Sparring Session (Kenna x Dom)
Summary: Queen Kenna and King Dominic of the Five Kingdoms take a trip down memory lane.
Author’s note: The Crown & The Flame is my favorite Choices series ever, and I’m weak for the “friends to lovers” trope and I’ve always wanted a spin-off of Kenna and Dom. I’ve been sketching this fanfic for almost two years and have finally been able to write it all out, thanks to Blades finale. The nostalgia hit hard. Anyway, I don’t know if anyone will read this, if there still are die hard fans of TC&TF like me here, but I’m so glad I was able to write this. My masterlist
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Pixelberry.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Kenna x Dom
Word count: +5.5K
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The boy swung his small sword bravely.
“Come on, fight me! Or are you too afraid?” - nine-years-old Crown Prince Gabriel Arthur Rys of Stormholt shouted defiantly at his father as they squared off on the hillside just outside the Stormholt castle’s gate.
King Dominic burst out in laughter.
“Watch your mouth, kid, when I was your age I used to beat every kid, whether they were the castle staff’s or villagers’ kids.”
“You? I thought it was mother.” - Prince Arden Leon, second son, seven-years-old, asked, interrupting his reading, with a confused expression on his face, from where he was with his younger sister, four-years-old Princess Marcella Idara.
“This is what the history books want you to believe, but not everything that's written in it is true. I was better than your mom.”
“Is that so?” - they heard a voice coming from the gates.
A heavily pregnant Kenna stepped outside the castle’s ground to the hill. Her loyal friend and Crown Guardian Will Jackson accompanied her, making sure that the queen wouldn’t trip on her condition.
“Mother!” - the kids sprinted towards her, instantly forgetting the argument. Dom couldn’t hold back a smile as he watched his loving and growing family.
“Your Highnesses, be careful with the Queen and the baby!” - Jackson tried to lecture the royal children but it was useless, none of them heard him as they elbowed each other to hug Kenna tightly. They were always excited to see their beloved mother.
“Alright, alright, give your mom some space!” - the king approached them with calm steps, and friendly patted the royal guard on the back. The kids groaned in frustration but they stopped fussing over her. - “How was the meeting with the Tree Lady?”
“Dom! I’ve told you to stop calling Queen Rowan like this. Especially in front of the kids.” - she lectured her husband in a whisper, but with a smile on her lips.
"Come on, your highnesses, it's time to bathe." - Will said as he motioned to someone inside the gates. A couple of nursemaids came rushing out.
"But we still haven't finished our duel!" - Prince Gabriel whined, raising his sword to the air to show his discontentment.
"Tomorrow you can spar some more. But for now you must clean yourselves up to get ready for dinner." - Kenna said firmly. - "We have some guests tonight."
"Who?" - Princess Marcella asked, taking the hand of one of the maids.
"Well, Queen Rowan is staying for dinner and--"
"Of course there's me too!" - they heard a voice coming from a few feet away, they all turning to see who it was. - "You better not think I would miss a damn fancy dinner."
"Val!!!!" - the three kids exclaimed in excitement, running down the hill to meet with the ex-mercenary, now Stormholt's Master-at-Arms.
"Oof! You kids are getting big, aren't ya?" - she smiled adoringly at them, messing with Princess Marcella's hair as the little girl hugged her tightly. - "I even brought a little present!" - she pointed to the keg in one of her shoulders. - "Since Kenna here can't drink, you're immediately obliged to drink her part, Jackson. You know, as her personal guard. I even put your name here."
Will rolled his eyes, but didn't argue. He knew Val too well to know that there was no escape from his destiny and the horrible hangover he would have the next day.
Val clasped hands with Dominic as she approached the royal couple.
"Oh, were you sparring?" - she asked as she saw Gabriel proudly holding his sword.
"More talking, actually. Gabriel and Father wouldn't shut up about who is the 'best warrior of all Five Kingdoms', blah blah blah." - Arden rolled his eyes, making Marcella and Val laugh.
“Oh right! Mother, who's the best warrior? You or Father?" - Gabriel asked as they all headed toward the castle. Kenna smirked.
