Dislcaimer: I do not own any of the character or places.
Dom had walked her back to her room. When they reached her door she looked around. She didn't know why but she was nervous all of the sudden. The festivities had gotten to her and she was feeling romantic. But every time she would look at Dom she would forget about romantic notion. There was no way that the most beautiful and most eligible bachelor who had more than a dozen ladies after him would fall for one oversized knight.
When she looked up she was the mistletoe. Uh-oh, she thought. She was wondering what to do. Should she kiss him, and be made a fool. But even if she was made a fool she would always remember the moment his lips would touch hers. Or should she just laugh it off? That would be awkward. Torn between the two she looked at Dom. She could see a battle raging in his eyes as well.
To avoid an awkward situation and to not be fool she settled for a compromise. Standing on tip-toe she gently pressed her lips to his cheek. "Midwinter Luck" she said as she blushed furiously.
She looked up to be trapped in his eyes. He smiled gently. She gave him a shaky smile and turned to go to bed, savouring the little kiss she had allowed herself.
She looked back at him to see him standing there, a hand on his cheek as if to keep the memory of her little kiss.
When he saw her watching he whispered "Midwinter Luck, my love"
That night she lay in bed remembering the way his voice had sounded when he had called her love and the way his cheek felt under her lips.
Dom lay quietly in his bed that night, thinking about that wonderful peck. Ha had been rendered speechless by what he had seen in her eyes. She cared for him. He made a midwinter resolution. Before the week was out, he was going to tell her how he felt. Feeling so scared at the thought of it, but at the same time sensing the hope fill him up he wondered how he would do it.
For the next few days the camp was calm and peaceful. Nothing of import happened. The kids had made a giant snowman and they had given him an arched nose with green eye. They had then written in snow that it was Sir meathead.
Five days after midwinter he asked the kitchen for a supper for two to be packed up. He then went to find Tobe.
"I need a favour"
"What is it?" he asked
"I need you to tell Kel to go to the stable in 3 bells and be ready for a little ride" said Dom "and I need you to not mention that it's me who asked"
"Why?" he asked. Tobe was very protective of his Lady.
Just then the seer Irnai walked past "Just do it Tobe" she said to the other child. "And here" she gave something to Dom. Looking in his hand he saw a pair of gloves and a scarf "She'll be cold later" she told him.
Dom thanked her and went to his room to think.
Three bells later he had stuffed the gloves and scarf in his saddle bag, along with the meal the cooks had prepared. He went to saddle his horse. Kel walked in and saddle Hoshi. She looked at him "Was it you who sent me cryptic message to tell me to come here?"
"Caught me didn't you?"
They rode out to a little clearing.
Once there Kel dismounted and tethered her horse beside Dom's. Suspiciously none of the sparrow nor Jump had accompanied them. It was just Kel and Dom.
He set out a blanket on the snow, and took two more. He wrapped one around himself and the other around Kel. He then took the bread, stew and apple cider out of the basket.
She sat down beside him 'This is cozy"
"I'm glad you like it. I thought you needed a break"
She sighed "There's always a problem. One family got more wood then another, or the someone stole food from the kitchen, or breaking up fights. I also have to assume chaperon duty now. Some parents asked me to make their kids understand that they should not kiss. Have you ever had The Talk with someone? Really embarrassing." Dom couldn't help it , he started to laugh. The thought of Kel telling someone about sex was just hilarious. She glared at him.
"So who gave you The Talk?" he asked her
'My Lord Raoul" she replied laughing. "It was so embarrassing. We were both blushing uncontrollably. What about you?"
"Uncle Baird. He sat me and Meathead down and told us all about it. Of course Meathead wouldn't shut up and kept asking questions. It was quite entertaining. Well now it is, when I was actually there I was mortified."
They laughed quietly.
They then ate in silence for a little while. Kel noticed that Dom kept looking at her. She smiled up athim. "Kel... there something I want to tell you" he said with a blush.
"You know you can tell me anything" she relied quietly.
He smiled at her. "Well... you are and amazing girl Kel" he started. Kel thinking that this was going to be a "but I don't think anything could happen between us, we're just great friends" speech hung her head down.
"and Kel you mean alot to me" Kel lifted her head suddenly. This was not what she had expected.
"I really admire you, you are strong, brave, beautiful and you fight for what you believe in. What more can someone want? You are so amazing. The moment I met you I thought you would be an am love amazing woman. But it's when I saw you kissing Cleon that I realized I was in love. I was so jealous. And I just want to tell you Kel, I really love you." He said. He would not meet her eyes.
"You know Dom, I never loved Cleon. Sure I was attracted to him, but I did not love him. I was in love with another, I've been in love with someone else for a very long time now. But I always denied it to myself. And to me it seemed impossible. The man is perfect, why would he fall for a muscular lady knight, who does not look pretty in dresses, when he could have any woman, or man, that he wanted?"
"Who is he?" he asked, totally depressed.
"You" she whispered softly. He looked up. She could hear her heart fluttering. He gently bent his head down and kissed her softly on the lips. When he parted with her he stared into her beautiful hazel eyes. She grabbed the back of his neck and brought his mouth back down to hers.
