A Stormwing's Revenge
The long awaited day, for all of Tortall, had finally come. It was the eve of the Summer Solstice, and Daine was in her room with three women, her closest friends, Alanna the Lioness, Queen Thayet of Tortall, and Onua the horsemistress.
"How do I know if I'm ready for all of this?" Daine asked nervously, tomorrow was her wedding and she was having trouble keeping her nerves down. "I think this is going to be too big of a step."
"I think you are ready. You have been quite the pair for a long time.'' The Lioness said, remembering her husband, "I didn't know I loved George until after I was knighted. Sometimes things can be a little crazy when it comes down to things with men."
"I really didn't like Jon at first," Thayet added, making a face. "I had just left my home, and I wasn't really ready to be thrown into being a royal woman again. In time I grew accustom to the wealth, being in court again, and I grew to love Jon, more than I knew I could. Now, I know I love him and my castle!'' She said, spinning around the room with her arms out. She wasn't known to be vain, but ever girl and ever woman had a little bit of vanity in them.
"I'd add something," Onua said, with a small sigh, "but I don't have any advice other than Listen to your heart, it should and it will bring you down the right path."
Skysong, Daine's young dragonet know as Kit or Kitten, balanced on her hindquarters and voiced a string of whistles, trills and croaks.
-She says she approves of your choice- a voice said, floating in through the window. -Hello again Wieryn's daughter.
All the women turned to see a large blue dragon sitting outside. "Hello, Diamondflame." Daine said, trying to smile. "Thank you for coming."
-I could not miss the wedding of my granddaughter's guardian.-the dragon replied.
"I thank you anyway," the Wildmage, as she had become known as, said. "Have you asked if my parents can come? Did the great gods agree?"
-Yes, I asked. The great gods not only agreed to let Weiryn and Sarra to come-replied- But if they can keep order long enough, they themselves will attended.-
"Thank you again, Diamondflame." Daine said excitedly. "I hope they can come!"
"Wow! Wouldn't that would make the wedding so wonderful!" Thayet exclaimed "It's shaping up to be better than mine!"
"Well, if it is," Alanna said, slightly giggling, "then I guess I stand no chance."
"Thayet, your wedding could never be second best to any one's." Onua replied, completely blowing off the idea. "Even with the great gods present."
A small gray sparrow flew in the window and perched itself on a lone smoky brown curl.
Cloud says to get some sleep, the sparrow said. She knows you're nervous and she said you are making her nervous.
Thinking of the mare, Daine laughed. "You tell her I'm trying to relax, and to behave herself tomorrow." She replied. "I don't want her biting my da."
I will do that, the sparrow said and was gone.
"What did he want?" Onua asked.
"He came to tell me," she replied, still smiling, "that I'm making Cloud nervous."
The Lioness, who had been sitting on Daine's bed, stood up. "Well, Daine, you best try to get some sleep. Tomorrow will be quite a day!"
"Yes, we will be back in the morning." Thayet said as she stood from her seat and walked to the door as though her feet never touched the ground. "Good night, Daine."
Alanna and Onua filed out behind her, both wishing her good night and sweet dreams before the door closed behind them.
I wish I could glide like the queen, she thought as she shed her breeches and shirt and pulling on her nightgown. I hope Cloud doesn't try to bit da. She slowly eased herself into her bed. She looked at the door that lead to her privy where her dress was hanging.
She smiled. Her mother, Sarra the green lady, had made it. It was the lightest shade of blue with a silver border on all the hems. The sleeves hung low around her hands, fitting closely till the elbow wear it grew wider and wider till it reached it's end. It had a very tight bodice, embroidered with swirling pattern by careful hands. The long, full, flowing skirt touched the ground, even when she stood on her tiptoes, and was made to fit only Daine, and it fit perfectly. She loved it.
That night she had bad dreams. Genial had shown her horrific events about her wedding. It started with minor things going wrong, like falling off Cloud and landing in mud. They grew progressively worse until ending with the Chaos Queen killing the gods and leaving her gate keepers to kill the rest of the guests.
She awoke with start at dawn. Still breathing heavily, she dragged herself out of the safety of her bed. Pulling on a pair of stockings and her housecoat she trudged over to the privy. Gently touch her silky gown as she walked past. She carefully washed her face, brushed her hair and cleaned her teeth, still trying to rid her mind of the nightmares.
She was just finishing up when she heard a knock at the door. She rushed into the larger room and toward the door, where she opened it just enough to see her guests. The first was a strong red-head, the second a beautiful black haired women, and the last a wild natured K'miri.
