Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and Alice and Nathan
Dom woke slowly. He felt a lot better.
His stomach growled reminding him that he had slept the whole day.
He left the comfort of his rooms and headed down to the kitchens to beg some food from the cooks he knew so well.
He sat munching on his food listening to the women gossip. He laughed and joked at the appropriate time but he wasn't in the moment completely. They noticed like all women do.
"Dom what's wrong? You don't seem with us." They asked him. Dom looked up from the floor.
"Huh? Oh don't mind me, Alice I'm fine really. My life is just strange." Dom shrugged.
Alice wiped her hands on her apron. "Now Dom dear tell us what's wrong. It does help you know."
Dom took a deep breath. "Well it's about a girl." The women gasped.
"Dom having trouble with girls?! Now that is unheard of. Do tell." All the women leaned in closer as Dom began to tell his story about Kel.
"Well, well, that is a tricky situation. But Dom you need to tell her how you feel." Alice said getting up and starting to prepare the breakfast. Many of the other women had already started.
Dom sighed. "Why does everyone say that?" He got up. "Thanks Alice. It has made a difference." He gave her a quick hug.
"Anything for you dear. Besides I hate to see you upset." Alice watched Dom go. She knew there was something he wasn't telling them. If she didn't know better she would say that Dom didn't just like Lady Kel as he said but was totally head of heals for her. She sighed and pushed her thoughts of Dom from her mind and set to work doing her job.
Without thinking where he was going Dom found himself at a familiar practice court. He found the door half open. He looked inside. Dom found himself experiencing a dega vu. He saw Kel practicing with her glaive alone in the court. She hadn't seen him so he went down to her.
"Kel." He called out to her. She turned as he knew she would.
"Oh hey Dom. How you are feeling?" Kel lowered her glaive and gave him a hug. "It's so good to see you up and about."
Dom smiled. "It's good to be able to be up and about." Kel smiled back him. Dom gave her another hug this one almost made her bones crush. She pushed him away.
"Dom! Stop! Please. I have to tell you something." She laughed. He let her go.
"Okay Protector what do you want to say to me?" Dom couldn't have been happier. He was alone with Kel and that was all that mattered. He didn't seem to notice how small the practice court had gotten now it was just them two.
"Don't call me that. But Dom I have to tell you. I'm going to become your brother-in-law. Im engaged to Nathan." Kel saw Dom's face fall. He was upset. Why did he care though? He would never want her. Dom took a step back. He could never tell her now.
"Wow that's soon." He walked away.
"Dom." Kel shouted. Dom stopped in his tracks but didn't look back. "Do you have a problem with me marring your brother?" She asked hopeful his answer had changed since the last time she asked him the same question. There was silence.
Just tell her Dom argued in his mind. Tell her the truth. Do it now. Dom shook his head. He turned to look at her one last time.
"No Kel. I don't. I hope you will be happy together." Kel said nothing and the sound of Dom's footsteps echoed around the court.
The sound of the door shutting seemed so much louder than before to Kel who watched as her friend left her all alone.
Kel sat alone in her room.
She shed no tears.
She made no sound.
Kel expected to see Nathan return but there was no sign of him. Had everyone she loved walked out on her? She got up and made her way to the mess hall in search of some company, anybody. She sat down next to Neal and Yuki.
"Hello dear Kel. How are we this morning?" Neal asked.
"Fine Neal. Just fine. By the way have either of you seen Nathan?" They shook their heads.
"Though I was with Shinko and Thayet when the King came in and said there were some problems up north and he sent some knights to go sort it out. Nathan might have been among them." Kel nodded to Yuki. That was a possibility. Nathan might have been called out on duty. But surely he would've said good bye. She ate her meal in silence listening to her friends talk. They all had everything they wanted and so did Kel. So why did she feel like something was missing? She got up and left once she had finished. She didn't notice her friend's stares as she left.
"What do you think is wrong with Kel? It can't be all because of Nathan can it?" Neal looked at his wife.
"I'm not sure Neal. But something has been wrong with Kel since Dom was caught. I have a funny feeling it's to do with her feelings for both Dom and Nathan. I hope she makes things better for herself." Yuki frowned worried for her long time friend.
"So do I. Because once she figures out her life everyone can go back to fussing over me just like they used to." Yuki raised her fan above Neal's head and brought it down with alarming strength.
"Stop that. Kel is your friend. Stop acting like a baby." Neal just nodded and he rubbed his head. He got up and left his wife at the table. He headed back to his rooms to nurse his sore head in private.
Dom went to Neal. He didn't know what else to do. He didn't know who else to go to. He had thought of Raoul but he didn't want to see his commander in this state. Neal opened the door and took one look at his cousin and friend and ushered him inside. Neal sat Dom down on a chair.
"Mithros Dom what's happened to you? You look worse than when we saved you from the immortals. You look terrible." Dom just shrugged.
"Neal don't ask me to tell you why but I have to leave here. I have to get away. Please help me I don't know what else to do." Dom hid his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes. Neal stared at his cousin. Something big had happened to him and something was not right. Neal didn't like to see Dom looking like this. It scared him.
"Dom are you sure? Can't you just tell me? Will it make it better?" Dom shook his head.
"No Neal. Nothing can change what is already set in motion. I'm sorry. Please help me." Neal looked at Dom considering his options. He could go to Raoul but then that might cause gossip. There was one person who was guaranteed to keep the secret. Neal stood up.
