I just had to start this chapter tonight, especially after reading your reviews. I really, well and truly appreciate them especially at the moment when life and stuffs not so great, they made me laugh so thanks. All about me can be found on my profile (click on my name) and it'll tell you what you need to know.
One question, is it long enough for you:)
Gliding round the dance floor with his intended, Nealan of Queenscove found it hard to concentrate on the dancing. One of the reasons he couldn't concentrate was his partner, Yuki. She moved with him this way and that in time to the music, her body fitting snugly against his as she rested her head on his shoulder and he found it difficult to imagine life without her. The other reason was more bothersome, he wondered where Dom had gone.
He had watched his cousin about 20 minutes ago when he had left the great hall with his former Knight master and Neal had a need to know what they where talking about though he could take a pretty accurate guess.
At this his eyes shifted across the floor to the Baron and the Lady Knight dancing together in the far corner of the room chatting to each other as they danced across the floor. Neal thought it was rather strange that the Baron was dancing with Kel rather than being across the other side of the room in a quite conversation with Lord Wyldon or a load cheerful conversation with the newlyweds.
The main doors of the hall opened quietly to revile a cold looking Alanna and a pink cheeked Dom. Standing together while the door closed behind them, the Lioness turned her head slightly to Dom and said something to him.
Neal studied them carefully as Dom broke out into a grin and the Lioness patted him on the shoulder before moving her way across the room to cut in on her husbands dance.
"Who are you looking at?" Yuki said softly bringing her head up so that she could rest her chin on his shoulder giving her a great vantage point across the hall where she saw that Dom had returned.
"Hmm, oh no one in particular"
"You wouldn't be watching Kel by any chance would you"
"No, Why would I?"
"Well Dom's back in the hall so that must mean the Lioness is too"
"So?" Neal asked
"So, Alanna will most likely go towards her husband who is at the moment dancing with Kel hence leaving Kel without a partner and…"
"And what?"
"And your waiting to see if Dom will approach her and ask her"
Neal let out a sigh
"I cant keep anything from you can I?" he said
"Nope, so don't even think about it" Yuki answered playfully. Neal sighed again.
"I was watching to see what he would do however I think its too late now"
"Why?"
"She's got a new dance partner"
Holding onto Neal quite forcefully, and ignoring his wincing, Yuki changed the direction of the dance and began to move the couple round in a small slow circle ending up so that she could look over his shoulder at Kel, and now Owen, while Neal now had a direct view of his elder cousin who had wondered over and struck up a conversation with some of the Own.
"I cant say I'm surprised that she's dancing again, there are very few ladies here tonight" Yuki said after a while had passed during which time Neal was trying to get the attention of his cousin who was blatantly avoiding his gaze"
"Huh" he said not quite hearing what she had said, that earned him a sharp tap on the arm.
"I said that there are very few females here tonight. Barring myself there is Buri, Alanna, Kel, Diane, The Lord of Steadfast's wife, his eldest daughters, his neices and a couple of Riders. Raoul is taking up all of Buri's attention so she wont be dancing with many others. Men are just down right scared of Alanna and Diane which leaves you with the Ladies Goodly, the Riders none of whom are known her their dancing abilities and Kel"
"So what your saying is that Kel is one of a small number of eligible women who are available for dancing tonight"
"Yes"
"And what about yourself?"
"Well I had planned to spend most of the evening with you"
"Only most of it" Neal teased, trying to sound disappointed.
"I thought I might honour your father and cousin with a dance"
"I suppose that might be acceptable"
"I'm glad it meets your approvable oh great one" Yuki replied, with a gleam in her eye "and while I'm dancing with them you might find it in yourself to ask the Lioness and then Kel before cutting in on my dance with Dom" she said raising her eyes to meet his. Neal smiled.
"Leaving the two of them standing right next to each other without a partner"
"Exactly"
"I like how your mind works"
"Just my mind" Yuki asked smiling
"Well" said Neal pulling back slightly to look at her "Its one of many"
Alanna had never been as glad to return to a dance as she did tonight. The weather outside had taken a turn for the worse, showing them all what a cold winter it would be up this far north, their only hope was that the war might be over by that time.
"Not there's much chance of that happening" Alanna thought grimly to herself after she had left with a parting word with Dom near the big heavy wooden doors of the great hall and made her way over towards where her husband was dancing and chatting to Kel.
George saw her coming over Kel's shoulder and turned to his younger and almost slightly taller dance companion. She turned her head and smiled at Alanna clearly welcoming the older knights arrival and what she hoped would be a break from dancing.
Releasing Kel who was immediately set upon by Owen, the Baron took his wife into his arms and proceeded to demonstrate his dancing abilities.
They older pair danced in silence for a few minutes while Alanna took the time to thaw out after being outside. She really didn't like the cold even though it had been her suggestion to talk outside, it had merely been a privacy issue.
"Warm enough yet?"
