A/N: I'm back, don't hurt me because of my laziness. Insomnia and writer's block is not a good combination.
Disclaimer: Yes, I'm writing a disclaimer. Tortall and its characters do not belong to me. They belong to the goddess Tamora Pierce, so don't sue me. No money being made, I'm poor and Ms. Pierce is not. See the difference?
Rekindled
Chapter Nineteen: Marriage
By: DarkDracon0
"Marriage? Marriage? Have you lost your mind?" Kel had started to shriek at him like a fishmonger's wife promptly after he had revived her. She must have powerful lungs. He had never heard anyone aim such a loud voice at him.
"Yes, dear, marriage." He had called her dear. He never used endearments. He found that he quite liked it. "If you don't want to marry me, then your life will be, quite frankly, a living hell."
"Oh, so if I marry you, it would make you equivalent to a hero who has saved the simpering lady from mortal danger? Do you think I can't take care of myself? I don't want to marry you!" Marriage to him couldn't be that repulsive, a small part of her mind insisted. He isn't like those men who think women should stay home and trade gossip. He's seen you fight. He wouldn't force you to stay home. And what about last night?
Shut up.
He would treat you like an equal. That thought made her pause. But not for long. Damn, she was just knighted, still green. Alright, she wasn't green. She was brass. It was a term that was used for the ranked, experienced officers. And she was experienced and ranked. And he was handsome. Slashing cheekbones, proud, straight nose, sensual mouth. Eyes. Eagle eyes. Or hawk eyes. Whatever comparison, his eyes could be light and laughing or they could be piercing, and intense, boring into your soul as if he knew your deepest and darkest secrets.
"Kel, come to your senses. If you don't marry me, you'll be thrusted more into the role of whore and trollop than ever before. No man will marry you no matter how long the scandal has faded. I know that Court is filled with new and old scandals, which is how noblemen keep themselves occupied, but this is different."
"How can this be any different than the ones in the past?" She demanded. "We spent the night together and now everybody knows. Isn't that how many other scandals are made?" Anger and the slight feel of panic made her voice harsh. He winced slightly but didn't answer. She grew impatient, her hand shooting forward and grabbing him by his shirtfront. Powerful emotions was making her act this way. Just this once, she wanted to just let her emotions out and not keep them in. She yanked him to her and yelled in his face, "Damn you, this is all your fault! If you hadn't forced yourself into my room, this wouldn't have happened!" Dante changed. One moment, he was silent, the next, he was furious.
"My fault?! You let me in! I kiss you and you let me in. Perhaps if you'd said that you didn't want me, then this wouldn't happened! I gave you a choice and asked you if you were sure. And you answered yes. Think reasonably, woman!" He did sort of forced his way in but he didn't tell her that. It was partly his fault. But if Kel didn't him, he would have left. No, you wouldn't. You wanted so bad that you would have gone to any lengths to have her, said a small part of his mind.
You keep out of this.
Gods, he was going mad. He was talking to himself. He mentally shook himself. He was becoming naught but a halfwit.
Kel blinked in surprise. Dante rarely spoke in anger. But she wasn't about to be blamed for this predicament. Alright, she'd accept it as partly her fault. Bu not all of it.
"So we must marry. Damn it, Dante, why? I truly don't care if I don't ever marry. Why do you want this marriage so much? Why?" She asked that question in a angry way and he was already seized in a rage. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "Because I love you, dammit. Haven't you seen that every time we're together? You make me want you so much that I can hardly think straight when you're near. And every time you go on the battlefield, I'm scared that you'll get hurt or worse, killed. Do you think me some sort of court dandy? That all I care about is winning and doing it by letting my men die? Is that what you think me?" There was silence laced with shock. Kel, her face pale with surprise and Dante's flushed with both anger and surprise as well.
It took him several moments for the words he had just said to register into his brain. God, did he really say that he loved her? They stared at each other, mute.
"Oh dear Mithros." Kel jerked away from him, shaking. He had just said he loved her. He loved her. Somehow, it didn't sound so bad. She actually felt quite elated, giddy. He just stood there, eyes wide and the color slowing draining from his face. Oh, if he could, he would've taken that back… Taken that back so he could keep on hoping she felt the same. But it was said and he couldn't keep the look of pain from crossing his face.
Kel, knees weak from shock, backed away from him until she felt her legs bump the bed and sat down heavily. Her breath heaved out harshly and she struggled with herself. He loved her.
