Hello again. Short chapter i know. Having a little trouble with plot. i keep changing it. Sorry

Disclaimer: Not TP (wish i was)

Everyone was glad to be home and once the horses were looked after everyone went their different ways. Neal sought out his wife. Alanna went to George who was at Corus. Raoul knew better than to look for Buri during the day so he went straight to his rooms to have a long hot bath. Dom went back to his rooms and locked himself in. Kel went to her rooms slowly. She still hadn't quite recovered yet. She was thinking about Dom and how shocked he had been when he caught Nathan and her. She wanted so badly to tell him that she no longer had any feelings for Nathan and her heart was all his but she couldn't find the courage. Opening the doors to her rooms she found Lalasa filling the bath tub with hot soupy water.

"Bless you Lalasa, that's just what I need. Thank you."

Lalasa took care of Kel's travelling gear while Kel slipped into the bath. "Not at all milady. How are you feeling? I'm just glad you are home and well. The stories we heard were terrible. People saying you had died."

"I'm much better though it will take some weeks until I am fully recovered again." Kel bathed and dressed in clean garments. She sat on her bed exhausted. She couldn't stop thinking about Dom and Neal and what she was going to do about the Masbolle brothers. Lalasa noticed that something was up but was too polite to ask. She tided up and left Kel to think.

King Jonathon was pacing his court room. The third company had come back barely alive and the second Lady Knight only seconds away from death. It had been a close call. Thayet walked into the room.

"What are you doing my dear? Stop pacing holes into the floor." She sat down on her throne and watched her husband walk back and forward across the room.

"I'm sorry love but I was this close to losing the best company of the Own today and the Lady Knight Keladry and I don't want it to happen again. Though I am glad they are home now. I want to thank Keladry even more but I don't know how to."

Thayet thought for a moment. "Why not hold a ball to celebrate the third company and Lady Keladry's safe return? That way we can all celebrate together." Thayet knew Kel wouldn't really enjoy the ball but it might be a chance to get Kel and Dom together. It was a start.

"Great idea Thayet. You always have the best ideas. I will go announce the ball for a weeks time." Jon kissed his Queen and left the room.

"That's what I'm good for." Thayet left the room as well but went in search of Alanna and Lalasa to organise her plan for Kel and Dom.

Kel found herself once again in Lalasa's shop but this time she was the one standing on the stool having bits of fabric draped over her and pinned. Kel groaned. She loved Lalasa and the work she did but not when Kel was made the doll. She could be out practicing and gaining her old strength back but no, she was stuck in the dress shop under the Queen's orders. Kel wondered why she was being forced to say here. Something was going on and Kel had a suspicion that Thayet had something to do with it.

"Can I go now? Please, you are finished right? Then I can go." Kel wined. Lalasa smiled and shook her head.

"No milady. Her majesty will come down when she thinks it is time for you to go. I have to make a couple adjustments and I thought about designing new clothes for you since your old ones have ripped." Kel shifted. This was taking far too long. The bell across the door chimed.

"Sorry no customers today...Oh your Majesty and Lady Alanna forgive me I thought you were customers from the city." Kel looked up to see Thayet and Alanna coming into the shop. Alanna had a big grin on her face. Kel started to worry.

"Oh good Kel you are still here. The dress looks nice I must say." Alanna came over to Kel and admired Lalasa's creation.

"It certainly does. Lalasa you have out done yourself again." Lalasa nodded towards the Queen in acknowledgment.

"Thank you your Majesty. It is nearly complete. Your gowns are over here if you wish to try them on." Alanna and Thayet collected their dresses and headed behind the screens to change.

"Thayet, can I go now please?" Thayet had told Kel to use her first name in private now that they had become closer friends. "I've still got to train back up to my old ability."

"No you can't. Your dress isn't finished." Thayet called from behind the screen. Alanna poked her head around her violet eyes sparked with mischief.

"Besides you will reach your old ability soon enough. It's good to take time off and have fun."

"This isn't my idea of fun." Kel mumbled to the floor annoyed that all her friends had ganged up on her. Thayet and Alanna came out from behind the screen.

