A/N- I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG!!!

I'm sure you don't want to hear my excuses. On with the story!

Oh wait...

So I got 12 votes for at the wedding and 11 for before.

I am going to write both endings anyway, whether I post them or not, but would you like me to post both as alternate endings? It would probably work..... Please review and tell me what you think!

NOTE: This chapter is the finding out at the wedding ending- although it doesn't actually END this chapter, it's just part of the first ending (Ending 1- E1)

And again, the chapter is coming but I want to reply to my anonymous reviews first!

?- Thankyou heaps for reviewing! It means a lot to me to know what you guys are thinking (especially if it's positive... lol I'm kidding! I appreciate critisism too!) And thankyou for putting your vote in =)

Lydia- Lol!!! I like the ruining Neal's wedding idea... that would be very funny! I think Yuki is okay, sometimes..., but I do absolutely loathe Cleon!!! I agree, he was fine before he started getting soppy over Kel, but then he just got annoying... And thankyou very much for your encouragement! It is much appreciated and helps me to update.

Also now that I am going to be back at school (eugh, what drag, seriously. That sucks so much!!) I will probably only be able to update once a week, if that (I know... I took longer this time...). I am hoping to be able to update more but school also means I will be going back to piano, and I will have homework, assignments and that junk too... grrrr...

The story!!!:

Kel put away her fan as soon as she noticed Dom jogging towards her. He slowed to a walk and bowed as he reached her.

"M'lady," he greeted her breathlessly. "I'm sorry I'm late... Neal held me up."

Oh no... What has Neal been talking to him about? Kel thought, slightly alarmed.

She smiled at Dom, trying to control her heart rate. Why, oh why, did he have to affect her this way?

"That's fine, Sergeant," she smiled at him.

"Please, call me Dom," Dom actually winked at her. All this flirting was paying off, then...

A wink??! What is that supposed to mean? Kel thought, but was slightly relieved at this invitation. She had nearly slipped up and called him 'Dom' a few times instead of 'Sergeant' so it was definitely better that she could call him both.

She smiled coyly at him. "I'm honoured. You can call me... Kari," she improvised quickly.

Dom returned her smile, seeming pleased as he held out his hand to her.

"Thankyou," She took it, masking the flush of her cheeks at being so close to him.

"Have you ridden before?" he asked her.

"Yes," Kel informed him. She had already decided it would be too hard to disguise her ease on a horse.

"Good," Dom led her into the stables. Passing many horses, Kel noticed Peachblossom and Hoshi, side by side, and bit down on her lip, hard. Would Dom notice that not even one of her horses was missing?

"How odd." Dom halted and Kel held back a groan. "Peachblossom and Hoshi are still here... I wonder why," he mused.

"Peachblossom and Hoshi?" Kel played dumb. She wasn't supposed to know herself...

"Kel's horses," Dom explained thoughtfully. "Kel's the Lady Knight, she went on an assignment a day ago, but she hasn't taken either of her horses. I have no idea why."

To Kel's intense relief, Dom continued walking.

"Here," he said, stopping outside a stall. The horse inside was shiny and black. "You can ride Darkstride, he's quite calm."

Kel nodded in agreement and offered her hand to the horse to smell.

"I'll saddle him," Dom offered, and began collecting various items of tack.

"Don't worry, I can." Kel took the heavy saddle from him, shoving her long sleeves back and began saddling Darkstride.

Dom watched, his mouth slightly agape.

Whoops... Kel noticed. Court ladies don't do that, do they?

Dom realised she had noticed him staring and quickly began saddling his own horse.

"You must be... strong..." he finally said, his back to her.

Kel finished buckling the girth and began putting on the bridle. Darkstride stood patiently.

"Not really," she disagreed, after a moment's silence. Not compared to Lord Raoul, at least...

"You lifted the saddle!" Dom pointed out incredulously, poking his horse in the ribs so it would let out its breath. "Most noble ladies don't touch saddles, except for riding in them, let alone are strong enough to lift saddles."

"Maybe... Maybe Yamani ladies are just... more... uh... stronger than Tortallan ladies," Kel stammered, at a loss of what to say. She leant against the stall door, finished preparing Darkstride.

Dom shrugged, and finished quickly.

"And you can saddle your horse fast," he added, realising that she was finished before him.

Kel didn't reply. She began leading Darkstride out of his stall and Dom followed, leading his mare, Willow.

When they were outside, Kel automatically bounced on her feet and heaved herself into the saddle.

Oh no... Not again... She took in Dom's expression and looked down, straightening her skirts. Most court ladies rode side saddle, but Kel found that style annoying and so had talked Yuki into a wide skirted dress with breeches underneath.

"Who taught you how to ride?" Dom asked, still nonplussed by her independence. He'd never met anyone like her... Other than Alanna and Kel, of course. Is that what Lerant means? No, he said 'looks'...

"My brothers." Kel knew the truth wouldn't do any harm, in this case.

They began riding into the forest.

Neal slid behind another tree. So far, Kel and Dom hadn't noticed him following them (although they hadn't been riding for very long), but he still had to be careful. He was sure his cousin wouldn't be happy to discover him eavesdropping, and Kel would probably make him joust with her again.

Woe to me, he thought mournfully.

"So, uh, what do you think of Tortall?" Dom was asking.

"It's... nice," he heard Kel respond. Neal muffled a snicker. Nice! What a hopeless answer!

"Yeah," Dom answered. "What are the Yamani Isles like? I've never been."

Mithros, what a lame question. What is wrong with me? Dom thought in frustration.

He knew exactly what was wrong with him. He was hardly concentrating on this lady, all his thoughts were straying back to Kel. Again and again. Snap out of it!

"Um, sorry, what did you say?" Dom asked politely, realising that Lady Kariami had said something.

