Kel, I know you're in there," Neal pounded on her door. Kel groaned and pulled a pillow her head, snuggling closer to Dom.

"You know, we'll have to answer the door sometime. Meathead never gives up," Dom whispered in Kel's ear. She just squeezed her eyes shut.

"Maybe he'll just go away...or disappear," she suggested.

"Come on Kel, open up!" Dom sighed and crawled out of bed, pulling his breeches from a pile of clothes on the floor. Yanking the door open, he found Neal with his hand raised, ready to rap on the door again.

"Dom?" Neal squeaked, a strange expression forming on his face. "What are—? Dom!" he exclaimed, disgusted. He did not want to think about why his cousin was in his best friends room, with no shirt on and messy hair. "Where's Kel? I need to check her shoulder."

"She's still sleeping. I'll have her stop by when she wakes up." Dom made to close the door, but Neal stuck his foot in the way.

"Yes, meathead?" Dom asked, exasperated with his cousin.

"You and I need to talk," Dom just shook his head and kicked Neal's foot out of the way. Returning to bed, he kissed Kel on the neck.

"Sweet? Neal needs to look at your shoulder."

"Now?"

"I told him you were still asleep." Kel rolled over and whispered an indecent suggestion to Dom, making him laugh and kiss her. It was a good thing Neal had left because he would have been very disgusted at the sounds emerging from Kel's bedroom.

00000

"Yuki!" Neal said, barging into the chambers of his betrothed.

"What?" Yuki asked, wondering what had brought Neal into her rooms this early in the morning. Normally, Neal was still asleep at this time.

"I went to check on Kel's shoulder," he began, "and you won't believe who answered the door."

"Who?" Yuki humored him, she already knew who would have spent the night with Kel.

"DOM! My cousin!"

"And?"

"My cousin and my best friend are SLEEPING TOGETHER!" Neal was beginning to turn purple from lack of air.

"Calm down, Neal. Can't you remember our courtship?" Yuki reminded him. That caused Neal to turn an embarrassing shade of red. "At least Kel's finally found someone. And we both know Dom won't hurt her like others might." He had to agree.

"Well, I guess it's alright," Neal admitted, "I was just shocked. I didn't think it was that serious."

"Are you blind? They have been serious for...well, forever! Even you said to me that they needed to admit their feelings, and that was months before they started courting." Neal was glad he was marrying such a sensible woman, he needed someone like Yuki to keep his feet on the ground. Neal ran a hand through his hair and returned to the infirmary.

00000

A page found Kel in the infirmary, waiting for Neal to finish checking her shoulder.

"Lady Kel?" he asked.

"Yes?"

"The King requests your presence in the Court Hall following dinner. Sir Neal, you are to come, too." The page palmed a coin produced by Kel and scampered off.

"Well, I guess I'm going to find out why we were called back," Kel commented.

"All done," Neal said, standing up, "Your shoulder seems to have healed correctly. It may pull not and then, but it's healed. Try to keep yourself in one piece next time," he ruffled Kel's hair affectionately, "Yuki would kill me if I let you get hurt again." Kel laughed and left Neal to his other patients.

00000

Dom found Kel staring at herself in the mirror, adjusting her Blue and Cream tunic.

"Kel, you look fine. Let's go, I'm hungry," Kel ran a comb through her hair one last time and headed to the mess with Dom. After eating, Kel went to the Court Hall to see what the King wanted. There would probably be people there to see what the king had to say; the Court Hall was where everyone met daily. The fact that the King had called a special audience made Kel nervous.

"Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan and Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle," the herald announced, and a hush filled the chamber. Kel strode forward to stand in front of the King, surprised by who was already there. Standing by the throne was Raoul and Buri, along with Alanna and her husband, George. Kel's friends had left dinner early to make sure they were there to support her.

"Lady Kel, you have done many things to merit the attention of the Crown," the King began, "But today, we have had sad news. Lord Raoul of Goldenlake has retired from his position of Commander of the King's Own. Your good judgment leads me to ask you this question: who do you think should fill the post?" Kel baulked, why was the king asking her? "My advisors and I have someone in mind, and were wondering if you concur."

"Who, milord?" Kel asked, puzzlement written on her face.

"You." Kel stared at him, confused.

"Me?" she squeaked, Kel had not expected something like this to happen to her.

"Yes, Keladry, you. You are a strong commander, and will continue to flourish during your service to the crown. Will you accept the post of Commander of the Kings Own?"

"Yes, milord." Kel knelt before Jonathan, his sword touching both shoulders in a silent vow of fealty.

"Lord Raoul will begin instructing you in the ways of commanding such a large group, though he tells me he has been grooming you for this position from the day he took you on as his squire." The King stood to leave, and the courtroom bowed before him. Kel turned to Raoul after Jonathan had left.

"Milord, you are a bad man," she said, but anyone could hear the delight in her voice. Dom picked her up in a hug and swung her around.

"Kel, I'm so happy for you. Commander of the Own...I cannot believe it," he whispered to her before kissing her soundly. Kel wanted to leave, but had to endure the congratulations of nearly everyone in the chamber. It was approaching midnight when she was allowed to retire. Dom practically carried her to her rooms, tucking her into bed. He snuck off to his own rooms; Dom had much to think about.

AN: HEHEHE! AHH...what is Dom thinking about? Well, I know, but you'll just have to wait for the next chappie to find out...Thanks to all my faithful reviewers! I love you all!