"There all done, milady. You can take it off carefully if you like." Lalasa straightened from her crouch and looked over the gown with an expert eye she nodded. Kel practically jumped from the stool and went to change. She came out with the dress over one arm and looked to Thayet.

"How about now?" she asked.

Thayet gave in. "Alright but we will see you tomorrow before the ball nice and early so you won't have a chance to escape." Kel grinned and ran from the shop. The three women looked at each other with a knowing look. Kel had no idea that this was all a set up to get her and Dom together. They laughed quietly as Lalasa started to adjust the gowns.

Kel made her way to the mess hall after the torture and sat at an empty table trying to hide from those who wanted to say that they were glad to see her back and looking fine. She didn't look up at the person who came to sat next to her; she just waited for the well wishing to start. When it didn't Kel looked up to see Yuki staring intently at her.

"Hello? Yuki stop staring its scary." Kel turned back to her food. Her friend still said nothing. Ignoring her was the best thing to do. Kel knew that her friend would spill sometime soon so continued to eat.

"Kel," Here it comesthought Kel, "what have you been doing!? Neal said that you ignored Dom the whole time. Why did you do that? Have you told him you love him yet? Neal said the Dom loves you so much. Why can't you both see the things right in front of you faces? You are the best commanders and yet you can't order your own love life."

"You are lying. Dom would never love me." Kel stared at her food. It couldn't be possible it just couldn't.

"I am not. Neal told me that Dom practically shouted it when he went to see him. His words were, 'I'm in love with Kel'. To me that sounds like a confession of love wouldn't you think?"

"I can't tell him, I just can't." Kel whispered to her food. "I can't. I can't." she chanted over and over.

"What, you can go running into enemy territory but not tell Dom you're in love with him? You have some problems my dear and you had better fix them." Yuki got up from the table, "Oh by the way, it's good to see you back."

Kel looked at her plate thinking about what Yuki had said. It was true she was hiding from her feelings but she didn't want to confess to Dom at all. Sighing she picked up her plate, left it for the washerwomen and headed back to her rooms.

Dom was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling again.

"Just go and do it." He mumbled to himself, "tell her the truth. What's the worst that can happen? She'll reject you, so what, you're a big boy you can handle yourself." But Dom knew that this was not the truth. He feared Kel's rejection more than anything in the world.

"Pull yourself together and go and tell her." Dom hauled himself off his bed and headed towards his door when it opened before him. He jumped started. Neal walked in as if he owned the pace.

"Where were you of too? Or could you sense me coming?" Neal joked as he sat down at the desk.

Dom ignored the questions. "What do you want Meathead? Can't you find someone else to annoy?" Seeing that Neal wasn't going to leave in a hurry, Dom sat back down on the bed.

"There is going to be a ball tomorrow and all of the third company is invited. I heard it was to celebrate that most of them came home alright but I think it's mostly for Kel though. The King nearly lost his best Knight Commander." Dom winced. He had almost lost the love of his life though she didn't know what she meant to him. "I bet you were pretty scared for her considering that you love her and all. I know I was and she is just my friend."

"Neal you can be so inconsiderate! Of course I was shit scared of losing her. My life would have no meaning if she left. I wouldn't be able to cope. She is my life though she doesn't know it." Dom sighed. He wanted Kel to know so badly it hurt.

"Well why don't you tell her? I can see she is pretty crazy over you as well." Neal sat back in the chair wondering why his cousin couldn't ask Kel like he asked Yuri.

"Kel is with Nathan. Why would she want me when she is with him? He has a knight title like her and I'm just a Sergeant rank of the King's Own. No competition."

"Fine if you want to live your life in the dark. I'll see you tomorrow at the ball. I heard Kel got a new gown from Lalasa and it looks amazing." Neal left the room. Dom thought about what his cousin had said and started imaging Kel in a gown with a very low cut front, skirt that made her waist look tiny and an elegant back showing her developed muscles. He forced his imagination get away from him and saw himself lying in a bed with Kel and feeling wonderful.

Thanks for all the reviews and please keep them coming.

Sorry about any mistakes. not the worlds best speller

XxX