"Maybe you should lay down for a while sweetie"

Onua worriedly pressed her hand to Daine's forehead. The girl looked pale, but had a happiness surrounding her. "I'm just so glad to get that off my shoulders" Daine giggled, swooning. She toppled over into George's arms. "I don't think you've been getting enough sleep little missy" George said with a laugh.

Daine grinned back, resting her weight on him.

"Do you want us to walk you back to your room?" Onua asked, eyes wide. Daine shook her head and sobered. "I need to speak with Orzone" She said calmly. Hugging Onua and pecking George on the cheek Daine walked off with a slow grace.

***

Jonathon burst into the room, blue eyes wild. His breath caught in his throat when He saw Alanna's tiny body thrown carelessly across the ground. A pool of blood surrounded her slim form. A large man was approaching a sleeping Del on the bed. Jon didn't know what possessed him. Suddenly he rose his hand, blue fire more rich with magic than ever before sat there. He could feel it's power radiate. He didn't doubt that when he threw it, it would be as powerful as anything Numair could do.

"What the hell did you do?" Jon spoke calmly, letting his voice wash over the assassin. The man turned around his placid meeting Jon's furious ones. "You Highness-" the man began his words turning into a scream. Jon's eyes closed as he let his magic rip the man apart.

When he opened his obs, a black ashy stain decorated the floor. Checking Del's pulse to make sure she was just in a deep sleep, he stumbled over to Alanna. With careful hands he flipped her over laying her head on his lap. Her red hair was mussed and bloody. He ran slow chilling fingers over her eyelids, her lip. Laying his fingers on her neck he searched for a pulse.

***

Orzone sat in his room, the chair beneath him cold. An archer was sitting on the balcony arrow posed for when Daine entered.

Orzone felt strangely calm. His amber eyes were a storm of emotions. Fear, pain, conviction, power and love. The rest of him seemed so sure. His decision to kill Daine was a perfect one. It would mean she was his forever. But if that was true, why did his heart pound? Why did his eyes burn? Why was his head a muddled mess?

Orzone took another drink from his goblet. He let the sticky taste of the wine drown him. He relaxed, trying to forget his problems. But all he could feel were Daine's soft lips brushing against his,

Why did she have to hate me? Orzone wondered, rubbing his lips and closing his eyes. He pictured her perfect body, her blue eyes, her thick hair. How her hips swung as she walked. How her long fingers felt. Her silky skin. How everything about her beckoned him, ordered him to touch her.

"Why does love have to burn?" said a whispery voice. It echoed across the room, making Orzone lurch his eyes open. A woman stood there in black robes. Her face was two people. Orzone bowed, amber eyes wide. "Prophet?" He said is a awed voice. His head became painfully clear as she spoke to him.

"Emperor Mage. You need not kill the Wild Mage. Deep in her heart she returns your love. She is confused though. You muddled her head by inviting her friends her" The Blue and azure eyes burned into Orzone's mind, freezing all his movements. "Put her under a focus. Force her to marry you. I guarantee she will come to love you" The Prophet's eyes became fiery. With delicate hands she pointed at the archer, killing him a burst of flames.

"Don't kill her" The being whispered become misty and vanishing. Orzone stared at where it had been with red eyes.

***

"Do you believe her?" George asked quietly. Onua nodded. "It makes sense, and I have always felt Daine wouldn't betray us like that. George, we can't help her can we?" Onua looked at her, eyes wide and sad. George bit his lip and slowly shook his head.

"Not even Jon could get her out of this, if she had told him. But did you see her face? It's like a humongous burden was lifted off her shoulders. She needed to talk and that's all she wants from us Onua. She just needed to be heard" George rubbed his temples.

"George. What must it be like to sit day in and day out here? To be in Carthak all alone? To know that all your friends think you a traitor to a country you were still loyal to? To be engaged to a man you hate? How much do you think this has been tearing her apart?" Onua asked softly, eyes big.

George swallowed hard and ruffed Onua's hair. "Don't think about things like that" He said gruffly walking off.

***

Daine walked down the hallway whistling cheerfully. She was practically skipping down the hall. She beamed at several guards who looked at her strangely. Mage Rankoff's eyebrows went up as she passed him and she blew him a kiss.

He heart was light like air. She felt free, less burdened.

Walking up to Orzone's door she knocked cheerfully on it and threw the extravagant pieces of wood open. The room was unusually dark. Orzone sat in a chair, his back to the door. Daine skipped up and seized his shoulders.

"Hello!" She said cheerfully not noticing Orzone jerk as she grasped him. Daine pecked her fiancee on the cheek and swirled around the room. Orzone watched her with a strange look in his eyes.

He had always hated those more powerful than him.

He challenged the God.

He ignored the God's wishes.

He held a knife in his hand.

************

Is Alanna Dead?

Will Daine Die?'

MUHWHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO SiLlYgOoSe

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SiLlYgOoSe

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll try to update another time be4 I go down to the states for Christmas~~~~~~~~~~~

Lya