By Candlelight
This is my very first FanFic on , and I'm really super excited because I hope you guys like it. I've always loved the Immortals and Song of the Lioness series, and most importantly of all I've always loved Daine and Numair. And, if you guys didn't live them as much as I did, you wouldn't be here reading. Anyways, I just want everyone to know that I don't own these characters, as they're Tamora Pierce's, though the plot of this story is al mine! (stakes claim on it and stabs flag into the ground) Anyways… I just want to put a longer summary for you guys so you understand the story a tad better. Here's the completed summary of By Candlelight…
It's been two years since Veralidaine Sarrasri defeated the evil Ozorne that bloody day at Port Legann, but still things haven't settled down. Bandits are still loose. Foreign countries, such as Carthak and Scanra, still seem to hold grudges against the king and his subjects. And, as rumors go, there are even plots to take down King Jonathan and to release the immortals from the Divine Realms once again, if possible. Immortals that remained from that great day at Port Legann are beginning to stir up trouble again, planting fear into all corners of the mortal world.
But besides all the drama that is taking place around the kingdom of Tortall, things are going very well for the great hero Veralidaine. Daine and Numair are getting close to being married - the two lovers are hard to separate these days, always with each other whether they are on a mission or merely staying at the palace for a few weeks.
However, this uneasy peace can't possibly last forever. Will Daine and Numair's love for each other prove to be their end when danger rears its ugly head? Rated T (some cursing, not much), though out-takes/extras will be posted in M ratings later, set after RotG. Now, to begin!
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Chapter 1
"Numair Salmalín!" shrieked an all-too familiar voice. "I'm fair vexed with you! Get down here now and face me like a man!"
The man being called out, a tall and powerfully built man, looked up from his work in his personal study. In the corner was another person, this one a girl who was nearing the age of eighteen now. Her smoky brown curls were tied up behind her head, and her blue-gray eyes rested on the man, Numair, with amusement.
"What have you done now?" she asked, as she stroked a small infant dragon that was sleeping at her side.
The man merely held up his hands and shook his head, but his expression was too innocent. "I have no idea, magelet," he said, using his private nickname for the girl sitting in the corner.
But the girl could practically smell a lie. She smiled. "You must have done something to get Alanna the Lioness angry with you," she said, now scratching the top of the little dragon's head. The creature hummed its appreciation. The girl looked at Numair with a raised eyebrow. "Numair, what did you do?"
Before Numair could answer, he heard the voice shout again, "Numair, I know you're up there locked up in your study with Daine! I demand to know where my new opal went off to!"
The girl in the study with Numair, Daine, just laughed and shook her head. "She knows you too well. You'd best get down there with her magical jewel whatsits and give it back before she decides to burn the whole castle down to get at you. The King wouldn't be too pleased about that."
Numair pouted. His eyes went to a small jewel, the very jewel all of this trouble was over, and sighed. "I haven't discovered all of its secrets yet," he murmured. "But I suppose the castle's well-being is a tad more important than an unknown little jewel." He stretched and stood, revealing his full frame. He was exceedingly tall - there was proof that when he was younger, his legs had been far too long for his body. He'd grown into them, and was now a powerfully built man. His eyes were dark and thoughtful, and his skin was as tan as any man who spent a lot of time in the sun could be. His hair was jet black, and it had been cut shorter over the summer at Daine's request. It now went to just beneath his chin, and it was combed and neat.
"I'm glad you have your priorities straightened out," laughed the girl, Daine. She got to her feet too, earning a shrilling complaint from the dragon who had been asleep. Daine herself was at least a foot shorter than Numair himself. Her hair was tied back, which was a rare occurrence, and she wore white breeches and a white shirt underneath a sapphire blue tunic. It was one of her favorite outfits, as she had confessed to Numair, and she was also wearing the blue eardrops Numair had gotten her a long time ago for a Midwinter gift. Her eyes went down to the dragon, who was chattering to herself grumpily, and said, "Oh, piffle, Kit. You sleep more than anything these days."
"Numair! I'm warning you! If you aren't down here in two minutes, I'm blasting your study 'til kingdom come!"
Daine and Numair looked at each other and sighed. Their friend, Alanna the Lioness, was well known for her temper as well as being the King's Champion. She was not pleasant to be around when she was in these moods.
"I'd best get down there. Come with me?" Numair looked at his companion pleadingly.
Daine laughed again; he loved the sound of it. "You get yourself into so much trouble," she snickered. "Where would you be without me?"
