A/N: I AM SO SO SO SO SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I haven't updated in over a MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Damn me!!! I started writing this chapter, was almost half done, clicked save, and guess what? 'This page cannot be displayed'. UGH! I clicked refresh, but it was all gone. I was so mad!! But it's finally done. (My word processor doesn't work so I upload random documents and write using the edit/preview document feature on this site.) Plus school is totally stressing me out, my teachers are giving out assignments and plenty of homework (eugh) and there is this STUPID, GAY seating arrangement that I LOATHE which makes me so ANGRY that I come home FURIOUS and in a very destructive mood, haha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So if this chapter is slightly WEIRD it's cos I am FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANKYOU SO MUCH to all my reviewers. I love you all, really I do! (In a friendly way of course).
Anonymous review replies:
The Mad One- Hi!!! Thanks SO much for reviewing!! You rock! Your encouragement is awesome and I thank you again for taking the time to review! =DLydia- ahh!! I never imagined Yuki as 'plump and peppery' either. No ways!! I haven't written any other Tamora Pierce fics- a few Twilight songfics, 8 or 9 chapters of an Artemis Fowl fic, 1 chapter of a Twilight fic, a Twilight all human last chapter, but not much else. I am hoping to after I conclude this one (maybe a sequel or more K/Ds!!) but yeah. I love that you review every chapter! Thankyou so much!! I only just read your most recent review and I was like YAY!!! Someone reads my story 50 times!!! Hehe!!! And I LOVED your secret ideas so you might see some of them this chapter! =)
Oh yeah- what series is Melting Stones? I don't THINK I've read it but... you never know!!!
?- I LOVE YOU FOR REVIEWING!!! lolz, that goes for everyone, if you read these :) Thankyou for the feedback and I really hope you like both endings!
ALSO- I am SO SO SO sorry if I didn't reply to your review! I tried to, so hopefully you at least got a short thankyou?!! Please don't be offended if you didn't- if you didn't, here you are- THANKYOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok. Anyway. I'm sure you'd rather read the story rather than my crazy hyped thankyous.... and furious rampages!!!
Oh yeah, so this chapter is dedicated to....
my LOVELY, AWESOME, GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL, SWEET, EXCELLENT, FANTASTIC, (I need a thesaurus...), did I say, AWESOME? I think so. Anyway. This is dedicated to my ..fill in all those words... REVIEWERS!! YES!! Cause I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Previous chapter:
He knew exactly what was wrong with him. He was hardly concentrating on this lady, all his thoughts were straying back to Kel. Again and again. Snap out of it!...
"Um, there's something I need to tell you," Dom began, clearing his throat nervously...
"You mean, you have no romantic interests in me whatsoever," Kel stated quietly, after having had enough of his nervous babbling...
"Yes." Dom was glad to have gotten it out. "I apologise that I led you to believe otherwise."...
"So, who's the lucky woman?" she asked, forcing her tone to be bright...
"You know the Lady Knight that I was mentioned before?" Dom asked, eyes on the ground...
Dom nodded his head, seeming wistful. "Yes, I know. She doesn't seem quite my type, I mean..." he trailed off...
Neal could see, for once, emotions raging on his best friend's face...
He made his way to a tree behind Dom, as quietly as possible, and began making motions at Kel...
"What! Are! You! Doing?!!" Kel demanded, grabbing Neal's arm and tugging him further into the bushes...
"Don't tell him!" Neal pleaded desperately...
"No." Neal flashed her a wicked smile. "I expect you to keep your identity a secret until my wedding, so I can embarrass Dom, of course, because if you don't..."
He whispered something into her ear...
"WHAT!" Kel shrieked, and quickly lowered her tone. "You would NOT tell anyone that..."
"Fine," Kel muttered angrily. "It's a secret until your wedding."
Neal smiled, satisfied. "Shake." He held out his hand.
Kel shook it, squeezing it a little harder than necessary...
Kel strode back to Dom and the horses, mumbling rude things about Neal all the way...
E1 Ch 14: The Wedding
The rest of the ride had been awkward for both Kel and Dom. Now that Kel knew Neal was stalking them, she was annoyed and busting to beat him on the practise courts, and Dom was slightly horrified at spilling his guts to a complete stranger that, luckily, was leaving in a day, with his secret safe.
Or so he thought.
As soon as the ride was over, Kel left Dom in the stables and walked slowly up the hill to the palace.
