Hello, my dears. Sorry it took me so long to update. I've been insanely busy.
Kel checked her reflection nervously as she waited for Dom to arrive. Lalasa had made her dress silvery-gray to match the uniforms of the Own and her own house colors. She adjusted her dress one last time as Dom knocked on the door. As maid of honor and best man, they were made to attend the wedding together. She opened the door to admit her escort.
"Hullo Dom." The words died on her lips. Dom was darkly handsome in his dress uniform. His hair flopped over, eyes made bluer by the cerulean shades of his tunic. He
Dom felt his breath leave his chest and the sight of his longtime friend. He had never seen her dressed up before. Her hair was loose but held out of her eyes by a twisted lock on either side of her head and clipped in the back by small silver pins. She wore a simple dress of shimmering silk in a color he could only describe as a meeting between silver and charcoal. This was accented by elegant pearl earrings and a strand of black pearls. She had rimmed her dreamy hazel eyes with kohl and lightly applied rouge to her lips and cheeks.
Dom bowed to hide his rising blush and offered her his arm. "May I have the honor of escorting this lovely young lady tonight?"
Kel blushed and placed a hand on his arm, copying his light tone. "I'd be delighted to accompany you, kind sir." He grinned and they set off for the wedding.
The wedding was perfect. Everything went smoothly, and the Own had worked wonders on the courtyard. They had scrubbed it till it shone and decorated it with woven wildflowers and ferns. Kel laughed softly. That had been an adventure. She found it astonishing how many of the men had never been taught how to make a flower wreath. Dom had laughed uproariously at Kel and Yuki's attempts to teach the soldiers until they forced him to help. Surprisingly, he was rather good at it. He blamed it on his nieces.
Dom waved a hand in front of her face, startling her from her thoughts. She blinked. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." She struggled to gather her thoughts.
"Then come on." He offered Kel a hand and pulled her to her feet. "The boys are clearing the tables away, and I want to claim you for the first dance."
Kel was on her feet from that moment on. As one of the only unattached women present, she was in high demand. She was swung from the arms of one friend to the arms of the next. At last she ended up in Dom's arms again. He took in her flushed cheeks and stumbling feet and led her to a bench in the courtyard. She shivered, and he put an arm around her shoulder, rubbing her bare arm. "Better?"
She nodded. They sat in silence for a while, enjoying the quiet. At last Kel sighed and hauled herself to her feet. "Ready to brave the madhouse?"
Dom laughed and stood also, and they walked back to the party.
Kel stumbled over to where Dom, Neal, and Yuki sat talking. "I'm leaving"
They nodded. "I will, too," Dom said, getting to his feet. "Neal? Yuki?"
They shook their heads. "I think we'll stay out here a while longer," Neal said. Kel bade them both good night.
The pair walked toward Kel's quarters, chatting quietly. They were both tired from the day's events. When they reached her rooms, she turned to face him. Their eyes met, and for a moment, Kel couldn't look away. Dom's eyes smoldered with some emotion she couldn't put a name to. Her heart seemed to flip over in her chest. She looked away, confused and at a loss for words. What was wrong with her?
"Thanks" she said, to buy herself time.
"What kind of escort would I be if I neglected to walk you home?" Dom was joking, but she could tell that he too could sense the tension. "See you tomorrow."
"Good night." Kel went inside and prepared for bed, but it would be nearly dawn before she fell asleep.
Not my favorite chapter in the world, but whatever. Sorry for the short chapters- I'd rather write short chapters and update more often than write long ones and update once a month. I just finished the next chapter half an hour ago. It should be up in a few days. I just need to type and edit it. You know the drill- read and review!
Ciao
Dragon Eyes