A Wistful Love

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. They all belong to Tamora Pierce.

Chapter 2

Lunch Hour

Kel walked with Dom to her rooms in a companionable silence. Needing a change of clothes and to put her glaive away, Dom had agreed to walk with her back to her quarters. They stepped side-by-side, Kel very aware of his masculine presence. As they approached her door, she turned to him with a half smile.

"I'll be quick, I promise."

Dom grinned easily. "I'll await your return eagerly, my lady."

Kel laughed shortly then turned and entered her rooms. Swiftly, she placed her glaive back to its place on the wall, then turned to rummage for a clean pair of clothes from her chest. Within minutes she was changed to a fresh pair of breeches and a soft blue tunic. Almost half-heartedly, Kel ran a brush through her hair, then scolding herself for keeping Dom waiting for such a silly task, left her quarters. Dom, as promised, was waiting for her patiently, leaning one shoulder against the wall by her door. As she emerged, a quick smile flew across his face, then silently, he offered her his arm with a dramatic bow.

"Could I have the honor of escorting such a beautiful lady such as yourself?"

Kel shook her head and raised a single brow. Her expression bland, she gave him a measured look. "I'm not quite sure you're worthy of me. I'm afraid my station far exceeds yours, dear sir."

Dom met her gaze, his blue eyes dancing with mirth. "I see. I apologize for my inferior self. Am I even fit to stand in your presence your highness?"

Though he tried to keep his voice even, he failed, the last words of his sentence ending in laughter. Kel found herself joining him. It was all too easy to get carried away in Dom's harmless flirting. Refusing to allow herself anymore foolishness, Kel joined Dom as they made their way to the mess hall.

Throughout the short walk, Dom filled the time with short anecdotes from his travels with the Own. Many involved Sir Raoul and members of Dom's own squad. As she had expected, the bored soldiers had taken upon themselves to tormenting her former knight master. One particular story involved an overly amorous village woman, who had been led to believe that Lord Raoul was interested in her. The poor woman had given him an unexpected visit during the night in his tent.

"We could hear the shouts throughout the whole camp! Raoul came thundering out of his tent with the village woman hanging on his arm. All the while he was bellowing for the responsible party and trying to shake her off him. She was like one of those annoying little dogs that won't let go. It was one of the funniest things I'd ever seen in my life."

Kel shook her head and tried to look stern. "Shame on you, Domitan of Masbolle. You led that poor woman on. And my lord Raoul must of been furious. I assume he found out it was you and your men?"

Dom gave her a wry smile. "Yes, he figured it out. We had two weeks worth of punishment duty after that little incident. But it was worth it. The look on his face when he charged out of his tent will be forever burned into my memory."

Kel sighed in exasperation. "You are so like Neal that it sometimes amazes me."

Dom protested the comparison profoundly. "Me? Like our dear Sir Meathead? That's blasphemy lady knight. I find that insulting!"

Kel grinned cheekily. "All right then. I amend my former statement. You appear to be even more childish than Neal. Especially since he's become such a responsible soon-to-be father."

Dom's laughter filled the hall. "You win this match, Kel. Don't worry, I'll get you back for that."

They had finally reached the doors to the mess. Bowing, ever the player, Dom opened the door for her and waved a hand through. Laughing lightly, Kel preceded him into the noisy room. It echoed with carefree conversation and raised voices. The chink of tableware could be heard as all manners of people ate companionably, knights elbow to elbow with servants.

"Looks a bit crowded, doesn't it?" Dom had stepped into the hall behind her.

"It is the peak lunch hour though. I wonder if any of our other friends are here."

Just then, Kel caught sight of Merric, Faleron, and Owen, all seated at a table at the far end of the hall. There looked to be just enough room for Dom and herself. Turning, she beckoned Dom forward, then began walking to her friend's table, carefully skirting the rows of men eating. When she was still a little ways off, Owen caught sight of her and began waving exuberantly. Though she and her friends were all older and more mature, Owen had never ceased to be himself. He was a little less enthusiastic, but age and wisdom had not changed him much.

"Kel! Come sit with us. There's plenty of room!" Owen's voice was pitched to carry above the din of the mess hall.

