A/N: Here's the next chapter. We'll see more of the friendship being restored between Kel and Dom- as well as a little more!

Chapter Eleven: Collaborative Chess & Midwinter Gifts

"The weeks before Midwinter were quiet. The court had gotten all the parties and banquets it could stand, and everyone worried about the situation in the north. Kel looked in vain for Cleon, Neal, and Owen. By Midwinter she had to face it: they had stayed. It was going to be a long winter. She couldn't even hope for letters."

-Tamora Pierce, Squire

The Progress had arrived in Corus to find it bustling as usual. Though the streets were crowded and the people were busy buying and selling, there was no mistaking the feeling of tension in the air. News traveled quickly, especially in such a large city as Corus, and already news about the situation with Scanra was spreading like wildfire.

Both Kel and Dom received a letter from Neal soon after they arrived in Corus, saying that he and the Lioness were stuck up in the north with the majority of the kingdom's warriors and they wouldn't be back for Midwinter like he had previously thought. He wrote Dom that he would have to put off his inquiry about squire torture.

Although his letter was filled with usual Meathead sarcasm, Kel and Dom could both tell Neal was nervous. He would be getting plenty of battle time, and he was fully aware of that, as were Dom and Kel.

Kel sent a few prayers up to the gods for him and her other friends, including Cleon, who she still had not received any word from. She thought about writing to him, hoping it would somehow get to him, but what would she write? That while he was away, Dom had kissed her and she had liked it? That she was spending time with Dom, as friends, although there were still times when they shared a secret look that was more than friendly?

Thus, Kel decided to hold off on writing any letter to Cleon. She would write to him when she wasn't so confused about her feelings for Dom. Besides, she didn't know where Cleon was stationed, so a letter might never get to him anyway, right?

At least, that was her reasoning.

A couple of nights before Midwinter, Kel found herself at one of Third Company's many gatherings. Although the court was tired of parties, the men of the Own were never tired of getting together and passing the time.

Kel and Raoul spent a lot of their time playing chess at these gatherings. Kel had never been much of a chess player before, but it was something to pass the time, and she was starting to get good at it, though Raoul beat her most of the time.

When Kel had asked him how he had gotten so good at chess, Raoul's casual response was, "If you've had to avoid matchmaking mothers for the past decade like myself, you learn to enjoy quiet, peaceful games like chess. You can ignore people without seeming so rude. You just feign concentration. It's a wonderful game."

Kel looked down at the chess board- she was currently winning. Concentrating on her next move, Raoul suddenly chuckled, "I've got to stop giving you pointers on this game. Before you know it, you'll be giving me tips!"

"I highly doubt that, sir," she replied, smiling, "You've had so many years of practice."

"Yet here you are, beating the pants off me," he replied dryly. "As your knight-master, I think I should get a bonus move."

Kel laughed. "Are you asking for help, milord?"

"An honorable knight like myself? Never," he replied, laughing loudly. "I only want a free move…or two."

"Nice try," she told him, grinning, "but I know where two free moves would get you. I'm not that much of a novice at this game."

"I think I need to find a new partner, one that doesn't know the game at all," said Raoul sarcastically. "Then maybe I'll be able to win again."

Smiling, Kel moved one of the pieces on the board.

Raoul was figuring out where to move his next piece when Dom walked up to the table and remarked, "Well, it seems that you are in a predicament my lord."

"Tell me something I don't know, sergeant," Raoul replied, still trying to figure out his next move. "I'm just having a bad night, that's all."

"Either that or Kel's having a very good one," said Dom, turning and giving Kel a wink.

Her heart started to pound faster. Would this feeling ever go away? She felt embarrassed that she still felt giddy whenever around him, while he seemed to be doing just fine in resuming their friendship as it had been before they had kissed. Why did she still think about it so much?

"I just got lucky," she replied, watching as Raoul finally made his move.

"Aha!" he exclaimed after moving his piece. He grinned across the table at Kel, "I bet you were hoping I had overlooked that move."