"Daine, let us in." the queen laughed gently, seeing her peeking out.
"You're up rather early." said Onua once she entered the room.
"I couldn't sleep. I was having nightmares!" Daine responded as one by one the women filed in, and all of them thought to ruffle her hair as they went by.
"I had nightmares the night before my wedding, too." The Lioness said, smiling. "I'm told it's normal."
"Did it go over well?" Daine wondered. "Or was it a disaster?"
The queen smiled along with her friend, both remembering their special days.
"No wedding is ever perfect," the queen said. "There is always something that goes wrong. It's normal to think even the tiniest and unnoticeable problems as the worst thing to happen."
"Just relax." The knight said, "It's only going to happen once so have fun!"
Onua walked over to Daine and put her hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "Well, I'm no expert, but I think we should get you out of then housecoat and into that dress there. I don't think your mother would be too happy if you let such a pretty thing go to waste!"
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On the other end of the castle, Numair was having his own share of doubts.
"What if she doesn't really love me?" Numair complained to the king, George Cooper, Lindelle Reed. "Did I do the right thing? Can such a gap in age be too much to over come? What if…?"
"Numair," Jonathan held up a hand to silence him. "Do you love her?"
"Well, yes" he started. "But….."
"Did she or did she not agree to this?" inquired Lindelle.
"Well…yes...But…"
"No buts." George said "If you love her and she wants to take your name, than nothing else matters! You're lucky that she didn't make you wait. My Lioness made me wait years before she realized she loved me back."
"Do you really think she loves me?" the question rose.
"Things wouldn't be as they are today if she didn't." the king said, his sapphire eyes dancing. "Young Daine knows what she wants. She can't be forced into something she doesn't want."
"As for age," Lindelle added "as long as you are in love it shouldn't matter."
"I think I'm ready now." Numair said with a smile as her grabbed his black mages coat, matching breeches and a white shirt. "The only problem is her mother and father are coming. I don't know what that'll be like. You know they are gods, don't you?"
"Yes," Jon announced. "You keep fretting over that. Don't worry. If they didn't approve of you, they would have done some thing. Gods get their way more often than not."
"You're right." Numair said at last and began getting ready.
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"Oh, Daine!" Alanna said in a sing-song voice. "Somebody's here to see you!"
Daine came out of the small privy, looking worse for wear all things considering. "Who is it?"
As if on cue the beautiful woman walked through the door. She had her golden blonde hair braided and pinned around her head like a crown. She wore a plain green cotton dress with silvery runes etched around the hems of the skirt, collar and sleeves. It was made perfectly to look as though its wearer looked especially beautiful. The minor goddess really looked the part in it, as well as a proud mother on her child's wedding day.
"Ma!" she exclaimed and ran over to hug the woman.
"Hello, sweetling." The goddess said. "Are you about ready?"
Looking down at herself, Daine hung her head in mock shame. She managed to mutter a quiet "not yet".
Sarra laughed and stretched her arm out to the privy. The magnificent gown she made glided across the room and laid itself over her arm without touching the floor.
"Oh, ma," Daine said remembering her three friends were still there. "These are my friends. Onua Chamtong," pointing to the K'miri "Alanna Cooper, the Lioness," she moved her hand to point at the knight. "And Queen Thayet of Tortall" finally pointing to the queen. "And this is my ma." She said at last giving her mother another hug.
"Yes, I know them." replied Sarra, "Alanna is famous in all realms, not everyone is blessed directly from the Mother Goddess herself. As for the others, I've been watching you, or have you forgotten, sweetling."
"Wait," Daine looked questioningly up at her mother, "is da here, too?"
"Yes, he is waiting outside. I told him to wait till you were dressed." Sarra smiled, tweaking her daughter's nose. "I had a feeling you wouldn't be. Oh, my, I almost forgot the dresses made for these lovely ladies here. Now you put that dress on, and I'll get your friends their's."
Daine grabbed the light blue gown from her mother and began to put it on. Moving the skirt around, trying not to wrinkle the delicate fabric as she slipped it over her head. She had just dropped the skirt when she saw a flash and three blue dresses pop out of thin air. She gently tugged at the gown till it the fit was right.
When she had gotten it perfectly, and looked to see her companions doing the same with their carefully faded blue dresses. They looked similar to hers, just toned down a bit. They were much darker in color, the same shade as her stormy blue gray eyes, she noticed. The dresses didn't have quite as many ruffles to the skirt, but they were still just as elegant.
