(-a/n- Wahoo!! So many reviews a speedy update :D (Well speedy for me anyway!)

Thanks for all your compliments and encouragement; I love to hear that you're all enjoying it. I'm sorry I had to kill Idan, but it was always his fate…:'(

Just to clear a few things up:

1) Kel is now thirteen.

2) I have all of the plot lined out for this story, but I can never assign chapters to my ideas, so I don't know how long this will end up being, I will however finish this. I promise.

3) Yes I know that Sting has an equally good version of 'Fields of gold' but I don't have the track on my computer which is why I used the Eva Cassidy one.

4) The time when you learn about Alex's past is close at hand; about another three chapters or so ;D

All my heartfelt thanks to the people below:

truffletruffle01Sandrilene LaterneKrae Z. RokkeDrunken Little MonkeyBrokenflamesrebel, Shang Leopard, jesi ki kage, llamacheese, Evil Bunny of Death, Xander, FoySOPROLwriter wanted, invisible, The Sherberty LemonMint Tea Roseonyx-jade potter, gems, BlackWidow12Eruanna EirePsychoLioness13.shimer.13, I had a name but I forgot it, Mystic Moon EmpressBella6393hahasxybitchAmber JackPie of Doomeh, Miz, kgwoozleInkblotTheDarkingstardust718, Yanikei (who is lazy), Uncertian DestinypinnapleonpizzaSunkissed GuacamoleOrohippussoccerchick-08, juzblue, NotAfraidToLiveRight or RynIkarusCazadoreslady kight jacky cullenSkyline Romance, tomboy, pretty how townJaBoyYaObSeSsEd WiTh ROXAS, Cede, The knights who until recently said Ni, WannaBeGreenLady Gallatea RavenclawEclipsakilling u with umbrellasKage KitsunFariy LightsLightish RedIncendia LupusIncendia Lupuscharmedgirl90soupcanHasamaki, clurr, rootless californianYabberliberndimilky way barmilky way barDa Lady VitchVenuspixieMinathiadoms celestial artemisgaya2081oirishgoddessCheeseycrazinessXIII DragonLady SapphireaMoonGoddessBookwormLady Mage, A Fan, seekerchick06x17SkmBdrchiczxxErynfaermountainelementsneverlifeOn top of cloud 9ankhesenamun256princessofcrown101misfit270tigeresse, New Lord of Darkness, CapiorcorpusSakuraBlossom221334, Love.Always.Alice.and.Jasper, Golden23KickUpSomeDust, Europe 3,scampneoroxy, lightdreams, Kyubbi-SamaIn the Silence, Michi, Pepper LemonGeminiaForget Me Not BlueScarlet Ice CascadinguntamedspiralLady Knight Keladry, Google it!, K.D. RaiDragon HuntressLadyKnightSusanyoudontwant2noepobbpDaughters of GracehyperbookwormhyperbookwormnightwispIrish Ninja Chick, Dana, Seriliaelfie-maythe. dead. addict.mandy-sanFirgof RainaJaden Scorpioamitai, & emerald lady

SarahE7191 Well this is the thing…it depends on how long this fic is by the time I get there! Lol. But I will definitely keep on writing until I finish "the story":P

Hunchbook –Firstly thanks for the lovely long reviews. Secondly constructive criticism is always welcome –I'm here to improve my writing after all. Ok, the whole point that I deliberately made Kel not find any information was because sometimes I read stories that just whiz through with amazing coincidences and good luck every step of the way; it's not overly realistic. As for Alex, he needs to have flaws too, and can't know everything about everywhere…

But I think you're probably right about the 'running' bit though. In my head, her running down the hill really wasn't more than ten paces or so, but I don't think I made it clear enough. You're right I did have an image in my head –Kel sobbing in the grass was a sort of focal point for that part of the plot, so maybe I should've thought about it a bit more. I think that when I get around to editing that chapter, I'll change it. (I'm gradually going over the chapters and correcting typos/inconsistencies etc. but it's taking ages!)

I'll try and sort out the sentences…But I don't have an English teacher to impress –I dropped English last year :P (which is kind of crazy, but I don't enjoy over-analysing books unless they're really good…I mean if Harry Potter were on the syllabus…lol. :P ) and once again thanks for all the help xx

Confusedknight xxx

Kel accepted a large mug of warm goat's milk from Jacqui. She sat at the roughly hewn dining room table and was surrounded by blonde haired children.

The eldest boy and girl sipped at their milk, their small hands cradling the mugs. Kel drank also, not really tasting the warm creamy liquid, but instead she stared blankly at the kitchen wall.

