Dinner had just started and Kel was already feeling a sense of foreboding. She was sure Neal would have spread the story and all her friends would ask embarrassing things.
'Yep, that confirms it,' she thought as her friends waved her over, each had a wicked grin plastered on his face. Kel steeled herself for their worst as she slowly sank into a spot on the middle of the bench. She noticed someone missing and before the boys could start she asked, "Where's Dom?"
Neal had a smile full of withheld information, "He had to get something, um, back in his rooms. He'll be here in a while." Neal was telling less than he knew, but the other boys didn't notice, all their concern was placed on having Kel answer their questions.
"Maybe I should go find him, you know, make sure he's ok," Kel began; she was trying to rise from her seat quickly but all the boys around her grabbed her by the shoulders and hauled her back down. She could do nothing as Merric and Seaver pushed her back into place, each leaning in to keep her in place. The boys, it seems, had collected a number of questions for Kel over the years and this was the perfect time to get the truth out of their quiet and reserved Yamani friend.
"We think you should stay, Kel," Merric had that grin back on his face.
"We all have some questions for you," Owen finished as Neal started to rub his hands together in twisted delight.
"You're all mean, bad, bad men." Kel looked at each in turn, "I will refuse to answer some questions and if they are totally out of line I will meet you on the practice courts. You can make it a guarantee that you will meet me by any weapon if you dare cross me."
Their smiles were no less evil, though Neal was a shade or two lighter, as one boy after another shot questions at her.
"Have you ever been kissed? If so, by whom and where?" the others groaned.
The first had come from Faleron; he was a year older than most so he hadn't heard about Kel and Cleon.
Kel sighed remembering him, but answered, "Yes, Cleon kissed me when I was a squire right after he found out I was going to tilt against a knight, he kissed me when I was in my tent on progress." She wasn't going to give more information than necessary to fill the bet, she made sure of that!
"Have you ever had a crush on one of us?"
Kel blushed before controlling herself and bowed her head before answering with a very small, "Yes."
They were all interested now, Owen leaned over, "Really? Who?"
"I refuse to answer!" Kel smiled toothily at them, "I'd like to keep all my handsome friends where they are, thank you."
"Aw! That's no fun! C'mon Kel, tell us!" Owen begged.
She shook her head but felt Neal's gaze. She flicked a glance to him and noted a calculating look in his eyes, "Not for anything."
The boys booed at her but continued interrogating. Kel bolted down her meal as fast as she could between answers then scooted out of the hall at top speed, their questions echoing after her.
She turned the key and got into her room. She flopped down on her bed and relaxed, laughing as she remembered the looks on her friend's faces at some of her answers. 'I never should've accepted the bet. Now they know far too much about me,' her brain trailed off, almost drowning the gentle knock on her door.
Kel rose and answered it, revealing Dom, "Thank the gods!" she whispered, pulling him inside by the collar of his shirt, "The one night you leave everyone gangs up on me and-"
Dom silenced her with a soft kiss, "Would you like to go on a walk and explain it to me?"
Kel nodded, kissing him back. She would've said yes, even without Neal's bet on her mind.
They walked through the gardens hand in hand, chatting innocently, Kel tried to explain the horrors of her friend's questions, but Dom only laughed. Finally they stopped and sat on a bench, there was a fountain trickling cheerfully nearby and the moon cast enough light that they could see everything easily.
"Kel," Dom murmured, taking her hand in his own larger ones, "you're beautiful, you know." She was a sight, her hazel eyes were brimming with happiness and an inner sparkle that captivated him. 'Every thing about her is gorgeous,' he smiled and leaned in to kiss her once more, taunting her with his lips.
"I love you, Dom," she whispered in his ear. The sound of her so close to him sent shivers down his spine again and again.
She was going to kiss him, but he pulled away. Kel sat up, puzzled.
"Look, Kel. I didn't come here so we could just kiss." He took a large breath, "Keladry, I know we told each other about being in love a few hours ago, but I also know I've loved you for years." He reached to pull a small box from his pocket, "Kel, I've known you for years, I've ridden beside you, I've joked beside you, I've fought beside you, and I've loved you through it all. I can't imagine living my life so close to anyone else, and I don't want to. You the only girl I ever want to be with, I'm sure of it." He opened the box and put it in her hands, "Keladry of Mindelan, will you marry me?"
Kel was frozen, everything seemed to forget how to move, and there were no noises around them at all. Slowly she began to thaw... she looked down at the ring but remembered that mocking grin Neal couldn't wipe off his face, and Dom's 'disappearance,' and coincidently it all happened the same night of the bet...
"You planned this!" she sputtered, "You and Neal both!" Dom's only response was to grin sheepishly at her. "Come with me Dom. Give me five minutes and I'll answer your question." She stood quickly, pulled him up, and dragged him in the direction of Neal's rooms.
"Queenscove! Open the door this very instant!" Kel bellowed.
Dom started to worry, 'What if she says no because of the bet?' Dom grew paler by the second until Neal opened the door.
Neal swung open the entrance of his rooms and took in the scene before him, 'Uh-oh. This is not good, Kel's mad and Dom is as pale as a sheet.' He tried to close the door, but Kel stuck her foot in, "Uh, yes Kel? How may I help you?"
"That is a horrid trick to play on someone do you hear me?! You and Dom were in this together. As long as I'm around NIETHER of you may make bets again! Do I make myself clear?" Kel was turning an interesting shade of red as she yelled at the cousins.
Neal had been muttering under his breath about cousins, but nodded anyways. Dom followed suit, after all, it was partially his fault, even if Neal actually made the bet. They had never heard that tone out of Kel before and it scared them to the core.
"Good. The bet is off." Turning to Dom she asked sweetly, "Would you like your answer now?"
Dom gulped, that tone scared the daylights out of him, but he managed another nod. She pulled one of his hands out and put the box with the ring in it. Dom looked at her, his heart was sinking, stomach lost in a bottomless pit, but she was still smiling, "Just hold that, ok?" she said seductively.
"Kel, I-" he tried to explain but was promptly cut off, Kel had her fingers in his hair and she reached forward to kiss him fiercely. She seemed to have forgotten Neal and continued to kiss Dom for all she was worth. He realized what this meant and snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her even closer. His stomach was still dropping, but in a better, warmer way, and his heartbeat was racing alongside hers.
Her yells had called the attention of her other friends, and doors had opened along to hall to find the cause of the noise. Merric, Seaver, Esmond, Owen and Faleron saw that Neal was in no immediate danger and started to whistle and cheer when Kel and Dom did not part their kiss.
When they finally broke apart all Dom could ask was, "So is that a yes or a no?" He was grinning like a madman.
"What do you think?" her eyes showed answer enough for him and he moved forward with a kiss to rival Kel's own.