Chapter Eight

Kel was not looking forward to meeting Raoul's family. She didn't say anything, of course, but she did get up early to practise with her glaive.

Raoul watched her appreciatively until she was done. "Ready for breakfast?" He asked.

Sighing, Kel put her glaive away before she answered. "Yes." She rummaged through her side of the closet and started dressing.

"It'll be fine." Raoul came up behind her, giving her a hug and kissing the top of her head. "They'll love you."

"Are you sure? What if they think-"

"This is my family, remember? They've heard me raving about how great you were ever since you were a page. Even if they don't like you, which isn't going to happen- they wouldn't say anything about it. Cheer up." Raoul tickled Kel in the ribs before he pulled away to get dressed himself.

When Raoul and Kel emerged from their room the hallway was deserted. Raoul tugged Kel all the way out and she squared her shoulders, putting on a facade of confidence.

She would be fine, Raoul told himself. His family had been hounding him for ages. It had gotten to the point where his mother said she didn't care who he married if he would only get on with it.

Raoul gave Kel's hand a reassuring squeeze before they entered the great hall. When Raoul's mother saw him her eyes widened and she beckoned him over. Conversation in the hall all but stopped as Raoul and Kel made their way to the head table.

"So you're the one who finally managed to snare my son." Raoul's mother said when they were close enough to hear her. "Don't just stand there, sit down, sit down." She motioned to an empty space on her left. Raoul's father sat on the right, looking at Kel with interest. He didn't say anything- Raoul knew he would wait until his wife was through questioning Kel before he joined in.

Raoul tried to take the seat between his mother and Kel, but she would have none of it.

"I want to have a chat with her." She said. "You seem to be quite the individual. A lady knight and Raoul's wife. I'm not sure which is more impressive."

Far too polite to refuse Kel sat down beside Raoul's mother. Raoul took his seat to and left Kel to her fate. She would be fine, besides, he would be too busy answering his brother's questions to field any aimed at Kel.

When breakfast was finished Raoul immediately whisked Kel off to the stables and took her on a ride.

"Was it as terrible as you thought it would be?" Raoul asked when they had left the castle.

"No," Kel admitted. "Your family is nice. I like your mother."

"Really?" Raoul raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Yeah. She reminds me of you."

"No!"

Kel smirked. "Come on, admit it. Besides, you had to learn it from somewhere." She sighed and sat back in her saddle. Today Kel was riding Hoshi so Raoul was able to ride close to her, close enough to touch.

Which he did.

Repeatedly.

Until it started snowing, that is. In no time thick flakes were drifting from the sky, coating Kel, Raoul and their horses.

"We'd better get back." Kel brushed the snow from her hair.

Raoul nodded. This close to the mountains blizzards often formed at the drop of a hat.

They turned their horses and rode back as quickly as was safe, but they were both covered in snow by the time they reached the castle.

"It's a good thing we came when we did," Raoul said as he and Kel dried off and changed. "A few days later and we would be caught in this."

Kel shuddered. "I feel sorry for anyone who is." She rubbed her arms for warmth, then started poking the fire to life. "So what are we going to do now?"

"Do?" Raoul asked, crouching beside her and stretching his hands out toward the fire. "We don't have to do anything. This might come to a surprise to you, but not everyone is busy all the time."

"Well I am."

"I'm sure you'll find something to keep yourself occupied with." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck. "I can think of a few places where you'll be useful."

"Mmm," She mumbled, allowing her hands to wander.

They both jumped when someone knocked on the door.

Grumbling darkly Raoul went to answer it. Two of Raoul's older nieces were standing in the hall.

"Uncle Raoul, can we talk to Lady Keladry? We didn't get to meet her at supper and..."

"Fine." He sighed, ushering them in.

Kel looked up in surprise as the girls flocked around her, sitting on the floor in front of the hearth.

"I'm Ettienna and that's Malorie."

"Hello," Kel said hesitantly. "I'm Keladry-"

"We know." Malorie said quickly. "We want- we'd like it if you told us about knight training, and rescuing the children, and the jousting and everything."

