Snowblind
By strawberry_miow
Chapter 3 - A little confusion goes a long way
Sweet music poured through the room, each note lingering in the midst of the celebrations for just a fraction longer than it should, the effect somewhat breathtaking as each syllable rung out in peace and tranquillity. Romance fluttering through the air on the wings of doves with songs so beautiful as the scene outside.
Kel`s eyes wandered over the couples on the dance floor, holding each other so close it was somewhat comforting even to those without that special someone. Kel smiled inwardly, they al deserved to be happy. They all deserved love. Me being the exception… she mused to herself, but tonight, even that thought couldn't mar her good spirits, it was turning out better than she had hoped.
Dom smiled down at her she grinned back, his hands travelled around until they circled her waist, drawing her a little too close to him for her liking. She could smell the flavour of the sergeant; his scent flowing up her nostrils and igniting her taste buds with a sense of something she would prefer to have been kept nameless. A light blush appeared on her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I used to dread these things…" Dom leant down and whispered in her ear, "But I guess that's our dear Lord Raoul`s influence, being around him the last few years has probably done more harm than good" he laughed softly, as did Kel.
"Definitely so if he finds out that you just said that" she replied, not being able to help the smile that formed on her own lips. She hoped it was the joke that caused it and not being held by Dom, she mentally shook herself, Mithros, It's like I'm thirteen again….
The sergeant's voice brought her out of her thoughts, "Agreed" he grinned, "Yet now…I don't mind it so much" his eyes met hers in such a way that made her blush, resting her head on his shoulder so she wouldn't have to look directly at him she sighed.
His arms tightened around her waist, "I'm beginning to think I'm spending too much time around the giantkiller…" he pointed out the man in question, holding his dearest Buri close and actually looking like he was enjoying himself too much.
"Agreed"
~*~
Lady Yukimi and her betrothed, Sir Nealan of Queenscove, sat at one of the tables talking intimately. Their hands entwined their bodies brushing against one another in such a way that it was a good thing they were to be wed, "Oh fair Yukimi, the light does nought but accentuate your beauty, your hair like spider webs and your skin as polished as the finest of luncheon stands"
The Yamani didn't comment so her husband-to-be, the overly under-poetic Neal, continued, "Your eyes are as glass, delicate and transparent as water yet dense and firm as stone, you light up the room with your presence like a melted candle and your smile can kill the deadliest of enemies, the thorns that stick out from you are as lovely as the petals, my rose"
Yuki thanked the heavens as Lady Keladry and Sergeant Domitan came over to them, Kel wasn't wrong about the poetry… she mused, laughing behind her firmly-held mask.
"Good evening Sir Meathead" Dom grinned, addressing his stubborn cousin with the name from childhood. He remembered when he'd first met Kel and explained with a playful grin the etiquette of family teasing, she had soon caught on and the name had become generally known around corus. Neal had thanked Dom many, many times for that, "Lady Yukimi" he mock bowed before sitting in one of the chairs, Kel next to him.
Neal grimaced; "Can you not get through just one evening without calling me by that childish name?" his green eyes narrowed into slits as he glared at his blue-eyed cousin.
Dom smirked, leaning back nonchalantly in his seat, "I could, it just wouldn't be as fun"
"Kel?" Neal pleaded, turning to his fellow knight friend with a sigh and an attempt at a pitiful look painted on his face.
Kel patted him on the arm sympathetically, "Now, now, Meathead, Dom`s only playing…." She met the sergeant's gaze and they both came out in grins.
"You two are insufferable, do you know that?" the knight sighed melodramatically, holding out his arms as if in emphasis.
"We've heard it mentioned a couple of times" Dom smiled, his ocean-coloured eyes twinkling with amusement as he watched his cousin silently fume in his seat.
Kel hid her laughter behind her Yamani mask, her hazel eyes the only give-away that she was amused by it all, the light bouncing off the centre in silent reams of chuckles. She too turned to look at Neal and almost let her mask slip; he looked about ready to kill his cousin. And knowing Neal, she had no doubt that he would try something eventually.
The lady knight turned to Dom, "I think maybe we'd better leave…" she told him, motioning to Neal, "Unless, of course, you like the idea of sir meathead attempting to strangle you in the middle of the ball"
The sergeant's eyes wavered from Kel to Neal and back again. "I think you're right" he murmured as he stood up, offering a hand to Kel, "Care to talk a walk milady?"
"If you stop calling me that then yes, of course" she took the offered hand gratefully and smiled, the tingly feelings of warmth spreading through her body somewhat pleasant despite her unwillingness to admit it. With that they walked away, gentle footsteps receding across the dance-floor and out of the doors into the snow-ridden garden.
Back at the table, Yuki smiled, "They make a cute couple"
Neal`s eyes widened as he turned to face his betrothed, "A couple?!" he bellowed, "A couple of what?!"
Despite her mask, she laughed.