Disclaimer: Maybe someday it will be mine, but for now I its all Tamora
Pierce's and im jealous of her.
OK this may not make 2 much sense b/c the last part was for another story I was writing but I made it part of this one b/c I was to lazy to type a whole new chapter.
Chapter 2
Finally after a frantic chase he had caught up to Kel, she had been avoiding him and purposely making it hard for him to find her. Deciding not to waste the opportunity he restrained her, keeping her from escaping.
"What do you want?" Kel asked, trying to stay calm.
"Don't to that to me Kel. I know perfectly well that something happened with Meathead, now spit it out," Dom replied. He tried to find out what she was feeling by looking into her eyes, but like usual when she is mad she doesn't let any emotions out.
"He broke up with Yuki."
Knowing that wasn't the whole reason, he decided to continue to persuade her into giving her a complete answer. "Are you sure that's all that happened?"
With that she broke down into tears and told him the whole story, only stopping to make sure he was listening. He was in shock that defiantly didn't sound like his cousin Neal.
"Listen, tomorrow lets pack a snack and go riding. We can spend the whole day talking, and maybe we can figure out a way to deal with this. But for now I think the whole town would love for us to get on with our chores," Dom said in a very kind and comforting voice.
Feeling a lot better Kel decided that she should go and work in the stables like she had signed up for. It was a relief that she could talk to Dom about this and not have to worry about him doing something crazy.
Her heart couldn't seem to make up its mind, only the other day had she been head over heals for Dom. Now she couldn't keep herself from thinking that she would love to repeat that kiss, or even just thinking of his perfect face with its perfect eyes.
Shaking everything out of her mind she decided to skip dinner and go to sleep, hopefully that would knock some sense into her.
She woke up at dawn as usual and went through her regular morning routine. It wasn't until breakfast that she remembered all of yesterday's drama and how upset she was with Neal. Luckily she didn't run into him, she was the first person in the dining hall and was shortly joined by Merric.
"I hear your taking a day off today, to go relax with Dom? Now do I see something here," Merric joked around.
"I don't know if you see anything, but if you do I can fix that with a quick blow in the eye. I just need a day to relax, things here have been quite stressful," Kel lied, she didn't need anyone else to find out about Neal.
"Now I'm scared, I see why they say not to mess with a lady Knight and Protector of the Small," Merric replied with sarcasm.
"Merric will you make sure to send all the regular patrols out today and be extra careful about anyone. Also kindly tell Neal that he is to be in charge for the day and that if he messes up I will have his head."
"Yes mother. I think we can handle the place for a single day."
After getting everything under control she went to grab food from the cooks and few other things. Her guess was that Dom was only just getting up so to get moving quicker she would prepare the horses.
Saddling Peachblossom and Dom's horse had been quite a chore because every time Kel tried to saddle the other horse he would get mad and nip at her. But after much labor she had succeeded and now all she needed was Dom himself. When she was tired of waiting and just about to go find the slow man, he casually strolled in.
"I see someone has been working hard this morning," Dom smiled.
"And I see someone has slept in this morning. Now are you ready to go or are we going to wait around all day?" Kel replied slightly frustrated, but Dom only smiled at her sense of humor.
They jumped onto their horses and rode out of New Hope. Naturally they let the horses lead them at a casual pace as they searched for a comfortable spot to rest at. Over an hour had passed by since they had left, and finally they found a nice sunny area by a cool brook that would do just perfect.
Kel brought out the food and they and they munched a little as they talked, "Kel I know you probably don't want to hear this right now, but I've really liked you for a long time. And it's painful to see you so upset."
Before Kel could even begin to process what he had just said he took her into a kiss. It wasn't that like it didn't feel good, she had spent her years as a squire dreaming of this moment and now it was happening. She just couldn't help but think of her kiss with Neal. It had felt better.
They stayed close to each other for a long time, not even speaking. All they needed was right now was to think. Kel knew what it felt like to really like someone and not tell them, but she could only imagine how much worrying it must have taken him to admit that. She had to let him have her, at least for a little.
