Disclaimer: I don't own it. This is getting a bit old.

Chapter 11: The Mistake

~~~~~~DOM'S POV~~~~~~

"It's past noon!" Dom cried in exasperation. The healer that had seen him yesterday had promised to stop by in the morning. It was almost time for the dinner bell to ring. "He should be here by now!"

"Who?" The healer asked as he walked in.

"No one." Dom said innocently.

"I'm awfully sorry." The healer said. "I had other patients to tend to."

"It's okay." Dom said. But now I won't see Kel, he whined silently.

The healer motioned for Dom to remove his shirt. Once it was out of the way the healer began to inspect the cuts in silence. Suddenly he spoke, "The woman has done a decent job with the refugees, don't you think?"

"She has done an extraordinary job." Dom corrected stubbornly.

"I wouldn't say extraordinary," Said the healer.

"Well I would. She has done wonders with the refugees. No body could do better." Dom said persistently.

The healer stared at Dom for a short time before smiling. "In love with the Lady?"

Dom blinked. Am I that transparent? He speculated, Surely I can't be.

"You're ready to leave." The healer announced, giving Dom back his shirt.

Once the healer was out of sight, Dom left the room in a rush. He had to see Sir Paxton. Kel needed her job, she of all people deserved it. He found Sir Paxton's room with little trouble. After knocking purposefully, he waited.

A man, doubtlessly Sir Paxton, answered the door. He was thin and tall and stood hunched. His skin was chapped from the harsh northern weather, he must have been born and raised further south not to have adapted to it by now. His hair was a tangled mane: it needed a cut and wash. The knight did not give off a good impression, however he was said to be a better than average general. The knowledge of his reputation held Dom speechless for a short while. "Can I help you?" He asked a bit rudely when Dom didn't speak.

Dom wasn't sure what to say "Might I have a word with you. . .privately?" He ventured. The general stared at him suspiciously, but stepped aside to let Dom enter the room. "It's about the Lady Knight." Dom informed the general when he was seated.

"Oh?" The general said with indifference. "Are you one her charges, come to complain? I have no time for this."

"I'm not a charge. I'm a member of the Own, rode in as messenger from Steadfast. I am one of the few here that were with the Lady during her years spent playing squire to My Lord Raoul."

"I see."

"I have come to speak on behalf. . .well more argue a cause she would be to honorable to argue." Dom said, beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable. It was very warm in the room. "You see, Kel, I mean the Lady Knight, earned her shield fairly. . ."

"I never said she didn't." Sir Paxton interrupted.

"What I meant is she has proved she is capable of fighting with and taking charge of men at arms. She should not have been sentenced to isolation amongst the refugees." Dom said.

"I'm sure se can handle." Sir Paxton said. "And that she has proven herself before. But this is a real battle, not some minor raid. She is young and not ready for this sort of responsibility. She will stay away from the fighting."

"But Sir. . ." Dom began.

"I will hear no more of this nonsense. If anyone tries to argue with me again, I will punish him as well as the girl. If she disobeys me, I will have to strip her of what power she retains." Sir Paxton seemed to be looking for a response from Dom.

This is unfair! Dom thought angrily. He wanted dearly to shout at the man, but gave a curt nod instead.

"Good," Sir Paxton said with a smile, "I believe you were the soldier in the infirmary?" Dom nodded again. "Go see the head of the encampment to get a tent. My sincere apologies that we can not offer you a room or proper bed."

"Good day, milord." Dom said, knowing a dismissal when he heard one. He bowed politely and left he room. Well, he reflected, that was a complete disaster.

Dom went to see the man who was to give him his tent and waited as he checked his lists. "Sir Paxton has special orders for you." The man told him, smiling mischievously, "He said it would keep two potential troublemakers out of his way for a good deal of time."

"That is rather tactless thing to say." Dom informed the man, realizing that in saying that he was being equally as thoughtless.

When Dom received his housing assignment, he decided that the army was against him. Not that he hadn't been warned. He walked to the far end of the encampment and into the tent. The person he was to share the tent with was absent, but on seeing other man's half of the tent, Dom realized they would not get along.

