Chapter 5: Looks and Lineage
A/N: Sorry about the long time between updates. I finally finished my exams today. And this chapter is still a little short...I'll try to make them longer in the future. It also seems to be really twisted – I found that it was turning into the 'typical' KelDom fic again. This was just my sad attempt to correct that.
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Renowned for never wasting a minute of the day, Kel spent the rest of the morning practising arms with her year mates, as well as practising Yamani with Yuki and Shinko in preparation for her upcoming trip. Despite this, she remained rather distracted, thinking about the upcoming party and Dom's shocking kiss.
Kel quickly decided that there were two ways to deal with this: she could either act like a proper court lady and wait for him to follow it up, or act like the typical commander and ask him what in the world he thought he was doing. However, she was leaving Tortall soon, and after a moment's reflection decided to carry out the second option, which was best as far as she was concerned.
However, either Neal's paranoia was rubbing off or she was suspicious after Cleon, because she found herself wondering whether Dom had done it on a dare. As a result, she spent a lot of time wondering how she could find out without spreading the rumour to the whole of Corus. Eventually she decided to confide in Neal, which proved to be a bad idea. At least at first.
"MY COUSIN DID WHAT?!"
"Hush, Neal," Kel urged, glancing around nervously at the looks they were getting from the other inhabitants of the library.
Neal stared at her for a minute, jaw hanging open. Kel flicked his forehead. "You haven't answered my question, Neal. Do you think he did it on a dare?"
Neal recovered enough to answer with a kind of half shrug. "I honestly don't know, Kel. I don't think Dom would be that stupid to do a dare like that unless he actually wanted to do it himself anyway...he knows that if he hurt you several people would exact revenge on your behalf." Then he looked thoughtful. "And if he just wanted someone to play with, then he should have done it at the border, not where there are plenty of Court ladies here drooling over him." An irritated look came across his face. "But he should be the one telling you this, not me! That inconsiderate –"
Kel left him at that, returning to her rooms to think over what she had found out. If everything Neal had said was true, then what about Adele? Kel resolved to ask Dom when she saw him tonight.
Evening saw Kel scrutinising herself in the mirror, dressed in a dark green velvety dress complete with delicate embroidery, one of Lalasa's works. Kel didn't intend on facing Dom in rags, but she did want him to see her as she was, instead of as a mockery of a Court lady. She added an overcoat, then dragged Yuki out of her rooms to the party.
"I wouldn't mind going back to the Islands again either," Yuki told her as they headed towards the open hall, where Neal found and greeted them as usual. He gave Kel a meaningful look, then swept Yuki away, who added in Yamani, "Though I'm not too sure about what my parents will think of Neal."
Kel smiled at their disappearing backs. She had hoped Yuki and Neal would accompany her family to the islands, but Yuki insisted on teaching Neal Yamani before they returned, mostly to counter her parent's Yamani image of Tortallans being ignorant foreigners.
Kel greeted her friends and the royalty present, admiring Shinko's new baby and talking to Raoul and Buri. She waited until the party was in full swing before she went to search for Dom, knowing that she would be less missed that way. Kel wandered around for a while, then spotted him standing with his back to her, chatting to Adele haMinch, who was laughing merrily.
Kel scowled, then decided to carry out her plan anyway. She needed to clear this up before she left. She marched towards the pair with determination.
"– well, don't drive him too hard, will you? Then you'd kill him, and your parents would have a hard enough time finding someone else for you to marry. Gods know how they did it this time," Dom told Adele, grinning. She glared at him, then spotted Kel.
"Keladry! It's good to see you again." Adele smiled and curtseyed politely, her skirts fanning around her. Kel mirrored her, though with considerably less eased practise than the noblewoman.
Kel smiled apologetically at Adele. "Look, I don't suppose I could borrow Dom for a minute, could I?" She clamped with an iron grip onto Dom's arm. Dom glanced at her in surprise for a moment, then gave her a bemused look.
"You're welcome to. He won't be missed here," replied Adele, smirking at Dom, who now wore a heartbroken expression. They seemed to be very good friends indeed, Kel mused. She wondered if Neal had been wrong after all. Well, it's a bit late for doubts now, she chided herself.
Without another word, she dragged Dom through the corridors, until she reached one of the less used ones. Kel glanced around the area, making sure that no one would hear or see them.
"I don't suppose you would mind letting go of my arm now," a low voice murmured in her ear. Kel hurriedly released her death grip on Dom's arm. He winced as he rolled up his sleeve, to be greeted with an ugly red hand mark on his upper arm. Both of them stared at it for a moment, then Kel flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry," she muttered.
"No, it's all right," Dom answered cheerfully. "So much for needing to train your upper arm," he added.