She was tired and thoroughly angry, not just with Neal, but with having to keep her secret for the next four days.
One more day of being primped and dressed up.
Then three more of being quiet.
I can't tell him before though.... Neal would tell everyone that.
Kel shuddered at the memory.
If that got out, well, her reputation would be completely ruined.
Her mind strayed back to that terrible night, less than a year ago.
-flashback-
"Have another one," the knight flashed his white teeth in a smile.
Kel didn't know why she was doing this, she didn't know how she came to be at this inn in Corus, she didn't know how she met this knight or why she was talking to him and letting him buy her drinks.
Or maybe she did.
The knight's blue eyes searched her face, his dark- almost black- hair was unruly.
He looked like Dom.
So maybe this was why she was getting so drunk with him.
He seemed to like her, like no one else did.
She had come to the conclusion that she was unlovable- Cleon had left her for his betrothed, although he hadn't wanted to, it was clear that her relationship with him had never been love.
Dom didn't return her crush.
No other man ever looked her way.
Except for this Dom-look-alike.
She didn't even know his name.
Yet she tipped the seventh drink he had bought her down her throat, smiling at him flirtatiously.
It had gotten even worse from there.
She didn't remember everything from that night, all she knew was that she'd had more and more to drink until she was completely oblivious as to what was happening.
She had almost lost her virginity to that unknown knight.
After the drinks, he had begun kissing her, just her cheek first, then her lips. Again and again. And again. For longer and longer.
Kel still remembered his hot breath on her face, him pulling her by her hand up the stairs to his rooms, pushing her down onto his bed and collapsing there with her.
He had begun taking off both of their clothes, Kel had been too drunk to know what was happening.
He had gotten to her breeches when he passed out, luckily.
She had woken the next morning with a splitting headache, wearing only her loincloth and a note.
The note had said 'Farewell. I do not know your name, if I knew it, I have forgotten. The only thing I remember is- you're a good kisser. You don't seem like the sort that normally hangs around bars, but I wouldn't know. Don't worry, we didn't get any further than kissing... that I remember, at least. Maybe you remember differently. -L'
She had never seen the knight again.
-end flashback-
Kel shook her head in disgust at the very memories. She couldn't believe that she'd almost let herself go with a stranger.
And she didn't know how Neal knew, but she knew that no one else could ever know. The shame, the disappointment from her friends and training masters, the embarrassment, would be too much. No. No one else could ever find out.
OH. Kel turned slightly pale.
She thought she might have figured out how Neal knew.
Her diary.
Full of her thoughts and hopes, her dreams... and her crushes, since arriving at the palace as a page.
Oh no.
Kel had poured her heart out into her diary- her childish crush on Neal himself, her annoyance at her period, Cleon's kisses, her huge crush on Dom, she had even carried around a note that Dom had sent her once, at Midwinter... and all the details of what she remembered of her night out.
Why did I ever get drunk? Kel moaned in her head.
She had to try and forget, try and forgive herself for what almost happened.
After that, she had sworn never, ever to get drunk again.
Dom had changed all that.
Drunkeness, Kel decided, was never a good thing.
She returned back to her earlier, safer thoughts.
Four days... Then Neal and Yuki's wedding.
Kel's feelings towards the wedding were mixed. She was slightly apprehensive- what if Dom was angry at her? Or if he hated her for pretending to be something she wasn't?
But she was also excited.
The man she had had a crush on for about five years returned her feelings and she would have a chance to talk to him in four days.
The anticipation was killing her inside.
She blinked as she realised that she had reached Yuki's rooms and pushed open the slightly ajar door.
Big mistake. Kel backed out quickly in horror, covering her eyes.
"MEATHEAD!!!" she yelled, her frustration shattering her mask. "YOU COULD AT LEAST SHUT THE DAMN DOOR IF YOU'RE GOING TO START DOING THINGS WITH YOUR WIFE!"
Neal appeared in the doorway, straightening his ruffled tunic and running his fingers through his dishevelled hair.
"We thought you'd be longer on your ride with my cousin," he murmured, trying to regain some dignity.
Kel rolled her eyes. "Well, thanks to you, my ride turned awkward."
Neal snorted. "You should be thanking me!"
"For what?!" Kel exclaimed.
"I was the one that thought of this brilliant plan in the first place," Neal said smugly. "I was the one who thought of dressing you up, and look where it led you to? Dom's confessed feelings for you. What more do you want?"
