Well here we are, again... Chapter Nine! YAY! I hope you all like it, it is rather long, but unfortunately does not move to far. But it will, that I promise you all. Please read and review this chap, let me know if I should keep going with this fic.

TP owns all. Bow down to the great Tamora Pierce.

Love you all... Hidden Fairy


Daine walked down a long path, grey and haunting. Mist hung at the edges, swept around her feet and sent chills up and down her spine. She kept walking, not knowing wear she was going but sure she could hear something further up ahead. The mist suddenly disappeared and Daine was placed on a battle field armed with a sword. She didn't know how to wield a sword, she had never learnt. A killer centaur charged at her and Daine dropped the sword to take the shape of a large cheetah. Twisting to the left she jumped out of the way of the rampaging immortal. And suddenly she was bare naked, human and standing before Numair. She looked around wildly, checking for the immortal and saw that she was now in Numair's room and that he was walking towards her. Daine realized that she was safe and moaned as Numair's hands made contact with her skin. She shivered as his gentle hands moved over her body touching her in places she never knew were so sensitive. Daine closed her eyes as Numair's hands caressed her breasts and moaned at the pleasure. Opening her eyes Daine smiled at Numair and then frowned as his hands became rough and unrestrained.

"Numair!" Daine went to pull away but she was pushed up against the wall hitting her head, making her dizzy. Opening her eyes again she found herself face to face with Perin. "No!" The Wildmage tried to push him away but he was up against her naked body hard, pinching and rubbing, no pleasure in the way his hands moved over her. His mouth was up against her ear and he was whispering into it.

"You should have picked me Daine, I loved you." His hands moved down her stomach and she had the urge to dry heave, she tried to shift into an animal but couldn't, Perin's arm was pushing against her throat, shutting off the air and she was going into a stage of mild panic. Suddenly Perin was gone and sitting on Numair's bed was Ozorne. Daine fell to her knees, gasping for air, her body feeling filthy and sore. Ozorne smiled and spoke to her.

"Hello Veralidaine." Daine looked up at him, hair falling across her face. Ozorne came towards her, using magic to lift her by her neck. The magic moved Daine to the end of the bed. She was shaking, still gasping for air as Ozorne came towards her.

"No! No!" He descended upon her, pushing her tired body back and falling over her. His voice was in her ear, husky and urgent.

"You should have chosen me when I gave you the chance Veralidaine! I would have given you everything." His hand clamped around her chin and pushed her head back so that she could see the cushions on the bed. She screamed at what she saw. Daine screamed and thrashed, trying to get Ozorne off her. Numair was sitting there with Perin, watching in silence as Ozorne covered Daine. She was sobbing, screaming, and thrashing trying to get away. Someone was calling her name, calling her away from where she was.

"No, you won't have me! Ozorne, No! Get off ME!"

Strong arms gripped her shoulders and hauled her into a sitting position, Ozorne was gone, replaced by thin air, and the room was gone, replaced by stars and a soft glowing moon. Someone was talking to her, a soft voice, a gentle soothing voice that called her. Daine was shaking in spasms, sobbing and heaving. Strong arms held her tightly, rocking gently and Daine turned to see Numair holding her. She jumped away from him, still panicking, but couldn't help herself. Numair released her instantly and let her crawl back. He could see in her eyes the panic that was there.

Standing slowly, Numair walked towards his confused love, talking in soft tones and showing her his hands just as if he were dealing with a scared and panicked animal. It was killing him inside that he couldn't help her. Something broke in Daine.

"Numair?" her voice was soft, shaking from the terrors of the nightmare that had been left behind. He went to her then, not caring if she moved away. She didn't. She stood and went to step to him but fell. Numair moved to catch her and held her in strong arms. She had stopped crying now and held herself tightly against him, clinging to him.

The mage dropped to the bed roll that Daine had been sleeping in and held her to his chest. Stroking her hair Numair waited until Daine had calmed down before talking gently.

"Magelet? Sweet, are you ok?" Numair turned her face towards his and gave her a soft smile. "It was a nightmare sweet. You are ok now." Numair held her to his chest as she calmed.

"Ozorne was there Numair, he had me." Daine's voice was a whisper but grew stronger as her body ceased to tremble. Realizing Numair was shivering in cold. Daine pulled away from his chest. "I'm fine, you, however, are freezing." Daine pushed away the dream and stood up shakily.

"Sweet are you sure you are ok?" Numair stood up next to her and pulled her off the bedroll. Smiling up into his face Daine ran fingers through his loose locks.

