OK so I just want to start out with an, I'M SORRY! Life threw me a huge curve ball this past fall however. When I started school I found out I accidently signed up for an 8 week online Anatomy and Physiology I class, which was hard enough, but throw in that my husband was working 3 jobs, I got sick like couldn't get out of bed for 3 days sick, our basement flooded with over a foot of water and I than had to pack up an entire house practically by myself and move in 2 weeks' time, my husband did help with the moving day, then unpack an entire house practically by myself while navigating around 2 small children and taking this stupid 8 week class that most people fail taking the normal amount of time, while taking 3 other classes, one of which was college algebra, I suck at math. It was hectic, but I am happy to say I did pass with a C, I was actually only 1 point, yes 1 point away from a B, but no the teacher wouldn't budge. I was not very happy about that. Needless to say when I signed up for A&P II I triple checked to make sure it was the 15 week class and not the 8 week class. Than after I was done with that the very next week my daughter ended up in the hospital with a very bad infection and then a viral infection on top of it, she's little, so it's still an actual job when your kids in the hospital, including holding her down to force meds down her throat, or try to bribe her to eat food. Don't even get me started on the whole IV thing, pray if you have or ever do have small kids that they never have to have an IV, especially for an extended time, pray people. Even a day I think would have been fine, but by day 5, how many we were there, plus they had to redo the IV once, when she was not zombie child. It was bad. So after she was finally better I got sick from all the lovely germiness I was just enveloped by for the past week and got tonsillitis, which knocked me out for over a week, I swear I just need to get the damn things out, then it was thanksgiving. Then I had to start getting ready for finals than we had our 20 Christmas's to attend. Then I had both kids home from school. And while I adore you all. I just cannot write anything good while listening to my 2 children bicker back and forth over this and that for 20 mins before decided that it really didn't matter after all and we can play now just for it to happen after another 10 min. Don't get me wrong, at the beginning of winter break they got along great, but being trapped in a house during winter with your sibling can do that. So now that my oldest is back in school and you have a few weeks till you lose me, because you will lose me as I am taking 18 credit hours this semester with 3 very hard classes. So I am going to attempt to finish this story for everyone. And once I finish it, if I still have time, go back and fix all my mistakes, which I noticed after I just went back and reread it to get reacquainted with everything that I had set up so far. So with all my excuses given, please forgive me! And I'll try to get this done for you guys. You have all been very patient. And for my fan that pointed out my constant changing of past and present tense, I noticed when I went back and read threw it, it drove me crazy too. I try so hard not to do that, but sometimes I get caught up in what I'm writing and even when I reread my stuff I don't notice it. I'm sorry and I'm trying to keep a better eye on it, thank you for pointing it out!
Still don't own any of this, if I did, I would not be stuck in college lol
Kel was making her way to see Buri and the Queen, figuring that she should get the dress fitting out of the way. 'That and if Lord Roaul was still occupied with killing Dom, than he did not have the chance to go tell them about what he saw her and Dom doing,' Kel thought shaking her head with a chuckle. 'Those people are bigger gossips then all the court ladies combined. Not that I would ever say it where they could hear it.'
Walking down the hallway she saw Neal and Yuki taking a stroll hand in hand. Before, she would have thought of some way to tease them, but now she only paused in her steps and wondered if she and Dom would look like that. So happy, so content to be in each other's presence. Apparently she paused for too long, because Neal and Yuki were upon her and trying to have a conversation with her.
"Kel…."said Neal.
"Kel, is anyone home?" he tried again. This time bringing his hand up and waving his hand in front of her face.
"Nealan, what in the world are you doing?" Kel demanded as she pulled her head back.
Yuki responded before her betrothed said something foolish. "Kel, we were trying to talk to you for a full minute, but got no response. Are you feeling ok?" Those that knew her would see the slight concern in her face and hear it in her tone.
Kel gave them a small smile. "Yes, I'm fine. I was just pondering on a way to get out of wearing this dress. Sadly, I couldn't come up with anything. In fact, I'm on my way there now if you would like to join me Yuki? I think Neal has stolen enough of your time for now."
Yuki looked at Kel, she knew it was unlike Kel to outright demand her time when she had been away from Neal for so long. Then they come across her and she isn't paying attention to anything around her. That is not something Keladry of Mindelan does. Something is going on and Kel wanted to tell her without Neal around. Yuki could hear Neal start to protest…
"Actually Kel…" Neal Begins.
"I think that would be a wonderful idea," Yuki cuts him off, while sending him a look that says go with it or else.
"Yeah," Neal shakes his head a little too enthusiastically, earning him a hidden glare. "I needed to go, go….unpack my things anyways. You ladies have a good time. Kel, don't kill anyone, I know how much you love dresses. My dearest, if I can have a word for just one second before you depart my pitiful existence for the untimely future."