Merric and Faleron turned to look at her, then waved a welcome. Merric's appearance had changed little, his red hair a trademark part of him, though it had darkened some in the past few years. He still had his temper, but he was in better control of it these days. It took a lot to bring on his anger now. Faleron, dark-headed and tall, was very much the same. He was the quietest of the group, only voicing his opinion occasionally. Smiling, Kel walked over to the three of them.

"Look who I found. Dom's just come back from his patrol with the Own. The King finally gave up on making them look useful."

Merric grinned cheerfully. "I'm sure Lord Raoul had something to say about it. Everyone knows he hates meaningless tasks."

Faleron inserted his own observation. "Especially since his wife wasn't with him. Was he very grumpy during your travels?"

Though Dom and Faleron knew each other, they weren't close friends. Throughout Kel's page years, Dom had never been around and after, their only meetings had involved Kel or Neal.

"Actually he was. Each week extra we had to spend doing nothing, he became more agitated. There was the occasional fight with bandits and a few groups of violent immortals, but that wasn't very often. Everything was so peaceful that the whole camp was on edge, with my lord the worst. That's why my men and me couldn't resist playing a few jests. You have to break the boredom somehow."

Dom shrugged, a grin on his face as he answered Faleron's question. He loved telling people of his pranks in the Own. He was such a good storyteller that he could make the most conservative noble crack a smile or two.

Hungry, Kel tapped Dom's shoulder. "We did come here for food, did we not? I recall you promising me a warm meal, Domitan."

Dom, in the middle of repeating the story he had just told her, conceded the point with a grin and a bow. "Of course, how could I forget?"

Turning, both of them walked to the food line, grabbing trays and utensils. By the time they had reached the end of it, Kel's stomach was growling at the heady scent of food. Glancing over at Dom's tray, she noted that he actually had vegetables on his plate, unlike his cousin Neal, who avoided the food group like it was the plague.

Walking back to their seats with their friends, Kel sat beside Faleron and across from both Merric and Owen. After an almost nonexistent hesitation, Dom sat beside her. As he took his seat, his eyes met hers for a brief moment. They were a bottomless blue and filled with an unidentifiable emotion. Startled by the intensity of his gaze, Kel dropped her eyes to her plate. What had she just seen? Had she imagined the sudden concentrated look he had given her? Kel flashed a quick look at him. He was laughing now, his hands moving with the flow of his words. There was no indication of the almost secret gaze he had given her. Giving herself a mental shake, Kel pushed the image of his deep blue eyes from her mind. His closeness must have finally gone to her head, leaving her addled. Dom wouldn't look at her that way. He was her friend, not prospective lover. Dom only reserved those looks for delicate court ladies who were refined in both face and manner. She didn't fit in either category. She was The Lump, a wonderfully loyal friend, but not one to send men into fits of poetry.

Kel began to eat, methodically moving her fork from mouth to plate. Though she tried to force her thoughts elsewhere, her mind refused to listen. Instead, they wandered back to Dom.

He would probably marry someday, now that the law had been changed to allow men of the Own to have a wife. She had seen him flirt with many a court lady during the last few years. He hadn't yet found his love, but he would eventually. Dom would make a remarkable husband and father someday. At the thought of his union to another, Kel's heart sighed. Would she ever find someone to love her as Neal had? Would she ever have children? Suddenly angry with herself for dwelling on matters that couldn't be changed, Kel forced herself to accept her lot in life. She had chosen to be a knight. With that title came her duty and responsibility to the people and to the Crown. When she had chosen her path so many years before, she had also ruined her chances at a reasonable marriage to a man. To whine and cry over it now went against her very nature. She had her friends and her family. And she had the respect of the people who mattered. What right had she to complain when her life was so close to perfect? She didn't need love, but despite her convincing thoughts, a small corner of her heart ached with the knowledge that she would never know the meaning of love between a man and a woman. She was a knight, first and last and that was what she'd remain.

Author's Note: Hey guys, I hope this chapter was okay. I kept agonizing over parts of it until I finally gave up and posted it. I would really like some feedback on this one. Please read and review! –Lupus17