After convincing herself that this was what she wanted she kissed him, long and passionately. If they hadn't been caught in the moment they probably would have heard the rustling in the bushes and then maybe they would have been saved the embarrassment of Neal walking in on them.
Neal looked crushed and after a few seconds of staring dumbfounded he coldly said, "Nice to see you on your relaxing day off, but if you don't mind your requested back at camp. Both of you."
"Neal, don't act ridiculous. What are you doing out here anyways, Merric was supposed to tell you that you were in charge. A commander never leaves their post," Kel protested.
"It must have slipped your mind like everyone else's that commander of the Own, Sir Raoul, was to arrive today with an important news and a request," Neal squeaked, this was just too much for him.
"Yes your right I completely forgot."
Rushing to their horses the three of them rushed back to the fort. The whole hour was oddly quiet, with Neal furious, and Kel terribly upset that she couldn't have both things she wanted.
Collecting themselves before they entered the room, they looked over each other with a nod of approval. "Sir Kel, it has been quite a while now hasn't it. Don't tell me you've been growing again."
"Not that I can tell Sir, how have you been. And Buri?" Kel asked politely.
"Well I that is part of the reason I'm here. We're to be married and would greatly appreciate it if you all would come. Yes Kel that means a dress."
Grimacing Kel continued, "Well that's not to much of a surprise, but I hear that there was something else you were to tell us?"
"Yes, I'm not going to bore you with the details, but instead I'll make it simple. King Maggur is dead, and Scanran had gone into disarray. They are no longer any threat, so everyone of fort New Hope is to report back to either Corus or their home. This includes you, Merric, Neal, and your squad Dom."
"That's defiantly a surprise, but what will happen to the refugees?"
"For the last year people have been working on rebuilding homes and making new homes. Everyone will have somewhere to go, now you are leaving in a week. But seeing as we can't get everyone out in a week I'm putting one of the regular generals in charge."
"Are you sure I shouldn't stay to see everyone gone?"
"Yes I'm sure. Especially if you want to make it to my wedding."
A week went by quickly, and through that time she saw at least half the refugees go home. It was sad to see the littlest kids go, they didn't even remember their home before and had spent so much time here, and they couldn't help but cry.
Dom hadn't been much of help, in fact by this point she was avoiding him. He had basically told her that she was just one of those things that happen once. Already he had told her about five girls that he just had to hook up with while they were still in Corus, she was tired of him.
Packing up her stuff was hard, but she thought about staying in proper rooms with hot water and good food. She couldn't wait to be in the capital, life on the border was getting very tiresome.
Finally they set out, headed for Corus. Kel rode Hoshi Peachblossom deserved a rest. She couldn't wait to be home.
*****later*****
"Kel hurry up were going to be late," Neal yelled as he pounded on her door. They had only arrived back in Corus late last night, but the king had already demanded that both him and Kel go to the wedding that night.
He had been standing there for several minutes in his clothes with the Queenscove colors on and there wasn't as much of a word out of her. Normally Kel was a morning person, she would rise before dawn and practice with weapons. But he hadn't seen her at breakfast, him being such a late riser just saw this as a sign that she had beaten him to breakfast leaving him to eat alone. Thinking back on it no one had mentioned seeing Kel all morning.
That gave him no choice, he decided to try the door handle, and sure enough it was open. Nothing seemed right, her door was unlocked, she hadn't been seen all day, and she wasn't answering the door. As each second passed his imagination grew more and more vivid.
All he was worried about was her well being, he cared for her so much. They had been best friends since they met, but now as he thought of her his stomach flipped, what was happening? Dismissing all these thoughts he barged into her room, and there she was sleeping on her bed like nothing was going on, "Kel! What do you think you're doing? Raoul is getting married in just over an hour! Kel!!! Wake up."
He saw her jolt up, pale in the face, she looked frightened to death. As Kel looked around the room trying to find the poor person that had so rudely disturbed her sleep she found Neal and let out all her rage, "Goddess, Neal!! Could you have found another way to wake a person? I thought there was a royal attack on my room! Hold on, what time is it?"