Sarra walked over to her daughter with the same gliding motion as Thayet. "Let me look at you." She said softly and rotated around to see every angle. Then, she slowly pulled the ribbons on the back of the bodice till it was almost too tight for Daine to breathe.
Holding up a fist full of her skirt, Daine walked across the room to the large looking-glass that hung on the back of the door. She gazed into the looking-glass, dropped the skirt and just stared awed by the person staring back at her. Then, slowly lifting her arms to the bodice, she ran her hands over the embroidered cloth.
"Is that really me?" she said barely above a whisper, still amazed.
"Yes, sweetling, that's you." Sarra appeared beside her daughter. Putting both of her hands on both of Daine's shoulders. Letting her head fall to the side of her daughter's and resting on hand and shoulder.
Daine managed to pull her eyes away from the wonderful image to look at her audience. "What do you think?" she asked.
The queen broke the stunned silence first, "Daine, you look absolutely beautiful."
"You do," the Lioness added, "you really, truly do."
"I don't think I've ever seen a bride look as beautiful as you," Onua said.
Daine suddenly felt overcome with joy. Tears pouring down her face, she opened her arms and walked to her friends. The three women walked to meet her half way.
"You are the best friends I've ever had!" Daine sobbed
"You," the queen said, pulling away and trying to dry her leaking eyes. "Are the best thing to happen to ever happen to all of us in the palace, and this land."
The other women did the same, chuckling wetly.
Alanna spoke next. "Look at us." She smiled. "Crying and not nearly ready." She glanced out the window. "Gods! You need to be downstairs and ready in one hour's time!"
"What!" Daine ran to the window, almost tripping on her skirt. "Where's Kitten? Look at my hair. Has anyone saw to Cloud, yet? Horse Lords, when are we going to get this all done?"
"Sweetling, calm down. Everything is going to be fine." Her mother said softly. "Come over here and I'll get your hair pinned up."
"If we hurry, we'll have plenty of time." Onua said smiling, the K'miri never looked worried. "Let's get you all pretty."
Daine nodded solemnly, and then caught off guard with immediate swarm of women. The goddess quickly pulled all her daughter's hair to the back and secured it with a hair tie. Then using what seemed, to Daine, like millions of hair pins to keep her hair in an orderly array of curls. Next, Sarra pulled a comb with a thin lacy material attached out of thin air and placed into her daughter's pinned up hair.
As Sarra worked, Alanna worked at putting a pale blue powder on Daine's eyelids. Thayet was putting pink rouge on her lips and Onua was putting a pale pink powder across Daine's cheeks.
Suddenly, around the time Daine thought she would scream from too many people doing too many things to her she couldn't see, all three women working on her face stepped back and the goddess went around her daughter to join them. It was, again, Alanna who broke the silence first.
"Perfect." She said, "Absolutely perfect."
"You look amazing." Onua said, next.
Thayet glanced out the window, "Well you still have a while till we have to start heading down to the courtyard."
"I know your father would like to see you." Sarra said, "Shall I call him?"
"Please do, ma," Daine said, smiling slightly, though it was hard over the fluttering feeling in her stomach. "I would like to see him again."
"Weiryn," Sarra called, "my love, our daughter would like to see you."
The room was filled with white magic that flashed for a moment and disappeared. In the middle the room a man appeared. His tall bare frame was deeply tanned with green streaks. He had horns rooted in his curly brown hair.
Daine had the sudden urge that she couldn't contain, to run up and hug the god. "Da," She said and gave in. She was a foot or two away when she stopped, feeling rather silly.
Weiryn obviously did not feel the same about the situation. He walked the last little bit and swept his daughter into a warm embrace. "I am very glad to see you again, my daughter." He said gently into her hair. "You look so beautiful. I feel so honored to have such a beautiful little girl."
"Not as honored as I am, da." She said, her voice muffled by a muscular shoulder. She felt like crying, but held back the tears in her burning blue-gray eyes.
Pulling away, he said "Well, we better get going."
Still under one of his powerful arms, they began to walk to the door.
"Wait," Daine said ducking under his arm, picking up her skirt and quickly walking over to her small bureau. She opened a drawer, pulled out a pair of thin white breeches and started to put them on under her skirt. "I have a feeling I'll need them for some reason." She explained, sitting on the bed and quickly pulling on the slippers back on.
"Come to think of it," the King's Champion said, "I do, too. Don't you?"
"I didn't think of it really," Thayet replied first, "I did have a tiny bit of a bad feeling."
