I would like to thank the following people:

Lady Knight Wolfy

ossini

alianne of conte

dreamerdoll

warrior of tortall

always belle

Thank all of you for reviewing the last chapter! Sorry that it has taken so long to update, I have had a bit of a writers block, though don't worry, they DON'T do the DEED! LOL.

SPYING

Dom looked at the sleeping form of Kel. She had fallen asleep as soon as they had lain down. Dom didn't care. Those kisses were enough to keep him happy. He smiled and cuddled her closer, glad that she finally returned his feelings. Oh Mithros, I can't believe it. I finally have what I have always wanted. He sighed and shifted and fell asleep. When Kel woke at dawn the next morning she felt a weight on her shoulder, looking up she could see an arm draped over her. She turned her head to see the sleeping Dom. Her mind went swiftly to the previous nights events. She smiled and rose trying not to disturb him. She went to the saddlebags and changed into a different dress.

When she had finished changing she finally shook Dom awake. He was rather sluggish and opened his eyes. He smiled at her and sat up.

"Good morning John." Kel said wickedly and went to the door. "You should hurry. I want to eat breakfast while it is still hot." He smiled and she left the room to let him change. She needed time to think about the night before. Did he just kiss me out of pity? Oh, why did this have to happen now? She shook her head to clear it and went down the stairs. There weren't very many people in the common room. She ducked out the front door and made her way to the stables.

"Hello Peachblossom." Kel said to her finicky horse. He looked at her and his ears twitched. She looked around the stables to see if anyone was there, satisfied that there weren't, she stood closer to her horse and spoke to him.

"I am glad that I could bring you. What do you think of Tusaine?" The horse just blew air and lowered his head to keep eating the grain he had been fed. "Yeah, me too." Kel sighed and returned to the Inn. When she entered she saw Dom coming down the stairs. He smiled again at her and her heart leapt. Was it just out of pity? Asked part of her head.

Yes. The other part answered as she followed Dom into the common room. He just pitied you. Why else would he kiss you? You aren't beautiful, you are plain. He could have any girl her wanted, so why you? Kel shook her head and sat next to Dom at a table. A servant approached them.

"Good mornin' sir and miss. Would ye like a bowl of porridge this morn?" The man asked and both Kel and Dom nodded. Kel looked at Dom and saw a smile on his face.

"What?" Kel asked as the man left. She was starting to get uncomfortable.

"Oh, nothing." Dom's smile faltered. What is wrong? Was it just the spur of the moment? What about what she said? Maybe she just said it because of the circumstances.

"Fine then." Kel said and surveyed the room. No, he just did it because he pitied you. This made Kel angry, but she school her expressions and thought, calm as stone.

"What is it? You have your Yamani face on." Dom said quietly. Kel just looked at him and tried to see if he was being cruel for a purpose.

"Nothing, I was just thinking that we should reach the capitol in a day or so. We need to come up with a profession. I was going to see maybe if I could find a job as a servant at the palace. What about you?" Kel looked around to make sure no one was listening. They hardly looked suspicious, but she couldn't help but be cautious.

"I was thinking the same thing. Maybe we could do that." Dom said not really paying attention. "Are you alright Dom? You seem to be, well, not yourself this morning." Kel said evenly trying not to look at him. "Hmm? Oh, I am fine." I just feel like an idiot because I led myself to believe you actually like me. I am just an idiot.

After they ate Dom paid for their stay as Kel saddled the horses and attached the saddlebags. She led the horses out in front of the Inn and waited for Dom. When he at last arrived they mounted up and left for the capitol. Their talk was as quiet as it had been the entire time they had been traveling.
"Just what I needed. We are growing short of servants. You are to start today. You are going to be helping in the stables, both of you." The clerk said and called for another servant. "Show these two to the tailors so that they may get their uniforms. And be quick about it." Kel thought it was going pretty well. It only took them three hours to find the right clerk they needed to get a servants' job. It was a good thing that Tortallans and those of Tusaine looked very much a like. Dom was looking rather distracted and Kel worried about the mission. Just one slip could get them both killed.

