Disclaimer: This is getting old. I don't own the setting, I don't own the characters. I simply borrow their names and attempt to maintain the personality they are given by the original author. . .Tamora Pierce. The only character that is mine is Sir Collin, a place filler of no importance.
Chapter 6: New Hope
~~~~~~DOM'S POV~~~~~~
Dom was in his room, trying to sleep. He'd gotten the third degree from Kel's friends when he and Kel had returned. She hadn't left a note and they were worried. When they had head Dom was gone too, they'd assumed he had made Kel mad. They all cared about her, as brothers mostly. Some as more, he'd noticed. But she's mine now, he thought. They can't have her. I'll need to watch them.
Dom laughed out loud at his own foolishness. Kel was loyal. She wouldn't even look at another man while she was with Dom. He knew that much. But what is to keep them from looking at her? Dom asked himself. As far as he knew, they still thought Kel was available. They didn't think that he had claimed her, and they wouldn't either, unless he said something. Sure, they were afraid that he had pissed Kel off and gone to retrieve her when she ran, but they didn't consider him a candidate as a lover. Not that I am her lover, not yet. He smiled at the thought. Looking forward to the time he'd be able to spend with her before she returned to her village.
When would she return to New Hope? What would he do when she left? Who would be there to watch her? His head spun with unanswered questions. He forced them to the back of his mind. Perhaps he could go with her. If not, worst come to worst, he would see her at Neal's wedding. But after, what would he do? Calm down! He ordered himself, she isn't even gone and you miss her!
He must have fallen asleep at some point, because a persistent knocking roused him. "Hold on a moment!" He called. Dom quickly made himself presentable and opened the door, hoping it was Kel. It wasn't. Instead, Neal was leaning on the doorframe.
"You finally decided to wake up, huh?"
"If I'd have known it was you, I wouldn't have bothered." Dom informed Neal, exiting his room and closing the door. Without a spoken agreement, they headed to the women's hall.
"I'm hurt." Neal said plainly, it was obviously too early for his dramatics. "You'll pay double for that."
"Pay?" Dom wondered, before he remembered Neal's threat. "Oh, right."
They had reached the women's all. "I'll get Kel." Dom volunteered. Neal knocked on Yuki's doors.
Dom knocked on Kel's door. "Who's there?" She asked.
"Nobody." Dom replied.
"Then I must be hearing things. Little voices. Perhaps I will ignore them." He waited a second, wondering what she was doing, before she continued. "Come in, it's unlocked.
Dom entered, Kel was sitting at a desk, hurriedly putting away papers. "Oh the glory of commanding." Dom remarked when he saw the papers from New Hope.
Kel smiled weakly. "Glory. Right. When I was a page, no one told me I'd spend half my time doing paperwork. If I had wanted paperwork, I'd have been a scholar instead."
"Hungry? We're headed to breakfast."
"We?"
"Neal."
"Oh, he's talking to us again? What a pity. I was beginning to enjoy the silence." Kel remarked.
Neal heard her. "I'm offended. Shouldn't you be begging me to forgive you?"
"You're taking revenge are you not?" Kel asked. "That means you don't have to forgive me, it makes us even."
"Oh, right." Neal said. "But Dom hasn't been stricken with revenge! Why doesn't he beg for forgiveness?"
"Because, I couldn't care less whether or not you forgive me, or speak to me for that matter."
"Nobody loves me!" Neal said with feigned distress.
Dom shook his head. "Yes, sad, but true. Rumor has it your lady is only marrying you for the money. Your friends are all looking for ways to betray you. And your family has been trying to throw you out for years." Dom turned to Kel. "We have been trying, but he can't take a hint, and the King doesn't want him loose in the cities."
"I pity the poor people related to our Meathead."
"Our Meathead?" asked Dom.
"He's part of your family. And I feel sorry for those who might come upon him without warning." Kel informed Dom. "I decided to protect the unsuspecting innocents in the realm by taking him as my charge."
"Your heart is of gold, Lady Knight." Neal drawled.
Yuki finally joined them, and they set off for the mess hall. Before they reached the doors, however, a messenger from Sir Collin, Raoul's temporary replacement, reached Kel. She took leave of the other three and went to see Sir Collin.
Dom was worried, he ate and joked, but he continuously pondered reasons for which Sir Collin would call Kel to his office. He could think of no good ideas, they all seemed to lead to a separation. When Kel entered the mess hall, she looked rather grim, but her Yamani mask slid into place. She sat at the table, and Neal looked at her, silently questioning.
"Nothing of importance, Neal, nothing urgent." Kel informed him. "It won't affect you."
Neal was comforted Dom was no. It wasn't urgent. It wouldn't affect Neal, but what about Kel. He resolved to ask her later.
When later came, Dom didn't like what her heard. "Called back to New Hope?"
"Well, yes." Kel said. He must have looked disappointed, because Kel came over to sit with him on the bed. "It'll be all right." She promised him, placing a hand on his back reassuringly.
"It's not that I'm worried for you. The refugees will protect you at the times when you aren't able to protect yourself, it's just I'll miss you. I mean, I've just. . .found you. And now. . ."