Kel shrugged. "Well, if I can do that, then you could probably break my arm," she retorted.
"Not before you used one of your Yamani self defence moves on me."
"That's not the point! The point is that you're still stronger than me!" Then Kel realised that she had gone completely off the topic. "You distracted me!" she accused.
Dom smiled cheekily. "It must just be my good looks."
Kel rolled her eyes. "Don't play that game with me, Dom. Why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
Kel glared, but inwardly marvelled that he could remain so at ease – and so annoying – in a situation like this. "You know what I mean!"
Dom pretended to look thoughtful. "Ermm...well...Kyprioth made me!" He ducked as Kel swiped at him. "No, I'm just joking!" His face grew more serious.
"It's because I love you, of course."
Kel stared at him. Most of her was overjoyed at this confirmation, but the cold, rational, side of her wanted to be sure his feelings were true. Finally she managed, "But why? There are a thousand other ladies, with better looks and lineage than me that would kill to have a chance with you."
Dom smiled and showed her his arm. "What other lady could do this to me?"
Kel raised an eyebrow sceptically. "That is not necessarily a good thing."
"The point, Kel, is that you're not like other court ladies," Dom told her patiently. "Different. Not like them."
Kel considered this a moment, then ploughed onward determinedly. "And the other thing I wanted to ask you...since that party at the Minchis in fact...aren't you already betrothed?"
Dom was taken aback. "What? To who?"
"Adele haMinch?" Kel asked somewhat sheepishly.
A shocked, then disgusted look came across Dom's face. "Her? Not in a thousand years. She's my cousin, for Gods' sake!"
It was Kel's turn to gape. "You're jesting with me."
Dom shook his head vigorously. "No."
"Then how come Neal didn't know? He thought you were betrothed too –"
"So it was my dear Meathead who spread that rumour around!" Dom scowled. "Because he's not related to her directly. I'm Adele's cousin through my mother's side, and I'm related to Neal through my father's...so he's not very closely related to her."
Kel's head was spinning. "This is too confusing..." she muttered, cradling her head in one hand. Before Cleon had confessed to her, she had sometimes daydreamed about this moment. Kel had to admit that the daydreams had no resemblance to the actual event. Not that she minded particularly.
Dom smiled gently. "Believe me yet?"
"...I suppose so."
Dom prodded her. "So, can I have an indication that the feeling is mutual then?" Despite his cocky words, his voice betrayed his nervousness.
Kel looked up at him, filled with relief. Then she grinned. It was her turn now. "Would you like a written confession or a verbal message? It's a gold crown per word –"
"Kel!"
"All right," Kel conceded. She looked at him, to see him watching her anxiously. She smiled and said as sincerely as she could, "I love you as well. Are you happy now?"
Dom smiled wickedly. "Just one more thing." He leaned in closer to her, till their noses almost touched. "I guess I didn't make it clear enough the first time..."
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A/N: Sorry, I know that was bad It was hard to make it not-typical and still good...and my brain is kind of dead from my exams.
I have several ideas for the next chapter, but it does involve an OC. What do you guys think? Review and tell me!
Warrior of Destiny: Thanks ) I'll try to make the chapters longer, but its just that it takes me absolutely ages to write even short chapters like these .
Dragon Shadows: Thank you, and I'll try to update as soon as I can. It'll be easier after these exams...TT
Atlanta Enchanted: Hehe...I'll update sooner in future I hope!
Books4me: Thanks very much!
Lady Knight Wolfy: Hope you enjoyed this one .
Erkith: Keke I'm glad to hear it, because I was thinking that the war reflection didn't really make much sense...it was kind of spur of the moment...;
Lena-jade: It's okay! Thanks for reviewing for last chapter.
Ladyla: I had to compromise about the dress, sorry!
Wake-robin: Yay, thank you!
Lady Angelique of mystiqu: ahaha...sorry it took so long.
DrStrangeLove007: Keke thanks!
dreamerdoll: Of course I can compare you to them! That would make you like...well I can't think of any good Goddesses right now for some reason...the Graveyard Hag suddenly popped up in my mind lol no, you would be a demi-god or an immortal at the very least! And you didn't spell commoners wrong. Yay thank you your review makes me so happy!
The ORIGINAL Meathead: Ahaha..thanks!
Demonic Pyromaniac: P but your talent is much more...talentish...; anyway thanks for reviewing Kit! Sorry I couldn't give you the last chapter to edit...TT You were "busy" and then you went offline! I only had one thing to translate so maybe it would be a bit of a waste if I put it down at the bottom though...and I dunno if anyone could be bothered to scroll all the way down. Thanks for the suggestion though. I still must win this bet!
Alannalovingwriter: Yay thanks!