"Well, I'm not known as the 'Warrior Queen' for nothing. And I remember beating your father frequently as we grew up."
"I guess the pregnancy is making you delirious, my Queen.” - Dominic smiled back at his wife, who was holding his arm to balance herself as they climbed the castle front stairs.
“And I think Gabriel hit you in the head with his toy sword too many times, my King.” - the two boys giggled to their parents playful banter, before the royal kids were escorted to bathe.
"I'm not a big fan of kids, but those three are too damn adorable." - Val said as the adults headed to the dinner room.
"Of course, we made them!" - Dom puffed his chest proudly, looking at the corridor where their kids disappeared into with the maids.
The eldest, Gabriel Arthur, was the perfect mixture of his parents, bright blue eyes and a dark brown hair. He pretty much had a bit of problem sitting through the royal classes, and preferred staying outside, sparring with his friends, much like his mother. But he was a goofy at heart, just like his father, and would prank one of the nobles in every Kenna's coronation anniversary.
Arden Leon looked like his mother, physically-wise, with his dark brown hair and clever brown eyes. He preferred spending his time reading and even accompanying his mother on her endless strategic and political reunions than training for combat. Dominic was pretty sure the young boy was much more intelligent than him.
Princess Marcella Idara still was too young, her personality still building up, but she was very smart - she said her first words when she was just 10 months old! - and was very attached to her brothers - she would always throw a tantrum if she got separated from her the boys -, especially Arden. And she adored Val. She looked the most with Dominic of the three, with lighter hair and blue eyes.
It had passed 10 years since they had defeated Empress Azura and now Dominic Hunter was Stormholt’s king, married to his childhood sweetheart Kenna and they had two sons with opposite personalities, a feisty little girl and another kid on the way.
Not bad for an orphan stable boy, huh?
“Hey, what’s going on inside this pretty head of yours?” - Kenna asked later that night, at their chambers, as they prepared themselves to sleep.
"Oh, am I pretty now?"
"Typical. You just hear what you want. And yes, you've never not been pretty, Dom." - she smiled adoringly to him as they both laid down their bed.
She watched the goofiest smile spreading on her husband's face and he snooped closer, kissing her on the lips.
"Just thinking about the amazing kids we have."
"Well, they have an amazing father." - Kenna frowned. - "I'm sorry I can't be around much to help you take care of them. I wish I could, but--"
"Hey, hey. I've told you this before, Kenna. Don't worry. It's impossible to take care of both Five Kingdoms and of our children. We're lucky to have you as our Queen. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be able to handle all this political thing." - although Dominic was crowned as King, it was just a formal title. Kenna was the only one who ruled and, truth be told, he gladly took his part as just a consort. He much preferred taking care of the kids rather than discussing politics with other rulers, even though they were all allies.
"It's been a while since you've gone to the Blackspine Mountains, hasn't it?" - she asked.
"Yeah, I guess it's been almost a year?" - Dom was the official Ambassador of the Blackspines too, and would often travel there, both for training and to strengthen their political alliances. - "But don't worry, Kenna. It's a good thing that Sei get down of those mountains and come visit us for a change. Although she's not very fond of kids." - he chuckled to himself as he remembered the last words his good friend had told him the last time he was there. "I know you adore those little creatures, Dominic, but you should let poor Queen Kenna rest before making more of them. She has the Five Kingdoms to look after."
"You're right." - the queen smiled softly. - "It's just that I know how you enjoyed going there, but since Marcella was born, you have barely been there." - three kids started being a bit harder for Kenna to look after alone, even with all the castle staff. Both the queen and the king wanted to be close to their children, since Kenna had lost her father when she was around Marcella's age and her mother was too occupied ruling Stormholt and Dom had never known his parents.
"I enjoy being here with you and the kids much more. Although I am from the Blackspine people, Stormholt is and has always been my home and my heart." - he cupped her face, gazing into her eyes.
Kenna smiled back at him, warmth spreading through her chest.
"How is it possible? It's been almost thirty years since I've known you, Dominic Hunter, and you still make my heart float." - Dom laughed loudly before kissing her forehead. - "You know, I still remember the first time we talked to each other."