They followed silently as the servant led the way to the tailor. When they go there the old woman looked at them with beady eyes and ordered them to different sections in the room. Within five minutes both had two sets of uniform and dismissed.

"You can make your way to the stables on your own." The servant said and left. Dom just raised his eyebrows and started down the hall.

"Well, I always knew that Tortall was different. But I never knew we were actually nice to servants until we got here." Kel said as she followed Dom.

They spent two weeks working the stables until one day a man came calling for them. "We need you to come up to the palace. Some of the servants have quit, and with the coming war, there aren't very many mounts left in the stables. You are to report to the kitchens at once." He turned and left Dom and Kel looking confused.

"I guess we have some information to send home. They are definitely getting ready for war. I just I knew why. And I wish we had gotten more information by now. I never knew it was going to take this long." Kel said as she finished cleaning the stall and waited for Dom.

"I know. I didn't even think how hard it was. I guess we had better get a move on." Dom looked at Kel as she walked up the hill. She hadn't spoken with as much as she used to back home. When they were at New Hope she spoke with him a lot, even more than comrades would. I just wish we could go back to the way things used to be.

They found the person they were seeking in the kitchens. At first glance the well dressed man identified them as to be the servants he needed.

"You there, man. You are to help serve in Lord Dunevan's rooms tonight. It is a private gathering. Go now, and here." He gave a small purse to Dom. "Buy some new clothes, dark and plain." He then turned to Kel. "You will be serving in the prince's rooms. Don't listen to what is said. Just do what you are told. Understand?" She nodded her eyes downcast. He gave her a similar purse to buy some other dress.

"My name is Morgan. I am in charge of the nobility's servants. And you, girl, do you speak? The other servants say you never speak to them. Is there something wrong?" Kel had a spark of inspiration. She didn't answer but just stood there. Dom took the hint and spoke up.

"No, she just a little simple. She has just enough smarts to perform tasks quickly, but she has a speech impediment and so doesn't like to talk." Kel couldn't help but slightly shift her eyes to Dom. Gods, good thing he is on my side. He is very sly indeed.


"Good." Morgan turned and left the room. Kel just looked at the retreating back and looked at Dom. He just shrugged and left as well.

Kel straightened her skirts once again in the mirror in her small room. She was wearing a dark blue tunic and over a dark green shirt. Her skirts were also the dark blue and Kel tied her hair into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. It was just long enough to hold into such a hair style.

She made her way through the halls and found the room she was to be in. She had spent the day after she got back from the city to find the rooms she was to serve in. Interestingly they were in a small room far from the main part of the palace, but in a small building behind where the servants took their food. Knocking loudly on the door, she waited to be admitted.

From what the advisors in the palace in Tortall had was rumors of the boy, they had never really seen him. Only two years after the battle in the Valley Drell the King had died and his brothers killed. The new King was one to stay out of the rumors until now.

When the door opened only a crack Kel stood straighter. When they had seen that she was the servant it opened wider. The man who had admitted her was wearing dark blue breeches and white shirt. He wore no tunic and had his brown hair clipped close to his head. If she wasn't in such danger, she would have thought him quite attractive.

What am I thinking? Ever since that night with Dom she could never bring herself to think that she was really interested in men yet, but now faced with this man, she couldn't help herself from thinking.

"Ah, you are one of the other servants then?" Came the husky voice as he shut the door. Kel nodded and waited to be directed, when she wasn't she looked at the men questioningly.

"W-what am I-I-to d-do?" Kel asked while stuttering as best she could. She didn't know if she would be able to pull it off, but the pitying look the man gave her raised her spirits.

"Oh, we must wait for the company to arrive." He smiled and sat at the table in the room. Looking around Kel finally saw it entirely. It was furnished with a long table and many chairs the walls were covered with pictures of the past kings, the fact they were thing made Kel confused, but she subdued the question down below her mask.

