A/N: Meathead and Kel. Kel and Meathead. Has a nice ring to it doesn't it? Hope you like this chapter!

Disclaimer: Do you honestly think I own this? I mean, seriously? If I owned this, I probably wouldn't still be on fan fiction. All I own is the plot. That's it.

Review Answers at the bottom!

The rest of the day for Neal was spent in a fog. After kissing Kel, Neal had spent the rest of the day mentally kicking himself. Alanna had seen him moping about and had given him extra chores for it. She made him do everything her imagination could dream up. From digging a hole for a privy, to cleaning up after all the horses. Gathering water, then casting spells on each canteen to purify it enough for drinking. Alanna got worried when Neal did all these dreadful tasks without any complaint. Nealan was always complaining about something.

He dutifully did his duty to his knight mistress, and never argued once. Alanna could often be heard throughout the day murmuring her concerns to Raoul about what was going on. It seemed he was having the same problem with Kel. She wasn't talking to anyone, and of course was avoiding Neal like the bloody plague. When Dom teased her playfully like he usually does, she looked at him silently, eyes hard, and then ran off. Dom was very hurt and confused after Kel treated him so badly. He almost ran after her but Raoul stopped him.

Kel went off on a ride with Peachblossom a little past midday. She didn't stray too far, for fear of more spidrens, but went just far enough so that she was alone. She talked quietly to her big oaf of a horse, as if he were her best friend; and could actually understand her. The oddest thing was that he seemed to nod his big head every so often as if agreeing with her distressed words.

Neal wasn't faring much better. He actually –willingly- accepted, when the Lioness challenged him to a spar after lunch. He soon had more bruises than he could count. If he and Kel had been talking, she could have given him some of her bruise balm. But they weren't. So she couldn't.

He and Kel were both in charge of cooking dinner. They didn't say one single word to each other, but somehow they could tell what the other wanted; without them asking. They made a light stew, and served it to all the hungry men; and Alanna. Kel ate slowly and deliberately while Neal scarfed his almost as soon as it hit the bowl. Then he was gone before anyone realized what had happened. Kel stopped eating, and watched the empty space where he had just been.

Am I that repulsive that he had to get away from me? She wondered to herself. She let one tiny tear slowly roll down her warm cheek and fall quietly into her steaming soup. The men seemed to be to occupied with their dinner that they didn't notice their friend was hurting; all except one blue-eyed sergeant that is.

It pained Dom to see Kel upset. He loved her with all his heart, and didn't want her to be unhappy. If she would just talk to him, then he might be able to help. But she hadn't talked to anyone all day. Not even Neal; and he was her best friend. Dom was getting worried…

Neal had been sitting in his tent since he left the fire after his supper. He had tried to read a book, but was too restless. He tried to practice his fencing, but there wasn't enough space. He tried to sleep, but he just wasn't tired. He finally decided to work on his hand to hand combat skills. There was plenty of space for that, and it would help him to calm down. He took up a fighting stance and began some simple kicks and punches.

When he was done with that he was thoroughly exhausted. He had had a long day and was very tired. So he took off his cotton shirt; but left on his breeches, preferring not to be completely nude…He shivered against the cold, making his bare chest ripple. He clambered into his warm and cozy bad roll, but couldn't fall asleep.

Soon he heard the Lioness come into her part of the adjoining tent. She tripped on her bags, and cursed colorfully. Then her senses came back to her and she used her Gift to light up the small area. She rustled about with her things and then crawled into her bedroll. She murmured something and the purple light was gone.

Neal felt so stupid. He had just kissed his best friend in the whole world and then hadn't even talked to her! Now he lay in his bedroll, listening to the loud snores of the king's champion. It was completely black but Neal liked it that way. How could I have been so stupid! He scolded himself. What in Mithro's name possessed me to kiss her!

Suddenly Neal heard his tent opening. He quietly –not wanting to wake Alanna- reached for his sword; hidden under his pillow. It slid silently out of its sheath, and just as he was about to strike his intruder, he heard a faint voice whisper, "Neal."

He stopped. He knew that voice. "Kel?" he whispered. He reached out into the darkness and his hand connected with what he suspected was Kel's hip. He felt a jolt of passionate fire shoot up his arm, and blushed lightly but ignored it. "Kel is something wrong?" he asked, concerned. His eyes were already adjusted, and he could make out her shivering form.