"I'm fine Numair, get back to sleep. We still have a ways to travel tomorrow." Saying that, she stood up on tip toe and brushed lips against his own. "G'night" she whispered, and slipped back down to her bedroll. She heard Numair mutter something and watched as he moved back to his own bedroll. They had both agreed to sleep apart on the return trip to Corus, there could be eyes around. Laying awake, the Wildmage looked up at the stars, shimmering and glinting beautifully. Daine named several of the constellations, stopping and saying a small prayer when she found the "Cat" before moving onto another one. Not remembering its name, she finished there and shivered, she realized how cold she felt. She needed warmth, she needed Numair. Making a quick decision, Daine moved slowly from her bedroll and tiptoed over to the sleeping form of Numair. The Wildmage knelt next to her love and slowly went to move in next to his warm body. She didn't want to wake him and there was know way to do that unless- No, if she shifted into something smaller and then crawled in next to him she would be unclothed, and he would have his arms over her, the way they usually slept together. The young woman contemplated for a moment and made up her mind when a tremor of cold traveled down her spine, she didn't want to sleep alone tonight it wasn't really the cold she was worried about.

Daine shifted to a mouse, her clothes fell over thin air as she shot into a gap in the bed. She shaped back slowly, marveling in the warmth that was covering her body. When she had finished shifting it was a tighter fit but she felt better, she felt safer. She was facing Numair's chest, her breasts crushed against his own chest. She felt his breath move over her head and Daine smiled as his arm pulled her tight against him, not even waking to the extra body next to him. He was more tired than she had thought, they had only been traveling for two days, on their way home to Corus for the beginning ceremonies to celebrate the end of war. Daine breathed in the smell of Numair, feeling safe and warm she drifted off to a dreamless sleep.


Numair woke to a deep warmth, a comforting body against his. Cracking open and eye, he found his face surrounded by a forest of mousey brown curls. Smiling widely the mage felt the body under his hands and pulled her tight against his chest. Daine's back was against his chest and his hips cradled her own. He let his fingers walk over her side, and feeling soft skin, decided her shirt must have ridden up during the night. Numair was letting his hands draw circles around her belly button when he noticed a pile of clothes next to his bedroll. His hand froze and he sucked in a breath. He heard a chuckle and then a soft voice followed.

"You just found my clothes, didn't you?" Daine's voice was warm and she turned over so that she was now facing into his chest. Numair felt his body stir when he felt her breasts brush against his own bare chest.

"Magelet, are you telling me I just spent the night sleeping next to my naked lover?" he asked, voice strained. She laughed again and teasingly pushed herself up against him. He moaned at the contact and couldn't help but pull her hard against him. He froze when he realized what he was doing, and hurriedly asked. "Is that ok? I was rushing. Forgive me Daine, I am sorry, but you should-" Daine cut his mumble of words off with a good kiss, her lips moving against his own. She felt a new feeling in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't odd or bad, but a nice feeling that warmed her whole body and kept her lips against his, wanting more. Numair had hands around her body, pulling her against him and caressing new areas over Daine's body. They pulled away gently for a breath and Numair looked lovingly into his Magelet's eyes. "Are you sure that you are ok wit-" Numair was cut off once again with the sensual lips against his. His body was stirring in ways it hadn't for a long time and without knowledge, Numair rolled himself over her, locking Daine beneath his body and hungrily kissed her. Pulling his mouth away he began to trail his lips down her chin and then to her neck, hearing her moan sent shivers down his spine.

Daine's eyes were closed against the morning sun and her hands caressed the strong, tanned muscles of Numair's back. Her body was reacting to his in new ways. Oh how she loved this man. Instinctively Daine arched herself into Numair's body, her breasts hard up against his chest. It was his turn to moan. Suddenly Numair pulled himself off her, his breath haggard and face flushed.

"Sweet, this goes too far." Numair's voice was strained and she could see the love pouring out of his gaze.

"Numair I have told you on numerous occasions that I am fine with this. Horse lords, if this is affecting you nearly half as strong as it is me it's a wonder we haven't already done the deed and me lose my innocence." Numair frowned down at her.

"Magelet, your use of language on this matter is not one to laugh at. I think we should put a stop to this before we cross the line." He went to move out of the bed but Daine caught him and pulled his body down to hers. She watched amused as she saw his eyes roll and then close.

"What would it matter if we cross that line? I love you. You love me. I want to cross that line with you Numair." As she said this there was a small piece of doubt in the back of her mind. She pushed at away. She loved him, and she wanted this. And judging from the extra leg she felt in the bed roll, Numair wanted it too.

"Daine I don't think it would be wise to do so yet. You're so young, I don't want to sully your name." his voice sounded tired. Daine felt a flare of anger at his words and she new that her chin was now showing its stubbornness.

"Too young?" she asked voice dangerously quiet. "And what to do you mean 'sully my name'? It's been sullied since the day I arrived in Tortall, why should you think I care what others have to say about me Numair? It's their opinion, not ours." Daine moved away slightly from him, which was rather hard in the bedroll. "Are you ashamed to be with me? Do you not want to have sex with me? Horse Lords Numair, cause gods willing I want to have sex with you." Numair watched her, eyes assessing. "But perhaps at a later date? Maybe I should come back when I hit the age of twenty. I wouldn't want you to think you are making love to a child." Daine wriggled back, away from Numair. How dare he think her to young? There were girls younger than her, married, with children at their feet and another in their belly. She was seventeen, and she loved him.

