"Yuki, can we talk?"

The Yamani looked up from her meal to see a girl standing beside her, "Of course, Lady Kel." With a smile of acceptance to her friend, Yuki gave Kel a little bow before standing up, "Just let me take care of this tray."

Kel waited for Yukimi at the mess hall door as she took care of her food. When she was done they walked out into the midday sunlight and headed for Kel's quarters.

Once they were out of the hall Yuki increased her pace, quickening her steps until she was slightly in front of her friend. Turning so she could see the knight, Yuki said, "It's about Dom, isn't it? He was at our house earlier, and he looked…" she paused, trying to find the right word, "worried."

Kel nodded her head once before saying, "Yeah, it is."

Although Yuki hadn't stayed to listen to the conversation between her husband and his cousin, she had some idea what the problem was. Knowing that Kel wouldn't say anymore until they reached her room, Yuki fell back until she was walking beside her and they finished their trek in silence.

Cordially, Kel offered one of the chairs in her chamber to Yuki before flopping down onto her bed, face toward the ceiling. Seemingly unaware that she hadn't explained her problem to Yuki, Kel said, "I mean, I can't ask him to do that, not for me."

Yuki realized her hunch was right, Dom was willing to give up his life in the Own for Kel, and she thought she wasn't worth it. "Typical Kel," Yuki muttered under her breath before saying, "Hm?" Even though she knew Kel's dilemma, she wanted to hear the whole thing from her point of view.

Kel flicked her eyes toward Yuki, recognizing that she hadn't yet told the Yamani what her problem was. Heaving an inner sigh and quickly changing her features back into Yamani stone, Kel told Yuki what had happened between her and Dom not even two hours before.

Finishing her tale with, "You have no idea how much I want to be with him," Kel turned her head away as Yuki rose from her chair.

"You know Kel," Yuki paused artistically, giving her words just the right amount of weight, "I'm willing to bet I do." She sat down behind Kel and rested a caring hand on her shoulder, "You love Dom just as much as I love Neal."

Kel smiled to herself. Yuki was right, she did understand, and Kel was foolish to have thought she didn't. Rolling over, Kel pushed herself up into a sitting position at the foot of her bed, facing Yuki. "You're right," she said.

"I know," Yuki laughed. Pausing, she phrased her next question carefully, "So… If you love him so much, why –"

Yuki was cut off as Kel finished her question, "Why don't I want him to quit the Own for me?" She crossed her arms underneath her chest, waiting for Yuki's answer.

"Well, not exactly Kel." Yuki began to twine a strand of hair around one of her fingers as she curled her legs up underneath her kimono, "I wanted to ask why it was you don't trust him, if you love him so."

"Don't trust him?" Kel was incredulous, unsure of what Yuki meant. "What are you talking about?" she asked, fidgeting slightly. "I trust Dom with my life. Yuki, I trust Dom with my heart!"

Seeing she had startled Kel, Yuki began to pacify her. "I know that Kel."

"Then what do you mean?"

Breathing deep, Yuki replied, "Why don't you trust his judgment?"

This caught Kel unawares. Trying to stop the trickle of tears making their way down her cheeks Kel let loose an off-hand remark, "This isn't me. I never cry. It's only when I think about all this that it happens."

"Even the strongest Yamani has to heed the calling of their heart," Yuki quoted an ancient Yamani proverb to Kel; "An emotionless mask can only last for so long." Gently, Yuki wrapped Kel in a swift embrace, "Take pride in the fact that you have found someone who can break through your mask."

Yuki looked Kel full in the face, "I've cried." She paused, "Shinko's cried. Kel, I've seen the emperor cry." Changing her grip, Yuki now cradled Kel's chin in one motherly hand, "Every Yamani has cried, when the time came."

"Emotions are real, no matter how you try to hide them." Letting go of Kel's chin, Yuki reclined back into her spot, "Be grateful you have found someone who made you realize that. Dom is the one for you, and you know it."

Her eyes over bright, Kel swiped at them with her hand once and flicked away the dew that ran across her fingers. "I do know it," she whispered.

"Then why don't you trust his judgment?"

As Kel couldn't seem to form any words, Yuki gave her some, "You think you know what's best for him, you think you know that a life in the Own is what is most important to him." Yuki let these words sink into Kel's mind, "You aren't trusting his judgment of himself when he tells you different."

Kel opened her mouth, but Yuki stopped her with a raised finger, "Let me finish, young lady." Lowering the appendage, Yuki said, "You fail to see that he knows what he wants. You fill your head with false thoughts of what he needs, instead of listing to him when he speaks the full truth."

"I'm right, aren't I?"

Yuki's words finally hit Kel's heart and they rang strong and sincere. Lowering her head to the quilt Kel closed her eyes, "Yes, you are." Drawing in a shuddering breath, Kel whispered, "You are," once more before finally letting go of her tears.

As her sobs slowly abated, Kel sat up. Looking at Yuki with a newfound respect she said one simple word, "Thanks."

Yuki smiled, "So have you made up your mind?"

Kel returned the smile as her eyes cleared. The understanding and help in Yuki's words had given Kel a new outlook on her situation, and she was ready to take the next step. Standing up, Kel gave Yuki a swift hug in parting gratitude, "Yes, I have."

Walking to the door, Kel stepped out. "I'm going to find Dom."

OOO

"Solan?" Raoul's voice echoed slightly down the hall as he knocked on the Mithran's door. Hitting the wood with another sold blow, Raoul said, "Can I talk with you?"

Raoul withdrew his fist when he felt the door move. Slowly, the portal creaked open to frame Solan within its recess. The Initiate looked a little gaunt, as though he hadn't had a real meal in a few days, but he swept a graceful hand into his room and stepped aside so Raoul could enter.

Solan gave a little bow to the Knight Commander, rising after a few seconds. Reaching his full height again, his eyes caught a glimpse of movement that swept the doorway behind Raoul.

Seeing the unmistakable head of raven black hair standing there, Solan swept down into another bow, this one much deeper than the one he had given Raoul. Holding that position, Solan didn't move until he heard Thayet's clear voice, "Rise."

Solan did so slowly and then pulled up another chair for the Queen, offering it to her with the most grave of gestures. Thayet acknowledged him with a nod of her head but she remained standing, half shielded by Raoul's body.

The knight moved farther into the room. "Solan, all we want to do is talk, okay?"

Solan nodded, "That's all I wish to do." He sat on the edge of his bed and clasped his hands together between his knees, "All I want to do is talk."

Thayet cautiously moved until she was sitting beside Solan. Cutting Raoul off with a sharp flick of her hand before he could try to stop her Thayet raised her hand and placed it on the quivering shoulder of the Mithran, "That's all we'll do Solan, just talk."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," he whispered.

I know it's short, and I'm sorry it took me this long to update. When I stop having chorus practice three hours a night, I can write more! The musical ends on Saturday, so it's close to that time!

R&R please!

Sull89

P.S. A small change has been added to this chapter, thanks to the help and good sense of Caremel.