Standing on the ramparts of the fort Lady knight Keladry of Mindelan surveyed the surrounding area with her naked eye before lifting her hands to her face and looked out again. This time through the eye of her spyglass.

The sun was steadily rising in the east to cast a faint warming glow over the fort at Steadfast. Creating shadows where there where none before while at the same time lighting up some of the darkest corners.

The sunlight danced across the tops of the wall and settled on the tall girl, now more a woman, standing there. Keladry, or Kel as she was known to many, hardly took any notice of the sunlight but made a mental note to herself that scouting was much better done in the day light.

Her gaze was to the north east and although too far away from New Hope to spot anything at this distance she couldn't help herself. She had woken before dawn with the intension of doing some practice but had found her mind wandering to those at New Hope. Even a pattern dance with her glaive had failed to distract her long enough.

So here she was.

Despite being to far away Kel was calmed by the thought that no smoke rose from that direction blackening the early morning sky. She did have full confidence in the people and squads at New Hope but it was in her nature to worry about them and worry about them she would.

Placing her spyglass back in its carrying pouch and attaching it once more to her belt she eased herself onto the wall, taking care not to look down. She settled herself sideways into one of the niches left in the wall for archers to shoot out of and sat, legs spread out in front of her resting on the opposite side, her back resting on the other. Feeling the mild autumn sun heat the stone on which she rested.

All in all it was looking like it was going to be a good day.

"Perfect day to hold a wedding" thought Kel

On arriving the day before Kel had been slightly surprised to hear the Raoul's marriage would be taking place the day after though the more she thought of it the more she thought it was probably the best course of action. Steadfast was not built to host weddings, Scanran raiders but not wedding parties.

"Maybe I could just hid up here all day and avoid all the hustle and bustle" a few seconds later she realised she must have spoken aloud when her grumblings where answered.

"What's this? The Lady Knight hiding from her duties?"

Leaning her head out of the niche Kel came face to chest with a certain member of the Kings Own that she'd been both hoping and dreading to see.

Domitan of Masbolle stood looking down at her his sculpted face both amused and curious. Standing beside each other Kel didn't have to tilt her head that much to look him in eyes but from her current position she did. Dark brown hair flopped across sapphire blue eyes. His pale skin had tanned slightly from the summer spent raiding out in the sun chasing raiders but apart from that and a new scar across his left cheek stared back at her.

"I'm not hiding"

"Uh huh, I heard Buri was looking for you last night but somehow you disappeared"

Kel groaned and cast her gaze out across the fields and in the far distance the river. Dom took a seat beside her, moving her legs out of the way so that he could fit in. The narrow space was not wide enough to fit his legs in without some compromise so he ended up sitting with his legs bent up towards his chest. Arms warped casually round them.

"Let me guess" he said "she wants to discuss the wedding plans with you?"

Kel gave him a look.

"Worse than that?" he thought for a moment "I'm not sure I can…"

"Dress fitting" she mumbled

"Pardon"

"She wants me to go for a fitting. Since I'm the only eligible female for several miles excluding The Lioness I've nominated myself as maid of honour"

Dom looked at the girl sitting opposite him. "I don't think I've ever seen her in a dress before" he thought.

Kel seemed lost in thought as she stared into the rock in front of her, her hazel eyes clouding over. He took time to studying the lady knight as he had done time and time again. Like him she had also seen the effects of the border sun. Her hair had lightened several shades and was longer, gently brushing her shoulders. Her creamy skin had darkened giving her a healthy glow.

He knew her features as well as he knew his own. At first it had come out of him observing her and those around her. Neal had been writing to him for years and their correspondence increased when he joined first the university then the palace. Kel had been introduced to him immediately in Neal's letters when she had joined the pages and Neal continued to give him blow by blow accounts of her fights and her (in Neal's views) strange behaviour.

When news had reached him of her becoming the squire to the Knight Commander of the Kings Own Neal had tracked down his elder cousin and asked him to watch out for her and Dom had done just that.

In the beginning there had been a lot of talk, most of it said in private but occasionally voiced in public thought never it seemed within hearting distance of the female squire or her knight. Dom had quelled most of it till the time came when there where no more whispers. The men of the own seeing that she was asset in a fight and a good fellow all round.

It hadn't stopped Dom and a few of his squad getting into a few scraps along the way. Mainly with those not smart enough to keep their opinions to themselves.

Both where startled out of the day dreams and thinking by a loud commanding voice that echoed throughout the fort.

"Keladry… Kel I know your hiding up there. I had Neal scrye for you. I want you down here right now, you've got to get breakfast, get your dress fitted and learn what you have to do tonight. Come on Kel." Buri shouted down on the ground level of fort Steadfast, her voice carrying over the distance like it had once carried over battle grounds.

High up on the ramparts Kel dropped her head into her hands as the sergeant beside her got an evil glint in his eye. Standing up her offered his hands to her to help her up but instead of gasping her hands they went to her waist and, as he bent down, lifted her over his right shoulder. Her feet dangling over the front of his chest while her head hung over his back allowing her to get quite a good view of his backside.

"Dom, what the hell are you doing" she spluttered. Trying to get her arms up and round to his that held her firmly in place, searching for the soft spots to make him let go. Her protests fell on death ears though as Dom continued to walk along the landing passing those on watch who where trying there level best not the laugh and stare at the strange sight.

"Dom for crying out loud put me down. Dom!" she shouted.

Those who could see the sergeant's face noticed the gleam in his eye and the smile on his face and decided not to interfere.

It took Dom no time at all the negotiate the final part of the landing before setting off down the enclosed stairs to the ground floor narrowly missing Kel's head as he stepped through the door.

"I am so going to kill you later" Kel huffed.

