A/N: Ok, I read Lady Knight, and felt very, well, robbed, to tell you the truth. This is my version of Steadfast. Sorry it's so short, but I will seriously try to update often. If not, feel free to threaten me! (Thoughts are in italics.).
Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce is the Goddess, I am merely a mortal, and a broke one at that. None of this is mine.
Steadfast was busy, but Kel was bored. She had hardly anytime to talk to her former knightmaster, Neal was too busy caught up in his own lovelife, Tobe had found companions in Alanna's younger children, and Cleon seemed to be avoiding her. She walked around outside the castle, looking for someone to talk to. A movement under a tree suddenly caught her eye. A wave of paranoia washed over her. The enemy can't have made it all the way over here, past all our forts. Cautiously, she walked over to the tree, trying to see who was under it. When the person's features became clear, Kel almost smacked herself in the forehead for her stupidity. This war has had a bad effect on me.
"Greetings, Lioness," she said, stepping under the tree.
The redhead turned towards her, the scowl on her face quickly replaced by a smile. "Well met, Lady Knight," she replied. "I meant to find you. I heard all about your Scanran escapade. I wanted to congratulate you."
Kel ducked her head. "I couldn't have done it without all the help I had. So many people were involved."
"Well, it just goes to show you that, believe it or not, you have friends who are willing to sacrifice their lives for you, my former squire among them. It took a long time for me to accept that fact as well."
At the mention of her best friend, Kel smiled. "You definitely taught Neal a lot. I was impressed."
Alanna smiled back. "Goddess as my witness, it wasn't easy." There was a silence for a few minutes. Then Alanna began to speak again. "I hate parties," she announced. "If only Raoul wasn't one of my dearest friends," she added, sounding almost regretful.
Kel laughed. "Think of how he must feel, being at the center of this party."
"Jon must've made it doubly hard for him. Jon enjoys torturing Raoul as much as possible."
"I noticed."
Alanna stretched. "I'm going to go find George. We'll talk at dinner, I'm sure." She gripped Kel's hand and then left. Kel watched her go and then sat against the trunk of the tree.
"I'm so bored, I'd even listen to Neal go on about philosophy," she muttered.
"Gods above, I think you must be afflicted with some disease! To want to listen to Meathead?" a familiar voice asked. Kel's head snapped up and looked right into Dom's eyes. She stood up quickly, trying to quench the urge to throw her arms around him.
"Dom!" she said, happily.
He grinned. "It's nice to see you when we don't have imminent disaster on our hands."
Kel smiled, remembering her similar thought earlier. "Want to sit?"
Dom answered her by plopping down right where he was. "You can have the trunk," he said.
"So courteous. How have the last two months been for you?"
"Fighting is never fun, but it is easier now that we have no killing devices on our hands. I do wonder who we owe that too," he answered, an innocent look on his face.
Kel was sure she was blushing. "You know very well I couldn't have done it without you and the rest. I thanked Raoul profusely for ordering you to come."
"You killed Blayce by yourself, and that was the root problem. And even if Raoul hadn't ordered me to come, I think I might've anyhow," he replied, meeting her hazel eyes with his very blue ones.
"Thanks," Kel said sincerely. "I appreciate it."
"How's New Hope coming along?" he asked, not breaking the gaze.
Kel felt like she was under Blayce's control again. She couldn't move her eyes away. "It's coming along blu-er, fine," she answered, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. Dom smiled. He knows what he's doing to me! Kel had never felt so embarrassed in her life.
"Kel!" an exuberant voice called. She looked up and saw her Yamani friend and Neal's bethrothed, Yuki, running towards her, Neal in close pursuit. His hair looked slightly disheveled, and Kel decided she'd tease him about that later. She stood up just in time for her friend's embrace. "I've missed you so much! I've been so worried, I could only rely on Neal's letters."
Kel stepped back. "I'm fine, Yuki," she said, smiling. "How are you and Shinko?"
"Fine! Let's walk toward the castle, dinner's going to be served shortly." Kel looked back, seeing Neal and Dom in serious conversation, and followed her friend into the building of Steadfast.