READ THE A/N please!!! And the one down the bottom of the page!
A/N- ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN REVIEWS!!! -does the review dance- YAY!!!!!
ok, anyway...
SORRY. SORRY. SORRY. I know you've heard it time and time again, but for one of the last times, I am SO sorry for not updating! School sucks when it gets busy, and I'm going on camp so I won't be able to update in the next week but then it's holidays so HOPEFULLY I will finish this story these holidays!!!!
There is this chapter, next chapter and probably an epilogue to go. And of course, I will be writing a sequel XD
Scope out the POLL on my page please!!
Also, a poll (poll 1) : What do you want in the epilogue? (These are the ideas I can work with)
a) Dom's proposal to Kel
b) Kel meeting Dom's family and vice versa
c) Kel and Dom's wedding
d) another idea (telll me....!)
On with the chapter!
Oh, wait, anonymous review replies-
Lydia [My Own Biggest Personal Fan- ILY!!!!!): I do actually like your idea of Dom having had a relationship with one of Kel's sisters, it works well... very well.... So depending on the poll, it might happen! :D
And YAY for reading Twilight!!! I love Twilight.... do you?!!!!
Anyway I REALLY had better get on with the chapter.....................................
I LOVE ALL OF MY REVIEWERS!!! YOU GUYS ARE MORE THAN AWESOME!!!!
OH and I forgot last chapter- the whole Kel's dirty secret and silly Meathead idea goes to LYDIA!!! -hyped applause-
Also, if you were confuzzled, Neal didn't know about Kel's ACTUAL secret. He is a bit silly (obviously, he's the Meathead!) and he was still oblivious to the fact that practically everyone knew about Kel and Cleon, so that was his 'secret'. Don't worry, he hasn't turned evil!!
For reasons of my own, I decided to modify the first chapter 13, and make it fit for this, don't worry it isn't just a copy of chapter 13 slightly edited! it's WAY different!
RECAP:
"...Dom and the Yamani getting together, as in really, really together!" He recognised Lofren's voice and he heard the chink of coins being set down on a table...
"Uh...." Wolset mumbled. "Ten on Dom and Lady Kel!"..
"Time to get dressed! Dom's taking you riding in two bells time!"
Kel sighed as she also got up. "Can I back out of that?"...
Lady Kariami was waiting, fanning herself boredly. Dom studied her features, slowing to a walk as he neared her. No, he couldn't see anything even remotely Kel-ish about her, but he would keep looking....
Ch 13ish part 1, to be continued in this chapter 13
Kel put away her fan as soon as she noticed Dom jogging towards her. He slowed to a walk and bowed as he reached her.
"M'lady," he greeted her breathlessly. "I'm sorry I'm late... Neal held me up."
Oh no... What has Neal been talking to him about? Kel thought, slightly alarmed.
She smiled at Dom, trying to control her heart rate. Why, oh why, did he have to affect her this way?
"That's fine, Sergeant," she smiled at him.
"Please, call me Dom," Dom actually winked at her. All this flirting was paying off, then...
A wink??! What is that supposed to mean? Kel thought, but was slightly relieved at this invitation. She had nearly slipped up and called him 'Dom' a few times instead of 'Sergeant' so it was definitely better that she could call him both.
She smiled coyly at him. "I'm honoured. You can call me... Kari," she improvised quickly.
Dom returned her smile, seeming pleased as he held out his hand to her.
"Thankyou," She took it, masking the flush of her cheeks at being so close to him.
"Have you ridden before?" he asked her.
"Yes," Kel informed him. She had already decided it would be too hard to disguise her ease on a horse.
"Good," Dom led her into the stables. Passing many horses, Kel noticed Peachblossom and Hoshi, side by side, and bit down on her lip, hard. Would Dom notice that not even one of her horses was missing?
"How odd." Dom halted and Kel held back a groan. "Peachblossom and Hoshi are still here... I wonder why," he mused.
"Peachblossom and Hoshi?" Kel played dumb. She wasn't supposed to know herself...
"Kel's horses," Dom explained thoughtfully. "Kel's the Lady Knight, she went on an assignment a day ago, but she hasn't taken either of her horses. I have no idea why."
