That night, Kel retired early. So much had happened in one day. If it had been a year ago, she would have been bored with it. But now, with six months left before she could do anything, a day like this seemed like more and more.

When she got to bed, Kel heard a knock on the door. Grumbling, she went to answer it. Dom was standing there, looking nervous.

"Can I come in?"

Kel wasn't sure why he was there, but she invited him in anyway.

He sat down in a chair, just then noticing that Kel was in her dressing gown.

"I'm sorry, were you sleeping?" He asked.

Kel shook her head, stifling a yawn. "Was almost there."

Dom stood up. "I am so sorry. I'll talk to you tomorrow." He kissed her softly, and walked out, leaving Kel slightly confused.

The next morning, Kel found Dom. "What was up last night?" She asked casually.

He shrugged. "I was just wondering how you were feeling about everything, I know you were nervous."

Kel almost laughed. "That's why you were so worried? Because of me?"

He smiled. "I guess."

After a few days, Neal announced that they were going to Corus. Kel held a small, formal dinner for them the night before they left. They sat around, drinking and laughing. When Neal fell asleep mid-sentence, they decided it was time for bed. Dom, who walked Kel back to her rooms. She was almost asleep in her arms when they got there.

Sitting on her bed, Dom took a deep breath and spoke. "Kel, wake up. I'm leaving tomorrow."

Kel's eyes shot open.

"I'm going with Neal and Yuki to Corus."

Kel looked at him with pleading eyes. He couldn't leave her alone, he'd been with her for six months. "But your shoulder!" She was clutching at anything. "It's nowhere near healed yet! The magic that slowed it is still there."

Dom nodded. "I know, but I have some business in Corus that can't wait any longer."

Kel nodded. She knew he would be gone for a while. Dome seemed to read her mind. Days, possibly, but probably more like a month or two. I'll miss you."

Kel started to cry. She leaned against him. They still had one night, Kel didn't want to fall asleep.

"Kel, it's not that bad. I'm going to come back."

Kel smiled. "I guess." She said.

Dom stood up. "Will you see us off tomorrow?"

Kel looked at him, slightly shocked. She couldn't comprehend what she was feeling. She wanted him to stay with her for every moment.

He shook his head. "Kel," he chuckled, "It's just for a month or two! I'm coming back!"

He kissed her. "Good night, Kel." He walked out.

Kel fell asleep with small tears in her eyes.

The next morning, before they left, Dom pulled Kel aside. "Kel, I want you to know, I love you, okay?" Kel nodded. She felt like she was going to cry again.

"I love you too."

He smiled. "That's my girl." Dom looked into her eyes, and she felt warmth run over her as she looked into his blue eyes. He kissed her.

"I'll come back. Just tell me you'll still want me." He said, grinning.

Kel laughed. "Of course!" He kissed her again.

"Good bye, Kel."

She saw a tear run down his cheek too. Neither of them really understood why they were so upset, but they were. They just felt that it was a big deal.

~~Dom's point of view~~

Dom sat on his horse in silence. He could still feel a dull ache in his right shoulder. No matter how long he left it, he knew he would always feel it. It was like having a great scar across his face, but he didn't have people oohing and aahing over it. It depressed him slightly, but he knew he would be able to fight soon.

Besides, he had a goal. A mission, almost.

Neal punched him. He woke up from his silence.

"Ouch, Meathead, what was that for?" He asked.

Neal gave him a look. "You still haven't told us why you're coming with us."

"Can't I spend time with my cousin and his beautiful fiancée?" He asked defensively, grinning at Yuki, who just laughed.

Neal turned red. "I'm serious!"

Dom shook his head. "I'm on a mission, is all."

And he rode further ahead, so Neal couldn't see his nervousness.

Finally, after four days of travel, they arrived at Corus. Dom sighed with relief when he saw it. "Finally." He thought, "A real bed again!"

He rode quickly in; he had to talk to the court. He was nervous about their answer. He was nervous about Kel's answer. But mostly, he was nervous about telling people he wanted to marry the Lady Knight.

He walked through the palace towards the court. When he reached it, he took a deep breath. "Good afternoon. Could you please tell me when the next time I can get court time is?" He asked the clerk.

The man looked up. "Your rank and reason?"

"Sergeant of the King's Own, to dispute a rule of the King's Own."

"The rules of the King's Own are to be taken up with the king. That is above the court."

Dom nodded. "Thank you." He turned and walked away. "Great." He muttered as he walked away. "The King. I have to take it up with the king. Just wonderful."

He had to do it. He wasn't going to back out.

* * * * *

Dom walked into the small room and took a seat. King Jon was on the other side of the desk.

"How can I help you, Sergeant?" He asked.

"Well, your majesty, I have some questions about the marriage rules of the Own."

Jon smiled.

"Why are they there?"

Jon kept smiling. "So that men will not be distracted by familial duties. And because many of them would quit because of their families, and I don't have enough good men to keep the Own running if they all leave."

Dom nodded. "But what if the woman one wanted to marry was also a fighter, and she would not be sitting at home herself with children, but out there fighting as well?"

Jon laughed. "I wasn't aware you were seeing Kel, Domitan."

Dom blushed. "Pardon me?"

Jon smiled again. "I do know what goes on with my knights. For example, Keladry is at home right now with a baby. Six months leave left, I believe. And Sir Nealan is on leave. I'm assuming you came to Corus with him?"

Dom grinned. "All right, your majesty."

The king stood up. "I think I'll allow it, Domitan. Let me sign now, while I'm still in a good mood."

