In Love
DG32173

Sarah: here's my fourth attempt at a Protector of the Small fanfic. Well, one of the other attempts was a one-shot I finished but that's beside the point. I don't own the Protector of the Small quartet nor any of the characters from it. I do own this story, please don't steal. It will start after the end of the fourth book, Lady Knight. You really should read all four books before reading this fanfic, as it will mention scenes or plots from the books. But you don't have to if you don't want to.

!!!WARNINGS!!!
Mature content. Spoilers. Enough said.

SUMMARY
Neal had suddenly ended his engagement with Yuki without any explanation to anyone. Yuki told Kel she thinks she knows why, but refuses to say. Kel puts the topic to the side as she helps the inhabitants of New Hope set up for Midwinter. But she notices that the closer Midwinter comes, the more edgy Neal gets. When he surprises her on the fourth day of the Midwinter festival, the day of exchanging gifts, she begins to wonder what it would be like to be in love with Neal. But with another war suddenly looming on the horizon, how will they ever get their budding relationship to blossom? Neal/Kel

NOTE
(Authors note)
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Scene change
POV change
Memory/dreams
Scene change in memory

Prologue

"He ended the engagement?" Kel gasps, astonished by what her Yamani friend had just told her.

Yuki sighs. "Yes. He didn't say why, but I think I know," she says softly. "And if I'm right, I can't hate him for it. After all, the heart wants what the heart wants."

"What do you mean?" Kel asks in confusion.

Yuki tries to smile, but it comes out a grimace. "I can't tell anyone. Neal would kill me if I do and I'm right; he'll be extremely embarrassed if I do and I'm wrong," she says. "I'll love him always, yes, but I won't force him to marry me if his heart isn't into it. Too many bad marriages happen that way." She decides a change in topic is in order. "So, how is it like, being in charge of this big place and all those commoners?" she asks curiously.

"Exasperating," Kel admits, knowing she won't get anything more out of Yuki on the topic of Neal and their ended relationship. "People are constantly coming to me to settle arguments and the like. Six arguments already today and it's only noon!" Kel studies Yuki. "You're not staying, are you?" she asks.

"No, I'm not. Being near Neal after just being dumped … it won't be a good thing for either of us," Yuki admits with a sigh. "I'll head back south before the roads close with winter snows."

"I suppose that means you'll be leaving today," Kel says, glancing up at the cloudy skies above. "It's supposed to start snowing sometime over the next week. The roads fill up fast this far north."

"Yes, I am. I came to say goodbye," Yuki says. "Perhaps we'll see each other when you're done here."

Kel bows to Yuki in the Yamani fashion, her hands flat on her thighs. Then she hugs the older woman. "Be at peace," she says in Yamani.

"I'll try," Yuki replies. Over the past several months, she has become less Yamani and more Tortallan in that she doesn't hide her emotions from her face all the time. "You try to have fun, you hear?" she says.

"I'll try," Kel agrees, look down at the road below. They are standing on the walk over the sole gate into New Hope. "Be safe."

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too." With that, Yuki goes down the stairs to her waiting horse and escort. She climbs into the saddle and sets out the open gate.

Neither woman notices Neal watching them from the door to the infirmary. He knows he had hurt Yuki by calling off the engagement. But he just doesn't love her the way he loves Kel. He knows Yuki has her suspicions that he is in love with Kel and that Yuki will keep quiet about those suspicions.

He sighs as Yuki rides her mare out the gate and down the road. Then his eyes turn back to Kel and he shakes his head. She would probably never see him the way he sees her. To Kel, he's just her best friend. And he won't spoil that friendship by letting her know his feelings run far deeper than that.

He has heard from Tobe that the woman who owns his heart is interested in his cousin, Dom. Neal rolls his eyes. Why does Dom always attract the women? The first woman Neal has known was attracted to him and not his cousin was Yuki, and he had to disappoint her after giving her dreams of marriage then shooting them down. He should never have proposed to the beautiful Yamani. He does love Yuki, but it just isn't the same as the love he has for his best friend.

He heads back into the infirmary as Kel turns away from the road to climb down the stairs. His thoughts turn to Midwinter, which is only a few months away. Men kissed women all the time at Midwinter for luck. Perhaps Kel wouldn't mind … then he grins wryly at himself. He shouldn't even think like that. Even a kiss for Midwinter luck would complicate their friendship, and that was unacceptable. What if she became uncomfortable being around him because of that? Better to stick to simple gifts: they're safer. He had already gotten her a gift for Midwinter, a painting of a cat waving its paw: a Yamani symbol of good luck.

Then a carpenter came in, a nail sticking straight through his thumb and Neal's thoughts return to his job of healing the inhabitants of New Hope when they are injured.

Sarah: that's it for the prologue. I hope I didn't bore you to death. If you like, please review. See ya'll next chapter.