Secrets
Chapter Three: Responding
Daine sat in her room for hours thinking of how she could tell Numair her secret.
"Numair, do you like kids? I hope so because i'm having one in about eight months."
"How are you, Numair? I'm fine. A little pregnant but fine."
"Numair, I'm pregnant."
She liked the latter one the best. Quick, straight-forward, and easy... right? How he would react was a complete mystery, but as she saw it, he had two options. He could either take her in his arms or kick a hole the wall. He loved her, that much had been established, yet he was afraid of marriage, so either option was pheasable.
Daine wasn't sure she could stand to hold all of this inside her for very long, so she got up, dried her eyes, and headed down to the dining hall, where dinner was already underway. The noise level in the room didn't falter as she entered, so she thought it safe to assume that not everyone knew yet. She took her usual seat beside Onua, as the horsemistress smiled at her and raised her arm to get the attention of a page who was serving that night. Daine grabbed her arm and shook her head.
"I'm not hungry," she whispered.
Her K'miri friend grinned. "Well you should be, eating for two and all."
Daine opened her mouth to say something, but closed it quickly before something rude came out. She should have known that someone would have said something in the few hours she waited in her room.
Onua interrupted her thoughts abruptly. "Don't worry, only a select few know anything about... you know."
Daine was shocked for a moment, surprised that the K'miri knew exactly what she was thinking. "What 'select few'?"
"Alanna, the king and queen, Mistress Cooper and me. The queen told the king, but he won't tell anyone. By the way, he'll be calling you later this evening to write a letter to Numair, who has already written to ask about you." She winked at the girl and returned to eating the roast lamb on her plate.
Daine felt her stomach retch, but she quickly calmed herself befroe lowering the hand that had shot up to her mouth. She touched the charm at her neck and it began to glow softly. The knot in her gut slowly began to recede and she again felt like herself.
She stared about the room, watching the pages and squires at their tables. She sighed and picked the one who laughed the loudest. I hop my child can have that, she thought miserably.
***
That night, the king summoned her by way of a somewhat frightened looking page. He arrived at her door out of breath and red in the face, clad in simple work breeches, a white shirt and tunic with the Royal Crest embroidred delicately onto the chest. She offered him a glass of water, which he took gratefully.
"The king requests your presence in the library as soon as possible, Lady Daine," he said between gulps.
She nodded, wincing as he called her 'Lady Daine', and took the empty glass. He bowed formally and took off around a corner, most likely late to one of his evening classes. Daine watched him go then began to walk in the other direction, down the stiars to the library. The king was waiting for her in a high back cushioned chair, with an array of candles on a table at his side. A stack of parchment lay next to the candles, a pen on top of them. The candles' light danced playfully across King Jonathan's face. With his close cropped black hair, beard, and intense sapphire blue eyes, the king was a match for any man.
Jonathan looked up from the book he held in his hand just in time to see her enter. He smiled and gestured towards the chair across from him. She sat down and watched him as he set the book aside and took up his pen and parchment.
"You shouldn't be afraid of me, Daine," he said with a laughing grin. "We're old friends, you and I. The matter we are here to discuss changes nothing."
Diane relaxed visably, knowing the king was not angry with her. She slid back into the chair, her entire body suddenly feeling like jelly.
"So, is there something you'd like me to tell Numair? I'm sure he'd like to know. I certainly would." Jonathan's voice was light, not at all harsh, and even had a trace of concern.
Daine shook her head. "Not in a letter. I could never say something like this in a letter."
The man looked her over inquisitively before nodding and scribbling on the paper. "So, you'd like me to tell him you're fine, that you just had a flu or something? Perhaps food poisoning?"
"Yes," Daine replied. "But tell him that I miss him and that he should come home soon because I need to speak with him."
Again, he nodded. "As you wish, Daine. You can go now."
She curtsied elegantly in the lavender dress her mother had given her. She took her leave through a door that led to the courtyard. The moon hung high in a sea of stars that swam in a pitch black sky. For a while, she just stared, marveling in the beauty of it all. She gave herself bat's ears and cat's eyes to find her way in the dark through a maze of gardens. The midnight hour struck and passed, yet Daine never wanted to leave this place of subtle tranquility. She wandered in the dark until the first rays of sun appeared at dawn. In the distance, a cock crowed the waking hour, and the bellow of Sarge, the Rider's Master, could be heard by even the nearly deaf human ear.
Daine sighed softly and took to her room. When the breakfast bell sounded, she made no move to get up. Lying about seemed a much better alternative. Kitten chirped and trilled in a high pitched combination that made Daine's ears ring. The dragon scolded her profusely, until she could stand it no more and got up. Kit followed her out to the pastures, where Cloud was grazing noisily.
I was wondering when you'd remember you had a horse, she said indignantly.
Daine laughed for the first time in days. "Its benn hard, Cloud, and i'm sorry haven't been about. They told me what was wrong with me, and at first I didn't believe it, but-"
You're having a colt, the horse whinnied.
Again Daine luaghed. "A baby, Cloud. You must remember that I am not a horse. But, I guess you're right. I'm not really used to the idea of being a Ma yet, but it does grow on you after a while.
"Hey, speaking of Ma, the spring equinox is coming up soon. I'll be able to visit her and Da-" She stopped and flinched, remembering Alanna's strong words towards her the day before. "A I can tell them the news."
Kitten whistled a good-bye to Cloud as they walked back to the palace. A royal messenger stood waiting in silence at her door, a letter in hand. He gave it to her with a bow and walked away. She went into the room and sat on her bed as she broke the seal and read:
Sweet-
I was not surprised to hear back from you so soon. I'm overjoyed that you recovered so quickly form the illness, and I am eager to hear the news you wish to tell me. By the tme you get this, I should be on my way home. The task here in the desert was a misunderstanding on our part that almost caused a war between two Bazhir tribes! When I return though, we will have to discuss your health, since the sickness could come back, and we never found out what it was. Jonathan said it was a flu, but I don't think so. We'll speak with Mistress Cooper soon. Until then, I will remain forever yours,
Numair
Daine folded the letter and slid it into the pocket of her dress. She wiped the single tear that fell softly down her chekk. She stood and turned, but a dark figure loomed tall infront of her. She followed the darkness up until the light caught his face.
"Numair!" She threw her arms around his neck and forced her lips upon his own. He held her close and returned the passion. She pulled away first, breathing heavily, then kissed him again with the same fire as before.
When they had thouroughly greeted each other, he cupped her chin in his large hands. "Oh, magelet. It's been but one day and I missed you so much that I could have died." He kissed her gently and took her hand. "Come. Walk with me."