This is something new that's been kicking around in my head for a while. I thinking that it will be between a 4 and 6 part series. Enjoy!

Keladry paused in her supply review and wiped the sweat from her brow. Despite the cooled air outside, the quartermaster's stables were decidedly warm. She had been briefed that the war was beginning to wind down, however it nary felt like that. New Hope was receiving new people everyday and she was barely keeping up with the load. It had taken Neal, Merric, and Master Numair to convince her that asking for help was not weakness. She knew that, she knew that requesting more help was just another part of command, however she could not shake the feeling that it was admitting defeat. Forts surely didn't need more than one person overseeing things. She knew that also to be false. Owen, upon receiving his knighthood, became Wyldon's right hand man. Raoul had Captain Flyn. She needed her own Captain Flyn or Owen at this point.

New Hope's numbers were reaching far into the low thousands and she was but one knight. Yes, Neal and Merric helped. Yes, she had clerks. However, New Hope was serving as not only a refugee camp, but now also as a fort in its own right.

She couldn't afford to be sloppy and try as she might, she was beginning to slip under the pressure. It was with a heavy heart that she had written to Wyldon some weeks ago requesting another knight to be assigned to her district. Neal had his hands full between the refugees and those hurt in combat. Merric was meeting the enemy daily, and Kel just needed one more person at her back. Someone to take the wall if she needed to also ride out. Someone who understood the necessaries of command. Someone who wouldn't get themselves drawn and quartered with due to their tongue. She shifted through another pack and then marked it off on her accounting sheet. Someone who could also follow her command despite her being 'the girl'.

She rolled back onto her heels and rested a moment. Even now, entering into her third year of knighthood, she was still having issues with people respecting her shield and her authority. Not within her own camp, no- or at least not for very long. Her people were loyal to her and dealt with issues swiftly and often before they ever reached her ears. She wished they wouldn't, she could take care of herself. However, if she was being completely honest, she appreciated the help with all that existed on her shoulders. Quite often her days had her rising before dawn as she had as a page and then retiring late in the evening. It meant little rest and an increasingly shortened temper.

When she finished her examination she returned to the main section of the fort, mostly pleased with the supplies that she reviewed and cross with the fact that she had found gravel sown into the bottom of some of her bags of grain. That was unacceptable. She would be handling this. Mastiff was, as always, as beautifully maintained fort that only grew more impeccable and more impressive. First Haven and then New Hope had given her an appreciation for such order. However, she did miss the sound of screaming children and lively conversation. Soldiers could be a bit on the dull side.

It was a short time later that she was sitting in Wyldon's office drinking a warmed spiced cider- a special treat from her commander. She felt comfortable enough to sit back with a small contented sigh. She and Wyldon had come to an understanding in her time as a knight and his time away from being training master. Her venture into Scanra only solidified it. Wyldon reviewed her sheets again and made a face at the point where, she could only assume, he saw her note about the mis-weighted bags.

"I will have Jesslaw see to this." He stated indicating that she was indeed correct in her assumption. Kel nodded and took a second sip, enjoying the warmth that slipped from her mouth down her throat and into her belly. It got cold quickly here in the north, and winter was moving fast. "As for your other request." He set the papers down and Kel straightened in her seat, now their meeting would truly begin and she owed him her attention. Wyldon ran fingers over his desk. "It is hard to ask for help, especially when you are deemed to be in control. However, a good leader knows when more support is needed, and so I commend you for the awareness to your post. I've gotten approval to move one knight to New Hope and to be under your command, a second down person. We are still deciding assignments. Several knights are moving inland from the coast now that those Wolfships will have difficulties with raids in the colder months. I'll try to send word when we know who, however odds are that the message will arrive to you when they do. Understood?"

"Yes, sir." Kel replied back, she was pleased with the response though she wished that she knew exactly who was coming. It was hard to prepare with unknown variables.