To Kel's intense relief, Dom continued walking.
"Here," he said, stopping outside a stall. The horse inside was shiny and black. "You can ride Darkstride, he's quite calm."
Kel nodded in agreement and offered her hand to the horse to smell.
"I'll saddle him," Dom offered, and began collecting various items of tack.
"Don't worry, I can." Kel took the heavy saddle from him, shoving her long sleeves back and began saddling Darkstride.
Dom watched, his mouth slightly agape.
Whoops... Kel noticed. Court ladies don't do that, do they?
Dom realised she had noticed him staring and quickly began saddling his own horse.
"You must be... strong..." he finally said, his back to her.
Kel finished buckling the girth and began putting on the bridle. Darkstride stood patiently.
"Not really," she disagreed, after a moment's silence. Not compared to Lord Raoul, at least...
"You lifted the saddle!" Dom pointed out incredulously, poking his horse in the ribs so it would let out its breath. "Most noble ladies don't touch saddles, except for riding in them, let alone are strong enough to lift saddles."
"Maybe... Maybe Yamani ladies are just... more... uh... stronger than Tortallan ladies," Kel stammered, at a loss of what to say. She leant against the stall door, finished preparing Darkstride.
Dom shrugged, and finished quickly.
"And you can saddle your horse fast," he added, realising that she was finished before him.
Kel didn't reply. She began leading Darkstride out of his stall and Dom followed, leading his mare, Willow.
When they were outside, Kel automatically bounced on her feet and heaved herself into the saddle.
Oh no... Not again... She took in Dom's expression and looked down, straightening her skirts. Most court ladies rode side saddle, but Kel found that style annoying and so had talked Yuki into a wide skirted dress with breeches underneath.
"Who taught you how to ride?" Dom asked, still nonplussed by her independence. He'd never met anyone like her... Other than Alanna and Kel, of course. Is that what Lerant means? No, he said 'looks'...
"My brothers." Kel knew the truth wouldn't do any harm, in this case.
They began riding into the forest.
Chapter 15 (Actually Chapter 13 of Ending 2 but you know...)
Kel sneaked a subtle peek at Dom, only to find him staring at her, a contemplative look on his face.
She looked away from him quickly and stared off into the other direction.
There was silence from both of them; birds tweeted in the distance and the leaves of the trees rustled softly. They rode on. Kel had no idea where they were going, and didn't like to break the silence to ask.
They passed trees, rocks and even a cave that Kel had never seen before.
Kel flicked her eyes quickly to Dom again, and was relieved to find that he wasn't staring.
It was hot, she had to resist flicking a tiny droplet of sweat trickling down her neck. Looking up at the sky, she realised that dark clouds were slowly moving closer.
"Dom?" she brushed her face with the back of her hand.
"Yes, Kari?" Dom answered, turning his head to look at her.
She nodded in the direction of the clouds. "I think it's going to rain."
Dom started at the sight of the clouds. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realise... We'd better be getting back. It's been quite a while."
Kel nodded her head in agreement and turned her horse around. Dom followed suit.
It was all silent again. Kel listened, she could hear the faint sounds of running water, and... rustling?
She turned her head in the direction of the noise, but could see nothing. Thinking she must have been imagining it, she turned her head back to the pathway that the horses were clopping through.
It was all silent again. Kel reached up to swipe more sweat off her face, when she heard the rustling again. Louder.
"Dom?" she asked nervously. "Can you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Dom was jerked out of his thoughts.
"That... rustling."
"Oh." Dom listened, but it didn't come again. "No. Are you sure it isn't just the wind?"
"It must have been," Kel replied doubtfully. She halted her horse. "I'm going to walk for a while."
Dom nodded and also dismounted.
They walked along at a swift pace, Kel realised that they must have come a lot further than she had originally thought.
A crunch of leaves... A soft, sharp whistle... Kel whipped around to see about a dozen, raggedly clothed men, holding long hunting knives walking towards them, menacing smiles on their faces.
Dom also turned. His face turned from peaceful to horrified in a split second.
Kel's hand automatically went to her waist for her sword, but then she remembered that she wasn't armed- and she was meant to be a pretty Yamani doll.