She stood looking around, uncomfortable when the man kept staring at her. When she was finally about to break the silence he rose once again. Kel looked at him wary, but she didn't know why. Who is this?

"Please, take a seat. It was rather rude of me not to offer earlier, my mind has been elsewhere." Surprise clearly showing on her face made the man chuckle. "Here." He pulled out a chair and led her to the seat; she couldn't stop the tingling on her skin from where he had his hands on her shoulders. "What is your name?"

"Lalasa." Kel cringed inside, she hadn't been able to pick a name the whole trip, and the one she does decide to use was her old maid's.

"Lalasa? What a beautiful name to go with such a beautiful woman." Kel looked at him surprised. He looked like he meant what he said. She was confused. "My name is Fraten." He held out his hand.

Kel shook hands with him but he didn't let her hand go, instead he raised it to his lips. Kel's reaction was immediate, after practicing those long hours with George finally paid off. She blushed and ducked her head.

"M-my L-Lord is too p-polite. I b-be nothin' m-more than a c-c-commoner." She said and kept her eyes on her other hand in her lap. Fraten hadn't let go of the other one.

"No, you are beautiful." He released his hand as soon as the door burst open. He quickly rose and hurried over to the hunched figure. A large black cloak covered the entire body and thus shielded the person from identification.

"About time Tern, I was about to leave and call everything off." Fraten said as he took the cloak. A woman of middle years stood and stretched her back, wincing. Kel recognized the woman and quickly jumped up from her seat and curtsied.

"Y-your H-Highness." She said quickly. The Queen looked at her and then Fraten. He explained.

"A servant, stepmother." Kel couldn't have been more shocked. She had been talking to the Prince! She couldn't believe she had been so stupid.

She quickly ran to a table in the corner and poured two large cups of water for them both, since that was the only drink there.

"Thank you Lalasa." Prince Fraten smiled as he held out a chair for his stepmother, the Queen. "Where is Conlai?" The Queen looked at him sadly.

"I am afraid that your father found out about him. He killed himself before he could be taken." She said in hushed tones looking at Kel again.

"Don't worry, she is alright. I already checked for listening spells, and she has no Gift herself." Kel stiffened and figured out that he had been inspecting her with his Gift, and flirting was the only way he could do it.

Ten times the fool! Of course! You aren't pretty, remember? Kel slid the mask on her face and backed away to a safe distance as to not be noticeable, but still able to listen. Who was this Conlai that he had to kill himself instead of being caught by the King?

"Our plans still move forward. The King doesn't suspect an uprising, but we must still be careful. We don't know where his spies are." The Queen stood and looked around the dark room. The candles which lit it were quickly burning low. "I must go before he suspects anything." She stood and took her cloak off the peg in which the prince had hung it. She disappeared out the door.

"Lalasa." Prince Fraten called her over. She hesitantly approached. Kel knew that she had heard too much. When she was standing in front of him, she looked at her feet.

"Y-Yes milord?"

"I would like it if you wore this." He handed over a headscarf that was popular for the higher ranking servants. When she looked at it she glanced at him. "I wish to assign you for my personal service. This scarf will keep you from reporting to the King or his men. It must never be taken off when you are out of your rooms." He took the scarf and wrapped it around her head in the style it was made for.

"Th-Thank your H-H-Highness." Kel bobbed her head and continued to look down. When cool fingers went under her chin to raise her head she looked into another set of hazel eyes.

"Don't look down. It hides your beauty." Kel's heart jumped and she tried to calm it. Prince Fraten's fingers were still below her chin. She couldn't get out of her mind the men from the tavern that had touched her. The fear entered her eyes before she could hide it.

"You have been hurt?" His voice was concerned. Kel was confused. The men of Tusaine didn't regard women highly, and yet this man seemed to be concerned. Her emotions running wild, Kel just nodded. Prince Fraten cursed as he let his hand fall back to his side.