"I've also replaced the twenty soldiers that you lost, but be careful with their replacements. We've allotted you another 30 bodies that will arrive with your new knight. Finally, we have word of another 700 or so refugees coming in before the winter starts in true." Wyldon sighed and leaned back in his own chair. For all that he loved field work, this war was tedious. They had all thought Maggur was done once his killing machines had been defeated, however there were still armies to deal with, and it was taking longer than anyone would have liked. "I am hopeful that this winter will be the last for this war and that we'll be working on clean up by the time late autumn rolls around. Time will tell."

Kel watched the man who she'd known for over half of her life reach up and rub his arm, which would always ache from a harrock injury sustained during the Immortals War. It tended to hurt most when cold damp weather was approaching. A sheer sign of things to come.

"You are dismissed unless you have further information for me?" He stated. Upon Kel's affirmation that she had nothing to report, Kel finished her cider and bowed before being dismissed.

Another year of this. She sighed. It wasn't that she was against war or combat. She just was having difficulty now that her task was done. Settling into regular knight's duties and commanding a camp after being a tool of the divine was harder than she would like to admit. It was as though she still had this driving sense of urgency, but to no end. It just drove with no destination.

As such she had taken to teaching the refugees all the armed skills that she could. Glaive practice was back at least twice in a day if not three times. Between the high pressures of running the camp and her driving urgency, it was as though private peace was unachievable. She had never experienced this before. After spending six years living in the Yamani Islands, she was used to always having complete control over her thoughts and emotions- if only externally. Something about the Scanra trip changed that. Was this what it was like to be touched by the gods? That everything you knew about yourself would change?

Kel shook her head, these were not appropriate thoughts for right now. She would handle them when she was able to. Until then, she would work and she would do her best by her people and her overlord.

It was another two weeks before Kel received a note from Lord Wyldon. A messenger had ridden in early in the morning and delivered Kel a note while she took breakfast with Yuki. The plump Yamani woman was heavily taken with child and Kel was delighted, though nervous about the pregnancy. There was something to be said about voluntarily birthing and raising a child in a refugee camp so close to the border. With enemies everywhere, sometimes she questioned the wiseness of the decision. But that was beyond her scope as best friend of the married couple. They would do as they saw fit as neither were stupid. She would support them to the best of her ability and keep her criticisms to herself- she was no mother and doubted that she ever would be.

The note was short, merely reading that the new knight, soldiers, and half of the new refugee population would be arriving by day's end. Kel finished her bowl of honeyed porridge with a sweep of moist oat bread and shoved it all in her mouth in a rather unladylike fashion. As she swallowed she murmured her thanks to the messenger and took a coin from her belt purse and pressed it into his hand for tip before leaving. New Hope was ever expanding, now with people plying trades and opening small shops. She tried to keep coin on her for these very reasons so that she could support the small local economy. Neal and Yuki lived in quarters above the healing house, and Merric in the soldier's barracks. The clerks now lived in their own building attached to the side of the headquarters by a long wooden corridor that was magically warmed during the winter. She was not one for extravagants, however couldn't deny Master Numair when he had offered the gift.

The headquarters itself consisted of attic space for storage, a room for Tobe by the stairs and front door, a downstairs meeting room and office for Kel and the other leaders, another small meeting place, and then rooms for Kel, two visitors, and now this new knight on the second floor. Previously, it had held the work and sleeping spaces of the clerks, however as the need for clerks expanded as did their need for space. Quite often Kel used the largest empty room on the second floor for her own practice space so that she could obtain peace. Straw mats placed on the floor by Tobe and his group of worshiping youngsters had made the sparing room cozy. She was ever grateful for her little henchman.

Kel made a note to herself as she opened the door to speak with him. In a year's time he would be free, if she was counting correctly. She had gained his service in 460HE, and in just over a month it would be 463HE. Meaning that his contract was nearly up. She knew that he would rather stay with her, however she and Daine had spoken extensively about the boy needing training in wild magic. With the level that he had, and the unknowingness of his father had led them to believe the boy a halfling, much like Daine herself. The young sorceress had yet to petition the gods and goddesses in the divine realms for answers, however the two were fairly certain. A gift like that was wasted on servitude. Tucking those thoughts away for later she finished ascending the stairs and entered the first room on the right, the room which would soon occupy her second in command.

