Hey all! I don't have regular access to a computer any more... so I haven't been able to write.

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The road to Corus seemed to a long parade of welcoming breezes and colors of early autumn. Kel felt peace fill her, for a moment she was a young girl once more. She wondered what the others must think of her, did they see this new strange version of her overlaid with the vision of her from the last time they saw her. Did they see the darkness that she tried so hard to hide? She was afraid to ask, afraid that the change might be to much for the others to reconcile. Dom seemed to have no problem, in front of her the men of Third Company laughed as Dom recounted some of the stranger parts of their journey. They accepted him back into their midst as if he had been gone only days not months. She felt hope bloom in her heart, it was frail, more a seedling than a thriving feeling… but she clung to it with everything that she had… if she didn't have hope for the future then she knew she would loose. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear Raoul ride up beside her.

"A copper for your thoughts." He offered with a smile. Kel looked at him with new eyes, he looked a little older around the eyes, but it was becoming on him. She smiled and let out a chuckle.

"I'm not sure they are worth that much. I was lost in thought." Kel cringed at the gravely sound of her voice, Dom must have told the others not to ask about the change… but she could see the question in Raoul's eyes. She ran her free hand over the scar as she spoke.

"We were ambushed by the Nikile Tribe in the Jungle. They attack travels for their goods, kill them, and leave their bodies for the man-eating snakes. We fought them off… but before we'd killed them or they'd run off, one of them looped a slashing wire across my throat. I wore a thick leather collar around my neck in those days at it saved my life. I've seen a good slashing wire decapitate a man in no time at all. Dom almost killed himself finding a healer who would come into the jungle with him, by that time I was delirious with blood loss and screaming in pain. The healer said that if I hadn't spoken after the attack my voice might have be in better shape now, but as it stands… I sound like this and I have another scar to show for my troubles."

He smiled in a way that reminded her, that he knew the cost as well as she did. Raoul had lost friends, suffered injury, come close to death the same as her and was as dedicated in his belief that the cost was worth the reward. He leaned across the space that divided them and clasped a hand on her shoulder. His voice was rough, full of something that resonated deep in her soul.

"I am glad that you're back. The last time I saw you…" He paused and removed his hand for moment… his eyes were haunted when he continued, "I was scared, Kel. I consider you a friend. I've been sick with worry since that day in the Slave Market. I though… I thought… that something had happened to you. We found out that you'd been blow of course, Numair and I guessed where you might be, but I never knew for sure. I sent Dom to find you because I knew that if you were still breathing he'd keep trying to find you." Raoul looked away and breathed deep, Kel could tell that he wanted to say more, but the words weren't forthcoming.

"Sir…" Kel paused for a moment and reconsidered what she wanted to say, "Raoul," His eyes locked on her face, in all the years they had known each other she'd never called him by his name. "You have been like a father to me. I was terrified that you might… be disappointed in me after everything that happened." Kel felt some of her sadness leave her. To know that the people she considered friends and family, still considered her in the same light was a blessing to her tattered soul.

"Kel, believe me when I say, there is nothing you can do that will disappoint me."

The moment stretched on between them before the loud sound of arguing reached their ears. Kel's eyes hardened as she saw Lyric and Sicalla, a small deadly fast fighter who they had rescued from a dank prison cell, yelling at one another from their horses. Kel nodded to Raoul and nudged her horse into action. When she drew along side them, she leveled them with a glare.

"If you can't behave like adults, then I will dress you like children and spoon feed you mush every day until you grow up." Kel's voice was low and full of mild reprimand. Lyric would have said something, no doubt something mildly offensive and rude, but Dom called over his shoulder from his place with Third Company.

"Now, Now, Love… Let the children play. I've got much better things for you occupy your time with." Dom's dark eyebrows lifted suggestively and Kel felt laughter rise up from inside of her.

"Okay, there goes a few moments of my day. Now, What to do with the rest?"

The men of Third Company started laughing hysterically, while Dom clutched his "wounded heart" with a player's flare. When everyone had settled down, Dom replied.

"You'll pay for that later, Wife." His playful growl set shivers down her spine. With a saucy look over her shoulder as she returned to her position in the line, she called to him.

"I'm counting on it… Husband."

Kel was glad to be home. As she watched the men give Dom a hard time she lifted a silent prayer to any Gods who might be listening.

'Give me the strength to keep fighting, Let me be the calm in the center of the storm, let me come through the alive and to keep those I love alive.'

Her eyes fell on Dom again as she said the last part…

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