She was sitting there, under the tree, like a flower. His Daine, the one true love of his life. As he walked up to her, she looked up from her book. She gave him one of her priceless smiles and asked him, "Numair, where have you been????" "Numair!!" "Numair!!"

Someone was calling him.

As he awoke he stared up into huge purple eyes. Reality snapped back into place. Daine wasn't with him; she was gone, killed by Sacrans at New Hope while helping Lady Kel.

Alanna kept shoving him. "NUMAIR!!!! Where were you??????? Where have u been??? You know, we haven't won this war yet. We need you! You are the best mage in Tortall, and you can't keep missing these war meetings! We may be close to victory, but it could change if you don't help us."

Alanna, seeing tears in Numair's eyes, and the look of shear pain on his face, knew she had gone too far. "Oh, Numair." She said. "I'm sorry. You know my temper and me. I know you're not over her. Please don't cry! I didn't mean it. It's just that with this war raging, everyone's on edge. ESPECIALLY me!!" She fell silent.

The look on Numairs face was horrible. Also, he looked as if he hadn't eaten, slept, or bathed for months. As she looked him over in silence, she couldn't help but pity him tremendously. Every day he trudged through his work, his passion for life gone. It was as if he had lost his motive for living along with Daine.

She decided that she could do nothing to help him, because she had tried many times in the past. As she went to leave, Numair croaked, "Don't be sorry, its not your fault. I should've been there. It's just..." He trailed off. "I know, I know." Said Alanna. "It will get better, easier. It's hard now, but things will improve. Once the wars over, things will settle down. The pain will dim." Numair said, "Yes, but I just can't imagine feeling better right now. I miss her so much. So so much..." He was holding back tears. "I know, I know." Alanna comforted him, " I know."