Kel's brow creased as she studied the board. Raoul was right. He had made a great move. Kel ran through all her possible moves that she could see. She was stuck.

Seeing that it might be awhile, Raoul turned around in his chair, and looked around for a glass of cider. As he did, Kel heard Dom clear his throat. Still concentrated on the board, she didn't pay him any attention until he did it again, this time a little more loudly.

Looking up at him, she gave him a puzzled look. He made a small motion to the board and looked back at her. Kel was still lost.

To make his point clearer, he nodded at the board and made a quick motion to one of her chess pieces. Trying to interpret his movements, Kel's hand slowly hovered over one of her pieces, watching Dom. He cleared his throat again. Tilting his head slightly, Kel then moved her hand over to the next piece. He nodded once.

Kel started to move the piece when she heard Dom clear his throat again. She immediately moved it back to its starting place and looked at Dom for more guidance. He was motioning quickly with his hand, when suddenly Raoul turned back around, glass of cider in his one hand.

Dom casually folded his arms across his chest as if he had been standing there like that the whole time, while Kel looked at Raoul to see if he had seen Dom trying to help her. He was too busy drinking his cider.

Looking back at the chess board, Raoul remarked, "Today, Kel! I'm already an old man. I don't have time to waste!" he joked good-naturedly.

When he picked up to take another drink of his cider, Dom cleared his throat once more. Kel looked up at him as Raoul asked, "Do you want some of my drink, Dom? It sounds like you could use some."

Kel smiled as Raoul offered Dom his glass. "No thanks," Dom replied, "There just must be something in my throat." He glanced at Kel who was trying to conceal her laughter. Her pretty hazel eyes were twinkling with amusement.

Shrugging Raoul lifted his glass up for another gulp. As he did this, Dom repeated the motion with his hand telling Kel what to do. Finally getting it, she moved her piece to where Dom had indicated.

"Okay, sir," she told Raoul, alerting him that she was done.

"Finally!" he said, looking back at the board, "I thought I was going to-." He stopped and put his glass back on the table with a thud. His brow creased and then his eyes widened as he realized the move she had made. He hadn't accounted for it at all.

"How…what…?"

"It seems as though Kel is having a very good night indeed, my lord," said Dom, grinning at his stunned commander.

"I don't- I never," he stuttered. Then he looked up at Kel, "How did you figure out that move?"

She shrugged, using her Mask to cover her smile as she and Dom exchanged secret looks.

Raoul sat there stunned. Eventually he made his next move.

A few moves later, when it was her turn again and she was trying to figure out what to do, she saw Dom motion out of the corner of her eye. Piece in hand, she again watched him to know where to go next. Raoul was again taking a drink. She started moving one of her pieces when Dom motioned for her to use another one. Putting back the previous piece, she looked back at Dom just as Raoul casually looked over the rim of his glass. His eyes widened when he saw the silent communication.

Spitting out the contents he had just drunken from his glass, Raoul stood up quickly, knocking his chair backwards as he did so. "HEY!" he exclaimed, pointing back and forth between Kel and Dom. "What is this?! Cheaters!"

Dom and Kel burst into laughter. "We were just trying to make it more interesting," said Dom between laughs. "You should see your face, milord."

Picking his chair back up and sitting back down, Raoul looked at them. Then he let out a bark of laughter, "You sneaky scoundrels! I should've known something was up!" He looked at Kel, "You wanted to beat me that badly that you resorted to cheating! In such a simple game as chess!" he roared with laughter.

When their laughter finally died down, Kel started to finish her move when Raoul laughed and said, "I don't think so, Kel. You forfeited your turn for that!"

Kel laughed but didn't argue. "Whatever, sir."

"Well, I think I'm gonna head out," announced Dom. Addressing Raoul, he said, "It was nice beating you, milord. Good luck."

Raoul laughed and waved him off, his focus back on the board for his next move.

