Young Wizards

I've had this story partially written for over a year now, and have held off on uploading it because I wanted to finish it completely first. But I'm stuck on one of the future chapters, and am hoping that encouragement and thoughts from you lovely readers will help me break through my block.

This story focuses almost solely on Dairine and Roshaun and their relationship. Takes place after Games Wizards Play so be warned: spoilers if you've not read that book. Other characters are in this story, but only in small ways.

Please review and favorite and follow, and I'll continue updating as often as I can. The first six chapters are finished, so those will be pretty regular, but after that...well, I need that encouragement.

I hope you enjoy!

Together Again

It was the longest, quietest few hours of her life. As soon as Nelaid had finished the transport, she'd staggered into Roshaun's bedroom and taken the empty seat at his bedside (or was it couchside?). She didn't move for hours.

Around hour two she vaguely wondered why it was she was the only one sitting by his side. Why were Miril and Nelaid not here with their precious son? Eventually it came to her, and she almost wished it hadn't. She blushed so hot she felt like the sun herself. It was because they were giving them privacy. It was an indirect acknowledgement of their relationship, whatever their relationship was exactly. But going down that train of thought only made her blush harder, so she returned her attention to the young king laid out before her.

The nervous anticipation returned. Fear still gnawed at her, even in her moment of triumph. He wasn't completely conscious yet, it whispered, entropy could still win out. Although, in a more rational state she'd have recognized that lie for what it was. At that moment all she ached for was for him to wake up.

Maybe he heard her, because she watched in exhausted delight as his eyes slowly opened. She watched his gaze focus, first on the room, and then on her.

"What took you so long?" He croaked out.

Her response was more automatic than was probably appropriate. She didn't even stop to consider the consequences. She slammed the pillow into his face. There was a moment of stunned silence. He slowly picked up the pillow from where it had dropped on his covers. He paused for a moment, and then shoved it back at her, scoring at direct hit.

In the past she might have pretended to be angry to get a rise out of him, but at that moment she was too relieved to see him awake and conscious to care. She laughed, and carefully tucked the pillow back under his covers. She didn't resist when his long arms encircled her and pulled her up to him. It was the first time he'd ever hugged her. Neither of them moved for a long time. There was no need to.

"You're alive?" She said, after a long while.

He snorted. "Clearly."

"Just checking." She said.

Nelaid and Miril came in not long after. Luckily they'd separated a few moments before. Dairine was carefully straightening the covers around him and studiously ignored the smiles on his parents faces as they entered.

Dairine excused herself to allow them some privacy with their son. She returned to her favorite spot, the balcony, and gazed out at the stunning alien world before her. She was thousands of lightyears from earth, and yet she felt entirely at home. It was both comforting and unnerving, to recognize her attachment to a world that was not her own, or not one she'd helped create (in the case of the mobiles).

The day's events were taking their toll, and when Nelaid came to find her to take her back to earth, he found her neatly curled up on the floor of the balcony sound asleep. Although he tried to hide his amusement, he didn't really succeed. Dairine didn't really care. She allowed him to transport her home, before she collapsed into her own bed and slept the next two days away.

The rest was much needed, and not just because of her excursion to the sun. All those trips to Mumbai had seriously messed with her internal clock. The wizardry she'd performed had only increased the problem.

On the morning of the third day she finally felt refreshed enough to really get up and move around. Her sister and dad were already gone for the day. She was supposed to go to school that afternoon. She wasn't sure she wanted to. She really wanted to go back to Wellakh.

But she'd also missed a couple of days of school already, and if she missed anymore there was definitely going to be a fuss. She dressed for school in her normal, unconcerned manor. Nita had morning classes that day, so their paths wouldn't cross.

As far as she was concerned school was a waste of her time. There was very little that the public education system could still teach her about well…anything, really. She'd spent the better part of the last six months working on a sun for crying out loud. But she went, and she suffered through it, with the intention of messaging Roshaun when she got done to make sure he was doing alright.