It had been just over a week since Alex had left again. It had taken her a few days for her anger at Alex to dissipate, but eventually a logical part of her brain accepted that he was not responsible for Idan's death.

All the same, since the bad news had been broken, Kel had just felt numb inside; her every waking thought occupied by memories. She had cried many times, unable to control her emotions as she once had.

Jacqui and her husband Eron had given her all of the space that she needed and their children were equally wary about the strange girl that had become a part of their household. Kel had spent much of the past week in bed, exhausted by grief. Only in the last couple of days had she wandered aimlessly, without purpose in the small country bungalow that was her new home.

She was so tired, tired of losing people, tired of the heartache, tired of new places and faces. Her illness had sapped her energy and even after a week of ever-larger meals of good quality food, she was still lethargic.

Kel drained the cup and stood up to leave the room. She didn't really have an objective in mind –Kel completed the daily functions such as sleeping and eating with the same amount of disinterest.

'Kel, could you stay and help Meah with her milk?' asked Jacqui in such a way that it was not a question. 'I need to go and talk to Eron. Hal and Isra, when you've finished you can help Kel to wash up.'

'Yes Mama,' chorused the two innocent looking children.

Kel sat back down, feeling a prickling of annoyance that she had to stay and help the two-year-old. It was not a nice feeling, but it was the first emotion that wasn't grief that she had felt in over a week.

Jacqui left the room, carrying a small basket of food. Kel watched her go and then turned to Meah, who was sitting quietly and staring at Kel with her big blue eyes.

'Aren't you going to help her?' prompted Hal, the middle sibling.

Kel reached for the remaining mug of milk awkwardly and held it out to the two-year old. All of the children watched her, their expressions guarded. Meah reached for the mug and tried fruitlessly to grasp the cup with her small, podgy fingers.

Exasperated, Kel got up, causing the three children to start and went over to Meah, scooping her up as she used to do with her nieces and nephews all those years ago. Settling the wriggling blonde child on her lap, Kel held the mug to the toddler's lips and helped her to drink.

It wasn't skilful; milk dripped everywhere as the child gurgled happily. Kel removed the mug to give Meah a break and succeeded in splashing milk all down her front. Meah giggled spraying milk all over Kel. Some landed on her face and dripped down her nose.

Suddenly all the children's sniggeringand stopped abruptly, wondering what the stranger would make of the situation. Kel reached up to wipe the milk off of her face and to her, and the children's surprise a small chuckle escaped her throat. Instantly the three siblings fell about with mirth.

When Meah had calmed down, Kel readjusted her on her lap and helped the infant to finish her milk. When it was all gone, or split over Kel, the small girl burped contentedly and snuggled against Kel's shoulder. Naturally Kel adjusted her embrace and held the little child tight.

Isra and Hal collected the mugs and took them to the sink. Kel stood up, holding Meah over one hip and helped the brother and sister to clean up the mess that had been created. At one point Kel tried to put Meah down, but the girl clung to her new friend tightly and in the end Kel admitted defeat.

Once everything was cleared away, she sat down on the sofa, Meah still attached to her like a limpet. Isra perched on a chair, whilst her younger brother sprawled on a rug next to the empty hearth.

'How old are you?' asked Hal boldly.

'Thirteen,' replied Kel, her voice slightly hoarse from disuse.

'I'm four, nearly five,' he declared proudly, ogling at Kel all of the while.

'What about you?' Kel asked Isra, who was shyer than her other siblings.

'Seven,' she replied quietly.

'Only just,' replied Hal, rolling onto his back and fidgeting.

'Where do you come from?' asked Isra, whilst Meah just snuggled closer to Kel, sucking on her thumb.

'I…' Kel was unsure what to say. 'Far away,' she said finally.

'Further than Dundine town?' the girl asked interestedly, her eyes alight.

'Yes,' said Kel quietly, 'further than Dundine.' This answer seemed to satisfy Isra, because she nodded knowledgeably.

'Will you tell me a story?' Hal asked pleadingly. 'You must know some different ones to Mama or Papa.'

Kel was about to search for a reason not to tell a story, when she realised that for the first time in a week, she'd got through twenty minutes without thinking about Idan. She reflected that it was like when she was staying at Fanche's house; the busier she was, the easier it was to deal with things. After all, she admitted painfully, Alex was right; things got better in time, no matter how long it took.

'Have you heard the tale of the Lioness?' She asked, remembering how popular that story had proved in the slave barracks.

