Behind Her Hazel Eyes
By Bian
Authoress' Note: Somebody (no names being mentioned) commented on the lack of spaces in the last chapter. I apologize for those errors, and promise to try harder to get my spell check engine to work/ to watch what I am writing. Thanks for reviewing, everybody! Please note there will be more fluff in later chapters, but not right now. Not really, anyway…maybe a little bit…heehee:-)
JSYK: I had to edit this chapter...I forgot to put in the little grey line thingies.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Chapter 2: On the Road Again
Kel walked briskly through the halls, searching for Raoul. It wasn't until she saw Neal that she realized that Dom was no longer with her.
"Oh, bother. Where is he?" she muttered to herself.
"Where's who?" Neal asked, as he fell into step beside her.
"That crazy cousin of yours," Kel grumbled. They reached the mess hall.
"Finally someone agrees with me!" Neal joked, but Kel didn't answer, she was too busy pulling Winglet out of her pocket.
"Dom find Raoul," the little blot squeaked. Neal looked at it, astonished.
"Is that a darking?" he asked, peering at it more closely.
The darking grew a head and bobbed it up and down.
"Alanna told me about them. They're supposed to make excellent spies. Actually, she told me that they were created by a Stormwing in the Divine Realms during the Immortals War, and they are the reason we almost lost," Neal announced, watching the darking suspiciously.
"Oh, leave be, Neal. Raoul gave him to me," Kel said crossly, "speaking of Raoul, how do you know Dom found him?" she inquired to the darking.
"Streak tell me," the darking informed her.
"Really? You can talk to Streak? Could you tell Streak to tell Dom and Raoul to meet me in the stable again, please?"
"Yes," Winglet replied as its head disappeared back into the rest of its body.
"Great. Got to go, Neal, I'll see you at supper. Say hi to Yuki for me if you see her." Kel called as she raced away.
Neal rolled his eyes at Kel's retreating back.
"Move OUT!" Kel called and brought her glaive down to point in front of herself and Dom. She urged Peachblossom forward as leather creaked and metal jingled behind her. It was a three-day ride to Fief Tameran and Dom and Kel had strict orders from Raoul and the king to arrive as soon as possible.
"Did Myles tell you anything else?" Kel asked Dom, who rode beside her on his bay mare.
"No. It doesn't sound like he has much information. He asked us to keep him informed and not to hesitate to send for more men. I don't think this is going to be easy, Kel. The last rebellion involved bloodrain and the emperor of Carthak," Dom said grimly, keeping his eyes forward.
"Well, at least we don't have to worry about Carthak anymore. Not about their army or navy, at least," Kel pointed out.
Dom nodded, but Kel could tell that he wasn't really looking forward to finding out if it was a rebellion they were putting down or not.
They rode on in silence, stopping only when they couldn't see the road without squinting. Kel and Dom ate supper together, and rode beside each other each day. Soon they reached the outskirts of Tameran.
"Welcome! We did not know we were to play host to so many so abruptly that we do not have any rooms available for you," said the steward, who Kel could tell was at a bit of a loss.
"That's quite alright. We are all used to sleeping outside," Dom commented in a friendly voice.
Kel nodded and added, "Yes, we'll be fine. Before we leave though, we would like to request an audience with SirBarrem of Tameran, if it is possible."
The steward laughed nervously. "Of course, of course. I will inquire tonight, and send his reply to you first thing in the morning. Until then…" he trailed off, glancing at the door. Kel and Dom recognized a dismissal, and nodded to the steward before leaving the castle.
"Well! He was a little rude!" Dom exploded when they left the castle.
Kel didn't say anything. She agreed with Dom, but wasn't about to tell him, because they were right in front of the men, and already heading for the forest that surrounded the castle.
They made camp, and sat around the bonfire that the men built. Pretty soon, Kel felt the first prickles of tiredness at the corners of her eyes. She said good night to the men and Dom, and retired to her tent.
Kel lay in her bedroll, trying to fall asleep. After an hour of fruitless attempts to relax, she rolled out of her tangled covers and left her tent. Kel stood in front of her tent, not sure if she should leave the circle of tents. After all she was in a strange place, and the only friend she had with her was Dom, and he was asleep. Or so she thought.
Kel walked over to a tree that stood behind her tent, and shinnied up. She had often used her fear of heights to fall asleep in the past, and was planning to use it now, but the tree wasn't tall enough. Instead, Kel straddled a sturdy branch and leaned back against the tree trunk. She sighed and looked at the stars that shone above the treetops.
