A/N: Omg! I'm so happy! I got followers! Lemme say thank you *extravagant Neal bow* I also wanna thank my beta and bestie on this site Midnight's Revenge. I couldn't get through it without ya gurl :) Ok so I'm gonna admit, this is my very first piece (yes awesome followers, I know The Rider's Budding Romance was posted first but I wrote this originally) and it is not my best. Please, Please, Please REVIEW! If you don't then I REFUSE to post another chappie! LOL, JK I won't refuse, I'm not that mean. :P

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Disclaimer: I do not own this...*tear*

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Chapter 3 Corus

The knight and mage mounted and continued on. They had just passed a sign saying they had entered the Royal Forest, when Alanna kicked her horse, Dark Moon, into a gallop. Numair looked up to see her riding off and wondering what had possessed her to gallop as if being chased by a rabid bear. (A/N: See what I did there?;P)Daine jumped from Numair's shoulder and took off soaring through the trees.

"What in Mithros name?" he muttered. He kicked Spots into a gallop holding on for dear life. Daine is right, Numair thought, I really do need to work on my riding skills. The mage finally caught up to Alanna and Daine only to find the knight on the ground laughing her head off. Meanwhile Daine was making one of the weirdest sounds to ever come out of an eagle while swooping and swerving in the air.

"What could have possessed you to do that?" he questioned the beet-red woman. He was out of breath, something Daine teased him about constantly. She always said, 'You aren't the one running, the horse is!" Thinking about it the mage let a breathy laugh escape.

"I don't know what came over me, but Daine followed me and started circling and diving all around me. I promptly fell off Dark Moon and we started laughing. I guess Daine must have loosened my saddle because it fell off completely and the next thing I knew, I was on the ground" Alanna exclaimed.
"She is laughing Numair! Birds can't laugh!"

Numair just looked from her to Daine in utter disbelief, leaving Alanna to get up and put her tack back on Dark Moon. They took it easy the rest of the way to Corus.

When they arrived at the palace, Onua rushed up to them. "Goddess bless Daine!" she said, "I thought you were smarter than Numair!" The bird laughed her strange sqwak of a laugh. Oh, Onua I missed you, Daine thought.

The horse mistress had a glove on so the eagle flew right up to her and Onua carried her to the king. Numair and Alanna followed behind conversing quietly about the journey. They came upon the king's chamber and knocked. "Come in." a strong assertive voice called. King Jonathan of Conte' and Tortall sat at a desk in the corner of his chamber. He wore a blue tunic and black breeches bringing out the blue of his eyes and black of his hair and beard. He stood and walked to the visitors.

"Numair, Alanna, Daine welcome!" he said. Jon went over and clapped Alanna and Numair on the back. He walked to Daine and Onua and bowed not sure entirely what to do to greet Daine.

"Jon, Onua we need your help," Alanna told them, "Daine has been stuck like this for two and a half weeks."

"Yes, we have nursed her to health, but we can't change her back to her human-form." Numair explained. "I don't know why though," the mage continued, "when I was a hawk I was turned back immediatly after my health returned slightly, but Daine is perfectly healthy."

Onua looked at Jon and shook her head. "I have no idea on what to do." Onua said. Jon looked down and then shook his head. "The Fall Equinox." Jon said as he looked up.

Daine flapped her wings and screeched. Yes! Yes!, Daine thought, My mother will come and help me! Daine's parents, as only minor gods, could come to the mortal realm only during equinoxes. Numair looked at Daine and smiled.

"Your mother is gonna skin me when she sees you as an eagle." he said. The eagle flew to the mage and coddled him. "I know you won't let her get away with it." he told her letting out a chuckle. Daine let out her sqwak-laugh only to get weird looks from the king and his horse mistress.

"She is starting to show human traits again," Alanna explained, "it took us by surprise at first too."

She looked at her companion's faces and laughed. "Close your mouth, you'll catch bugs." she joked. Jon laughed as Onua tapped her foot.

A/N: Ok so I know this was a boring chappie, but it will help explain the next chapter. I really need you to review. I will give you all a piece of candy if you review. :)