The focus of her thoughts stood in the middle of the room practicing the 'broom sweeps clean' position with an actual broom. Kel had to crack a smile and grabbed a second broom from off the wall to sneak up on him. In a flash that two were heavily sparing with their 'deadly' weapons. "Keep your elbow up!" She called to him as she forcefully drove the butt of her broom towards his solar plexus. They had been at it for a while now and both were grinning and red-faced from the effort and the dust knocked from the brooms themselves.

Tobe raised his defense and the two met with a solid 'whack' noise. "You will never get me, lady-mother!" Tobe taunted back and skipped out of the way in a graceful way that she was slightly envious of. Of all the things she was, graceful was not one of them. A snorted laugh caused her to turn around and face the open doorway.

Two things happened then at once, Kel caught sight of Neal, Merric, and of all people Faleron of King's Reach standing in her door and the feeling of a sharp pain across the back of her skulls as Tobe landed a solid hit across her head with his broom. She was knocked forward by the unexpected blow and took to a knee clutching her head with care. "Tobe." Was the strangled gasp. He had some power when he was really going for it.

Hands gripped hers and she painfully looked up into Neal's eyes as he worked on her wound. "Tobe, you need to be more careful." He scolded lightly, his concentration more fully on his work than on the admonishing. Merric moved around the two to comfort the small servant. Had Kel not been distracted by sudden newcomers, the hit would have never happened.

The pain lessened and Kel was able to open her eyes again, though she didn't remember closing them. Neal moved behind her to inspect the injury through her hair, giving Kel the opportunity to look at the open door once more. Faleron was here, odd but. Her mind moved quickly. Faleron, as far as she had been concerned had been moved to the coast in the time since helping her save the refugees from Scanra. He had helped Neal take the group home when she chose to move on. She couldn't be more thankful to her own friend, though this predicament was more than a little embarrassing- especially in front of what she could only assume was her new second in command.

Neal finished picking through her hair and declared her to be relatively injury free, but he would like the partially healed scab go the rest of its way on its own "as a reminder." She stood and motioned for Faleron to wait a moment. Tobe was working himself up into a fit and that was not acceptable. She gripped her servant on the shoulders and peered just a few scant inches down into his eyes. The nearly 13 year old met hers briefly before looking away.

"Tobe, I am fine. You did nothing wrong, I was the one who was not as careful as I should have been." She soothed.

"But, I hit you. I'm sorry." Kel shushed him before he could work himself up further.

"An accident." She stated firmly and brought the young boy in for a hug. She knew how he felt about her, a mother figure and easily the most important person in his life. He must be absolutely beside himself over this. "Go with Neal and have some lunch." Kel shot a look over at Neal and he nodded briefly, a good lunch and maybe a nice calming tea would do the trick. She would further sooth Tobe later, right now she had to greet her new counterpart. Arms wrapped around Tobe's shoulders as Kel let go.

"Milady mother, Tobe and I will do just nicely." Neal drawled and began steering the young boy out of the room. Tobe shot one last mournful look back at Kel before allowing himself to be towed along. Kel could tell that this conversation was far from over, however that was for a later time.

Merric sighed once they heard the front door close. "You coddle him, Kel. He is going to walk all over you one day." Kel in return sighed. Merric was indeed better about commoners than he once was, however there was still much room for improvement.

"The boy is a human being, Merric." Faleron spoke up in a familiar way that reminded Kel that these two were first cousins, and thus close.

Merric made a face but didn't speak back against the older man. If Kel whistled with appreciation, then she would have. She would need to learn that trick. For all that Merric listened to her, he would also stubbornly talk back especially on the subject of their people. Her watch commander gave a short sarcastic salute and left the building for his own duties.

That left Kel and Faleron alone in headquarters. Kel smiled at her one time peer and friend. "I'm to assume you are my new second in command?" Kel reached out and heartily clasped forearms with the older man. Faleron was still one of the most handsome men that she had ever seen. Dark blue eyes, similar and different then Merric's led to wonderfully dark hair that had the same coal black of Raoul and Roald. The latter made sense as the Contes were relatives of King's Reach, Faleron's mother, Mariager, was a cousin of King Jonathan. Faleron smiled.

