AN: Thanks for all that reviewed! I got 6 reviews in two days! That's a record for me! WOHOO!! Because all you lovely people reviewed me, I wrote another chapter really quickly.
Fireytopaz: wow...umm, thanks...I think that's possibly the nicest thing anyone has eveer said about my writing...
Tris the weatherwitch: I'm scared....I updated, so don't hurt me!
Local Tree Sprite: We'll have to see now, won't we?
Erkith: yeppers, it's def. no accident...
Queen of sapphires: I know it's not a good place to leave off, but it's so much fun to do! MUHAHAHA!
Anonymous: THANKS!
ok, now that that's done, on with the story!
"Raoul asked you to do this, didn't he?" Kel asked, her Yamani mask appearing on her face.
"No!" Dom exclaimed indignantly. Kel started at him in disbelief. "Ok, yes. But I would still like to accompany you anyways. That way I won't have to endure Neal teasing me about not being able to escort you."
"You told Neal?" Kel asked, shocked, "What possessed you to do that? You know he'll never let us hear the end of it, even if you don't accompany me."
"It was stupid, I know." Dom suddenly found his shoes very interesting. "Will you keep me company? I'm afraid it may turn out to be very tiresome." He tried his best to look pathetic. Kel laughed.
"Poor Dom, do all these parties bore you? I guess I'll have to keep you company at Raoul's wedding." She grinned mischievously.
"Thanks Kel, I owe you."
"I won't forget."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Dom chuckled and walked back to his own rooms.
Before Raoul's wedding, Dom stood in front of his mirror, trying to decide which tunic to wear. Gods, why am I worrying at all about this? I've never cared before. Running a hand through his hair for what seemed like the fiftieth time that day, he sighed and gave up. I'll just wear the blue one, he thought as he slid out of the brown tunic was currently wearing. Dom jumped at the bell above him rang, informing him that he needed to leave now. Forgetting about his messed hair, Dom quickly put on his blue tunic and hurried to Kel's room. Realizing how silly he would have looked running, he settled for a brisk walk.
"Kel?" He called, knocking on Kel's door.
"Come on in, it's open," She called back. Dom walked in on Kel sliding ear bobs into her newly pierced ears. "Ouch!" She exclaimed, "I haven't gotten quite used to putting these dratted things in yet." She explained to Dom. Dom just blinked at her.
"Kel...wow, you look..." He trailed off.
"Hello?" Kel snapped her fingers in front of his eyes. "Drink a little too much last night?"
"Hey, that hurts me here." He pointed to his heart. Kel laughed at him. Noticing his hair, she sighed.
"Dom, what ever am I going to do with you?" Collecting her comb and a bowl of water, she commanded him to sit down.
"Yes, mother." He said, eyes flashing with hidden laughter.
"If you call me that one more time..." Kel left the threat unfinished as she tackled a particularly stubborn cowlick.
"You'll what?"
"You don't want to know. Come on, I've finished with your hair, and we need to leave now or we'll be late." After locking her door, Kel turned to find Dom holding his arm out for her.
"Milady?"
"Someday, I will hurt you very badly." Dom laughed.
"Just not today, Raoul would be very upset if two of his most favorite people got into a fight on the day of his wedding."
The wedding itself was beautiful, not that Buri or Raoul noticed. They were too engrossed in each other to see anything else. The reception afterwards was also lovely, not that Kel cared. She hated these sorts of functions. Especially when she was required to wear a dress. Lalasa had come from Corus, at the request of the Queen, to make dresses for Buri and her bridesmaids. At Raoul and Buri's insistence, Lalasa had made a dress for Kel. Unfortunately, Kel did not have any say in what it looked like. Made of emerald green silk, Kel found the front suitable, it was the back she had problems with. The dress exposed Kel's back in a triangle, the point ending in the small of her back. Kel had squawked when the dress had been shown to her, but both Lalasa and Buri had agreed on it.
"It's the only part of you that is not scarred." Buri had argued. Even Queen Thayet had agreed.
"It does look good on you. Besides, don't you like the rest of it?" Thayet had asked. The dress had a modest front, with tight fitting upper sleeves that flared out into bells. The hem was decorated with beautiful embroidery. Kel did have to admit, it was a fine dress, but it just showed so much of her back. Kel had lost the argument about the dress, so she stayed by the wall at the reception, not wanting anyone to see her back.
"Kel, will you dance with me?" Dom asked, his eyes dancing mischievously.
"Dom." She hissed, "You've seen the back of this—this thing." She gestured at her dress. "I don't want anyone to see that."
"Too bad," Dom laughed and dragged her out on the to dance floor. Suddenly conscious of everyone watching her, she tried in vain to remember the steps taught to her as a page.
"I'm so bad at this." She whispered to Dom.
"No you're not, just listen to the music." Soon, Kel gave up on trying to remember the steps and followed Dom's advice. "See you are good at this." Dom murmured into her ear. Kel suddenly became very aware of the places they were touching, from Dom's hand resting lightly on her exposed back to their hands clasped at the side. Snap out of it, she mentally yelled at herself, It's not like he wanted to take you, he's only doing it because Raoul asked him. But a voice in the back of her head reminded her that Dom had said he had wanted the company. The song ended and they slipped off the dance floor.
"Are you ready to sneak out of here?" Dom asked, "Your company has been lovely, but I am getting very tired." As if to emphasize his point, he yawned widely.
"I'm sure we've been here long enough." Kel scanned the room to see where Raoul. "Though we should say goodbye to Raoul or he'll think we didn't come."
"Oh, he'll know we came. I saw him staring at us while dancing."
Kel blushed. "Well, maybe we should avoid him—"
"Not a chance. " Dom said, dragging Kel by her hand toward her former knight master.
"Why Kel, I take it Buri and company forced you?" He asked, pointing vaguely in the direction of her dress.
"Yes, sir." Kel face turned beet red.
"Actually, we came over here for a reason." Dom changed the subject. Kel looked at him gratefully.
"Yes?" Raoul prompted
"Kel is tired, and I am going to escort her back to her rooms. Just so she arrives in one piece."
"I can take care of myself!" Kel said indignantly.
"I've no doubt of that, but I must also watch out for the people you are fighting." Kel responded by sticking her tongue out at him.
"Children." Raoul laughed, "I think it's a good idea for Dom to take you back to your rooms, Kel. No don't argue," he said as Kel opened her mouth to respond. "I can make that an order if needed." Kel just sighed.
"Forgive me for saying so, milord, but you are a bad man." Raoul laughed at the familiar phrase.
"Now off with you two. I'll see you later." He shooed them off and walked over to Buri.
"I'm glad that's over with." Kel said to Dom as they walked back to her room, "I hate parties."
"Really? I don't mind them as long as someone interesting is there to talk to. Usually I'm stuck flirting with boring courtiers." Dom sighed, "Tonight wasn't bad at all. You were there to talk to." Kel was grateful for the dark corridors so Dom couldn't see her blush. They walked in silence until they reached Kel's door.
"Thanks for keeping me company tonight. It wasn't as bad as the usual parties." Kel said, standing in her doorway.
"No, Kel. Thank you for putting up with me all night." They stood in awkward silence for a few moments. Suddenly Dom leaned in toward Kel and pressed his lips to hers. Leaving Kel standing in her doorway shocked, he walked away whistling.
AN: MUHAHAHA! You'll just have to review and then I'll post more! And there WILL be more....and it WILL get more interesting....MUHAHAHAHA!!!
PS: Aren't you proud of me? That was a long one....don't go expecting it to be that long every time....