A/N: In case anyone has noticed the complete lack of Tobe, I cut him out of the story. I find his personality hard to write, so leaving him out saves the rest from rotting.
By the way, thanx a bunch for the reviews! Much appreciated!
Worry-Wart
A loud belch sounded through the halls of the palace, reverberating off the stone columns, closely followed by an outraged, "That's disgusting!"
"Thank you very much, Kel!" said Neal. "I practice every day."
BBBuuurrrrrrppp!
"Good one, Dom!"
"I thank you kindly, Meathead!"
"Men are pigs."
Dom and Neal whined in protest. "But Kel," cooed Neal, "it's what we do! If we didn't make rude sounds, who would? Isn't that right, Dom?"
"Of course Meathead. You know you would miss us, Kel."
"You wanna bet?"
More whining. "Aww, Kel!" said Dom, putting his hands behind his head. "We know you love us!"
The word "love" seriously affected Kel's nerves, as the "us" it was referring to obviously included the bright-eyed, handsome Sergeant, the object of her affection. Did he know about her feelings? She hid behind her tankard of cider, taking a big gulp. Too big of a gulp, it seems, for soon she was choking and spluttering and pounding her chest with a fist.
The look of amusement on the cousins' faces turned to concern as Kel gasped for air. Dom patted her back heartily and leaned in close to the gagging Lady Knight. "Breathe, Kel! Breathe!" Shortly, she stopped coughing and her breathing slowed to normal. Kel's eyes were watering, and her face was flushed. She placed a hand on her chest and with the other wiped her mouth. It was then that she realized just how close Dom was. Their noses were almost touching, and his blue eyes were wide. His bangs were tickling her forehead. "Are you okay now?" he asked.
Kel nodded and pulled away from him, embarrassed, only to face Neal. "Well, how was your near-death experience for today?" he asked seriously.
"It was disappointing," Kel sighed, pretending to be downcast.
"Well, you know, it could have been worse," smiled Dom, resting his chin on his hand.
"What do you have in mind, cousin?"
"Kel could have done something really stupid, like, let's say, slip on a scroll!"
"Shut up." * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kel sat down at her desk, determined to finish the paperwork that the wind had interrupted that morning. It was mostly a list of supplies for New Hope, which was under Merric's command until Kel was given leave from Corus. The way people were hounding her for payments and explanations, it seemed returning to New Hope would have to wait quite a while. It was ridiculous. She couldn't even find time for her own people.
Rubbing her eyes, Kel sighed. The worry was starting to get to her. It was just like everyone said. She was a fretting mother duck. There was really nothing to worry about. Merric probably had everything under control. Everything under control. So Kel had nothing to worry about. There was nothing to worry about. She was going to stop worrying now. Stop worrying now.
"Oh, who am I kidding?" Kel cried in frustration. She stood up, knocking her chair backwards, and jumped into bed, yanking the covers over her head. "It's hopeless."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The next morning at breakfast Kel stared into her porridge bowl, a blank expression on her face. Dom had miraculously gotten himself out of bed just to have breakfast with them. He considered it a great effort on his part. Neal sat across from them, making appreciative sounds as he spooned porridge into his mouth.
"This is great! Did you know yesterday's porridge was lumpy? Lumpy! Honestly, I don't know what they pay the servants for if they're going to make us lumpy porridge! Who eats lumpy porridge? The peddler down by the Tumultuous Turtle eats lumpy porridge! I do not eat lumpy porridge!"
"Yes, you did. Just yesterday. You said so." Mumbled Kel, only catching bits of what Neal was saying. Dom looked at her oddly.
"I was near starved, girl! I would have collapsed had I not forced myself to down some of that pathetic concoction the cooking staff calls 'porridge'! I won't eat lumpy porridge tomorrow. It's that Ixchel woman, the old wrinkly one with the long braid. Doesn't care a whit about the porridge! That's where we get that loathsome, lumpy, gruel!" He said gruel with a growling sound that made Dom smile. "Now Tondra, there's a fine girl! Always makes sure the porridge is stirred smoothly and nicely salted! She is the reason you eat so fine a bowl of victuals today!" Neal looked up at them, expecting a burst of applause, but instead was greeted sullenly.
"Do you think Merric's doing okay out there?"
Neal groaned, throwing his spoon down on the table. Dom looked at her with pity. Kel wasn't sure whether it was for her anxiety over the camp or for the speech she was just about to get from Neal. Whatever it was, she appreciated it, giving him a smile. He blushed and looked down.
She was about to ask him what was wrong when Neal butted in."Kel, listen carefully to what I have to say. Merric is okay. He has everything under control. Fanche is okay. Irnai is okay too. Meech is okay. That other little girl is okay. What's-his-name is okay. That guy with the laughably humongous ears is –
"I think I get the picture, Neal." Kel forced a weak smile. "I just can't help worrying, I suppose. It's in my nature."
"Well, cheer up Lady Knight, because worrying isn't going to help anything. And since you don't seem to be eating any of your porridge, I'll help you out and finish it for you, shall I?" He leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially to Kel and Dom. "After all, it's not likely we're going to get any decent stuff once that Ixchel woman is on duty again."
Kel got up. "I'm going to sort out the last of that paperwork."
"You mean that little ballet I walked in on?"
Dom, who had recovered from his blushing episode, looked back and forth between them, eyes mischievous.
"Shut up," Kel scowled, giving Neal a silent warning, and then she headed for the door. She was just turning the handle when she heard whimpering behind her. She turned about and saw a cowering Neal surrounded by several of the cooking staff, wielding ladles and sneering at the knight. Dom was trying very hard not to laugh. Kel smiled and shook her head. It looked like she and Neal would have to go somewhere else for breakfast tomorrow. He wouldn't want to meet an untimely end, mangled in the scrap heap outside the kitchens.
