Disclaimer: i don't own any of the characters or places mentioned that you recognise. Those are Tamora Pierce's.
Summary: I know this has been done before but... During a celebratory ball, Kel, Dom, Neal and Yuki are captored by Stormwings and brought to Scanra with no weapons and no way to get out. How will they survive the rough scanranian torture, especially once they find out Kel isn't just any court lady... KD, NY
Please read and review, this is my first Tamora Pierce fic and my second overall. Please tell me whether its ok, and give me tips, or i wont continue.
Chapter 1: Prologue and The Ball
Kel was more than ready for a warm bed. She had also had to put up with Neal's whining for his "Yamani blossom" for days. So when Fort Steadfast came into view, she smiled. Finally. In the distance, a soldier waved to he on the wall and ran for the stairs. The gates slowly opened and Kel and the soldiers rode through. Kel dismounted and looked for a familiar face. She saw Neal was already gone. Tobe came over,
"Milady," kel smiled at him,"er, i mean, kel, I'll take Peachblossem. Its good to have you back." To Kel's surprise, he reached up and hugged her, then walked Peachblossem to the stables. Kel smiled, 'he is getting more mature everyday,' She thought. She was about to walk to the headquarter to give her report to Wyldon when someone grabbed her from behind. "Kel, I'm so glad to see you!" A few remaining soldiers sneered at them. Kel blushed. She turned around and hugged the man. "Glad to see you too Dom." Together, they walked to headquarters.
2 months later- Corus
King Jonathon the fourth, of Tortall held a giant midwinter ball to celebrate the recent success in Scanra. The war was starting to wind down, and it looked good for Tortall. Kel and those who were onvolved in their 'excursion' were given leave to go, including Dom's entire squad. Kel had left New Hope reluctantly, but was eventually swayed by Fanche that the rebuilding of the fort and villiage was going well and nearly finished.
Lady Alanna, Commander Buri, betrothed to Lord Raoul, and Yuki had made sure that Kel would be in her finest. Lalasa had come up with one of her finest gowns yet. Kel studied herself in the mirror of her room. Her dress was in one of her favourite colours – forest green, in silk. Embroidered up the bell sleeves and bottom were floral and leaf patterns. The off the shoulder cut was accented with tiny emeralds. Yuki smiled behind her. Kel couldnt get out of wearing this dress – it wasnt low cut, but still showed her body, and she couldnt say the colour didnt suit her because it did, and brought out her eyes. Kel looked simply, beautiful. Buri came up to Kel, in her low cut baby blue gown, "theres something missing." Yuki gave her a wink and pulled a slightly lighter shade or green sash around Kel's waist, and tucked a crimson shukusan inside. "There, perfect."
As a special guest, Kel was required to be introduced by the herald at the top of the stairs into the great hall. As she got there, so did Dom. Their relationship had... changed in the past month or two. They were still friends but there was something between them, something that Kel couldnt explain. All she knew, that feeling she got when she like Neal as a page had come back, and she got butterflies when ever Dom so much as looked at her. Dom glanced at her. 'Wow' he thought, 'she's so beautiful.' Kel looked quizzically at him. "Why are you staring at me?" Dom snapped out of his thoughts. "Uh, its just that the Protecter of small has suddenly grown wings. You look like an angel tonight, Kel." Before she could reply or even think on what he had said, the herald looked at them and smiled. "Shall i introduce you together, sir?" Kel went to interupt but Dom said, "Ah, yes. Thank you Herald." And stepped forward towards the door.
Everyone looked as the herald stepped into view. He looked up and shouted, "Intoducing, Sargent Domitan of Masbolle, and his partner, Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small. They walked down the stairs, Kel struggle to keep her face from blushing from Dom's comment and the fact that the herald introduced them as partners and her as Protector of the Small. She was becoming less like a yamani everyday. Dom smiled, noticing the swoons and jealous looks at Kel of several court ladies as the looked upon them, and him, in his black embroidered blue tunic and breaches. 'If only they knew' he thought as winked at one of them. Kel looked around at the bottom of the stairs, looking for a sign of any of her other friends. She couldn't see any of them, and Dom had been pulled away by a court lady. 'I am not jealous,' sho told herself. Yet she had trouble believing herself.