Onua walked over to the pile of clothes the women had wore over and pulled out their breeches. "Just in case," She said, passing them out.
"Come, my love, let's wait outside." Sarra said, taking the hint.
Weiryn gave his daughter a last hug and left with his wife. Everyone could tell he missed his daughter and was happy to see her again.
He was almost out the door when he turned, "Daine, I will be down on the stables. Find me when you're done, I know you haven't gotten time to saddle that horse of yours." He told her with a wink and left.
After the door shut behind him the women got to work pulling off the thin breeches and replacing them with the sturdier ones.
"That's your father, the god?" Onua said.
"Yeah, why?" Daine replied.
"It's just he seems more like a human than a god." The queen said, supplying the answer hse thought fit when Onua couldn't phrase it.
"He seems like any old father in the realm. He doesn't seem very godly." Alanna added with a shrug.
"Well, he is a father; I don't see why his being a god should matter." Daine stated logically
They agreed solemnly, having seen Daine's point and thought not to argue with it.
Daine, Alanna, Thayet and Onua made their way down to the stables, where Daine's parents awaited them. They entered the stable that supplied the horses for the team of the Queen's Riders' stayed when they were visiting the place. Cloud was stabled here. They walked down the center aisle to the stall the troublesome mare was held.
Daine looked into the stall to see her gray mare in a beautiful saddle, meant for riding side-saddle and not normal style, made of the same light blue-and-silver cloth as the gown she wore was. The bridle and reins were made of a sturdy lace in the same shade as the rest of the bride's things.
"Wow, da, she looks beautiful. How'd you get her to stay still the whole time?" Daine asked.
"I told her that if she didn't behave you would find some punishment for her." he grinned, "the animals here are very smart. They must understand what is said by humans because she stood there the whole time trying not to do anything that may have gotten her into trouble."
She smiled and carefully walked over to hug the mare that had been her family for the years after Sarra was killed by raiders. "Well, Cloud has always been a smart pony. But I guess now all the horses, or any other animal for that matter, here in Tortall are smarter because of my wild magic." She smiled feeling as though she was bragging, so she hastily added "that's what everyone says anyway."
"Well, it's true." The god said and walked back over to the mare. "You best get on this horse or you might be late."
"Oh, yeah, thanks da." She said and tried to swing herself into the saddle. The skirt would not allow it.
She scowled at the incorporative skirt. Weiryn laughed and helped her into the saddle.
"All set up there, Daine." He said as he walked to the pony's head to grab the lead rope his wife held.
"All set, da." She said already tingling to see the man she loved and was about to spend the rest of her life with.
The god took the lead rope off the beautifully made halter and set it on the hook it belonged on. Then, he took the loop of soft leather under the mare's chin and began to lead the horse and rider/bride outside to where the guests were seated and waiting.
It seem like all of Tortall was there to witness the wedding of Numair Salmalín and Veralidaine Sarrasri. This would be a day as memorable as when their king and queen were married. The greatest mage in the land and the woman holding the most known wild mage were about to become combined under one holy bind. This day was the day all of Tortall had waited for. They were ready to have the beloved Wildmage and only black-robed mage finally a husband and wife team out to rid the land of raiders and unfriendly immortals.
The legendary song began to play, and the procession started their walk down the long aisle. First King Jonathan and his wife Queen Thayet started the long walk. Fallowing behind the Baron and Baroness of Pirate's Swoop, George and Alanna Copper, walked at the same slow and even pace. Next, Lindelle Reed escorted Onua Chamtong down the aisle. Kitten, the dragon was next sprinkling water and salt Daine had put in dishes in a basket for her.
The song changed, the audience rose, the bride on her beautiful pony lead by her father turned the corner and walked up the path of salt and water laid down by Kitten. Everyone ohhed and ahhed quietly over the woman on horse back; both because of the beauty of the woman in the dress, and the unique entrance on horseback. Veralidaine was the picture of perfection, her pony made her seem even more beautiful than she already was.
Numair was standing at the top of the aisle awaiting the woman he loved, just outside the sacred ring in front of the alter. When he saw her his shock took over. His jaw dropped. Was this really the same girl that had fought countless numbers of immortals? Was this the same girl that had always worn shirts and breeches covered in the digested food of bats and birds, mud and grass stains? This was the same girl but she looked so different in a dress and not dirt and stained clothes, she looked more feminine and more grown up. He closed his mouth and smiled. He walked up to the side of the mare and helped his beautiful bride down from atop the pony's back. The woman smiled back. Though they didn't know it they both felt the same rush of excitement and love as his hands grabbed her waist and her hands grabbed his shoulders. Even in the raised-heeled slippers Daine had on, Numair was still more than a head taller than her. She gazed up into his eyes as he gazed back at hers. Daine didn't remember anything but her lover's eyes.