Dom nodded, and they both signed the paper.

"Now, if people ask, please take the liberty to explain the situation, if you will. I don't want them complaining to me."

Dom grinned. "Yes, sir."

He walked out, grinning.

Now, the hard part. Getting Kel to agree to marry him. He looked out the window, and realized that he'd told Kel he'd be at least a month. But if he managed to find a ring and get out the next morning, he would be gone for a grand total of three weeks.

He did.

* * * * *

Four days later, Dom rode up to the gates of the Mindelan house. He glanced up to Kel's window; he couldn't see her. "She must be practicing." He thought.

He got off his horse and walked down to the courts, where he could see Kel. She galloped towards the target. She hit it.

"Damn, she's good." Dom muttered.

~~Kel's point of view~~

Kel pushed Peachblossom forward. "Come on," She muttered, "one more."

Peachblossom snorted, but complied. Kel galloped forward, holding her lance up, ready to hit the target. She hit it, and turned towards the stables.

Just as she took her practice armour off, she felt hands go around her waist.

"Ahh!" She jumped and turned around. It was Dom.

She put her hands to his face. "Mithros, what are you doing back? You said you'd be a month!"

Dom shrugged. "It was quicker than I expected."

Kel grinned, and they kissed. "I missed you."

Dom smiled. "I went to the palace healers, and they said that I can go back to work in six months, if I don't exert my shoulder too much."

Kel kissed him again. "Wonderful. You will be here for the rest of my leave."

"My Lady, I think you are hoping I am quite injured!"

Kel grinned. "Of course." She kissed him again.

Dom smiled, and reached into his pocket.

"Kel, I don't want to be with you for six months." She stared at him. He didn't want to be with her? She was just opening her mouth, when he put a finger to her lips. "I want to be with you forever."

He got down on one knee. Kel's mouth fell open. "Keladry, Lady Knight, Protector of the Small, Kel. Will you marry me?"

Kel felt tears well up in her eyes. "Dom, we can't. you know. . ."

He shook his head. "That's why I went to the king. He gave me permission to marry you, if you say yes."

Kel started to cry. Dom stood up, and led her to a hay bale, where they both sat.

"I can't." She cried, "If something happened to me, while I was fighting. . ." She shook her head, crying even more. Dom took her face in his hands.

"Kel, I would be no less upset if something happened to you and we weren't married. Marriage has nothing to do with that. Besides, Domia needs a father, you know that. And who better than the one man who has known her since she was born?"

He smiled, and Kel did too. She wiped her tears away from her cheek.

"You've convinced me." She whispered. "I would be glad, no, happy, no, ecstatic, to marry you."

She kissed him again, and as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, she felt more love and warmth than she ever had in her life. Reluctantly, they pulled away from each other.

"I should go and tell my parents, shouldn't I?' Kel asked. Dom nodded.

"I'll deal with Peachblossom for you, he's smart, maybe he'll start liking me." He grinned.

Kel smiled, and ran to find her mother. She walked into her rooms, and, just as she had guessed, her mother was holding Domia.

Kel took her daughter and held her.

"Mother, guess what just happened to me." She said, trying to hold back a giddy grin.

Her mother frowned. "Just tell me, Kel."

Kel smiled. That was her mother, right to the point.

"Dom asked me to marry him."

Ilane's face broke into a smile.

"Kel! That's wonderful! Your father was worried he would have to arrange a marriage, and you know how he doesn't believe in them."

Kel smiled. She was a little shocked that her parents hadn't talked to her about it, but it didn't bother her too much. It wasn't going to happen, anyway.

Her mother hugged her. "When will you wed?"

Kel shrugged. They hadn't talked about a wedding yet, and Kel wanted to tell her friends personally before they received a wedding invitation.

Ilane just hugged Kel again, and left Kel to play with Domia.

Kel put her daughter on her knee, and bounced her up and down. "You'll have a real father soon. A father who'll love you forever, and never leave you behind." She sighed. "I can't blame him, I guess. Your father doesn't even know you exist."

* * * * *

A month passed, and Kel couldn't get a hold of her friends. She wanted to tell them in person, but none of them got leave, and she tried writing letters, but there were no messengers going to Steadfast or New Hope.

She kicked her bed. "Ouch! Its useless!" She was no closer to telling her friends, and now her foot hurt.

Kel heard her mother calling from downstairs. "Kel, you have a visitor!"

Kel jumped. "Coming, Mother!"

She walked next door to Dom's room and opened the door. "Can you watch Domia for me? Thanks!"

She ran down the stairs before he could answer. When she got there, though, she was in for a surprise.

Cleon was standing at her door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am so evil, this is actually a good part that I'm coming to!

Aly the thief: well, it would be hard to put more battle scenes in yet, because the whole point is that she is at home, and cannot fight. But I think this chapter had a sufficient amount of romance!

Me: what's dumb about Mia? And why would she name her child Alanna? She barely even knew Alanna. Yes, she helped her become a knight, but there were people in her life that did more for her. I personally quite like Domia.

PoisonMoon: I'm glad you think so. I try my best.

Valese: Alanna has seven kids? How productive! I'm sorry that this chapter had a cliff hanger, though.

Fhire: glad you enjoyed it!

Lady Bee: I am very happy you like it!

Treanz-alyce: very funny, smart alec.

AJ 4EVA: glad you liked it so much!

PsycoLioness13: thank you! I am very proud to be on so many peoples author alert lists.

That's all for now!

-unolimbo