She shook her head slightly, and replied slowly, "Neal, I just…I wanted to talk to you."

"Sure Kel." he said softly, and in a feverous way. It made Kel shiver more, but from what, Neal could not tell. He motioned for her to sit by him, and she refused, deciding to stand by the door instead.

Neal didn't notice that the steady beat of Alanna's snores had subsided.

"Neal, about this morning…" she started, but she was interrupted.

"Kel, let me go first," said Neal. "I don't know why I did what I did, but all I know is that it felt so…right." He stood up and went over to his best friend. He put his arms on her shoulders, and stood there; waiting for her to respond. She was staring at her feet, and when she looked up, Neal was surprised to see tears rolling down her cheeks. He wrapped his lanky arms around her waist, and hugged her tightly. She stiffened in his hold, then relaxed and laid her head on his strong, muscled shoulder.

Alanna listened as her Meathead-ed Squire tried to console his best friend, while at the same time spilling out all his feelings for her.

She shook with her tears, and Neal felt his bare chest getting wet. He stroked her back, quietly soothing her. When she lifted her head, her tears had subsided and she was ready to talk. Neal led her outside so that they could get some air. They found a rock at the edge of camp that was big enough for them to sit on. Neal sat and pulled Kel onto his lap. She snuggled up against him and murmured, "Neal…I need to know something."

He nodded into her hair; to let her know he was listening.

"I need to know…did you really mean it?" She looked up in his big green eyes, and searched them frantically. She found many emotions, and wasn't sure what to make of them. She waited patiently for an answer, and when it came, every word was intertwined with passion, affection, love, and tenderness.

"I meant it all Kel." Then he titled her chin with his fingers and kissed her lightly. She surrendered herself to him and he deepened his kiss. Neither remembered how long they sat there, but both did remember how much it meant. Then they were interrupted by the stamping of hooves. They spun around wildly, and Kel laughed lightly when she saw that Peachblossom had freed himself of his tether, and had followed his mistress. Neal's face went white as Peachblossom swung his head to face him. He looked as if he was glaring at the young man holding his girl in his lap. He snorted, and snapped his teeth.

"Peachblossom, leave him be." Kel ordered sternly. Peachblossom snorted again, and trotted off. Kel sighed and leaned against Neal's chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck when she felt herself slipping. She murmured something into his soft skin.

They sat there for a moment, and when Neal began to get cold, he found that Kel was already sound asleep. She looked so peaceful, and he didn't want to wake her, so he stood slowly. He cradled her in his strong arms and carried her off to her tent. He pushed opened the flap, and went inside. He shifted Kel to his left arm, and knelt on the floor. Then he pulled open her bedroll and laid her gently under the warm blankets. Then he covered her up and kissed her forehead.

When he was leaving her tent, he closed it quietly, and then turned around and walked away; right into a large bulky object.

"May I ask, Squire Nealan, why you were in Squire Keladry's tent? And why you are without a shirt?" questioned Raoul angrily.

A/N: So? What do you think? I know it was short…and slightly...umm…different…but I hope you liked it anyway…And how about the ending? I like the ending the best…

Review Answers:

Sunkissed Guacamole: Umm…I explained this…you gotta learn to read whole paragraphs…go back and read it again…its all in there! And yes I can teach you to magically switch horses in 2 seconds flat…By the way…you're a dork…

wildace keladry2005: I'm glad! I'm really loving your reviews! lol

nativewildmage: Thanks! Hope you love this one just as much!

Confusedknight: Thanks, glad you liked it! I had fun writing that one…Hope you like this chapter!

lianhuaflower13: lol that's not how you spell it…its definitely…I know…but you know me! Unpredictable! Oh don't worry…I will…

FanFictionFantom: Glad you like it! I'll keep writing if you keep reviewing! lol

x17SkmBdrchiczxx: hehe! Me too!

Babbit: heh heh…whoops…sorry…my friend wanted this to be a KN and I promised her I'd make her one…hope you still like it anyway… but Dom and Neal will fight over her very soon! And then she'll have to pick!

Mage of Dragons: lol! Thanks! Here's an update, just for you!

Seyyada: Thanks! I will!

neurotically yours: I'm sorry…but hey I'm glad you loved it! Here's your update!

imakeladrygirl: Thanks! Glad you like it!

limabean839: Here's your update! Hope you like it!

Tigerlily: Hey thanks! I'm glad you liked it! Hope you like this chapter too!