Together, they stepped into the ring where the head priestess of the Goddess, and the head priest of Mithros awaited them. The priestess rang a small bell to start the ceremony.
The priest and priestess worked as one to bless the couple with incense. Numair and Daine forced north as their six friends formed a human chain around them.
Facing the couple, the priest and priestess raised their arms up to the sky and said:
"In this sacred circle of light, we gather to in perfect love and perfect trust. Oh Mother Goddess and Great Mithros, we ask thee to bless this couple, their love, and their marriage for as long as they shall live in love together. May they each enjoy a healthy life filled with joy, love, stability, and fertility."
The priestess held the dish of salt before the couple and let them each place their right hand over the dish as they said:
"Blessed be by the ancient and mystical Element of Earth. May the Goddess in all her glory bless you with love, tenderness, happiness, and compassion for as long as ye both shall live."
The dish was returned to the altar. The couple then turned to face east. The Mithren priest rang the bell thrice and then smudged the couple with incense, and said:
"Blessed be by smoke and bell, symbols of the ancient and mystical Element of Air. May the Great Mithros in all his glory bless you with communication, intellectual growth, and wisdom for as long as ye both shall live."
He returns the censer to the altar. The couple turned to face south. He then handed each of them a white candle to hold in their right hand. He lit the candles, and held his hands over the couple as he said:
"Blessed be by flame, symbols of the ancient and mystical Element of Fire. May the Goddess of love in all her glory bless you with harmony, vitality, creativity, and passion for as long as ye both shall live."
He returned the candles to the altar. The couple now turned to face west. The priestess toke the chalice of water and sprinkled some of the water over their heads as she said:
"Blessed be by the ancient and mystical Element of Water. May the Goddess in all her glory bless you with friendship, intuition, caring, and understanding for as long as ye both shall live."
She returned the chalice to the altar. The couple turned to face north again. The priestess and priest joined again to anoint the couples foreheads with rose oil, before holding the quartz crystal over them as a sacred symbol of the spiritual realm as they said:
"May the Goddess with Mithros bless ye with togetherness, honesty, and spiritual growth for as long as ye both shall live. May the Goddess and Mithros within ye guide ye on the right path, and may the magic of your love continue to grow for as long as ye shall remain together in love for your marriage is a sacred union of the female and male aspect of Divinity."
The crystal was returned to the altar. The priest and priestess consecrated the wedding rings with a sprinkle of salt and water over the candles flame as they said:
"By earth, water, fire, and air, purify and cleanse these beautiful symbols of love. Let all negative vibrations, impurities, and hindrances be cast forth hence from! And let all that is positive, loving, and good enter herein. Blessed be these rings in the divine name of the Goddess and Mithros. So mote it be."
The couple placed the rings on each other's fingers as they exchanged their vows. The priestess consecrated the white cords in the same manner as the wedding rings. Then, holding the cords side by side, the groom and bride each toke an end and tied a knot as they expressed their love to each other. The priest and priestess tied the cords in the middle and spoke the next incantation:
"By the knots on this cord your love is united."
The priest and priestess toke the knotted cord and tied together the hands of the couple. After few moments of silence, the cords were removed from their hands and the priest and priestess said:
"By the power of the Goddess and Mithros, I now pronounce ye husband and wife for as long as ye both shall live together in love. So mote it be."
With the ceremony now over, Numair and Daine smiled brightly at each other, passion burning in each others eyes, as they kissed in a grand show of their loves, pure and simple.
A wave of stench washed over the courtyard. Daine and Numair looked up only to see the remaining flock of Ozorne's stormwing allies. It was the worst thing they could think of that could happen. Daine knew they were going to stop at nothing to kill her to revenge the murder their leader.
"Oh, look a wedding. How sweet. Why weren't we invited to share in this momentous occasion?" the new leader mocked; a commanding female with matted red hair and a proud face. She was the consort of Ozorne while he was a stormwing. "How I wish Ozorne was here to share it with you. He would have had a great gift to give you, I believe."
