Sorry guys, I don't have too much time on my hands!!! I do try, really!!!! First of all, thank you to all my dear reviewers. Also, don't worry anybody, Melly won't steal anyone from anyone. And Cleon is married whoever asked that. He got married in the beginning of Lady Knight.

Disclaimer: Do I really need this? You all should know by now that the characters that you recognize belong to the wonderful Tamora Pierce.

Chapter 3

After her talk with Kel, Melly had much to think about as she looked for Dom. She knew that she had to talk to him, but it wasn't going to be easy. On her way to the practice courts, Melly passed a group of men, both from her squad in the Riders and Dom's squad of the Own. Melly had only been commanding her group for two months now, and the men under her were always looking for some way to discredit her. The men of the Own were new and she had never really got to know them like the others in Dom's squad. As Melly passed them, she heard the men whispering. They didn't hear her approaching, so they went on talking.

"I heard that she really was a whore." This came from a man from the Own.

"I heard the other men talking about her. I only heard that she was a flirt." From another one of the men of the Own.

"She's a flirt all right. But I just can't see her in a relationship with someone she hates as much as the Sergeant. Did you see the way they looked at each other? I was pure hatred! I was scared when the lady got all quiet. She is never quiet. She must be furious. But I have to say, I think she is a whore as well as a flirt." That was one of her own men, a cocky 20-year –old that relied on archery as the only weapon he could use decently. He was simply angry with Melly because she refused him.

"I couldn't believe it, but Sergeant Domitan is an honorable man and wouldn't say things like that just to day them. I have to agree with all of you. How couldn't Commander Buri let such a little wench be in charge of us?" Melly couldn't help but stifle a gasp. That was a man that had been her right hand since she became commander. The way he talked now made her even more furious than before. She thought she had support for him. –oh, how Dom was going to pay- she thought bitterly.

"That question is easy enough. The girl is the niece of Buri's new husband, Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak." The Rider man who had spoken fist spoke again with a touch of bitterness.

Melly couldn't take it anymore. She had to get out of there and find Dom, then she could beat him thoroughly.

Melly did find Dom, on the practice courts. He was picking up a staff and about to take on one of his men. Then he looked up and saw Melly. Melly had put on a calm face to mask her fury. Dom only saw the calm and thought, relieved that she had realized that he really didn't mean what he had said, he was only angry. So, Dom motioned Melly to join him to practice, he gave a slight apology to the man he was about to fight. The two brought their weapons up and waited for the signal to begin. There is was. Melly's calm face evaporated. Now Dom could see the mistake he had made in thinking that she was calm and reasonable. Melly never had been.

Melly continued to fight harder than she ever had before. Her blows were a bit more powerful than they should have been, with the match being "friendly" and all.

"Dom I forgot to thank you." Melly abruptly broke the concentrated silence as the fight kept going on.

"For what?" Dom was confused.

"For making a complete fool out of me, of course. Now the men of my group will never listen to a command ever again. Thank you for ruining my career. I might as well give Evin my resignation right when we get to Corus."

"Oh, Melly! I am so sorry. I have regretted what I said from the moment it left my mouth. I was just… so…angry. You always make me that way. My emotions start to control and my brain just doesn't work!"

Dom was sincere, and if Melly wasn't so upset, she would have forgiven him. As it was, Melly was blind with hatred of this man who just ruined her career of commanding. "Well, blame everything on me Dom. Might as well blame me for you sorry life. IT seems you like blaming everything on me. What is one more?" With that, Melly started hitting harder and harder. The men whom Melly had heard talking earlier winced at every blow that Dom received. The Rider men knew just how painful blows were. They remembered them well from training. Even if they didn't like being under the command of a young woman, they had to admit that she was a skilled warrior.

"I don't understand what you want me to do Melly." Dom was getting angry again. A combination of the hard blows and harsh words had gotten to him. He clenched his teeth as he spoke. "Do you want me to proclaim to the whole camp that you are a perfect angel? That ought to get a few laughs. What about if I tell them you are a virgin or that you aren't a whore? Would that make you feel better?"

In response, Melly whipped Dom's staff out of his hands. Dom tried to grab her staff from her, but as soon as he had a firm hold, Melly flipped him over on his back and held the staff tightly against his throat, restraining him from speaking and almost breathing. Dom's hands were up in defeat, but Melly didn't pull away. She just stayed there, kneeling beside him, with her staff tight against his windpipe, swearing at him in every language she knew.

Dom started turning blue, then Neal appeared and immediately picked up Melly and dragged her away from Dom. Dom just sat up trying to breathe.

"Melly you nearly killed him!" Neal was checking her for any broken bones or bruised muscles. He had heard how bad the fight was.

"It wouldn't be too much of a loss to the world if I did." Melly grumbled.

"Look I don't know what happed between you two, but you need to solve it before you end up killing each other. Melly, you are one of my closest friends and Dom is my cousin. I care deeply for both of you and I cannot stand to see you like this. Talk to him, please? Do it for me if not for Dom and yourself."

Melly opened her mouth about to refuse, when they heard the door open and shut.

"Hey Meathead, Kel made me come down to let you check me…" It was Dom. He stopped talking when he rounded the corner and saw Melly. He actually looked frightened. Well, of course she did just almost kill him.

"It is all right Dom, I am not going to try to kill you again. I was angry. I still am, but the shock has worn off and I am completely lucid." Melly's voice certainly sounded calm. Dom just nodded wordlessly and sat down on a bed.

"OK, now that I have you two together, let's get to the heart of the problem." Neal sounded eager at the opportunity to help someone solve a problem and it isn't the other way around.

"There is no problem that you can solve, Neal, not unless you can travel back in time." Dom looked over at Melly as he spoke.

"No Neal, I agree with Dom, this isn't something that can be solved. We can just stay away from each other, just like we have been doing for the last 3 years." Melly stood up and tried to walk out, but Neal caught her around the waist and forced her to sit. This time, beside Dom.

"Just tell me what happened or I will not let you leave." He saw the looks on their faces and quickly added, before they could speak, "And don't even ask how, I am a mage, not just a healer."

"Well, Meathead, I would tell you the curiosity killed the cat, but I will just answer you question now. Melly and I slept together 3 years ago. Now you see Neal, you cannot change it and you cannot tell anyone, especially not Lord Raoul." Dom then hung his head in shame.

Neal just stood there in shock.

"well, I don't think it really matters if he tells anyone Dom. You have already told your entire squad." Melly's icy words made Dom look up quickly.

"I never told anyone!" He almost shouted defensively.

"What? But I heard some of your men talking. They were telling my men how much of a whore I am. I figured you had told them." Melly sounded a little bitter and a little shocked.

Dom chuckled, " They only say that because you are such a flirt."

Neal joined Dom in laughing, while Melly let a smile slip. The tension that filled the air before was gone. Somehow, it was in that moment that Dom and Melly forgave each other and forgot about what happened that fateful day 3 years ago. They became friends again in that moment, but still not good friends. The trio talked for a few minutes before going on with their day. Neal went to Yuki, Dom to Kel, and Melly, the archery targets.

Yay!!!!! All Done!!!!!! If you review good (hint hint) I might just put up a sequel. Melly's story just doesn't seem like it is done, does it?

Anyway, thank you again reviewers. See, I told you that Melly wouldn't steal Dom!! No worries!!!!