Disclaimer: Your intelligent. Figure it out on our own.
A/N: I regretfully will not be continuing the Dom/ Kel one-shot. I like the story as it came out, and I don't want to tamper with it. Of course, if you're hungry for Kel/Dom, you can try Warrior Troubles, my lead story. On to another point: If you don't enjoy Kel/Raoul stories, even in a humorous way, use discretion with this story. When I wrote this, I literally had to turn my monitor off because I've never personally been a fan of K/R. But I'm here to please, and so on with the story.
~**~
Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak~**~
"Tell me again why I agreed to this?" Nealan of Queenscove asked dryly, looking at his best friend for an answer.
"Because you didn't want to meet me on the practice courts. Stop fretting, it's not that hard. You are good at it and we all need practice. It doesn't hurt – much." Keladry of Mindelan said, patting Neal on the back for reassurance. "He doesn't bite. I have been jousting against him for years now! We're knights, Neal. You can handle it."
Neal, however, didn't seem so certain. Kel sighed and pointed off to the right. Neal saw Yukimi sitting at a distance – she waved. Glaring at Kel, he waved back towards his lovely wife.
"You don't want your wife to see you wimp out, now do you?" Kel asked with mounting amusement.
"I find myself risking everything – for the sake of you – again." He gave her a false look of annoyance. His face turned solemn. "Keladry, before I die, I want you to know something." Neal stated, holding tightly to his horse's reins.
Kel sighed as she ran her hand through her short locks, hoping to tame them down slightly. "What?" She asked, hoping Neal would stop the small talk and just joust with Raoul.
"Remember back when we were young pages?" He said it dramatically, as if it had been a lifetime ago.
"Yes, I do Neal – now can we please--." Kel started. Neal cut her off.
" You were the love of my life. Much of that poetry was to --."
Kel let an exasperated sigh that was long over due. "You tell me this now?"
Neal laughed as he trotted to the starting point, Kel running along side him. Pulling up an eyebrow, he looked down at her. "Don' tell me you—."
"You wont get me to admit anything." Kel warned.
"That was answer enough for me, dear one." He said with a boyish smile.
She couldn't help but grin back.
A horn sounded and Neal charged for Raoul.
~**~
"Well what did I tell you? You're not dead." Kel mused, as she walking a limping Neal to his rooms.
" You're definition of alive isn't reassuring." He grumbled miserably.
"Now, don't be hard on him, Kel. He stayed on. If I remember correctly, you were socializing with the birds." Said a familiar voice from behind Kel. Keladry turned around and grinned, finding her ex knight-master walking toward them. Neal, who had turned around as well, groaned.
Raoul laughed. " You'll get better. You're good Neal, it's just Kel and I are--."
Neal sighed and twirled his hand out in the air to emphasize his point. "---Better than most. I know already. Well then, I'm off to bed – best you don't interrupt me or else I might bite." Neal warned, glaring at Kel.
Kel laughed and shook her head. "Don't worry, Neal. I won't miss your company that much." She said with a grin.
Neal made a noise that sounded similar to a grunt. "You're a monster, Kel." He said as he walked away, leaving Raoul and Kel to fend for themselves.
~**~
"Kel?" Raoul asked as they walked along the graveled path back to the palace.
"Sir?"
"Stop that."
"What, sir?"
"That. We don't need to hold titles with each other. For Mithros sake Kel, I have known you for years. There is no reason for you to call me that." Raoul said with a small laugh.
"You expect too much."
"There's no such thing as expecting too much." He thought for a moment. "Kel, I need some help with third company reassignments now that Flyn is retiring. Could you help me?" Raoul asked, dusting his hands on his breeches.
"Why not?" Kel said, sticking her hands deep in her pockets.
"Well we need to catch up on things. When's the last time you spent time with third company?"
Kel bit her lip and thought silently for a moment. "Almost two years ago." She said guiltily.
Raoul laughed. "No need for sour faces. I'm sure we will be called out within the next two weeks. Why don't you come along?"
Kel nodded. "I'd like that a lot."
Raoul raised an eyebrow. "This wouldn't have anything to do with a sergeant of mine would it?" He asked suspiciously.
Keladry blushed, but shook her head. " He's just a good friend – that's all."
Raoul sighed deeply. "You two would look good."
Keladry laughed. "Well, Raoul, that's were it will stay – in your head – as a dream."
Reaching Raoul's quarters, he ushered her in. Sitting down, they began reassignments.
~**~
" Well, that's done. Thanks for the help, Squire. " Raoul said, organizing a stack of papers under a weight.
"Of course. Dom will be surprised, no doubt. I'll have to be there. I can always use a good laugh." Kel said with a grin. Dom was being promoted to 2nd. It would be a good position for him. "I bet he will look the same as Evin did when he got promoted from Buri's second to Commander."
Raoul's eyes grew dark at the mention of Buri's name. Something was wrong. Kel noticed the look and frowned. "What happened?" She asked quietly.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It just wasn't working. The separation was a high risk, and it won." He said, averting his attention.
Kel sighed and rubbed her eyes. "You'll be okay. Just some time, that's all. You'll make it Goldenlake." She said with spark, making Raoul grin.
"What about you and Cleon?" He asked, curiously.
This time it was Kel's turn to avert her eyes. "We had too—we just couldn't stay together—I loved him—it wouldn't be right since his mother wouldn't allow him to chose." She said, gulping down a hard, sore lump in her throat.
Raoul nodded with sympathy. "He's having an arranged marriage?" He asked gently.
Kel nodded. It was Raoul turn to comfort her. He ruffled her hair and kissed her on the forehead. "You'll be fine too, Mindelan. There's plenty of good catches out there and one will be lucky enough to have you." He said, smiling down at her.
She dared a small smile and looked up at him. She laughed. Raoul raised an eyebrow. She tried explaining. "Its just that the first day I was your squire I came into my new room and overheard you talking with Flyn--."
Before Kel could finish, one of the legs on her chair gave way and she went to the floor. Groaning, she suddenly began to laugh. Raoul was at her side. "I'm sorry, Kel. I've been meaning to get that fixed."
She waved him off. "No matter. Just help me up."
He grinned. Pulling her to her feet, she stood but a foot away. He looked at her oddly. Kel smiled up at him. Oblivious, Raoul continued to grasp her hands in his. Her breath quickened, and then slowed. He found himself having the same reaction. Raoul knew what this meant. "We—Kel—we shouldn't –I--." Before he could finish, his own mouth betrayed him, and placed itself on hers. Surprisingly, she welcomed it. He slid his hands around her waist, holding her in a tight grasp.
Realizing what he was doing, he pulled away, looking down at his newly knighted squire. She held her breath. "Is that alright?" He asked.
In answer she drew him back towards her. Their breath mingling, Raoul backed her up until Kel's back was driven to the wall. Raoul's mind raced. What was he thinking? She was so young! A woman, no doubt, but – that was all there was to it. She was a grown woman, and knew what she was doing. He held her with care, their blood rushing.
His mind drifted elsewhere, and so did his mouth, for it kissed Kel's neck, her eyes, and her lips more passionately than before. Kel pushed herself off of the wall and brought him back to his bed. He wouldn't take anything from her he had no right too, but instead their lips would meet, releasing each other from despair.
~**~
So I revised it. I had to make it more realistic, because Kel wouldn't be one to give herself on the first night, and Raoul's too honorable to take it.
~Karr
Cheers.