So...what is Abridged Fantasies? Well it's short (abridged) stories (fantasies); or, as we call them in the fanfiction world, OneShots. I'm keeping all of my OneShots under their own story, and when I write a new one I will change the summary to fit it. So I'm not abandoning Swear or Letters, this is just a OneShot.
What Daine Does When Numair Sleeps
Daine opened her eyes when Numair came into their bedroom. She knew it was late; she had slept in all morning and now it was early afternoon. He got undressed and fell on top of the covers, which made the bed creak loudly.
"What are you doing?" she asked him. He fought his way under the blankets and closed his eyes.
"Sleeping."
She sighed. "I hate when you work all night and sleep all day, Numair. It throws our whole schedule off."
"Our schedule, magelet? Wake up, eat, work, eat, work some more, eat, bathe, and sleep. Gods, Daine, we wouldn't want to alter that rigorous scheldule."
She sighed again. "But you want sleep at all tonight."
He smiled. "And, if I have my way with you, you want either." Daine gasped at his arrogance, and got up to get dressed. She put on a green and gold dress, and brushed out her hair. When she finished dressing she went and curled up in bed with Numair.
He was sound asleep, and snoring gently. She pick his hand off of the blankets and traced the lines on his palm with her fingernail. He groaned quietly and pulled it back. She let him fall back into a deep sleep. When he started to snore again she got his hand again traced over it again.
"Daine," he mumbled irriatably.
"Yes, sweet?"
"Go away." He turned on his other side and pulled the blankets tighter over his sholder. She sighed and got out of bed. There was nothing to do. She didn't feel like going to the stables; she had planned on spending the day with Numair. What could she do?
I could go into town, she thought, and smiled. She walked over to his side of the bed and, very easily, opened the drawer in his bedside table. It was crammed with a large assortment of things, and Daine quietly routed through them. Towards the bottom was a leather bag full of coins. It was Numair's hidden stash of money, the money he used when he wanted to buy books or something like that. She pulled out a few coins and put the bag back, then slowly shut the drawer. She kissed his cheek and left him to dream pleasently of her.
When she got into town she sighed happily. She loved coming here. It wasn't because of the shops, even though she liked looking through them. It was because it was so loud, so confusing; but on the other hand so organized, and all the shouting and laughing made it easier to go unnoticed.
She spent a while in the main town, with the rich smells of different foods and merchants shouting their loud bargins. Then she made her way to where the shops were, and slipped into the bookstore.
The quietness was a nice shock from outside. The owner said hello to her; she came in here often. The resident shop pet, a tabby cat named Puzzle, came loping up to her. Daine picked her up and scratched behind her ears while she looked over all the new books. She saw one named The Robes of Carthak and leaved through it.
"I just got that one yesterday," the shop owner called to her.
She walked over to the counter and gave the book to him to buy. "I think he'll like it." She scratched Puzzle on her back when she hopped on the counter.
"I haven't seen Master Numair around in a while."
Daine shrugged. "The king's working him to death. He's been busy for weeks."
The man handed her the book. "Well tell him he needs to come in. He's my best customer and I haven't been eating that well since I last saw him."
"I will," she promised with a smile, and gave Puzzle another scratch behind the ears. Then she headed into the street, and back into the city.
When she got upstairs he was still asleep.
She came over and kissed his cheek. "Poor big man," she whispered, and he smiled in his dream. She laid down the book on his bedside table, but then picked it back up. Maybe she would read a little while. She curled up beside him and turned to the first chapter, The First Robes of Carthak.
She had been reading for a few minutes when she heard a loud knock on the door. She sighed and put down the book. Daine cracked open the door. It was Neal, a page friend of hers, with someone else.
"Hello, Neal," she smiled. "Did you want Numair? He's sleeping. He was up all last night and half today on a working." She saw how nervous he was and fought off a smile. He had had a crush on her since she first met him. She thought it was cute, but Numair found it slightly annoying.
"Actually, Daine, I wanted to ask a favor of you." He motioned towards the person behind him. "It's for my friend Kel, here. And her horse."
Daine walked into the hall, shuting the door quietly behind her. "A horse?" There wasn't many she didn't know.
"He's contrary and mean, and Kel here won't give him up. Keladry of Mindelan, this is Veralidaine Sarrasri. Daine, Kel." Kel bowed and Daine smiled. She this was her. This girl could cause this much commotion? Alanna had asked her to keep an eye on her when she left, to tell her what she was like. Now she could send her a letter.
"You're the one Bonedancer likes. Lindhall says he's taken to you. And Neal doesn't like your horse," she gathered from the way he talked.
"We were thinking-I was thinking-you might take a look. He's got a mouth like stone-can it be fixed? And he's mean clear through." He's probably not mean, she thought. Just...not understood.
"Let me see him." She looked into the girl's eyes. "What's his name?"
"Peachblossom." She seemed almost careful around her, and Daine couldn't understand why.
"Peachblossom? Not one I know, but then, I have little to do with the nobles' horses. Let's have a look at him," she said, and led them to the stables. Neal talked to her while they walked, asking about a number of people. Daine answered all his questions, but in the back of her mind wondered if Numair was still asleep. Probably.