"Dead in my grave, I have no doubt," he answered. When she got close enough, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
It was no secret around the castle now that Numair Salmalín and his one time student Daine were hopelessly in love. They spent all of their waking hours together, and for the sake of Daine's honor, Numair did not allow her to be with him when they were asleep. Some of their friends faked feeling sick whenever the two came in the room - they were as bad as lovesick teenagers, even though one of them technically was.
Together they exited, his arm still wrapped around her shoulders.
They found their friend, Alanna the Lioness and the King's Champion, waiting in the courtyard with her foot tapping away on the cobblestone. Her arms were crossed tightly across her chest and her bright violet eyes were narrowed at her two dear friends as they came to a stop a couple of yards away from her.
"Well? Where's my opal?" she demanded outright.
"What opal?" Numair feigned innocence, but this only resulted in Daine nudging him in the ribs with her elbow and violet fire flaming around the Lioness's hands, which were clenched into fists.
"Gods bless it, Numair, I want my damned opal!" Alanna exclaimed, the violet flames burning brightly around her wrists.
Numair raised an eyebrow, and gestured to the fire. With an exasperated sigh, Alanna doused her flames and held an impatient hand out for her jewel.
"I know you have it, so don't even try and think of a lie to keep it from me," Alanna threatened, and then glared at her tall friend. Their height difference was comical, but the intimidating look on the lady knight's face was enough to drive even the most muscled man back into his mother's house. Numair exchanged a look with Daine, who rolled her eyes and gestured that he should give Alanna's jewel back to the angered knight.
Numair sighed, and pulled the opal out from his robe's pockets. He handed it over to Alanna, who snatched it out of his grasp and tucked it into her own pocket. She glared at Numair for a moment longer before growling,
"And Jon wants to see you two in his quarters."
Numair and Daine looked at each other briefly, anxiety entering both of their features. If Jonathan, the King of all Tortall, wanted to see them in his quarters, that meant he had a job for them to do. Which, in their experiences, was usually never a good thing. And, to the two lovers, these jobs usually meant danger.
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"I know both of you haven't been back in Tortall very long, since you had to deal with the unicorn fever plague in Tusaine just a few weeks back, but I need to ask something else of you two."
Daine and Numair were both in the King's private quarters, standing before the King's desk. They had gone back to the room to fetch Kitten, or Kit, who was perched gracefully on top of Jonathan's desk. The King had a special perch made just for her for these sorts of meetings, as he knew just how curious the young dragon was. She let out an impatient whistle, and King Jonathan of Conté smiled at the young dragon and reached forward to scratch the reptile on her scaly but soft head.
"There's a nasty group of spidrens just northeast of here in a riverside town called Whelan. I know the pair of you hate spidrens, but there's nobody else I can send with expertise on immortals. All of my other agents are off throughout Tortall, taking care of other matters." King Jonathan ran a hand through his ebony hair. His sapphire blue eyes looked at his best mage and Wildmage pleadingly. "There's about five or six spidrens, and two are females. I know they're a vicious lot, and what with your experience with them…"
Daine winced, remembering all too well her experience with the spidrens in the Divine Realms. It had been over a year and a half ago, but still being trapped in that web haunted her to this very day. Sensing her distress, Numair put a comforting arm around her shoulders once more and pulled her close to his side. The warmth seeping through his shirt reassured Daine of her safety and managed a small smile at her king.
"We'll try our best, Majesty," she said dutifully.
Numair sighed. He knew that it was within Daine's nature to accept every mission given to her, because she never wanted to let anyone down. But he also knew just how frightened Daine was of spidrens. He would never forgive himself for that day, letting her get hurt in the way she had.
The King smiled, however, pleased at the answer. But then the smiled melted away as he stood up. "I'm sorry for putting the pair of you in danger again after so short a time, but these spidrens are becoming a real problem. It's possible they might even set their sights on Corus if they destroy this village and the people with in it. I'd like you to leave in a few hours, if possible."
Numair dipped his head to the king. He was most certainly worried for Daine, almost sickeningly so, but he knew they could not let the king down. "We understand, Jon," he said gently. He hugged Daine close with one arm - she hadn't spoken. "We'll see what we can do."
Kitten trilled worry for her mistress as she leaped down from her perch on Jonathan's desk and tottered over, tugging gently on Daine's breeches as Numair and his lover exited and began heading back to their own rooms.
"Hush, Kit, I'm alright," Daine murmured to the dragon.
Numair looked at his former student, friend, and now lover with worry in his eyes. He didn't want Daine getting hurt on this mission they had, just as he didn't want her to be afraid. He knew that he would be there to protect her, like he always was, but he also knew that Daine wouldn't give in to her fears unless she had absolutely no other options. She was a strong young woman.
