A/N - Okaaaaaay.... here's another chapter, *finally*. I'm sorry it took so long! With a combination of writer's block and a really annoying computer, it took me a while to post this. Anyways, = flashback. R&R!
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Daine chewed her thumbnail and thought hard. She was in a place she'd never heard of, with people she'd never met, with no way to reach her friends in Tortall. She needed Numair. She looked around. Lark, Sandry, and Briar had gone out of the room, leaving Daine alone. There was a pile of clothes on the floor which looked to be about her size. She pulled on a pair of light brown breeches and a white cotton shirt. Her head somewhat more clear than it had been a few minutes ago, she managed to make her way across the room and out of the door.
Standing in the hallway, Daine waited for her head to stop spinning before she glanced down the hall. To her right were stairs that led down, and in front of where she stood was a closed door. Hearing voices floating up from the stairwell, she crossed the hall slowly, opened the door a crack and peered in. she was looking into a room that was almost identical to her own. In a chair next to the bed sat a somewhat chubby red head, who was dozing, her head down and a book on her lap. There were hangings on these walls, the same as in the room she had just come from, but these pictured mostly stormy seas, a few depicting animals and plants. On the bed lay Numair, fast asleep but with a worried look on his face, like he was dreaming about something horrible.
With a relieved sigh, Daine tried to edge through the door quietly, but it made a loud screech as it opened. Daine winced as the redhead jumped awake, dropped her book on the floor and whirled around to face Daine, her stormy grey eyes sharp. when she saw Daine, the sharp look in her eyes faded and she dragged herself out of her chair. Daine slid all the way into the room, and swung the door shut behind her.
" Oh, you're awake!" the redhead said, smiling slightly. She walked toward Daine, her hand stretched out. " I'm Tris." They shook hands, and Daine introduced herself. Tris offered a chair to Daine and she took it gratefully.
They sat in silence for a moment, but just as Daine was about to open her mouth to say something, they heard an annoyed voice from the hall way.
" Where IS she? " there were footsteps, and the door opened again, Lark framed in the doorway, her dark eyes snapping. She glanced around the room, saw Daine looking at her nervously, and her expression softened.
" There you are!" She said, smiling again. " You just wandered off! You really couldn't wait to speak to this Numair?" Daine, feeling sheepish, shook her head.
" Oh well." Lark sighed, and shook her head " Are you going to wake him up, then?" before Daine could answer, a voice behind them said,
" There's no need." Daine gasped and whirled around, seeing Numair sitting up in the bed. She made a small noise in her throat, and in two strides, she had crossed the room and threw her arms around Numair's neck.
" Need.... Air..!" He gasped. She gave him another quick, tight hug and sat back, looking happy again. Daine studied Numair carefully, looking to see if he was hurt. He was covered in bruises, and had dark circles under his eyes, but otherwise he looked all right. She heard a cough from the door and saw that Lark was still standing there, looking at Daine curiously. Daine blushed, and looked down at the quilt, smoothing it with shaking hands. Looking up, she saw that Lark had stopped looking at her and was introducing herself to Numair, but Tris was still staring at her, a strange expression on her face. Daine looked at her until the other girl looked down.
" Well." Lark said, clapping her hands together lightly. " It's almost lunch time, and I'm sure you're both hungry." She nodded towards Numair and said " Why don't you look in that pile of Niko's spare clothes for something that fits, and Tris and I will go get lunch ready. Come on, Tris." Lark went out of the door, with Tris trailing behind her, throwing one more glance over her shoulder at Daine.
When the door had shut, Daine turned towards the pile of clothes and started sorting through it, not wanting Numair to see the tears of relief that had gathered in her eyes. She stopped when she felt a light touch on her arm, and turned to look at Numair. He was looking at her, his face showing the same relief that she felt.
" I'm glad you're all right, Magelet." He said softly. " I couldn't have beard it if-" He stopped, and Daine smiled at him.
" Don't worry." She said. " I'm perfectly fine."
( Flashback )
Daine stood in front of the floor length mirror, admiring her reflection as the palace seamstress fussed with her dress. She smiled, and turned to look at Alanna, who was seated right behind her.
" What do you think?" She said, spinning around. " Do you like it?"
Alanna stood, and grinned at her. "It's beautiful." She proclaimed, going over to stand in front of the mirror. " But what are you planning to do with your hair?" Daine moved over to the dressing table and picked up a small box, the seamstress trailing after, scolding her not to move. Daine opened the box, and showed Alanna. Nestled inside, on a lining of deep blue velvet were two small hair combs, exquisitely made. The tops were formed in the likeness of exotic birds, with bright blue and green stones as their plumage, and amber stones as their feet and beak. Alanna gasped and lifted one out, twirl it so that it sparkled and shone.
" Where on earth did you get those?" she asked, placing the comb back in the box. "They must have cost a fortune!" Daine blushed a little, and put the box back on the dressing table. " They were a gift. From - A friend," Alanna raised her eyebrows and looked at Daine with a knowing expression.
" Ah." She said. "A friend. Will we be seeing this friend tonight?" Daine's blush deepened, and she nodded her head. Alanna looked at her and started laughing.