Grinning, Dom turned and looked at Kel, "Good luck, as well, Kel. We made a good team," he said, sending her another wink and a bold smile. Then he turned and walked away from the table.

Kel followed him with her gaze, a small smile on her lips.

She hadn't realized how long she had been watching him until suddenly she heard, "Ahem. It's your turn, Kel."

Whipping her head back, she met Raoul's gaze. He had his hands folded in front of his face, but she could tell he was smiling. Had he been watching her watch Dom? She began to panic.

However, when she looked down at the chess board, she realized what he was smiling about. All but two of her pieces were now remaining on the board while Raoul's pawns had doubled since the last time she had looked at the board.

She looked up at him with raised eyebrows and a wry smile. "You wanted to beat me that badly that you resorted to cheating in such a simple game of chess," said Kel, smiling as she mirrored his words from earlier.

Raoul laughed heartily, "I just took the few extra turns that I was entitled to." Then he added, "Besides, your attention seemed to be elsewhere…"

Kel's eyes darted up, but Raoul was looking down at the board again. Was she wrong? Had he really noticed the way she had looked after Dom? She tried not to dwell on it…

Midwinter arrived quickly. Kel woke up to Jump standing at her door, wagging his crooked tail excitedly. She smiled and got up to pet him as she opened the door. There were a few small gifts sitting on the ground already.

After changing quickly, she sat down on her bed and began to open them. Since most of her friends were up north, she hadn't expected much. She did however get gifts from Raoul, Yuki, and Shinko. She was surprised to even see a gift from Qasim!

As she reached for her last package, her heart started to drum. She didn't realize she had been holding her breath until she opened the letter that went along with it. It was from Lalassa. She was happy to receive something from her friend, but she couldn't deny that she was somewhat disappointed that it wasn't from a certain blue-eyed sergeant.

Kel scolded herself for being so selfish. "How foolish am I?" she said aloud. The sparrows and Jump watched her silently. "I mean, gifts cost money, and he has plenty of other people to buy for. It's selfish for me to wonder why he didn't get me something, right?"

The animals just stared at her. "And why do I care so much if he did?" she questioned aloud. "He gave me gifts the last two midwinters, but that doesn't mean he has to-"

She was interrupted by a knock on her door. Jump ran up to it, and wagging his tail again, he looked back at Kel, waiting.

Trying not to jump to conclusions, Kel walked to the door and opened it. Dom was standing there.

"Happy Midwinter, Kel," he greeted her, "I just came to thank you for my gift."

Kel smiled shyly, "You're welcome. I saw that your old riding gloves were getting pretty tattered."

He chuckled quietly. Then he pulled a medium-sized package out from behind his back and held it out to her. "Here, I got this for you."

Taking the package out of his hand, she thanked him.

Dom laughed as Jump ran out to greet him. "But you haven't even opened it yet," he teased as he squatted down and scratched Jump behind his ears. Kel started to unwrap his gift.

Watching her, Dom said, "I hope you don't already have one…"

"Not at all!" she said when she finished unwrapping it. It was a new chess board and pieces!

Dom's smile grew. "Good. It's actually a travel set. That way you can practice on the road, too. Then you'll be able to beat Raoul all the time."

Kel laughed, "And he'll accuse me of cheating every time."

"Not if I'm not around," Dom laughed.

Kel smiled warmly and said, "Thank you, Dom, I really like it."

He couldn't help but smile as she went to place his gift on her small table. Then as she was doing so, he suddenly asked her, "Do you want to go into the city with me today?"

Kel almost knocked the chess board off the table. Had he just asked her out? She turned back to look at him. He was waiting patiently for an answer.

When she failed to answer, Dom grinned and said, "Come on, it'll be fun."

Finding no reason to say no, Kel smiled and accepted.

They were just friends, so what was the harm in that?

A/N: Hmmm…Just friends, huh? ;D. And what'll Kel do when they go to eat and a barmaid starts flirting with Dom? You'll find out in the next chapter!