A/N: This is a small little one-shot I am writing in honor of MOAR (Month Of Actual wRiting) It's basically a result of me being bored the night before my family heads to the mountains for skiing. I hope you all like it, and please review!
Veralidaine Sarrasri Salmalin was truly scared. Not for her life, but for her 6 week-old baby girl. Not for the first time she wondered if she would be able to handle this fragile bundle. Oh, if only Sarralyn was a wolf cub, or a foal. Those animals Daine knew how to take care of. But a human baby? That whole concept was completely foreign. It had to be easier than taking care of her when Sarralyn was constantly shifting.
Daine had never really been around children. Yes, they were always around her, but she had never truly interacted with them. Back in Snowsdale, all those years ago, people had kept their children from her. Even here in Tortall, with the most powerful mage as a husband, some people were still leery of letting their children be around Daine for too long. Daine liked to think people kept away from her because of her immense power with animals, but that was only a fantasy. Most likely, the Wildmage thought, it's because many still see me as the foreigner who turns into a monster. Although Daine never actually turned into monsters, ballads were still sung about the Wildmage.
The question of what Sarralyn was was still a mystery. It was evident that Sarralyn had wild magic, given her ability to shape-shift in the womb. Numair thought that his daughter had the Gift, while Daine refused to believe it. It was impossible for a child to have both the Gift and wild magic. However, in the week after the family had returned from Trebond after the naming ceremony, some strange things had been going on in their quarters. Once, Daine had left Sarralyn in the living room for just a moment while she took a message from a page. When she had gotten back, there was a fire in the hearth, even though it was nearly summer. Another time, Numair had left one of his books on the bed stand. He was in Sarralyn's room, watching her, so he went to fetch his book. He didn't find it there however, and when he came back to his daughter's room, the book was sitting on his chair. Numair was persistent though, and secretly, Daine thought he was most likely right. Sarra, Daine's mother, thought that Sarralyn might have immortal magic. It was sometimes present in children. From a pure stroke of luck, the child would either be able to change to an immortal, and then change back, a feat that was almost always impossible. Daine didn't like that idea, however. All she wanted was for Sarralyn to live a normal life. Not to have to worry about being different.
Looking down at her daughter, Daine felt a swell of pride. Sarralyn was beautiful, although Daine might have been slightly biased. Sarralyn had soft brown curls, although they looked nearly brown. Her skin was a dark tan, though not nearly as dark as Numair's. Her nose was a little large, although on her round face it looked like it belonged there. Her eyes though were what worried Daine. At times, they could be a calm, placid blue-green turquoise. However, when Sarralyn was upset, such as when she didn't get fed soon enough, they turned a frightfully piercing turquoise. Daine knew how some people steered clear of Alanna the Lioness for her piercing eyes, which were purple. The last thing Daine wanted for her daughter was for people to look at her differently.
Sarralyn opened her eyes, having finally awoken from her nap. Looking Daine in the eyes, she gave her Ma a crooked smile, nearly making the Wildmage choke up, and reassuring Daine's heart.