Before Neal could try to reply Kel was out of bed and rummaging through her closet. It wasn't to long until she found just what she was looking for, the dress Lalassa had custom made for her to wear to the wedding. Taking off her nightgown in front of Neal she threw on her dress and was ready to go out the door.
Blush spread across his face as he watched her, dumbfounded that Kel always calm and collected would forget that he was in the room and change in front of him. Interrupting her search he said, "Um, Kel? Are you alright, you seem kind of disheveled."
"Ya, I'm fine, but I can't find the wedding gift," Kel replied, just as it hit her that Neal had been in the room this whole time. "O gosh Neal, sorry bout that. I was just a bit distracted I guess."
At first he only replied with a weak smile, but then he figured that something else was wrong, "How is my dearest cousin? I haven't seen him around lately."
"I don't know, ever since we heard word of coming back all he could do was talk about how he just HAD to visit every single girl in Corus that he had ever looked at before. Clearly I was just a last resort," Kel sighed.
"And he thought I was the Meathead? Tossing aside someone like you? Clearly he was confused," With that Kel couldn't help but smile. "Now shall we make our way towards the wedding?"
Like a good courtly gentleman he offered her his arm and they were off. After some casual talk of old friends they had finally made it and just in time because it looked as if most people were just arriving.
"Kel, now is the time to put everything behind us and plaster those false smiles on that everyone else seems to love," Neal said before they entered the temple. With that Kel hugged him, not an embrace of lovers, but it was something. Maybe he had a chance?
The ceremony was beautiful. Buri in her traditional white dress, Raoul looking terribly nervous yet excited. The Queen, being old friends of Buri's, and her Husband the King had come looking very official and beautiful.
Kel couldn't have felt happier for the two they were a perfect match. But at the same time she couldn't help but think that she wouldn't ever get married. Cleon, Dom, and Neal, something had gone wrong with all of them.
Dom couldn't marry and even if he could she seriously doubted he would take her over all those other girls she knew he had had flings with. Then his cousin Neal, she had seriously screwed that one up! They had both liked each other but then she goes and ruins it all.
Do you like it? Why don't you tell me by reviewing????
OK this may not make 2 much sense b/c the last part was for another story I was writing but I made it part of this one b/c I was to lazy to type a whole new chapter.
Chapter 2
Finally after a frantic chase he had caught up to Kel, she had been avoiding him and purposely making it hard for him to find her. Deciding not to waste the opportunity he restrained her, keeping her from escaping.
"What do you want?" Kel asked, trying to stay calm.
"Don't to that to me Kel. I know perfectly well that something happened with Meathead, now spit it out," Dom replied. He tried to find out what she was feeling by looking into her eyes, but like usual when she is mad she doesn't let any emotions out.
"He broke up with Yuki."
Knowing that wasn't the whole reason, he decided to continue to persuade her into giving her a complete answer. "Are you sure that's all that happened?"
With that she broke down into tears and told him the whole story, only stopping to make sure he was listening. He was in shock that defiantly didn't sound like his cousin Neal.
"Listen, tomorrow lets pack a snack and go riding. We can spend the whole day talking, and maybe we can figure out a way to deal with this. But for now I think the whole town would love for us to get on with our chores," Dom said in a very kind and comforting voice.
Feeling a lot better Kel decided that she should go and work in the stables like she had signed up for. It was a relief that she could talk to Dom about this and not have to worry about him doing something crazy.
Her heart couldn't seem to make up its mind, only the other day had she been head over heals for Dom. Now she couldn't keep herself from thinking that she would love to repeat that kiss, or even just thinking of his perfect face with its perfect eyes.
Shaking everything out of her mind she decided to skip dinner and go to sleep, hopefully that would knock some sense into her.
She woke up at dawn as usual and went through her regular morning routine. It wasn't until breakfast that she remembered all of yesterday's drama and how upset she was with Neal. Luckily she didn't run into him, she was the first person in the dining hall and was shortly joined by Merric.
"I hear your taking a day off today, to go relax with Dom? Now do I see something here," Merric joked around.
