I got bored of the rules about marrying in the King's Own being changed, so I thought I'd try another angle on the Kel/Dom story. Set post LK. Hope you like it. Review me and I'll update.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

The last battle of the war had been a bloody affair. Without his killing devices, King Maggur had rallied his troops for one last attack on Tortall. They took no prisoners. Lord Raoul had led the third company out into battle with the Scanran army. No one knew how it had happened exactly. There were rumours but none had proved true. Maggur's army had cut off the commander from his troops. If a young sergeant hadn't risked his own life, Buri would have been a widow before she had been married a week.

Dom stood open mouthed.

"What is it?" asked Neal through a mouthful of cake.

"The king wants to see me."

Neal swallowed. "Why would he want to see you?"

"It says something about what happened with Raoul."

"You're not in trouble are you?"

"I don't think so."

"So don't worry about it," said Neal. He held up a plate. "Have some cake."

"You are encourageable, Meathead," said Dom, looking at Neal's tray. "I'll tell Kel on you."

"Don't you dare!" said Neal.

"Tell me what?" asked Kel. The Lady night stood in the doorway. Neal's tray clattered to the floor.

"Nothing," said Neal

"Neal!" Kel exclaimed as her dog, Jump, started to eat the cold vegetables on the floor.

"Sorry mother," said Neal, "but there was cake."

Kel laughed. "You are encourageable, Sir Nealan."

"Why thank you Lady Kel, I do try," replied Neal. "Now my cake and I must go to the infirmary to visit Raoul."

"The more time I spend with him, the more I think you were right to call him Meathead," said Kel to Dom as Neal picked up the remains of the cake and headed for the door. Kel noticed the letter that was still in Dom's hands. "What's that?"

Dom swallowed. "A letter from the king."

"What have you done to deserve that?" Kel asked.

"It's something to do with what happened to Raoul."

"But you saved his life." Kel's face was unreadable.

"I disobeyed an order, Kel. I broke rank and abandoned my troops in the middle of the biggest battle in years."

"If he wanted to arrest you for treason, he would have done it already. Anyway, what I did was far worse than you and I didn't get arrested."

Dom's eyes met Kel's. "He could throw me out of the Own, Kel." Emotion flickered across Kel's Yamani stone face and was gone. Once again, Dom wished the girl would show how she felt.

Kel looked away. "He wouldn't do that, Dom. He probably just wants to thank you for saving his friend."

"You're probably right." Kel replied, blandly. The two of them stood only a few feet apart, but suddenly it was as if they were on opposite sides of the world.

"I'd best be going," Kel said abruptly. "I…I promised Owen I would go for a ride with him," she lied.

"All right, see you later, Kel."

"Bye, Dom." Kel closed the door behind her.

Dom sank into a chair. Kel was so complicated. What had he said? Once again, Dom wished he knew what she felt about him beneath her Yamani stone.

In her rooms, Kel collapsed onto her bed, fighting back the tears. So long as Dom remained in the Own, she was able to put her feelings to one side. If he left, he would be free to marry…

So what does King Jonathan want? Review me to find out...