Maybe that was why he loved her so much.
They came to Numair's rooms, and Daine let out a small sigh. "I have to go pack," she murmured. "Do you think we'll need much for this trip?"
Numair sighed. He could read so easily underneath Daine's business-like pretenses. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her as his lips pressed against her hair. "Magelet, it's all going to be fine. I promise it, sweet. I know you don't like spidrens, and that they scare you, but you should know I'd never let anything happen to you," he murmured, his voice only slightly muffled by her hair.
Daine let herself be held, and she buried her face into his chest. Numair made her feel so safe and so warm. There was no way she could ever doubt him, and his words only convinced her that even if one of them were to get in trouble, they'd be able to make it out of this safe. He would protect her, and the gods knew she would do anything to protect him. They would be safe.
She pulled away from the embrace, mostly due to Kitten's amused whistling. She smiled up at Numair and murmured, "I know, Numair. I still need to pack some clothes and a few other things. Don't get into trouble while I'm gone - it seems to be your specialty." She stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him gently on the jaw before scurrying away.
Numair smiled after her, and looked down at Kitten, who looked like she was smirking up at him with that reptilian face of hers.
"What are you looking at?" he demanded before taking one last peek of Daine as she walked back down the hall. "You try being in love someday."
All he got was a chirp and a cackle in response.
~*----------*~
These twoleggers ask too much of you, Cloud protested as Daine saddled her faithful mare. Numair was off to tell the king that they were on their way, leaving Daine alone with their two mounts - the ever so stubborn Cloud and an agreeable gelding named Spots. We arrived here and I have hardly had more than a day's rest.
Daine smiled. Are you saying the twoleggers ask too much of me? Or too much of you?
Both, Cloud said bitterly. Then she nudged Daine, and not too gently. And don't get smart with me. You have no right to take that tone of voice with me.
Daine just smiled, and went to fetch a brush. She wanted to groom both mounts before heading out on the road. After all, Cloud would throw a fit if she didn't. Deciding to appease her pony, Daine began dragging the brush through her mare's smoky gray mane absentmindedly. Her mind began wandering to important things, like Numair and her friends here in Tortall.
She wondered if she and Numair would ever get married. Of course, at the moment Daine still wasn't sure that marrying him was the best idea. If they were to be married, they would both be trapped. However, Daine didn't see it as a trap. She was worried and scared that Numair would wake up one day and see a baby girl when he wanted a true woman that was his age. She'd had this fear ever since they'd announced their love for each other in the Divine Realms, but it had still remained through this entire time. There was no denying how frightened she was about the prospect. However, there was another thing worth thinking about.
Because they weren't married, Numair refused to sleep with her in any way, shape, or form (OOC: no pun intended). He was too concerned about her honor, and the rumors that would fly around on her account that she was sleeping with her all-too-willing teacher. It would only enforce the opinion of many that she was a common bred bastard child who spread her legs for any man that would help her.
But the problem was… Daine wanted Numair. She felt a physical pull to him, and every time they kissed a heat would flicker in her belly, and…
Watch where you're combing! Cloud's sharp mental voice shook Daine back to reality. Nearly combed my eyelid, you dolt. If you're going to think about anything, think about coming me!
"Well, if you weren't so blasted grouchy all the time I would want to think about brushing you!" Daine exclaimed in exasperation, out loud. Sometimes, despite Numair's hard teaching, she did speak out loud to her animal subjects.
Cloud snorted and butted her rider with her head, in a half-friendly, half-irritated gesture. Oh, hush. If you're going to do a bad job brushing, at least don't brush me. Brush Spots if you're not going to do it right.
I don't appreciate that, Spots informed Cloud in a soft voice, who had just shook out her mane and got all of her knots tangled again, much to a frustrated Daine. Of all the horses Daine knew here in Corus, Spots was the only one who could speak to Cloud with such audacity. The pair had been on the road together so much that they were very close friends, and would often end up conversing with one another while their masters were busy doing something else.
"Odds bobs, stop it you two," Daine snipped at the two horses before turning to Spots and beginning to groom him.
"Daine?"
Daine turned her head to see Numair heading towards her with an unexpected crowd. The King, his Queen, Alanna, and Daine's very first friend in Tortall, Onua, were coming towards Daine and the two horses.
At seeing her confused face, the Queen, Queen Thayet, stepped forward to put a sturdy hand on the girl's shoulder. She smiled down at Daine with a motherly care in her eyes. "We wanted to come wish you luck. Numair told us how frightened you were of spidrens. But don't worry. I'll box my husband clear over the ears once you're gone for sending you on this mission. You can take a swing or two at him when you get home - I won't mind." She winked.
