Disclaimer: All characters and places recognized belong to Tamora Pierce

As always, Kel hated waiting before the fight. This time it did not help that she had no idea where the attack would be held, not that she knew other times. Would it be in her area or Raoul's, her command, Qasim's Aiden's or Osbern's? All she could do was sit and wait.

It was shortly after noon when she felt the commanders pendent hum, touching the pendent quickly, she heard Osbern's voice, "My Lady, the attack will be in my area, there has just been a big group that came in, they look like they are up to no good." Kel cursed, he was the furthest group from her.

"How many sergeant?"

"Twenty." Kel cursed again.

"I'll talk to Qasim, send him your way, you may start our advancement when you please." Knowing that he wouldn't hesitate, Kel contacted Qasim. "I am making my way towards Osbern, get there as fast as you can, I don't want that many to escape, and I'll grab Aiden along the way." Kel broke the link before she heard his reply.

By the time Kel and Aiden had reached their destination the fighting was over, she walked over to Osbern, "Report."

He quickly stood at attention, "We killed three of the attackers, captured eleven of them and six men escaped. Qasim is out looking for them, but I think he'll be hard pressed to catch 'em."

"How many of our own were injured?"

"Eight my lady, Kenneth has a shallow cut on his arm and seven regulars were injured, but not seriously so."

Kel sighed and then nodded. It was about five minutes later when Qasim rode back into the group shaking his head, "They got away."

Kel nodded and then touched her pendent to contact Raoul. When she heard his voice she spoke. "It's done sir, they attacked," she quickly looked down at the map. "Riverdale, we captured eleven of the men, three are dead and six men escaped. Qasim went after them with his men and could not find them. No serious injury on my end."

There was a pause. "How did they attack?"

Kel waved Osbern to report, "Sir, they walked into the town, opposing no threat to the untrained eye. We managed to stop them before they did any true damage. It's no wonder these towns have no warning."

"I'll tell my men to look out for that. Now take the captured to the prearranged destination. We have three days until they hit again. Watch your selves."

Kel quickly got things arranged and by evening they had delivered the prisoners.

Dom was worried. He knew that Kel could take care of herself; she had proved that time after time since she had been a page. Not that he had actually known her than, only through Neal's letters. But some of the messes she had gotten herself into as a squire and as a knight. He shuddered at the memories.

And now she was out there without him. He knew that he could trust others to look after her, but it just wasn't the same. He just knew that given the chance she would be hurt. Not purposely, but she did have a tendency to protect others.

Dom sighed, shaking his head at his folly. They were on a mission, he had his men to look after and most likely those of the regulars paired with him.

"Moonin' over yer lady-love?" Wolset asked him quietly. He had kept an eye on the sergeant, wondering how long it would take. "Ye know it has only been six days since ye last saw her."

Dom nearly growled his response. "I know. It's not her company I miss, although she always makes things better." He gave Wolset a wolfish grin, and then he turned serious once again. "But you know how much trouble she gets into."

Wolset nodded, "She does know how to find trouble." They sat there in silence for a few moments, and then Wolset began to speak once more. "Ye are lucky Dom, most of us aren't as lucky to find a woman who complements us so well. And I must say that it is impressive that ye have been able to keep it in yer breeches. I've never known ye to do so."

Dom was saved from having to answer potentially dangerous questions as his medallion flared hot. Cursing he reached for his communication pendent with Lord Raoul. Once he knew he had the commander Dom began to report. "Raoul, the attack is on Kel's end again." As he was waiting for Raoul's reply he cursed as another flash of heat touched his skin. "I believe she has been hurt, but nothing life threatening."

He blushed at Raoul's next comment, "Are you a mage now Sergeant Domitan?"

"No my Lord, we bought medallions, dammit Keladry, you should not be getting this many injuries!" He hadn't realized he had said the last part aloud until Raoul laughed. "Sorry, I just didn't think having this blasted thing would actually work so well."

There was a long pause before Raoul started to speak. "Bring you men back into camp, if she is fighting, we won't be seeing any action." And with that Dom knew that Raoul had broken the link.

He looked up and saw Wolset holding back laughter. "I am surprised at ye Sergeant. Ye have known Lady Keladry for how many years now? And ye honestly expect her to stay out of harm's way?"

Dom sighed, "It's one thing to know and another to feel." He touched the medallion which had remained cool for a while now. "If I was with her, I wouldn't be wearing this thing."

Standing up, he called all the men to him and told them they were heading back to camp. He hoped that he was there to hear Kel's report.

Kel wanted to make sure she saw a healer after she reported to Lord Raoul; it would not have done any good to have been too tired. She sighed at the memory.