The three children shook their heads emphatically.

'Well it goes something like this…' started Kel.

When Jacqui arrived back, the first thing she spotted was the poorly wiped table, still spotted with milk. Then she looked beyond the kitchen into the open-plan living room. Kel was sitting with Meah curled up on her lap, and at her feet listening attentively were Isra and Hal. Kel was speaking quietly, occasionally using her hands to make a gesture that aided her narration.

Looking at Kel now, Jacqui saw the faintest glimmer of the girl Alex had told her about. The girl who would fight for justice no matter how futile the attempt, the girl who was driven, athletic, skilful and the girl whom Alex regarded as a sister.

Jacqui realised that she had been right to try and draw Kel out of her shell. Her plan had been simple; to let Kel try to connect with Meah, who had the sweetest temperament of any two year old that Jacqui had ever met. The rest had followed like a dream; Kel was interacting, bonding with her three children. Jacqui coughed involuntarily, attracting the attention of her four young charges. As the cough subsided, Jacqui thought; It's just as well…

'Mama!' Called out Hal. 'Kel's been telling us about the Lioness. She's a lady knight and slays all sorts of monsters.' He jumped up and mimed swinging a sword at an imaginary foe.

Jacqui laughed and scooped up her son, swinging him high in the air, before setting him down again.

'But how'd you know that the Lioness is real?' Isra demanded, 'Some of Daddy's stories are made up, he told me so.'

'Because…because my friend has seen her.'

'Your friend saw her?' breathed Isra, awe etched into every feature of her face. 'Wow.'

'What did she look like?'

'Everything like the legend says,' replied Kel. 'He said that she was short, with fiery red hair and bright purple eyes.'

'People don't have purple eyes,' pointed out Isra.

'The Lioness does,' Kel assured her.

'Promise?' asked the distrustful seven-year old.

'I promise.'

'Why don't you two go off and play for a bit?' suggested Jacqui, and before they could protest she said, 'If you're good, I'm sure Kel will tell you some more of the story later.'

The two children hurried off, arguing over who would play the Lioness and who would be a monster.

Meah still clung to Kel and Kel stroked her blonde curls absentmindedly.

'They're good kids,' said Kel quietly.

'That they are,' agreed Jacqui.

They sat in silence for several minutes, the two older females lost in their troubled thoughts and little Meah sat between them, oblivious to all the world's troubles. Kel was looking down at the peaceful child and thought how fortunate Meah was; to not have to worry about things, just to be looked after and shielded from evil and injustice. But how long will her life remain carefree? Thought Kel. Not long enough… and when war comes to Scanra?

The sleepy girl reminded her that things were still worth fighting for; even if it just meant ensuring that the next generation grew up in a better Scanra than there was at the moment.

'Thanks,' Kel whispered quietly to Jacqui.

The woman didn't question her, seeming to understand what Kel meant, and instead said; 'Sometimes you just need a little reminding that there are still good things left here, no matter how bleak things look.'

A few tears slid down Kel's cheeks. Meah reached up a podgy hand and clumsily wiped them away, gazing up at Kel with concerned adoration on her face.

'I think you've gained an admirer,' said Jacqui amused, as Meah protested being removed from Kel's lap by her mother.

'I think I'll just go for a short walk,' said Kel quietly.

Jacqui land a hand on Kel's shoulder. 'Say your goodbyes and then move on,' she advised. 'We've only got a set amount of time in the realms of the living; don't waste yours in grief or regret.'

Kel nodded and exited the house. She felt the warm summer sun on her face once more. It was the same sun that shone down when Idan was alive, the same sun that shone when she was a page and even the same sun that shone down when she was in the Yamani Islands…Kel reflected that despite how ever much she'd changed, how ever much she'd been through, the sun remained constant. Some things never change, she thought. And some things never will. But there are some things that need to be changed, things that must be changed. And by the Goddess I hope that I'll have the strength to tell the difference.

Sighing, Kel made her way a short way down the garden, to the same place where she had first discovered the news of Idan's death and looking out across the garden she allowed herself to cry for Idan one last time.

There were still things that she needed to do. There were still people that needed saving, still injustices to fight; there were still things that she wanted to do before she joined Idan in the Dark god's realms.

Kel waited for the involuntary sobs to subside before drying her tears with a promise that it would be the last time she shed tears for that boy with black messy hair, dancing blue eyes, for the boy who had come to mean so much to her.

'Aargh!' Kel exclaimed in mock outrage as cool water splashed across her shirt.