"Almost"
"You know you could have held that wee man to man chat somewhere inside"
"And where would I have had the peace of mind to know we had the up most secrecy?" she enquired "Our rooms? I could just hear the servants gossip now having found out that I had taken a dashing young sergeant back to our rooms"
"Dashing? Don't say, that at my age I have competition for your affections?"
Alanna snorted
"The guys got himself so wrapped up around Kel that I doubt I'd get a look in"
"And he told you this did he?"
"Well not in so many words, no"
"Did he say anything of the sort"
"No but"
"We now you don't have the sight so…"
"I sensed it"
"You…sensed it?"
"Don't look at me that way George" she said as he chuckled.
"Sorry darling but really, you sensed it?"
"It was in the way he spoke and looked, the way he said he wouldn't do anything to hurt her"
"Ah, so you gave him a talking to then"
"Just a small one" she sighed "I was hoping he'd follow me over here and asked her to dance"
"He's probably working up the courage to do it"
"Courage? He's a sergeant in the Kings Own for Mithros sake"
"But darling you have to understand that facing up to a huge savage army of Scanrans is just a drop in the ocean compared to asking a girl to dance"
"I'll take your word on it" she said. Then a couple of minutes later "Do you think we could give them a little push in the right direction"
George's face broke out into his trademark grin.
"And how might we do that?" he asked.
"Well" she began "Neal is dancing with Kel and Yuki with Dom so how about we go and cut in. You ask Yuki while I barge in between Kel and Neal. That should leave Dom and Kel right beside each other without a partner"
"And a hope that they'll dance together?"
"Yes"
"Lead the way"
Meanwhile on yet another corner of the dance floor Raoul and Buri where slowly coming out of their daze and began to notice that they had guests to entertain.
"Perhaps its time we danced with other people"
"What? You've been married to me for about two hours and already your bored?" Raoul joked, resting his forehead upon hers while continuing to sway to the music.
"No, I just thought it would be nice to talk to some people, get it all over and done with so that we can leave earlier" Buri replied smiling.
Raoul pretended to give this a great deal of thought before finally sighing.
"I suppose I have to learn that I cant have you with me the whole time"
"Don't look so miserable, I wont even be leaving the room"
"I know" Raoul said with a kiss "Now who will you been dancing with?"
"Well since they are close I thought Dom. I might as well get to know this sergeant of yours better especially since you seem to mention him all the time"
"He's got a bright future ahead of him, if we can keep him in the Own. Does that mean I'll have to dance with Yuki?"
"Don't sound so happy about it"
"Well I hardly know the girl and you know how I am around strangers, especially around strangers at parties"
"You should get to know her better, she's really nice but no. I was thinking you should dance with Kel then Neal can go back to Yuki. They've been staring at each other all the way through the dance, its obvious that they want to dance with each other again"
"Fine by me. I need to talk to Kel anyway about what'll be happening in the next few weeks, what with me leaving some of the men with her" he said untangling himself and making his way across the where Dom, Yuki, Kel and Neal where dancing.
Kel had to admit to herself that she was having a good time. Her first dance with the Baron had been a laugh. They had talked and joked about the war becoming serious when it was required only to be laughing the next moment.
Owen had been his usual exuberant self and had talked almost constantly of the people who had been coming up to him and asking him to tell them again how they had rode into Scanra and destroyed the metal devices. He also talked about the Ordeal and Kel noticed a steely determination in his eyes, one that she was sure would help him survive the Ordeal though she had every confidence that he would.
She had then been dragged to dance by Neal who seemed to spend more time looking over her shoulder at who she could only assume to be Yuki then he did talking to her or even listening to her as a result she got him to agree to many stupid things which caused her to laugh. When he finally looked at her with an enquiring glanced she had to grip his shoulders while trying to remain upright from all the laughing when all she wanted to do was double up in hysterics.
The song was coming to an end when Raoul approached her and asked for a dance. Kel agreed only to turn back to Neal who had a disappointed look on his face and standing beside him, almost glaring at Raoul, was Alanna.
With a similar confused expression Raoul lead Kel onto the middle of the dance floor leaving behind an angry Alanna and a slightly confused Neal. A similar situation was occurring between Dom, Yuki, George and Buri.
Buri would not hear of Dom dancing with any else apart from her and since it was her wedding day neither George or Yuki felt that they could really argue with her. When she had left and pulled Dom along with her George turned to Yuki and saw a slightly annoyed expression briefly pass across her face.
"What 'ave I done to upset you darling?" he said to the young Yamani.
"Seems as if we interrupted their plans" Alanna told him before Yuki could answer, as she walked over with Neal in tow. George let out a hearty chuckle.
"Well how were we meant to know their plans? " he said smiling, looking back and forth between Neal and Yuki.
"Well what do we do now?"
"Perhaps we should leave them alone?" queered Neal
"I doubt either of them will have the guts to ask the other to dance" said Alanna looking at the dancers.
"Maybe they'll come round on their own" then he paused.
"You didn't scare him off did you?" asked Neal looking at Alanna.
"Of course not. I just…explained things to him"
"Explained?"
