Revelations
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Dom didn't know why he was chasing her, weaving around the offended and blustering Conal. He wasn't worried about the situation in there; Yuki had pulled out her shukusen, and she and Neal were happily threatening him. Dom did know one, no two things though.
He didn't want Kel to hurt herself out in the snow, which they were both in now, and he suspected he owed her an apology. Obviously he'd done nothing to help her mood after initially knocking on her door.
Running through the snow he tripped on a rock, partially hidden in the grey slush and fell loudly.
Kel turned around, her dress swirling around her ankles a bit, body automatically positioning itself for hand-to-hand combat. "Go away Neal-"
Her voice broke off as she saw Dom flat-out on the ground. Coming to his knees he grimaced. His best uniform was dirty now, and the wedding celebrations weren't over; eventually things would go back to normal.
A broken laugh tried to rise up in her throat after a moment of staring at him. Dom was just like that with her; her bad moods dissipated (unless he was ticking her off) and she wanted to smile and laugh. She throttled the urge though, and gazed impassively at him, waiting.
The silence stretched as Dom looked at her feet. "Did you want something," she sighed after a moment. "I'd kind of like to change and beat something up."
He winced. "Look, Kel. I—wanted to apologize for today. And last night—Sorry I payed you no attention today."
"No attention today? Dom, you're my friend, but you didn't come to greet me yesterday, ever!" Her voice indicated she cared about that and he blurted out the foolish.
"But I did! I waited outside of your fitting for a while, and then I…I went to see if you were still in there," he admitted. "I'm so sorry," he said hurrying towards her impulsively. "I shouldn't have. I didn't mean—"
Kel was confused but beginning to feel happiness inside her heart. He had waited for her outside? Had wanted to see her---'Wait one second. He said he went to see if I was still in there—did he peek? But how…The door didn't open but when the seamstress left and she would have said something---but there's always the keyhole…'
With her suspicions in place she became indignant. "You peeked?!"
He nodded shamefacedly. "It's why I wouldn't look at you. I just---couldn't. And I'm sorry! I must have made tonight awful for you."
"Yes," she said slowly. "Conal could have done that on his own though," she said mildly.
Dom's eyes widened and he looked up, a grin growing on his face. He was about to take a gamble, since she didn't seem angry. Leaning towards her he whispered, "I dreamed about you."
Kel stumbled away, surprised, and tripped over her own feet, like a clumsy kid. "Oh," she said, and jumped back to her feet.
Her eyes avoided everywhere but him. Then she chuckled. "Look at us. We're both wet and it's cold out. And I don't feel like beating anything up anymore…Dom, I'm going to turn in. Tomorrow?"
She turned around without waiting for an answer, then felt his hand grip her sleeve. "Yes tomorrow Kel." Then, with his intentions of keeping his love a secret blown, in his mind, he slipped his hand down her arm and caught her hand. He kissed it.
"We have much to talk about, Lady Knight." Kel slid her hand along his cheek then tugged his tunic straight as an excuse, easily seen through, before she departed.
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As Kel walked away Dom came to his senses, the foolish grin fading. "Damn, I forgot to ask about Conal!"
Shaking his head at his own lovestruck ways he headed back into the mess hall. The mess hall seemed to contain the entire fort's population in it at that moment. He whispered a suggestion into Neal's ear about making sure Conal woke up with a blade between his legs (because it would scare him) and headed through the buildings towards the barracks.
He had to pass Lord Raoul's study on the way, and was surprised to find that only Raoul was in it.
"Celebrations broke up early Sir?"
"Yes Dom. Seemed there was some excitement in the mess and Buri and I were suddenly not the most important part of the evening. I wonder what that was?"
"Well, Kel's brother is an ass. A drunk ass tonight," Dom began, the smile growing on his face at Kel's name.
"Ahh yes about her. When you propose you won't have to quit the Own. I convinced Jon to allow commanders in the Own to marry. Mind you you'll still have difficulties but…night Dom," Raoul said in dismissal without finishing the thought.
He was astounded that Lord Raoul was so blunt. "We haven't even confessed we love each other," he muttered as Raoul shut the door in his face.
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Meanwhile, the seer child, Irnai, slept in her cot at New Hope. A prophesy was fresh in her head when she woke up the next morning.
Lady Kel and Dom would both be stationed in Corus later in their lives, after they got married. Kel was so good with children that she'd get a whole group of them—the pages, once Padraig Ha Minch decided that he really couldn't tolerate the obnoxious brats. Dom would be happily teaching the Own's recruits what sort of pranks they could play on their commanders and get away with.