"Doesn't Kel look simply fantastic tonight, Neal?" Yuki smiled at her. Neal came into view behind her, stuffing his face with a pastry. "Yeah, sure, you look nice Kel" he said when he'd finished. He smirked, "I'm sure Dom noticed as well." Kel couldnt keep herself from blushing his time. She retaliated, "if you haven't noticed meathead, Dom has gone off with some lady, much prettier than myself." Neal smirked again, "oh yeah, Lady Melita, she's been after him for months. I told him to just take her but he said..." He didn't get to finish. Yuki had hit him on the head with her shukesan and walked away. He winked at Kel and chased after her. Kel could just hear plights of apology ("my beautiful danish, your hair shines like peppermint cream") from across the hall. She was about to look for someone else to talk to when the trumpets began to sound.
Everyone fell silent when the King stepped up onto the dais. Jonathon cleared his throat. "I think we all know why i have called this celebration tonight," he said.
"There is a woman in the audience, who has given outstanding service to the country and the crown. She went against her duty, which is treason as you know, because she knew that what she was doing was right. Because of your choice, showing you have overwhelming humility and compassion, i give this purse of gold to you, Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan." The crowd began to politely clap as Kel was pushed up onto the dais. She looked back and saw it was Merric and Owen. She would deal with them later. The king smiled at her. She searched for something to say and as she did that, she realised something. 'I don't hate him anymore.' It was true; Kel felt nothing but pride for her king and kingdom as she accepted the purse. 'I am so happy.' 24 hours later, Kel would remember this, and cringe at the irony.
After, Kel tried to get away from all the people. Many people had come to congratulate, including Lady Alanna and her husband, Raoul and Buri, Prince Roald and a few teenage girls, a few years younger than herself, who burst out their apology and congratulation, then ran away, looking embarrased but extremely pleased with themselves. She found herself in the palace garden, sitting on the edge of the circular fountain. She could hear sounds from a bush a few metres away. She couldnt really hear many words, but the suspected it was Neal and Yuki making up after their argument. Kel sighed. Those two would always be the same.
Two people were heading towards her. One was a tall man, and the other a thin woman. As they came closer, Kel saw that the man was Dom and the woman was a blonde woman, about her age, wearing a very low cut pink gown. She apparently was trying to throw herself on Dom. Neither had noticed Kel. Kel presumed that this was Lady Melita that Neal had mentioned earlier. She slid around to the other side of the fountain so they wouldnt see her, but so she could still hear them.
"You know ive explained it to you, Melita," Doms voice said, almost shouting, "Just because i need to spell it out out to reach your brain. I do not like you!" Meilita didnt give up. "Look. I know that you are trying to make me jealous by pretending to like that ugly thing you may call a woman, but its ok now. Im here, you didnt need to make an effort for me because i will become willingly into your arms." With this, she pushed herself against his body, arms snaking around his neck. This was when Kel decideed to interfere. She stood up, and walked upto them, Dom struggling to get Melita off him."Look, Lady Melita." She quickly tore herself away from Dom to glare at the newcomer. Kel continued, "Dom said he doesn't want you. He means it." Kel stepped close to her, revealing that she was taller than Melita by over a head. "I may not be much of a court lady, but i certainly know how to hurt people, especially snivelling fools like you." Melita took a step back, glaring angrily at both Kel and Dom. Kel turned her back from her as Melita started to walk away, throwing her fan to break on the pavement. "Go back and seduce someone that deserves it." Kel only spoke this, but it was enough to scare most women (and a few men) out of their wits.
Kel turned again, to look at Dom. He couldn't look at her. Instead, he held his head low, looking at his bootlaces. "I uh, I'm sorry about that Kel, shes.. she was a little bit crazy." Kel smiled. This would be great for torture material later on. "Its ok, my Sargent Domitan, its the least i could do for a lowly soldier as yourself." He looked up and grinned. Straight away his smile melted off his face. "Whats that?" He said and pointed up, into the sky...
Cliffhanger. If i get any reviews, ill write more. Kel was a bit ooc in that but oh well. Critisism is welcome and please correct any mistakes i have made. Vic.