Like I couldn't tell them about jousting, Raoul thought darkly. Oh well. He was surprised that there weren't more of them. He took a seat beside Kel stroking her back and rubbing her shoulders while she talked. It wasn't long until another niece and one of his brother's wives showed up.

By the time supper came around his room was full of people. It took several minutes for them all to pry themselves out. Raoul and Kel hung back until everyone else had left.

"Sorry about that," Raoul said, guiding Kel into the hallway. "But once they learn everything they'll leave you alone. It's good to get it out of everyone's systems early."

"I guess." Kel yawned. "I'm sleepy."

"Maybe mother will leave you alone tonight." Raoul said, without much hope. "I guess this wasn't the best place to bring you."

"Better than the palace." She came to a stop, and looking Raoul in the eye said, "I'm glad you brought me. I am." She reached up to kiss him. "I've faced scarier things than your family before."

"Good." Raoul pulled her into a corner and kissed her warmly. "Gods, I love you." He kissed her again, momentarily losing himself in the sweet wetness of her mouth.

"We should go," Kel murmured. "If we don't someone might come looking for us."

"You're right," Raoul pulled away reluctantly. "But we're locking the door tonight and not opening it for anybody."

Dinner passed much the same as breakfast had and when it was over Raoul and Kel raced away as soon as they could.

Manners or no, Raoul knew Kel had had enough of his family for the day.

"I think tomorrow I'll have a headache." Kel said ruefully, sitting down on the edge of the bed to pull of her boots.

"Me too." Raoul gently pushed Kel onto her back, then leaned over to kiss her.

She pulled him down beside her, kissing him hungrily.

Raoul held her tightly, loving how solid she felt in his arms, how her weight pressed against him and how she shivered when he touched her just right.

The next morning they slept in, missing breakfast. They stayed in their room for most of the day, politely turning away visitors and having a servant bring their lunch. At dinner they decided to make an appearance and Kel and Raoul took their places beside Raoul's mother.

Raoul's mother was just about to start her questioning of Kel when a servant hurried to the high table.

"My lords and ladies," He bowed quickly, then turned to Raoul and Kel. "There's someone at the gates, says his name is Domitan of Masbolle and that you know him."

"Dom," Kel whispered. "Let him in before he freezes to death!"

"Yes, milday." the servant bowed again and hurried away.

"Domitan... isn't he one of your sergeants?" Raoul's mother asked.

"Yes."

"What do you suppose he wants?"

"I have no idea." Raoul got to his feet, a sinking feeling in his stomach. This did not bode well. Either there was some emergency that Raoul had to go take care of or... well, he couldn't really think of what else it would be. Though if that was the case he didn't see why they would send Dom instead of a messenger.

"I'll come with you." Kel had also stood.

"Excuse us," Raoul said and they hurried out of the room.

When they arrived at the main doors of the keep a dark figure was already there, shaking a heavy layer of snow off of himself.

"Dom?"

"Kel," Dom said, "How're you doing?"

"What are you doing here?" Kel asked.

"Just thought I'd drop by to say hello."

"Really, what are you doing here?"

Dom looked uneasily at Raoul, then back at Kel. "I had to apologise." He said quietly. "I acted... I acted badly. I needed to tell you I'm sorry."

"And you couldn't have written a letter?" Kel's eyes sparkled with amusement.

"I wanted to tell you in person." Dom shifted his weight. "So I have, now I guess I'll just be going."

"Don't be ridiculous." Kel said. "You can't go anywhere in this weather." She turned back to look at Raoul, who immediately plastered a fake smile on his face.

"Of course you'll have to stay." He said good-naturedly. "Why don't you join us for dinner and I'll have a servant find you a room."

Raoul led the way back to the great hall, fighting off unreasonable amounts of discontent. He should be happy that Kel and Dom were going to make up. Somehow, though, he just couldn't shake the feeling that Dom wanted more than to apologize.