Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR or anything by Tamora Pierce, I just own the plot.
Chapter 1: A Reason to Leave
Daine wandered down the hall and reflected on the past few years. It had been five years since the war when Rikash died and she had killed Ozorne. It had been a year and a half since Numair had proposed to her and had become distant almost aloof. Daine went to his room and knocked on the door softly. When no answer was forthcoming, Daine knocked a little louder. Still no answer. She opened the door and walked in. She went to his bedroom door and raised her arm to knock when a woman laugh stopped her cold. The laugh was followed by Numair's familiar voice and it clicked. Numair was sleeping with other women. Daine dropped her arm and fled the room. When she reached her room she flung the door shut behind her and flung herself facedown onto her bed. She sobbed until the tears stopped and she just lay there. She got up and walked to her desk and pulled out paper, pen, and an inkwell. She sat down and began to write.
Numair,
Congratulations, you have succeeded in breaking my heart. There will be no more of this because I am leaving and not coming back. Don't come looking for 'cause you won't find me. Tell the others that I will be safe and sound and I will come to see them some time after I can settle my life down somewhere else. Tell Tkaa and Kitten that I love them both very much and to come and visit. Tell Onua not to worry and that if I can in a couple years I will send her some new horses for the Riders.
Veralidaine Sarrasri
Daine blew on the ink to make it dry faster and then folded it neatly. She tugged off the plain gold band that Numair had given her for their engagement and then a necklace followed the ring. She went to her closet and pulled some pants and shirts out and placed them in her pack. A long black cloak followed, but this she laid on the bed. She went to the foot of her bed and opened a chest and withdrew two intricately carved longknives. She belted these on and reached out for her cloak but was stopped by a hand. She looked up into the face of Thayet, Queen of the land, and her husband, King Jonathan. "We were walking down the hall and heard noise that sounded like a scuffle coming from your room so we decided to check it out. Where are you going to Daine? Why are you leaving?" she asked in a concerned voice. Daine replied with one word, "Numair." Daine looked down at the cloak in her hands. "He has been sleeping with other women. I'm not going to stay here. I'm leaving for awhile and visiting a friend." I was going to come and tell you before I left but you found me first." Thayet smiled, "Take care of yourself Daine." And then pulled her into a hug. Daine hugged her fiercely in return. "I will never forget what you two have done for me. Please take care of the others and tell them why I left. I left a letter for Numair." Jonathan spoke then, " There are two loaves of bread and some dried meat in the kitchen, take those with you." Daine hugged the king fiercely "Thank you, both of you. Please don't let the others know that I am gone for a few days unless they figure it out themselves. I don't want anyone to come after me." She closed her pack and pulled it over her shoulders. "Take Ares with you, he won't let anyone ride him but you so he will be wasted here." Thayet said. Ares was a big war-horse that had taken a liking to Daine. "Again thank you both very much and take care of yourselves." With that Daine pulled on her cloak and left her room and headed down to the kitchens.
Daine walked to the stables with a full pack and a heavy heart. She went to the last stall and coaxed Ares from his sleep. She grabbed a bridle and pulled it over his head. Leading him outside, she mounted and rode to the gates. The gates opened and she rode away at a gallop.
After riding for two days, Daine dismounted and rested the horse and herself. She figured that she was still another day and a half's ride from Kathryn's. At noon, Daine mounted again and coaxed a tired Ares into a gallop. When dusk fell she stopped for the night and made camp. She pulled out some dried meat and half a loaf of bread from her pack and had a cold dinner. She fell into a light sleep and didn't wake until morning when a wet, cold nose brushed against her face. She woke up and found Ares standing over her ready to go. She wrapped out her bed and mounted. She kicked Ares into a gallop and rode until dusk was setting and she came upon a small cottage. A woman came out wearing a broad sword and a quiver full of arrows. When the woman realized who it was, she rushed over and pulled Daine from the saddle and into a bear hug. Daine put Ares into the pasture out back and went inside with Kathryn. Dinner was on the table and ready to eat. Daine sat down to eat with Kathryn. "So why are you here cub? I thought you had found a mate and were settlin' down for the rest of your life." Daine dove into her story in between bits of stew and homemade bread.
