A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I love you guy's. Seriously I don't know what I'd do if no one reviewed. Since you all expressed your wishes for me to update really soon I thought I'd better, so here's the next chapter. Read and review.

Chapter 7- Confessions Midwinter 461HE

Earlier that evening

"Raoul, I'm glad to see that you and your men made it here on time" said Jon wirily

"Of course your Majesty. My men and I wouldn't miss one of your balls for anything" Raoul tried not to smile

Jon gave him a suspicious look and continued "What did you want to talk to me about Raoul?"

"Well Jon, since my marriage my men have been slightly.....unhappy. You see, they think it is unfair that they cannot marry when I am allowed to, as well as knights and Jon, I'm sorry, but I have to agree with them" Raoul looked the king in the eye

"What do you want me to do about it Raoul?" questioned Jon

"I would have thought it would have been obvious. Change the rule" Raoul suggested

"Why should I do that when it's worked so well this way for years? The conservatives will not be happy either" Jon told him

"Well Jon, if you won't change it, I may have to rethink my position in the Own" Raoul warned

"And why would you want to do that when we all know how much you love the position?" asked Jon

"Because I may wish to spend more time with Buri now that she's pregnant" Raoul announced

Jon stood there with his mouth open in shock, looking not very much like a king as he did so.

"We were going to announce it tonight" Raoul informed him "And you see why I wouldn't want to spend time with grumpy men when I could be at home with my wife and soon to be child"

"Ok then. You win" said Jon looking defeated "I will change the rule. Do you wish to inform them or should I?"

"I would like to Jon, if that's alright with you?"

Jon nodded

Back to the Ball

"Excuse me my lady, but may I ask for this dance?" Dom bowed

"I should hope so. I didn't get all dressed up for nothing" she replied

Dom looked up in surprise only to meet twinkling eyes, each a slightly different colour blue.

"Ash? What are you doing here? I thought you were off fighting centaurs?" Dom could not hide his surprise

"We were fighting centaurs but we finished and decided to drop onto the ball and check it out. We only arrived back this afternoon" she laughed at the look on his face "What? You didn't recognise me without the mud?"

"Well," said Dom mischievously "it does make an interesting change"

"Interesting huh? Well I'll take it as a compliment" she smiled. "Do I still get that dance?"

"Of course my lady" he grinned

After five dances and a lot of laughing, they returned to the table where a grinning Raoul and a glowing Buri sat, having just announced their news.

"You sly old dog you" teased Dom with a wink

Ash had just finished congratulating Buri when she caught sight of a dark haired figure in a squire uniform walking a cross the room towards them

"Scot" she squealed running towards him with some difficulty in her ball shoes

The young squire only just had time to place the tray he was carrying on the nearest table before he was enfolded into a hug by his sister. Despite the fact that Ash was relatively tall at 5"10, she and her brother were almost of equal height even with her ball shoes on. They had the same shaped eyes and long thin nose, but that's where the similarities between them ended. They were in complete contrast to each other, the dark and the fair.

Neal gave his squire the rest of the evening off and Dom didn't see Ash for the remainder of the party which was slowly dwindling down to the last few stragglers including Dom who had been talking, or rather arguing good naturedly with Neal and Yuki.

Deciding to go for a walk through the gardens before going to bed, Dom walked out onto the balcony only to find he was not the only one out there.

Ash leant against the railing apparently oblivious to all that was around her. Her breath came out as a fine mist in the cold night air, yet even in her thin dress she seemed resistant to the cold. She stood out against a background of leaves and flowers just touched with silver under the waning moon. Ash turned at the crunching of his shoes on the ground and smiled.

Dom leant on the railing next to her and the two stood in silence for what seemed like hours. Finally Ash spoke

"You don't have to keep me company if you don't want to. I'll be fine out her by my self for a while."

"It's alright. I want to" Dom said then he turned his head and pressed his lips to hers. Her mouth was soft and warm and she smelled faintly of perfume. Dom focused completely on the feeling of her mouth against his. He dimly felt her hesitation as they touched but he brushed his hand against the side of her neck and cradled the back of her head as he deepened the kiss. All of a sudden Ash pulled back stumbling.

"I'm sorry Dom. I've got to go" she said breathlessly before running off.

"Damn" cried Dom punching the rail

I shouldn't have done that he thought running his hand through his hair and pacing. I'll have to go and explain to her.