Kel walked on ahead, figuring they were going to make out for the next 5 minutes. Which she did not particularly want to see.
"Yuki dear, would you mind telling me why I am giving up what precious little time I have with you to Kel at this precise moment? While I do understand she is one of your best friends, we were on our way to do something that was going to make my little best friend very, very happy!" Neal whispered frantically.
"Nealan," Yuki said sharply. "Something is obviously bothering her. Something, that if you weren't thinking with your so called "little best friend" you would have heard her open invitation to me to go talk to her about, which as you know from Keladry does not happen all that often. Now, be a good boy, and maybe I'll treat you like one later." She finished with her head turned to the side slightly and raised eyebrows. With a kiss to his cheek, Yuki turned around and walked away to catch up with Kel, who was about 50 feet ahead of her. Neal finally broke out of his stupor once he saw Yuki catch up to Kel, and turned away to do just what his Yamani Rose told him to do, with a shit eating grin on his face the whole time, because you better believe he was going to be a good boy.
To say Dom was making his way slowly down the corridor would most likely be an understatement. In reality he was taking the smallest steps possible without looking like a complete fool and stopping to talk to anyone he possibly could. You know, just in case he was about to meet the Black God within the next hour or so, not at all to postpone actually seeing Lord Raoul. Sadly, all delay tactics had finally run out and he was now standing in front of the very door he wanted to run from. With a deep breath Dom lifted his hand and knocked on Lord Raoul's office door. Hoping against all odds that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't be there.
"Come in." He heard 'Well there went that hope,' thought Dom as he walked into the room. Dom was looking at Lord Raoul, trying to gage his mood by his body language. 'And he could beat the Yamani Emperor in a staring contest right now, great. Now I have no earthly idea how this bloody thing is going to go. I think that man is taking too much pleasure out of this.'
"My Lord," Dom began, resisting the urge to pull at his collar as he could feel the sweat beginning to form. "You wanted to see me, sir."
"Yes, Sergeant Domitan. Shut the door and have a seat."
'Oh gods,' thought Dom. 'He used my FULL NAME AND TITLE! That man has never used those unless he is presenting me to someone or with something! This is bad! This is very, very bad! I am going to die tonight. I never even got to tell Kel how I felt. She needs to know that I love her. How the hell am I going to make it out of this room alive? He had me close the door, I talked to people, but I didn't tell anyone I was coming here. Only Kel knew, and she would never betray Lord Raoul! Even she knew I might be dying at this meeting!'
Meanwhile Raoul was just standing behind his desk, trying to hide a smile as he watched the fear slowly build in Dom's eyes as he had, what must have been a very interesting oh 5 or 6 minute, internal conversation in his head. Here Raoul thought he was supposed to scare the shit out him, apparently Dom was going to do that all on his own.
'I better get this started before the poor boy keels over. Then Kel would never forgive me.'
"Domitan," Raoul started with a steely look and calm tone. "You have been under my command for many years. I have seen you grow from a boy, floundering around with no idea how to do, well just about anything to be frank, to a man. A man that I have taught to lead those around him, a man who may have doubt, but has learned not to show it, as he knows it effects those he commands. A man that while he would be hard to replace, Sergeant Domitan," Raoul continued looking right in his eyes and speaking with a tone colder than ice. "I would have no problem doing so after a very painful accident, where he would most likely never be found again, if anything foul were to happen to the girl that I view as my daughter. You know, as well as I do, that I have more than enough connections to make that easily happen. Do I make myself abundantly clear Sergeant?"
"Y…Yes, yes, Sir. A…abundantly clear Sir," Dom managed to stutter out.
"Now before I finish here, I have a few questions for you Domitan?"
"Of course My Lord," replied Domitan as he watched Raoul move from where he was standing behind his desk to pacing behind him, out of his view. Dom knew it was to make him more nervous, since he was still sitting and it would have been rude of him to turn in his seat or stand up without being told to.
"Are you playing with Kel?"
"No, Sir," Dom wanted to say more, but he could tell at the moment yes and no was all he would get in until Raoul gave him any indication otherwise.
"Do you intend to treat Kel properly?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Not let your relationship get in the way of her being your commander?"
"No, Sir."
"Even when you disagree with her?"
"No, Sir." 'Though unlikely to happen,' thought Dom.
"How long have you had feeling for Kel?"
"I'm honestly not sure Sir."
Raoul nodded his head to that reply. His next question gave Dom pause.
"Was your personal letter to me a few weeks ago concerning Kel?"
After waiting a few seconds to reply Dom finally gave in. "Yes, Sir."
"One more question Sergeant," Raoul said as he came over to Dom and put his hand on his shoulder while leaning over him. "Are you the reason Sergeant Atticus put in for reassignment?"