"Well come on then." He led Dom out of his rooms and down the hall. He stopped in front of a different door. The sign on the front simply stated, Alanna of Pirates Swoop and Olau and the Baron of Pirates Swoop, George Cooper. Neal looked at his cousin.
Dom was in another world and didn't register the names. Neal sighed and knocked on the door.
Alanna looked at the cousins standing in front of her door. Neal looked fine but Dom looked like he had been dragged through the bush backwards. She sighed. They didn't want her they wanted George. They didn't tell her why which annoyed her but she knew she would find out from George that night.
"Come on in then if it's so important. George is in the study. I'm going for a ride." Alanna let them pass and headed outside.
Neal and Dom sat down opposite George. He looked up from his work and surveyed the two boys. Neal looked fine but Dom on the other hand looked bad.
"Neal it's great to see you though I hated expected to see you again."
Neal laughed. "Couldn't stay away from you George but your wife on the other hand is a different matter entirely." George smiled wickedly. He knew all too well about Alanna's temper.
"What can I do for you lads today?" George leaned back on his chair and watched with intent eyes.
Neal looked at Dom waiting for him to answer. Dom didn't look up from the floor. Neal shrugged and said "Sorry to bother you George but Dom here says he needs to get away from the palace for a bit and wants no one to know where he has gone. I thought you could help doing what you do and all."
"So you want to get away Dom? Mind telling an old man why you need to get away? If I'm to help you then I want to know why."
Dom looked up at George and found strength in his green eyes. He took a breath and told his story. George's eyes stayed calm but Neal's eyes widened when he heard his cousin's story. Dom having trouble with a girl? It was unheard of. And the girl being Kel. Now that was something completely different.
"Well I think I can help you there lad. I'm heading home soon, back to Pirates Swoop. You could come if you want. Stay as long as you want. Until you find your feet again. How does that sound? I'm leaving tomorrow at dawn." George folded his hands on his lap and waited for the reply. Dom nodded eagerly.
"That would be great George. Just what I need. Thanks so much. I'll go pack."
"Alright lad See you tomorrow." Dom left the bewildered Neal behind with George.
"Wow. That was unexpected."
"Don't lie Neal. It won't work. You knew that was coming." George smiled at Neal his Sight gave Neal's lie away.
"Ah should've known I couldn't fool the Whisper Man. But I have to say; I was shocked to see Kel's engagement have that effect on him. He always seemed so tough on the outside. Thanks for doing this for him George. I bet it will help a lot."
George nodded. "I know how he feels. To love a woman and not have that love returned. Believe me I know. And the country can see those two are meant for each other."
"Well I should be off. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Don't worry I'll tell no one. Thanks again George."
"Anytime Neal." George watched Neal leave the rooms.
He thought about his past life and how similar it was to Dom's.
Though Dom wasn't the Rouge, he did love someone who didn't return the love. George had loved Alanna while she was with Jon but that hadn't stopped George. So why did it stop Dom, he wondered. George shook his head, he had the love of his life now and he wanted to do what ever he could to help Dom.
Kel wandered alone through the forest.
It was dawn and the sun was rising in the east. She heard screams. She turned and ran towards the sound. She came to a clearing which was similar to the one where they found Dom. It was different though. Dom wasn't the only one trapped. Yuki, Alanna, Neal, Nathan, Raoul, Buri and Lalasa were there as well. She tried to go to them but her feet were frozen. She couldn't move. She watched in horror as the centaurs stood Yuki in the middle of the field. Her arms were tied and she couldn't run. Two centaurs galloped from opposite side with lances in their arms. Kel watched as they ran through Yuki and then Alanna. She saw Neal cry out as his wife was dragged in two from the field. He got hit over the head by another centaur. Nathan moved to save his cousin but was cut in half. Kel watched as the centaurs broke every bone in Dom's body until he was as limp as a fish bone. Dom screamed in pain each time, which tore Kel apart. Raoul and Buri were used as swords and whacked against each other until they no longer moved. Lalasa was mounted by the lead centaur and Kel watched as her maid screamed for help. The centaur grew tried of her and culled her. Kel hadn't been able to do anything. She had watched as each of her friends had died right in front of her eyes. She stumbled back and fell down on the grass as one of the centaurs noticed her. He came over her and reared up on his hind legs and came down.
Kel sat up gasping and sweating.
It was just a dream she told herself.
But she couldn't get the vivid images of her friends' mangled bodies lying in a heap in the clearing.
She threw the blankets off her and went to the basin. She splashed cold water onto her face. Kel knew she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep.
She looked out the window and saw that the sun was rising. Kel looked down and saw three men gathered there. Two were on horses and the other was on foot. What's going on there she wondered. Kel was about to call out her window when the two horse men galloped out of the grounds.
The one on foot watched as they disappeared out of sight and retreated. She shrugged and returned to her rooms.
Days flew past Kel.
She did everything she knew to try keep her thoughts from the Masbolle brothers.
Kel found out that Dom was missing too. Raoul who was in on the secret told her he had been called home suddenly. Kel could almost tell her ex-knight master was lying but didn't press the matter. Preparations for her wedding also kept Kel busy. Half her days were spent in Lalasa shop being draped in fabric with Yuki commenting on each one and the other half were spent deciding on what flowers to have and food. Kel couldn't cope.
She just agreed with what Yuki said. She still thought about Dom much more than she should. Kel was worried about Nathan. No one had heard from him for a long time. She didn't know what to do about the two of them.
Please review. Coming to the end soon.