Kel was fuming too much to answer. She stomped into Yuki's rooms, leaving an indignant Neal behind.
"Hello, Kel," Yuki said innocently, her hair neat and her dress smoothed.
"Does your door have a lock?" Kel demanded. "Because if it does, you should use it."
Yuki giggled. "Was your ride fun?"
"I know you know what happened," Kel sighed.
"Are you looking forward to my wedding yet?" The Yamani's eyes twinkled.
Kel remembered her earlier concerns. "Yuki," she whispered seriously. "What if he's angry?"
Her friend's expression instantly changed to one of worry. "Kel, I'm sure he won't be. He likes you- if not loves you."
"You think?" Kel stared at her friend.
"I think so." Yuki stood up. "I'm going to go see how Lalasa's going with my dress, do you want to come?"
Kel shook her head thoughtfully. Yuki exited the room, leaving Kel with a lot on her mind.
Neal rubbed his hands together, smiling wickedly. He couldn't wait until his wedding- and not just because he was finally making his affections for his Yamani blossom public- but also because of Kel and Dom.
Oh, Dom. He couldn't wait to humiliate his cousin in front of crowds of people. Dom's shock would be comical. He would probably do something stupid.
Neal's smile grew larger at the thought.
He had had to blackmail Kel about her hidden relationship with Cleon to make her keep it a secret, but it would be worth it.
He remembered his whispered words in her ear- "because if you don't, I'll tell everyone about you and him."
His smile grew even bigger. Oh no, Kel wouldn't tell.
"DOM!" Raoul yelled in his ear.
Dom jumped guiltily, trying to pretend he'd been listening. "Yes, m'lord?"
Raoul fixed him with a frustrated glare. "What is it this time, sergeant? You're standing there looking like you're dreaming about something... or someone."
"N-no, sir," Dom stammered. How had he guessed?! Dom had been thinking of Kel, wondering when she'd get back.
To Dom's shock, Raoul started sniggering uncontrollably. "You're not a very good actor, sergeant."
And with that, he walked away.
Dom stared after him, an expression of confusion on his face.
"What?" he muttered.
"If it isn't my favourite cousin!" A familiar voice called.
"Oh no," Dom groaned loudly.
"Domitan! That's no way to greet me," Neal smirked.
"What do you want, Meathead?" sighed Dom.
"I want to know, how long have you liked Kel for?"
Dom gaped at him.
"What!" It wasn't a question, it was a comment.
Neal tapped his foot, waiting for an answer.
"Um...." Dom didn't particually want to tell his cousin anything, but he already seemed to be well informed. "Why... why do you think I like Kel?"
"Puh-lease," Neal crossed his eyes. "It's pretty obvious," he snickered to Dom, even though he hadn't realised until Yuki had told him, and he had followed Kel and Dom in the forest.
"Um.... How is it obvious?" Dom felt like burying his face into a pillow. First his men, now Neal. What did he look like, a lovesick puppy?
"C'mon," laughed Neal. "You're always flirting with her, you were devestated when she... got an assignment over Midwinter, you stare at each other like Yuki and I do, and you're just... um... you practically drool over her!"
Oh no. Dom's mouth dropped open. He shut it quickly.
Still unwilling to tell his cousin the truth, Dom snorted loudly. "Oh, cousin. You have an excellent imagination. Go put it to other uses."
Dom strode away swiftly, leaving Neal sniggering behind him.
"Oh boy," Neal sniggered. "I love annoying Dom."
The next day of dressing up Kel went smoothly and uneventfully, except for Neal trying to goad Dom into doing something rash.
Yuki held a small 'goodbye' party in the evening, everyone attended and 'farewelled' Lady Kariami.
Thank goodness, Kel thought. Now only three days until the wedding... Three days of avoiding Dom...
Dom's farewell to her had been awkward. "Goodbye," he had said stiffly, face flushing slightly.
"Goodbye, sergeant," Kel had replied, stifling a giggle at the look on his face.
"I trust you'll have a safe journey," Dom had shuffled his feet nervously.
"Of course," Kel had smiled widely up at him and made a quick decision. She stood on tiptoe and pecked his cheek. "Your secret's safe with me," she whispered in his ear. He had smiled again and taken his leave.
Kel watched his retreating back. I really hope he's not going to be angry when he finds out...
She had then 'farewelled' everyone else- Raoul, Buri, Alanna, George, Wolset, Lerant and the rest.