"I love looking at the stars," a voice announced from below her.
Kel squeaked, and fell off her branch. She landed, gracefully (not!) on top of Dom.
"Ooof!" puffed Dom as he sat down hard, with the help of Kel.
"Dom!" she cried.
"I can't believe I surprised you. I didn't think anything surprised a lady knight." Dom said, sounding out of breath.
Kel scrambled to get off of Dom, and pulled him to his feet. But as soon as she got him, he sat back down, this time with his back against the tree trunk. Dom pulled Kel down beside him. She protested, but Dom just put a finger to his lips and pointed at the sky. A silver flare zoomed across the sky and disappeared.
Dom sighed.
"Why do you like the stars?" Kel asked, turning her head to look at him.
He looked at her. "What?"
Kel repeated her question.
"Oh…well….basically because they're humbling. They make us seem… not so important. You know?" Dom said thoughtfully. He didn't look at her. Kel leaned back against the tree trunk.
Tell her, you idiot. Just blurt it out Dom's mind was out to kill him. He turned to look at Kel and his breath caught.
Kel's face was turned up to the sky, her eyes only slightly open. The silver glow of a full moon shone on her face, enhancing every aspect of what he loved about her.
"You're beautiful, Kel." He whispered, before he could think of what he was saying.
He didn't think she had heard, for which he was grateful, but slightly disappointed. But all of a sudden, Kel looked down at her hands in her lap. She sighed, but it was a happy sigh.
Dom's insides turned fuzzy.
They spent the rest of the night at the base of the tree, sitting side by side. Sometime in early morning, Kel dozed off and her head slipped to rest on Dom's shoulder. He froze, then relaxed. That was how Kel awoke, three hours later, to find Dom asleep, and that a huge crick had developed in her neck.
"Dom! Dom, wake up!" Kel whispered, shaking his shoulder, and wincing as her neck protested its harsh treatment.
"Huh? Whaa… oh, good morning Kel," he mumbled, peering at her through squinty eyes.
"Dom, we are going to be late, unless you have developed ability to turn back time!" Kel fairly shouted, losing her Yamani face.
"Late for what?" Dom asked, looking up at her.
"Our meeting with the steward!" Kel informed incredulously.
Dom gasped, " Curse it all, what time is it?" he asked, struggling to sit up.
Just like the night before, Kel hauled him up, but this time, he remained standing.
"Aw, me aching back!" he groaned in a fake accent.
Kel squealed in outrage, and dragged him out of the trees towards their camp. A few men, including Corporal Wolset, were awake and sitting around last night's cold ashes.
"Good morn'n, Lady Kel" said one man. Kel nodded to him, and turned to look at Wolset.
"You're in charge. Sergeant Domitan and I need to get to the keep as soon as possible. While we prepare to leave, I need our horses to be readied. Anyone up to it?" she asked, using a voice that said that if nobody volunteered, she would volunteer him or her herself.
Two men jumped up, and by the time Kel and Dom exited their respective tents in new clothes, Peachblossom and Dagger, Dom's horse, stood ready.
Dom and Kel were headed for the castle within ten minutes.
They arrived at the castle only about half an hour late, but the look they received from the steward made it seem like half a day. He glared at them as they entered Lord Barrem's study.
"Good day, sir," Dom greeted him respectively.
"Good day to you too," he answered.
"The king sent us to relay an important message to you. Our message is simple, and only this. His Majesty will be arriving at this fief in a matter of three days. He wishes us to help you prepare for his visit." Kel announced.
Even as she said them, the word sounded petty and pompous.
LordBarrem looked uncomfortable. "Ah, yes, yes, yes of course. Did the king mention why he was coming?" he asked.
Dom looked shocked. "Only to honor you with his presence. He did mention wanting to speak with you about trade issues with other countries. I wasn't given any other details, being the lowly sergeant that I am." His expression turned cheerful at the last part.
"Ah…right. Well, thank you for your offer to help, but I am sure that my staff will be able to manage," Lord Woldon said smoothly. "If that is all..?"
Kel and Dom nodded and left the room with a bow.
"Honor him with his presence?" Kel asked, trying not to laugh. Dom looked at Kel, pretending to be shocked again, but before he could, two servants passed them, whispering.
Kel caught only snatches of their conversation. "Thirty more men…only fifteen left… gone with no trace…"
Kel and Dom looked at each other but didn't speak. They hurried out of the castle, and mounted their horses. With a final look at the castle, they rode back to the camp.
Hope you liked it!
Review please!
As always,
Bian Northwind