"Oh?" - he cocked up an eyebrow, his light eyes shining curiously. - "And was it love at first sight?"
"Dom. We were eight."
"And? I saw you for the first time when we were around six and I knew right away that I would marry you. Even though I was a stable boy and you were the princess. I still remember it vividly. You came into the stables with the Queen and Gabriel, of course, to meet your very first horse, a present from the King of Fydoria himself to the young Heiress Princess of Stormholt. Which turned out to be a pony. And you became less that pleased with it. 'Why is this horse so small?', you asked. 'It's a pony, my little butterfly', Queen Adriana explained, 'it's a specimen of horses. Do you like it?'. In which you answered, your scowl turning into a smile, 'well, maybe him being small can be handy in a battle! It'll be more difficult for the enemies to catch, right?' and in that exact moment you've captured my heart forever."
"Oh, shush." - Kenna laughed to that memory. Starfury became a good company of her and still was alive, retired and enjoying his final years eating all apples he deserved.
"Anyway, you were going to tell me about our first encounter? I want to hear this story from your point of view."
"Right." - she smiled as memories flooded their minds.
________________________________________
The little girl perched against the window, watching the castle grounds. She watched a group of kids - villagers’ and palace staff’s sons and daughters - playing, running around, giggling.
She had just finished her classes for the day. Maybe she could sneak out real quick before a maid came in to get her ready for dinner...
“Princess Kenna!”
The little princess stopped on her tracks and turned around to see Gabriel marching toward her, a severe expression on his face.
"Hello, Gabriel!" - she flashed him her best 'diplomatic smile' (she had learned of it during her decorum classes), turning around and hiding her toy sword behind her back, as the guards closed the front doors of the castle. Dammit, it took her almost ten minutes of convincing them to open it.
"Where do you think you're going? It's almost dinner time. You should be getting yourself ready."
"I know… but I just wanted to go outside just for a little bit. The other kids seem to be having so much fun and I wanted to join in."
She saw the old man frowning. He dropped to his knees to be at the same height as her.
"My princess, you know you can't play with them. If you want to spar with someone, you can always call me, okay?"
"Okay…" - Kenna sighed.
She still couldn’t quite understand why she couldn’t play outside with the other kids. She wanted to have friends who were the same age as her. Gabriel, her bodyguard and paternal figure, was a great playmate, but… well, he was old. Although he had started training her with the sword recently - against her mother wishes -, he didn’t have the energy and stamina to keep playing with the little princess for long.
"Now, you must get ready for dinner. But I think we can fit a spar session into your agenda tomorrow." - he winked at her and the girl hugged him fiercely.
She loved sparring. Although her mother wasn't very keen of it. Everyone said that Kenna took it from her father.
She wasn’t older than four when King Marcel was killed in a battle against the Five Kingdoms oldest enemy, the Iron Empire, and the crown immediately fell onto his wife Adriana.
But Kenna could clearly remember that he would let her play with his favorite sword. The king also was the one who gave that toy sword she always carried with her wherever she went.
But then, on the next day of that little exchange, Princess Kenna managed to sneak out the castle without being spotted by Gabriel and go down the hill where the other kids were playing as usual.
"Hey!" - she waved with her sword, trotting at them.
“Oh my Gods, it’s the princess!” - one of the village girls squealed. All the kids immediately stopped playing and bowed to her.
“Can I play with you?” - Kenna asked, ignoring the reverence. The kids exchanged warily looks; their parents always told them that nobles and commoners didn’t mix and that the little Princess wasn’t their equal, although she seemed to talk to them as if she was one of them.
Kenna saw another kid making their way to the small group, until he was standing up in front of her. The boy was around her age, although he was a head taller; he had a light pale brown hair and his big blue eyes stared down at her.
“We are not playing. We are dueling.” - he stated, pompously, a smirk on his lips. Kenna just rolled her eyes.
“Okay, can I duel with you, then?”
The other kids gasped in shock. The princess was challenging Dominic Hunter, the best fighter of all Stormholt!
