Chapter Eight

(Two months later. [Eight months pregnant])

The winter hit Tortall badly with terrible blizzards and the blocking of main roads. Luckily, Tortall had enough food to last the winter months. Alanna was blocked from going back home due to the snow and ice build up; so, she took a room in the palace, perfectly content to randomly sneak up on pages to test their reflexes. The king Jonathan and his family were also snowed in, so they couldn't make their yearly retreat to the Yamani Islands to escape the cold. Th pages and squires were probably the most thrilled of all, snow and ice warnings prevented them form doing running or riding outdoors, giving them free time before midwinter.

Daine was sitting in the library, feeling incredibly nauseous and sick. She couldn't understand why though-her morning sickness had ling past and she was well on her way to producing a healthy child. As she thought of babies- her thoughts turned to the fact that her first child wouldn't be hers. Although greatly saddened by this, she kept her thoughts off it. She stood up, ready to meet Numair in her room and felt the room move beneath her feet. She swayed, dizzy, and sick. She decided to find a healer fast before meeting her husband.

Neal, upon seeing Daine, could just feel the waves of nausea and sickness trickle over her. She looked sick; her skin was gray; her curls askew; her once red, perfect lips, chapped and tinged with green. Her eyes were the most shocking though. Her once captivating blue-gray eyes were damped and glazed over. When Neal answered the door, she almost fell into his arms. Here now, in the patient's cot, he could feel the sickness. He shut his eyes and let his green magic tumble over her massive belly and face. He found nothing; no trace of where the sickness was. He placed cool hands on her belly, feeling for the baby or any injuries to it. It was here that Daine let out a moan as if she was punched in the stomach. Taken aback by this, Neal touched her swollen belly again. She gasped and put her hand over his, to stop him. Not knowing what to do, he ran out for the Lioness.

Daine awoke to Numair standing over her. She heard his voice. " Alanna, she's awake." His voice sounded shaky and worn. He turned back to her and kissed her lightly upon the lips. Alanna was quick to arrive to her bedside " It's all very simple Daine. You're a very small girl, and when you add on ten or twelve extra pounds of pregnant belly, well, complications can occur. Thankfully, your dizziness and nausea where strictly due to weather, we have a big storm tonight. However, when Neal examined you, he found that you couldn't take the weight of this child properly." Daine's voice was weak when she answered. " So, what do you suggest?" Alanna's answer was blunt. " No more activities. Everything must be done from your bed, or lying down in another room. Thankfully, Midwinter is upon us, therefore you only have one teaching period left. Nothing must be done that can drain you of what little strength you have." Alanna put her hand on Daine's cheek, and her tone was warm and kindly. " We love you, we can't afford to lose you. I shudder to think what would happen if you were to lose Mithros's babe." With that, Alanna took her leave.

Daine walked into a class full of excited pages. They ere all looking forward to Midwinter activities and were in a very playful mood; Heral most of all. " You goin' to look down in the river an' see who you're love is goin' to be?" he asked Romand jokingly. Not waiting for a reply, he continued on. " Don' need to pal, 'cause you're so vain, no one can love you as much as you love yourself!" The class was hysterical with laughter-Romand among them. Daine smiled and gave a little laugh herself. Suddenly the whole class became silent. Heral looked astonished. " You-you laughed! Mithros above, our teacher is back!" The whole class applauded and cheered. Daine's smile grew wider-she loved her students. Thank you for the bright spot in my day. Who knows, maybe Heral here might find his love during Midwinter!" The class laughed at that as well. Daine help up a hand to silence them. " Now, before Midwinter, I have a very important thing to teach you-how to get along with the Immortals. I know that they can be scary but you've got to know. No, Sanin, I don't have any Immortals in this room. Don't choke on your tongue yet." The class looked at her in amazement. This was the first time in two months that Daine was herself-and they were thrilled to see it. " Yes Ewin, your hand was up?" Daine asked a mousy looking boy. " Um- I was wondering if you could help me?" he asked hesitantly. " Help you?" Daine asked puzzled. " Help in what form?" Ewin went into his bookbag and came out with an odd looking cat. " It's a Cozada, if I'm not mistaken." Said Daine. " Class, what are the characteristics of a Cozada? Yes, Romand?" Romand cleared his throat. " They are like tigers-small and devious, they have fangs and don't like people." He looked smug. " Exactly. This one looks bad. listen, Ewin, I'll fix him up for you, then you can let it loose, alright?" Ewin nodded. Daine turned to Heral. " Dear, please fetch me a chair. The rest of you gather round, I'll fix him and explain what I'm doing. Those of you with the Gift, shut your eyes and place yourselves inside the Cozada. That way you'll see what I'm doing." The whole class stood around her, as she sat in a chair brought by Heral. Sanin chuckled. " Yes Sanin, " asked Daine, " what is funny? I haven't even started yet." Sanin looked at her with a twinkle in his eye. " It's just that you're getting so big" he demonstrated with his hand, " that we can't squeeze around you anymore! You take that place of two of us! That's gonna be some kid. When it's born, promise you'll make it become a page, whether it's a boy or girl?" Daine's heart fell. " I promise." She whispered.

After twenty minutes, Daine was sweating and exhausted after healing the Cozada. Ewin set it off into the forest where it looked back and thanked Daine. Daine wiped sweat from her brow and sat back in her chair. " Now then, " she asked, gasping for breath a little, " who can tell me what I did?" Before anyone could answer, the bell rang, the students, happy, ran out of the room with cries of " Happy Midwinter." Daine smiled, content.

Midwinter was always something at Tortall. There were food, festivals, games, and tournaments, and Numair was watching Daine's every move. They were required to join the King at the opening ball and they was no way the Numair could talk Daine out of going. After giving her last class a week ago, Numair wasted no time putting a special spell he crafted on her. Once she was in bed, or resting, if she got up for whatever reason, Numair's voice would boom at Daine to stay rested and to stay put. If she told Numair's voice that she was just sitting up to clear her head, invisible hands would gently push her down and tuck her back in with a pat on the head. Daine, at this point, wasn't out of bed for a week, and she was going crazy. She was determined to go to the opening ball.

When she came out of her room, dressed in a periwinkle and silver dress that showed off the curves of her breasts and showed her huge stomach, Numair fell in love with her all over again. Her skin, one looking worn and gray, was glowing healthily; pink in her cheeks. Her lips were full and perfect again, her eyes sparkled and twinkled, her curls were bouncy and shiny. Numair looked at her up and down, pleased. He grabbed her and kissed her gently. " You look absolutely breathtaking, love. Even the belly." He smiled crookedly. Daine laughed and blushed like a teenager. They hurried to the Great Hall, giggling and excited.