Kel had smiled throughout Dom's babbling. She started laughing suddenly, Dom was shocked. "Dom, you sound like Neal with one of his crushes. I'm not yet gone and you're mourning."
Dom realized he was being silly. "Do you mean to tell me that you won't miss me?" Dom asked, feigning sorrow and pain.
Kel smiled. "I won't miss you, not one bit." She leaned forward and kissed him sweetly. He eagerly returned the kiss. She broke it off and whispered to his lips. "Not one bit." He leaned in for another kiss, but she pulled away, seemingly without knowing his intentions. The slight grin on her face told him she knew she was denying him.
Dom glared at her. "It's good you won't miss me, because I hate you." He said indignantly.
"Since you hate me so, you can help me pack. I leave in the morning." She threw a bag at Dom. It was too small for weaponry, so he assumed it was for clothing. He went to the bureau, and opened the drawers. He blushed slightly when he found her loincloths and breast bands there. He placed them in the bag, leaving one of each out: for Kel in the morning. He followed suit with the rest of her clothes. But a problem arose.
"Kel have you acquired new clothes since you've arrived?"
"Yes, some, why?" Kel asked.
"They don't all fit." Dom explained.
Kel pursed her lips in thought, "Just pack a few days' worth. The rest will be an incentive to return, seeing as I've no one here to bring me back." She teased.
Dom did as he was told, now the bag was large enough.
The next morning, Kel was set to leave, and Dom was seeing her off. "Neal will be upset that you didn't bring him along."
"I didn't want to separate him from his fiancé." Kel said.
"You didn't have a problem with it before." Dom remarked.
"Before I didn't know what he felt when he parted with her."
"Aww. . ." Dom teased. "How cute!" He was touched nonetheless. It was a lot for Kel to say that, as. . .sappy, for lack of a better word. . .as it sounded. He felt the same way though.
He watched Kel kick her horse into a canter and ride out of the fort.
For once, Meathead, he thought, you beat me to something. I can see why Neal was always pining for love. It makes a person feel wonderful. He also felt terrible, wasn't only the day before he was in sorrow because he was afraid to lose Kel? Not even Neal was unfortunate enough to lose a woman that quickly. Dom sighed silently. "That's what comes of duties, I suppose. Always being called off somewhere."
A/N: Ta da! Yes, very odd, I know, but what would be the fun of writing a story that was all lovey-dovey and full of romance? Do you really want to read chapter after chapter of "I love you" and kisses, and hugs, and so on and so forth? There was bound to be this sooner or later. It'd get really boring even faster else wise! But, fear not! They'll be together in a couple of chapters, but for now. . . REVIEW! Please?
Chapter 6: New Hope
~~~~~~DOM'S POV~~~~~~
Dom was in his room, trying to sleep. He'd gotten the third degree from Kel's friends when he and Kel had returned. She hadn't left a note and they were worried. When they had head Dom was gone too, they'd assumed he had made Kel mad. They all cared about her, as brothers mostly. Some as more, he'd noticed. But she's mine now, he thought. They can't have her. I'll need to watch them.
Dom laughed out loud at his own foolishness. Kel was loyal. She wouldn't even look at another man while she was with Dom. He knew that much. But what is to keep them from looking at her? Dom asked himself. As far as he knew, they still thought Kel was available. They didn't think that he had claimed her, and they wouldn't either, unless he said something. Sure, they were afraid that he had pissed Kel off and gone to retrieve her when she ran, but they didn't consider him a candidate as a lover. Not that I am her lover, not yet. He smiled at the thought. Looking forward to the time he'd be able to spend with her before she returned to her village.
When would she return to New Hope? What would he do when she left? Who would be there to watch her? His head spun with unanswered questions. He forced them to the back of his mind. Perhaps he could go with her. If not, worst come to worst, he would see her at Neal's wedding. But after, what would he do? Calm down! He ordered himself, she isn't even gone and you miss her!
He must have fallen asleep at some point, because a persistent knocking roused him. "Hold on a moment!" He called. Dom quickly made himself presentable and opened the door, hoping it was Kel. It wasn't. Instead, Neal was leaning on the doorframe.
"You finally decided to wake up, huh?"
"If I'd have known it was you, I wouldn't have bothered." Dom informed Neal, exiting his room and closing the door. Without a spoken agreement, they headed to the women's hall.
"I'm hurt." Neal said plainly, it was obviously too early for his dramatics. "You'll pay double for that."
"Pay?" Dom wondered, before he remembered Neal's threat. "Oh, right."
They had reached the women's all. "I'll get Kel." Dom volunteered. Neal knocked on Yuki's doors.
Dom knocked on Kel's door. "Who's there?" She asked.
"Nobody." Dom replied.
"Then I must be hearing things. Little voices. Perhaps I will ignore them." He waited a second, wondering what she was doing, before she continued. "Come in, it's unlocked.
Dom entered, Kel was sitting at a desk, hurriedly putting away papers. "Oh the glory of commanding." Dom remarked when he saw the papers from New Hope.