"That I am. It is good to see you on this side of the border." Faleron grinned at his own joke and Kel met that with a smile of her own.

"Indeed, it is good to not be worried about my fugitive status." Kel stepped back to the side. "This room is going to be your new home until the end of the war."

Faleron glanced around at the clean space, a decent bed was to one side with a wardrobe, clothing press, and places for weapons. "This is it?" He questioned and Kel's feeling of warmth at his arrival faltered. He strode around the room in inspection and then turned to face Kel. "Are you sure this is not the practice room?" He laughed outright at Kel's face as she glowered at him. A hand unconsciously went up to the back of her head to feel the ginger spot.

"Very funny, Faleron. I'll see to you that you get latrine duty as a warm welcome." It was a nearly empty threat. Nearly. From there it was easy for them to slip into relaxed conversation, as Kel toured the knight around New Hope. They would have to work out responsibilities, of course, however he should feel free to suggest ideas of improvement and to offer his own opinions on things. He was certainly impressed with the set-up and said as much. She apologized for being unprepared for his arrival, they had been expecting him and his group sometime later in the day. Faleron confessed to have gone ahead of the group, wanting an early start and to have a foothold before the people he was supposed to command got there. Kel smiled, remembering feeling much a similar way when she first arrived at Haven those years ago. A shout at the wall and the watch bells alerted the two to approaching trouble. Kel heard the signal for enemy and went racing towards the closest stairs, Faleron not far behind her.

Her people knew what to do and Kel was pleased to see that her plowmen were already being moved back behind the sturdy protection of the wooden barricade. Someone passed her a spyglass and she glanced through it. A group of forty Scanra armed to the teeth ran for the camp. That couldn't be all, however. It was never this easy. She swept her vision around. There. Movement in the trees. Possible giants?

"Merric!" She called collapsing the tool and passing off to the nearest corporal. Merric gave his affirmation that he was there and he met Kel's eyes with business. "There are at least forty men out there, and I am willing to bet plenty more out in the woods." Her mind ran quickly, she would need Peachblossom and a lance- no two lances 14 foot ones. And her war hammer. "I've suspicion that there is at least one giant in the woods. Tobe!" She called. He was there with Gydo and Loesia. "I'll need Peachblossom saddled with my lance and warhammer." Two of them ran to obey as Tobe began outfitting her in armor. "Faleron." She commanded. "I know that you've only just arrived, however I need you to take the wall. Neal will be needed if this attack is as big as I suspect." Faleron nodded. "I'll take twenty men; Merric, two squads, and that leaves two to defend the wall and two by the doors if we need them to ride out. Let's move."

By the time that Kel got to the base of the gate, Peachblossom was saddled and ready with her heavy jousting saddle and other weapons ready to go. Loesia held the horse steady as Kel swung herself into the saddle. She was glad that her house was taken with small children. It was adults that he couldn't stand. And dogs. It was most things, but not children. She kicked him into a trot and led her line of people out single file through the narrow opening. There was just enough room for Peachblossom and the other warhorses to get through. Scraping told her that the gate was shut behind her. Her group rounded out over the bridge and across the river, much like Haven's old defense. From the direction that the attackers were coming from, it was safe to say that they were coming from the north rather than moving from behind Tortall territory. This was a relief.

She rode on into the forest and was immediately overwhelmed with a smell of rot. There were giants here, alright. Something moved out of the corner of her eye and Kel moved Peachblossom around and away from that area. She was right in her prediction when the trees fell away to reveal a 16-foot giant. She could hear her men engaged with other attackers and reached down to settle the lance in the crook of her arm. She would never want to admit it, but she was truly scared. She had never taken on a giant before, however big Raoul was. This was not going to be easy- she was not a giant killer!