“As you wish, Your Highness.” - he said mockingly. He snorted; that little girl would never be able to win.
But as soon as he said this, one of the girls dragged him a few feet away from the rest of the group as Kenna prepared herself for the duel.
“Dom, are you crazy?!” - Rose Blake shouted. - “You can’t fight with the princess! If one of the adults find out about this, you could…!” - she gasped, her eyes widening in horror. - “They could throw you at the dungeons!”
“Relax, Rosie.” - the boy answered calmingly. - “I won’t hurt her or whatever. Plus, she’s the Princess. Who am I to deny anything to her?”
The two of them returned to the group. Kenna puffed her chest, looking defiantly at here adversary, raising her sword. The other kids took a few steps back, standing in a circle around the young princess and Dominic.
Staring each other down, they squared one another, their swords in hand.
"Raaah!" - the stableboy was the first to attack, but the princess graciously dodged him and prepared for her own attack.
But the boy was more than used to spar, and recovered just in time before Kenna's swords could hit him, their blades tangling together.
Their audience cheered upon them, divided between the stable boy and the princess.
"I have to admit, you're pretty good, Princess."
"Thanks. This is what happens when you practice with real warriors." - she smirked mockingly at him and then, with a quick movement, she hit his side with her toy sword.
"Oh my Gods!" - they heard someone nearby gasp. Dominic Hunter, the greatest warrior of Stormholt, had been defeated by Princess Kenna Rys herself!
"Noooooo!" - the boy cried, throwing his sword to the air and falling dramatically to the floor.
"Ha! This is what you get for underestimating me." - the girl raised her own sword triumphantly as the kids around them applauded and bowed to the newest greatest warrior of Stormholt. - "I shall be known as the 'Warrior Princess' from now on!" - still giggling, Kenna kneeled and offered a hand to Dominic. He clasped it and she pulled him up. - "This was a good duel, Sir Dominic."
"I'll be looking for a rematch, Your Highness." - he bowed to her and they shared smiles as a genuine and beautiful friendship started blossoming between them.
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“And after that outstanding victory from my part, we became inseparable.” - Kenna concluded, smiling fondly as the memories that filled her mind.
Whenever the two friends had a break from their duties, they would both go down the hill and spar with each other. Gabriel knew that the growing bond between the young princess and that orphan boy would be a problem in the future, but he also was aware that Dominic was the only friend Kenna truly had that was the same age as her. Plus, he knew the young boy would do anything to protect the princess. It was all written in his face.
“I still can’t believe you threatened to have Caleb executed.” - Dom laughed to another memory.
“Of course! He was tormenting you. Good thing my mother never knew about this. She would have lectured me for abuse of power.” - they shared a chuckle.
Two years later, Kenna found herself finally free from her political studies, and walked around the castle grounds looking for her friend. She was almost giving up when she found Dom's sword on the grass near the stable. As she approached it, she heard voices coming from inside there. There was yelling and lots of swearing, one of the voices belonging to Dominic.
Not thinking twice, the princess rushed into the stable, where she found two boys rolling on the floor, punching, kicking and calling each other names.
“Stop. Stop this immediately!” - both boys stopped at the same moment she yelled at them and saw Princess Kenna herself walking towards them with firm steps and a furrowed expression on her face. - “What’s happening here?”
"Nothing, Your Highness." - Caleb, one of the guard's son, said, immediately letting go of Dom's shirt. He briefly bowed his head to her before turning around and sprinting out of the stable.
Kenna looked at her friend on the floor. Dominic was already sat up and desperately rubbed the tears off his eyes, his cheeks red with anger and in embarrassment. He didn't want anyone seeing him cry. Especially her.
"What happened, Dom?" - the princess asked, her voice sounding much calmer, as she kneeled beside him.
"...Nothing." - he turned his face away.
"It doesn't look like 'nothing'. C'mon, you know you can tell me, right? You're my friend and I'm worried about you."
After a few moments in silence, Dominic finally looked back at Kenna, who had been patiently waiting for him to tell her what happened.