Dom was more for physical exercise than mental exercise. The other man, however, seemed to enjoy reading and such. He had a desk and books, Dom wondered how he had carried the bags, books, and papers to New Hope without killing his steed. He also wondered how he had gotten a desk from headquarters. The man had not skimped on weapons; a large array of weapons lay in a corner. Two bags lay under the cot, full of personal belongings. Dom figured it must have taken at least three horses to get all that there.

Dom set up his half of the tent before lying on the cot. Someone walked in while he was trying to sleep, seeing someone there, the person stopped in the doorway with a gasp. "Do shut the flap. The wind is a bit chilly." Dom said without looking at the visitor.

"Do you make it a point to be rude to me when I pay you a visit?" The person asked, it was Kel.

Dom sat up with a start. Kel stood in the doorway, a half-eaten apple in her hand. She seemed a bit out of sorts. "Kel! How'd you know I was here? In this tent?"

"I didn't." Kel said. She motioned at Dom's roommate's half of the room. "This use to be my tent. All for me."

Dom remembered what the man had said about keeping troublemakers busy. He also remembered the roguish grin the man had, Dom blushed at the implication. "Well, that explains why you have so much junk." Dom said. "Women!" He muttered, as a joke.

"Women?" Kel asked in mock outrage, she chucked the apple at him, he didn't notice until it hit him squarely on the forehead. He rubbed his head. She looked surprised and upset. "Dom! You didn't duck!"

"Quite obviously." Dom said, still rubbing his head.

"Are you alright?" She asked him, sitting on the edge of the cot.

"No." Dom said melodramatically, lying down, his arm draped across his forehead. "I've been wounded horribly. Dearest, don't mourn over me."

Kel caught on to the act, and played along. "Darling, I can't go on without you. There has to be some way to help. Tell me!" She begged.

"No, there is no way. . .except. . . No!, I couldn't ask that of you. There is no way."

"I'll do anything., My Love." Kel said, feigning desperation.

Dom stared at her, struck with inspiration. "Anything?" He asked, using a purposefully hoarse voice.

"Anything." Kel said with determination.

"There is one way." He said, as if he were on his deathbed.

"I'll do it!" She cried frantically.

"Will you, My Pet?" Dom asked, sounding anything but convinced.

"Yes!" Kel said, grabbing his hand.

Dom pretended to consider, then gave her a weak smile. She stared at him expectantly. "Well then!" Dom said enthusiastically, grabbing Kel and pulling her down onto the cot, and rolling on top of her. "I again have hope!" He kissed her deeply. "The only thing that can cure me now is to be loved by a woman."

Kel chuckled. "When you say you need to be loved, you don't mean in the emotional way, do you?"

"The emotion makes the action all the better." Dom said, his voice a low rumble, before he kissed her again.

It was then that someone else chose to enter, unbidden. "Gods!" The man cursed before beating a hasty retreat. Dom stood quickly and raced out of the tent, to see who had just left. It could be the difference between Kel remaining respectable amongst her villagers, and her name being dragged through the mud and dirt.

Dom saw man's back just as he turned a corner. Dom sprinted to catch him, and pinned the poor man to the ground, face in the dirt. "Dmm!" The man screamed. Dom let go of his head, so the man could speak. "Domitan!" He cried out. It was Neal. Dom got off him entirely.

"Neal?" Dom asked cautiously. Kel came up beside him then and crouched in front of Neal.

"Neal?" She asked, pushing his hair out of his eyes. "Are you okay?"

"I didn't hurt him that badly." Dom said, offended that she was paying more attention to Neal than to him. Of coarse, he wouldn't admit to himself that he was, for a moment, jealous of Neal.

"That isn't what I was asking about." Kel informed him.

Dom blushed, realizing she was talking about the disruption back at the tent. "I'm confused." Neal admitted. "And I have a monster of a headache." So do I, thought Dom.

"There isn't much I can do about either of those." Kel told Neal.

"When did this happen?" Neal asked.

"About five minutes ago, Meathead, you walked in on it, remember?" Dom asked icily. He was upset that they had been interrupted, though in all truthfulness Dom knew that they wouldn't have gone any further than kissing. He didn't think Kel would let him go any further than that for some time. She was busy with her refugees.

"I think he wants to know when we started this. . .relationship." Kel said uncertainly.