When they went into the stable all the horses greeted her. She said hellos back, and when to the stall Kel pointed to. She came over to him and cupped his chin, putting her nose on his so he would understand her dominance.
Hello, she said, and Peachblossom's ears perked forwards.
Hello, he replied. Who are you?
My name's Daine. I'm a Wildmage.
A what? he asked.
A Wildmage. Do you know how other humans have fire? Magic? I have it too, only I can talk to and heal animals instead of humans.
Neal tried to stroke him, and Peachblossom reacted violently. "Excuse me," he said, and Daine started to go over him, checking all his scars and healing cuts.
She finished and Peachblossom rested his head against her, thanking her for making him feel a little better. He reminded her of when she would rub Numair's sholders, and how he would rest greatfully against her, too.
"What do you want of him?" she asked while she stroked Peachblossom's neck. "I can soften his mouth, but if you're forever dragging the rein, it'll just get hard again. Stefan's done wonders with these scars, though Peachblossom says they still pain him some. I can mend those, but if you make him fight and you spur him as some do their mounts, he'll be scarred again. And I can't change his nature for you. Peachblossom is who he is; no one has the right to take that away."
"I woundn't ask it. We get on all right." Neal snorted, and Daine gave him a small warning glance. Kel continued, "If he didn't hurt from his scars, that might help, and softening his mouth would be a blessing. I'm not one for using the rein hard."
She's not, Peachblossom confirmed. And I will be nicer, if she doen't use spurs.
"That's what he says. He also says if you promise never to use spurs, he'll mind his manners a bit more."
"She has to have spurs when we get to riding in armor. The St--Lord Wyldon makes all the third- and fourth-years wear them."
Daine thought for a moment. "There are spurs that don't cut the horse." Will those be all right? she asked, and the big horse said yes. "Peachblossom will settle for those. You really want to keep him?"
Kel shrugged. "It's drawing carts or death if I don't."
"I'll buy him. I think I have enough. I'll take him off your hands and find you a better mount." She was pretty sure she had enough, and Numair would help, once she convinced him. She was very good at that.
Peachblossom looked at Kel, and, reaching into the big horse's mind, she knew who he wanted to take care of him. Peachblossom started to walk away from Daine.
Go on, she encouraged. He lowered his head into Kel's palm and lipped her hand, making Daine smile.
"That's that," she said and stroked his neck. "He says you need looking after."
"I never thought I'd end up agreeing with a horse," Neal said, and Peachblossom spit on his shirt.
Be nice, Daine warned.
Just because I let her ride me dosn't mean I have to be nice to everyone, he said. Daine relayed this to the other two-leggers.
She sighed when she looked over his worn sides. "Come to me, Peachblossom. We've still your hurts to mend." She thought of something. "I'll teach him spoken commands for when you need him to go faster. You won't need spurs with those."
She took her hands over him, letting her magic go through her fingertips. The gelding relaxed under her touch, and was quickly healed.
"All better," she said when she was done. Then she stood nose to nose with him again and taught him the commands. When he had learned all those Daine gave him a pat on the head and left his stall.
"He should be better now. He's a good boy at heart, you just have to look past his hardness." She gave him one more rub on the head, then let Neal walk her up.
Numair opened his eyes when he heard the door open.
"Daine," he called out, and, shutting the door, she came and sat down beside him.
"Did you have a nice nap?" She sat curled up against him, so he would have to look up at her. She stroked his hair of his forehead.
"A wonderful one. Thought it would have been better with you here."
Daine smiled and kissed his nose, then his lips. He kissed her back, even though her lips where upside down to his own. Once they finished she sank beside her mage and laid her head on his chest.
"What did you do today?"
Daine found it hard to think with him stroking her side. "Um..I went into town, and I got you a book. It looked fair interesting to me."
He picked it up and smiled. "I've been waiting for this book to be published for months now." He kissed her cheek. "Thank you, magelet."
"You're welcome. Have you heard of Kel? The girl page?"
He nodded, fingering the front of his book.
"Well I met her today. Neal-you know Neal-brought her to me because her horse needed some talking to. She seemed very nice. Alanna told me to keep an eye on her and tell me about her, so I'm glad I met her. Have you?"
"I've seen her, but not up close. She will be in our class later this year."
Daine nodded. "Well I best get to writing that letter," she said, but Numair pulled her back down.
"Why can't you stay with me?" he asked quietly while he stroked her cheek with his thumb. She sighed.
"Because you've slept all day, and you deserve it."
"But Daine, that's not fair. I was tired."
She fought his grip around her, but his arms didn't budge. "Let me go."
He bent down close to her and blew hot air on her neck. "Never."
"Let me go, please," she said, this time with less force.
He bit her ear lobe gently and whispered in her ear, "Never, Daine."
"Please," she whispered back.
"Never." And he kissed her, long and hard. He kissed her lips, her neck, her face. She tried to kiss him back, but it was useless. He had won her in a matter of moments.
Update of Swear coming next, then Letters Eagle Please R&R!