"Caleb has been pestering me a lot lately. He kind of have always bugged me, but now he started calling me names just because I have no parents and no one knows where I'm really from. He called me a… ‘bad blood bastard that no one wants around’." - Kenna saw tears welling up on her friend’s eyes, and anger flooded inside the little girl's frame.
"How dare he! This is a lie, Dom, don't listen to him. You're not a bad blood and you are wanted around. I want you around. You're my best friend."
Kenna saw a smile slowly spreading on the boy's face.
"Thanks, Kenna. So you're mine. I guess Caleb's just jealous because the Princess is best friends with me and not him."
"Just ignore him, Dom." - the girl said as she pulled him up to his feet, a plan already forming in her head. She would have a 'little talk' with Caleb later. And by 'little talk', maybe it meant threaten him go be executed if he continued bullying Dom. She knew she couldn't do it in fact, just the Queen could order something like that, but the others didn't need to know it. She was the princess after all, there must be some advantage about it, right? - "So, are you ready for our sparring session?"
Dominic grinned.
"Be ready to eat some dirt today, Princess. I'm not going easy on you just because you were nice to me just now."
Kenna smiled. She wouldn't have it any other way.
"And I won't go easy on you either."
________________________________________
“And after this, whenever Caleb saw you, he would run to the opposite direction. And no one ever called me names again.” - Dom chuckled, Kenna’s head resting on his shoulder.
“As they shouldn’t.”
“And we became the best of friends. We told each other everything. Well, almost.”
“What do you mean?” - the Queen pulled out just enough to look into her husband’s face, Dominic’s blue eyes shining as he stared into her dark eyes.
“My feelings for you changed a little and became stronger.” - Dominic kind of always knew he loved Kenna. Since that day when she beat him for the first time. She was brave, stubborn and fought her own fights. Yet, she still was kind to everyone and just, not taking advantage of her higher status. She was the noblest person he has ever met. - “I knew I loved you more than a friend, Kenna, but I of course wouldn’t tell you anything. Especially with Gabriel watching you like a hawk.”
“Poor Gabriel was just doing his job. But you’re right, I know how especially hard he was with you. He indeed confessed to me that he didn’t like you much.”
“Oh, really?” - Dom asked, sarcastically. - “I didn't have noticed!”
As they grew up, Kenna’s and Dom’s relationship strengthened (to Gabriel’s growing discontent) and they started sneaking up from their duties (Kenna from her political classes and Dom from his work as a stable boy) to spar a little. They would try to do it daily as a form of training and also of spending time together.
As they both entered adolescence, the two teenagers remained as the best of friends and also became each other’s confidants (although Kenna had Gabriel, it wasn’t the same thing. He was an adult and she needed to rant about adults and her royal duties to someone of her own age), but other feelings started to blossom as well...
Dom would have to be blind to not notice how Kenna grew up into a fine young lady, curves slowly taking place on her once flat childish body. He thought about her natural red and full lips more frequently than he should, and how soft they should be and what was their taste.
It wasn't different to Kenna. Of course she noted that Dom somehow got bigger, with broad shoulders and bigger hands. She caught herself a few too many times staring in awe at her friend's bare chest as he worked in the stable, from the castle windows, immediately flushing as she realized what she was doing and cursing herself for it.
She obviously knew that Dominic was rather popular within the maids of the castle. He had quite a reputation. She caught a couple times the young maids gossiping and giggling about him.
But she also knew that what she and Dom shared was special, although neither of them tried to overstep it. It was complicated. She was a princess. He was a stableboy. They both were fully aware that they didn't belong together. Kenna was tired of hearing Gabriel's warnings about her close friendship with Dominic.
Of course her loyal and personal bodyguard had noticed the way the princess grinned whenever she saw that boy, as well as how Dom always had a big doofus smirk on his face after talking to her.
And Kenna knew that Gabriel was right. And she indeed tried to ignore her feelings towards Dominic. But then, one day, her mother told her about the plans of her marriage. She had barely turned eighteen and Queen Adriana was already setting up a political marriage between her and the son of some neighbor kingdom.
