Ok, I can't remember if I need to thank anyone or put any notes up and I don't have anytime to check because I'm putting this up as I'm going to bed- damn textiles coursework! I've been doing it all evening!!! So I'm sorry if there is someone I should be thanking or something I should be saying, but hey! I planned out the whole story last night but only realised as I was typing this up that I've introduce Alianne and I don't know how she's going to come in later…well I did but I had to change that… anyways, enough of me!
Bye bye for now!
Luv,
M the M.M.M.
The next morning, when Kel was up and dressed she went to find Dom to apologise for yesterday: she had been so tired he had had to help her back to her rooms. This was bad enough in itself but was made worse by the fact she was often trying to proof to him that women were as strong as men.
Kel found Dom in Pirate's Swoop's main courtyard with a number of men. As she came closer, Kel noticed Dom seemed rather uncomfortable. Deciding this would be a good opportunity to use her new talents, Kel crept behind an empty wagon, positioning herself so she could hear but would not be seen.
'…to tell us,' one of the men was saying.
'Yeah,' chimed in the others, all directed at Dom.
'I don't have to tell you anything,' he said tartly, folding his arms over his chest.
'Oh, come on- we know you were out with the lady!'
Dom looked at the last speaker sharply. 'What lady?' he asked innocently.
'Dom- stop playing around- Lady Kel!' exclaimed one of Dom's friends.
Kel's breath caught in her chest- what would Dom say? But then, viewing his options, Kel was filled with dread. His day with her hadn't really been that romantic, had it? And she hadn't really been very cooperative. What if he didn't really like her? What if he was just playing with her? What if he was filled with disgust at her attitude? Kel no longer wanted to hear what he was going to say. She had come to want Dom's good opinion.
To Kel's shock, Dom's face showed deep relief when she walked over to them, bringing the conversation to a halt. If Kel hadn't overheard what had previously passed, she would have become increasingly suspicious at the men's wicked grins directed at both herself and their commander,
She opened her mouth to strike up a conversation with a witty remark but her first words were lost under the resounding noise of galloping horses hooves. A group of people were riding into Pirate's Swoop lead by a young woman on a large black horse. Her hair, just below her shoulders, was blue in colour; her eyes were violet (A/N: anyone know what colour Alianne's eyes are?)
When the girl dismounted, Kel automatically took note that she was of average height and weight but there was something about her that made Kel certain she would be able to pack a punch.
The girl's friends dismounted behind her and together, talking amongst themselves, they walked into the stables. Just as the girl was entering the stables, she stopped and looked over to Kel, Dom and the men, her face plain. Then she disappeared into the stables.
Dom came to stand next to Kel.
'Any idea who she was?' Kel muttered.
'That, I have reason to believe, was Lady Alanna's only daughter.'
Kel raised her eyebrows. 'And from who do you have this knowledge?'
'Oh, none other than pesky Meathead. Apparently, Alanna and her daughter had an extremely large argument when Alianne was younger because his Majesty did not want her to be a knight and because she defied her parents and dyed her hair that gorgeous colour.' Dom grinned at Kel.
'And then what happened?'
'I'm not sure. I think Alianne ran off to the Shang- feisty little thing that she is.'
Kel grinned at him and sighed inside- he was so gorgeous and somehow always managed to cheer her up. She felt her heart melt every time he grinned at her in his irresistible way.
*
That night, Kel rolled over in her bed and groaned to herself. She was supposed to be asleep. She should have easily been able to get to sleep. She should have, but she couldn't. Damn Dom! She needed her sleep but here she was tossing and turning because he was plaguing her mind! The way his shoulders filled out his tunic; the way his arm felt around her; the way her lips felt pressed against his… The way he could always cheer her up.
Kel was getting fed up with keeping running away. It was so hard to keep hiding. Yet it was so hard to give in to her feelings. This she had done with Cleon and she had learned to love him. Now Cleon was dead and Kel had gone through days of never ending heartache. She couldn't afford to be hurt again. But deep down, she knew she couldn't live without love and one day, however much she feared it, she would let go and love Dom in return.
But until that day, she was still just Kel, confused and caught with no-one to turn to. And she needed her sleep- tomorrow was sure to be a late night- it was Alianne's eighteenth birthday.
*
The next morning, Kel came down to the courts to practice early. She was surprised to find someone else there: the blue haired Baron's daughter. Kel wasn't quite sure what to expect of Alianne but when the girl noticed Kel, she stopped her exercises and smiled warmly. Kel smiled back and walked over to Alianne.
'Hi,' said Alianne excitedly. 'Are you Lady Keladry? The lady knight? I'm Alianne.' She held out her hand. Kel accepted it with a smile.
'Yes, that's me. I hope I wasn't interrupting anything important, Alianne.'
'Not at all. I'm sorry about yesterday, I was just shocked. I mean, Ma never told me you would be here, Lady Keladry!'
'Please,' insisted Kel. 'Just Kel.' They sat down and began to talk. Time passed quickly and before Kel knew it, Dom was calling to her. Kel said goodbye to Alianne and raced over to see Dom.
'Hello my favourite lady knight,' said Dom. 'Would you like to come to breakfast, o early riser or would you prefer to starve in the sun?'
Kel grinned, her pulse speeding up. 'I think I'll come in with you. But only if you promise to be a good boy and eat all your vegetables.'
Dom offered her his arm. 'Only if you'll tell me all about your interesting conversation with young Alianne, my lady.'
Kel walked past him, ignoring his arm. 'I'm not a lady, Sergeant Domitan. Now, are you coming to breakfast or are you going to stand and flirt with me all morning?'
Making a face at her back, Dom followed Kel to the mess hall. 'Well?' he asked when they sat down opposite each other.
Kel tore off a chunk of bread and bit into it thoughtfully before replying. 'She's nice. And we seem to feel the same way about many things, you know. We have the same interests, which is even more startling.' Dom rolled his eyes at Kel's sarcasm. 'And she looks up to me.' Kel grinned.
'We all do, my lady, we all do but just think how degrading it is for a man to openly admit he looks up to a woman.'
Kel raised her eyebrows.
'Ow!' yelled Dom, putting his hand to his shin as everyone turned to look at him. 'Kel! You didn't have to kick me!'
Kel gave him a look that said quite plainly she would do as she liked and turned back to her food.
Ok…I write loads when I'm happy…reviews make me happy!