Now, it was the next morning and Kel was bored. She was 'back', had arrived late last night and no one suspected a thing.
Neal was determined for her not to go outside (because she might see Dom and tell him) and so was trying to teach her about healing in her rooms.
"Neal," Kel finally said firmly. "I. Have. No. Interest. In. Healing. Now let me go. Do you really think I'm going to tell Dom when you're blackmailing me?"
Neal smiled in satisfaction. "No. But just in case, I'm coming with you wherever you go."
"Even the privy?" Kel asked with a smirk.
Neal turned bright red. "No. Just... You know what I mean! I'll even joust with you!"
The next two days passed uneventfully, except for Neal becoming more and more scared towards his wedding, Yuki holding the same calm demomour but inside feeling the nerves and Kel becoming more and more scared of what Dom would say.
The day of doom finally dawned.
"KEL!" Alanna banged on Kel's door loudly. "You're getting up. We have to get ready!"
"I'm already up, Alanna," Kel said in a bored tone. She sighed and slid out of the bath, wrapping a towel tightly around herself.
"Good!" Alanna barged in, ignoring the fact that Kel was in a towel. Yuki followed her close behind.
"What, we're getting ready in my room?" Kel demanded, hiding behind her dressing screen.
"Yes. We can't kick Neal out of our rooms," Yuki managed a weak, nervous smile.
Alanna lay four dresses down on the bed.
"Four? There's only three of us!" Kel protested in alarm.
"Buri's coming," Alanna explained.
As if on que, Buri walked in the open door.
"Why is it open?" she asked, and shut it.
"Here, Kel." Alanna handed one of the dresses to Kel, who looked at it dubiously.
It was sapphire blue, much to her embarrassment, the exact shade of Dom's eyes, in a sort of kimono style- wide sleeves, tight bodice and a flared skirt with a slit up to Kel's thighs.
"Tell me I don't have to wear a corset?" Kel said hopefully.
"You have to wear a corset," Yuki said flatly.
"Damn," Kel muttered.
Alanna helped Yuki to lace up her corset tightly.
"Why are we getting ready so early anyway?" Kel asked, frowning.
"Because," Alanna tightened Yuki's corset more. "The wedding is just before lunch. We need a lot of time to get ready, you know, there is four of us. And we need time for things to go wrong."
"That's positive," Buri murmured.
"It's true!" Alanna exclaimed. "And Kel? You owe me a gold noble."
Four hours later, Alanna, Buri, Yuki and Kel were ready.
Both Yuki and Kel were feeling exceedingly nervous.
"Alanna?" Yuki asked, fanning herself worriedly. "What if Neal doesn't show up to the wedding?"
"I raised him better than that," Alanna said confidently. "He was my squire for four years, after all."
Neal was sweating and looked incredibly pale.
"Dom?" he looked at his cousin. "What if Yuki decides not to marry me?"
"You Meathead," Dom rolled his eyes. "She loves you. You're lucky. She won't."
Dom was thinking of Kel. He hadn't seen her since the night she had accidently kissed him and he didn't know where he stood in her life anymore.
He didn't even know whether he had a place.
The hall was decorated with leaves of every shade of green.
There were seats, with an aisle in between. There were pale pink petals spread across the aisle.
Neal stood at the end of the aisle, sweating profusely. Dom stood next to him, a hand clamped on Neal's shaking shoulder.
"Neal. It will be fine. Yuki will come."
Dom also was feeling nervous, but was sure that Neal was going to faint if he didn't say anything.
Alanna and Buri, along with George and Raoul, were sitting in the front row of seats.
Suddenly, soft music began playing, signalling that the bride would soon come- after the bridesmaid.
Kel. Dom stared ahead at the aisle, waiting.
And then someone came.
Clad in a deep, sapphire blue dress, the lady was undoubtably beautiful. Her form wasn't slim, but wasn't fat either. It was gracefully inbetween.
The dress had a slit up to the thigh, revealing creamy white skin.
Dom's eyes were drawn to her face and he gasped loudly.
It was Lady Kariami.
But Yuki's bridesmaid was Kel! And Kel was back, he knew it, so why...
Kel. Gone for three days. Lady Kariami came... Kel... Kariami... Kel... Kari... Kari... Kel... Kel is Kari... Kari is Kel... Kari Kel is... Kel Kari is... KEL IS LADY KARIAMI!!! Then... But... I TOLD HER!!! OH MITHROS!!! I told her that I liked her... She's going to think I'm a MORON. Oh damn, damn, damn, why was I so stupid... How did she manage that! I am an idiot...