"I-I must be g-going." Kel ran to the door but was forestalled from opening it when another hand kept the door closed. She followed the hand to wrist and then to shoulder and face. He was emotionless but something in his eyes confused Kel.

"You are too beautiful to be scared of men." He closed in on her. There were barely an inch apart when again he spoke, "Most Tusaine noblewoman are thin and don't have any substance. This is why I like the lower classes." He wrapped his arm around her waist. She couldn't move, the feelings intoxicating her. Am I just some bird-brained woman to be led off like this? How- Her further thoughts cut off when he leaned in and kissed her.

When he pulled away, she looked at him searchingly. His eyes were hungry. Why can't I fight him? Why do I feel this way? What about Dom? The thought of Dom brought her more to her senses. When she decided on an action, she came to one realization. He is the prince, I cannot deny him. He will kill me. In Tusaine when women were forced by higher nobles, they didn't have a say in it.

He leaned in again and kissed her deeper. She reacted without knowing she had. Her arms were around his neck and her lips parted for his tongue. He leaned her against the door and kissed her below her ear, then the hollow of her neck. His kisses sent fire burning through her skin. Fraten lifted her up and laid her on the table, slowly unbuttoning his shirt. Kel's thoughts were whirling around her head. Every time he kissed her, touched her, whispered, she couldn't keep Dom from entering her mind.
Dom sat by the desk in his rooms. He had finished his servant duty and waited for Kel to report back from what she had learned. He hadn't learned anything but the same rumors flying around the servants. Kel was probably going to learn more than what he did since she was supposed to be with the prince. The prince sent his thoughts spiraling through his head. They didn't know much about him other than him being alive.

Still in thought he really didn't hear the door open, it was when it closed he looked over. Kel kept her face to the door. He stood and she turned to him. The look on her face concerned him. He ran to her and held her in his arms as she began to cry. Kel hadn't been one for crying in most situations. The last time he had seen her cry was in the Tavern.

"Shh. It is alright Kel. Tell me what happened." He said gently as he led her to the bed. Her sobbing continued and he just held her tight. When she finally calmed down she told him about what happened with the prince. He curled his hands into fists until they turned white.

"It wasn't that bad, but I didn't want him to be my first." She started crying again as Dom looked at her. He didn't think she had been with anyone, but didn't actually know. He felt bad. Maybe if we had that night it wouldn't be so bad.


"I am sorry."

"I didn't know exactly what this would entail. But I wish, I wish that I hadn't agreed." Kel said. Dom couldn't help but think how Kel had changed.

"I know Kel, I wouldn't have either." Dom looked down to the top of Kel's head and laid his chin there. When she spoke again, it was almost too soft for him to hear. But when he did, he was surprised.

"Dom, I kept thinking of you and I wanted to fight him. But then I realized he was the prince and I couldn't." She wiped her nose and snuggled closer to him and Dom's heart leapt. Did she really? Would that mean- He was cut off when Kel spoke again. "Do you like me?"

"Yes." He said before even thinking. His heart was beating fast in anticipation of her words. "I think I really started to care about you when I was first at New Hope and how I saw you with the refugees. And then when I saw you in command I knew that I loved you." He paused as he heard Kel suck her breath in.

"I thought the feelings I had for you would go away, as it did for the two others I got the feelings with. But that never happened. I looked forward to seeing you when I left for Lord Raoul's wedding. You are always in my mind. You know how to make me laugh when I thought I was beyond happiness. You melted my heart when it turned to ice. You kept me going when I heard everyone was with someone." Kel broke off and began to cry again, but her tears were quiet and she looked up at Dom. "Dom, I think I love you."

Dom couldn't have been happier. He looked at Kel and just grinned. He kissed her on her forehead. "My love." He said and held her closer.

Awww. Fluffy fluff fluff fluff! Don't you just love it? I do! Please review!
Macko