By the way, thanx a bunch for the reviews! Much appreciated!
Worry-Wart
A loud belch sounded through the halls of the palace, reverberating off the stone columns, closely followed by an outraged, "That's disgusting!"
"Thank you very much, Kel!" said Neal. "I practice every day."
BBBuuurrrrrrppp!
"Good one, Dom!"
"I thank you kindly, Meathead!"
"Men are pigs."
Dom and Neal whined in protest. "But Kel," cooed Neal, "it's what we do! If we didn't make rude sounds, who would? Isn't that right, Dom?"
"Of course Meathead. You know you would miss us, Kel."
"You wanna bet?"
More whining. "Aww, Kel!" said Dom, putting his hands behind his head. "We know you love us!"
The word "love" seriously affected Kel's nerves, as the "us" it was referring to obviously included the bright-eyed, handsome Sergeant, the object of her affection. Did he know about her feelings? She hid behind her tankard of cider, taking a big gulp. Too big of a gulp, it seems, for soon she was choking and spluttering and pounding her chest with a fist.
The look of amusement on the cousins' faces turned to concern as Kel gasped for air. Dom patted her back heartily and leaned in close to the gagging Lady Knight. "Breathe, Kel! Breathe!" Shortly, she stopped coughing and her breathing slowed to normal. Kel's eyes were watering, and her face was flushed. She placed a hand on her chest and with the other wiped her mouth. It was then that she realized just how close Dom was. Their noses were almost touching, and his blue eyes were wide. His bangs were tickling her forehead. "Are you okay now?" he asked.
Kel nodded and pulled away from him, embarrassed, only to face Neal. "Well, how was your near-death experience for today?" he asked seriously.
"It was disappointing," Kel sighed, pretending to be downcast.
"Well, you know, it could have been worse," smiled Dom, resting his chin on his hand.
"What do you have in mind, cousin?"
"Kel could have done something really stupid, like, let's say, slip on a scroll!"
"Shut up." * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kel sat down at her desk, determined to finish the paperwork that the wind had interrupted that morning. It was mostly a list of supplies for New Hope, which was under Merric's command until Kel was given leave from Corus. The way people were hounding her for payments and explanations, it seemed returning to New Hope would have to wait quite a while. It was ridiculous. She couldn't even find time for her own people.
Rubbing her eyes, Kel sighed. The worry was starting to get to her. It was just like everyone said. She was a fretting mother duck. There was really nothing to worry about. Merric probably had everything under control. Everything under control. So Kel had nothing to worry about. There was nothing to worry about. She was going to stop worrying now. Stop worrying now.
"Oh, who am I kidding?" Kel cried in frustration. She stood up, knocking her chair backwards, and jumped into bed, yanking the covers over her head. "It's hopeless."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The next morning at breakfast Kel stared into her porridge bowl, a blank expression on her face. Dom had miraculously gotten himself out of bed just to have breakfast with them. He considered it a great effort on his part. Neal sat across from them, making appreciative sounds as he spooned porridge into his mouth.
"This is great! Did you know yesterday's porridge was lumpy? Lumpy! Honestly, I don't know what they pay the servants for if they're going to make us lumpy porridge! Who eats lumpy porridge? The peddler down by the Tumultuous Turtle eats lumpy porridge! I do not eat lumpy porridge!"
"Yes, you did. Just yesterday. You said so." Mumbled Kel, only catching bits of what Neal was saying. Dom looked at her oddly.
"I was near starved, girl! I would have collapsed had I not forced myself to down some of that pathetic concoction the cooking staff calls 'porridge'! I won't eat lumpy porridge tomorrow. It's that Ixchel woman, the old wrinkly one with the long braid. Doesn't care a whit about the porridge! That's where we get that loathsome, lumpy, gruel!" He said gruel with a growling sound that made Dom smile. "Now Tondra, there's a fine girl! Always makes sure the porridge is stirred smoothly and nicely salted! She is the reason you eat so fine a bowl of victuals today!" Neal looked up at them, expecting a burst of applause, but instead was greeted sullenly.
"Do you think Merric's doing okay out there?"
Neal groaned, throwing his spoon down on the table. Dom looked at her with pity. Kel wasn't sure whether it was for her anxiety over the camp or for the speech she was just about to get from Neal. Whatever it was, she appreciated it, giving him a smile. He blushed and looked down.
She was about to ask him what was wrong when Neal butted in."Kel, listen carefully to what I have to say. Merric is okay. He has everything under control. Fanche is okay. Irnai is okay too. Meech is okay. That other little girl is okay. What's-his-name is okay. That guy with the laughably humongous ears is –
"I think I get the picture, Neal." Kel forced a weak smile. "I just can't help worrying, I suppose. It's in my nature."
"Well, cheer up Lady Knight, because worrying isn't going to help anything. And since you don't seem to be eating any of your porridge, I'll help you out and finish it for you, shall I?" He leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially to Kel and Dom. "After all, it's not likely we're going to get any decent stuff once that Ixchel woman is on duty again."
Kel got up. "I'm going to sort out the last of that paperwork."
"You mean that little ballet I walked in on?"
Dom, who had recovered from his blushing episode, looked back and forth between them, eyes mischievous.
"Shut up," Kel scowled, giving Neal a silent warning, and then she headed for the door. She was just turning the handle when she heard whimpering behind her. She turned about and saw a cowering Neal surrounded by several of the cooking staff, wielding ladles and sneering at the knight. Dom was trying very hard not to laugh. Kel smiled and shook her head. It looked like she and Neal would have to go somewhere else for breakfast tomorrow. He wouldn't want to meet an untimely end, mangled in the scrap heap outside the kitchens.