"Keladry how was the fight?" Raoul's voice sounded overly pleasant, far too cheerful. She just knew he was up to something."

"Wonderful Sir." Then she frowned, "Actually, we killed seven of them while capturing two, only three got away this time."

And then he asked the one question she was hoping he would leave alone. "How many were injured?"

Kel thanked the Goddess and Mithros that he couldn't see her face. "Ten, six of them were regulars." She scoffed, "They thought I was only joking when I commanded them to get down and let the bandits pass before we closed the net."

"And the other four?"

"There was nothing serious, everyone is fine, all patched up." Kel really did not want to tell him she was hurt.

"Then why do I have a sergeant on my end who is currently cursing your stubbornness at having to save everyone?"

Kel sighed, of course how could she forget that Dom would be wearing his medallion. "It was nothing serious, only three scratches." She could hear the audible sigh. "Ok, I was trying to protect some of the regulars who were about to be killed, the enemy got lucky. I have shallow cuts only, one on my left bicep, one on my right calf and someone got my right shoulder. I'll be fine, no muscles were damaged, and I will be more than ready to fight again in three days' time."

"Next time be more careful, I put too much work into you to have you killed by a Tyran merchant or farmer. Besides, the sergeant has nearly tried my patience; I would hate to have to do something drastic."

Kel smiled as she heard Dom's protest over the link. "I really am ok."

"Get healed and rest up, we have another attack in three days."

Kel did as she was ordered, the men she saved coming over to insure she was well.

"Sorry Lady Keladry, we swear, we will pay more attention next time." One of them said.

The other nodded, "We never noticed that they had us trapped."

Kel smiled, "It is a trick I've seen many times. It is something that the Own look for, we need to keep an eye out for each other."

Both men bowed and left. Kel sighed, with hope that was the end of being questioned.

The next attack had come and gone, Kel's men once again finding trouble. That time with ten dead, two captured and four escaped. Eleven of the men were injured, most of them from the army.

Now they were all waiting for the fourth attack.

Raoul massaged his temples, he hated this organized disorder. Most missions were much simpler than this. Drag the men out, hunt the prey, split them up, one in front, one in the rear, trap the prey and then go home after bringing them to justice. Even the war was easier than this, just sitting in the fort all day, wait for the Scanrans to attack, maybe take a patrol or two out and unearth trouble. But they were always fairly well-informed when a big attack was coming. But here, on this mission, he had to split the men up into smaller units; there was no way of hunting down these bandits, unless they crossed the border at the risk of starting a political mess. And they had to wait with no information as to when or where the attack would be held.

He sighed, Kel had had three attacks in a row, each about ten leagues apart, he just had a feeling that it was going to be his turn, and the only question was where and when. He had his doubts that they would attack the same place twice, so he had taken a risk and had left no men in that location. But here he was, waiting.

Just as he was beginning to give up hope, he felt it; one of his sergeants was calling him, not Kel. Answering the call, Raoul knew he had been right. "We'll be right there." He turned to the men surrounding him, "Mount up!" He quickly found another one of his communication pendants, "Sergeant Domitan, the attack is on the far side of the perimeter, come as fast as you can, keep an eye out for those trying to escape."

By the time he arrived, most of the fighting had stopped; they were just trying to fish out those that may have escaped. Moments later Dom rode into the clearing shaking his head, they had managed to escape.

He had just finished pulling out his pendant to contact Kel when he heard it, a rustle in the bushes behind him, turning he managed to kill the man who tried to kill him, but in doing so the blade was thrown behind him and his heard a hiss that nearly broke his heart.

Kel had just about given up waiting when her pendant hummed; finally she was getting a call from someone. It was Raoul.

"Kel, the fight is over, killed four, captured six and only three escaped, four men of the Own, five of the regulars and Buri were injured."

Kel nearly gasped, "Is Buri ok, what happened?"

She could hear the change in his voice, thicker with emotion. "I heard someone in the bushes behind me; I managed to kill him, but not before he had thrown his blade, it barely scratched her hip, but still."

Kel nodded, knowing he couldn't see her. "Well Sir, all we can do is be thankful it was nothing serious and prepare for the next attack."

"I know, I think this is going to be one of the longest missions. I would prefer finding their nest, but I know that is impossible, it is in Tyra." There was a pause, "Move your men out, the next attack is in three days."

Once again, Kel was waiting. This time she had decided to ride with a different set of squads, Qasim's and one of the regulars. She was sitting with the two squad leaders, discussing where the most likely point of attack would be made today. They all agreed that the likely hood it would be their half was less than slim.