" I shouldn't be teasing you." She said, shaking her head ruefully. " I've forgotten what it's like to be seventeen. Daine laughed, and turned back towards the mirror. Alanna crossed the room and peered out the door. " Numair said he'd escort us." she said." I wonder where - Ah! There he is!"
Numair climbed the stairs up to the floor on which Alanna's quarter's were located. As he neared her room, he saw a copper head peer down the hall. When Alanna spotted him, she stepped out of her rooms and waved. She looked good, in a deep blue gown with golden trim. Numair quickened his step, and was soon standing beside Alanna.
" Good evening." he said, grinning. " You look nice. Where's Daine?"
" She'll be out in a minute." Alanna replied, grabbing Numair's arm and leading him away. "So. What do you know about Daine's new admirer? Does he work in the palace?" Looking suspiciously innocent, Numair replied,
" What admirer? I don't know any admirer." Alanna threw her hands up in the air in frustration as Daine came out of the room. Numair turned to look at her, and grinned widely. She was dressed in a light blue gown, with silver embroidery on the neck and hem lines. The sleeves were fitted until the elbow, where they widened and framed her hands. The neckline was just low enough to be daring, without revealing to much. The skirt brushed the tips of her shoes, and swished when she walked. Entranced, Numair bowed as deeply as he would to a queen, and offered Daine his arm.
" You look ravishing." He said. " Every boy in court will be fighting for your hand." She laughed, and curtsied, taking his arm. They set off down the hall, Alanna trailing a step behind.
~hours later~
Alanna sat at the banquet alone, idly twirling a wine glass in her hand as she watched Daine and Numair dancing together for yet another waltz. Onua sat beside her, nibbling on some bread.
" What's wrong?" She asked, seeing Alanna's grim face. Alanna waved her hand in the direction of Numair and Daine.
" That's the matter."
" They're only dancing." Onua said. Alanna ran her fingertip around the rim of the wineglass, producing a sound that made Onua wince.
" Yes, but they've been dancing all night. And neither of them has danced with anybody else." Onua looked again at them more closely this time. They looked into each others eyes almost lovingly, she thought, and they were dancing closer together than they needed to.
" You're right." She said. " You don't think.." She turned back to Alanna, her eyes voicing the question that she was thinking. Alanna shook her head.
" I don't know..."
( End Flashback )
Daine turned back to Numair, holding a pair of breeches and a loose shirt in her hand .
" These should fit." She said, handing them to him. Ha accepted them, and nodded his thanks.
" Well, magelet." He said, " Let's go have lunch."
A/N - Well, there ya go! A whole other chapter! Sorry about the flashback... I had writer's block, and couldn't get rid of it until I had written that scene down somewhere... So, how'd you like? Good? Bad? Ugly? R&R!!
DISCLAIMER - Sadly, everything belongs to Tamora Pierce, who I AM GOING TO SEE ON TUESDAY IN TORONTO!!!!!!!!!
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Daine chewed her thumbnail and thought hard. She was in a place she'd never heard of, with people she'd never met, with no way to reach her friends in Tortall. She needed Numair. She looked around. Lark, Sandry, and Briar had gone out of the room, leaving Daine alone. There was a pile of clothes on the floor which looked to be about her size. She pulled on a pair of light brown breeches and a white cotton shirt. Her head somewhat more clear than it had been a few minutes ago, she managed to make her way across the room and out of the door.
Standing in the hallway, Daine waited for her head to stop spinning before she glanced down the hall. To her right were stairs that led down, and in front of where she stood was a closed door. Hearing voices floating up from the stairwell, she crossed the hall slowly, opened the door a crack and peered in. she was looking into a room that was almost identical to her own. In a chair next to the bed sat a somewhat chubby red head, who was dozing, her head down and a book on her lap. There were hangings on these walls, the same as in the room she had just come from, but these pictured mostly stormy seas, a few depicting animals and plants. On the bed lay Numair, fast asleep but with a worried look on his face, like he was dreaming about something horrible.
With a relieved sigh, Daine tried to edge through the door quietly, but it made a loud screech as it opened. Daine winced as the redhead jumped awake, dropped her book on the floor and whirled around to face Daine, her stormy grey eyes sharp. when she saw Daine, the sharp look in her eyes faded and she dragged herself out of her chair. Daine slid all the way into the room, and swung the door shut behind her.
" Oh, you're awake!" the redhead said, smiling slightly. She walked toward Daine, her hand stretched out. " I'm Tris." They shook hands, and Daine introduced herself. Tris offered a chair to Daine and she took it gratefully.
They sat in silence for a moment, but just as Daine was about to open her mouth to say something, they heard an annoyed voice from the hall way.
" Where IS she? " there were footsteps, and the door opened again, Lark framed in the doorway, her dark eyes snapping. She glanced around the room, saw Daine looking at her nervously, and her expression softened.
" There you are!" She said, smiling again. " You just wandered off! You really couldn't wait to speak to this Numair?" Daine, feeling sheepish, shook her head.
