Disclaimers: I do not own any of these characters; they remain the property of Tamara Pierce, Sadly.

Background to the story:

The story is set a few years after the immortal war ended, and Daine is nearing her 20's. Her relationship with Numair is publicly known and accepted. However, even after years of living as a couple, they have no married. However, they are secretly engaged (Her engagement ring, is spelled to sit on her badger claw necklace, even when she shape-shifts.

Chapter One

King Jonathan of Tortall sat in his private study, late in the day. Since becoming king, he had been faced with many challenges, difficult decisions, and great burdens. But he feared, his greatest decision of his reign, was in the contents of the letter in his hand. The letter, written in the careful calligraphed handwriting of a palace scribe, and sealed with a royal insignia, requested the return of one, Gallan born subject Veralidaine Sarrasri, to the nation of Galla.

The letter, although polite in tone, was harsh in its meaning. It claimed that the 'subject' had left Galla without the crown's permission and should swiftly return to Galla, with the threat of not doing so a declaration of war between, Tortall and Galla.

The king's forehead creased. He knew that as a friend to both Daine and Numair, he couldn't allow her to return to a country, who had not only showed no signs of wanting her before she had become so useful to Tortall, but had also been to cruel to her in Snowsdale, a microcosm of Gallan society.

However, Jon was not only a friend; he was a king and had to put all his people first. His country was in no state to fight another war, as it was already preparing for war with Scanra. Taxes within the country were as high as he could push them, and a call of conscription had already been readied. No, the country couldn't fight another war; it would tear the country apart and demolish all which he had achieved so far during his reign.

Jon was troubled. He was in a no win situation. The country couldn't fight another war but neither could it turn its back on its Wildmage, who had been prepared to sacrifice her life in the name of her new home. He needed to talk to Daine about this and to find some way out of this mess before it either tore his realm apart or his heart.

Daine was busy caring for the new horses in the stables, when a royal messenger came to get her for a meeting with the King. The horses, provided for the new recruits, were sad to see her leave for the day but she promised to come visit them soon, smiling.

She walked through the palace, attempting to make herself more presentable to the king. 'A semi-impossible task when living around animals' she thought, pulling some hay from her hair. But still, one has to try when in the presence of not only the King of her home, but one of the handsomest men she had ever set eyes on.

Knocking on the door and entering, she saw Jon sitting on a chair with a letter enclosed in his hands. Even though she was madly in love with Numair, her heart still gave a little flutter around the king, a little girlish crush which she knew most of the female population of the palace shared.

'Hello, I got the message that you wanted to meet with me. How can I help? Is it another mission?' She asked in a light tone.

Since the end of the Immortals war, the work that the king had sent her and Numair on didn't decrease. If anything, the king had sent them on more missions, many low key and unimportant. Jon had claimed that it was good for the people to know the mages who protected them, if not to inspire reassurance then to put them off rebelling. Seeing, as Daine was not a diplomat, she didn't disagree and had to admit that the country had been calm and stable; at least internally.

'Yes Daine, thank you for coming. Hope not to pry you away from your animals for too long', Jon said smiling

Smiling in return Daine chatted for a little while about the new horses and the hope that the new recruits knew what they were getting themselves into.

'Yes… well the reason I have called you here is to discuss this letter that I received from the king of Galla. He wants…' Jon paused, considering whether like a band aid; it was less painful to rip it off all at once or gradually,

'He wants you to return to Galla, citing as you are his subject, you unlawfully left the country…' his voice trailed of, pulling his head down not wanting to look Daine in the eyes.

'But… but… Tortall is my home, you're the king I serve, Numair lives here, all my friends live here, and I live here!' Daine couldn't control the outrage in her tone.

She was angry that a country, which couldn't have cared less about her when she lived there, had the cheek to do such a thing! She felt like Galla only saw her as a gem, maybe a powerful gem, to be had, rather then an individual.

She fell silent, thinking about all her memories of Galla, of growing up in Snowsdale, the painful memories of her village's disapproval of her as a bastard and of the happier ones, of talking to her ma and grandpa and of caring for the village animals.

'What else does the letter say?' she asked Jon. She knew that Jon wouldn't have told her about the letter if there was no realistic chance of it actually happening. She also knew that, Galla must have threatened Tortall some how as Jon wouldn't willingly loose her because of either their friendship which they shared or pessimistically, the power which she brought to the realm.

Jon looked her in the eyes, 'The letter holds the threat of war if you do not return… I don't know what to do… what the best thing will be… I cannot express what you have brought to this realm, not only your gift which has helped save this country from the brink of peril but also your care for animals and your friendship. I have replied to the king's letter, stating that you are now a subject of Tortall and I have implied that a declaration of war between our two countries at this fragile time would do no good for them.'
Jon stood and moved towards Daine taking her hands in his,

'I have searched for a law, a treaty, something which would allow you, security of citizenship which Galla could never threaten. But there is nothing. I fear that, the Gallan King may push the issue all the way to war.' He fell silent, looking at Daine, willing her to understand his decision, and guilt.

Daine opened her mouth to speak and closed it. She tries again,

'If they declare war on us, we couldn't fight it. We are already pushed too the brink with the mounting war against Scanra and they are our allies, in this mess'
She sighed. Strengthening her hold on Jon's hands, maybe trying to pull courage from the touch

'Tortall is my home, and I wish nothing to befall it. If….. If the reply returns with no negotiation on the issue, then I will return' her voice shook.

Jon didn't feel any happier by Daine's answer; it would still mean he would loose a close friend and ally.

'But what about Numair?' He whispered. He knew from seeing the couple together that their love went as deep as the love he shared with Thayet, so how could she make such a decision.

She smiled sadly, 'I love Numair, overwhelmingly so', she paused looking around the darkening room in the afternoon sun. 'If I didn't go, it would be war, and then what? All able men and women would be called to action. Humans and the People will die, many of them. I couldn't hold that on my conscience. And noble, kind, loving Numair would be called into action, and maybe killed. Wouldn't you do anything to protect Thayet from harm?'

Both of them fell silent thinking of their loved ones.

'Right Jon, this is what we will do', Daine said forcefully, 'contact me as soon as you receive reply and we will go from there.' She moved to leave the room, flashing Jon one last smile

'Oh, and don't tell Numair, it will only worry him. I will only tell him if something comes of it'

And with that, Daine left the room.

However, Jon sat in his study for many hours thinking about what Daine had said. It wasn't only the threat of war or the prospect of losing Daine which kept him awake for many hours, but the depth of her love for Numair.

***

Author's Note:

Thank you to the kind people who reviewed to say that I had spelt Tortall wrong. Quite correct, I had added it to Microsoft word dictionary incorrectly. Thanks