Daine walked outside of the dorm area in which she was staying. Walking amongst the Carthaki temples, or rather, what remained of them, she sighed deeply. Her wedding to Kaddar was set for a week from then, and she knew but one thing: she did not love Emperor Kaddar. She knew she never would; her heart had been given away long ago.

Only a fool would create a mess such as this...

her thoughts trailed off to the person she missed the most. Her mentor, friend, and love. Numair Salmalin. The tears poured slowly from her blue eyes, brown curls tumbling down her cheeks. She fingered the badgers claw that hung loosely at her throat. She reflected on the events that led up to this most unfortunate of events. The love of her life, Numair, had gone off to heed the call of a Tortallan farmer that was having trouble and need the powers of a mage. He was never seen again. When the farmer was contacted, he said Numair hadn't even stopped by. He just, vanished.

Through the pain and the sorrow that tore at her heart each and every day afterward, Kaddar was a sort of refuge for Daine. He was a friend to her, and an ally. When he asked her hand in marriage, she blatantly refused. Several months later, he asked her again, and she hesitantly accepted. She needed someone. Someone to replace the empty hole that Numair left behind.

Now, here she sat, amongst the ruins of a once great temple, and here she wept. She remembered her final moments with Numair. That fateful year ago. He kissed her goodbye, and said

"I'll be with you forever, my magelet. For now, I shall say I love you and nothing more, for that is all I seem to know."

Upon thinking of his last words, Daine thought

Odd words for someone leaving only a few days. Those are the words of someone departing for a long time...someone who knows he'll be gone. Oh you fool! Do not hold onto a hope that you no is not there. You're getting married in but a week's time, and there's no more of this crying. Stop it!

Kitten, her dragon cooed a soothing melody to her, attempting to stop her flowing tears. Daine, a woman of 20 years, petted the head of her dragon friend.

"I'll be fine. Just reliving the past."

Birds began to fly around her, and she smiled weakly.

"Hello, friends. Don't worry about me. I'll really be fine."

She smiled again, stood, and walked away, back to her room.

Upon reaching the door, she noticed a letter addressed to her in familiar hand writing. Picking it up, she opened her door, and gently tore open the letter. As she read the 5 words written, tears poured form her eyes, and the hole in her heart was repaired. The words read:

Don't marry Kaddar. I'm coming.

The words were written form the very hand of Numair. Daine's eyes were wide in shock, and her entire body was trembling. Regaining what little of her sense she could, she sent a message to Kaddar, explaining her reasons of refusing marriage. Her letter read:

Dearest Kaddar,

While I love you with my entire heart...I am so sorry to say that I do not love you as a husband, but as a friend. The dearest friend one could have. Yet, my heart belongs elsewhere. It was given long ago, and now has reason to stay. Please, try to understand. And...I do hope we can still be friends. You have proven to be the best one I have ever known.

Love,

Daine.

Reading over her note, her hands trembling and her eyes crying, she hurriedly scratched out "Love," and replaced it with "Sincerely." Daine sat on the edge of her bed, eyes still wt with tears, and cheeks still stained from those being spilled. She quivered, and stared at the ground. She heard footsteps, and stood to grab the note, thinking it was the message carrier she had summoned. Eyes still focused on the ground, not wanting whoever was at the door to see her tear-stained face, she reached for the door handle, and opened it.

"Hello, magelet."