Her joke was successful, and Daine laughed. As she did so, Alanna and Onua came forward to embrace the young eighteen-year-old-to-be and give their own sentiments.
"And Daine, I'd like to give you something in private very quickly. You don't mind being delayed just a minute from your trip, do you Numair? This is fair important, and it may come in handy," Alanna said, raising an eyebrow at her tall, lanky friend, who only smiled in return and shook his head.
"I'll be waiting outside with the horses when you're ready, Daine," Numair said quietly. As he tried to take Cloud's reins, she nipped at him lightly with her teeth.
"Cloud, behave!" Daine ordered her faithful pony, who snorted and trotted outside without Numair to lead her.
I don't want to behave, and I don't want to be led outside by stork-man, Cloud said agitatedly, and walked right out the door of the stables into the early afternoon sun.
Numair sighed, and together he and Jonathan took Spots the gelding outside to wait with the stubborn Cloud, leaving Daine alone with most of her female friends.
"Now, I know you don't particularly like gifts," Alanna said, warning Daine of what was to come. "But you may need this if the time arises, so I thought it would be fit to give it to you now, just in case."
Daine tilted her head, curious. "What is it?" she asked cautiously.
Alanna began searching through her breeches pockets as Thayet explained.
"Daine, you and Numair are very close, and I'm sure you've had less than pure thoughts about each other over these past months." Daine's crimson blush was more than enough confirmation for the queen. She smiled. "Alanna's going to give you a necklace just in case any of these less than pure thoughts might actually become a reality on this trip. As in, she'll give you a pregnancy charm to make sure that as long as you wear it, and make love with Numair, no children will become of it."
Daine's blush became a deeper red. "I… I don't… I don't think…"
"Oh, Daine," Onua sighed. She wrapped her arms around her dear, dear friend with a smile. "You're nearing eighteen now, and many girls you're age have made love with husbands many times over. It's going to happen sooner or later, sweet."
"Ah, here it is." Alanna finally managed to tug it free from her breeches, and she presented Daine with a small silver necklace with a sapphire melded to the center of a silver disk. "I had it specially made," Alanna said with a wink. "Numair always did say it brought out your eyes, and I figured silver would go along with your badger's token." She offered Daine the necklace, who took it in very careful hands.
The blush slowly faded, and for a moment or two Daine was speechless. "This is fair wondrous, Alanna," she murmured, still observing the charm. "But… but I can't take this. Numair won't bed me - he said he doesn't want to destroy my honor." She held a hand out for Alanna to take the enchanted necklace back.
Thayet rolled her eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. "Men and their honor codes!" she snorted.
"Daine, as horrible as this might sound, I bedded with George several times before we were married, and there were enough rumors about me spreading around as it was!" Alanna exclaimed, and Daine looked at the Lioness in shock.
"We all know that's the main reason Numair won't sleep in the same bed, let alone the same room as you," Thayet told Daine softly. "He's worried about the rumors, but I'm sure you can find a way to convince him that rumors don't matter. And your honor is just another excuse. If you truly love him, then it's for the best. Men need to understand that, and the world would be such a better place!"
"Or a worse one," Onua muttered.
Daine bit her lip, looking down at the pregnancy charm. She did want Numair. So much. Every time they kissed, it was like wildfire suddenly flared in her belly that couldn't be tamed. Whenever Numair stopped their kissing, it always left Daine feeling hot inside and almost a little achy in the lower regions of her abdomen. And, being raised in Snowsdale, Galla, she knew what that feeling meant - that her body hadn't been satisfied. Her body hadn't gotten what it wanted.
She looked up at her friends and smiled. "Thank you," she murmured. "I'm not sure if that's the right thing to say, but thank you. It's a fair beautiful necklace. Would any of you mind helping me put it on? I'm always clumsy with these clasps."
Alanna, Thayet, and Onua laughed quietly and closed in on their dear friend. "Of course. And then you can show off your new jewelry to Numair," Onua said. When Daine blushed a bright crimson once more, her friends giggled again and gently clasped the necklace around her neck.
So that's the end of the very beginning to my very first FanFiction! Please review and tell me how I did - I'm really anxious to find out! And, as I state on my profile, I promise to respond to all reviews! I know I skipped a lot, and I know I'm not too great with the characters, but I'd really just like to know how horrible it is and everything. Let me know! Thanks, and I'll see you guys soon. - Viv Storm