The Threads of Life: Chapter 17

Midwinter Party

A/N: I'm sooo sorry, it's been super long since I last wrote a chapter, but here's one now!


"Is the food roasting Owen?"

"Yes Milady, but it's looking like we won't have enough food to feed a whole army." Kel glowered at Owen, and then went back to hanging up some festive decorations on her tent. She finished, then stepped back to admire her handiwork. A small wreath made with pine branches hung on the flap to her tent, and twisted branches lined the rest of her tent. Owen came up behind her and startled her.

"Looks good. Come see the food now, then you can get ready and get dressed." Kel nodded in agreement, then turned around and followed him to the fire. It was almost dark, and the glowing red embers made a beautiful picture against the stark white snow on the ground. She smiled at her men, filled with pride at their effort in making this little party happen.

"When's the other camp coming?" she asked, hoping she didn't sound too desperate. So far she was pretty sure that the other men didn't know about her and Dom, although she could have sworn she saw a smirk on Owen's face.

"In a little bit. Go get dressed." She sighed and rolled her eyes, but complied.

Once she was gone, the little group got closer.

"Okay men, here's our plan for getting those two together..."


A few hours later, the party was well under way. Merric had managed to wangle a few bottles of whiskey off of some of the farmers he had befriended, and everyone's heads were buzzing lightly.

"Here's a thought," said Owen suddenly. "Kel, why don't you go get that lap harp you carry around sometimes, and we can have some music." Kel nodded, and got up to get her harp. Once she came back, however, something looked different. Everyone had quietly moved to different seats around the fire. The only open one was a large rock under a tree. It was right next to Dom. She wondered for a few seconds why they would have moved, but just shrugged, sitting in the open seat. She smiled briefly at Dom, and then looked up.

"Well?" she asked, "Who wants to play?" Kaven stood up, and she offered him the harp. He started by playing a fast song, to which everyone got up and danced. At the end, Kel sat down, feeling flushed and giddy. Dom looked at her, and they both grinned. She supposed she was slightly drunk.

The next song was slower. It was a love song, and the music seemed to weave among the trees, and settle down like a soft blanket around them. Kel felt her eyes closing, and hardly noticed when the song ended, such was the power of the music. She sat up, and looked at the other men. Was it just her imagination, or were the other men looking at each other far more often and suspiciously than was normal?

"I'm for bed," she said, and stood up. She tried to take a step, but found that she couldn't move. She looked over at Neal, who had an expression of glee on his face. "Was this your doing?" she asked. He blushed and looked over at Owen and Merric. None of them spoke, but then Kaven piped up.

"Look above your head, milady." She obliged, and was shocked when she saw what was hanging above her – mistletoe! And it had somehow been made so that she couldn't move. She looked hopelessly at the other men.

"Well?" they asked.

"Well what?" she asked. "What do you want me to do?" She was thoroughly confused and angry. Such a nice night had been ruined by some stupid practical joke.

"You have to kiss the closest person to you." They all looked pointedly at a spot to the right of her. She looked over and groaned when she saw who was sitting there, with a very red face. Dom. Of course, they wanted him to kiss her. She caught his eyes, and grinned when she saw them twinkling. They could teach those rowdy men a lesson. Dom stood up and moved towards Kel slowly. He leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to," he said. Kel shook her head vehemently, and looked up at Dom. Her breath caught as his cool hand cupped her cheeks and lifted her head. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Kel gasped involuntarily – his touch still made her shiver.

A loud cheer caused them to break apart, blushing heavily. They looked at each other and both nodded imperceptibly. Dom leaned down once again, but this time his kiss was fiercer. He put his hands around her waist, and Kel's hand went into his hair. His hand ran up her sides and lightly brushed her breasts. She wanted to see the other mens' reactions, but that would mean breaking the kiss. Suddenly, a loud voice broke them apart.

"You were together? This entire time, you were together?" It was Neal, and Kel couldn't help but laugh.

"Would we be kissing like this if we weren't?" asked Dom lightly. Kel pretended to slap him lightly.

"Dom! He didn't need to know that!" Dom shrugged. Kel stepped away from the warm circle of his arms and turned to the others. "It's time to sleep now. We have a big job to do tomorrow: we start the infiltration of Mindelan. Dom, your camp can stay here, we have extra bedrolls.

"She just wants to sleep with him," someone muttered. Kel frowned and turned towards them.

"If I ever found out who said that, they will not live to see the light of another day." However, Kel was happy; the relationship she had with Dom was no longer secret, and no one disliked it."

She went to sleep that night with a smile on her face.


A/N: Okay, that was a HORRIBLE chapter, sorry, but I had to get a chapter up, its been so long. Anyway, please review!

Crystaltambaia