Kel was in a happy bliss. Nothing could compare to this. The way Dom's lips whispered adoringly against hers. He gave so much into the kiss. She now understood why woman all over Tortall begged Dom to stay with them, when he tried to end a courtship.
A little while later, when they both had finished eating, they decided to go back to the camp. Once Dom released her hand she felt cold. His hand were so warm. He smiled. He went to his saddle bag and tossed a pair of gloves and a scarf at Kel. 'how did you know to bring those?"
'Irnai told me" he replied laughing.
They rode into the camp smiling brightly. When they unsaddled their horse Kel came close to Dom and whispered "Can we keep it a secret"
He looked around, kissed her lightly on the lips just because he could. "Of course"
The next few weeks were some of the happiest of Kel's life she would practice with the children, watched the grown up workout, sort out all the troubles, practice her glaive and sword work and then she would go to her room to write letters and reports and such. Later that night Dom would slip in her room. They would talk for several hours (with interrupting kisses) and then he would leave and go to bed. Only Tobe knew of the new relationship between Kel and Dom, having caught them kissing, but he had agreed to not tell anyone.
They got letters from Lord Raoul and Sir Meathead. Neal was mentioning how the Own would prank him, while Lord Raoul would recount the same story. Neal's letter were indignant while Lord Raoul's were hilarious.
Kel also got some letters from the King, Lord Raoul and General Vanget. They filled her in with all the war news. Apparently the war was now focused on her death. Which was a bit scary. When the knights were going to come back, she would have even more men and knights at her disposal, which surprised her. Master Numair was going to come as well and enforce the defences. New Hope was now a village. The Kings had agreed to make New Hope into a trading town. Once the war was over it was going to be very well situated. Close to the several river that would be very helpful in the transportation of wood and goods.
But now it was transformed into a town with a fort. The outer walls of the town were raised higher and were finally given proper fort structure. The ground was also going to be expanded again to have more room.
The letters also included news from all her knights friend. Owen was now a glorious Knight and had told her about his ceremonial bath when he was instructed and how afterwards Lord Wyldon and Neal had gotten into an argument.
Daine was now pregnant and her baby kept changing size, body and sex, forcing Daine to change the lower half of her body into whatever shape the baby took.
It was March when the troops finally came back to the border. There had been several skirmish, but nothing to fret over.
Neal, Merric, Esmond, Seaver, Faleron, Owen (a knight) and Cleon were assigned under her command again. When Kel and Cleon came face to face again it was slightly awkward.
"Hi Kel" he had whispered
"Hi Cleon, how is Kennan?"
"Fine, my... wife is there now." He had replied.
"How is she?"
"She's pregnant now" he had whispered
'Congratulation" she replied with feelings. When Cleon looked at her and saw how genuine she was he smiled. "Still good friends?"
"Always" she had replied softly.
Another surprise was that Inness and Conal were also stationed at New hope, under her command. How was she going to boss her big brothers around? She wondered. Inness had just said "Mom wants us to make sure you're fine"
Kel rolled her eyes. The next few day everyone had to adjust to the new people. Neal had also brought Yuki. Yuki had hugged her friend close. "Kel, I'm big" she had whispered. Because she had a small bump coming from her stomach.
'I'm so happy for you Yuki" said Kel with a smile. "How's Neal dealing with it?"
"Yuki, you should rest, Yuki why don't you lie down? Yuki be careful" she said imitating her husband, who happened to walk over with his cousin. She hid her smile behind her fan as she told Neal "Overprotective fool"
Neal just smiled at her and said "That's why you are head over heel in love with me"
Kel saw that Yuki barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Apparently Tortall was rubbing off on the Yamani because her face actually showed some expression now.
Just as Kel was congratulating Neal, the horn sounded. The scarans were back.
Kel rushed to the wall, almost toppling over her brothers. All the knights stood behind her. "Neal take the wall" she screamed "Merric take Jancut and Hevlor, go through the woods, there another band that way. Dom, Aiden, Quasim (who had been promoted to sergeant) and Bedouin with me saddle up." The knights protested behind her at being left behind
She silenced them with her raised hand "You do not know the terrain, I do not know how you will handle the stress, and I will not take chances. You will see your share of action, just not now. I want to match all of you with a few squads that you would lead. However I don't have the time yet therefore you will follow Neal with the archer. NOW"
She then looked around and saw Lord Raoul and Lord Wyldon. Both of them saw that she was about to give them command because they were the senior officers. Both shook their heads. "You are right Keladry, we do not know the terrain. Take care of it" Lord Wyldon said.
"We'll have back up squads and be ready to follow you out if you need it. Just sound the horn"
She nodded as she rushed to mount Peachblossom. The skirmish wasn't too bad. Only one man had fallen, about 6 were injured. They had had a great defence, especially with Master Numair magic.
When she came back through the gate, Lord Raoul and Lord Wyldon asked to talk to her privately.
They went to Kel's room, where Tobe served them refreshments. As soon as Tobe was gone Lord Wyldon said "We have some news for you Keladry, some good, some bad"
Thank you for the revies. If anyone finds mistakes please let me know and I will correct them. Please review!