"Yes, that was what I was asking." Neal said, sounding offended.

Dom thought back. "The night that we punished you." He said with a grin.

"Then you've been telling me lies? You said you hadn't slept with her!" Neal accused.

"I haven't." Dom said.

"Then how did this start on 'the night when we punished you', hmm?" Neal asked.



"Come off it Neal!" Kel said, Dom started and saw Neal jump slightly, they'd both forgotten about Kel. "He kissed me is all. And it has not gone any further. Besides, if it ever does, that is our business, not yours."

Neal nodded. Dom said, "Speaking of your business, Neal, aren't you supposed to be at Steadfast?"

Neal squirmed guiltily. "They didn't need me there. I was the only knight there, I think.."

"Which would put you in charge." Kel said, "Why are you here?"

"I was bored." Neal said.

Kel sighed and got to he feet, offering a hand to both Dom and Neal. They headed back to the tent. Kel and Dom sat on their beds, and Neal stood in the center, blushing. "Neal," Kel said with exasperation.

Dom realized why Neal was turning red and smiled evilly. "Don't worry cousin. We don't do anything when company is around. Not usually, anyhow." He said, and moved to sit next to Kel. With an arm around her waist, he kissed her intensely. Dom stole a look at Neal, who was even redder than before. He broke off the kiss.

"Neal, sit down." Kel ordered. Neal sat on Dom's bed.

Dom felt bad for Neal, he knew what was coming, and decided to leave Neal and Kel alone. It was bad enough Neal was going to be lectured, but if he stayed behind, he would be dragged in also. As he left the tent, he heard Kel start off, and prayed for his cousin.

Dom stayed away from the tent the entire evening, unsure of when Kel would finish reprimanding his cousin. When it grew dark, and he was ready for bed, he headed back, making his way through the soldiers that still remained awake. "Dom." Kel said as he entered the tent.

"Yeah?"

"Can we talk?" Kel asked.

Dom wasn't sure what that meant, but by her tone she was unhappy about something. "S. . . sure." He said nervously. He sat on the floor by her cot, his arms and chin resting on the edge.

"I went for a walk not to long ago." She told him, rolling over to see him in the dim light given off by one of the campfires outside..

"Mmm-hmm."

"I ran into Sir Paxton."

Uh-oh, thought Dom. He was suddenly cold with fear. "And. . ." He prompted.

"He said a soldier came to talk to him on my behalf. And that if it happened again I would be stripped of my title as commander of the refugees." She sounded worried. "I didn't ask anyone to speak to him for me, Dom, honest I didn't. What if someone else speaks up? I don't want anyone else to take charge of my people, they don't know them."

"I'm sorry." Dom said, and he was, he felt guilty.

"It isn't you fault." Kel said, brushing a lock of hair from his eyes, he hand was shaking. "What about when Neal finds out. He'll go crazy. That's what scares me most."

"We'll speak with him first thing in the morning, I promise. No one else will go to Sir Paxton." Dom said.

Kel was silent for a moment. "The sparrows went out flying yesterday. They got back not to long ago. The enemy, they say, is not far off. A few day's march."

"Everyone will be fine." Dom assured her. "Even if the army can't hold them off, your people can fight for themselves. The enemy is weak, Kel. They've got men, sure, but those men are scared and starving. They can be beaten. Besides, Love, we have got the advantage of a wall and higher ground. Surely we will win."

Kel seemed more convinced. She lay on her back and closed her eyes. Dom went to his own bed and made ready to sleep. He lay awake for a long time, waiting for sleep to take him. Once he started to drift off, he heard a soft "Thanks Dom," from the other side of the tent.

The next morning, as promised, Dom went in search of Neal, Kel following silently behind him. They searched most of the camp before making their way to headquarters. Dom had a feeling he wouldn't like what he found there. As they passed by, one of the doors opened. It was Sir Paxton's room. Neal emerged looking a little guilty and Sir Paxton watched as he left, looking very angry.

"Lass, a word if you please?" Sir Paxton said, inviting Kel into his room. Kel went pale, but entered the room. Dom tried to follow but the door was shut in his face.

A/N: Next chapter coming soon. But while I write it, REVIEW! Please?