scanning the room.

"Thank you, Lady Knight," said Padraig. Kel bowed and stepped back. She noticed that Larsen was sitting at the back of the room, whispering something to Niralo.

Hold on, what's he doing here? she thought.

* * *

Larsen whispered to Niralo, "I hope she hasn't noticed me."

"Why not? I thought you were together?" Niralo replied.

"Yeah, but she thinks I'm a knight. I...told her I was Sir Larsen."

"PAGE NIRALO! PAGE LARSEN! PAY ATTENTION!" bellowed Padraig.

They both started guiltily and looked up. Larsen made the mistake of glancing at Kel. She looked hurt and stunned, and also a little disgusted with herself. He ducked his head to hide his guilt and embarrassment as he heard Kel say, in a very different voice, "If I may be excused, Padraig?"

"Of course, Lady Knight. Thank you again," he replied, "Now, the war ended..."

Larsen tuned out. The click of the door as she left seemed to echo through the room, inflaming his sense of guilt.

I only did it because I wanted to be with her. I...thought it was right, I didn't want to hurt her, he thought. Similar thoughts roiled through his head for the rest of the lesson, and his sense of guilt only intensified.

* * *

Kel walked calmly to her room. Her calm demeanour contrasted sharply with the emotions raging within her at that moment. She took no notice of anyone or anything she passed, and, reaching her room, she locked the door behind her. Only then did she allow the pain and hurt plaguing her to escape the constraints. Violent, pain-wracked sobs shook her body. She kicked the stone walls of her room; her clothes chest; Jump's empty basket, which flew across the room; and her cupboard, then fell onto the bed and buried her wet face in the pillow.

That liar! That shameless, two-faced, manipulative bastard! How could he? Why? Why? She thought, then consumed by grief, screamed, "WHY?!"

"Kel? Are you alright?" Yuki's voice sounded from the other side of the door.

"Yuki?" Kel stood up and let her in, then locked the door again after her.

"Kel, what's the matter?"

"Yuki, promise me that this doesn't leave the room. Please?" Kel begged.

"Of course, I promise Kel."

"Not even Neal can know."

"No, not even Neal," Yuki replied, "What's wrong?"

Kel looked up, a haunted look in her eyes, "I've done a terrible thing."

"I'll make some tea and we'll talk," Yuki said.

Yuki handed Kel a cup of tea, "Now, what have you done?"

"I almost had sex with an eleven year old."

"What?!"

"Well, I didn't know he was at the time."

"Who are we talking about here?" asked Yuki.

"Larsen," replied Kel.

"Larsen of Pirate's Swoop?"

"That's him."

"But Kel, he's thirteen. Page Larsen of Pirate's Swoop."

Kel looked at Yuki, "You knew he was a page?"

"I thought the Larsen you were with was another Larsen," Yuki sipped her tea, "You never told me where he was from."

"Oh. Well, thirteen's just as bad."

"I think you'd better tell me what happened, Kel."

Kel told Yuki the whole story, including how, on their last date, they'd almost had sex.

"He suddenly didn't want to. Now I know why," she finished bitterly.

Yuki thought for a moment. "Well, Kel, it's not you that's done a terrible thing. You didn't know. It was his fault."

Kel felt anger rise. "You're right Yuki! It wasn't my fault!"

"You need to talk to him, Kel, let him know you don't want to be with him anymore."

"Thanks Yuki, I will."

Yuki drank the last of her tea and left, wishing Kel luck with Larsen. Once Yuki had left, Kel felt the anger and hurt well up once more, and she lay down on her bed and cried herself to sleep.

* * *

Kel stood in the Great Hall of the castle, back at the ball. She looked down to see her purply coloured gown once more. When she looked up, Dom was there. He bowed to her and took her hand.

"Would you care to dance, Kel?" he asked, bowing.

"I would love to, Dom," Kel replied, curtseying and blushing.

After they had waltzed, Dom led Kel outside to the same tree under which Kel and Larsen had stood.

"Will you be my lover, Kel?" asked Dom.

"Dom...I...Being your lover would be entirely my pleasure," she replied. Dom slid one arm around her waist and his other hand behind her head. Kel twined her arms around his neck. But when their lips met, something felt wrong. Kel pulled out of the kiss to see Larsen before her.

"Surprise!" he said. Kel pushed him away, drew back her fist and punched him in the face, as hard as she could. Blood streamed from his nose, pooling on the ground as he lay there, staring up at her... The scene shifted...

Kel was back in Haven, battling a killing device, dodging its bladed hands. She saw as it cut down a soldier, then another and another. She yelled and sank her glaive into its face, twisted, and pulled it free. She looked at what she had done as the spirit left the killing device. The killing device's face was gone, and in its place was Larsen's, blood pouring from his forehead. Kel ran away, blindly, crashing into enemy soldiers, all with Larsen's face, until she tripped and fell forwards. The scene shifted again...

Kel stood in the Chapel of the Ordeal, waiting for the squire in the Chamber to exit. She watched the door, remembering her own time behind it. Suddenly, the door swung open, and a haunted and yelling Larsen stumbled out. He had been affected by the Chamber, punished for his treachery and cruelty towards Kel. Larsen stretched out a hand towards her, apologetic, pleading, begging for mercy. Kel merely stared at him, unsure of whether or not he deserved such punishment. Unsure whether or not he deserved the torture.

Kel woke suddenly; fully aware of what she had to do. She had to find Larsen, and find out why he had done this to her. Find out whether or not he deserved the torture.