Headaches
by Saraswathi
~*~
Chapter Six: Of Meatheads and Mouse-Hunters
~*~
The battle to liberate the refugees was completed all too soon. When Dom paused to consider it, the fact made him slightly sick, so he pushed it from his mind and concentrated on clearing up the effects of the battle.
And wondering where the children had gone.
Tobe had apparently been struck by the same thought, for he ran to Kel, crying, "Lady! Lady Kel, they ain't here. Loey and Meech and Gydo and them, they ain't here."
In the midst of his fear for the children, Dom couldn't help but smile at the devotion Tobe had for Kel. It was almost like the relationship between a mother and a son, or a knight and a page.
As he watched Kel sooth Tobe gently, the stray thought came to him. [She would make a good mother. She should be able to settle down and have children and teach them to fight with a glaive . . .]
[Well, that's what she's fighting for, right? That's what we're all fighting for. So that we can have that kind of peace.]
Dom shook his head. He was becoming far too philosophical for his own tastes.
"Up the Pakaai." A refugee was informing Kel where the children had been taken. He had already guessed this, however, for scent and trail would be washed away upriver. And they were traveling towards Blayce. The thought made him shudder. He grasped his sword, tensing, waiting to see what his orders would be.
"Everyone, collect weapons and food. You'll need them on your way back," Kel ordered.
[Very funny, Kel. As if I'm going to let you go alone. Try no bloody way.]
Neal appeared to have had the same thoughts. "You better tie me to my horse once I get this lot fit to ride," he informed Kel, gesturing to the refugees who needed healing.
[Dammit. Neal got there first,] Dom thought with a wry grin.
She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him in a way that reminded Dom so strongly of his aunt, he couldn't help laughing. "I want you to stay with them."
"Not a chance," Neal snapped, taking his eyes from the refugees and looking straight at her, his green eyes serious for once.
"They go without me," Dom broke in. [Damn, that just revealed to the entire camp what I feel about her.] Hastily, he added, "And my boys too. My orders were to stay with you." He looked at Kel, eyes as steady as they had been when they had spoken a few days ago. She glanced down, but not before he had caught the gratitude in her eyes.
He handed his sword to Gil, who proclaimed, "We're stayin' too, me an' my squad."
Fanche and Saefas agreed. Dom could see Kel rubbing her forehead. [And she thought she would go alone.]
But Fanche and Saefas had to be one of the oddest pairings that he had heard of and when in a squad of the King's Own, all sorts of strange matches arose. He recalled how when his cousin was a squire, someone had suggested something about Neal and the Queen.
The man had gotten a black eye for his futile attempt at matchmaking, courtesy Dom. Though Neal and he argued constantly, the Meathead was his favorite cousin and close friend, even if he had been occasionally jealous of the close relationship between him and Kel.
Until Neal had been engaged, that was.
Dom smiled, remembering what a stir that had caused in the family. He had stuck by Neal firmly, hoping for the same reward if he ever became engaged.
Not likely, considering the small detail that members of the King's Own weren't allowed to get married. But still, maybe Kel . . .
The sergeant shook his head at the way his thoughts were meandering aimlessly. Forcefully, he pointed them towards packing on their journey. As he started to gather up his saddlebags, a hiss from inside startled him.
Gingerly, he pulled them open to reveal a cat, colored gray and orange, looking balefully up at him. Evidently, Dom had interrupted her nap.
"Hey, kitty," he murmured soothingly, attempting to appease her in the tone he normally used for court ladies in hysterics. The cat simply hissed at him further, proving that she wasn't a court lady.
[Probably one of the Queen's Own,] Dom mused, attempting to touch her. This strategy failed, as she left him with a deep scratch on his palm.
His curse drew Kel over, looking amused despite the tense situation.
"Problems, sergeant?"
"You could say that," growled Dom, pointing to the kitten.
"Hmm." Kel surveyed the cat, bending to try to pick it up. She received a warning hiss for her pains.
"Glad to know it isn't just me," Dom quipped.
Kel shrugged, her eyes dancing. "Maybe animals just don't like you."
"Maybe she likes me so much she wants to stay," Dom shot back.
"She would be the first lady to do so," his cousin drawled.
Dom shot him a quenching look. "You're one to talk." He pointedly did not look at Kel, who was observing this exchange with interest.