The princess knew it would happen sooner and later… she just wasn't expecting it to be so soon. She would never be able to marry Dominic. The one she ever loved and wanted.
That night, she cried at the expectation of having to marry anyone but Dom. Gabriel was there for her and was very emphatic that she couldn't have him.
"You know your mother would never allow it, Your Highness."
"Yes, just because he's not a 'match'. But I love him, Gabriel." - she murmured, hiding her face in one of her pillows.
"I know. But who's he? He's a stable boy with no name. We don't even know from where he's came from."
"I don't care about where he's from, I don't care that he's an orphan, I don't care about any of this. I care about him. I love him just as he is, with name or no name."
"I know, I know… but you're a princess, Kenna. You know you can't. You must put the crown before your heart."
Kenna nodded, her eyes red and puffy from all that crying.
"Yes... I know. You're right." - Gabriel squeezed her shoulder gently. - "...But I love him so much."
"It must feel hard now… but you're still young. You'll see that not everything lasts forever, especially first loves." - he stood up. - "I shall leave you now, Princess. You should rest. Try not to think much about this, okay? You still have time before the Queen decides to put up a wedding. At least three years."
She nodded and the bodyguard left her chambers.
________________________________________
“And on that same night Beltane Festival was happening. And I wished, just for one moment, to not be a princess anymore, and enjoy the festivities like an ordinary girl. And then you found me there.”
“Oh, I clearly remember what happened.” - Dominic smirked, making Kenna blush slightly.
They both would never forget the first kiss they shared at Beltane Festival. When the princess asked for it as her wish.
After it, they spent the whole night with each other’s company, joking and eating. They even danced together and they both smiled the whole time, feeling truly happy and lucky to be in each other arms. Dominic accompanied the princess back to the castle as a good gentleman.
"Well, we must part our ways, mylady." - he bowed with a flourish, making Kenna chuckle.
"Thank you, kind sir." - she bowed in response. - "Good night, Dom. Thank you for spending the whole festival with me." - she smiled gracefully and the young man had to hold himself to not kiss her. Again.
"I hope you had all your wishes fulfilled."
"Yes, I had." - but before she could sneak back into her chambers, Dom delicately took her hand and gently kissed her knuckles. Kenna's face flushed immediately.
"Good night, Kenna." - he winked at her and she retreated to her bedroom, a giant grin on her face.
He walked down the castle hallways, whistling a happy song, until he finally stopped and turned around.
"I know you're here, Gabriel."
The older man's figure stepped out from one of the alcoves.
"Very perceptive, Dominic."
The young man sighed, readying himself for the lecture.
"C'mon, Gabriel, lay it all on me. I know what you're going to say."
"If you know what I am going to tell you, then why do you do this? You know how much you mean to her."
"She means everything to me too."
"Please, Dominic, spare me from this. I've seen you with the young maids. It's best if you keep on just being a good and loyal friend to the Princess and marry some village girl."
"But I don't want to marry anyone but Kenna." - he stated stubbornly. - "I've never loved anyone but her. I can separate my heart from the fun."
"And do you think you're a match to Her Highness? She's the Princess and she'll be your Queen someday, not your wife, boy. Just take this idea out of your mind before you get too hurt. Queen Adriana hopes that the Princess will be finally settled in three years. Actually, Her Majesty has already picked a strong political match to be Kenna's husband. Their marriage would bring the most powerful of the alliances within the Five Kingdoms."
Dominic really didn't want to know who Gabriel was talking about, but… well, he got curious.
"Who?" - he grudgingly asked.
"King Luther's eldest son, Prince Diavolos Nevrakis."
"What?! The Queen expects Kenna to marry the son of the man who killed King Marcel? That's insane."
"No, this is politics. And Kenna will understand. It'll finally bring peace to the whole kingdom."
"I know Kenna. She won't marry a Nevrakis."
"Her Highness still is young, but she'll understand eventually. It's her duty."
"Kenna should marry whoever she wants. Especially the one she loves."
"Dominic, please. Don't be so immature. You know the Princess can't have this. And you know that the Princess is far superior than you."
Of course he knew. He had always known it. But hearing it out loud hurt his ego.