"Well, you see My Lord," stammered Dom. 'Holy shit, what the hell am I going to tell him about that. Just by the way he asked I know he found out I'm the reason. Come on Dom think damn it, think!' "Um…..I, um, he just, ah, wasn't getting along, ah….with, with…" 'With who Domitan, I can't say me!' "With some of the men! And he asked to leave. Couldn't, um…..couldn't take it I guess." Dom finished with a sigh of relief, thinking he got away with it.
"Oh really, Dom, because in my weekly letter that I get from Kel she wrote to me about how you were a complete, what was the word she used now, was it idiot, no," Raoul said as he watched Dom visibly flinch. "Was it a dolt, no, moron, no, oh yes, I remember, she skipped all the stupid ones and went right to dim-witted imbecile. I know she must have been really mad when she writes a letter and takes the time to figure out the best insult she can figure out in her fury. Anyways, back to the juicy part. Oh and don't worry, Sergeant Atticus was also a dim-witted imbecile. So I'm reading my letter and I come to a part about how she had to break up a fight between you and Sargent Atticus. Would you care to tell me what this fight was about Sergeant Domitan?"
Dom had to tread very carefully. Yes, Atticus said things he shouldn't of, but if Lord Raoul found out exactly what he said he would be dead by tomorrow. And while Dom may not like him because he wanted Kel, he knew Atticus was just trying to get a rise out of him, but overall he wasn't a bad guy.
"He said some things in regards to Kel, Sir," responded Dom. There short, sweet, and no lies. While he watched Lord Raoul walk in front of him to lean against his desk and cross his arms.
"Just so you know Sergeant, I asked the men from New Hope about it since Kel said neither of you would say a word." 'Oh shit,' thought Dom, 'this is not going to end well.' "From what I heard you and Atticus were arguing over who deserved Kel. Then he said something to you, which sadly no one else heard, and you snapped, took the man down. Whatever it was you had better done enough damage." He said with a stern look when Dom's head snapped up in surprise. "I know you Dom. It takes a lot to make you lose your cool. I realize you won't tell me what he said. All I got out of the men was that and then random things about him not having Kel's best interests in mind or being bad for her, or that he was being bad to the civilians which, I agree with Kel was probably more likely because he fought with you and they were spreading rumors since I know from his past posts that he is great with civilians. So as I said, you had better made sure it counted."
"So," Raoul said while clapping his hands and walking back around his desk to plop back into his seat. "Now that the fun part is done. I'm happy for you and Kel. It's about time you both found someone. So you have my full blessing for what it is worth. We all know Kel does as she pleases," he chuckled.
"Sir, I want you to know, that my intentions are true. I really, truly care for Kel," Dom stated while looking at Raoul. Hoping he didn't do screw anything up. "While I may have only realized the depth of my feelings for her, I've also realized that I've been a blind fool to those feelings for a long time. My hope is that she doesn't realize I'm a fool too, and find someone better. My Lord."
"Very Good Dom. I believe we have covered all that we need to for now. Though I was serious about that first bit. Hurt her, you will die," said Raoul as he came around his desk shaking Dom's hand as they both walked towards the door to the office. "Have a good day Sergeant!" Raoul finished as he shoved Dom out the door and then slammed said door in Dom's face. All the while Dom stood there in a daze.
'I'm still alive' he thought. Dom even went so far as to start feeling different parts of his body. 'All the pieces are still there! And he approves! This is wonderful! Yeah he swore he would kill me if Kel so much as cried, but I'M STILL ALIVE!'
"I have to find Kel!"
Kel and Yuki were making their way down the corridor towards Buri and Raoul's rooms when Kel decided it was finally time to break the silence.
"Sergeant Masbolle kissed me," Kel spoke quickly in Yamani, hoping that with the foreign language plus Dom's last name any passerby's would not know who or what they were talking about. Yuki however, was all ears, as her head quickly snapped up to look at Kel.
"He kissed you, was there anything else to go with this kiss?" Yuki asked as she covered her lower face with her shukusen.
"Yes, but not that….He asked me to go to the wedding with him. I tried to play it as going as friends, to see what he would say, but he said he wanted to go as my date." At that point Kel had stopped walking and was just standing there talking with Yuki. "I guess he thought I would say no, because he just stood there and kept muttering 'she said yes'. Then he just came into my room and, and picked me up, and spun me around….." Kel said with a chuckle and dreamy look in her eyes as Yuki hid a small smile behind her shukusen. "Then…..then, well, you know, he, well, he kissed me!" she whispered
Yuki held back the laugh that wanted to escape.
"Was it at least a good kiss Keladry?"
With that Kel snapped her head to her friend, saw the laughter in her eyes, and started her own laughter.
"Yes, Yuki, it was a very, very good kiss. Come on, let us get this over with. You know I don't mind wearing dresses, but I just hate wearing them at impractical times, and this is an impractical time. What if we were to be attacked? I would never be able to properly defend the fort."
