Chapter 3:

~ Weddings ~

Kel woke up later then her usual rising time. The early morning sun shone through the crack she left open in her window. Her sparrows cheeped in her ear, as if to say; what are you doing lying abed when the sun has risen? Kel reluctantly rolled onto her feet, wiping the sleep from her eyes. Walking over to her washbasin, she rinsed her face, squinting, readjusting her eyes to the daylight.

Keeping her nightshirt on, Kel grabbed her practice glaive. She started with basic moves, then becoming faster. Kel brushed the weapon down and held it suspended for the cut named "the broom sweeps clean". Readjusting her grip to steady the weapon, she began the movements that included her everyday, basic routine. The tip of dull steel at the end of the glaive began slowly, then became much faster, a blur in the surrounding air.

Keladry quickly changed into some fresh breeches and tunic, trying to wave out the wrinkles made by traveling to Steadfast. Once changed, she gave her hair a quick comb, untangling the knots, and walked to the door adjoining her and Tobe's room. Finding that he had already left for the day, she hurried down to the officer's mess. Grabbing a bowl of thick porridge, some fried ham and a bun; she headed to the table where Neal, Lord Raoul, Buri, Alanna and Dom already sat.

Seating herself across from Dom, and next to Neal, she scooped a spoonful of porridge into her mouth. Savouring the cinnamon flavour to it, she chewed slowly and swallowed. Reaching for the honey pot, she dribbled a small amount on top of her porridge. Glancing up, she saw Dom watching her. Making sure her mouth was clear of food she said:

"Is there something intriguing about the way I put honey on my porridge?" She smiled, happy with the flush in his cheeks as he noticed that he was being watched from both Neal and Raoul as she spoke.

"No," He replied, one corner of his mouth lifted up in a grin. "But, it seems that you have a piece of oatmeal on your chin."

Horrified, Kel quickly wiped her chin with a napkin. She tried to keep her face calm and uncaring, but she couldn't help the pink that had briefly brushed against her cheeks. Dom grinned wickedly, his shining blue eyes speaking more then volumes.

Kel silently finished her breakfast, placed her utensils and tray away. Since Lord Raoul and Commander Buri were getting married that evening, and she hadn't any duties or anyone to report to that day, she figured that she had earned a day to laze about. Finding Tobe and Owen practicing staff work with each other, Owen purposely going slower then normal to help Tobe get the rhythm. Smiling, she watched awhile, pausing them momentarily to replace Tobe's footing, and his hands on the staff, as well as Owen's once.

The morning passed slowly, but not to slow to be not pleasant. By mid-day, she had caught up on all the little tasks she need to do, and had visited with her old Knight-master, talking about New Hope and the civilians in it.

Walking out of the mess hall after a quick lunch, Kel was busily thinking, with no notion of where she was headed. Without realizing it, she walked right into Dom, who was heading in the opposite direction, than she was.

"Whoa… is someone walking around with their head up with the God's?" He teased, his voice gentle and kind.

"Oh, sorry Dom, I was just thinking." She smiled apologetically, reaching a hand up to brush her hair from her eyes.

"So what was on your mind pray tell, oh Lady Knight?" His eyes twinkled, as if he knew a joke about her.

"Nothing really, just odds and ends, nothing really important." She sighed, looking around her. "About New Hope mostly. I have to- I mean we have to go back in a couple of days, three at most. I just hope they're all right."

"You're just like a mother hen, clucking around worried about her young. Don't worry Kel." He laughed. "They'll be fine- more then fine- because you taught them. They have faith in themselves, so you should also have faith in them."

She smiled, "You're right."

"I always am." He said with a lopsided grin. Kel's stomach fluttered, but she brushed away the feeling by poking him in the ribs. "Ouch." He cried, laughing.

"Don't get cocky."

~*~

After her conversation with Dom, she headed out to find Buri. Walking in to her room, Kel was shocked. Due to the fact that Lord Raoul's and Buri's wedding was almost as big a celebration as the prince's and Princess Shinkokami, the queen was with Buri, as well as a bunch of other ladies, maids, and Kel's former maid, Lalasa. Standing in the doorway in a form of a stupor, Kel was swept up in a hug by Lalasa, while she had a piece of gauzy white fabric in her hand.

"My Lady, it's great to see you, can you wait just a moment? I need to check something." Lalasa said this all in a rush, moving continually.