"I don't know if you see anything, but if you do I can fix that with a quick blow in the eye. I just need a day to relax, things here have been quite stressful," Kel lied, she didn't need anyone else to find out about Neal.
"Now I'm scared, I see why they say not to mess with a lady Knight and Protector of the Small," Merric replied with sarcasm.
"Merric will you make sure to send all the regular patrols out today and be extra careful about anyone. Also kindly tell Neal that he is to be in charge for the day and that if he messes up I will have his head."
"Yes mother. I think we can handle the place for a single day."
After getting everything under control she went to grab food from the cooks and few other things. Her guess was that Dom was only just getting up so to get moving quicker she would prepare the horses.
Saddling Peachblossom and Dom's horse had been quite a chore because every time Kel tried to saddle the other horse he would get mad and nip at her. But after much labor she had succeeded and now all she needed was Dom himself. When she was tired of waiting and just about to go find the slow man, he casually strolled in.
"I see someone has been working hard this morning," Dom smiled.
"And I see someone has slept in this morning. Now are you ready to go or are we going to wait around all day?" Kel replied slightly frustrated, but Dom only smiled at her sense of humor.
They jumped onto their horses and rode out of New Hope. Naturally they let the horses lead them at a casual pace as they searched for a comfortable spot to rest at. Over an hour had passed by since they had left, and finally they found a nice sunny area by a cool brook that would do just perfect.
Kel brought out the food and they and they munched a little as they talked, "Kel I know you probably don't want to hear this right now, but I've really liked you for a long time. And it's painful to see you so upset."
Before Kel could even begin to process what he had just said he took her into a kiss. It wasn't that like it didn't feel good, she had spent her years as a squire dreaming of this moment and now it was happening. She just couldn't help but think of her kiss with Neal. It had felt better.
They stayed close to each other for a long time, not even speaking. All they needed was right now was to think. Kel knew what it felt like to really like someone and not tell them, but she could only imagine how much worrying it must have taken him to admit that. She had to let him have her, at least for a little.
After convincing herself that this was what she wanted she kissed him, long and passionately. If they hadn't been caught in the moment they probably would have heard the rustling in the bushes and then maybe they would have been saved the embarrassment of Neal walking in on them.
Neal looked crushed and after a few seconds of staring dumbfounded he coldly said, "Nice to see you on your relaxing day off, but if you don't mind your requested back at camp. Both of you."
"Neal, don't act ridiculous. What are you doing out here anyways, Merric was supposed to tell you that you were in charge. A commander never leaves their post," Kel protested.
"It must have slipped your mind like everyone else's that commander of the Own, Sir Raoul, was to arrive today with an important news and a request," Neal squeaked, this was just too much for him.
"Yes your right I completely forgot."
Rushing to their horses the three of them rushed back to the fort. The whole hour was oddly quiet, with Neal furious, and Kel terribly upset that she couldn't have both things she wanted.
Collecting themselves before they entered the room, they looked over each other with a nod of approval. "Sir Kel, it has been quite a while now hasn't it. Don't tell me you've been growing again."
"Not that I can tell Sir, how have you been. And Buri?" Kel asked politely.
"Well I that is part of the reason I'm here. We're to be married and would greatly appreciate it if you all would come. Yes Kel that means a dress."
Grimacing Kel continued, "Well that's not to much of a surprise, but I hear that there was something else you were to tell us?"
"Yes, I'm not going to bore you with the details, but instead I'll make it simple. King Maggur is dead, and Scanran had gone into disarray. They are no longer any threat, so everyone of fort New Hope is to report back to either Corus or their home. This includes you, Merric, Neal, and your squad Dom."
"That's defiantly a surprise, but what will happen to the refugees?"
"For the last year people have been working on rebuilding homes and making new homes. Everyone will have somewhere to go, now you are leaving in a week. But seeing as we can't get everyone out in a week I'm putting one of the regular generals in charge."
"Are you sure I shouldn't stay to see everyone gone?"
"Yes I'm sure. Especially if you want to make it to my wedding."
A week went by quickly, and through that time she saw at least half the refugees go home. It was sad to see the littlest kids go, they didn't even remember their home before and had spent so much time here, and they couldn't help but cry.
