DISCALIMER: I don't own any of the concepts or the characters, they all belong to the wonderful Tamora pierce. Even Dom…and you donut know how much it pains me to admit that lolz

SUMMARY: The midwinter ball is approaching, Neal is getting married and Kel is being forced to wear a gown. Who does she run across in the dressmakers? And who wants the last dance? A little kissing under the mistletoe? Hmm…you'll have to read and see! KxD

~*~

Snowblind

By Strawberry_miow

The snow fell in gentle flakes outside of the window; soft white curves of the midwinter season blowing around in the wind as people ran to escape the cold. Fires roared inside most of the rooms, coals striking up an amiable heat just mild enough to get by without cursing the Gods for the abominable weather. Kel was glad she was back from the border, icicles in her hair and her voice starting to sound remarkably like she was part of the male variation of the knights if she had still been on the road. Luckily for her they had been called back just in time.

The windows of her room were frosted over; patchy areas of shattered white looking almost like a cracked mirror or a broken figurine. She smiled slightly to herself, corners of her mouth twitching upwards despite her Yamani mask being held firmly in place. She liked the winter, mithros knew why. It was somewhat calm compared to the rest of the year, maybe because it was the only time she really got off from being a knight. Not that the duties stop, no…far from it actually, what with the upcoming ball and the new pages starting soon after.

A gentle knocking on the door stirred her from her thoughts. Slowly, she rose from her position on the bed and walked over to answer it, the banging becoming more and more persistent with each step she took, which, of course, could only mean one thing --

"Kel!" Nealan of Queenscove cried as she eased open the door, "I heard you were back!" he quickly wrapped her up in a huge hug, smiling. Kel laughed.

"Neal, what's got into you?" She asked, amused as she squeezed her way out of his grip, "Have you not been taking your medication while I've been gone?"

He smirked, "Ha ha very funny, mother" his emerald green eyes danced playfully as he stepped past her into her rooms, glancing around at everything before turning to a somewhat ruffled Kel with a smile, "But for your information, it's midwinter and you know what that means!"

She mumbled something unrepeatable under her breath, sighing. Neal always seemed to like all the social events life here at Corus threw at them, balls to weddings to luncheons with the important, of course though, for him the midwinter dance was always number one. She didn't dare ask as to why. "I hear this year will be the first time in decades where everyone will attend" she mumbled.

"Ah ha, ah ha" her friend nodded vigorously, "King Jonathan's called in most of the squads, the weather is too bad for anyone to think attacking anyway!" Kel almost laughed at the way he was behaving; it was somewhat comical even in comparison to usual, "But not just that, my fair lady Yukimi has agreed to be my wife! Oh Gods, midwinter luck has really been bestowed on me this year" he sighed melodramatically.

Kel did laugh at that, she had to give it to Neal, he really could put on a show. Walking over to him she wrapped her arms around his neck, "Neal, that's great!" she smiled, hugging him tightly. She really was happy for him, he deserved someone like Yuki and she could tell they really did love each other.

"Kel?" Neal inquired, pulling back to look at her. He quirked an eyebrow, "Are you happy for me in general or just happy for the fact that someone else will get the duty of keeping me in line?"

She smirked and pulled him close for a final hug, letting go she let her arms drop to her side, "A little of both" she admitted cheerfully.

He seemed to like that answer because the next thing she knew, he was grabbing hold of her and squeezing her just a little too tightly, "Ok then" he grinned, releasing her he walked - or rather bounced - to the door, "I'm going to go see who else I can tell!"

Kel shook her head in silent laughter as he bounded out into the hallways, singing something that she vaguely caught a few lines of, " Ding-Dong the bells are going to chime! Girls come and kiss me, show how you'll miss me…" she didn't really think that his `lady love` would like that but what the hell, he was happy.

As Kel let the door slide shut, she laughed.

~*~

The snow grew thicker as the day wore on, large droplets the size of marbles were soon covering the ground. A white blanket folded over all the greenery, and the water outside had no less than turned to ice. It would have been beautiful if she wasn't stuck out in it, well almost anyway.

Of course, with the midwinter ball being held that evening she had been dragged by Yuki - Neal`s bride to be - to get a gown. She still felt, while she was stood there with pins sticking out of various places, that she hadn't protested enough, but she couldn't really do much about it now and besides, Lalassa always did a great job.

"So, Kel…" the Yamani began, she was stood looking through various colours of material waiting, "Anybody in particular you hope to run into tonight?" her face was perfectly calm, it would have seemed like an innocent question if Kel hadn't caught the mischievous tone of voice. Obviously learnt from Neal, Kel mused, grumbling.

She blushed as a pair of blue eyes flashed in her mind, "No…" she murmured aloud, head down, "Not particularly"

Yuki didn't fall for it, of course, "Come on Kel, there has to be someone" she nudged, "You don't blush like that for no-one"

Kel opened her mouth to reply when the slight jingling of bells told her somebody had just entered the shop, sure enough, Lalassa skipped off to deal with the customer.

"Yes, they were just adjusted" Kel heard the new occupant say, it was strange…she could have sworn she recognised that voice from somewhere…

"Very Much yes, the midwinter ball is tonight and" there it was again, she felt like she should know who it was but she couldn1t quite hear enough to place them. From the snippets of the conversation she'd heard she now knew it was obviously somebody from Corus, and a male, funny…she couldn't remember the last time her former maid had done men's clothing. Maybe it was a special order….

Kel listened harder as she made out Lalassa`s voice, obviously handing the customer something, "Here you go Sergeant Domitan, have fun at the ball tonight"

Kel seemed to freeze at those words…. Domitan?….Sergeant?…..Dom!!

Ignoring the protests from Yuki, she ran out into the front of the shop, she hadn't seen him for ages, or at least it seemed that way. "Dom!" she cried, as she stumbled through into the main body of the room. He turned to look at who was calling and smiled, blue eyes the colour of the ocean locking with those of Hazel.

"Kel?" he replied, slightly surprised to see her in a dressmakers of all places, not that he could comment, having his uniform altered there and such. She ran over to him, or rather toppled, the dress somewhat restricting in the sense of running anywhere, "It's good to see you again" he commented as they embraced, hugging each other tightly before Kel shyly broke away, remembering just exactly what she was doing and where she was.

She looked up at him wryly, "Dom…" she began, "What are you doing in a dressmakers?"

He grinned at her and she felt her cheeks begin to flame once again, "Getting a uniform altered for this evening, and by the look on your face you're being forced to get a gown?" he quirked an eyebrow.

"Hmm…yeah" she mumbled, "Everybody says I have to look like a lady, and apparently that now includes putting on a frilly, oversized gown, heels I can't walk in and face paints. Even Sir Raoul banded against me!"

Dom laughed at that, "I remember the time when he would gladly have taken on an immortal just to avoid the midwinter ball"

Now it was Kel`s turn to grin, "Yes, or have went out searching for battles that would guarantee us to be back after it was over"

They both laughed and their gazes locked. Kel blushed, "It was good seeing you again Dom"

"You too, Lady Knight" he mocked bowed, a glint of humour in his azure coloured eyes, "I shall see you at the ball tonight, save me the last dance" and with that he left, the bell above the door jingling as he stepped out into the cold snowy weather.

Kel stood there speechless for a little while, had he just said…? But.…? confusion and disbelief swept over her like a cloak, her own thoughts masking her in a world far from reality as she mused upon what she thought she had heard. Yuki pulled her out of her thoughts though, with the comment:

"So that's no-one huh?"