Hal and Isra giggled; their voices carrying across the still summer air.

'Right!' Kel leapt up and chased the two screaming children across the lawn. From her seat on the bank Jacqui watched with a smile on her face as Kel chased her two oldest children. Meah lay next to Jacqui, snoozing lightly in the warm of the late summer's afternoon.

Jacqui found it hard to believe how much Kel had changed in the few short weeks that she'd been staying with them. From a sullen, sickly girl, Kel had recovered her health and was beginning to put on some weight.

Kel was obviously a natural with young children and Isra, Hal and Meah all adored her. As Jacqui watched, Kel caught Hal, scooping the wriggling child into her arms. She then held Hal out over the small pond, dangling him so that his feet touched the cool water. Hal squealed merrily and tried to kick the water so that Kel got even wetter.

Kel lurched backward onto the grassy lawn and swung the boy about so that his legs flew out in a circle behind him.

'I want a go,' demanded Isra. Kel put Hal down and swung Isra round, thoroughly aware of how weak her arms felt. Dizzy Kel put the seven-year old down and sat down heavily. Immediately the two kids jumped on her, pinning her to the ground.

'Surrender!' Isra giggled.

'Alright,' said Kel, 'you've got me.'

Laughing happily the two siblings ran away across the grass, chasing each other gaily. Meah, having woken up, tottered over to her older brother and sister.

Kel stood up slowly, smiling and made her way over to sit next to Jacqui.

'Don't you just wish that days like this would go on forever?' asked Jacqui, surveying her offspring with motherly pride.

Kel murmured her agreement.

'They really like you,' remarked Jacqui.

Kel didn't know what to say. Ever since that day three weeks previously, when Kel had helped Meah to drink her milk, the children had hero-worshipped Kel. They were constantly showing her things, seeking her approval in the way that small children will.

Jacqui coughed; something that Kel had noticed her doing more often.

'Are you alright?' asked Kel, thinking that it was unusual to have a cold in the summer.

For a moment Jacqui didn't answer her, but stared out across the farmland that she and her husband owned. In the distance she could see their forty-strong herd of goats, tended by Eron.

'Kel, I'm not going to lie to you. You don't deserve that.' She sighed heavily. 'A year or two ago, when I'd just given birth to Meah, I developed a disease; one that's slowly eating away at my lungs.'

'Have you seen a healer?' asked Kel concernedly. 'I'm sure that Alex knows a good one…'

Jacqui paused before saying, 'There's nothing any healer can do for me.'

Kel's heart sped up; surely Jacqui couldn't be saying what Kel thought she was?

'I'm dying Kel.'

The statement hit Kel like a punch in her chest; not another person who was going to be ripped away from her…

'I'm not scared of dying,' continued Jacqui when Kel didn't say anything. 'But I'm terrified for my children. I look at them now and wonder if they'll still laugh like that when I'm gone. I'm worried for Eron. We've loved each other since childhood and I don't know how well he's going to cope…'

'Have you talked to him about it?' asked Kel, her voice hoarse.

'A couple of times, but he doesn't like to discuss it.'

'How do you tell your children that you've got to leave them?' asked Jacqui, her voice cracking. 'Hal and Meah couldn't possibly understand…'

Kel laid a hand upon the older woman's arm. 'Your friends won't abandon you…'

'Kel I want you make me a promise, promise me that my children will be okay. That'll you'll be there for them when the time comes.'

'I don't know if I'll still be here…'

'Kel I really don't have that long left; the cough gets worse everyday and the healer said that I'll deteriorate rapidly.'

Kel saw the desperation in Jacqui's eyes.

'Promise me that my children will be looked after.' Demanded Jacqui, her eyes slightly wild, gripping Kel's arm even tighter still.

'I promise,' said Kel thickly.

'Thank you,' whispered Jacqui, loosening her hold on Kel's arm.

They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Jacqui got up and motioned for Kel to follow. With a glance at the three children that were playing in harmony, Jacqui went inside.

She opened a small cupboard in the hallway, where the brooms were kept and from inside drew a leather scabbard. She handed it to Kel wordlessly. Kel accepted it with slightly trembling hands.

Around the sheath was wrapped Kel's necklace of jade that had been a Midwinter gift from Alex all those months ago. Without speaking, Kel drew the sword, exposing it's polished blade. The sword fit naturally into her hand as though it hadn't been five months since she'd last handled it.

'Alex told me to give it to you when you were ready.'

'Does Alex know…about you?' Kel asked, still not taking her eyes off of the blade.

