The morning of the wedding dawned bright and beautiful. The sun shone brilliantly through the trees, casting dancing shadows along the ground as the wind whispered around branches. The only indication that winter was coming was a slight chill in the early morning breeze.
True to her schedule, Kel rose just as dawn was breaking. She dressed quickly and grabbed her glaive, knowing today would be very full, she wanted to ensure she got at least a little practice done. Only one other person was in the practice courts this early. She greeted Dom with a quick smile, and tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach when he returned the smile. Though she was sorely tempted to watch Dom his morning excersises and sword drills, she forced herself to concentrate on the complicated pattern dance she was performing.
The sun was fully over the sky and others where beginning to join them when Kel caught sight of Dom again. Obviously he had grown hot while practicing and had removed his tunic and shirt. As she watched he dunked his head into a water barrel and flicked his head back up, sending rivulets of water down his toned chest and flat stomach.
He glanced up and when he caught her watching him intently, he winked, making her blush furiously. She grabbed a cloth and started polishing her glaive to steady her shaking hands as he started to walk towards her. " Enjoying the view, my glorious protector?"
Kel desperately tried to think of something witty or charming to say in response, but it appeared her brain had gone into an 'ab coma' . Thankfully, she was saved by the arrival of Raoul and Alanna.
" Aren't you a little chilly sergeant? And what did I tell you about flirting with my squire"
" Former squire Raoul, stop being so protective, and I for one am enjoying the view" Alanna commented " and I don't think Kel minds either"
This made Kel blush furiously again. Luckily for her Alanna's comment had starteled Dom into putting his shirt back on.
" Aw, we were enjoying that" Said Alanna, grin still firmly in place.
" as much as I hate to deprive you and lady Kel of your entertainment, I like myself alive, and I don't think id have much chance of staying that way if your husband heard you admiring me. Besides, I am sure Kel would be quite put out if George killed her escort to the wedding"
This declaration was met with silence. Raoul stood looking quite shocked, while Alanna's shock quickly turned to ill concealed glee. Kel felt herself growing pink again when the silence was finally broken.
" What?, Your doing what?" without pausing for an answer Neal continued " You think your taking Kel to the wedding, but you didn't even ask me!"
Dom rounded on his cousin, ' why on earth would I need to ask your permission to take Kel to the wedding Meathead?"
" well" spluttered Neal " She is my best friend, and, and, and…" he was cut off by Dom
" The only person who has any say in the matter is Kel, and since she has already said yes, if say this matter is closed." With that he offered Kel his arm and said " my lovely lady, would you be so kind as to join me for breakfast?" she accepted and they walked off together followed closely by Alanna and Raoul, leaving a still spluttering Neal behind.
After breakfast, which had been a boisterous affair with spirits running high in anticipation of the commanders wedding, Kel found herself sitting in the dining hall with Raoul. "Sir? About what you said earlier, about how Dom shouldn't flirt with me. Did you mean that? Because if it bothers you I can tell him that he shouldn't escort me to the wedding…."
She wasn't given a chance to finish because Raoul cut in. " Kel I don't mind in the slightest. I am happy for you, enjoy yourself. I just know Dom can be a bit of a flirt and I don't want to see you get hurt. But as Alanna said I have to stop being so dratted protective of you, and besides that I know he is good guy at heart… but Kel, promise me, if he ever hurts you, just let me know and I'll sort him out."
She laughed " thank you my lord, it means a lot to hear you say that, and I promise if he hurts me, you can have him…. Once I am done with him". He chuckled, and stood.
" Well, I should be off, the men have had their half hour to bathe and make themselves look half presentable so they will be arriving soon to try and make this hall look something like a place fit for a wedding. You're welcome to stay and help, or you could go find the girls and get ready with them, I know they had some big plans today." He looked glum "Im not even allowed to see Buri until tonight"
" ah my lord, I think you'll survive. I however, will not survive the girls, I think I'll stay and help the men"
She was directing the men to pull the long tables out of their position and shift them to the sides when the hoard of women arrived. Alanna, Thayet, Yuki and a few others she didn't recognize swept into the room and called an immediate halt to all action. Thayet's eyes swept the room until they lit upon Kel, currently in the process of flipping on large table on top of another with some men from Aidens squad.