It occurred to her about halfway through her first class that this was the first time in a long time that she felt truly and completely whole. Or as whole as she could, since her mother's passing. It was also the first time they'd been apart (excepting his disappearance) and she was shocked at how much she wanted him to be there.

She wasn't fifteen minutes into her second (and thank The Powers That Be final) class of the afternoon when Spot informed her that she had a message. From Roshaun. Thankfully her school didn't have a terribly strict policy against technology. She discreetly picked Spot up and set him on her desk. He opened instantly to the chat window.

So you are finally awake? He wrote.

Yeah. Are you feeling better? She replied.

I am recovering. Are you coming back to finish your training?

She smiled. I'd rather be there training right now, then sitting in this stupid class.

What subject are the plebeians trying to drill into your large head? He wrote back.

She was smiling like an idiot. Algebra. She wrote back. Most basic subjects like it were relatively universal. The name might change, but she'd written it in the Speech, so he'd be able to translate it.

Is this another of your poor attempts at humor?

She chuckled softly to herself. Which was the wrong thing to do. The teacher (whose name she couldn't remember) caught her laughing and called her out. "What is the answer to this problem?" He demanded, pointing to a simplistic equation on the board.

"Twenty-six." Dairine replied, not missing a beat.

The teacher opened his mouth, clearly about to tell her she was wrong. But she wasn't and she knew it. "Ah. Yes. That is correct." He didn't call on her again for the rest of the class. Dairine's smile widened. None of her fellow classmates were stupid enough to try to see what it was she was doing, and none of them made comment on her instant answer.

No. She replied to Roshaun. This is absolutely not funny.

Neither is being confined to this bed. He replied.

You did just survive being inside of the sun for months! I can see why your parents might think you need some rest.

I do not need rest. I need to be up and helping my father.

So we're both trapped.

So it seems. He agreed.

What happens now? She asked. She didn't miss the pause that came before his answer.

I am still the Sunlord. I still have a duty to my people.

Not what I meant. She typed back.

I know. He said. But I do not have any answers.

She snorted softly. The High and Mighty Roshaun without answers? It made her giddy. Him being alive made her giddy. She ached to see his face, to touch him and know that this wasn't some twisted dream, but she couldn't, and she knew it.

Her class ended a few moments later and she told Roshaun she'd get back to him. She stopped by her house and dropped off her textbooks and school bag before heading down to her dad's shop. He was with a customer, so Dairine didn't bother him, and instead headed toward the back, where she was shocked to find Nelaid quietly tending to a whole group of orchids.

"Ummm…hi?" She said, surprised.

He smiled at her. "Harold said you had school until late. I did not believe you would be done so soon."

"I only had two classes." She said, trying to wrap her head around the fact that Roshaun's dad was there. "I thought you'd be home with Roshaun." She added.

Nelaid sighed. "He's resting, and I didn't want to disturb him. I figured you'd want to come and visit him once your schedule opened up for the day, so I came here."

Dairine wondered how tactfully she could tell Nelaid that his son was not, in fact, sleeping. The older wizard must have sensed her dilemma, because he cracked a wide smile.

"He's not resting, is he?" He asked.

Dairine smiled too. She shook her head. He laughed. "I should not be surprised."

Her father finished with his customer and joined them. Dairine didn't even have to mention going to Wellakh. He just told her to have fun and not to stay out too late, which shocked her to her core.

It only Nelaid a few moments to prepare the gate. She gave her dad a quick hug and stepped into her spot. She was in Wellakh in a flash. Miril was there to greet them. Dairine's affection for Roshaun's mom had only grown as the months had passed, and now that she'd brought their son back to them, she was probably their favorite person.

"Welcome back, Dharinie." She said, beaming.

"Thank you." Dairine said.

"There are not enough words, even in the Speech, for me to express my gratitude to you for bringing our son back to us." Miril said, taking Dairine's hands and leading her towards Roshaun's room. Nelaid followed in a seemingly serene state.