"Yes Nealan, explained"
"Sounds to me like you scared him off. I've been on the end of one of your "explanations" and frankly I'm surprised he's not running for the hills at this very moment"
"Your brave" George told Neal quietly earning him a glare from his wife.
"I did not scare him off" Alanna stated defensively then broke in to a large smile "And I can prove it, look over there".
The party turned at that moment to see the Lady Knight Keladry being led back to the dace floor, after it seems she had tried to escape, by a blue eyed sergeant of the Kings Own.
A short while earlier Raoul had let his dance partner go. It seemed only fair since he had stood on her feet twice while trying to maintain a visual of Buri on the dance floor and with all the dancing she had done this evening her feet must have been sore enough already.
As she had tried to sneak out the door that lead to the kitchens but she had run into Dom coming the other way and he would not let her leave without dancing with him. It was only fair he said, count it as part payment for what she had done to him yesterday.
Kel eyed him suspiciously but then he smiled and she would have done anything.
"He does have a nice smile" she thought as he lead her by the hand to the dance floor "And you only get to see his dimples when he smiles, wait dimples? She thought suddenly "When did I notice he had dimples? Dom's got dimples?"
As they reached the dance floor the music died down and stopped. Turning to Dom, who was looking at her with a confused and perhaps a slightly disappointed look on his face, she shrugged as Raoul stood in front of the band and addressed the hall.
"I would like to Thank each and everyone of you for attending tonight, especially George and Kel who both played their parts in my wedding" and there he paused for a moment taking it all in as those in the audience clapped, stamped and in some cases whistled
"But I'm afraid that like all good things, this must come to an end. We cant let the enemy think we're slacking now can we?" he said earning himself a few laughs around the large hall.
"So this will be the last dance of the evening. Make sure, all of you that you are where you are meant to be tomorrow. On time. I don't want to hear any reports of anyone being late or missing their duties because they had had too much fun here tonight. So without further a do, Mr Carter" he nodded to the men in the band with the fiddle who nodded back and began a lively but slow melody which was joined almost immediately by a harp, flute, drums and cello.
"Shall we?" Dom asked turning back to Kel when the music started. She bowed her head and took one of his hands in her own while placing the other on his shoulder while he place his other lightly on the upper part of her hip. The tune that the band played corresponded with a simple waltz.
Kel found herself staring at his shoulder because she felt unable to meet Dom's eyes for some reason. After a moment he seemed to pull her closer before tilting his head and speaking softly into her ear.
"I'm going to get you back" he said as Kel fought the urge to either shiver or melt to a puddle on the floor.
"P…pardon?"
"You heard me. I am at this very moment planning my revenge" Kel snorted
"Really?" she asked as she pulled away slightly to look at him.
"What? You don't think I'm capable?"
"I never said that"
"But you where thinking it"
Kel shook her head at him before relaxing and laying her head on his shoulder as they continued to dance. When she did, she felt him tense up ever so slightly and his grip on her tightened. A second later she was wondering if she had imagined the whole thing as he was back to normal if slightly flushed.
Swaying to the music they fell into a comfortable silence both blissfully unaware that they where being watched from all corners of the room.
"You know, I never really thanked you" Kel said suddenly but quietly, her voice muffled by his tunic.
"Thanked me for what?"
"Coming after me and then on to Scanra"
"Kel you know my Lord would never have let you go on your own"
"Yes but you" she paused "You didn't have to, I mean…"
"We where given the choice Kel" Dom said, tilting his head so that his cheek rested on the top of her hair "And not one of us backed out, it was a full squad that met you at Giant Killer".
"Thank you anyway"
"Don't mention it, really. What are friends for"
The music came to an end there and as the band played a short ending, the couples on the dance floor broke apart to clap and cheer.
Dom and Kel stood in the middle of the dance floor suddenly unsure of what to do, others giving them a wide berth as they mingled before slowly in small groups began to depart, each giving their thanks and blessing to the newly married couple.
Kel laid her hand on Dom's arm, bringing him out of the daze he was in, and smiled at him.
"Thanks" she said and Dom's face broke out into a grin.
"What for this time?" he asked
"Just being a friend" she said softly before gathering courage to give him a light kiss on his cheek, which didn't go unnoticed by a large majority in the hall, before turning and leaving out the big oak doors and into the hallway beyond.
Dom stood staring in the direction that she left till Neal came up to him, sly smile plastered on his face.
"Well what…Dom? Dom are you ok?" he said when we finally got a look at is elder cousins face. Apart from a mild red hue that had settled on his cheeks, Dom was a pale white colour.
"Dom?" Neal asked again, finally getting Dom's attention.
"I'm in trouble" he said simply.
It wasn't apparent why Dom was in trouble, he was still standing which was more than could be said of many who had faced the Lady Knight. He had no visible wounds and as far as Neal could tell, no emotional ones.
As they, Neal, Yuki and Dom left the hall and headed up stairs Dom seemed to be waiting for something and…
"DOM!"
Dom turned to Neal and spoke.
"Hide me"