It was just when Kel was getting ready to ask the other groups how things looked at their spots when she felt it, the medallion burned hotter than she thought. She swore, glad that only Qasim was sitting with her. She swore again as a lesser wave of heat reached her.

"Lady Keladry, should I fear that you are losing your mind, or is there a reason you are now cursing like the worst of the Own?"

She tried to smile but only managed a grimace as a smaller wave of heat touched her skin. "We were just correct in our assumption. Raoul's men are facing the next attack, Dom's squad in particular."

Qasim looked concerned but forced a smile. "Are you psychic now?"

Kel scowled. "Hardly, Dom and I bought medallions to inform the other when they are injured." She hissed once more.

"Ah I see. And let me guess, the Sergeant is proving to be worse than you are at keeping himself safe?" he asked with a hint of a smile.

Kel decided to answer by sticking her tongue out at him. Shortly afterwards she was fishing for her communication pendent for Raoul. "How much do I have to kill Sergeant Domitan Sir?"

Raoul chuckled, "No more than Buri is going to kill me. He's fine, took an arrow for one of the men, nothing like last time when you had to cover for him, it never embedded, just grazed. And he had several other minor injuries, but he's all fixed."

Kel sighed with relief and then asked, "Now why is Buri going to kill you?"

"You do know it hurts me knowing that you call my wife 'Buri' and I, your former knight master am still 'Sir' or 'My Lord'."

Kel smiled, "It would appear Raoul that you are now stalling." She laughed when he sighed.

"I might have been injured while protecting both your lover boy and my wife." He sighed heavily before continuing, "We were ambushed this time, we managed to kill two and capture all ten of the others, but eleven of us were injured."

Kel hissed, "Elven injured only facing twelve men that really must have been a bad ambush."

"We were caught with our breeches down to say the least." Kel could hear the grimace in his voice. "I hate it when they learn new things. Be careful, they seem to be getting smarter."

"Got it Sir." Kel ended the conversation before he could remind her to use his name.

The next two weeks were all blurred together. Three attacks were based around Raoul while one was against Kel. In total they had killed thirty-two of the attackers, twenty-eight were captured and a total of seventeen men escaped. Over all, the men under both Kel's and Raoul's command were fairing much better, with a total of ten men from the Own and seventeen from the regulars injured.

Kel had grown accustomed to not feeling her medallion grow warm, so she was shocked when she felt a mild warmth touch her skin. It wasn't until the second hotter flash that she fully became aware of what was happening. She swore.

Over the next hour, she felt the medallion flair occasionally, never anything that concerned her terribly, but after more than dozen flairs, she lost count.

As soon as she felt her connection with Lord Raoul hum, she rushed to find out how bad the situation had been.

As if reading her mind the first thing that Raoul told her was, "Dom is fine, he suffered nothing more than small nips of the sword. There were twenty-four in the invading party, his squad and that of the regulars were overwhelmed. It was almost half an hour before back up came. None of the men died, but they were hard pressed, how half of them suffered no injury, I have a few questions, but they managed to capture eleven of the men and kill four while nine escaped."

Kel thought for a moment before replying. "Raoul," she had long since given up trying to call him 'Sir' or 'My Lord', "We have had ten attacks now, been fighting for a full month, how much longer before we have completed this mission?"

She could hear how tired Raoul was over the link. "I am not sure Kel, from all that I can gather, we are near the end. We have had forty-two men escape, in all truth; those men are most likely to avenge their captured or fallen comrades than turning tail and facing justice in their own country. We'll need to see this through to the end, either killing them or capturing them."

Kel sighed, "So we have at least two more attacks, and up to another month if we let too many escape."

"Move your men into position, let's hope we end this soon, I am starting to lose sight of what makes my job fun."

Kel had a grim smile on as she ended the link. She was tired of the mission, and missed Dom greatly. She prayed to the Great Mother Goddess that things would end swiftly and she could return to him.

It had appeared that the Gods had heard her prayer, for it was three attacks later that the mission was over. Of the forty-two escaped raiders, they managed to kill twenty-eight and capture the other fourteen. After she dropped off the last of the captured men, she would finally be rejoining Raoul and his men who were currently a day's ride away. She could hardly control her happiness. She would be reunited with Dom in less than forty-eight hours.

The thoughts kept whirling in Dom's head. "I'm going to see Kel. I'll be able to hold her in my arms for the first time in almost a month and a half." He knew that he must have looked ridiculous with a wide grin on his face, but in all truth he could not find it in his heart to wipe it off. He was going to be seeing Kel the very next day.

With all the thoughts of Kel running through his head, he was not overly surprised to find he dreamt of her that night. Not that his dreams had not held her in some fashion over the past month, but tonight's was different.