Daine looked at Numair, and saw the hurt in his eyes. He hadn't said anything yet. "You do think I'm too young, don't you?" Wriggling away from him, the Wildmage stood and saw Numair turn his eyes away from her bare body. Why was he acting this way? She felt tears prick her eyes and then she was gone, grabbing her saddle pack and clothes and off towards the fast flowing river. Numair sat in the bedroll, forlorn and heart sore as he watched his love run quietly through the trees.


Daine scrubbed at her eyes with the freezing water, trying to wash away the tears that were slowly leaking from her stormy grey eyes. Taking a deep breath, the Wildmage plunged under the icy water and kept moving until her body adjusted to the cold. Her head started to ache and she surfaced for air, her back to the shore where her clothes sat. Sighing, Daine went over the morning in her head. What happens if Numair woke one day and saw a girl where he wanted to see a women? She asked herself, arms reaching behind her to untangle her brown locks. The water came to her breasts; it was a rather deep hole for a river. Maybe it would for the best if we waited, she decided, still running deft fingers through her hair. Strong arms encircled her suddenly, crushing her against a hard chest, making Daine gasp in fright. Lips met her ear and she could hear soft and sad words.

"Magelet, I'm sorry." Those warm lips against her ear made her shiver. "I would never think of you as a girl, never. And if you want to cross that line with me, I would be honored to do so." Daine smiled at Numair's words, knowing that he must have thought about it. In the cold water she could feel his palms on her body. One rested on the top of her thigh, somewhat timidly stroking the skin, his other hand was on her neck, his thumb stroking gently. "I just want it to be a special moment for you Daine, for us. I wouldn't want it to be ruined if we let it happen to soon." The woman turned in Numair's grasp.

"I'm sorry too." She said softly her arms wrapping themselves around his neck. "I shouldn't have said what I did." He smiled down at her. "I know you want to it be special, but I love you Numair, more than I can say. Please, I want to cross that line." The water came just under his ribs and she wiggled herself against him, making him draw breath and wrap his arms tighter.

"We will see sweet, we will see." He spoke into her hair and Daine pulled away to look at him properly.

"Will it be soon?" she asked quietly. Numair responded with a chuckle.

"If you keep teasing me the way you are Magelet, very soon." His voice was husky in her ear and she grinned. "Aren't you the least bit nervous?" He asked her, kissing her neck and pulling away.

"Nervous?" She asked voice full of amusement. "Numair, I don't think I have ever been more scared." He laughed loudly at that. "Its not funny Numair, I have expectations to live up to." Numair silenced her with a hand over her mouth.

"What expectations? Surely you do not mean the other women I have been with." Numair's voice was full of disbelief as Daine watched her hand swirl in the water. She felt cold fingers cup her chin and force her eyes up, her breath was taken away with the amount of love shining from his eyes. "Sweet, don't ever think that you will never be more than enough for me. Please don't think that you have to try and be better than others. I love you, you and only you. I only want you." Daine smiled up into his face and stood higher to place her lips on his own, their kiss was cut short however when a large burst of the shivers ran through Numair's body, teeth chattering in the water. "But my assets could very well have gone incapable because of this water." Daine giggled helplessly at this before asking.

"Why did you get in then? You don't like the cold." As she said this she held herself up against Numair and heard his breath catch. Oh his assets were working very well, he just wanted out of this water.

"Yes well sometimes we men just have to cross the line, don't we?" Daine smiled bent forward in the water to rub her nose in the soft hairs of Numair's tanned chest. She felt rather than heard a moan of pleasure deep from his chest and she spoke with a touch of cheekiness in her words.

"I am pretty sure your assets are still in working order." As she said this she pressed her lips to his neck and felt him shiver and not with cold.

"Yes well I am not willing to stay in here any longer and take that risk. I am getting out." And with that, Numair gave her a quick, yet passionate kiss and stalked out of the water, Daine laughing at the goose bumps and slight blue tinge covering his skin.

"I can think of numerous amounts of ways to warm you up." She called after him.

"While the idea is tempting Daine, we should be getting a move on. We are both requested to the Royal thanks in three days." Daine groaned and followed her blue mage out of the water, grinning at the way he dressed behind a tree.

"Shy thing isn't he?" She asked softly to a morning bird that was sitting near her.


Well what did you all think? I know it hasn't moved along to far but it is definately getting there, I promise. Thank you so much to all those that keep waiting patiently for yet another chapter of this fic. Thank you so much for all your reviews, they really mean a lot to me.

Keep a look out to my new song fic 'Sway'.

Thank you all, Hidden Fairy