Kel crawled out of bed slowly. The last thing she could remember was sipping tea at the luncheon. Walking over to the window she saw that it was growing dark outside. Silently she cursed herself for falling asleep. Her fingers itched to pick up the glaive that hung on her wall. Kel lit a lamp and closed the bottom shutters to her window. It wouldn't do for someone to see what she was about to do and come stop her. She slipped into clothes that would be loose around her bandages. An oversized shirt and a pair of loose breeches did the trick. She found her boots leaning against her closet door and slipped them on. Standing by the end of her bed she took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. Exhaling slowly she began to move her feet in the pattern of the simplest pattern dance she knew. Slowly and carefully she raised her arms and moved them as if she was holding her glaive. She didn't dare to move fast let alone actually pick up the heavy weapon. But moving her arms and legs in simple patterns was not something she could get yelled at for. At least she didn't think it was.

Kel dipped and stepped back with her left foot. Rotating on her right foot she spun and raised her arms towards the door. She exhaled as she brought the glaive down and to the left –a move that was used to gut a person if she had been holding the weapon. Carefully she began the sweep that followed.

While this exercise did nothing for strength it was excellent for training your muscles to move precisely in a controlled pattern every time. Little kids and beginners in the Yamani Islands learned pattern dances this way before they were ever aloud to touch a live weapon.

The nap (and Neal's hidden dose of medicine) had done a great deal to heal Kel. She was able to complete the entire pattern dance before she had to sit down. Neal was an excellent healer. Kel knew that no matter how strong a healer was, they always had to rely on the body's natural healing process at some point. This was what had left her bedridden for the last few days. Healers could, however speed up the healing process. What would have taken a month or more to heal naturally would be healed completely within two weeks.

Kel decided to do one last pattern dance before she stopped for the night. The last had helped to stretch her sore muscles, and it hadn't even pulled on her stitches. If she was careful one more wouldn't hurt. Besides she had slept the afternoon away, making it unlikely that she would want to go to bed anytime soon.

Slowly and gently Kel began to dip and turn, inhaling and exhaling deeply as the exercise called for.

She had her back to the door when Dom entered the room. He had done so quietly in case she was still asleep. Instead of finding the sleepy head he was expecting, he was surprised by the sight of her graceful figure moving slowly and gently. She was facing the fall away from him and beginning a dip from the waist. She swung her arms down and up again as she took tiny steps that reminded Dom of the Yamani ladies. Despite the baggy shirt he could see the arch of her neck and the tops of her well-muscled shoulders peaking through the collar. Dom wanted nothing more than to walk over and hold her but the moment held him captive. She exhaled slowly, adding to his urges. As she moved her left foot back she lowered her arms and stepped around on her right foot. The deep breath she had just taken came out in a squeak as she realized that Dom was behind her.

"You scared me!" she snapped.

"You were doing exercises!" he replied, snapped out of his trance.

Kel's expression was of a little kid who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Dom couldn't help it, he started laughing.

"What?" asked Kel as she arched one of her eyebrows. This made Dom laugh even harder.

Walking over to her he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the forehead.

"Don't ever change Kel."

After explaining what she was doing the two of them decided to have dinner brought to them in the nearby gardens. The palace gardens were just across the courtyard from the Own's quarters making them safer for the monarchs who chose to use them. It was much closer than the luncheon had been and with all of Neal' care, Kel was strong enough to walk the short distance.

The couple set under an arbor as a palace servant brought out their dinner plates. Kel was starving after the days events. Once they were done with their meals Kel leaned her back against Dom's chest. Dom wrapped his arms gently around her waist and kissed her cheek gently.

"Kel you know when 3rd goes on duty next week I go with them?" he said.

"Yes," was all she replied.

"You know I have to go Kel."

"I know," she said. "I don't expect you to stay Dom. We both have jobs to do. I wouldn't hold you back from the Own. I know you wouldn't try to hold me back from being a knight. It's our job."

Silently Dom sent a thank-you to the Goddess. Lover or no, Kel was his comrade. She understood him, and she understood his commitments to the crown. This was what made her so attractive to him. She wasn't some palace girl who would break if he tried to wrestle or joke around with her. And she wouldn't ask him to do something he couldn't do. Like leave the Own.

Later that night they held each other in Kel's bed. They had almost given into their temptations when Kel reminded Dom that she did not have a charm against pregnancy. Neither one was willing to chance such a thing so they had settled for soft kisses and gentle caresses. They fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning Kel woke up to find a note on her pillow. Dom had gone to finish the last of his paper work and would be back with lunch around noon. Kel was a little stiff from the night before but her side did not hurt at all, which made her feel good. She walked over to the window to open up the shutters. 12 sparrows were waiting on the window sill for their breakfast. Kel was refilling their dishes when Jump came bounding through the window. One of the sparrows flew over to Kel's shoulder and picked at her collar.

"Stop that," said Kel. "I'm fine." The sparrow peeped her reply flew over to Kel's bed. Jump curled up on the bed and lay down. It was good to have the animals around.

That morning she was paid a visit by her mother. While they sat and drank tea Kel told her mother some of the previous night's events.

"He understands my responsibility to the crown," she said. "And I do so much work with the Own, I'd probably get to see him more than I would anyone here."

"That's good," Ilane said. She approved of Dom. While she didn't know him well herself, the fact that Lord Raoul spoke well of him was a huge compliment. The look in his eyes when he looked at her daughter helped as well. It was the same look Kel's father gave Ilane.

"Mom?" said Kel. "I need to ask you a question."

"What question has you blushing like a school girl?" asked Ilane. "The look you have on your face is the same look your sister's get when they want to "talk" about their suitors."

"Do you remember when we talked about charms?" said Kel. "To prevent pregnancy."

"Yes..." said her mother.

"I think I need to get one." Kel turned beet red as soon as the words were out. "I can move around and all, but I don't think I can maneuver about Corus by myself just yet. I was wondering if you could maybe, help me out here?"

"Of course I can," said Ilane. "Should I get it today or is tomorrow too late?"

Kel blushed even deeper.

"I'll bring it by this afternoon," she said.

Kel let out a sigh of relief. Her mother was easy going but asking your mother to pick up your "birth control" was a stretch for anyone.

True to her word, her mother brought an envelope to Kel as she and Dom were finishing up their lunch.

They invited her to stay for lunch but Ilane just winked at Kel and made excuses to leave. She wanted to get to know Dom better, but she thought that she might want to wait until the two had had more time together first.

Kel slipped the little gold charm, which hung on a delicate looking chain out of the envelope. Dom eyed the charm and then eyed her. Instead of saying anything he just raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"It's the charm," said Kel.

Dom smiled. She melted when he smiled.

"Not many women have their mothers pick up these kinds of charms for them."

"It's different with my mom," said Kel.

Dom reached out for the necklace. The charm hung from it's center. Leaning towards Kel he fastened it around her neck. It was barely visible under her shirt. With a tunic on, no one would be able to notice it.

"Are you sure about this Kel?" asked Dom. "We don't have to do this yet if you don't want to. I know you haven't ever..."

Kel put her finger against his lips, stopping him mid sentence.

"I'm sure."

Alright, one more chapter completed in the midst of finals and work! I've only proofed this once so email me if I made any blunders. Sorry it took so long to update! -Laura