My first story in a really really long time.

Disclaimer – Not Tamora Pierce, obviously.

Chapter One - Steadfast

Steadfast – 11 September 460HE

As always, Kel woke up at dawn, dressed, grabbed her practice glaive and went to find a quiet place to practice. She had just finished a complicated pattern dance when she heard a familiar voice behind her, "Aren't you supposed to be taking a break for a week?" Kel smiled to herself and turned around to look into Dom's smiling blue eyes.

"Oh well, I suppose there must be madness in my family somewhere." Dom laughed, and Kel thought about how good it was to hear laughter, even with the war still raging on around them.

Dom thrust his hands into his pockets, "Is it just me or does it seem like the people around us have taken the strangeness level to an all new high? Two weddings, within the week, taking place at a fort, in the middle of a war?"

Kel laughed at the mock seriousness in Dom's voice, and shook her head. "I know it must seem weird, but after everything I've seen… I think it must be terrible to have something so wonderful, and not grasp it while you still can. Who says tragedy isn't going to strike and going to lose that person forever? I suppose they're just taking their chance. Everything can change overnight and it would be a pity if we did not get to see our dear Nealan tamed by Yuki, nor my Lord finally gain status as a married man rather than one of the oldest bachelors in Tortall." Kel finished stretching and grabbed her glaive as both of them walked towards her rooms before breakfast.

"My my, you're rather philosophical this morning aren't you?"

They'd reached Kel's door, and she sighed as she opened it. "Maybe I am. I'm glad to see them happy in the midst of all this. If something had happened to Neal in Scanra… Yuki never would have forgiven me. I never would have forgiven me. Both couples deserve this." Kel put her weapon away and followed Dom to the mess.

"You did the right thing going to Scanra, Kel. Still it's odd to have to attend a wedding in the middle of a war. I wonder if King Maggot got the memo and will leave us alone for a week." Kel couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. "Oh Dom! It's so nice to talk to someone who isn't pining for a change!" Dom bowed to her dramatically and gave her a heart stopping smile, "Nice to know I can still be of service Lady Knight!"

12 September 460 HE

Both ceremonies proceeded without incident – Buri and Raoul's in the morning and Neal and Yuki's in the afternoon. Now the entire fort, bar those on duty, celebrated with the happy couple. Kel had stayed to congratulate both parties once more, allowed herself to be persuaded into a couple of alcoholic beverages at the urging of Dom's squad and then headed to the wall for a quiet breather.

She was looking out at the stars over the cleared space in front of Steadfast when she heard someone come up beside her. "What are you thinking about?" Kel turned to see Dom, dressed to impress in his formal Own attire.

"Nothing in particular, I suppose."She answered quietly.

Dom gave her a small smile. "Do weddings ever make you think about your own future and how your love life is lacking something? Because they always have that affect on me." Kel giggled at the grumpy tone of his voice, which sparked a livelier smile from Dom.

"Love life sergeant? I don't even know what that is!" Dom turned around to face Kel.

"Nonsense, that Kennan fellow courted you for ages as a squire – is that not a love life?"

Kel sighed and looked back at the stars."Not really. I think he was more in love with the idea of me than anything else. He wanted to make me a noble wife, still. That was never the life for me."

Dom's eyebrows furrowed. "Are you saying you never want to get married? I don't believe it."

"I didn't say that! What I mean is, when I chose this life I gave myself an opportunity to be able to make my own decisions about these things. Not that it really matters, in choosing to be a knight I also apparently chose to have men run from the sight of me."

There was silence for a few minutes until Dom made her turn to face him. "Kel… That's not true."

"No one has given me cause to think otherwise, Dom. I think I'm going to head to my rooms, Wolset dared me to drink... actually I don't know what it was, but its making my head fuzzy." At that last comment Dom couldn't help but chuckle, and offered Kel his arm. "

Well Lady Knight, I would be honoured to escort you back to your rooms, if you will let me?" Kel smiled and took the arm he offered.

The stood at the door to Kel's room. "If you don't mind me asking Kel?" She nodded as she opened her door. "What happened to Kennan anyway?" Kel stepped into her rooms and Dom followed, hands in his pockets.

"Went home to marry a rich heiress."

Dom tried to hide his thoughts as much as he could. "Does that bother you at all?"

Kel laughed and replied, with a more than a bit of sarcasm. "No. I didn't really love him, and in time, I think he will realise he didn't really love me. You're asking a lot of personal questions tonight Dom. Whose gone philosophical now?"

Dom grinned sheepishly and fiddled with some random papers on Kel's desk. "I don't know, I guess our whole trip into Scanra made some things painfully obvious to me is all. Then what you said yesterday morning."

Kel raised her eyebrows. "Like what Domitan? You have me curious." For some reason her belly was doing back flips and her hands shook ever so slightly.

"About not grasping something while you still can. We both could have died out there."

Kel could barely hide the irritation on her face, he was dancing around something and she knew it! Her stomach would not stop doing back flips, and whatever Wolset had made her drink was making her head fuzzy. "Can you just spit it out please Dom? I don't know if I'm supposed to be confused or worried for your sanity."

Dom looked at her sheepishly, "I suppose what I'm trying to say is, you gave me a right fright in Scanra after we found you, and I thought I would never get the chance to do this." Dom shortened the distance between them in two long strides and kissed Kel rather hesitantly at first, but when she didn't draw away, he let some of his feelings into the kiss. His arms went around her waist and he felt hers creep up to his neck and her fingers twined into his hair. Both of them forgot where they were. They forgot the party for their friends was still going strong outside. They forgot about the war. About worry and heartache and what the consequences of their relationship might be. Kel fought to keep control, but the warmth which had started with Dom's lips on hers, soon enveloped her. The heat rushed through her body rather fiercely and she let herself be drawn in to her passions. Life is short, she thought, and I WILL have this one night.