Kel's Bed

It was late. Almost midnight in fact. Technically she should be asleep. Everyone else was asleep and it had been a long, tiring day. It would be wise to get to sleep; she had been up earlier and would be up early tomorrow. She'd be exhausted if she didn't get to sleep soon.

But her bed was cold (not really, as she had been tossing and turning since lights out, a few hours ago). She missed him. She was lonely.

She had turned over onto her side to face the window for a third time when she heard the familiar sound of horses hooves. Grabbing her coat and boats (it was Midwinter after all), she raced out of her room, still doing up the buttons on her jacket.

She reached the courtyard in her quickest time (a new record) and braved the chilly air. It hit her like she'd just been thrown from Peachblossom.

But Kel didn't care about that. She didn't care what time it was, as long as she got to see her sweetheart. He had just arrived home and as she walked down to the stables, she wondered why he was taking so long; wasn't he dying to see her like she was dying to see him.

The stables were quiet and cold. Soldiers had quickly left to find a warm bed and maybe a hot meal depending on how tired they were. Knowing them, they would steal some of the honey cakes from the kitchens if they were clever enough.

Horses snorted and pawed the ground as she walked past; even they were settling down to sleep. Even the horses were getting ready for bed. All bar one whose rider was taking his time in grooming him. She suddenly realised why he was taking so long.

She stopped in front of his stall and the horse took a step to her causing his rider to change positions. She patted the horse's nose as his master turned to her. She smiled and opened the stall door.

"You should be in bed,"

"Couldn't sleep," she defended. "And I wanted to see you."

He looked up at her, his blue eyes tired and his whole body weary. She could read him as well as he could read her.

"I think you're the one that should be in bed," she told him with a smile.

"I'll just finish–"

"Dom, come to bed,"

Kel moved over to her lover and wrapped her arms around him. His response was automatic as he wrapped his own arms tightly around her. While he was grateful for her hug, the reason behind it was Kel trying to assess if he was missing any important body parts. She'd love him even if he was missing anything but she loved every bit of him and didn't want to miss anything.

"Please Dom,"

Dom let her go and took off the halter from his horse. Kel moved from the stall and waited for Dom to follow. He murmured something to the horse before leaving the stall. He locked the door and turned to Kel.

Kel smiled at him and then hugged him again. He pulled away and firmly kissed her. She had missed him, especially his kisses. Nights were colder when he wasn't home or when she was out on mission and he wasn't with her. It felt like her whole world was him and without him around, she didn't know what to do.

Of course up until recently, she had been able to cope. But since that first kiss he'd given her and her confession that she liked him in a romantic way, she had found it impossible not to be near him.

His room was closer but hers were nicer, cleaner, and smelt a whole lot better. And that night when Dom wrapped his arms around her waist as they shared the bed together, Kel was so glad that Dom was Dom and was here with her.