Um, ignore that whole "Swear then Letters" thing I told you about last update. It was a brain fart. More like "Swear this update, Spoiled, then Letters."
Daine stated into the eyes of her lover, her betrothed, her everything. They where blank. Completely blank. He had no idea, not even a clue, of who she was. And then, very quickly, her everything turned to nothing.
"It's me, Numair. It's Daine."
"Nu-who?" he asked, eyebrows knit in frustration.
"Numair. You're Numair. That's your name."
"I'm sorry, but my name is Arram."
Daine hid her shaking hands in her lap. "How old are you, Arram?" she asked quietly, calmly. It was like a bad dream.
"Seventeen," he said back, equally as quiet. He look so sure of himself, like she was the one who didn't remember.
The healer beside her touched her shoulder and pulled her into a corner while the other checked him over, peering into his eyes and listening to his heartbeat.
"He probably has suffered some memory loss. It can be temporary, or not. But the possibility that he will remember overrides the possibility he won't."
The healers words passed by stale ears; all she could think about was Numair. Daine looked at the man in the bed; the man who thought he was a teenage boy. How could she tell him he was forty?
The healer touched her arm, getting her attention. "It would be best to talk to him of normal things. It may help trigger his memory. Also go through regular daily routines, that will help as well." Daine looked back towards the bed, where a very confused Numair seemed to just be taking in his surroundings. "Daine," the healer whispered, and she turned back. "Sometimes it takes a while. So don't be discouraged if he doesn't remember right off." Daine nodded, still thinking deeply. The healers soon collected their things and left.
She watched Numair a while longer and sighed, then sat on the bed beside him. "Let me start by explaining. I'm Daine. We went on a ride today, a horse ride, and you fell off. You bumped your head and were asleep until just a little while ago. Does anything sound familiar?"
"No," he replied, and she sighed. "Where am I?"
"In the realm of Tortall, the the capital city. Do you know where that is?"
He nodded, and she smiled. "But why am I here? I live in Carthak, and go to the university--"
"Not anymore. When you were twenty-one you were accused of treason by the emperor and had to leave, so you came here."
"By Ozorne? I would never—Did I commit treason?"
"No. He was just jealous."
"Oh." He looked up at her. "How long have I lived here?"
"Umm, nineteen years."
He watched her a minute, then laughed. "But that would make me forty..."
"Yes, it would."
"This is a joke, right. A...a joke by Ozorne, or by Eron, or another friend, right?"
"No." Daine was amazed at her calmness.
"Then, then...I really don't remember?"
She nodded, and he began to shake. "Then who are you? My wife?"
"I will be, in two and a half months." She showed him the ring on her finger.
He started to breathe hard, and Daine pulled him close. He jumped at the electricity of her touch, then settled into her arms. Daine thought back, and realized something: Numair was eighteen when he first slept with a woman. He still thought he was a virgin.
This might just be fun, she thought, and held the trembling Numair closer. "How can I have forgotten?" he whispered, then sighed. "So I am forty. I live in Tortall, and have so for nineteen years. I am betrothed to be married in two and a half months and was on a horse ride when I fell and hit my head, causing myself to lose my memory. Correct?"
"Correct," Daine whispered, and he sighed. He tilted back his head to look into Daine's eyes and froze, looking up at her strangely.
"You are very beautiful," he whispered, and Daine blushed.
"Well thank you."
"How old are you?" he asked, taking her hand gently.
"I'm twenty-five. Almost twenty-six." She saw the look on his face and sighed. "We are fourteen years apart."
"Oh," he whispered. "Do you have rooms here as well?"
"These are my rooms," she said with a smile. "I've lived with you for ten years now."
"Oh," he said again, and Daine laughed.
"A bit different from what you remember?"
"A lot different," he whispered, and looked around. "I do have one question, though."
"Ask away."
"Am I a black robe mage?"
Daine laughed again and nodded. "Would you like to see it?"
"OF COURSE!" he bellowed, and Daine helped him up and showed him to the wardrobe. She walked to the back of the room and pulled a few dresses out of the way, then picked up the folded robe and held it up for him.
The look on Numair's face was priceless, and Daine fought the urge to laugh. "It's so beautiful," he whispered, touching the sleeve of his robe. "I...I...you must forgive me, Daine. This is all I have longed for since I was ten years old." He took his hands over the fine black silk, then looked up into her eyes. "May I try it on?"
"Of course! It's your robe!" Daine helped him into it, and then showed him to the mirror in their room. At first he looked at the robe, then his face. He leaned in closer to the mirror and raised an eyebrow.
"Look a little different, Numair?" she asked, wrapping her arms around him.
"Bigger," he whispered, watching himself. "Taller, even. And more muscular."
"You should see yourself without any clothes on," she told him, and laughed at the reaction in his expression. "In fact, I do think you need a bath." She took his hand and lead him to the washroom, going over to the bathtub and pulling the stopper, letting the water run. She got him a clean towel and showed him the soap, then left him alone.
Numair undressed while the bathtub filled. His clothes gone, he went to the mirror over the wash basin and looked at himself. She was right, he realized, and smiled.