Distraction and self-doubt now would only get her killed. She needed to focus. Like stone. Keladry took a deep breath as she stared down her opponent. Her heart stilled and the world fell away until she felt the cool calm that appeared every time she worked with the lance. Dying was not an option, and so she had to win. She directed Peachblossom backwards and away from the giant. The area around them was curiously still and Kel resisted the urge to cover her nose from the smell. Giants were not known for their hygiene.

When the moment felt right, Kel murmured, "Charge" to Peachblossom and his muscles surged beneath her. The lady knight shifted her weight and brought her lance up to make contact only for to need get out of the way as the giant took a swipe at her. He had a club. Great. Why wouldn't he have a club? As if this was easy to begin with. She couldn't go toe-to-toe with him. Strength for strength, he would crush her. Reaching behind her, Kel felt her warhammer as it was attached to Peachblossom's tack. Releasing it she hoisted the heavy object with one hand. In the other, she held her lance. This had to be done right.

Peachblossom had taken her out of the giant's reach and now waited for the next instruction. 'Extra oats for you tonight,' she thought lovingly towards her loyal companion. The giant turned and bellowed at her, this was it! She raced for the opening and as he swung his club she simultaneously brought her warhammer up to deflect and send away the club's momentum and also trust forward with the lance, letting the familiar structure slide back into her hand as she hit home. The lance was ripped from her hand, however she let it and moved to a safe distance again before turning her horse.

The giant lay where she felled him. A bellow in the distance brought her back to reality and she secured her weapons again before moving to take care of the second giant. This one, only 12-feet in height and without a weapon was much easier to handle and Keladry was able to put it down with but a single pass of the lance.

It wasn't until someone passed her a waterskin and she drank did she take notice of the pain in her body. Her muscles screamed and her back was a solid ache. Closer inspection made her believe that her left shoulder may have come dislocated. She was in shock, or she would have noticed sooner. It must have happened when she deflected the blow with her left arm and warhammer. Her stomach dropped and her head swam. As much as she instructed her body to remain upright and to keep her breakfast inside, she could not control the slump and subsequent vomit. She would need to apologize to Peachblossom later. The hands of her men helped her remain ahorse until they could get her back inside. Trumpets told her that Merric's band had been successful. Sounds for the 'all clear' began and allowed the lady knight to relax.

She awoke in a soft cot within the healing house. Taking stock, her shoulder and arm were wrapped forcibly to her body and her head was severely bandaged- what had happened there? Overall, it wasn't the worst that she's gotten. It certainly wasn't the least, however. Neal was by her side within minutes.

"Taking on a giant, eh?" He asked in a tone that exuded teasing, scolding, and worry. His hands were gentle as he examined her and had her follow first one finger and then another across her line of vision.

"Two, actually." Kel replied with a cough, her throat was dry.

Neal made an agreeing noise before handing her a cup filled with water from the pitcher on her bedside table.

"I guess Goldenlake isn't the only giant-killer now- eh?" He offered, though she could tell that he was worried. "You've dislocated your shoulder, I was able to heal the cracks in your ribs and spine, however you will hurt for a time. You had a brain bleed- most likely from the tumble you took trying to get off of Peachblossom on your own."

Kel groaned, "I didn't."

"You did." He affirmed back with a smile. "And got a taste of the ground for you efforts." Kel sghed. If it wasn't one thing, it was another.

She laid back on the cot once she had taken her share of the water. "How long have I been asleep?"

Neal grabbed her hands and starting checking their fill and refill rates for blood by first squeezing and releasing each finger tip. "I kept you under for the first day, brain injuries can be tricky. You slept normally through the second, and it is now near dawn of the third." In the most business like manner he turned and began the same check on her toes, as one did after a spine and brain injury.

"Three days?" Kel gasped overwhelmed with anxiety. This was an unusual feeling. Her emotions were all over the place. She couldn't breathe.

It was her name being repeated over and over again that brought her back around to reality. Neal's face was with her and she focused on it like she once did Lord Wyldon during her fear of heights.

He was frowning. "How long have these episodes been happening?" He questioned, not unkindly.

Kel looked away feeling embarrassed. "This is the first."