Kel smiled weakly. "Glory. Right. When I was a page, no one told me I'd spend half my time doing paperwork. If I had wanted paperwork, I'd have been a scholar instead."
"Hungry? We're headed to breakfast."
"We?"
"Neal."
"Oh, he's talking to us again? What a pity. I was beginning to enjoy the silence." Kel remarked.
Neal heard her. "I'm offended. Shouldn't you be begging me to forgive you?"
"You're taking revenge are you not?" Kel asked. "That means you don't have to forgive me, it makes us even."
"Oh, right." Neal said. "But Dom hasn't been stricken with revenge! Why doesn't he beg for forgiveness?"
"Because, I couldn't care less whether or not you forgive me, or speak to me for that matter."
"Nobody loves me!" Neal said with feigned distress.
Dom shook his head. "Yes, sad, but true. Rumor has it your lady is only marrying you for the money. Your friends are all looking for ways to betray you. And your family has been trying to throw you out for years." Dom turned to Kel. "We have been trying, but he can't take a hint, and the King doesn't want him loose in the cities."
"I pity the poor people related to our Meathead."
"Our Meathead?" asked Dom.
"He's part of your family. And I feel sorry for those who might come upon him without warning." Kel informed Dom. "I decided to protect the unsuspecting innocents in the realm by taking him as my charge."
"Your heart is of gold, Lady Knight." Neal drawled.
Yuki finally joined them, and they set off for the mess hall. Before they reached the doors, however, a messenger from Sir Collin, Raoul's temporary replacement, reached Kel. She took leave of the other three and went to see Sir Collin.
Dom was worried, he ate and joked, but he continuously pondered reasons for which Sir Collin would call Kel to his office. He could think of no good ideas, they all seemed to lead to a separation. When Kel entered the mess hall, she looked rather grim, but her Yamani mask slid into place. She sat at the table, and Neal looked at her, silently questioning.
"Nothing of importance, Neal, nothing urgent." Kel informed him. "It won't affect you."
Neal was comforted Dom was no. It wasn't urgent. It wouldn't affect Neal, but what about Kel. He resolved to ask her later.
When later came, Dom didn't like what her heard. "Called back to New Hope?"
"Well, yes." Kel said. He must have looked disappointed, because Kel came over to sit with him on the bed. "It'll be all right." She promised him, placing a hand on his back reassuringly.
"It's not that I'm worried for you. The refugees will protect you at the times when you aren't able to protect yourself, it's just I'll miss you. I mean, I've just. . .found you. And now. . ."
Kel had smiled throughout Dom's babbling. She started laughing suddenly, Dom was shocked. "Dom, you sound like Neal with one of his crushes. I'm not yet gone and you're mourning."
Dom realized he was being silly. "Do you mean to tell me that you won't miss me?" Dom asked, feigning sorrow and pain.
Kel smiled. "I won't miss you, not one bit." She leaned forward and kissed him sweetly. He eagerly returned the kiss. She broke it off and whispered to his lips. "Not one bit." He leaned in for another kiss, but she pulled away, seemingly without knowing his intentions. The slight grin on her face told him she knew she was denying him.
Dom glared at her. "It's good you won't miss me, because I hate you." He said indignantly.
"Since you hate me so, you can help me pack. I leave in the morning." She threw a bag at Dom. It was too small for weaponry, so he assumed it was for clothing. He went to the bureau, and opened the drawers. He blushed slightly when he found her loincloths and breast bands there. He placed them in the bag, leaving one of each out: for Kel in the morning. He followed suit with the rest of her clothes. But a problem arose.
"Kel have you acquired new clothes since you've arrived?"
"Yes, some, why?" Kel asked.
"They don't all fit." Dom explained.
Kel pursed her lips in thought, "Just pack a few days' worth. The rest will be an incentive to return, seeing as I've no one here to bring me back." She teased.
Dom did as he was told, now the bag was large enough.
The next morning, Kel was set to leave, and Dom was seeing her off. "Neal will be upset that you didn't bring him along."
"I didn't want to separate him from his fiancé." Kel said.
"You didn't have a problem with it before." Dom remarked.
"Before I didn't know what he felt when he parted with her."
"Aww. . ." Dom teased. "How cute!" He was touched nonetheless. It was a lot for Kel to say that, as. . .sappy, for lack of a better word. . .as it sounded. He felt the same way though.
He watched Kel kick her horse into a canter and ride out of the fort.
For once, Meathead, he thought, you beat me to something. I can see why Neal was always pining for love. It makes a person feel wonderful. He also felt terrible, wasn't only the day before he was in sorrow because he was afraid to lose Kel? Not even Neal was unfortunate enough to lose a woman that quickly. Dom sighed silently. "That's what comes of duties, I suppose. Always being called off somewhere."
A/N: Ta da! Yes, very odd, I know, but what would be the fun of writing a story that was all lovey-dovey and full of romance? Do you really want to read chapter after chapter of "I love you" and kisses, and hugs, and so on and so forth? There was bound to be this sooner or later. It'd get really boring even faster else wise! But, fear not! They'll be together in a couple of chapters, but for now. . . REVIEW! Please?
