Two Years after we left our couple on the banks of the Vassa...
Leaning against the wall of the large ball room in the West wing of the palace in Corus, Domitan of Masbolle Sergeant of the Kings Own scanned the whole room with his eyes. Flitting over every detail and every person. His ears catching both light and deep toned voices while his sense of smell picked up perfumes, foods and even the slight smell of magic in the air.
Standing as he was in the shadows, no one noticed how his eyes frequently found their way back to one particular person in the room. It wasn't like he could not help it though.
Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan stuck out, and not in a bad way.
The ball they where both attending tonight was designed to strengthen ties between the Kings Own and the Queens Riders but also to let both sets of warriors let their hair down. A chance to have a little fun before work picked up again and they where sent back out to defend King and country.
As Dom watched Kel made her way from Raoul and Buri to talk to some of the riders she knew well. After a few minutes in their company the circle she was standing in shifted slightly and he got an unrestricted view.
It was a strange thing to she her in a dress, all made up and Dom could count of one hand how many times he had seen her in one before, at least one this brilliant. The dark green empathised the colouring in her eyes, and complemented the dark tones of her hair, that curled round her neck in leisurely curls.
Catching her eye over the crowd he saw her smile and the wink he threw back at her caused a faint blush to appear on her cheeks. Obviously answering questions from those she was talking to, she made a gesture with her hand and headed towards the large open doors at one end of the ball room, intending on getting some air. A small glance over her shoulder the only indication she knew he would be following, the only invitation he would receive.
Setting down his cup on a nearby table Dom followed her out and watched as she disappeared into the rose garden. The light cloak she had picked up on the way out fluttering in the slight breeze as she hurried down the peeble lined path.
Catching up with her further into the garden he spun her around, gathering her in his arms and gently placing his lips to hers. When she responed and wrapped her arms round his neck to pull him tighter, he pressed slightly harder and was rewarded with a satisfied sigh.
Releasing her lips he pulled his head back and looked at her. Her bright hazel eyes gazed back and he was lost for a moment, quite content. A quiet giggle from her snapped him out of it and he kissed her lips again.
"Gods I've missed you" he said pulling her close "How was Tyra?"
"I've missed you too" she answered honestly "And Tyra was…warm."
"Warm?"
"Well, with being in the north for the last couple of years I'd got used to the cold again."
"Any problems?"
"Just the usual. You'd think people would try to be more original."
She felt his chest move as he quietly chuckled. Then they just stood like that for a while, arms wrapped around each other, taking in and remembering one another. No distraction apart from each other.
They had been a relationship for a year and a half now, nearly two if you started counting from the time they had been stumbling round one another ever since their return from the lands of Scanra. The last four of those months had seen Kel sent on a diplomatic mission to Tyra where, by all accounts, she had been greatfully received by the Lords and by the people.
Even before Raoul and Buri's wedding they had been skirting round each other, both unsure what the short tryst on the banks of the river meant for both of them and how they should proceed. It had taken them long enough for Neal who decided to take matters onto his own hands, and he had done so by locking them both in a room at Queenscove when they had both been present to take part in the naming ceremony for Neal and Yuki's first child.
They had no choice but to talk and talk they did. For a while at least.
"So has anything exciting happened in my absence?" she asked.
Dom smiled.
"Exciting? No. I was waiting till you got back before anything exciting happens." He replied cryptically. Enjoying the slightly bemused, slightly confused look on her face as she pondered what he had said.
"Dom, what are you going on about?"
"All shall be revealed in time."
"Honestly sometimes you are as bad as Neal" she told him, leaning backwards in his arms so that she couold sock him one in the arm.
"Gentle Lady do not hurt me so" he cried, clutching his chest dramatically and falling backwards like a player, play acting to the crowds.
"Ok I take it back, your worse than Neal" she said laughing at his antics.
"No one is worse than Neal, its just not possible" he told her, his face deadly serious. "I am however, about to take a leaf out of his book" he said taking a small black box out of his breeches pocket and getting down on one knee.
"Dom what in the name of chaos are you doing?" her voice sounded frightened and small while at the same time her eyes settled upon the box that he held, now open in his hand. Eyes wide she stared at him as he took both her hands in one of his own.
"Kel don't look so scared and no," he said as she opened her mouth to speak "don't say anything till I've finished please." She let her head nod lightly.
Kel we've known each other for a long time now though I feel that I've known you for even longer than that, through Neal's letters. I hid my feelings for you for a long time unsure of how you'd react and afraid that you'd just see me as one of those men who tried to get close to you to test you out. Or as just a friend."
His hold on her hands loosened slightly and she gripped tightly back, unable and unwilling to let go.
"I love you." he told her with complete honestly, looking her directly in the eyes. "I know I'm not much and that with a career in the Own I'm not rolling in money but I don't need material wealth if I have you at my side. You make me happier than I could ever of imagined and I hope I do the same for you. I don't want you saying yes lightly, if you do say yes I mean which I hope you would I…" he paused and looked at her helplessly. "I've messed it up haven't I? In the name of the goddess why didn't I prepare a speech?"
She was silent for a moment, trying to take in everything he had just said to her. She shook her head lightly as she tried to clear her head.
"But Dom, the Own…"
"If I hadn't messed up, my next line would have been to tell you that the King has relented slightly and after a couple of years of less than friendly banter between a lot of people, it has been agreed that those in the Own with the role of Commander or Sergeant will be allowed to marry if it their wish to do so… if they can find themselves a bride willing to put up with their wandering."