Neal's frown, if possible, deepened. "You are lying to me."

Kel sunk further into herself. "Since Scanra. I didn't notice at first. I had control. I just seem to be losing more and more every day."

Neal nodded, if he had a comment then he chose to keep it to himself. He simply patted her on the knee and stood. "I'll give you some peace. Faleron has been serving in your stead- remarkably capable- though we all know you keep impeccable notes. Apparently he has some experience in command over in Frasrlund. Most likely why he was chosen to come here." Her friend walked away and Kel felt lower than ever. This was it. This is what everyone was saying about women in combat.

That night when she slept she dreamt over and over about her trip to Scanra. When at last she woke with a gasp she noticed a single candle had been lit by her bedside. A noise startled her and she looked up to see Faleron sitting at her side surrounded by books and charts, all she recognized as the tools she used to run New Hope. As she woke up more fully he spoke.

"Nightmares or Night terrors?" He asked and she wished he wouldn't. She was supposed to be his commander. Here she was wrapped up in itchy linen and having nightmares like a small child. Humiliating. When she didn't answer he continued. "I have them too, you know. Sometimes I dream about our foray into Scanra. Most times, though I dream about Frasrlund. About the battles, the carnage. The aftermath. Sometimes I even dream when I'm awake. Something catches my attention and I am back there."

Kel was quiet for a while before asking. "How do you handle it?"

Faleron sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Lady Alanna- we were stationed together for years you know, she told me that it is something called 'Soldiers Sickness'. It is something that is quite common when you go through traumatic events. Commoners and people who haven't experienced war, but have still experienced something truly awful can also get it. I take it one day at a time. She and I would have healing sessions, it's an injury of the mind. It requires healing much the same as a physical injury. It can be recovered from if you handle it correctly."

Kel shuffled upwards in bed so that she was half seated and thanked Faleron in his efforts to help her with the adjustment. Once Faleron had retaken his seat, silence descended. Kel had a lot to think about. At last, when it seemed like the silence would stretch on forever she spoke.

"So, this isn't because I am unfit for combat. I'm not crazy." This new information gave her both fear and hope.

"Not crazy unless I am. Not weak either." Faleron reached out and placed his hand over hers. "Kel, you're a good leader- always have been. Your combat skills and ability to get the job done has always been matter of fact. However, if it's one thing that I've noticed over the years that we've known each other, it is that you rarely take the time to care for yourself. You keep everything under such tight control and strict conditions. You don't allow yourself to process things as you should. You ignore the intricacies of personal issues and plow through the physical." Kel pulled a face.

"I could put you in irons for insubordination." She retorted trying in vane to sound normal. She hated it when anything got the better of her, and it seems like Faleron was hitting the nail on the head.

"You could, but you won't." Faleron replied after a startled laugh.

"The Yamani's don't allow for this kind of emotional freedom. Combat training and being the only girl, less so. Then with the war. I supposed that out of all the lessons that I've learned, self-care has never been high on the priority list." Kel admitted. They spoke for a while longer about easier subjects, Faleron had already given her much to think about. They covered what had been happening in the camp in her absence and what Faleron was to do over the course of what looked like would be a decent length of recuperation. They would ask Neal in the morning about her release and her recovery. It would be a long while before Kel was able to take on giants again.

Finally, Faleron helped her settle back into her cot and assisted in pulling the covers back over her side, as her bandaging did not allow for such free movements. When he moved to sit back down she questioned what he was doing. With a simple smile, her second in command replied, "You'll not sleep well if night terrors take you again. Quite often you'll only dream once in a night, but I'll stay for a bit longer and wake you should you start having one." Kel nodded, her eyes already drooping.

With effort she reached out and touched the edge of his boot from its position on Faleron's crossed knee. "Faleron?"

"Yes, Kel?" He asked already peering back down into the account books.

"Thanks." Faleron nodded with a smile and Kel slipped back down into a peaceful sleep.

I hope that you enjoyed this! I haven't written for Tamora Pierce in a very long time, so I may be a bit rusty.

Cheers!

iBless!