She had to make a decision. Get robbed by bandits and let Dom get hurt trying to fight, or reveal her true identity?
That isn't very hard, Kel scolded herself mentally.
She bent over as if to fiddle with her boot, but slid a hand inside and pulled out a silver dagger, with sapphire blue stones in the handle.
"Get away from us," she said evenly, in her normal voice. She used one long sleeve to wipe more sweat off her face. It dawned upon her that the sweat was probably washing away some of her makeup, anyway.
Dom shot her a look of complete and utter shock. "Kel?" he said incredulously.
Kel nodded without looking at him.
One of the bandits laughed, obviously not recognising Kel's name. "Does the delicate little lady think she's going to stab us with that puny dagger?"
The other bandits joined in.
Kel stood in a defensive position. "I am, actually," she said grimly.
The bandits howled with laughter and then one, seeming to be the leader, straightened up. "Now, are you going to come quietly or put up a fight?"
"Put up a fight... obviously," Dom growled, his face furious. It was the first time he'd spoken since Kel had revealed her identity.
Kel sent him an apologetic look but there was no time to talk.
The bandits ran forward. Kel already knew that they had no chance, but she had to try.
One bandit tried to grab her by the skirt but she kicked out at him and stabbed forward with the dagger that Neal had given her. It didn't kill the bandit, but he yelped loudly in shock, nursing a stabbed arm.
Dom was unarmed, so he was fighting only with his body. He smashed his fist into one of their faces and spun, kicking another in the teeth.
They put up a good fight, but there were too many bandits. A dozen against two.
They managed to fell about six of the bandits before being surrounded by the remaining six.
"Drop the dagger," one snarled at Kel.
Kel smiled sarcastically. "Still think I'm no threat?" She asked, dropping the dagger at his feet.
Dom and Kel were bound together, Dom's hands tied tightly together and then tied to Kel's. They were dragged away, presumably to a camp.
"Dom, I'm so-" Kel began.
"Shut up!" A ragged man growled at Kel, shoving his knife in front of her face. "Or d'ya want your tongue cut out?"
"What do you want from us?" Dom demanded.
The bandit grinned, revealing a lack of teeth. "You, we want your clothes and money. Perhaps someone back in the richies palace will even pay a ransom for you, pretty boy. The lady, well, I'm sure we can use her for lots."
"Don't you dare," Dom spat.
Laughter echoed around the bound pair.
It was dark. Night had come, and Kel and Dom were shut in a small shack. Presumably, the robbers were asleep.
They had reached the 'camp' just a little while ago. There had been even more robbers lounging round the tiny wooden huts that were built.
Kel knew that she should be thinking of an escape plan, but instead she was thinking of Dom.
"Dom?" Kel asked tentatively.
Dom twisted to try and face her. "Kel?"
"I'm sorry," she muttered ashamedly. "For everything."
Much to Kel's relief, Dom laughed softly. "I'm not mad at you, Kel."
"You should be," Kel replied. Not only handsome, nice and funny, but forgiving as well! She thought and then quickly corrected herself. Shut up, Kel! He'll never like you. Not in that way.
"No, I shouldn't," Dom said quietly. "I could never get mad at you, Kel."
Kel's heart beat faster, much to her extreme embarrassment. She really, really hoped that Dom couldn't feel it thudding against her ribs.
Doesn't like you, no, no, no, she chanted in her head.
There was a slight pause in conversation.
"Kel. Do you remember Midwinter?"
Oh no. Kel's cheeks actually turned bright red. "Yes," she mumbled.
Dom shifted again, trying to see her face... which was hard, seeing has they were tied back-to-back.
"Do you regret it?" he asked her.
Regret it? Kel considered. Yes... It had been the biggest mistake of her life, apart from the night at the inn. Or maybe kissing Dom had been worse. She had ruined a good friendship, made it awkward... But I've always wanted to kiss him... And it was great... Soft, warm... She poked herself mentally. Bad thoughts, Kel.
Kel was silent. What could she say?
In the darkness, Dom loved the feel of her warm back against his. And while riding, he had realised that he didn't want a pretty Yamani woman- he wanted Kel. And he could never have anyone else.
"Please say that you don't, Kel," his voice broke nervously.
