Dom walked down the hall toward Kel's rooms, thinking of the conversation he had had with Neal last night...
"Dom, Kel told me something this morning." Neal said accusingly. Dom cringed.
"Really, now, what could that be?" Dom tried to sound innocent.
"Be quiet. I'm happy for you." Dom looked at his cousin in amazement. "You just need to talk to her. She's confused."
"So am I! Does she feel the same way?" Dom thought Kel might have confided in Neal.
"I don't know, she didn't tell me. But I'm sure she'll tell you. I want you to talk to her."
"I will."
"I don't believe you. Swear it."
"I, Domitan of Masbolle, do swear on my honor, that I will talk to Kel—."
"Tomorrow." Neal supplied
"Tomorrow." Dom agreed.
Dom stood in front of Kel's door. Palms sweating in nervousness, he knocked.
"Come in." Kel shouted, "It's unlocked."
Dom entered, finding Kel standing in her practice clothes, panting heavily and leaning on her glaive.
"I seem to find you practicing a lot, don't I?"
"Well, I practice a lot." She admitted. "Would you like to sit down?" Kel gestured toward her only chair. Dom took it while Kel sat on her bed. Leaning forward, Dom set his chin in his hand.
"Kel, we need to talk."
"That's one thing we agree on." Dom looked at the floor, avoiding Kel's gaze. Kel looked at his hair, wishing she could straighten it. Not being able to think of what to say, Dom stood up and swiftly crossed the distance between them. Pulling Kel up, he kissed her deeply. Pulling back, she gasped, then entwined her fingers in his hair, pulling him back for another kiss. When they finally ended their kiss, Kel leaned her head against Dom's chest, breathing in his unique scent of soap and spices.
"Kel?" Dom whispered. She looked slightly up at him. While Kel was tall, Dom was still a few inches taller.
"Kel, I would like to court you." Instead of answering, Kel kissed him again.
"So is that a yes?" Dom asked breathlessly.
"Yes." Kel grinned.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
A few weeks later, Alanna sat in Raoul's chamber, discussing things with her friend.
"How are things going with Kel?" She asked, concerned with the well being of the other Lady Knight. Raoul chuckled knowingly.
"She's doing well." Alanna could sense there was something he wasn't telling her. She glared at him.
"What aren't you telling me?" she asked suspiciously. Raoul laughed.
"You have know me for too long, Lioness." He used her nickname, "Alright, I'll explain. You know Kel is like a daughter to me, so I tend to become involved not only in her life as a warrior but also in her personal life. Recently, I began to notice her interest in one of my men. Actually, you may know him, he's related to Neal."
"What's his name? I only met part of Neal's family."
"Domitan of Masbolle, but he goes by Dom." Alanna nodded.
"I never actually met him, but I did hear Neal speak about him. They wrote often."
"Yes, they were close. As I was saying, both Kel and Dom have been flirting for years now, and neither one has done anything about it!" Raoul slammed a fist on the table, making his and Alanna's cups rattle. Alanna gently laid a hand on Raoul's to keep him from harming the table anymore. Her eyes danced with laughter.
"Raoul, did it every occur to you that Kel might not tell you everything?" He stared at her in disbelief. Alanna continued, "I caught Kel kissing someone the other day."
"Who?" Raoul asked, his eyes filled with hurt.
"Poor Raoul, are you sad that Kel didn't tell you?"
"I'll get over it, who was Kel with?"
"Like a dog with a bone, you never let go," Alanna laughed. "I didn't recognize him. He was a few inched taller than Kel, with dark hair. Come to think of it, he did remind me of Neal." Raoul jumped up, grinning.
"It worked!" he sang, and began to dance, a strange sight in such a large man.
"Raoul, calm down and tell me what's going on." Alanna commanded. He took a deep breath and described to her the assignment he had given Dom.
"Raoul, you are a very bad man. But I'm glad you did it." Suddenly she started laughing uncontrollably
"What?"
"Don't you find it funny that Tortall's most confirmed bachelor, until recently, is now playing matchmaker?"
"Just because I'm concerned about my former squire..."
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Kel knocked on Raoul's door, wondering why he had asked her to come. He opened the door and swept Kel into a hug.
"Why didn't you tell me, Kel?"
"Tell you what, sir."
"Stop calling me that, it makes me feel old. Why didn't you tell me about you and Dom?" Kel looked at him in shock.
"If Neal told you—"She began, but her old knight master cut her off.
"No, Alanna caught you." Kel blushed. "Don't want anyone to know?" She nodded. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
"Thanks, sir."
"But only if you'll stop 'milord-ing' and 'sir-ing' me." He finished.
"Excuse me, but you are a bad man."