Ash wasn't hard to find. Dom just went to her room and knocked on the door, though it took a number of knocks and him threatening to say what he had to outside before she finally opened the door. She stood in the doorway with her hair falling loosely around her and her dress whispering as she fidgeted.

"Please just let me in and hear what I have to say?" he asked

Ash nodded and stepped aside allowing him to pass. Despite how she looked at the ball her room was definitely not one of a court lady. It was filled with weapons, all hung neatly on the wall or placed on the floor below. That day's breaches and shirt lay across a chair and her riding boots lay where she had kicked them off by the door.

"Can you just wait here a minute while I get out of this uncomfortable dress?" she asked before ducking into her small bathroom without waiting for an answer.

Dom sat down on the desk chair and looked around for something to interest him. He flicked lazily through a weapons book that lay on the desk before spotting a piece of paper half hidden under more books. He carefully removed it and looked at it. It was written in Ash's handwriting with many crossed through it but the end result read:

You struck at match inside

This frozen heart of mine

And set my soul on fire

Stranded, dazed and confused

Stumbling drunk on you

Consumed by my own desire

Tell me how you burn

Right through me

You undo me

But what a way to go

You twist and turn me

Ignite and stir me

I know I've got to learn

How you burn

Lost in a stadium full of frowns

Till your smile turned it all around

Now the mention of your name

Fans the flame

The flame that burns

The bathroom door opened and Dom quickly stuffed the poem back under the books and stood up. Despite the fact that it was almost 2 o'clock on the morning Ash had changed into her breeches and a loose shirt. Her eardrops and face paint were gone but she still had something of a natural beauty to her. Before he could chicken out Dom jumped straight into what he wanted to say.

"Something happened tonight. I want to know what's going on. Don't tell me I'm the only one that's keeping it all inside. Just say the word, please talk to me. If it's hopeless then make me see, because what am I supposed to do, when all I want is you?"

"Dom, I don't know, I....." Ash said before Dom cut her off

"Ash, when Kel was taken I was alone grasping for my sanity. Your beauty came free of vanity, but to make your heart so hard to get to you put it on the highest shelf. I've been hoping since the day I met you that you'd just learn to love yourself."

"Can I just have a while to think about this, please?" Ash pleaded

"If that's what you want" said Dom dejectedly

"It is" she replied without meeting his eyes

Dom turned and walked out, clicking the door shut slowly behind him, and then trudged back to his room where he flopped onto his bed and fell into a restless sleep without even taking his ball clothes off.

It was the chirping of birds which finally woke Dom up. Sunlight was just beginning to creep in through the window lighting the room just enough for him to find his way to some water to splash his face. Dom quickly changed into a loose blue tunic and breeches before heading outside. Knowing Ash would avoid being seen by not going to breakfast he headed past the training yards towards the stables. Leaning against the half stable door he watched silently as Ash brushed Toy in long soothing strokes. After a while Dom finally spoke.

"So, have you made a decision yet?"

Ash spun around startled "Don't do that" she cried

"Do what?" asked Dom

"Sneak up on people like that" Ash scolded

"I'm sorry. So have you?" he asked almost desperately

"Have I what?" she snapped

"Made a decision yet?" Dom sounded slightly exasperated

"Oh Dom, you ask too much of me!" Ash cried

"Maybe so, but you have to ask yourself this. Is your pain when you smile cos you've built a wall around your heart? Do the thoughts in your head keep you up cos you feel alone? Are you strong enough to be your self? If you cried would you hide? Would you want all the world to know? And if you believe in love would you let it show?" Dom placed one hand on her arm and the other around her waist and slowly drew her towards him.

"But what if something goes wrong?" she argued "What if we..."

"Shhh. That's too many 'what if's'. Don't be afraid to give it a try" Dom interrupted

Ash rested her head on his chest "If I close my eyes forever would it ease the pain? Could I breathe again? I'm not afraid of dying, but I am afraid of losing you"

Dom lifted her chin with his finger and made her look at him "I promise you're not going to lose me" he searched her eyes then bent down and kissed her slowly and sweetly. Ash clung to him because she was afraid to try and stand on knees gone to jelly. At last he released her "So, should we go and get some breakfast then?"

A/N: Ohhh so cute. As you might have noticed I used a lot of Enrique lyrics in this chapter and some Shannon Noll ones too. Mmmm Enrique! lol. Te quiero Enrique! Well I hope you liked it. I may not get the next chapter up for a while though so please bear with me. I will try my hardest though!!! Keep up the great reviews!!!