So, with the last chapter we all are in favor of Dom deserving it. I did not intend to put Dom in a bad place, but lets face it he's a ladies man, handsome and knows it. Course he'd use it to his advantage to woo someone from Gaul to get some inside info about Kel.

As for Kel's reaction, I ask all you women folk out there, in her place with all those emotions and slowly coming into a new body and getting used to it, would you not react the same way?

Chapter 13

Keladry lay in her cot having discarded her dress nearly the moment she entered the tent. The leathers and thick overdress lay in a crumpled mess as she had tossed them from her as if they had been poison. Xamos paused for a moment before realizing he had not seen the light green under shift, least she would still be wearing that. When he finally saw her crumpled form balled into the furs he felt his heart pitch. It was the sobs however that sent his heart into his stomach, the more she struggled against them the more he felt it knot and turn to ice.

The woman had been a shoulder to so many, carried their burdens as well as their kingdoms from Tortall to Gaul and yet here she was alone, no one around to comfort her when she needed it most. Xamos said little as he slid onto the cot beside her, lifting her head from the pillow to place her against his chest. She didn't look up, didn't say anything but slid into his embrace and held him as if he were going to be ripped from her if she let go. He couldn't even respond but just rested his cheek against the top of her head holding her tight in response.

"Your safe now." He finally managed to say between her slowing sobs. He must have repeated those words and rocked her a few times before she calmed herself enough to actually response.

"Why... why must he torment me so, and as much as my mind tells me otherwise my heart just won't let him go." She whispered then. He didn't mind the tears that soaked through his shirt then, or the fact that it was crumpled from her hands grabbing as much of the fabric as she could. As odd as it sounded it was comforting for him to feel like he was so needed in this world by someone like Kel.

"Because emotions are cruel. We either fall in love with the right person, or.." he paused to place a single kiss on her forehead, the gesture finally got her to stop sobbing but just hold herself to him. "Or the one we can't have." When her fingers eased up he pried her from his shirt and lay her back down in bed. He tried not to frown at the image she made, the fierce knight and shield maiden looked no better than a broken and battered child amongst the furs. Once the blankets were settled around her he lay down next to her careful to keep a layer between them, fingers pushing her wet hair from her face.

"Have you ever been in love?" She questioned him then.
"I have." He spoke quickly, though you could hear the hesitation as he spoke. "Rather.. I am." For a moment she seemed a bit stunned before taking a deep breath and offering him a smile. Her eyes had darkened then; he swore he saw something in them that he couldn't place before it quickly disappeared.

"Will you tell me about her? What is she like; she must be something to win your heart." Her words were forced almost, as if she were trying to simply make conversation.

"Oh she is." He smiled rolling over to drape an arm protectively over her and pull her close. "I remember the first time I saw her. Sheepish thing, nervous as could be and so confused." Kel was smiling a bit as she started to drift to sleep, be it from exhaustion or his tale. The minute he stopped her eyes whipped open and he had to continue. "But there was a cold fire in her, just under her eyes. I think it's her eyes that hypnotized me. We are used to so much sky and sea here that to see hers… well it is as if the gods picked fresh turned earth full of emeralds, gold, and fire when they made hers." Kel was dozing lightly against his chest then, he could feel the rise and fall of her chest and breathe against the hollow of his throat.

"She's strong, smart and confident. I swear even the gods envy how optimistic and protective she is. But it is what makes her have such a strong heart. I swear when she dances I just freeze, lost in everything."

"Why don't you go to her?" Kel muttered half asleep then.
"She's a maiden. Her world and mine will never cross."
"Maidens have lovers." Kel protested, already her speech slurred by sleep.

"I'm the horned man. No woman dares lay with me for risk of carrying my child or love me because of the beast I am." He nearly spat those words out, because he knew the truth to them. Kel snaked her arm under his to hold him in return then.

"Then they are fools." Xamos was glad of the darkness as her words brought about an expression he had not felt in years. Stunned, confused and emotionally venerable he looked down at her. "I.. I can't say anything as I've never had a lover. But your worthy of a woman who sees you, not what you are, or what station you are born of."

"And who is worthy of a man bred to kill?" She shook her head at his response, her lips coming to rest at eh base of his throat.

"She is, provided she loves you for you." She had started to ramble. "Besides, you're not bred to kill."
"Then what am I?"

"Protect." Again she left him speechless as he tried to lull her to sleep.
"Get some rest; I'll be here when you wake."

"Promise?"

"I do."