" Keladry of Mindelan, you clearly did not got our message. When Raoul told you that you could either come with us or stay to help the men he was mistaken. Its really not an option, you are coming with us."
Damn, thought Kel, I don't think I can avoid a royal command. Excusing herself to the men, she walked over to the group of woman.
" Gosh Kel don't look so happy to see us" teased Alanna " you would think you were being taken to your execution, rather than to spend a day with your favorite fearsome female warriors"
Kel sighed as she was ushered through the doors and towards the bathhouses.
" I told Raoul he had to have all his men through here and clean by now, so we have the baths to ourselves." Yuki looked particularly happy with this, seeing Kel's puzzled look she explained.
" I love Neal very much, and I don't regret for one second coming here to be with him, but I won't turn my nose up at a chance for a good long soak and to get the grime out of my hair"
At this the rest of the women chuckled. They all knew what Yuki meant having been in that position many times before.
At first it was at little unnerving for Kel to be bare in the same giant tub as her Queen and a handful of other women. Buri finally broke the tension by swimming under the water and taking a giant gulp of water into her mouth, which she promptly sprayed into Thayet's face. Kel and the others weren't entirely certain what Thayet's screech was, seeing as it was in K'mir, but it certainly didn't sound polite. With the tension broken the woman began joking and giggling splashing water at each other and gossiping. Yuki slid up next to Kel and began speaking to her quietly in Yamani.
" Is it true that you are going to the wedding with Neal's cousin, Dom?"
" Yes, Yuki, gods when I think about it I feel a little sick! What if he changes his mind and doesn't like me anymore?"
" Kel, do not let yourself fall victim to emotion. You are wonderful and he will know that." Switching back to common she continued, " now the important question, what are you going to wear tonight?"
" I don't know, I brought a dress with me, but I figured I would just wear my good tunic and some nice breaches."
Thayet interrupted, " that won't do, we already have one lady knight refusing to put on a dress, despite the fact it looks wonderful on her, and a bride who is only wearing a dress because of a royal order, don't say we are going to have to fight with you as well"
" Oh no, its not that I object to wearing a dress your majesty, I just didn't any nice gowns north with me, I didn't think I would need any up here"
" Fair enough Keladry, but I am sure we can find you something to borrow from someone, something nice enough to catch to eye of that special someone I have heard rumors about" Kel tried, unsuccessfully, to hide her blush behind her Yamani mask. " His eyes are blue aren't they?" Kel nodded " I think I might have a dress that will work, but I think we may need to get a seamstress from the village to let it down a bit, you're a fair bit taller than me"
Kel's height was the least of the worries the ladies encountered when Kel tried on the dress. She was much broader in the shoulders, and, even after she was forced into a corset and it was tied as tight as it would go (the process involved Alanna putting her foot in Kel's back and pulling with all her might), the dress still would not fully lace up the back.
" Your majesty, as grateful as I am for your offer, I am afraid this isn't going to work" Kel tried to be as dignified as possible, but all she could master was a small breathy whisper as she was currently finding it very difficult to breathe.
" No, I think you are quiet right my dear, oh well, we will find something yet, Oh and Alanna you might want to help her with the corset before she faints"
As the pressure on her midsection released Kel took a huge breath and thanked Alanna profusely. Yuki then spoke up
" Kel I know it might not be your first choice, but I have with me a ceremonial Kimono, the sleeves are very wide and would fit your shoulders, as broad as they are."
" That would be wonderful Yuki, I don't mind wearing a Kimono, though you may have to remind me of how to walk it has been a while"
As the sun was setting over the walls of the fort the ladies finally felt like they were ready. Kel and Yuki were dressed in Kimono's, while Thayet and the other ladies, excluding Alanna, had donned eastern style gowns. Buri looked radiant in her traditional k'miri wedding dress made of red silk, and Alanna, being Alanna, was dressed in a long tunic and silk shirt over soft black breaches. They had spent the afternoon fixing each other's hair, Alanna, Buri and Kel not being much help, and applying face paint.
Kel said her thank you's and slowly walked back to her rooms to wait for Dom.