Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. They belong to Tamora Pierce. I have the plot but naught else.
Chapter 2: Talking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Kel's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So Kel, to business." Raoul said, putting down his fork.
Kel followed suit and looked up at her former knight master. "Yes, Sir?
"Not being one to beat around the bush, I'll lay it before you."
Kel stared expectantly, when Raoul said nothing, she moaned. "Can it be that bad?"
Raoul laughed. "My wedding is coming up. I expect you to dress properly. That means a dress."
Kel was horrified. How can he do this to me? She thought. She frowned as Raoul grinned like a maniac.
"Kel? Are you going to say something?" Raoul asked.
"A dress?" Kel gasped.
"A gown, more precisely, formal wear."
"What makes you think I wasn't going to anyhow? I mean, it is your wedding, Sir."
"Were you planning to?" Raoul asked innocently.
"No." Kel growled. "But you couldn't have known that."
"You were my squire Kel, in those four years I never once saw you wear a dress."
"Would you have it that I wore a gown as we hunted bandits?"
Raoul raised an eyebrow. "Are you questioning orders, Lady Knight?"
"No."
"Good." Raoul said, while rising out of his chair. "A dress."
"But. . ."
"To the wedding." He continued, while opening the door.
"But. . ."
"This weekend." He finished, while pushing her out the door.
"But. . ."
"Good day, Kel." He closed the door.
Kel stared for a moment. She felt someone come up behind her. The person stood near her for a moment, before speaking up. "Why are you staring at the door?"
It was Neal. Kel sighed. "I find it very exciting. There is no greater joy in life than the joy I find in the hours I spend staring at doors."
"You missed breakfast." He said, turning to walk towards the practice courts, Kel followed him.
"I ate with Raoul."
"I heard he called for you."
"How? I really hadn't expected you to be awake."
"I saw Dom leaving you room this morning." Neal said, he for some reason seemed displeased.
Kel's heart beat a bit faster at the mention of Dom. "Oh?" There was really nothing else to say.
"Kel, why did you want to become a knight?"
"What?" Kel asked surprised at the sudden change of the subject. "How many times have you told me that you know all about me? Then you go and ask me this. You should know the answer."
"I do, I think. But I want to hear it from you."
"Why I wanted to become a knight. To help those too weak and little to help themselves, I suppose. The ones that are seen as unworthy by the high-minded people you meet nowadays. Why do you ask Neal?" What is wrong with him? Kel thought, He's acting so odd!
Neal shrugged. "You know, some say you only did this because of men. Because you umm. . ."
"Nealan of Queenscove!" Kel said angrily. What is Neal implying? She wondered. Then she cooled, she'd heard it before and Neal was her friend. "Yeah, I know. That isn't why I became a knight."
"Good. I'm glad you haven't lost sight of what's important."
"Just what is that supposed to mean?"
Neal pursed him lips. Then blushed slightly. "Like I said, I saw Dom leaving your rooms this morning." They had reached the courts and Neal went to practice pole arms with Yukimi, leaving Kel alone.
Just what does Neal think happened? He's known me for years, Kel thought. He can't possibly think that I would bed Dom. He doesn't even know I have a crush on Dom, does he? Maybe he knows, and that is why he…
Someone tapped her on the shoulder. It was Wolset. "Need a sparring partner?" Kel sighed; promising herself to figure out what Neal was up to. She then drew her sword for practice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dom's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Only two more days left of bachelorhood for you, Sir." Dom announced with a grin.
"Jealous are we?" Raoul asked.
"No! There are still plenty of women out there! Why should I settle for one when I can have them all?"
"All of them sergeant?"
"All of those unattached at least," Dom apologized, bowing slightly.
"Overreaching yourself a bit, aren't you?"
"Perhaps, but I owe to the women to try Sir." Dom grinned. "Besides, when a lady of my liking is mad at me, I don't have to spend all of my time, effort, and money trying to get her back. Unless I want to, of coarse."
" And did you come to gloat at this, or did you have another reasons to pay me a visit?" Raoul asked, shaking his head.
"If I am not mistaken, sir, you called for me." Dom said.
Raoul furrowed his brow before grinning widely. "So I did! Have you seen Kel at all today? I've sent others looking for her, but none could find her."
Why does everyone need to bring Kel up? Dom wanted to know. First Neal, a couple of days ago, and now Raoul. "I believe she went riding with a couple of friends the Lady Yukimi, Sir Nealan, and Wolset, I believe. I hope you don't need her, I'll help if I can."
"It isn't urgent, I'll speak to her upon her return. Unless you would like to joust with me?"