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Numair came out of the washroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. "I need clothes," he told her, and she smiled.
"Of course. Just have a seat on the bed." She came back and laid his clothes beside him. "We have a red shirt with gold embroidery, black breeches, black boots, and a black lion cloth. Any thing else, my dear?"
Numair shook his head, and Daine smiled. "Good. Then dress," she told him, and he blushed. "I won't watch, I promise," she said, rolling her eyes and going over to the desk.
"I'm done," he said a few minutes later, and Daine came over to him.
"Do you know how to fix your hair?" He shook his head, and Daine went into the washroom, coming back with a bottle, hair tie, and a comb. She pulled the chair out from under the desk, then stood on it behind him. She first combed his black locks, then put some of the liquid hair lotion into her palm. She worked it through his hair, and he smiled at the feeling of her fingertips on his scalp. She then pulled it back, making it flat and strait on top.
When she finished Daine turned him around to show him, and he nodded approvingly. "Now I know why it's long."
Daine smiled and kissed his cheek, then his nose. He pulled back to look into her eyes, then brought his lips closer...
He was surprised at the way her lips felt at first, so warm and soft, and almost pulled away. There was an electric feel to them, like she had shocked him. He decided he like this feeling, though, and pulled closer. She pushed on the back of his neck, and he pushed harder against her lips. He felt her stroke his shoulders and chest, then his belly. Her touch was amazing, and he shivered.
Daine pulled away and smiled into his face. He smiled as well, a chuckled a bit. "Never been kissed?" she asked quietly, and he raised an eyebrow.
"Do you think I'm that unpopular?" he demanded, and she shook her head quickly.
"I'm just making sure!" She looked him over and sigh. "Come on. We're going to go met someone."
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Daine led Numair though the castle, walking slow so he could look around him. They eventually came to a wooden door, and Daine knocked.
"Come in!" the voice on the other side of the door yelled, and Daine took Numair's hand and led him through.
"I'm sure you've heard," Daine told the king, sitting Numair down in a chair opposite the desk.
The king nodded, then asked, "How bad is he?"
Daine took a seat beside Numair and took his hand. "He remembers everything up until he was seventeen. I think he still thinks Ozorne is alive."
"He's dead?" Numair whispered, and Daine nodded.
"I killed him, actually."
Numair's eyes bulged, and he let out a deep breath. "When?"
Daine smiled, taking his hand. "About ten years ago, in the war."
"Oh." Numair still looked a bit angry, and Daine's smile grew. Numair turned to Jonathan. "I'm sorry, but Daine forgot to mention who you are."
Daine sighed, and answered for him. "He's the king, Numair."
"Really? I mean, pardon my innocence here, but you seem very..."
"Normal?" the king finished.
"Yes, normal. But I am comparing you to Ozorne." He paused to look at her. "Who is dead?"
"Yes, Numair." Daine said, rolling her eyes. She turned back to the king. "Well I just wanted to see if this helped him remember, but obviously it didn't."
"Try Alanna," the king suggested. "She was coming through today on her way home."
"We will," Daine told him, rising from her seat.
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"Where are we going next?" Numair asked when they got in the hall again.
"To eat lunch, then see Alanna, our friend."
"Oh."
The line in the mess hall wasn't long, and they got through it quickly. Daine looked around to find a seat and saw Thayet sitting by herself at a table in the corner. "Come on, Numair."
"Hello, Daine, Numair," the queen said when they came close. "Would you like to sit with me?"
"If you don't mind," Daine said, taking a seat.
"Not in the least." Thayet looked over at Numair. "Do you remember me, Numair?"
"I'm sorry, I don't." Daine smiled; Numair seemed a little taken away by Thayet's beauty.
"You don't remember when you came here and I taught you all the Court dances?"
Numair shook him head, and Daine could almost read his mind: He wish he did remember.
"What about when we helped Daine with her speech. Do you remember that?"
He shook his head again.
"He remembers up until he was seventeen," Daine told her. "I think he's mad at me for killing Ozorne." They both laughed, and Numair's cheeks burned a deep red.
They spent the better half of their lunch trying to jog Numair's memory, but it didn't help. They finally gave up and talked about the wedding instead.
Lunch over, Thayet rose from her seat, tray in hand. "I hope you remember, Numair," she said, leaning down to give him a friendly kiss on the cheek. Daine fought hard not to laugh out loud at the look on his face; like he had been kissed by the Goddess her self.
"Well," Daine said, standing up as well. "Let's go see Alanna."
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Daine found Alanna in the rooms she stayed in while she was at Court, working on a spell. After explaining Numair's situation, Daine asked, "Is there anything you can do magically? Find his memories, maybe?"
Alanna shook her head. "Do you know how many magical blocks he has put on himself? And he would have to memorize the spell to take it off. Sorry."
Daine regarded her betrothed with a wistful look, then sighed.
"So you really don't remember me?" Alanna asked.
Numair shook his head. "It might help if you told me who you are," he said innocently, not meaning to be or sounding rude at all.
