I'm finally updating! Wohoo! Sorry this took so long...school has been really hectic lately. I just found out I'm teaching a class next semester (yes, I am a student and still teaching a class...) called...(drumroll) Tamora Pierce Lit! Isn't that awesome?! I'm really excited! Anyway, here's the story:

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Dom sat in one of Kel's chairs, staring at the floor. "Kel–I don't know where to begin," he ran and hand through his hair. "The day after we had dinner together, I was approached by Ann of Malven. She and Lerant are cousins. She knew me to be in the Own, and asked how Lerant was doing, as he's in the field. We went for a walk and she–well you know the rest. I swear she was completely unprovoked." Kel nodded slowly. Dom stood, "thank you for letting me tell you the truth." He left Kel wondering what her next step would be. She wasn't even sure how she felt about Dom anymore. She still felt her heart leap every time she was him, but it was quelled by her cool thoughts. Kel was startled by a knock on her door. Opening it, she found Yuki.

"Hello, I just wanted to talk," the Yamani said. Kel stared at her, thoughts racing through her head.

"Oh, come in," she said after a few moments. Yuki sat in the chair Dom had vacated, watching Kel closely.

"Dom talked to me earlier today," Yuki began, "he seemed worried about you. I'm worried about you. Are you doing alright?"

"As well as can be expected," Kel answered. It was the most diplomatic way she could avoid the question. Yuki noticed this and demanded the truth. "I don't really know right now," Kel conceded, her tone making Yuki back off.

"The actual reason I stopped by was to ask if you were going to the ball next week."

"What ball?"

"Next week is midsummer. The king is holding a ball to celebrate."

"I don't think I'm going," Kel trailed off," I don't have anything to wear, and I don't really enjoy official functions all that much," Kel babbled, trying to conceal the real reason she didn't want to go. Yuki say right through her verbal dance.

"Dom," she said flatly," You don't want to go because Don will be there." Yuki shook her head in exasperation, "Kel, you have to talk to him someday."

"It's not that, I talked to him earlier today. It's just–"

"You don't want to make a decision about your relationship." Kel was slightly annoyed that Yuki read her so well. "I think it would be very good for you to go. After lunch we'll go down to the city and visit Lalasa." Kel opened her mouth in protest, but Yuki kept talking, "I need a dress myself." The Yamani stood to take her leave, "I'll come back after lunch," she said, walking out Kel's door. Left alone the Lady Knight lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling.

"Oof!" Kel grunted as Jump landed on her stomach. "Hey, boy. How'd you get in here?" She wondered out loud. Kel scratched the dogs ears as her mind turned to other problems. Dom. Kel felt a strange mixture of emotions when she thought of him. She thought she still had feelings for him, but now she wasn't so sure. Kel hadn't realized ir before, but even if they did start courting, there would always be women hovering around Dom. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. Kel was startled out of her thoughts by the lunch bell. Moving Jump off her stomach, she left for the mess.

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The two women that walked into Lalasa's dress shop alarmed the poor girl at the desk.

"I'm sorry, miladies, but Lalasa is busy right now. Perhaps you could come back next week?"

"May I just speak with her?" Kel asked, she had wanted to just say 'hello.'

"Adrianne, who is it?" They head a voice shout from a backroom, "Never mind, I'll be right out." A thin woman appeared, exclaiming as she saw who her customers were. "Lady Kel! I'm so glad to see you! Do you need a dress for next week?"

"No," Kel said the same time Yuki replied, "Yes!" Lalasa smiled at Kel.

"Well, let's take you in back and get you measured. You've grown since I've last seen you." Kel patiently waited as Lalasa whipped a cord around her, writing down measurements. "Now, Kel, what would you like the dress to look like?"

"It needs to be glorious," Yuki answered for her, "Probably...green, to compliment the dark brown of her hair." She circled Kel, looking at her as if she were a prize mare to be purchased. "A full skirt, but she should show some shoulder." Yuki looked at Lalasa, "She's trying to make a man jealous."

"No, I'm not!" Kel protested, "You're doing that for me! I just don't want to deal with him." The two other women exchanged knowing glances. Kel glowered.

"I have an idea. Let me draw up a few sketches; they'll be ready later today. Would you like me to make a dress for you also, Lady Yuki?"

"No, I have one already." Kel stared at her, annoyed. Yuki would be in for it later. "Why don't we spend some time in the city and we'll come back in one candlemark?"

"Yes, I should have the drawings done by then."

Yuki and Kel left the store, Kel pouting. Yuki turned to her, "You wouldn't have come if I hadn't said that I needed a dress, now would you?" Kel shrugged her shoulders. "Kel, you are being really immature about this. Now, we're going to sit down, and you are going to tell me what you are going to do about Dom and you." She lead Kel to a bench in a public garden, waiting for her to speak.

Kel collected her thoughts and opened her mouth, "I don't know what I'm going to do about Dom."

"Do you have feelings for him?"

"Yes...no...I don't know..." Yuki looked at her from under raised eyebrows, it appeared that she had picked up habits from her husband. Kel laughed for the first time in weeks, "You look just like Neal when you do that!" Kel rested her head in her hands, and sighed. "I supposed I do have feelings for him, I just don't know if I can deal with the girls fawning over him all the time."

"Look, Kel, he loves you. I know that if you told him you wanted to try to work this out, he'd try his hardest. Talk to him, at the ball."

"I don't know if I'll be ready."

"You'll be fine. Let's go see Lalasa, she should be done by now."