When the gift sings – part 2
The Lioness looked up, had to tilt her head backwards to see into the tanned face of a man she once had rescued from certain starvation "I might actually ask the same question Numair, what are you doing in the middle of the night? Not sleeping it seems"
The mage wore first an annoyed expression, but stepped out of the way to let Alanna enter his study.
When he locked his door behind her Alanna frowned "Is that truly necessary Numair?" she asked, and when she turned her attention towards the room she found the whole floor filled with books, scrolls and loose papers – the only thing that was odd was the full circle of nothing in the middle of the floor – she turned to Numair with her hands placed at her hips "Have you been pacing?" she asked.
Numair was blushing, but only lightly – he carefully placed his feet so not to damage any of the items on the floor in his process to reach the chair that stood at his desk. Upon sitting down he finally answered "Yes" he looked to be extremely tired and Alanna couldn't help herself.
She went forward, following his steps carefully and when she finally stood beside him she placed a calloused hand on his forehead "Are you sick?" she asked.
He pushed her hand off "No, I'm just tired that's all".
"Then go to sleep Numair – you have a bed at your disposal, why in the Great Mother Goddess name don't you sleep or are you involved in some experiments you can leave?" she was now looking for clues for such magical behavior on the desk and found non.
Numair shook his head. What that regret she could read in his eyes? Before she could open her mouth to comment on it he sighed low "I would if I could – but accidentally my bed is occupied..." his words was silenced by the quietness of the air and Alanna's raised eyebrows "No Alanna, its noting of that" Numair quickly said. He must have known what she had been thinking – that he had company – ah well actually he did have – but it wasn't the company he usually sought in nights like these.
She seemed to have lost her patience "Numair – if it's not company like that, then who are laying in your bed? I have to say that whoever it is you are not hiding the fact that the person" she threw her head towards the door leading into his chamber "has caused some disturbance in you – did you know that ever part of your gift are singing with happiness, sadness and despair – one should think that your have a bad heartache".
He was burying his face in his hands "Is it so obvious?" he asked, muttering down into his palms.
Alanna moved some books from the desk and sat "Obvious Numair – the men at arms are singing up on the walls! Every one gifted is affected by your uncontrolled emotions being amplified by your gift – be glad that other gifted doesn't know how to track it otherwise they would have ended standing where I stood before – in front of your door being hit with clear emotions – who is it?"
"It's Daine" he told her softly.
"Daine?" Alanna turned on the desk and looked back to the door "Are you sure?" she asked still with her heard turned as if she could see right through the door.
"Absolutly – don't you think that I know my own student?" Numair said, warningly.
Lifting her hands in a apologizing gesture she turned "Easy Numair" she told him "May I ask why she is laying in your bed and not her own?"
"Well actually Alanna, I would like to know that also – but she won't talk to me. It's the second night I find myself not sleeping alone in my own bed –" he rose and began pacing again "last night I unusually went to bed early and not long after midnight I found her laying beside me".
Violet eyes followed him walking back and forth. Alanna couldn't see the problem "And?" she asked "Everyone knows that she have been staying late within your rooms whenever you were giving her lessons, why didn't you just move her to her own rooms when you woke?"
Numair halted in his steps and dark eyes, frustrated eyes looked into hers "I did" he told her truthfully "but after an hour she was right back by my side – in my bed Alanna – how can I protect her from gossip if she so openly are seeking it".
Alanna pressed her mouth together – a thing that told that she was thinking hard "Does she have problems with her sleep?"
He had reached the couch and stood as if he wasn't sure if he should sit or not "She has been crashing councils in desperate because she have fallen asleep under her meditations – and every time she tells me that I died in her dreams – but I'm not – I'm not dead Alanna! We have been home for three weeks now and its getting worse every day and I don't know what to do!"
A smile, honestly and friendly was send his way "It's seems that she knows how to help herself with getting rid of them and the only thing she wants from you are your presence by her side" Alanna stood from the desk "I could heal her memories or set some kind of barrier shielding her from the nightmares, but I think that a more natural cure is in order her" she squeezed her eyes a bit together "even though it means that you master mage – are going to sleep beside her until she's fine again".
"Fine!" Numair exclaimed a bit angry, but sighed when Alanna crocked an eyebrow "fine" he admitted "I am going to bed now".
She nodded "Yes – you are and deal with it Numair. She is a fine woman, just wait for her to be ready" Alanna moved to the door opening it "and please find a way to hide those feelings you have. I would like a nights sleep with having to listen to the men at arms singing every night".
He nodded and rose "You are right" while Alanna stood over at the door leading out to the corridor, he moved himself over to the other door. Turning around he saw the a look of empathy lingering in her face. Smiling over the fact that at least one of his friends approved of his feelings – he smiled back while regaining control over his emotions. "Goodnight Alanna" he said and bowed, which made the Lioness blush slightly and giggle low.
She, surprisingly, curtsied for him in return – reminding him that underneath the hard cover off a knight a woman was hidden "Goodnight Numair" Alanna replied and walked out the door. Before she closed it she was looking at him with her unnatural violet eyes "remember; give her time and everything will be alright – again" and with those words filling the air, the Lioness was gone.
Numair sighed as if he didn't want everything to be alright again – if he wished or wanted that then she would leave his side, his bedside, to lay beside another man and he knew that his heart couldn't take it – therefore he was absolutely content when he striped off his trousers, only to stand in his loincloth, and maneuvered himself down under the blankets, beside her warm frame. Smiling happily while she turned in her sleep, half muttering to herself in words that sounded almost like 'good – warm – love – Numair' and snuggled into his large frame while he pulled her closer, only to have her cheek lay above his heart. Stroking her hair, making a soft rumble in his chest – he began to notice that Alanna was indeed right – every time she was near him, his gift was acting like a love-sick teenager and faintly he could hear the men at arms picking up a song yet again– was he going to do anything about it? No – not right now – let them sing, he thought as his gift vibrated along with every emotions he was feeling inside himself and pushed himself forth, against her warmth. Such he closed his eyes in content for the first time in two days and the wildmage in his arms, only smiled as her dreams of badness turned to dreams so sweet that every animal within a miles radius, was dreaming sweet dreams as well.
His gift wasn't the only one to sing and as the two people laying in an oversized bed fell into Ganiel's lands of dreams, fire of copper and black became mingled in union above them in some kind of dance – a union that would take the two owners on a path that only contained love.