But the question was: Did she love him?
Disclaimer: Yes, I'm writing a disclaimer. Tortall and its characters do not belong to me. They belong to the goddess Tamora Pierce, so don't sue me. No money being made, I'm poor and Ms. Pierce is not. See the difference?
Rekindled
Chapter Nineteen: Marriage
By: DarkDracon0
"Marriage? Marriage? Have you lost your mind?" Kel had started to shriek at him like a fishmonger's wife promptly after he had revived her. She must have powerful lungs. He had never heard anyone aim such a loud voice at him.
"Yes, dear, marriage." He had called her dear. He never used endearments. He found that he quite liked it. "If you don't want to marry me, then your life will be, quite frankly, a living hell."
"Oh, so if I marry you, it would make you equivalent to a hero who has saved the simpering lady from mortal danger? Do you think I can't take care of myself? I don't want to marry you!" Marriage to him couldn't be that repulsive, a small part of her mind insisted. He isn't like those men who think women should stay home and trade gossip. He's seen you fight. He wouldn't force you to stay home. And what about last night?
Shut up.
He would treat you like an equal. That thought made her pause. But not for long. Damn, she was just knighted, still green. Alright, she wasn't green. She was brass. It was a term that was used for the ranked, experienced officers. And she was experienced and ranked. And he was handsome. Slashing cheekbones, proud, straight nose, sensual mouth. Eyes. Eagle eyes. Or hawk eyes. Whatever comparison, his eyes could be light and laughing or they could be piercing, and intense, boring into your soul as if he knew your deepest and darkest secrets.
"Kel, come to your senses. If you don't marry me, you'll be thrusted more into the role of whore and trollop than ever before. No man will marry you no matter how long the scandal has faded. I know that Court is filled with new and old scandals, which is how noblemen keep themselves occupied, but this is different."
"How can this be any different than the ones in the past?" She demanded. "We spent the night together and now everybody knows. Isn't that how many other scandals are made?" Anger and the slight feel of panic made her voice harsh. He winced slightly but didn't answer. She grew impatient, her hand shooting forward and grabbing him by his shirtfront. Powerful emotions was making her act this way. Just this once, she wanted to just let her emotions out and not keep them in. She yanked him to her and yelled in his face, "Damn you, this is all your fault! If you hadn't forced yourself into my room, this wouldn't have happened!" Dante changed. One moment, he was silent, the next, he was furious.
"My fault?! You let me in! I kiss you and you let me in. Perhaps if you'd said that you didn't want me, then this wouldn't happened! I gave you a choice and asked you if you were sure. And you answered yes. Think reasonably, woman!" He did sort of forced his way in but he didn't tell her that. It was partly his fault. But if Kel didn't him, he would have left. No, you wouldn't. You wanted so bad that you would have gone to any lengths to have her, said a small part of his mind.
You keep out of this.
Gods, he was going mad. He was talking to himself. He mentally shook himself. He was becoming naught but a halfwit.
Kel blinked in surprise. Dante rarely spoke in anger. But she wasn't about to be blamed for this predicament. Alright, she'd accept it as partly her fault. Bu not all of it.
"So we must marry. Damn it, Dante, why? I truly don't care if I don't ever marry. Why do you want this marriage so much? Why?" She asked that question in a angry way and he was already seized in a rage. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "Because I love you, dammit. Haven't you seen that every time we're together? You make me want you so much that I can hardly think straight when you're near. And every time you go on the battlefield, I'm scared that you'll get hurt or worse, killed. Do you think me some sort of court dandy? That all I care about is winning and doing it by letting my men die? Is that what you think me?" There was silence laced with shock. Kel, her face pale with surprise and Dante's flushed with both anger and surprise as well.
It took him several moments for the words he had just said to register into his brain. God, did he really say that he loved her? They stared at each other, mute.
"Oh dear Mithros." Kel jerked away from him, shaking. He had just said he loved her. He loved her. Somehow, it didn't sound so bad. She actually felt quite elated, giddy. He just stood there, eyes wide and the color slowing draining from his face. Oh, if he could, he would've taken that back… Taken that back so he could keep on hoping she felt the same. But it was said and he couldn't keep the look of pain from crossing his face.
Kel, knees weak from shock, backed away from him until she felt her legs bump the bed and sat down heavily. Her breath heaved out harshly and she struggled with herself. He loved her.
But the question was: Did she love him?