'Yes,' sighed Jacqui. 'I think it may be one of the reasons why he wants you to stay here whilst you recover.' She examined Kel's expressionless face. 'It doesn't take a genius to work out that you're something special Kel,' she said slowly. 'I know you'll take good care of Isra, Hal and Meah.'

Kel bowed her head, accepting the compliment. She then sheathed her sword again and strapped it to her waist, over the top of her shirt and breeches. Kel then fastened the jade necklace around her neck.

Without saying another word Kel left the house and headed into the barn, energy flooding through her system. In the coolness of the empty barn she drew her sword once more, and nerves thrumming, bought the blade up to the "guard" position.

She twisted the sword in a movement that took it sideways, up and then back down to it's starting position. Her muscles recognised the familiar movement. Heart beating fast, Kel tried another move. Although her muscles felt stiff, she moved through the movements fluently, her body remembering hours of practise with a heavy, long stick.

The sword slid through the air in a way that her makeshift weapon back on the plantation never could. She did a simple drill and managed to complete it, only making one small mistake.

The movements weren't as fast or as smooth as they had once been, but it was still there; she still had that connection with the sword. Smiling with the joy of being reunited with the thing that she did best; Kel put her body through as many different drills as she could remember.

Her practise session didn't last long, in fact it was less than fifteen minutes before her arm ached and she was breathing hard. It was painfully obvious that she needed to improve her fitness, but it was a start.

She sheathed the sword in its scabbard. Also hanging off of the belt were two small knives, in plain leather sheaves. Kel checked both of their blades before returning to the house.

'Wow!' exclaimed Isra, her keen eyes immediately spotting the addition to Kel's attire.

'Where'd you get a sword from?' asked Hal, his eyes alight with interest.

'A friend left it for me,' said Kel offhandedly.

'Can you fight with it?' asked Isra in awe.

Kel nodded.

'Wow,' breathed the children.

'Have you ever killed anyone?' asked Hal interestedly.

'Hal!' Jacqui intervened sharply.

'Sorry Ma,' he tried his best to look apologetic.

'Go and find Meah for me,' instructed Jacqui, not looking up from her stitching.

Hal left. 'Well have you?' asked Isra quietly.

Kel met the young girl's eyes, 'Yes. But they were bad people.' It wasn't a lie, thought Kel, as she remembered the man who had been prepared to murder the whole of Vishnaucht's family. But then she thought of the slave fighters who hadn't wanted to be at the battle any more that Kel had wanted to... It was kill or be killed, she thought firmly.

'That's alright then,' said Isra matter-of-factly. 'Bad people deserve to be punished.'

Yes they do. Thought Kel savagely, wishing that she could give Maggur the punishment for what he had done to Scanra and her people.

The next morning Kel woke slightly earlier than usual, and helped herself to a breakfast of nutrient-rich milk and a thick slice off bread. Licking the last few crumbs from her fingers, she walked up the path to the field where Eron was watching his flock.

'Morning,' she called when she was within earshot of the goatherd.

She walked over and seated herself on the dry ground, near to where Eron sat sharpening a pair of hoof-trimmers.

'Jacqui told me yesterday,' said Kel awkwardly, 'about her lungs…'

'Oh aye,' said Eron, not looking up from his work, although his hands had slipped involuntarily on the sharpening stone.

'I was thinking that maybe, if you let me watch the goats for you, then you'd be able to spend more time with your family…' said Kel.

Eron looked up at her.

'It's just, well, I like being out of doors, and I can find things to do out here. I'm sure the kids would love you to be around more,' she gabbled. 'I mean not that you don't spend enough time with them.' Kel took a breath trying to collect her thoughts. 'You should try and enjoy every hour you've got left with her. Things never last forever,' she said quietly, 'you've just got to enjoy things while you can, before they're gone for good.'

Eron saw the pain in her eyes and was surprised by the wisdom with which she spoke.

'Very well then,' he said. 'You'll need to keep an eye on the goats. Make sure that none of them wander off. Watch out for any lame goats, they're prone to foot rot in this weather.'

Kel nodded and stretched her legs out in front of her.

'I'll be back at lunch time,' said Eron and he walked back to the house and his young family.

When he had gone, Kel sighed with relief and surveyed her new charges that cropped happily at the dry, tough grass. She looked up at the brilliant blue sky; it was going to be another hot day in Scanra.

She stood up and began to stretch, gradually easing up muscles, tendons and ligaments that had grown stiff from inactivity. She twisted, jumped and turned in what was a slightly longer version of her normal warm up exercises.