"Well, at least I am engaged," Neal pointed out. "And not harboring unrequited passion for ladies who I can't even tell-"
"Meathead, why don't you shut up?" Dom snapped, feeling himself flushing. He hadn't known his cousin had realized what he felt about Kel.
[And even if he has, does he have to go shouting it out right in front of her?]
[Of course he does. He's the Meathead, remember?]
"Domitan, why don't you find a new nickname for me?" his cousin retorted.
He smiled sweetly. "But this one suits you so well."
Neal scowled. "Shut up."
"Nice comeback, Meathead."
"I'm sure you've impressed Kel, sergeant."
The lady knight, herself, meanwhile had dissolved into laughter. "You two are great," she smiled at them.
Dom raised an eyebrow at Neal, who grinned at him, slinging an arm around his shoulders. "Sure, if you say so," he drawled.
"As pleasant as this sudden feeling of goodwill from you is, don't you have work to do?" Dom asked.
Neal smirked. "Not unless you count prying that cat off your bags." He sauntered off, still smirking.
Recalling the feline, Dom glanced down and uttered a couple choice words.
"Don't. You're burning Tobe's ears," Kel said, absently.
Dom glanced over to where the boy was brushing Peachblossom. "I'll wager he know plenty worse," he said, softly.
She glanced up. "Yes, I suppose." Sorrow had filled her tone.
"Anyway," Dom said abruptly, changing the subject, "it seems as though the cat is here to stay." He was rewarded by Kel's small smile.
He continued, "I make it a point never to argue with a lady, so I suppose she can stay."
Kel choked with laughter. "And you never argue with me, right?"
"I thought you didn't want to be called a lady," Dom shot back. "Besides, we don't argue. We discuss."
Her lips curved into a full, warm smile. He forced himself to look away. He was not going to stare at her lips, especially not when that could cause dangerous thoughts . .
"Ah, I see then." She rose. "Better leave the lady there, then."
The cat rode in Dom's saddlebags the entire way.
~*~
I stole the line, "We don't argue. We discuss," from somewhere, but I can't remember where. Anyway, I don't think I own it.
~*~
~*~
Chapter Six: Of Meatheads and Mouse-Hunters
~*~
The battle to liberate the refugees was completed all too soon. When Dom paused to consider it, the fact made him slightly sick, so he pushed it from his mind and concentrated on clearing up the effects of the battle.
And wondering where the children had gone.
Tobe had apparently been struck by the same thought, for he ran to Kel, crying, "Lady! Lady Kel, they ain't here. Loey and Meech and Gydo and them, they ain't here."
In the midst of his fear for the children, Dom couldn't help but smile at the devotion Tobe had for Kel. It was almost like the relationship between a mother and a son, or a knight and a page.
As he watched Kel sooth Tobe gently, the stray thought came to him. [She would make a good mother. She should be able to settle down and have children and teach them to fight with a glaive . . .]
[Well, that's what she's fighting for, right? That's what we're all fighting for. So that we can have that kind of peace.]
Dom shook his head. He was becoming far too philosophical for his own tastes.
"Up the Pakaai." A refugee was informing Kel where the children had been taken. He had already guessed this, however, for scent and trail would be washed away upriver. And they were traveling towards Blayce. The thought made him shudder. He grasped his sword, tensing, waiting to see what his orders would be.
"Everyone, collect weapons and food. You'll need them on your way back," Kel ordered.
[Very funny, Kel. As if I'm going to let you go alone. Try no bloody way.]
Neal appeared to have had the same thoughts. "You better tie me to my horse once I get this lot fit to ride," he informed Kel, gesturing to the refugees who needed healing.
[Dammit. Neal got there first,] Dom thought with a wry grin.
She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him in a way that reminded Dom so strongly of his aunt, he couldn't help laughing. "I want you to stay with them."
"Not a chance," Neal snapped, taking his eyes from the refugees and looking straight at her, his green eyes serious for once.
"They go without me," Dom broke in. [Damn, that just revealed to the entire camp what I feel about her.] Hastily, he added, "And my boys too. My orders were to stay with you." He looked at Kel, eyes as steady as they had been when they had spoken a few days ago. She glanced down, but not before he had caught the gratitude in her eyes.