Dom hadn't been much of help, in fact by this point she was avoiding him. He had basically told her that she was just one of those things that happen once. Already he had told her about five girls that he just had to hook up with while they were still in Corus, she was tired of him.
Packing up her stuff was hard, but she thought about staying in proper rooms with hot water and good food. She couldn't wait to be in the capital, life on the border was getting very tiresome.
Finally they set out, headed for Corus. Kel rode Hoshi Peachblossom deserved a rest. She couldn't wait to be home.
*****later*****
"Kel hurry up were going to be late," Neal yelled as he pounded on her door. They had only arrived back in Corus late last night, but the king had already demanded that both him and Kel go to the wedding that night.
He had been standing there for several minutes in his clothes with the Queenscove colors on and there wasn't as much of a word out of her. Normally Kel was a morning person, she would rise before dawn and practice with weapons. But he hadn't seen her at breakfast, him being such a late riser just saw this as a sign that she had beaten him to breakfast leaving him to eat alone. Thinking back on it no one had mentioned seeing Kel all morning.
That gave him no choice, he decided to try the door handle, and sure enough it was open. Nothing seemed right, her door was unlocked, she hadn't been seen all day, and she wasn't answering the door. As each second passed his imagination grew more and more vivid.
All he was worried about was her well being, he cared for her so much. They had been best friends since they met, but now as he thought of her his stomach flipped, what was happening? Dismissing all these thoughts he barged into her room, and there she was sleeping on her bed like nothing was going on, "Kel! What do you think you're doing? Raoul is getting married in just over an hour! Kel!!! Wake up."
He saw her jolt up, pale in the face, she looked frightened to death. As Kel looked around the room trying to find the poor person that had so rudely disturbed her sleep she found Neal and let out all her rage, "Goddess, Neal!! Could you have found another way to wake a person? I thought there was a royal attack on my room! Hold on, what time is it?"
Before Neal could try to reply Kel was out of bed and rummaging through her closet. It wasn't to long until she found just what she was looking for, the dress Lalassa had custom made for her to wear to the wedding. Taking off her nightgown in front of Neal she threw on her dress and was ready to go out the door.
Blush spread across his face as he watched her, dumbfounded that Kel always calm and collected would forget that he was in the room and change in front of him. Interrupting her search he said, "Um, Kel? Are you alright, you seem kind of disheveled."
"Ya, I'm fine, but I can't find the wedding gift," Kel replied, just as it hit her that Neal had been in the room this whole time. "O gosh Neal, sorry bout that. I was just a bit distracted I guess."
At first he only replied with a weak smile, but then he figured that something else was wrong, "How is my dearest cousin? I haven't seen him around lately."
"I don't know, ever since we heard word of coming back all he could do was talk about how he just HAD to visit every single girl in Corus that he had ever looked at before. Clearly I was just a last resort," Kel sighed.
"And he thought I was the Meathead? Tossing aside someone like you? Clearly he was confused," With that Kel couldn't help but smile. "Now shall we make our way towards the wedding?"
Like a good courtly gentleman he offered her his arm and they were off. After some casual talk of old friends they had finally made it and just in time because it looked as if most people were just arriving.
"Kel, now is the time to put everything behind us and plaster those false smiles on that everyone else seems to love," Neal said before they entered the temple. With that Kel hugged him, not an embrace of lovers, but it was something. Maybe he had a chance?
The ceremony was beautiful. Buri in her traditional white dress, Raoul looking terribly nervous yet excited. The Queen, being old friends of Buri's, and her Husband the King had come looking very official and beautiful.
Kel couldn't have felt happier for the two they were a perfect match. But at the same time she couldn't help but think that she wouldn't ever get married. Cleon, Dom, and Neal, something had gone wrong with all of them.
Dom couldn't marry and even if he could she seriously doubted he would take her over all those other girls she knew he had had flings with. Then his cousin Neal, she had seriously screwed that one up! They had both liked each other but then she goes and ruins it all.
Do you like it? Why don't you tell me by reviewing????