Chapter 4

I own nothinggggggg (sadly). All of these characters are Tamora Pierce's. I'm just using them for my own ideas and enjoyment!

Thanks to everyone for support and helpful suggestions! You're helping me learn to be a better writer. If you have any ideas that you might want to contribute or run past me, feel free to PM me, I would love to hear what you have to say. I have already received lots of helpful hints that will take into consideration. I appreciate reviews, although don't feel as though you have to, mostly I just want you to enjoy the story.

I just had an idea rush so I'm a little more pumped about this chapter than I was the last one. Let's hope it goes in the direction I want!

Also, I will be going on vacation next week so there will not be any update to my story for probably the next two weeks.

You're all amazing. Enjoy!
-Sass

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A week had passed since Dom's accident and he was slowly starting to push his abilities without impeding his recovery. So far, however, he had felt unsuccessful. Slowly and stiffly Dom made his way towards the outdoor practice arena, having finally managed to evade and throw Neal of his trail, who had done nothing but follow him around, barking orders about his care. It had at first, only bothered Dom, but now it almost infuriated him. Dom was well aware that Neal was being his usual overzealous self and taking his responsibility of making sure Dom "behaved" way too seriously. Dom still limped slightly and felt the occasional dull twinge of pain up his leg, but he would never improve if he sat around all day. Hence the trip to the practice courts for some basic staff work.

Having been cooped up for the last week, Dom reveled in the sunshine and the feel of the wind across his face. With his mind set on returning to The Own as soon and as fast as possible, Dom slowly began to work his way through his paces, defending himself from an invisible enemy.

One. Two. Three. Four. Strike. One. Two. Three. Four. Strike.

At first the pace felt awkward and choppy, but soon Dom began to settle into the rhythm that had become second nature to him. He began to speed up his pace, adding more complicated embellishments and intricate patterns. Sweat began flowing in beads down his face, not phasing his concentration.

"Dom, just what do you think you're doing?" The exasperated voice of his recently appointed handler broke his concentration, however, Dom ignored this and completed his pattern before acknowledging Neal who was waiting impatiently at the end of the arena, arms crossed and a scowl on his face.

"Sir Meathead," Dom casually drawled, brushing the sweat from his eyes, slowly ambling to where Neal stood waiting. "How kind of you to grace me with your presence."

"What in Mirthos name do you think you're doing?" Neal all but yelled. "You're supposed to be resting! Not getting in some battle practice!"

Dom raised an eyebrow "If you think that's battle practice Meathead, then you've been spending far too much time in that stuffy infirmary." He wiped off his practice staff before returning it to its stand, feeling better than he had felt in the last week.

Neal rolled his eyes. "If you wanted to get some exercise in, go for a walk! Not to the practice courts you dolt!"

Dom stood in front of Neal, his hands casually in the pocket of his pants. He gave a noncommittal shrug. "I didn't think you would let me. So I decided to be a big boy and think for myself." Neal ignored his words.

"I was going to ask if you wanted to come to the city with me. Yuki and Kel are at some dress store and they wanted me to join them. I thought you might like to come and give me an excuse to leave as soon as possible." He flashed Dom a quick grin and Dom let out a chuckle.

"Poor Meathead, needing to be saved from damsels. Are you sure they made you a proper knight?" Dom gestured in the direction of the palace gates and accompanied Neal to where his wife and friend were waiting.

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"I don't know why you wanted me to come with you Yuki. Shinko would have been much better at this than I am." Kel said to Yuki, making a face as she held up a bright shiny pink piece of fabric. She and Yuki had gone to visit Lalasa's shop to find a dress. King Jonathan had recently announced that the war against Scanran was officially over and that there was to be a celebration within the month. Yuki had commissioned Lalasa to make them dresses for the occasion (much to Kel's dismay), and had dragged Kel along to the dress fitting.

"Shinko was busy," Yuki replied, her voice slightly muffled as she tried her new dress on from behind a curtain. "Besides, she already had a dress made. You and I had not. It only makes sense for you to come with me, and I doubt Lalasa would let you go to a royal celebration in a tunic and hose."

"It's true my lady. That would not do at all." Lalasa had appeared from behind the curtain where she had been helping Yuki with the dress. She now walked towards Kel, a deep sapphire blue and gold trimmed dress in her arms. Kel eyed the dress doubtfully. She had often worn dresses while she had trained, but they were simple, Brown, red and the occasional yellow. Nothing so startlingly colorful and eye catching as the garment that her old handmaid now held out to her.