"Well you know my name. I'm the baroness of Pirate's Swoop, as well as a knight." Numair chocked, and Alanna looked at him harshly. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"No! I mean, you just don't look it, is all. I'm sorry if I offended you."
Alanna waved him off, and Numair relaxed visibly. "Has he told you anything of importance that may have happened when he was around seventeen?"
Daine though for a minute. "He lost his virginity at eighteen."
"Really?" Numair asked, smiling.
"Numair," Alanna said. "See that book over there? There is a spell we worked on once together. Go see if you remember it."
Numair got up obediently, and Alanna leaned in closer to Daine. "I think you might can make him remember that way."
"Love making?" Daine asked quietly, and her friend nodded. She watched him for a minute, then sighed. "I guess I can try. And it might be kind of fun."
Alanna called him back over. "Daine, will you take a look at my horse? I think he's pulled a muscle in his leg."
"Sure. I'll go later this afternoon. I think we're going to visit Lindhall first."
"Lindhall?" Numair asked quickly, and Daine held a finger to his lips.
"I hope you try that thing I told you," Alanna said, giving her a wink.
"Don't worry." Daine led Numair back into the hall, shutting the door behind them.
"What thing?" Numair asked, and Daine waved him off. He thought of a new question. "Do you work in the stables?"
"Yes. Well sometimes. I'm a Wildmage, Numair."
He stopped suddenly and put his hands on her shoulders. "I do love you."
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Lindhall wasn't in his rooms; in fact, he was waiting on Daine and Numair at their door. When Numair saw him his eyes filled up with tears as he hugged him. Daine wondered why at first, but then realized he hadn't seen a familiar face all day; this must have been a great relief to him.
Daine invited Lindhall in and put the tea pot on the fire while the men talked. She heard Numair re-ask the questions she had all ready answered, and felt a little pain in her chest. Did Numair not trust her? Don't be silly, another voice said. He doesn't even know who you are.
"Here's your tea," she said, putting the pot on the table in front of them, and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Daine heard Numair ask, and her heart jumped. Maybe he did trust her.
"Well I'm sure you want your privacy," she said, turning to face him.
"Nonsense," he said with a shy smile, patting the arm of the chair he was occupying. Daine took the offered seat.
They talked of books and pens, magic and spells, which was all they ever talked about. Daine was truly bored by the time the sun had started to set.
"We have a State dinner tonight, Numair."
He looked up at her and as quietly, "What is that?"
"A dinner with the Court," Lindhall answered for her.
"I'm part of the Court?"
Daine smiled. "A big part. We even sat at the second table during Mid-Winter."
Lindhall rose from his seat slowly. "Well I better be going. I have to get ready myself. I'll see you tonight, Numair."
Daine stood up and pulled on Numair's hand. "We need to go get ready, too."
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After dressing herself and Numair, Daine led her betrothed to the dinning hall. They sat at the third table that night, and Daine had to explain what everything they were served was made of.
"We don't have food like this in Carthak," he whispered in her ear.
Dancing was next, and Daine made sure Numair danced with someone how knew about his "problem". He, of course, knew no Court dances, and Daine wasn't going to have word of his memory loss spread around the Court.
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They went upstairs early that night. Numair seemed not to know why, though she knew he had thought of the reason long before.
He only came to really realize it, though, when Daine closed and locked the door.
"Have a seat," she told him quietly, gesturing towards the bed. He did slowly, watching her light all the candles in the room. She locked the big doors leading to the balcony and drew the curtains, then turned to Numair.
He looked at her not like she expected at all. She expected him to be nervous and shaky, but he was calm and relaxed. The look in his eye was almost determined, like he knew what he wanted. Daine was a bit taken aback by this, and paused before coming to put her hands on his shoulders.
"You don't know how long I've waited." His voice was like velvet, like it always was when they made love.
"Don't be silly," she told him, hiding her confusion, "We made love last night."
He chuckled softly and kissed her hand. "If only I could remember."
"I can make you, I bet," she whispered, and he smiled again.
"Let's hope you can."
His calmness wore off as the buttons of his shirt came undone, and soon he was acting very much like Daine did all those years ago. She did have fun, though, and in the heat of their love making whispered, "I wish you'd lose your memory more often."
"I don't," he grumbled, and Daine laughed.
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"Oh, Numair, that was..." she glanced up at his face on the pillow and saw he was sleeping soundly. She giggled softly and kissed him nose. "Good night, then."
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Numair woke up with the sun the next morning. He remember going on a ride...and falling... He looked over at Daine, who was naked. What had happened?
He kissed her a few times and heard her usual morning grumble. "Why are you naked?" He asked quickly, and she opened her eyes.
"Numair?"
"Yes?"
"Do you remember?"
"Remember what?" he asked hotly, and Daine sat up.
"How long have I been living with you?"
"Daine..." he started, but she shook her head. "Ten years, why?"
"And what is your deepest, darkest secret?"
He looked at her for a moment. "That I don't own two loincloths of one color."
"Numair!" she exclaimed, flinging herself on him. "You're back!"
"Where did I go?"
She only shook her head and kissed him.