Kel and Kristen's early morning practice turned into a ride with Peachblossom and Kristen's horse Starlight, archery practice with Yamini bows, and lunch with Kristen's Rider group. Even though Kel kept telling herself that this was a sacrifice she was making for her friend, she had to admit to that she was having a good time. Kristen was very talkative, but interesting and direct in a womanly sort of way. Kel was not accustomed to female companionship, be she found herself able to talk to Kristen more freely than she had even talked with Cleon.

Perhaps no matter how often I tell myself that I get along better with the men, she thought as she bathed and dressed for Raoul and Buri's rehearsal dinner, deep down I do wish for friendship with women.

Kel glanced in the mirror quickly before she went downstairs. She had on her only truly nice gown that Daine had given her for her nineteenth birthday. It was made of very fine white cotton with blue silk draped gently over it. It was a little low cut for her, but she wasn't about to go down in her dress tunic. She was also wearing the silver chain necklace that Dom had given her that Christmas. She had only worn it once before, and the delicate chain felt odd around her neck.

At the bottom of the stairs waiting for her was Kristen and Neal. They seemed to be in deep conversation with each other, and Neal couldn't stop grinning and shaking his head. Kel heard him start to say "I always knew that he was crazy about her," when Kristen saw her and gave her a big hello.

Neal turned around and looked taken aback. "Why Kel, is that a dress? I didn't even know you owned one! I expected you to come down in full armor with Griffin at your side."

Kel smiled, "Well, I did have it on, but I thought that I might accidentally whack someone with it while dancing. I don't know how I could stand the embarrassment."

The rehearsal dinner went off without a hitch, except for when Raoul, uncomfortable with formal parties, especailly when they were for him, tripped Buri when he tried pulling her chair out for her. Everyone laughed as she playfully swatted him over the side of the head and sighed in her toast about marrying such a klutz.

The music started up, and Raoul and Buri had their first dance. Kel sat next to Dom at the head table, both being a part of the wedding party. They talked about innocent things for quite awhile before Dom cleared his throat and turned to look at Kel.

"Ah... er... Kel... I...eh....wanted to ask you something."

Kel saw his face getting beet red with embarrassment and felt for one of the few times in her life like crying. She knew that he was going to ask her about Kristen, maybe even tell her that he was engaged to her. Dom took a breath, but Kel blurted out,

"It's ok Dom. I know what you're going to say."

Dom paused midbreath, "Pardon?"

Kel attempted a smile and failed, "Raoul told me all about it."

Dom blinked, looking like a fish groping for water, "Wha-What?"

Kel's eyes found Kristen talking with Merric and a Rider from her group. She looked very pretty tonight with her hair down in bouncy curls and a green velvet dress that made her blue eyes even bluer.

Kel forced herself to hold her emotions in, and tried to appear Yamani calm. She couldn't look at Dom, because she knew the moment she did she would lose it. Instead she stared at her plate and said, "I couldn't be happier for you really. Kristen's a wonderful person, and an excellent Rider. I wish you both the best of luck."

Dom blinked and shook his head. Kel couldn't help glancing over at his handsome, bewildered face and knew that she couldn't stand it anymore. She jumped up, and fled the room.

Dom blinked again. And again. He was pretty sure that he had just missed something crucial, when Kristen popped into Kel's empty seat.

"What happened?" she demanded "Kel nearly tackled the Lord of Tirrsmont running out of here! Please tell me you didn't screw it up?"

Dom looked up at Kristen's flustered, concerned face. He shook his head and spoke very slowly, as if quite sure that what had just happened was an odd dream that he was trying to remember.

"I didn't even get the chance to tell her. She just blurted out- which is strange enough because Kel never blurts- that she thought you were a wonderful person and knew that I would be very happy, and ran out of here."

Kirsten smacked her forehead and groaned, "Damn it! I was afraid this would happen. You nitwit she thinks that you like me!"

Dom gave her a baffled look, "But doesn't she know that you and Merric-"

"No I never mentioned it. I kept trying to talk about you! I should have realized when I saw her look so sad tonight that she might have gotten it all wrong. Look, she's just come back in, get your stupid ass over there and straighten it all up."

Kel knew it was a mistake coming back in as soon as she saw Dom get up and come towards her. She willed herself to move her legs and walk back outside, but she found that her oh so strong legs felt as weak as a newborns. She gave a half smile as Dom approached and thought up some excuse for her sudden exit.

"Kel?" said Dom "Want to dance?"

Stunned, Kel nodded her head, having just lost the use of her voice. While she had never particularly enjoyed dancing, she knew how as her year-mates made her dance with them on formal occasions. They were always desperate to get away from the matchmaking mothers and their ditsy daughters.

Dom took Kel's hand and put his arm around her waist. She concentrated very hard on remembering how to breathe and looking everywhere but at his eyes. She focused on his chin and found that she could think a little clearer.

Dom took her around for one dance in silence, but when the next dance started up he kept her in it. The danced in silence for nearly four dances when suddenly, Dom stopped in the middle of the dance floor and took the still speechless Kel out into the chilly spring night. He walked her over to the deserted practice grounds and only when they arrived did he realize that they were still holding hands. He dropped her hand quickly and began pacing.

Kel watched in an amazed stupor. He has finally gone mad, she thought

Dom turned to face her and took a few steps closer till they were only about a foot away. Finally he spoke,

"Kel, you've got it all wrong about Kristen and me. She's just my friend. I actually met her when Merric started courting her about three months ago."

Kel mirrored Dom's fish face for a moment before she tried to speak.

"Bu-But my Lord said that you were always looking for her and checking with messengers who were coming from Tirsmont to make sure she was alright-"

Dom cut her off, "No, Kel I was actually checking with the messengers to see if someone else was ok who was also with the Rider groups. She's a Knight."

Kel let out a pathetic, "Oh."

Dom hesitated, then took Kel's hand and started down at her fingers as he started speaking slowly and quietly. "I know that I'm crazy for thinking that you might feel the same, but Kel I've got to tell you before I go mad, and I know that I'll probably ruin our friendship over this but... I think I'm in love with you and I have been for some time... That's all I wanted to say." He added lamely as he glanced up at Kel's face.

Kel couldn't even manage an, "oh" this time. She was pretty sure that this was not really happening, and that Dom would start laughing at any moment and punch her in the shoulder. But Dom didn't laugh. She looked up at Dom and did the only intelligent thing she had done over the last few days.

She leaned in and kissed him.

And... well.....

You know where the stories go from here.

They lived pretty happily ever after.