The new king of Wellakh was not where he should have been when the three entered his room. None of them were surprised. The bed sheets were crumpled and tossed aside, the glorious bed forlorn. The king in question wasn't even in the room.

Dairine sighed and went out the doorway that stood open to find the young man standing on the balcony looking out at the planet before him.

"I suppose you're not going to go back to bed?" She said.

Roshaun, the consummately composed young royal, actually jumped at her voice. Dairine had to cover her mouth to stop her laughter from spilling out. Not that it mattered, he knew her well enough to know she was laughing at him.

"I see you're free of your algebra. Why should I not be free of my bed as well?" He demanded.

"Fair enough." Dairine agreed, going to stand beside him. "But your parents are waiting for you in there. And they don't look happy."

"Then it is a good thing I am their king." Roshaun said, imperious. It might have worked, if Dairine hadn't detected the tinge of fear in his voice.

"King or not, they're still your parents, and they're still going to ream you for being out of bed."

"Ream?" Roshaun replied, confused.

"An idiom. They'll reprimand you. Hard." She explained, enjoying his discomfort.

"Ah." He said. "Then I suppose I should get it over with." He said suddenly grave.

Dairine snickered, but followed him into his rooms to where his parents stood waiting for him, both of them with angry expressions.

"I needed air." He said, walking back to his couch/bed meekly. Dairine tried very hide to minimize her laughter, but failed miserably. The mighty king brought down by a single look. She risked a glance at his parents, relieved to see that their expressions had softened.

"You need to rest, Roshaun." His mother admonished, but there wasn't much real anger in her voice.

The young king sighed. It was incredibly undignified. Dairine smiled, absolutely enjoying this whole moment. "I've spent too much time stuck in one position. I do not need to stay still, I need to be up and moving."

It was Nelaid who answered. "You can get up and move as much as you want. When you no longer collapse from exhaustion just moving from your bed to the balcony."

Roshaun opened his mouth to respond, and then simply closed it again, similar to a fish in water.

"How about a compromise?" Dairine said, jumping recklessly into the fray. All three Wellakhit turned to stare at her. "For every hour of rest you get, I'll tell you more about the amazing stuff you missed while you were sunbathing."

Nelaid nodded in approval. "An excellent idea." He said, and Miril agreed.

"Like what?" Roshaun demanded, clearly convinced that nothing of interest had happened while he'd been…away.

"Well, Kit's dog Ponch, turned out to be an incarnation of The One, for one thing." Dairine said, deciding to go for shock value. The young king raised a single eyebrow, his (subdued) method for showing interest.

"And that was about…five minutes after you up and left." Dairine said, dangling the rest of the bait out in front of him.

It took Roshaun a long moment to respond. "I suppose…that would be acceptable."

Dairine was careful to hold back her laughter this time, but his parents did not.

"I must return to Earth. Harold has promised to show me more of the lilies and orchids. I will return in a while." Nelaid said, patting his son comfortingly and smiling at Dairine.

Miril smiled. "He has grown quite fond of your world." She said to Dairine.

Dairine smiled. "Yes." She agreed.

Miril smiled. "Would you care to come with me to see the palace properly? My husband and son have neglected to show you its true beauty on your visits."

Darinie smiled. "That sounds lovely." She said. Neither of them missed Roshaun's shocked, wide eyes and confused expression. Dairine couldn't decide if his shock was because his mother was going to show her around, or because he'd realized she'd apparently been back (multiple times) in his absence.

"Get some rest, my son. I will not keep her for too long." Miril promised, showing Dairine out.

They were out in the hallway and heading down an elaborately decorated corridor when Roshaun's voice sounded in her head. Clearly I have missed much while I was away.

You have no idea. Dairine said. Take a nap and I'll tell you all about it.

This is extortion. Roshaun said, annoyed.

Yep. Dairine agreed

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