"I'll be sure to tell Kel you're looking for her!" Dom said hastily. "I'm not much of an opponent." Dom turned to leave before Raoul actually did challenge him.
Raoul stopped him. "Oh, and Sergeant? About the ladies, if one ever catches you, I'll laugh."
"I don't plan to be caught Sir."
"I didn't either, but it happened anyhow."
Dom left, walking down the hall a ways before someone fell in step with him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Neal's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After hearing the last lines of Dom's and Lord Raoul's conversation, Neal grimaced. As his cousin strode cockily down the hall, Neal fell in step with him.
Raoul's words echoed in Neal's head. 'About the ladies, if one ever catches you, I'll laugh.' Dom can't be involved with anyone else can he? Neal questioned to himself. But what about him and Kel? He can't just do that to her!
Dom glanced over at him and the corners of his mouth turned up. "Sir Meathead! I thought you were off with your lady and friends."
"We just got back not to long ago." Neal replied without emotion.
"Where did you go?"
"Shopping. For the wedding. Kel needed Yuki to help her choose a dress."
"Kel? Wearing a dress?" Dom asked with a smile.
"Seems she felt she needed to." Does Kel know Dom is doing this? She can't! Or does she know, and is getting this dress to impress Dom?
"Why is that?" Dom asked.
"I thought you might be able to tell me." Neal said. What is he playing at? Neal wondered. Perhaps he doesn't know I heard his conversation with Raoul. "I heard you speaking to Raoul. Kel will catch you. Even if I have to help her."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dom's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is Neal saying? He knows the Own can't marry! And why would I marry Kel? I mean she is wonderful. . . wonderful? How could I say Kel is wonderful? I mean she can be sweet. . .Stop that! "Thanks, Meathead, but I would prefer you not help."
"I'm sure you would." Neal drawled.
"Neal, WHAT is wrong with you?"
"You're the one who's messing up Dom. I can't see how you could do this. It's low, it's. . . it's wrong."
"Messing up? I see nothing wrong with what I'm doing!"
"Nothing wrong?" Neal groaned. "You disgust me." He stormed off.
What was that for? Why is Neal so. . .annoying. What is he trying to do anyhow. I don't know how Kel can stand him. Kel is very. . . strong. . . that way.
A/N: Ok? Sorry it took a while to update, been gone most of the weekend, or working on homework. My teachers love to pile it on during the holidays. Please review. Next chapter wi;; probably be the wedding and such.
Chapter 2: Talking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Kel's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So Kel, to business." Raoul said, putting down his fork.
Kel followed suit and looked up at her former knight master. "Yes, Sir?
"Not being one to beat around the bush, I'll lay it before you."
Kel stared expectantly, when Raoul said nothing, she moaned. "Can it be that bad?"
Raoul laughed. "My wedding is coming up. I expect you to dress properly. That means a dress."
Kel was horrified. How can he do this to me? She thought. She frowned as Raoul grinned like a maniac.
"Kel? Are you going to say something?" Raoul asked.
"A dress?" Kel gasped.
"A gown, more precisely, formal wear."
"What makes you think I wasn't going to anyhow? I mean, it is your wedding, Sir."
"Were you planning to?" Raoul asked innocently.
"No." Kel growled. "But you couldn't have known that."
"You were my squire Kel, in those four years I never once saw you wear a dress."
"Would you have it that I wore a gown as we hunted bandits?"
Raoul raised an eyebrow. "Are you questioning orders, Lady Knight?"
"No."
"Good." Raoul said, while rising out of his chair. "A dress."
"But. . ."
"To the wedding." He continued, while opening the door.
"But. . ."
"This weekend." He finished, while pushing her out the door.
"But. . ."
"Good day, Kel." He closed the door.
Kel stared for a moment. She felt someone come up behind her. The person stood near her for a moment, before speaking up. "Why are you staring at the door?"
It was Neal. Kel sighed. "I find it very exciting. There is no greater joy in life than the joy I find in the hours I spend staring at doors."
"You missed breakfast." He said, turning to walk towards the practice courts, Kel followed him.
"I ate with Raoul."
"I heard he called for you."
"How? I really hadn't expected you to be awake."
"I saw Dom leaving you room this morning." Neal said, he for some reason seemed displeased.
Kel's heart beat a bit faster at the mention of Dom. "Oh?" There was really nothing else to say.
"Kel, why did you want to become a knight?"
"What?" Kel asked surprised at the sudden change of the subject. "How many times have you told me that you know all about me? Then you go and ask me this. You should know the answer."
"I do, I think. But I want to hear it from you."
"Why I wanted to become a knight. To help those too weak and little to help themselves, I suppose. The ones that are seen as unworthy by the high-minded people you meet nowadays. Why do you ask Neal?" What is wrong with him? Kel thought, He's acting so odd!