"Your turn my lady. Off with those filthy clothes."

Sighing, Kel took the dress and walked over to the other curtain. Quickly stripping her light cotton tunic and hose she struggled to don the gown. She felt cold small hands tugging the gown from behind to help and then quickly doing up the buttons. She turned around and smiled gratefully at Lalasa.

"Well. Let's see how it looks, shall we?" Lalasa held open the curtain and Kel stepped out.

At first when she reached the mirror, Kel stood motionless, both awed and shocked at Lalasa's beautiful creation. Of course it fit perfectly, but Kel had expected no less from her former maid. The fabric was much lighter than Kel had thought it would be, the long dress fitting her snugly around her torso, accentuating her waistline, while simultaneously making her hips look much curvier than they actually were. The neckline was simple and tasteful, but still showing off her soft (yet slightly scarred) skin. The dress fell slightly off of her shoulders, the sleeves reaching her elbows. The back was a corset, the gold of the trim perfectly offsetting the deep sapphire blue of the dress, making gold flecks in Kel's eyes stand out, and complementing the tan she sported from her work outside.

Kel softly ran her fingers along the pleats of her skirt, taking it all in. She turned to Lalasa, a smile on her face and hugged the older girl.

"It's beautiful." She said softly.

"No lady, you're beautiful." Kel smiled gratefully before turning to Yuki who had emerged from behind her curtain, her dress deep purple with longer sleeves and a more plunging neckline, accented with silver trim.

"Well?" She demanded jokingly, spinning around. "Is this acceptable Yuki?"

Yuki clasped her hands together and grinned. "It's perfect!"

Kel stepped away from the mirror and moved to return to the safety of the curtain to change back into her clothes when the cheerful chirping of sparrows and the soft wuff from Jump alerted them to the approaching Neal, with Dom in tow.

The bell at the entrance to Lalasa's shop softly chimed as Neal entered, his eyes quickly searching for his bride among the various ladies present. He smiled and strode forwards having spotted Yuki in her beautiful gown. He planted a swift kiss on her cheek before performing theatrical bow in Lalasa and Kel's direction. Once he straightened he raised his eyebrows at Kel's dress.

Kel frowned slightly. "What?"

Neal shook his head. "Nothing. It's just different from your normal attire, that's all."

Kel nervously patted at the dress, but Yuki shuffled forwards and grabbed her hand. "Stop it Kel, you look beautiful. The nobles won't know what hit them!" She shot Neal a small glare for making Kel feel even more self-conscious. Neal met her gaze, his face the picture of innocence.

"You do look beautiful Kel. I know that's one of your favorite colors." Neal said wickedly, raising his eyebrows once more.

Now it was Kel who shot Neal the glare before Lalasa promptly guided Neal towards the door and subtly pushed him out, Jump and the sparrows following behind him.

Dom, who had opted to wait outside, still enjoying his returned freedom was greeted by the chirping of sparrows, one landing on his shoulder. He smiled down at the bird and held his hand out, dried cherries in his palm. "Hello Piper." The small bird peeped in reply and hopped down into his hand, taking a cherry. The other two birds who had joined Kel and Yuki also selected cherries from Dom's hand before flying away.

Dom looked up at Neal. "They kicked you out, didn't they?" Neal grinned sheepishly at Dom before turning his attention to the store across the road, whistling he made his way over there. Dom let out a chuckle before leaning back against the wall of Lalasa's shop, petting Jump absentmindedly.

A few minutes later, the shop bell chimed once more, Kel and Yuki emerging, both carrying large packages. Dom hurried over to take the packaged from them, but both Kel and Yuki declined his offer. When Dom raised his eyebrows Yuki just smiled and said "It will be my husband's honor to carry this for me." Kel and Dom both laughed at her words and the group made their way across the road to the store in which Neal had disappeared.

Dom snorted when he realized where Neal had gone. Of course the bakery. Neal often found his way into one of the bakeries in Corus, in search of his favorite, blueberry pie. After being grudgingly removed from the bakery by his wife and having the honor of carrying her dress bestowed upon him, Neal walked back towards the palace with his wife, Dom and Kel a few paces ahead of them.

"Are you sure you don't want me to carry that for you?" Dom asked Kel for what seemed like the hundredth time. She shook her head, once again refusing.

