Disclaimer: I own nothing! Well, except the plot. The characters all belong to TP. I'm jealous.

Chapter 1: Arrival at Steadfast

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Kel's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been a long ride to Steadfast. The ride itself wasn't painful, but the company made the journey agonizing. Neal was suffering from his long separation from his beloved Yuki, and Tobe was content keeping to himself. Kel wasn't sure she could trust Neal as far as she could throw him, at least not in this state, he was likely to get the three killed. Because of this worry, Kel wouldn't wander far from Neal, while possibly saving the three of them; she put herself in position to be tortured by his foul mood and impatience.

Just when Kel thought she could stand the torment no longer, Steadfast's walls came into view. Thank you Mithros! Kel thought, and then turned to Neal. "There's the fort."

Neal looked up from his saddle and grinned before kicking his mare into a gallop.

"Finally." Tobe said, coming up from behind. "He can't possibly be that terrible when he's with his lady, can he?"

"I doubt he'll lower himself enough to even speak to us." Kel said happily.

As they neared the gates, men waved and called out from the walls. Once inside the fort, it seemed the entire Third Company had come to greet her. She smiled at those she knew and grinned when she saw Dom waving. Tobe took the horses to the stables and one of the men off duty, a new private she was unfamiliar with, led her to her room.

"You're in time for supper. Next bell." He informed her before leaving, presumably back to watch duty.

Kel realized she had little time before supper and washed quickly. She dressed herself in breeches, a shirt and a tunic in the Mindelan colors and strode into the soldier's mess.



Upon entering she saw many of her friends from the Own were already seated, and was almost glad to see Neal was absent. She filled her tray and slid in next to Dom and Wolset.

"So the Lady Knight has come to join the lowly soldiers at their evening meal," Dom said with a grin.

Kel's heart flipped in her chest. I'm not over this yet? She asked herself. I suppose he is cute, and sweet and…STOP! "I heard the lowly soldiers needed a keeper." Kel replied.

Dom blinked in mock amazement. "And you so kindly volunteered yourself? Here I was thinking Meathead would be enough for you!"

"I admit to that. But he has a replacement keeper while we remain at Steadfast."

"And the Lady knight misses her duty?"

"My life is meaningless without unruly children to look after."

"That hurt." Dom said, holding his hand over his heart.

"As nice as this is," drawled Wolset, " could we stop flirting long enough for me to eat? I'm beginning to feel a bit sick to the stomach."

Kel blushed. Dom grinned. "I don't think that was the flirting Wolset, I hear we have a new cook."

"Perhaps you should see a healer. We can't have children with upset tummies, can we?" Kel teased, over the slight embarrassment.

Wolset wrinkled his nose in disgust. Dom changed the subject. "So, Kel, how is New Hope faring?"

"As well as can be expected, I suppose. We lost too many good workers; the building is going slower than I had anticipated."

"You haven't taken up for carpentry now, have you?" Wolset asked.

Kel smiled slightly. "Well…"

"May the Gods protect the poor civilians!" Dom exclaimed.

"No." Kel said. "They poor civilians were quite firm in the fact that I should stick to the duties of a commander." She smiled openly. Dom hasn't changed at all. Thank the Gods for that.

"Good for them." Dom said with a slight nod of his head.

The rest of the meal was eaten without much talk. The silence of the three was disrupted when Neal came strolling in, and sat with them.

"My beloved cousin has decided to join us!" Dom cried out. Kel sighed and prepared herself for an argument between the relatives.

"Not by choice, I assure you." Neal stated, his tone demeaning.

"Your lady not speaking to you? What did you do this time?"

Neal grimaced. "Nothing. She said…" Neal screwed his face up, and spoke in a high pitched voice, "you can't just ignore your friends, Neal! Not just because I'm here! " He sighed. "She told me to go play with my little friends."

"Hah!" Dom shouted. "So what're you doing here?"

Neal glared at Dom menacingly. "I thought I had at least one friend in this…place. She however seems to be ignoring me at the moment."

Kel was stunned. "How did I get dragged into this?"

"You aren't helping me in this plight." Neal pouted. "Letting my cousin take stabs at me like this."

"Neal, I didn't know you needed protection! I'm so sorry." Kel said scornfully.

"You're not sorry in the least."

Kel rolled her eyes. "As wonderful as it was to see the two of you, Dom, Wolset, I think it is time for me to take leave."

"What you haven't missed Meathead?" Dom asked innocently.

"I spent the whole day with him and his unpleasantness." Kel told Dom, who flinched at the thought. Kel chuckled, before dumping her tray.

Kel left and headed back to her room. Tobe was there, already asleep by the fire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dom's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dom headed towards Kel's room, it was early but she should be awake by now. Raoul had ordered that she spoke to him that morning.

Dom knocked on Kel's door. "Coming!" She replied from inside.

She had her glaive in her hand when she opened the door and was sweating. She smiled when she saw him. He smiled back and stared, she was in her nightclothes. Wet as they were, he could see through them somewhat. "Did you need something?" She asked when he didn't speak.



Dom felt heat rushing to his face. Why am I blushing? "Right. Um…Raoul wants to see you sometime this morning."

"Ah." She said. "Very kind of you to act the messenger."

Dom nodded. He noticed her gown was sticking to her body, showing off curves he didn't know she had.

Kel smiled. "We're awfully quiet today."

Dom ducked his head. Why can't I speak to her? It's just Kel! He looked up again. "Put it down as lack of sleep."

"Okay then. I'll see you at breakfast." Kel said before closing the door.

Dom began to head back to his room. Neal cut him off at the end of the hallway. "What are you doing here?" Neal asked rudely.



"Not that it is any of your business, Meathead, but I was just…"

"With Kel, I know, but why are you with Kel this early, the sun has barely risen. Shouldn't you still be asleep?" Neal glared threateningly. "If you hurt her in the least, I will kill you."

"Meathead! What are you talking about?" Dom asked, smiling at his confused cousin. "I was running an errand for Raoul."

"Delivering a message, I suppose? There are a few things wrong with your story. One, why this early, before breakfast even? Two, why are you running this errand, you a sergeant? Three, surely you could have told her at supper."

"One, because I was told to tell her early. Two, because Kel is my friend and I volunteered to deliver the message. Three, Raoul only told me this morning."

"Uh huh. I saw you. Remember what I said about killing you." Neal said before stalking off.

What was that about? It's like he thinks that Kel and I…but I wouldn't! We wouldn't! I guess it is early, and if he saw, Kel wasn't properly dressed. Not that I mind. Dom grinned. She is very cute. Where did THAT come from? Dom's grin was replaced with a frown. How could I think that? Upset with himself, Dom stormed into his room and slammed the door. He threw himself angrily onto his bed, where he lay scolding himself until the bell signaling breakfast finally rang.

A/N: Please review. I don't know whether to continue or not. Information may be wrong, I hope it isn't. Flames welcome.