In his dream Dom found himself alone with Kel. They were in a magnificent garden, one that he remembered from Masbolle. It had been his favorite place to play as a young boy, and then later as an adolescent youth he had started to take maids into that garden. He never got too carried away in that garden, for it had felt special to him from the beginning. He had wanted to save this place for the right women, a woman with whom he wished to share the rest of his life with.

He enjoyed watching the wonder and utter amazement on Kel's face as she walked among the rose bushes. She seemed to linger longest at the orange with pink tips, softly stroking the petals.

Being unable to stand it any longer, Dom walked over to Kel and wrapped his arms around her waist, gently kissing the side of her neck. She smelt just like Kel, how he had missed her scent over the month and a half.

Kel turned gently within his arms, looking up at Dom with her beautiful hazel eyes, dreamer's eyes. Unable to control himself any longer, he bent down and captured her lips. As she began to deepen the kiss, something seemed to snap within Dom.

He had always intended for this garden to be special, it was hidden; nobody from his family ever visited it. It was where he had first gotten a real kiss, not the type that his aunts had insisted on giving him. It was also the place he had hid when he was in trouble with his mother. But what could be more special than sharing it with the one he loved.

As if reading his mind, Kel started to remove his tunic and then focused on undoing his belt. Without further hesitation, Dom began removing the dress he had now just realized Kel was wearing. It was something that while being truly beautiful, could not compare to Kel's own charm and mystique.

Bearing her to the ground, Dom was surprised at how soft and springy the grass felt under them. The moment could not have been more perfect.

The feel of Kel beneath him was intoxicating, he wanted nothing but her. It had always been her since the moment that he had first seen the girl who had managed to keep his cousin in line. It may have taken him years to realize just how much she meant to him, but now there was no way he could let her go.

He enjoyed feeling Kel's breath on his neck, the warmth of her body under his. He would happily lose himself within the depths of her eyes as she lay there beneath him, wanting nothing but what he had to offer. The love she was willing to receive and give in return.

The way his name sounded off her lips, the same lips that were exploring the curve of his ear, the flesh between his neck and shoulders. He was fully intoxicated by the woman, the Lady Knight, the champion of his heart.

Dom lost himself in the sounds they created, the low moans of pleasure, the gasps as they discovered new places together. There was nothing he could compare this to, the feeling of total belonging, or rightfulness.

It had always been Kel that he was to take to the garden, make it theirs. As she called his name one final time before falling over the edge his entire future flashed before his eyes.

This was the one he was meant to be with for the rest of his life. This was the woman who had held his heart for more years than she knew.

To put it simply, it was Kel.

Dom smiled when he woke up, remembering the wonderful dream he had of Kel. When he had a chance, most likely the next time he was on leave, he would take Kel to that garden, and then maybe his dream would come true.

Still smiling, Dom got out of his bedroll and quickly dressed. In a few hours' time he would be reunited with Kel. He could ask her then of what she thought about visiting his family. As he left his tent to find breakfast, he didn't realize he had started to whistle. He hadn't even noticed the rain that quickly drenched his clothes and hair, all he could think about was Kel and how he would finally be able to hold her once more.

He tried to hold back his annoyance as the others slowly assembled. None of these men realized what they were holding him back from. Even the wolfish grins directed towards him from his men had no effect.

He had lost all sense of time, not knowing if they had been riding for minutes of hours. He was lost in daydreams of how he could greet Kel. He knew that gathering her up in his arms and kissing her senseless was out of the question. The best he could hope for was clasping her on the forearm, maybe even a hug was not out of the question.

At any rate he knew that tonight would be their true reunion. While not sure of what activities they could safely partake in, he knew that he would be sleeping with her in his arms. That was all that he hoped for was a night of holding his lady.

He hadn't realized that he had reached the head of the column until he heard Raoul and Buri laugh. Looking sheepish he finally acknowledged them. "I'm sorry, were you saying something?"

Raoul laughed, "I was asking you what your rush was, but judging upon your faraway look I know what it is."

Dom smiled at Raoul, he was about to reply with something very witty when extreme heat radiated across his skin.

AN: So, I cranked this out faster than I thought I would, I hit a roll the other night. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I felt that it needed a little pick up. I really hope that you enjoyed Dom's dream ;). And sorry about the cliff hanger, but I felt that the chapter was getting too long (and I finished the notebook that I was writing the story in. I'm a little sad about that, I've been using that notebook on and off for about ten years.) The next chapter is partially started, I have had to stop writing due to an exam in BacT today, a homework assignment tomorrow, a quiz on Thursday and another exam on Friday. But on the bright side, my Thanksgiving break is coming up soon and I do not have any work or classes on Monday :)