Kel looked up as Faleron stepped out of his meeting with the King,

" Merric went to dinner."

"Oh, So shall we to dinner?" Faleron asked offering his arm to the lady knight with a bow.

"Actually, could we make a stop first?" asked Kel " There's a certain patron god of mine that owes me a conversation."

"Oh," said Faleron " Well then my fair lady, where to?"

" I'm no 'fair lady' Fal, just Kel" admonished the lady knight

" Ah, but to me you are, the Queen could not be more attractive to me than you - oof."

As Faleron tried to regain his breath Kel started walking.

" You do wound me my Beautiful protector." he claimed, every bit the player as he made an exaggerated show of rubbing his sore ribs.

" Neal would be proud, I think he's rubbing off on you."

"Blasphemy! How could you insult me like that? I thought we were friends!" He gasped

She just grinned.

In many ways what Faleron said was true. After her ordeal Kel's body had started filling out, and to her ex-maids surprise Kel had even seemed a little excited. Kel's body was the recipient of jealous and admiring stares from the younger ( and some older) members of court. It was commonly acknowledged among the younger knights, Who had come up with their own lists of these things, that Kel was the prettiest of the women currently at court. She wasn't conventionally beautiful, stick thin with delicate features, but she could definitely be classed as pretty.

"We're going underground." He observed

"Well, Yes. This particular God seems to have a fetish for chambers."

"Kel, You don't mean to say -"

"Yeah."

"Ohh..."

The pair walked in silence for a moment then,

" We're here. Look Fal, you don't have to come in."

Faleron observed his surroundings uneasily. He had no desire to wait outside by himself, but then the last time he had been in the chamber, Faleron tried to rid himself of the memory. If he went with Kel they would be together and this wasn't his ordeal.

"Nah, It's okay. I'll come."

Kel grinned and held open the door to the chamber.

Faleron grinned and swept into a low bow "After you, milady"

Kel snorted as she stepped into the chamber "Listen Fal, we really need to talk about this 'Milady' thing."

Faleron opened his mouth to retort, but shut it a second later as the door clanged shut behind him. Shrouding the room in black.

A distinctly feminine voice huffed. You again Keladry?

Suddenly Kel and Faleron found themselves in a small clearing with a clear stream running through. Cherry blossoms lined the clearing along with small colorful wild flowers, soft green grass carpeted the clearing.

"Oh, so you did take my advice? Lovely."

A soft whispering laughter filled the glade.

A young woman with long, white hair stepped forwards. She was stunning. With her hair curling softly around her face and one streak of color framing her left cheek. As the young knights watched the streak changed through the colors of a rainbow. Her attire was a sky blue shift rimmed in white with horrific and nightmarish images embroidered in black thread.

"Ohh, and who is this? He really is quite handsome. I do admire your taste in men. Look, They're all quite attractive aren't they?"

The Goddess of the Chamber clapped and ghostly images of Neal, Dom, Merric, Seaver and Roald filed into the clearing, She gestured to them as if to say see? At the sight of Dom Kel stiffened. Then realization flashed across her features and a slow smile stretched at her lips. Faleron, guessing what was on her mind passed her his Belt knife, A viscous smile marred her pretty face as she advanced on the second ghost. Dom's shocked expression the second before Kel's first slash struck home across his nose caused a deep feeling of satisfaction in the pit of his stomach. The Goddess observed with a curious expression as Kel worked off her anger and Faleron watched her smiling, a sudden understanding flashe across her face and her lips formed a small 'O'.

" You still owe him that joust Fal." Kel said smugly when she was finished.

" You heard that! I thought you where asleep." Faleron exclaimed

" Well, I wasn't." Kel smirked

" I don't think you left anything to joust with Kel."

A tinkling laugh broke into their conversation, " You two are good together," said the goddess " never fear young knight, That man over there that Keladry has so kindly, uh-"

"- Disfigured?" supplied Faleron " disemboweled? Maimed?"

"Yes, thank you. Anyway, this is the spirit form of that man, Physically he is unharmed. However being who I am, I can make it so he feels all the pain in a dream. Anything for my chosen"

" Being who you are? Chosen?"

" I am daughter of a tryst between Ganiel and the second daughter of chaos. Demna. You two are my champions, The Protector of the Small and - I'll come up with a name for you, Knight . Anyway Keladry you two came here for a reason correct?"

" Correct. The King offered us positions in the Kings Own; Lady Knight Commander and Knight Commander."

"And you want to know if this is going to affect your destines, my plans and the Protector of the Small and co."

"And Co?" Broke in Faleron

"Right, well not so much the last." Demna considered " Can you think of any better way to help the people?"

"No."

" Well then I guess we're done." the goddess smiled " It was great seeing you again Keladry. Next time you should bring your young man with you."

" Faleron, you mean?"

" Yes, I'll see you two later. Oh I would ask for a couple of weeks notice before you start. Go to Port Caynn, you'll need new mounts, and dogs. Birds might be nice, for hunting, messages, you haven't had a bird yet have you?"

With these last words Demna faded out, along with the clearing.

" Next time the conservatives chase me do you mind if I hide in here?"

The goddess chuckled Not at all

On one side of the chamber an image flickered to life. As Kel walked to the chamber door Faleron looked at the image, it was a portrait of Kel and himself embracing under an arch of white roses entwined with violets.

" Come on Fal, they should still be serving dinner if we hurry."

Faleron grinned as he turned away from the image, as he stepped through the door he was filled with hope for his future with Kel.

"You know Kel, maybe we should go to Port Caynn, for a couple of weeks."

" It's not a bad idea, Peachblossom is getting a bit old and if I buy a yearling now, he can help train the horse. The Stum - um Lord Wyldon, said Jump was also getting too old for active work with a knight, and that he would take in Jump at Cavall. It doesn't seem all that long ago that I got them both." She sighed

" We've grown up." Faleron said gloomily.

~(0)~

Well that's it for tonight, I'm so sorry it's been ages. Any way the chambers character inner goddess thing id the first thing that I can say is 100% well... 98% mine yes! Also the word cannon is thrown around a bit and i'm not 100% sure what it means - I have a vague Idea- anyway I think this is the longest chapter - I've done which probably isn't as long as it appears, If I have any spelling mistakes - forgive me it's late at night or early in the morning ( no clock) and I have already read through it three times. Also some self advertising - read The Girl please :) please and let me now what you think - thanks. Review. :D

Thanks for reading :)

~ DEXTERBIRD