"It's fine, really Dom." She said smiling at him. Dom shrugged and started whistling, occasionally joined by the twittering of sparrows.

Can't she see that I'm just trying to be a gentleman? That I'm trying to treat her like a lady instead of a companion in arms? Dom thought ruefully to himself.

Wanting to make Kel more comfortable, Dom inquired about New Hope, and was soon caught up in an animated discussion about the refugee camp, Merric and its residents.

Unbeknownst to them, Neal and Yuki had been watching Kel and Dom's interactions the whole way back to the palace.

"She's so stubborn!" Neal whispered to his wife, exasperated at his best friend's refusal and Dom's failed attempted to be gentlemanly.

Yuki nodded and hummed slightly in response. "She takes chivalry very seriously our Lady Knight."
Neal narrowed his eyes slightly, before an idea dawned on him, making him grin wickedly.

"You know what our Lady Knight needs, my lotus blossom?" Yuki rolled her eyes at Neal's flowery (yet endearing) pet name he had given her.

'What does she need Nealan?"

"I do believe our Lady Knight is in need of an escort to the celebration." Yuki's eyes lit up, dancing with mischief at her husband's words. The rest of the way home, they plotted.

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After dinner that night Dom was approached by Neal and Yuk, both of them arms crossed, and stern expressions on their faces. Dom held his hands up jokingly and backed away from them.
"Please, I don't have any money! Have mercy!" Neal rolled his eyes and Yuki uncrossed her arms, hiding a smile behind her hand.

"Listen Dom, we've been thinking-" Neal started.

Dom cut him off "That right there was your first mistake. Once and Meathead, always a Meathead." Neal scowled and opened his mouth to retort.

"We were thinking, that you should ask Kel if you could escort her to the celebration this week." Yuki said, before either of them could come up with another cutting joke.

Dom's eyebrows creased into a slight frown. "Me? I don't think that's a good idea..." he trailed off, not really having an actual reason.Yuki now put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows.

"And why shouldn't you?" she all but demanded.

Why shouldn't I indeed. Why I shouldn't escort a beautiful lady to the celebration? And why shouldn't it be Kel? He asked himself. Dom searched for a reason why he shouldn't ask Kel if he could escort her but came up short. He shrugged his shoulders and looked at Neal.

"I guess I have a Lady Knight to find." At his words, Yuki clapped her hands together and Neal gave Dom a big grin, patting his back.

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Kel was in her rooms reading a book on the Yamani Islands when there was a knock at her door. She was not entirely surprised when she opened the door to find Dom, as they often visited each other. She was, however, surprised to find him holding a single yellow wildflower. He held it out to her, smiling. Carefully, Kel took the flower and smiled back at Dom.

"Thank you. But what is this for?" She asked, holding her arm out, indicating that he could join her in her chambers.

Dom rubbed his hand on the back of his neck, trying to fight the creeping blush that threatened to expose him and made his way over to her desk chair. Kel sat down across from him on her bed, still carefully holding on to the wildflower.

"It's for you." Dom internally winced at his own words.

"I gathered that, but why?" She teased him.

"I was hoping that you might accompany me to the King's celebration." He asked softly. He looked her in the eyes, watching as the beautiful hazel widened in what he guessed to be was shock. "You can say no," he said backtracking. "I just thought that you don't really enjoy them and neither do I… we could not enjoy it together." She broke her gaze off from his and moved it to the flower.

She smiled and softly fingered each of the petals of the flower for a moment before returning to his gaze.

Inside, he was all but screaming when she broke eye contact. Oh Gods what did I do? She's going to say no. She's going to laugh and think it's a joke. She's going to say-

"Yes."

It was Dom's turn to have his eyes widen slightly in shock.

"I would love to not enjoy the evening together with you." Kel said laughing as she now stood up. Dom stood also, but was not fully prepared for the hug that followed. He breathed in her scent, sweat mixed with hay and green tea, feeling more than slightly disappointed as she pulled away, but the look in her eyes more than made up for the disappointment of no longer feeling her closeness. They walked towards the door, Kel quickly hugging him again before quietly closing the door, a soft smile still on her mouth, her eyes still lit up in joy. Dom leaned against the closed door and finally allowed the grin that he had been fighting to spread across his face.

"It's a date." He said softly to himself, before walking on his way, whistling a cheerful tune as he made his way towards Neal and Yuki's rooms to tell them the good news.