Finally to finish the warm up, she flipped herself over as Alex had once taught her, landing lightly on her feet, panting hard, but feeling better physically than she had done for a long time.

Once she had got her breath back, Kel slid her sword from its scabbard, watching the sun glint brightly off of it's blade. She scanned the field, her keen eyes checking that there were still thirty-eight goats grazing in the field before beginning to practise.

Kel practised until she doubled up, hardly able to breathe. She had a stitch in her side and her breath came in short painful gasps. She bent over, trying to recover her breath. When the pain eased, Kel sat down in the shade of a bush and wiped her forehead. She lay back and stared up at the sky, squinting her eyes against the bright morning light.

Regaining her fitness was not going to be a pleasant process. It was extremely irritating for her practice session to be limited by her lack of stamina. She wanted to run through drill after drill for hours, honing and perfecting her technique so that she could join Alex in the fight against Maggur as quickly as possible. Unfortunately her body was going to take a while longer to build itself back up.

She propped herself up on her elbows and surveyed the peaceful goats. One of the smaller goats approached her warily. Kel stood up and went over to the goat, offering her hands out for the goat to sniff. Initially the kid shied away, but then allowed Kel to pat it. When Kel rubbed it's back, it closed it's eyes in an expression of bliss.

As Kel fussed over the goat, she checked all of the other goats with her eyes; determined that nothing was going to happen to the flock whilst she was watching over them.

The young goat grew tired of the attention and wandered away, leaving Kel to try to find the comfiest place to sit. She hummed a tune quietly to herself; one of the ones that she had learnt at the plantation.

Deciding that sitting in the field was a waste of time; Kel stood up and began to jog around the perimeter of the field. She managed one lap before needing to stop to regain her breath. She looked at the short distance she had covered and was horrified by her lack of endurance. Kel sat down again, massaging her lower calf muscles and vowed to run an extra lap of the field everyday until Alex returned.

The hours slipped past with Kel exercising sporadically, or singing to herself to pass the time. She didn't get bored; it was peaceful to be by herself with just the goats for company.

When the sun hung at it's highest in the sky Kel saw five figures making their way up the track towards her.

'We thought that we'd have a picnic with you,' Jacqui informed her.

Eron smiled down at his wife, his expression full of love. Meah, who sat on her father's shoulders squealed in delight as Eron sat down, causing the little girl to rock and sway as her seat adjusted himself on the ground.

Hal and Isra settled themselves on either side of Kel, simultaneously bursting into chatter about how they'd baked biscuits that morning and played with their Pa. Jacqui set about laying a simple picnic on a blanket before them, smiling happily at her children's enthusiasm.

For a moment Kel thought of her own parents; where were they and what were they doing? Had they gone back to the Yamani Isles? Did they miss her?

Kel missed her mother especially, but as Kel watched the family interacting around her Kel wondered if her family had ever laughed together like that when she was younger. Since they had been living in the Yamani isles, Kel had rarely seen her parents smile –they'd adopted the Western ways all too quickly.

Kel also wondered if they'd ever had family picnics when she was Meah's age, but there had always been such an age gap between her, the youngest and Anders, the eldest who had already been seventeen when she was born. Kel had never been particularly close to any of her sisters either, but watching Hal and Isra take care of Meah, she wondered wistfully what it would've been like if she had grown up on friendly terms with Oranie or Adalia.

Unexpectedly she thought of Alex, and despite having only known him for a year how he was closer to her than her own blood siblings. Kel wondered briefly if she'd ever have the courage to tell him about her past.

She was pulled out her musings by the present, and the sounds and sights of joy and laughter. Kel speculated vaguely later on as to why the Yamanis hid their emotions, when sharing them could bring about such enjoyment and contentment.

The happiness of the family was contagious and Kel found herself laughing along with them for the rest of the afternoon. When the evening came she told stories and played with Hal, Isra and Meah until she was dead on her feet.

Exhausted, but happier than she'd been for a good long while, Kel fell asleep.

(-a/n- So there you have it! I hope you enjoyed it as it took me an awfully long while to write and I've been neglecting all of the work that I should be doing. If I fail my exam tomorrow they it's all your fault! Lol. Fanfiction is way better than revision :P

Next chapter you'll find out a bit more about what Alex and Rhonda have been up to. Hehe! Kel is back fighting and isn't Meah just the cutest:D –smiles happily- imagine the cutest blonde two year old that you can and that's Meah :P )

Please leave a review; you know how much I love them!

Confusedknight xxx