He finally registered the expression on his cousin's face.
Smug. Neal was looking smug.
"You knew!" Dom hissed in shock.
Kel reached the end of the aisle and stood on Neal's other side.
Dom was too busy thinking to realise that Yuki was now walking down the aisle.
Yuki reached the end and they both looked expectantly at Dom. Neal looked like he was trying desperately not to laugh.
Dom stared blankly back at them until he realised.
"OH!" he said loudly. The audience snickered.
Dom fumbled in his pocket for the rings... They weren't there!
He searched in his other pocket and found the box.
Pulling it out, Dom handed it to the priest who began talking in a deep baritone.
Dom was staring too much at Kel to even register the words.
Yuki and Neal exchanged promise rings.
Dom stared at Kel.
Neal's father said a few words and wished the couple the best for the future.
Dom stared at Kel.
Neal nudged Dom in the ribs.
"OW." Dom muttered angrily. "What was that for?!"
"Dom," Neal whispered, obviously laughing. "You're supposed to be giving a speech."
"Oops," Dom murmured, and cleared his throat.
Neal nudged him again. "You're supposed to be over there," he said, jerking his head in the direction of the uplifted platform.
"Okay." Dom walked towards the platform, past Kel.
"Um... I would just like to say..." Dom had completely forgotten his speech. He had written it out, prepared it, memorised it... And Kel had completely wiped it from his head. "Neal... um... is a great cousin, even if he is a massive Meathead. I... appreciated having him around so he could assist me in my pranks when I was small..."
"Hey! They were my pranks too!" Neal interjected angrily.
"No, cousin, they were mainly mine," Dom replied, to the titters of the audience. "Anyway. He never was big on brains but I'm glad he's found someone who is okay with that."
Yuki was by now giggling uncontrollably while Neal was looking wounded.
"I... am glad that he's found the person for him," Dom continued. "And I hope that when I get married he'll be my best man too."
"That should be soon," Neal stage-whispered, eyeing Kel in a suggestive manner.
Kel turned bright red.
Dom stared at her.
The audience cleared their throats and shuffled awkwardly, Dom tore his eyes off Kel.
"Um... Oh yeah. And I hope Yuki and Neal have a great future together, they make a great couple, and Meathead, I want you to know, your kids will ALWAYS have to compete against mine."
Neal snorted. "As if that will be any competion."
Everyone laughed.
The priest hushed everyone as Dom returned to his position next to Neal.
Dom stared at Kel, all through the vows, all through the priest's rambling, and finally, all through when Neal and Yuki kissed.
"You are now together, one, joined, husband and wife!" The priest announced over the clapping.
Neal and Yuki held up their entwined hands and everyone cheered.
Dom realised what was going on and began clapping too.
Neal and Yuki disappeared off into the crowd to receive their congratulations, leaving Kel and Dom alone.
Kel smiled hesitantly at Dom, and all Dom's fears vanished.
((I was going to be mean and leave it there but I guess I'll add some fluff cause it would be sad not to))
Dom sidestepped closer to her.
"So you're Lady Kariami?" he asked quietly. No one else seemed surprised. Perhaps all of them, one by one, had figured it out for themselves.
"Yes." Kel bit her lip and looked at the floor. "You're not... angry... are you?"
"Of course not!" Dom's face broke into a wide smile. "Kel... I meant what I said to you when you were Lady Kariami."
"Did you?" Kel looked at him hopefully.
Dom took the initiative and grabbed her hand in his.
"Kel... you kissed me, when you were drunk," he said softly.
"I know," she muttered, looking faintly embarrassed.
"Do you regret it?" Dom asked her uncertainly.
"No." Kel met his eyes. "Never. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Even if I was drunk."
They both smiled at each other.
"Just kiss her, Dom!" Neal practically yelled.
Kel and Dom broke their gaze and noticed that the whole room was staring at them.
"Oh," Kel murmured softly.
Dom smiled gently and leaned in to press his lips to hers.
A kiss. A promise. A hope of a future.
A/N: So what do you think? Please review, I will try and post the other alternate ending ASAP.
Disappointed? Think it's lame? Think it's good? Shocked at Kel's dirty little secret?
Do you want an epilogue? A sequel? A background on anything in the story?
TELL ME!!! =)