A/N: I know this is a boring story, I tried to make it funny, but if you're looking for an action-packed story with blood and gore, sorry.  If you're a fan of Dom and Kel read on, but this is still mostly a conversation.  I hope next chapter will be better.  NOW, be a good reader and review peacefully and helpfully.  I OWN NOTHING, SO HAAA!


Apple, Cherry or Blueberry?

Chapter One: Mess Hall

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  Keladry of Mindelan yawned.  She had been up later than she should have last night.  The King had given her a not-so-modest purse for leading the defeat of Blayce the Gallan and his castle, especially after learning the killing devices had collapsed because of it.  Lord Raoul had come by and ordered her to spend some on herself, of which she had no intention of doing.  She didn't need the money, and she told him as much.  He had left and given up the fight all too easily, which only troubled her more.  She knew Lord Raoul was persistent even though he understood what the money would do for New Hope.

  Her mind wandered to her new assignment.  It was doing well and she was beginning to feel completely comfortable in command of so many people.  She was also worried about them, now that she was gone.  She had been asked to attend the royal wedding of Prince Roald and Princess Shinkokami at the palace.  Both of them were good friends and she didn't need a royal order to come.  She didn't mind having a week's vacation, but she had never left her refugee camp for this long.

     A knock on her door cut short her thoughts and she rose to answer it.  A page stood at the door ready to knock again.

  "A message for Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan from King Jonathon of Conte to report to him in his meeting room in two hours."

  Kel sighed inwardly but kept her face blank.  Tipping the short, plump page, she headed to the mess hall for the mid-day meal.  While she walked, she ran ideas and reasons for the King wanting to see her through her head.  Not coming up with anything plausible, she opened the doors to the Mess Hall.  She walked past the familiar rows of tables, pursing her lips in amusement at the sight of a young boy pouring mashed potatoes down the shirt of a slightly older mate.  She picked up a tray of food, and set it down next to Neal and Yukimi.  Eating and listening to Neal half-heartedly, she glanced around the room until her eyes met a pair of very blue ones; surprisingly close.

  "Dom!" she said, trying to keep from breaking into an all-out grin at the sight of him.  "What are you doing here?"

  "What?" he asked, smiling and sliding into the seat opposite her, "Can't I decide to sit with my Meat-headed cousin and his lovely lady friends?" he asked all too innocently.  Kel scolded herself mentally, he had just as much right to be here as she did, and he certainly didn't need to an interrogation.

  "Fine."  Neal replied.  "When will my 'lovely lady friends' be joining us?"

  Yuki elbowed him sternly in the stomach and Kel and Dom exchanged suppressed laughter as he yelped softly.

  "Well," said Dom rising and wiping his hands on his breeches, "I'd better get ready to see the King."

  "King?"  Neal and Kel chorused.  Then they looked at each other wonderingly.

  "I got a request from the King to see him in awhile."  Kel told them hesitantly.

  "You too?"  Neal and Dom asked her simultaneously.  They grinned at Kel for their folly.  She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at them; she didn't want to sink to their level of immaturity.

  "Obviously," she looked them over; "we'll see each other there."  She looked at Dom as he sank to his seat for the second time and noticed he looked rather nervous.  "Losing your cool over a meet with the King?' she taunted, trying to lighten his mood.  He met her hazel eyes and held them with his serious blue ones.

  "Look, Kel.  The King wanting to see you might have something to do with that cherry pie I asked you to pick up for me two days ago."

  Kel frowned.  "Might have?" she repeated, glaring at him through lowered lashes.

  He looked away almost nervously before glancing at Neal.  "I don't know why they want Meathead here, but they might think you were in on it because you ordered the pie."

  "In on what?"  Yuki asked him interestedly.

  He sighed wearily, but then grinned and said "The boys of Third Company and I decided to pull a little prank on Lord Raoul."

  Kel groaned.  That wasn't a good start to any story.

  "One of the gifted men in my company magic-ked the pie to explode everywhere when cut into."  He continued.  "Also, a sign would pop out and read 'Happy Birthday, From Third Company'."

  "But it's not his birthday-is it?"  Kel asked.

  "Nope" He told her, sitting back and grinning satisfactorily.

  She cringed slightly.

  "I think," Neal concluded, "that it would be safer to be your enemy than your friend."

  "You can say that again."  Yuki said, her eyes crinkling.  She had recently opened up to everyone more since her engagement.


   "Where does the King come in?"  Kel asked, not particularly sure she wanted to know.

  This time Dom winced.  "When I received this."  He reached into his pocket, pulled out an expensive looking card, and passed it to Kel.  It read:





Dear Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle,

We want to thank you for the delicious pie you so generously supplied us with for out meeting, Even though we unanimously prefer apple to cherry.  We would be much obliged if you graced us with your presence tomorrow afternoon, at 13:00 hours.

King Jonathon of Conte

Queen Thayet of Conte

Sir Alanna of Pirates Swoop and Olau

Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak

Sir Gareth of Naxen the younger



 Eyes wide, Kel wordlessly passed the card to Neal and watched his reaction, which was similar to her own.  She turned to Dom. "He took the pie to a meeting with the King!"  It was more of a statement than a question, and she already knew the answer.

  Neal put a hand on each of their shoulders.  "It was nice knowing you two."  Then he paused.  "Actually, it was nice knowing you Kel."  He rephrased, earning a glare from Dom. Kel matched Dom's look and shoved away his arm.  "I had nothing to do with this immature prank, thank you very much."  She reminded him.

  "But don't you wish you had thought of it."  A new voice inquired, before taking a seat next to Dom.

  Kel put her elbows on the table, palms up and gestured to them each accordingly.  "Lerant, Neal and Yukimi, Neal and Yuki, meet the Owns standard bearer, Lerant."

  Lerant smirked. "So this is the infamous Sir Meathead and his beautiful Yamani Lady."

  Neal turned on Dom. "Did you tell everyone to call me Meathead?"  He fumed.

  "Actually," Lerant interrupted, picking up a roll, "I overheard Dom talking to Mindelan about you."

  Kel looked at him skeptically.  "Just like you 'overheard' our conversation here, I'm sure."

  He expediently ignored her and her comment.  "I received a card too.  I told you should have made Keladry pick apple," he said to Dom as he rose, "But cherry does stain so much better."

  Kel pictured all of the Nobles and Royalty in expensive clothes being pelted with pie and flinched.  "What have you gotten me into, Dom?" she groaned.

  He just smiled at her.

  "I don't think the King wants you for getting their pie, Kel.  He would've sent you a card."  Neal put in.

  "Maybe, maybe not."  She replied, giving him a stubborn look out of the corner of her eye and turning her head to the side.

  "Come on," Dom reasoned with her," we'll just tell him you had nothing to do with it."

  She looked him over, almost suspiciously, before nodding her head in agreement and defeat.

  "Forgiven?" he asked her.

  She started.  She had never been truly mad at him, only exasperated at his foolishness.  His boyish quality was one of the things she most endearing about him.  "Of course," was all she said aloud.  He smiled, relieved.  Kel almost sighed, when she had arrived at the palace the day before and Dom and her friends had greeted her, she had been shocked when she realized her once crush hadn't yet left. 

     Pulling her gaze from his smiling, handsome face before he-or anyone else- realized she was staring, she stood and excused herself.  Returning to her rooms, she frowned as the second bell rang; she had spent longer than she thought in the Mess Hall.  The meeting would start soon.




  PLEASE review, and read my author's notes.  They're mostly just junk, but sometimes I'll put something important.  Constructive criticism is always welcome, but flaming is not.

**Valencia