Standing in the middle of the room was Buri. She looked miserable. Queen Thayet was standing beside her, talking to Lalasa about the cut on the dress that Buri was currently wearing. Keladry caught a snippet of their conversation.

"- why you couldn't come to Corus for your wedding, Buri." The queen sighed. "We are in a fort… with possible attacks from Scanrans. A war fort." She lifted the front of Buri's skirt. Helping Lalasa hold it, Kel's former maid pinned the dress in the center, making it so the dress flowed out at the sides.

Kel could see Buri's exasperation from where she stood. Deciding to rescue Raoul's beloved and her friend, she stepped forward. "Umm… Lalasa?"

Lalassa moved her hand in a gesture to continue.

"Do you really need Buri? I mean, now that you're done pinning her to death-" Kel saw Buri stifled a grin. "You don't need her to sew the actual part… do you?"

Lalasa paused in her frenzy. She looked at Kel and smiled, a cheery look that reached her eyes. "Of course not… Commander Buri, would you like to go with my Lady as I sew your dress?"

Kel looked towards the queen, wondering if she'd object. The queen sighed. "Oh, go for now Buri, all you'll do is complain." A grin made it's way on to Thayet's ruddy lips. "You always do what you want anyways." Buri grinned, and carefully slipped the dress over her head, not to disturb any pins. She quickly threw on breeches and a tunic and followed Kel to the doorway. Pausing, Kel turned.

"Your Majesty." She bowed, and whether she imagined it or not, she thought she saw a large smile cross Queen Thayet's face before turning back into the brisk queen.

~*~

Kel walked alongside Buri, shaking with silent laughter. In a way, she felt sorry for Buri. Not because she was marrying Lord Raoul, but the fact that she had to spend the morning being a dress up puppet for the queen and Lalassa. The older girl had just spent the last hour or two telling Kel about the horrors of having more then six maids pin needles here, pull fabric there and all around, annoy Buri.

"It's not funny Kel, not in the least bit." Buri protested.

"You just don't see the humor in it." Kel declared. Trying to hide behind a Yamani calm, she failed and a smirk twigged on her lips.

Buri sighed, pushing hair back from her eyes, she looked at Kel. "Is it right if I'm nervous?"

Kel looked at Buri in surprise. In the eight years that she knew the Commander, she never knew her to be nervous. Raising an eyebrow she asked:

"Are you nervous about the ceremony?"

"Not exactly. The fact of being married, I've never done it before, so I don't know what to expect." Buri grinned shakily.

This thought had been brought to Kel before. Most people, no matter to their standing in social circles, were afraid of things they haven't done before. Kel could bet good money that even the Lioness was afraid of some things the first time she did them. She put a reassuring hand on the older girls shoulder.

"You be perfectly fine." She smiled wickedly, "There is nothing else for you to be worried about anyways…" Kel trailed off, but due to the nervous bride-to-be, Buri never caught on to her hidden meaning.

They walked around the fort, talking, Kel purposely avoiding the corner where the ceremony was being held. Even from the distance she could see the decorations being hanged. Ribbons were decorating the many seats; an aura of peace surrounded it. Kel detoured Buri in direction of the headquarters. Buri glanced up at the sun, sighing, she turned to Kel.

"As much fun as this afternoon has been, I must go back before Thayet thinks I'm ignoring her." She smiled, clasping Kel's hand in a warm grasp. "Thanks Kel."

Kel smiled, hugging the commander. "It's anything a friend would do."

Buri smiled again, and headed off in the direction of her chambers. Kel decided to go to her own. Choosing not to disturb Tobe, Kel gathered her things and headed in search of the ladies bathhouse, it was connected to the ladies chambers, so she didn't have far to walk.

As soon as Kel submerged herself in a deep bath, her eyes threatened to close. The heat from the bath was intoxicating, making her feel sleepy, yet awake at the same time. As she half dozed, her thought roamed to Domitan of Masbolle. The young sergeant had been kind towards her since her first day as Lord Raoul's squire. Ever since she came back from Scanra after defeating Blayce, her feelings towards him had grown stronger, and not so easy to disregard. Maybe it was the fact that Cleon was officially out of her life, and that's why Dom stuck out so much.