"Never mind." She turned her head away from him, probably offended.

Dom tried to care, but he couldn't. Although he liked this lady a lot, he had realised that he held no romantic interest in her.

Dammit, why am I doing this anyway? I'll never forget Kel, no matter how hard I try. It won't work. I should stop, now, before I'm in too deep.

He glanced across at the back of her head, thinking.

I need to. Now. It's not fair on her... or me.

Plus if I hurt her Yuki and Meathead will probably KILL me... Painful...

Oh c'mon, Dom, just tell her. Make it clear. The poor girl probably thinks you're trying to court her.

"Um, there's something I need to tell you," Dom began, clearing his throat nervously.

She faced him again, hazel eyes expectant.

Wait... Hazel eyes? Maybe that's what Lerant means... Kel has hazel eyes.

Oh, stop being stupid, plenty of people have hazel eyes...

"Yes?" her melodic voice broke into his thoughts.

"Oh, um..." Dom gathered himself, trying to stop thinking of hazel eyes. "Yes. Well. Um."

"Get to the point, Dom," she actually sounded exasperated. What is he going to tell me? He's nervous. I doubt this is going to be something I want to hear, Kel thought appehensively.

"Oh. Well. I think I've led you to believe that I... Not that I don't like you... I mean, I... It's just that there's someone... You're beautiful and nice and everything..."

Oh. He doesn't like me. There's someone else. Misery enfulged Kel.

What did I expect, anyway? She demanded herself. I knew it wouldn't work. I told Yuki so.

Damn, my plan is dead. Now what?

Neal's jaw was practically touching the forest floor. What! But Yuki said... Ohoh.

Dom was still stuttering on, never quite getting to the point. Kel was lost in shock and sadness.

"You mean, you have no romantic interests in me whatsoever," Kel stated quietly, after having had enough of his nervous babbling.

"Yes." Dom was glad to have gotten it out. "I apologise that I led you to believe otherwise."

They had stopped riding by now. Kel was silent for a moment.

I wonder who? She knew the knowledge would only hurt her, yet she had to know.

"So, who's the lucky woman?" she asked, forcing her tone to be bright.

Dom bit his lip uncertainly. "You don't know her, anyway."

"Please?" Kel met his eyes and made her expression pleading. "Surely you owe me that much..."

She knew it was a harsh way to get it out of him, but was beyond caring.

"You're right," Dom admitted guiltily. "I do owe you that much."

Kel waited, expressionless.

Neal nearly wet himself in anticipation.

"You know the Lady Knight that I was mentioned before?" Dom asked, eyes on the ground.

Kel nearly fell off her horse. "W-what?" It was her turn to stammer. Was he implying what she thought he was implying?

Dom nodded his head, seeming wistful. "Yes, I know. She doesn't seem quite my type, I mean..." he trailed off.

Kel was lost as to what to do. Reveal herself? Run? ... Slap him?!

Neal could see, for once, emotions raging on his best friend's face.

He made his way to a tree behind Dom, as quietly as possible, and began making motions at Kel.

Kel stared at the trees past Dom and suddenly noticed a movement in the bushes. To her complete shock and horror, Neal poked his head out from behind a tree and began waving his hands around, obviously trying to convey a message to her. I am going to KILL him for following us.

"I... I'll be right back," she told Dom, sliding off Darkstride quickly.

"Where are you going?!" Dom called, confused, as she walked swiftly off into the bushes behind him.

"Um... you know... Private moment... DON'T LOOK!" Kel yelled, over her shoulder.

Dom shook his head. "Women. How confusing can you get?" he asked his horse.

Kel stomped towards Neal, her expression furious.

"Ohoh," Neal murmured softly.

"What! Are! You! Doing?!!" Kel demanded, grabbing Neal's arm and tugging him further into the bushes.

"I was just... ow!" he yelped, as he hit his head on a branch.

"Shh," Kel hissed, looking back at Dom, who was barely in sight.

"Don't tell him!" Neal pleaded desperately.

Kel stopped dragging him. "Why not?" she demanded.

"Just... please don't," Neal was practically begging. "Please... It was one of the conditions, anyway. And it will be so funny to see his face when he figures it out... It would be such good revenge for that time he dyed all my shirts pink!!"

Kel stared at him. "So because he dyed your shirts pink, you expect me to-"

"Lady Kariami?" They heard Dom call.

"Yes, I'm fine, one moment!" Kel replied loudly, almost forgetting to use her Yamani voice.

"No." Neal flashed her a wicked smile. "I expect you to keep your identity a secret until my wedding, so I can embarrass Dom, of course, because if you don't..."

He whispered something into her ear.

"WHAT!" Kel shrieked, and quickly lowered her tone. "You would NOT tell anyone that."

Neal rolled his eyes impatiently. "Of course I would."

"Fine," Kel muttered angrily. "It's a secret until your wedding."

Neal smiled, satisfied. "Shake." He held out his hand.

Kel shook it, squeezing it a little harder than necessary.

"Ow," Neal said under his breath as he took away his hand. "See you later, Kel."

Kel strode back to Dom and the horses, mumbling rude things about Neal all the way.

DISCLAIMER: (cause I forgot it on all the other chapters)

Everything, the characters, blah, goes to Tamora Pierce. The plot is mine though. And the horses are too!

The credits to the idea of having Dom tell Kel that he cares for another go to....:

Shang Leopard! Thankyou for that idea!

There will be other ideas from reviews used, so don't feel left out.

Anyway, any ideas for what Kel's dirty little secret could be? lol.....

Please review and tell me what you think of the chapter, the dirty secret AND the alternate endings =)

Thankyou to everyone who reviewed last chapter! It's fantastic!!!