Kel shook her head, thinking that she had heard wrongly. She replayed the words over and over again in her mind. Please say that I don't... regret kissing him at Midwinter? I think I must be dreaming...
"Kel?" Dom sounded incredibly agitated.
Kel pinched herself to make sure that she wasn't having a fantasy. "Ow!" she exclaimed in shock. She had been so sure that it was some sort of heavenly dream.
"What?" Dom's tone of voice was now confused.
"I thought... I thought I was dreaming," Kel admitted, smiling now.
"And just what were you dreaming?" asked Dom huskily.
"I was dreaming that you asked me to please say that I didn't regret kissing you at Midwinter."
Dom couldn't help chuckling. "If you're dreaming, then I am too. Now tell me, was it a good dream?"
Kel nodded and then realised that he couldn't see her. "Yes," she answered simply.
Dom managed to turn so that he was half facing her. "I like you, Kel. A lot."
She almost forgot how to breathe with pure happiness. "I like you, too, Dom."
Dom grinned into the darkness. "Can I kiss you... when we get out?"
"Of course," Kel answered, trying to contain her joy.
"Then let's get out quickly." He set to work, trying to pick at the knot binding his hands.
The night passed and Kel actually fell asleep, her head awkwardly positioned on Dom's back. Dom worked away at the knot, until finally, his hands were free. "Damn, those robbers certainly know how to tie a good knot," he murmured.
Kel shifted in her sleep and her head slid off his back. She woke. "Oh!"
"Kel," Dom whispered. "I'm free. But it's almost dawn. We have to escape while we can."
"Alright." Kel agreed.
Dom stretched his stiff legs and arms before sitting back down and holding Kel's bound hands. He squeezed them gently before undoing the bonds.
Kel flexed her stiff fingers and wrists and stood up. "Let's go."
He laughed quietly. "I think you're forgetting something."
Dom spun Kel around so that he was facing her and held her in his arms. Slowly, he bent and pressed his warm lips to hers. He could feel her smile against his lips before responding.
It was more than pleasant, but he broke off after a moment unwillingly. "Let's go," he said, repeating her earlier words.
He heard her laughing softly and wrapped his hand around her own.
They snuck to the door, which was surprisingly left unlocked; perhaps the bandits thought that they wouldn't be able to get the tight, stiff knots undone. Dom turned the handle and pushed it open quietly, luckily it didn't squeak.
The men were all sleeping, their heads facing into the now glowing embers of a fire.
"They didn't leave guards," Kel whispered. Her mere whisper sounded loud in the dead quiet.
Dom shrugged at her and, spotting her dagger, tiptoed over to retrieve it. He handed it to her and picked up one of the bandit's knives for him to use.
He bent over, so that his mouth was next to her ear. "Let's try and sneak away, first. I don't think we have much of a chance against more than a dozen robbers."
Kel nodded and they took one, two, three steps into the trees.
(sucky ending, hey? Oh well. Leaves space for next chapter.)
CREDITS- Silver-Creasent-MOON1995 - the bandit idea!!! I loved it!!! So, it's been used!! Slightly modified, but you know. It was still awesome. THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR THE IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!! XD
Admittedly I was gonna use a whole Kel caught up in prank idea, but I had inspiration for this idea, so yeah. Thankyou SO MUCH for all your ideas though, they were ALL great!!
OH!!! READ THIS!!!! 20 Brownie points (I don't even know what they are but HEY!!) to the person who can guess the significance of the guy that Kel almost slept with [her dirty little secret guy] and if you think that you're right, don't put it in a review, please! PM it to me!! =)
OH- and poll 2: What do you think should take place next chapter?
Dom and Kel get back to the palace and
1) They reveal to everyone that they are together and that Dom knows
2) They hide the fact that Dom knows and pretend that nothing happened
3) They tell everyone that Dom knows but leave out the fact that they are sorta together, making Yuki and Neal... tortured... until later!
4) Dom goes along as if he doesn't know and the 3rd company figure out and think that he doesn't know... so it all goes sorta ridiculously...
5) OTHER- tell
6) Neal has followed them (like last chapter 13) and as they are leaving the bandits wake and there's a huge fight but Neal has brought help....
ILY all!! =)