Sighing, Kel dunked her head under the water, washing all the dirt and sweat out. Rising back up, she dried her face off with a nearby towel. Sitting in the water, her emotions stewed… simmering below her surface. IT wasn't like she could go up to Dom and tell him outright that she had a crush on him. Besides, the way her heart turns off and on, she'd be in love with another fellow by the time fall was over. She'd like to think that she would be in love with Dom forever, but Kel just couldn't see how it'd ever work out. Also, doesn't the feeling have to be returned for it to be love? Kel got up out of the bath, and wrapped a towel around her. Such thoughts were too hard for the brain and soul of the person to digest.

As Kel got back to her room, she flopped down on her bed with a sigh. At the moment, she felt as if she'd rather face another killing device then her own heart.

~*~

Kel was currently sitting down next to Neal and Dom, with Yuki on the opposite side of Neal. The ceremony had just ended, and the guests were still currently seated. Kel folded her hands on her lap, not finding anything else to do with them. They fluttered nervously despite herself.

The wedding in itself had been beautiful. Both Buri and Raoul seemed ecstatically happy. Lalasa had outdone herself yet again, Kel mused. Buri's gown was a delicate white. On the petite commander, she looked very elegant, but the gown wasn't too extravagant that it looked gaudy.

Kel herself was dressed in her finest gown for the occasion. How Lalasa found time to alter a dress for her dumbfounded Kel. It was a peach coloured outer gown, with a moderate waistline, and long skirt. It fit perfectly, but as shown, Kel couldn't expect anything less from Lalasa. Kel rubbed the material through her fingers as her hands sat in her lap. Neal and Yuki were talking quietly on her right, and Dom was unusually silent on her left.

Sighing, Kel looked around, all guests were talking amongst themselves, all relishing in the happiness that a wedding brought. A nudge on her left brought her back to her senses.

"Do you think they're planning their own wedding?" Dom asked quietly, indicating Yuki and Neal.

Kel smiled, glanced over at Neal and Yuki, and then looked back at Dom. "I doubt Neal has the patience. Yuki will plan it all with help from Shinko, more then not."

Dom stretched back, straightening his long legs in front of him. "Probably," he paused thoughtfully. "Do you plan to get married?"

Kel looked at him in surprise. And shock. "Do I plan to get married?" She repeated.

"Surely you must think about it." He replied, a twinkle in his blue eyes laughed, but not unkindly.

"I've thought about it, but I'm not near ready to be married." Kel smiled, a flutter in her stomach appeared while her thoughts drifted to marrying Dom. "I just received my shield. I'm not ready to give that up."

"The Lady Alanna is married and is a knight." He stated.

Kel tactfully diverted the subject towards him. "Have you given thoughts about marriage?"

He sighed. "I can't marry if I want to stay in the Own."

"Oh…" Kel said; she had forgotten that part of his arrangement.

Neal turned towards them, eyeing them thoughtfully. Kel wondered if he had listened to their conversation by the look her was giving her. "Ready to celebrate?" He asked, mischief rising to meet his words.

Dom laughed. "More then," He stood, as Neal did. "May I escort you Lady Knight?" He smiled at her, genuine delight reached his blue eyes.

Kel grinned, raising an eyebrow to his question. "If I must." She stated jokingly.

"You must." Neal put in, turning back towards them, with Yuki on his arm.

Kel's thoughts roamed as Dom lead her into the hall that the servants had decorated for the celebration afterwards. Liking the feeling of her hand resting in the crook of Dom's arm, Kel grinned to herself. Even though her own heart was more then confusing at times, Dom's quick to make her laugh humor, and deep blue eyes were more then worth it.

To Be Continued:

Valencia22: Thank-you, compliments always help encourage me to write more quickly. I'm trying my best to make this as K/D as possible without rushing into too quickly… or it would ruin the story.

Lady Satine: I updated… more Kel/Dom is on the way…

Angel of Wind: I'm glad you like it. I plan to.

Kenta Divina: Fun is always good when it comes to writing. Yes, they have begun flirting… yay!

Lady of Lost Thoughts: Thanks so much, I will continue to do so.

Superalicea: That's exactly why I wrote this story. TP hinted at this, but didn't satisfy my craving for a happy Kel/Dom ending, so I decided to do it myself.

Author's Note: This is probably how long the chapters will usually be. The first two were more then kind of short, so I plan to make them all this long or so. Thank my friends for getting this chapter out now, without Dave to aggravate me beyond myself being recognized, this chapter wouldn't be out until next week. Please review.