This statement only gained a laugh from her capture and more when they finally entered the con course. Buri stood in the middle with Raoul, hands on hips while her betrothed tried his best to calm her. Glancing round her gaze settled on Dom and face her face broke into a grin before the burst into outright laughter. Confused at what had caused her sudden change of behaviour he turned round only to burst into loud laughter that travelled far around the enclosure.

Walking up to them Dom halted and saluted

"Where would you like her?" he said trying his best to keep hold of his burden who continued to squirm in his arms.

"Follow me" Buri said a smile still plastered on her face.

Dom turned to follow giving Kel a full view of Raoul and several members of the Kings Own who had come out of the barracks to see what all the fuss was about. Raoul saw her watching and smiled

"Not a word" she said with a glare.

Shaking his head Raoul turned to the men assembled behind him and had a quiet laugh with them.

"Recon that's the last we'll see of Dom my lord" said Wolset "Once Lady Kel's had a go at him I don't think they'll be much left"

"No I don't think there will be"

"Unless Dom sweet talks his way out of it" said another

"Aye there's that" said Wolset with a smile.

"What do you mean?" said Raoul. He had turned to leave but the conversation draw him back round.

"Well my lord me and the boys always reckoned that sergeant Dom had a soft spot for the lady knight sir. Always takes an interest in what she's doing and where she is. Was no coincidence that we got stationed at Haven earlier this year milord. Dom heard about it and who would be commanding and volunteered us for the work, not that any of us minded sir we like Lady Kel a lot just not in the same way the sergeant does. Well the way we think he does"

Raoul stood and pondered this information for a bit. Though it was news to him he understood the thinking behind it and thought about his own observations of the two. He smiled.

"You think it would work out corporal?"

"Dom and the Lady knight sir? Maybe but remembering milord the Own ain't allowed to marry so I'm not sure of anything coming out of it. With some of the laws changing maybe this one will be next."

"I don't think Kel's set on marrying anytime soon Wolset but I know what you mean. On the other hand this whole thing might be the concoction of squad of men who have nothing much to do, maybe I should ask Wyldon to increase your patrols"

"We just been reading the signs my lord, tis all based on fact"

"I'll take your word on it" Raoul remarked as he walked away to check the preparations for the wedding his mind going over the newest bit of information he had gleamed.

Standing on the stool in Buri's chambers Kel came quickly to the notion that her time would have been better spent doing something else.

"Buri I have supplies to gather you know, reports to go over with my Lord Wyldon plus loads of other stuff. How long is this going to take?"

Looking up at her with her mouth full of pins Buri carefully removed them and pinned up another section of the hem of the dress before answering her.

"If you had been here last night then I would not be keeping you from your work today so really" she said taking another couple of pins "It's your own fault"

Sighing Kel crossed her arms over her chest only to be rewarded with several small puncture holes in her arms. Looking at herself in the mirror though Kel had to admit that this was a stunning dress.

A deep forest green colour it had a square neck with full length sleeves that each tapered off into points. A built in corset gave Kel a more womanly figure, drawing in her waist while it emphasised her chest. The dress flared at her hips and flowed down towards are feet. The embroidery was simple, woven in gold thread it traced designs on the neckline, cuffs and hem.

The dress tied at the back with green ribbon though hidden clasps, sewn into the material, where used to make sure the dress stayed where it was meant to.

Small paten leather shoes in a rich brown where what Kel was meant to wear on her feet.

The door to the room opened suddenly admitting a small Yamani holding a fan to her face as another body followed her in carrying a breakfast table laden with food and juice.

Nealan of Queenscove settled the tray down on a nearby table before shifting his gaze round the room and onto Kel. His face broke into a wide grin. He opened his mouth to speak.

"Not a word Meathead" Kel cut in.

"But I was…"

"Shh"

Neal sighed while the Yamani beside him giggled quietly behind her fan. Turning to her he raised an eyebrow.

"See what I have to put up with and all I wanted to do was compliment her"

Closing her fan Yukimi noh Daiomoru, Neal's betrothed, turned to him and hit the fan of his upper arm.

"She knows you too well, now behave or I'll have you escorted out" looking back at Kel she added "You do look really good" smiling.

"Thanks" Kel replied with a faint hint of a blush creeping on her cheeks.

"Get used to the compliments" Buri said finishing the hem and standing back to check that the line was straight. "Women will be in short supply tonight, you had better get Neal to give you something for your feet with the amount of dancing you'll be doing."

"There are plenty of women here to dance with. Anyway you'll be in greater demand" Kel retorted.

"Yes but she'll be married by then, you'll be the only available one" Neal stated, picking up an apple from the breakfast tray and taking a bite. "Would you like me to arrange an armed escort to keep the mob at bay?" he said ducking as a spool of thread came hurtling at his head.

"And with that note I'll take my leave" bending down he kissed Yuki on the cheek and left.

"I don't know how you put up with him" Kel said sighing as Buri helped her out of the dress, carefully avoiding sticking her with pins. Yuki smiled.

"He's at his most annoying round you and Dom, with me he knows he cant get away with it"

Pulling on her shirt and breeches Kel considered this mornings events and an evil smile came across her face, a glint surfaced in her eyes. Buri and Yuki traded a glance eyebrows slightly raised.

"What's that look for?" Buri asked.

Walking towards the door Kel stopped when she reached it pulling it open, she turned and looked at the two women standing there.

"I have a certain sergeant to pay a visit too, I'll see you later" and with that walked out closing the door quietly behind her.

In the room Yuki and Buri watched the door close. Tilting her head slightly to the side Buri looked at the young Yamani.

"I almost feel sorry for Dom" she said turning and placing the dress on a manikin. Yuki smiled.

"Almost" she said and the two women laughed together as they set about stitching the dress.