He raised himself up so that he was standing and looked at her. Her eyes where still wide and looking at the ring in the box. Even if he could afford it, he wouldn't have bought her anything too fancy or elegant. The ring was simple white gold band with a single small diamond sunk into the centre. He looked at it as well and mentally cursed his choice of ring, it was nothing special, maybe she didn't like it. Maybe she had wanted something special, something fancy, something to show the world that she was a woman and proud of it?
Looking at her face again he was startled to find tears streaming down her cheeks. Raising his hands he cupped her face gently and used his thumbs to wipe her cheeks. Her eyes closed on the contact and she breathed deeply.
"Kel don't cry please. I didn't mean to upset you, look we can forget this ever happened if you want and I wont bring it up again unless you want me too. What…what are you smiling at?"
She wasn't just smiling. Her face was lit up with pure untainted joy and her eyes where wide open, staring straight at him as though she wasn't too sure he was entirely 100 real.
"Yes" she whispered.
"Pardon?"
"Yes you dolt. How many times would you like me to say it?"
With a strangled sort of cry his placed his lips back on hers and they stood for several minutes locked in an embrace both trying to express how they felt through touch alone. The kiss ended a long time after and they stood looking into each others eyes until a throat was cleared behind them followed by dull smack.
"Ouch Yuki what was that for?" Nealan of Queenscove asked his wife as he rubbed his upper am where she had hit him with her fan. Smiling, the small and slightly pregnant Yamani looked at him then at Kel and Dom.
"You spoiled their moment" she said simply. Neal scowled.
"I'm so dreadfully sorry for spoiling your eh moment fair cousin and gentle friend but we have been standing here for awhile you know and it didn't look like you where going to be moving any time soon" he said "Any reason why you where standing there gazing at each other as if all your mid-winters had come at once?"
Kel looked at Dom and Dom looked at Kel, big grins plastered across both of their faces.
"Excuse me one more minute beloved cousin of mine" said Dom to Neal before turning and kissing Kel once more.
"Do you have to do that in front of me? You really have no idea how, Ouch. Yuki one of these days I'm going to take that fan away from you then what will you do?"
Releasing the pressure on her lips Dom smiled.
"Do we have to tell them?" he asked lightly touching his forehead against hers, he could get lost in those eyes.
"Tell me what?" Neal's voice said in the background.
"I think we'll have to, they might get a bit suspicious after a while"
"Suspicious about what?" came the voice again.
"He's smart but not that smart"
"Hey!"
"I was thinking more about Yuki" Kel said laughing.
"Hmm I see your point there" Dom conceded.
"However, this is quite fun."
"It is that."
"If we told them they'd have to keep it quite for a month."
"Why a month?" he said kissing her nose.
"Because my parents will be here in a month and I'd prefer tell them face to face rather than in a letter or letting them hear it from some court gossip" she said kissing him back.
"Do you have the feeling your not being told something Yuki?" Neal asked his wife who was patiently waiting beside him.
"I don't know how you put up with him Yuki" Dom sighed turning to face his younger cousin and his wife.
"It may take a few years but eventually I'll have him trained" the woman said, smiling at him.
"You make me sound like a horse."
"You look like one too" Dom retorted
"Always knew you had horse blood in you" said Kel leaning into Dom. Yuki looked at the two of them and smiled.
"I take it that this wont be a secret anymore soon" she asked.
"Just another month, till my parents get here" smiled Kel.
"I'm glad" was the reply "Then I'll finally be able to tell Cricket to stop trying to set you up with people. She was organising for you to meet some of the warriors that are coming next month"
"Pardon me for interrupting but what's going on?" asked a confused Neal looking at the three of them as if they had each grown an extra head.
"I'll leave it to you to explain" said Kel kissing Dom lightly on the lips "I have to get back to the party. I'll see you later?" she asked hopefully.
"Definitely" Dom replied kissing her back. Letting her go he watched as she walked away with Yuki, both women leaning into each other obviously talking to each other.
"Well Dom just you and me now. What is it…"
"Kel" Dom suddenly yelled and he ran up to her when she stopped.
"I forgot" he said holding out his hand with the small black box still in it.
Kel didn't take it immediately instead she reached her hands up and round the back of her neck where she undid the clasp of her pregnancy charm. Holding the chain out she took the ring and looked at it for a moment before sliding it on the chain and back round her neck. Settled, both the charm and the ring where hidden from view by the dress she wore.
Smiling at him, her eyes indicating she'd see him later, she turned and walked up the pathway back to the ball room. Her friend walking along side her in an early stage pregnancy waddle. Dom watched her go all the way before she finally disappeared out of sight and he let out a sigh.
"You know if I stand here any longer I'm going to sprout roots"
Dom laughed and slung an arm around his cousins shoulders, his other hand coming up to mess up Neal's hair.
"How would you like to be my best man?" he asked.
After the realization finally came to Neal, with Dom explaining all the bits he just couldn't quite figure out, the two men made their way back to the ball room in good spirits. Each unaware of the events that would take place over the course of the next month, that would send things spiraling out of control and turn their world upside down.
The whole proposal scene is rather cheesy. I take full responsibility for that, I did write it a year or so ago.
I have no idea what's coming with this. I know where it goes up to a point, but beyond that I'm clueless.
Is now a good time to also inform you all that next Wednesday I head off to Australia for three months? The only plus side I can see for you guys is that I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling, a lot of boring traveling where I will be able to write/type. Posting my cause a problem or two but we'll think about that when we get there.
Next Chapter will hopefully be up next week. Fingers crossed.