A/N: Hi! I'm gingerroot15, new owner of this fic. I just want to say that this is my first SotL fic, so go easy on me…

Daine glanced around as Varice sauntered up to Numair. Daine wanted to look anywhere but Varice. She had managed to convince herself in the night that it was all a dream; Varice was still a nice, if aggravating, lady of the court.

"Oh, Arram," Varice giggled. "You shouldn't have."

Numair had brought Varice three red roses.

Why can't he ever bring me roses? Daine thought absentmindedly. She immediately gave herself a mental scolding. Her teacher was not to be her lover. However, jealousy was making its way to her face, and she didn't quite know that.

"Daine," Numair asked, seeing the odd expression she was wearing. "Are you all right?"

Daine silently cursed herself, realizing what had happened. "Yes, I'm fine, sorry to worry you."

Varice snuggled up to Numair, looking deep into his eyes. Daine's jealousies were reawakened and she remembered what she had supposedly 'dreamt' the previous night.

[Varice, whispering into a ball of her Gift. Talking to someone she called 'Master'. Saying that she would be a good lover, and ensnare Numair.]

Daine awoke from her slight trance, smoothing out her blue silk gown. Why did she have to go to all these parties, and watch Numair dance with all these girls? He always chose girls so unlike her; short, straight blond hair, brown or green eyes, tall, and very shapely. She never wanted to go to parties; she would much rather talk with Cloud, or perhaps a raccoon. Who needed social gatherings?

Numair frowned. "Varice, do you mind if I go talk to Daine for a second?"

Varice pouted, but said, "Go ahead."

Numair stepped away, over to the lonely couch Daine was sitting on. "Daine," he said.

"Yes, Numair?" Daine asked, avoiding looking into his eyes. She was afraid her emotions would become a tangled mess if she did.

"Is something wrong?" He asked gently. "Because you know you could tell me if there was."

Daine was nearly convinced right then and there to tell him flat out what she had seen, but, remembering Varice was still there, said instead, "Can I tell you later tonight?"

Numair had no chance to respond, because Varice whisked him away, onto the dance floor.

Daine sighed, hoping it was a yes. Varice was not quite as much of a lady as she appeared to be.

Alanna wandered over, spotting Daine. With a brief smile, she said, "Hello, Daine."

"Hello, Lady Alanna." Daine said. Despite the fact that she had seen Alanna often, she didn't know her very well. "Or is it Sir Alanna?"

Alanna grinned. "Just Alanna, please."

Daine couldn't help but smile. "All right, Alanna. How are you?"

Grimacing, Alanna replied, "Not too well. All this dancing makes me sick."

Daine smothered a grin of her own. "Really? Don't you ever dance with George?"

"Well, George isn't here, and I don't like watching other people dance." Alanna clarified.

Daine just had to smirk at this.

Alanna pulled a smirk of her own. "Things aren't going too well with Numair, hmm?"

Daine winced. "Not the best."

"Touchy subject." Alanna noticed. She then frowned. "That Varice woman is too sugarcoated, in my opinion."

Daine glanced up, surprised. So someone else shared her opinion. "I agree completely."

Alanna nodded absentmindedly. "I won't say much else; too many ears out."

Daine shrugged. "There isn't much else to say." Getting up, she set out to find Numair.

Daine found Numair, laughing with two of his mage friends. He spotted her and waved her over. "Daine, this is Kata, and Janel. Kata, Janel, this is Daine, my apprentice."

The girl- Kata, Daine assumed- peered at Daine with interest. "Daine? Surely not Veralidaine Sarrasri, who-"

Janel cut her off with a warning glare, and then smiled warmly at Daine. "Janel," he said, extending his hand. Daine took it and shook it lightly. His hand was warm to the touch, along with slightly rough and callused. "I work with plants," he explained. "Kata is a Seer."

Daine blinked. Numair said, "A Seer is someone who can see the future. Sort of like someone with very extended Sight. In this case," Numair winked at Kata. "She can also see the past, and the present. Very useful when it comes to war, or history."

Daine nodded. "Nice to meet you both."

Kata smiled. "I'm sorry, I have a bad habit of telling people what they're going to do. Like tonight, you'll-" she clamped a hand over her mouth, stopping herself from saying anything. "Impulse," she explained, releasing her hand.

Numair smiled. "Daine, you wanted to talk to me?"

Daine nodded instinctively. "When the moon is up, by the fountain outside?"

Numair shrugged, and said to Janel, "Have you thought to ask Daine about the rabbits?"

Janel shook his head no, but his eyes glowed. "That's a great idea. Daine, there are some rabbits that constantly pester my best rose-marigold hybrid. Could you talk to them, and ask them to stop?"

Daine nodded. "Sure. No problem."

She jumped up and walked away to go find the rabbits.