It's new story time! This one is set right after the Kel books. They've been together about 10 years (gosh! That's weird to say!) Numair's almost 40...It's August and his birthday's on October 30th and Daine will be 26 in late April...the war is starting to die down, so they can come home (Things will heat back up though..I gather this from the beginning of the Aly books--which are two years after this, FYI)

"Magelet!" Numair called from the living room. The door opened and Daine popped her head in.

"Hum?"

Numair patted the cushion beside him. "I need to talk with you."

Daine came and sat in her designated spot. "Why?"

"Well, I have to go up North in two days-"

"You do?" she whined, and he put up a finger.

"But you have to come up there next week."

"Why can't I come with you?"

He sighed and played with her hand.

"The king said we take to long when we travel together."

Daine laughed. "He's right, though."

"I know. But anyways, I'll be working in the library all afternoon, on research."

Daine though for a minute. "Promise you'll be back around...two-after-dusk?"

He kissed her lips. "I swear it. Why?"

"No reason," she said innocently, and stood up. "I need to be going to the stables."

He nodded and reached up to kiss her once more.

Daine went to get their dinner. She came back to their rooms and set it out on the table. Then she slipped on a silky red dress. It was Numair's favorite for obvious reasons; it had a very low neckline and the other side was cut in a V to the small of her back. It was a little bit longer than her knees, with a slit that came up to her thigh.

She lit every candle in the room, the picked up the red rose she had bought earlier and sat down. And she waited for him.

Numair looked up from his book when the bells rang. In three hours it would be midnight. He sighed and collected his things, then left he library.

When he walked into the bedroom it was dark. Daine looked up at him, tears runing down her face.

"Magelet," he said and came over to lean down in front of her.

""Where were you?" she asked, more angry than upset.

"I..was..I was doing research. I thought I told you?"

"You said you'd be back at...at two-after-...after-dusk!" her voice was rising now, and Numair could hear her full accent coming back, what always happened when she got angry or cried.

"I just got held up."

"Oh, please Numair! You always say that! How'm I s'posed to believe you?"

He said nothing for a minute, gently taking his hands over Daine's dress and arms.

"You look beautiful," he whispered, and she fought the hard urge not to hit him. "Did you dress up for me, magelet?"

"Yes," she said angrly, and pushed him away, then crossed her legs and arms and look at the oppisite wall.

"Daine, please. I was working. It was just a little mistake."

"A little mistake?" she growled. All of her hate came back now, stronger than before.

"A little mistake? I waited almost THREE HOURS for you, Numair! I got dressed up for you, got dinner for you, this rose for you," she took the rose and pushed the dull thorns into his sholder," I did every thing to make this night special for you, and you DON'T EVEN COME! This is more than a little mistake! This is a huge one!"

Daine stood up quickly. She went over to the bed and took one of the blankets and his pillow off of it and pushed it into his arms.

"You can sleep in the living room tonight," she told him, then stalked into the washroom, where she slammed the door shut.

Numair stood there for a moment, completly shocked. He slowly collected his mental bearings, then went into the living room and laid down on the couch.

Daine slammed the door shut and sank to the floor. She hated him so very much right now. He could be so...so stupid and inconsiderate. All she had wanted to do tonight was make him happy. Now she would never let him know she was ready to get married. She took off her dress and undid the stopper from the faucet of the bathtub. The loud sound of the water drowned out most of her thoughts, and see wished it would run all night. She knew in her heart that in they would eventually make up, but she wouldn't let the thought touch to her mind as she slipped in the warm water. He would never be forgiven at the moment. Stupid, stupid man. That was all he was. A stupid, inconsiderate, pig-headed man, who's only concern was his magic. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

She sighed and sank under the water.

Numair heard Daine getting ready for bed. He wanted so badly to go and apologize, but his pride kept him on the couch. He must have looked ridiculous, in the tiny ball he was in so he could fit. He felt ridiculous, but not for how he looked. He should have come back earlier. He had heard the bells ring for two-after-dusk, but he thought Daine wouldn't be mad if he came in a little late. But, of course, he had been wrong. He got his blanket and pillow and went to lay on the floor, where at least he could strech out. They would have to make up tomorrow; he would have to leave the day after.

She'll apologize in the morning, he told himself over and over, then finally went to sleep.

Morning came, but with no apologes. Daine knew she was right; Numair was to stubborn to admit that he was wrong. They hardly saw each other all day; Daine made sure to leave early and Numair stayed in his workroom.

Daine sighed when she heard the bells. They had a state dinner tonight and she had to go get ready. She put down the rag she was using to clean her tack and went upstairs. Numair was standing at the small desk in their bedroom when she came in. He looked out of the corner of his eye to see her face, but she had already stalked to the washroom. Daine ran the water and undressed, the sank into the tub. She stayed until the water was cold and then went to get dressed. She put on her dark red dress (the one that got her the most attention with men other than Numair) and her jewlery, then sat outside on the balcany.

"Ready?" Numair popped his head out to ask. Daine got up and let him lead her to the dinning hall.

Dinner was easier; they sat with people they knew, and Daine didn't have to say one word to Numair. Dancing, on the other hand, was a little more difficult. No one asked for Daine to dance the first dance with them anymore; they knew it belonged to Numair.

They took their place on the floor once the music started to play. The dance was medium speed, perfect for conversation.

"When will you talk to me again, magelet?" Numair asked and tried to look into her eyes.

"When you start being considerate of me."

He sighed. "I said I was sorry, sweetling. It was just a little mistake."

"A little mistake?" Even in a whisper her words still stung. "It was a huge mistake! I told you to be back at-"

"Shhh, magelet. People are looking."

She sighed again and looked past him. Numair gave up at this point.

The night wore on. Numair turned down most dances and stood to the side, watching Daine turn in another man's arms. He felt positivly misrable, and drank wine to make himself feel better. Usually he had only one or two glasses at dinner, but tonight he had much more.

Daine saw him put his head in his hands and lean back against the wall. Once the dance was over she made her way over to him.

"Wine?" she asked, and he nodded. Numair didn't get drunk like most people, just very sick.

"Do you want to go up stairs?" He nodded again, and put an arm around her, for support more than anything else.

When they got upstairs she made him lay down on the bed. She put the water over the fire for tea, then came and sat at his feet.

"Does your belly hurt?" she asked while she took off his boots.

"Yes, and my head."

"Good," she told him, and rubbed his feet. "You deserve it."

"I do," he whisped, and she looked up, suprized.

"I do deserve it. I've been a absolute-"

"Rear?" she finished, and he nodded.

"I really am sorry, magelet. I should have come in last night. I was just being stupid and silly and unresponsible. Please forgive me?"

She looked up again and saw his sad, sick face.

"How can I not forgive a face like that?"

Numair smiled. "Thank you, magelet."

She leaned over him and kissed his forhead, then took off his shirt.

"Get some rest, Numair."

"But I'm leaving in the morning!"

"Well, we can play sick in the morning, and we can say goodbye then." She came and curled up beside him, and kissed his cheek again.

"I love you, Numair."

"I love you, too," he said quietly, then went to sleep.

Awwww! How sweet!