Neal shrugged. "You know, some say you only did this because of men. Because you umm. . ."
"Nealan of Queenscove!" Kel said angrily. What is Neal implying? She wondered. Then she cooled, she'd heard it before and Neal was her friend. "Yeah, I know. That isn't why I became a knight."
"Good. I'm glad you haven't lost sight of what's important."
"Just what is that supposed to mean?"
Neal pursed him lips. Then blushed slightly. "Like I said, I saw Dom leaving your rooms this morning." They had reached the courts and Neal went to practice pole arms with Yukimi, leaving Kel alone.
Just what does Neal think happened? He's known me for years, Kel thought. He can't possibly think that I would bed Dom. He doesn't even know I have a crush on Dom, does he? Maybe he knows, and that is why he…
Someone tapped her on the shoulder. It was Wolset. "Need a sparring partner?" Kel sighed; promising herself to figure out what Neal was up to. She then drew her sword for practice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dom's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Only two more days left of bachelorhood for you, Sir." Dom announced with a grin.
"Jealous are we?" Raoul asked.
"No! There are still plenty of women out there! Why should I settle for one when I can have them all?"
"All of them sergeant?"
"All of those unattached at least," Dom apologized, bowing slightly.
"Overreaching yourself a bit, aren't you?"
"Perhaps, but I owe to the women to try Sir." Dom grinned. "Besides, when a lady of my liking is mad at me, I don't have to spend all of my time, effort, and money trying to get her back. Unless I want to, of coarse."
" And did you come to gloat at this, or did you have another reasons to pay me a visit?" Raoul asked, shaking his head.
"If I am not mistaken, sir, you called for me." Dom said.
Raoul furrowed his brow before grinning widely. "So I did! Have you seen Kel at all today? I've sent others looking for her, but none could find her."
Why does everyone need to bring Kel up? Dom wanted to know. First Neal, a couple of days ago, and now Raoul. "I believe she went riding with a couple of friends the Lady Yukimi, Sir Nealan, and Wolset, I believe. I hope you don't need her, I'll help if I can."
"It isn't urgent, I'll speak to her upon her return. Unless you would like to joust with me?"
"I'll be sure to tell Kel you're looking for her!" Dom said hastily. "I'm not much of an opponent." Dom turned to leave before Raoul actually did challenge him.
Raoul stopped him. "Oh, and Sergeant? About the ladies, if one ever catches you, I'll laugh."
"I don't plan to be caught Sir."
"I didn't either, but it happened anyhow."
Dom left, walking down the hall a ways before someone fell in step with him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Neal's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After hearing the last lines of Dom's and Lord Raoul's conversation, Neal grimaced. As his cousin strode cockily down the hall, Neal fell in step with him.
Raoul's words echoed in Neal's head. 'About the ladies, if one ever catches you, I'll laugh.' Dom can't be involved with anyone else can he? Neal questioned to himself. But what about him and Kel? He can't just do that to her!
Dom glanced over at him and the corners of his mouth turned up. "Sir Meathead! I thought you were off with your lady and friends."
"We just got back not to long ago." Neal replied without emotion.
"Where did you go?"
"Shopping. For the wedding. Kel needed Yuki to help her choose a dress."
"Kel? Wearing a dress?" Dom asked with a smile.
"Seems she felt she needed to." Does Kel know Dom is doing this? She can't! Or does she know, and is getting this dress to impress Dom?
"Why is that?" Dom asked.
"I thought you might be able to tell me." Neal said. What is he playing at? Neal wondered. Perhaps he doesn't know I heard his conversation with Raoul. "I heard you speaking to Raoul. Kel will catch you. Even if I have to help her."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dom's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is Neal saying? He knows the Own can't marry! And why would I marry Kel? I mean she is wonderful. . . wonderful? How could I say Kel is wonderful? I mean she can be sweet. . .Stop that! "Thanks, Meathead, but I would prefer you not help."
"I'm sure you would." Neal drawled.
"Neal, WHAT is wrong with you?"
"You're the one who's messing up Dom. I can't see how you could do this. It's low, it's. . . it's wrong."
"Messing up? I see nothing wrong with what I'm doing!"
"Nothing wrong?" Neal groaned. "You disgust me." He stormed off.
What was that for? Why is Neal so. . .annoying. What is he trying to do anyhow. I don't know how Kel can stand him. Kel is very. . . strong. . . that way.
A/N: Ok? Sorry it took a while to update, been gone most of the weekend, or working on homework. My teachers love to pile it on during the holidays. Please review. Next chapter wi;; probably be the wedding and such.