He handed his sword to Gil, who proclaimed, "We're stayin' too, me an' my squad."
Fanche and Saefas agreed. Dom could see Kel rubbing her forehead. [And she thought she would go alone.]
But Fanche and Saefas had to be one of the oddest pairings that he had heard of and when in a squad of the King's Own, all sorts of strange matches arose. He recalled how when his cousin was a squire, someone had suggested something about Neal and the Queen.
The man had gotten a black eye for his futile attempt at matchmaking, courtesy Dom. Though Neal and he argued constantly, the Meathead was his favorite cousin and close friend, even if he had been occasionally jealous of the close relationship between him and Kel.
Until Neal had been engaged, that was.
Dom smiled, remembering what a stir that had caused in the family. He had stuck by Neal firmly, hoping for the same reward if he ever became engaged.
Not likely, considering the small detail that members of the King's Own weren't allowed to get married. But still, maybe Kel . . .
The sergeant shook his head at the way his thoughts were meandering aimlessly. Forcefully, he pointed them towards packing on their journey. As he started to gather up his saddlebags, a hiss from inside startled him.
Gingerly, he pulled them open to reveal a cat, colored gray and orange, looking balefully up at him. Evidently, Dom had interrupted her nap.
"Hey, kitty," he murmured soothingly, attempting to appease her in the tone he normally used for court ladies in hysterics. The cat simply hissed at him further, proving that she wasn't a court lady.
[Probably one of the Queen's Own,] Dom mused, attempting to touch her. This strategy failed, as she left him with a deep scratch on his palm.
His curse drew Kel over, looking amused despite the tense situation.
"Problems, sergeant?"
"You could say that," growled Dom, pointing to the kitten.
"Hmm." Kel surveyed the cat, bending to try to pick it up. She received a warning hiss for her pains.
"Glad to know it isn't just me," Dom quipped.
Kel shrugged, her eyes dancing. "Maybe animals just don't like you."
"Maybe she likes me so much she wants to stay," Dom shot back.
"She would be the first lady to do so," his cousin drawled.
Dom shot him a quenching look. "You're one to talk." He pointedly did not look at Kel, who was observing this exchange with interest.
"Well, at least I am engaged," Neal pointed out. "And not harboring unrequited passion for ladies who I can't even tell-"
"Meathead, why don't you shut up?" Dom snapped, feeling himself flushing. He hadn't known his cousin had realized what he felt about Kel.
[And even if he has, does he have to go shouting it out right in front of her?]
[Of course he does. He's the Meathead, remember?]
"Domitan, why don't you find a new nickname for me?" his cousin retorted.
He smiled sweetly. "But this one suits you so well."
Neal scowled. "Shut up."
"Nice comeback, Meathead."
"I'm sure you've impressed Kel, sergeant."
The lady knight, herself, meanwhile had dissolved into laughter. "You two are great," she smiled at them.
Dom raised an eyebrow at Neal, who grinned at him, slinging an arm around his shoulders. "Sure, if you say so," he drawled.
"As pleasant as this sudden feeling of goodwill from you is, don't you have work to do?" Dom asked.
Neal smirked. "Not unless you count prying that cat off your bags." He sauntered off, still smirking.
Recalling the feline, Dom glanced down and uttered a couple choice words.
"Don't. You're burning Tobe's ears," Kel said, absently.
Dom glanced over to where the boy was brushing Peachblossom. "I'll wager he know plenty worse," he said, softly.
She glanced up. "Yes, I suppose." Sorrow had filled her tone.
"Anyway," Dom said abruptly, changing the subject, "it seems as though the cat is here to stay." He was rewarded by Kel's small smile.
He continued, "I make it a point never to argue with a lady, so I suppose she can stay."
Kel choked with laughter. "And you never argue with me, right?"
"I thought you didn't want to be called a lady," Dom shot back. "Besides, we don't argue. We discuss."
Her lips curved into a full, warm smile. He forced himself to look away. He was not going to stare at her lips, especially not when that could cause dangerous thoughts . .
"Ah, I see then." She rose. "Better leave the lady there, then."
The cat rode in Dom's saddlebags the entire way.
~*~
I stole the line, "We don't argue. We discuss," from somewhere, but I can't remember where. Anyway, I don't think I own it.
~*~