"Ouch, Gabriel! No need to be so mean!" - he joked, turning around to resume his walking.
"If this is what I have to do to make you forget about Kenna, then I must be mean. Give up on her, Dominic.”
________________________________________
“...To think that Diavolos would become an ally. Things are just crazy. But I guess it’s better him than Zenobia.”
“Thank the Gods it’s him who’s the Iron Empire ruler and didn’t follow his father’s steps.” - Kenna agreed. King Diavolos was one of her most precious allies. Surprisingly, they got along well and shared great respect and admiration towards one another.
“The Gods have nothing to do with it, Kenna. It was all on you. You know he got interested in you, right?”
“Diavolos? Nonsense.”
“It’s not. I bet that, when he met you, he wasn’t only interested in conquering Stormholt, but conquering you too.” - Kenna scoffed to that absurd idea. - “You just haven't realized it because he never flirted with you, unlike Tevan, Raydan, Annelyse…”
“Either way, flirting or not, I’ve never corresponded to any of them.” - Kenna interrupted Dominic, feeling a bit embarrassed by that list of her admirers. - “We were at war and I’ve only had eyes for you, Dominic Hunter.”
“Yes, I know.” - he smirked, squeezing the embrace around her waist. - “It’s always been you too, Kenna.”
“And even though we have known and loved each other since practically forever, it took years until we finally got together.”
“Well, a lot of crazy things happened. You became the exiled princess and I found out about my powers…”
“And after two years apart, the first thing we did was spar with each other.” - she chuckled to herself as memories flowed to her mind once more. - "At that same spot down the hill, where the kids were playing today."
“Oh, we have such different memories of that day. I remember it involved lots of kissing and what came afterwards. That was the first time we made love, right?” - Dom said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. His wife punched him in the arm, giggling, before frowning.
“And then we made a promise to never be apart again…. but we got separated a few more times… you went to the Blackspine Mountains with Sei to master your fire user power… and then you got kidnapped by Hex.”
“Yeah, not my finest moment.” - he pulled her even closer. - “But then you saved me from that horribly mind control maze thing and we finally got together. Oh, and then you had to fight Azura. And then Luther. And then, finally, you asked me to marry you.”
“Well, as the queen I thought it was proper.”
“To be honest, I’m glad it was you who asked for my hand. Is not everyday that the Warrior Queen herself asks you to marry her.”
Kenna’s grin widened and she leaned in, kissing his lips softly.
“And I would do that again in a heartbeat. I loved none but you, Dom. You’re my best friend and the one who knows me most. I can be my true self when I’m with you.”
“And I wouldn’t expect anything else.” - he smiled adoringly to her, pulling her hand to his lips and kissing her knuckles. - “And then you got pregnant of Gabriel on our wedding night. And we’ve been making babies like rabbits since then.”
“Dom!” - Kenna tried to lecture him, but she was laughing way too much to sound grossed out or embarrassed. - “And this one will be the last one.” - she caressed her protuberant stomach.
“Right…” - Dominic didn't sound convinced.
“I swear. I think I won’t be able to handle another pregnancy.”
“Are you telling me that the great Queen of the Five Kingdoms, who defeated both King Luther Nevrakis and Empress Azura will be defeated by a baby?”
“You say this because you don’t get pregnant.”
“Okay, okay, fair.” - he raised his hands in an apology gesture. - “But you know you’re the Queen of the Five Kingdoms.” - Kenna looked confused at him. - “...so it makes sense if we have five kids, each for a kingdom. You’re not the Queen of the Four Kingdoms.”
Dominic watched his wife burst out laughing.
“Gods, this kid isn’t even born yet and you’re already talking about a fifth? You’ll have to wait, Dom. At least let this one be born first and then we can talk about having another kid.”
“Okay, I’ll wait, but you know I’ll hold you onto that.”
Kenna rolled her eyes, but Dominic could see a side smile tugging on the corner of the Queen's mouth.
"Yes, I know." - she said.
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Tagging: @obsessed-with-humans @nia-kamilah @keviriass @nynnke @shakespeareanwannabe
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