Guests rushed in all direction to gather weapons to fight off the terrible immortals that had ruined the awaited wedding. All, that is, except the emperor of Carthak, the nephew of Ozorne, Kaddar. Even George, who went no where without at least a few hidden knifes, scrambled to get some form of a weapon. No one said it but it was a war, and everyone knew it. Kaddar went and hid under a table as the minor war raged on. As the stormwing attacked, trying desperately to get at the murderer encircled by a group of the Queen's Riders and a company of the King's Own with her new husband throwing black fire at the attackers. No one wanted their beloved mages killed. Daine was a prize because of the wild magic that allowed her to communicate with animals; she had saved the prince and princess of Tortall from the attackers at Pirate's Swoop, and before the Immortal War. The great black-robed mage was the most powerful mage in all of Tortall and Carthak combined, as well as the rest of the countries in the Eastern lands.
Numair threw up a shield of a black-colored magic that was soon joined with Alanna's purple magic and the king's blue. Other colors joined in to protect the bride and groom including the white magic of the gods. Sarra and Weiryn walked through the wall of magic easily, so they could stand beside their daughter and new son-in-law.
"Take the skirt off. I will fix it later, but you cannot fight in like this." Sarra said to Daine.
"But, ma, you worked so hard to make this." Daine said. "I don't want to ruin it."
"Don't worry, sweetling, I will fix it when you have defeated these horrid things that ruined your big day."
"She's right, my darling," Numair said, black magic pouring from his upturned hands and into the shield. "You must fight them off. They are after you."
"Oh, alright," Daine sighed, sadly ripping the beautiful skirt free from the bodice. "I'm a little surprised at the new nickname, though."
"Don't you like it?" her husband said trying to smile. "Or would you prefer I go back to magelet?"
"I like it. I'll miss you calling me magelet but I'll adjust." She said smiling up at her husband once more before sitting on the ground to strip off the slippers to put on sturdy boots her mother conjured. She had already ruined the gorgeous dress her mother had made; it seemed silly to ruin the shoes as well.
Daine silently called for Cloud who was not to far away. I need you here, Cloud, she said silently, and bring me my long bow and arrows. Cloud was off. Daine called to the rest of the animals in her range; it was a lot because they had all come to see their friend get married to the stork-man.
Birds came and filled the sky at numbers so large it was hard for the stormwing to see where they were going through the dense clouds. Dogs and cats filled the ground jumping up to dig sharp claws and teeth into the human parts of the intruders. Every animal did what they could to help destroy the evil immortals, as they tried not to get killed themselves.
Cloud came with the bow and a quiver of arrows. Stephen, the groomsman, must have known Daine would not be able to ride in the ridiculous sidesaddle and had put a nice leather saddle on the mare's back. With the shield now down, Cloud could come to Daine easily, and they could go off to fight. She grabbed her bow, loaded an arrow and found a target to shoot at. The birds flew away and the other animals jumped off the stormwing so they would not be accidentally hit by the arrow, or cut by the steel feathers as the immortal thrashed. Daine pulled the string back to her ear and let it go. The arrow shot threw the air and hit the stormwing that had no animal attackers. The arrow struck the stormwing through its chest. The immortal shrieked and fell to earth dead. Before the intruder hit the ground Daine had already let another arrow fly and the third was loaded and the string that held it was on its way to be shot at yet another stormwing.
Daine's aim was deadly. She took no time between shots to line up her prey. All she did was load the arrow and on one smooth motion bring the bow up and string back at the same time. She had shot down over ten stormwings when she reached for the next arrow only to find an empty quiver. She sighed and went to see how the rest of the battle was going, and to find more arrows.
She never got the chance. Before she could ride up close enough to the battle, she was snatched up by the commanding redheaded stormwing. "We were told to bring you back to the cave Ozorne had called home before killing you." She cackled and carried Daine far away from the battle, dodging every arrow and weapon that flew her way.
"No!" Numair shouted enraged, as he saw his wife carried of by one of the brutal intruders. He tried desperately to bring down the stormwing without success.
Everyone was trying to bring back the Wildmage without prevail. Daine was gone, the stormwings had her, she was too far away and now unreachable.
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A/N: Okay, now finally it has been edited. I know it took me a while, I'm sorry, but I'm easily distracted. I know not much has been changed, except some minor grammar and spelling mistakes. Also I reworded some things, since I wrote this quite a while ago. Also, I changed the wedding ceremony quite a bit, I know you must have been able to tell. The ceremony I used was a Handfasting, a ritual used by Wiccans as a wedding ceremony. I reworded some of the chants and replaced the Head Priestess of a Coven, I used the some more appropriate characters. And I wanna thank Witchtopia(ask for the website if you wanna check it out) for information on the ceremony.