" Oh well." Lark sighed, and shook her head " Are you going to wake him up, then?" before Daine could answer, a voice behind them said,
" There's no need." Daine gasped and whirled around, seeing Numair sitting up in the bed. She made a small noise in her throat, and in two strides, she had crossed the room and threw her arms around Numair's neck.
" Need.... Air..!" He gasped. She gave him another quick, tight hug and sat back, looking happy again. Daine studied Numair carefully, looking to see if he was hurt. He was covered in bruises, and had dark circles under his eyes, but otherwise he looked all right. She heard a cough from the door and saw that Lark was still standing there, looking at Daine curiously. Daine blushed, and looked down at the quilt, smoothing it with shaking hands. Looking up, she saw that Lark had stopped looking at her and was introducing herself to Numair, but Tris was still staring at her, a strange expression on her face. Daine looked at her until the other girl looked down.
" Well." Lark said, clapping her hands together lightly. " It's almost lunch time, and I'm sure you're both hungry." She nodded towards Numair and said " Why don't you look in that pile of Niko's spare clothes for something that fits, and Tris and I will go get lunch ready. Come on, Tris." Lark went out of the door, with Tris trailing behind her, throwing one more glance over her shoulder at Daine.
When the door had shut, Daine turned towards the pile of clothes and started sorting through it, not wanting Numair to see the tears of relief that had gathered in her eyes. She stopped when she felt a light touch on her arm, and turned to look at Numair. He was looking at her, his face showing the same relief that she felt.
" I'm glad you're all right, Magelet." He said softly. " I couldn't have beard it if-" He stopped, and Daine smiled at him.
" Don't worry." She said. " I'm perfectly fine."
( Flashback )
Daine stood in front of the floor length mirror, admiring her reflection as the palace seamstress fussed with her dress. She smiled, and turned to look at Alanna, who was seated right behind her.
" What do you think?" She said, spinning around. " Do you like it?"
Alanna stood, and grinned at her. "It's beautiful." She proclaimed, going over to stand in front of the mirror. " But what are you planning to do with your hair?" Daine moved over to the dressing table and picked up a small box, the seamstress trailing after, scolding her not to move. Daine opened the box, and showed Alanna. Nestled inside, on a lining of deep blue velvet were two small hair combs, exquisitely made. The tops were formed in the likeness of exotic birds, with bright blue and green stones as their plumage, and amber stones as their feet and beak. Alanna gasped and lifted one out, twirl it so that it sparkled and shone.
" Where on earth did you get those?" she asked, placing the comb back in the box. "They must have cost a fortune!" Daine blushed a little, and put the box back on the dressing table. " They were a gift. From - A friend," Alanna raised her eyebrows and looked at Daine with a knowing expression.
" Ah." She said. "A friend. Will we be seeing this friend tonight?" Daine's blush deepened, and she nodded her head. Alanna looked at her and started laughing.
" I shouldn't be teasing you." She said, shaking her head ruefully. " I've forgotten what it's like to be seventeen. Daine laughed, and turned back towards the mirror. Alanna crossed the room and peered out the door. " Numair said he'd escort us." she said." I wonder where - Ah! There he is!"
Numair climbed the stairs up to the floor on which Alanna's quarter's were located. As he neared her room, he saw a copper head peer down the hall. When Alanna spotted him, she stepped out of her rooms and waved. She looked good, in a deep blue gown with golden trim. Numair quickened his step, and was soon standing beside Alanna.
" Good evening." he said, grinning. " You look nice. Where's Daine?"
" She'll be out in a minute." Alanna replied, grabbing Numair's arm and leading him away. "So. What do you know about Daine's new admirer? Does he work in the palace?" Looking suspiciously innocent, Numair replied,
" What admirer? I don't know any admirer." Alanna threw her hands up in the air in frustration as Daine came out of the room. Numair turned to look at her, and grinned widely. She was dressed in a light blue gown, with silver embroidery on the neck and hem lines. The sleeves were fitted until the elbow, where they widened and framed her hands. The neckline was just low enough to be daring, without revealing to much. The skirt brushed the tips of her shoes, and swished when she walked. Entranced, Numair bowed as deeply as he would to a queen, and offered Daine his arm.
" You look ravishing." He said. " Every boy in court will be fighting for your hand." She laughed, and curtsied, taking his arm. They set off down the hall, Alanna trailing a step behind.
~hours later~
Alanna sat at the banquet alone, idly twirling a wine glass in her hand as she watched Daine and Numair dancing together for yet another waltz. Onua sat beside her, nibbling on some bread.
" What's wrong?" She asked, seeing Alanna's grim face. Alanna waved her hand in the direction of Numair and Daine.
" That's the matter."
" They're only dancing." Onua said. Alanna ran her fingertip around the rim of the wineglass, producing a sound that made Onua wince.
" Yes, but they've been dancing all night. And neither of them has danced with anybody else." Onua looked again at them more closely this time. They looked into each others eyes almost lovingly, she thought, and they were dancing closer together than they needed to.
" You're right." She said. " You don't think.." She turned back to Alanna, her eyes voicing the question that she was thinking. Alanna shook her head.
" I don't know..."
( End Flashback )
Daine turned back to Numair, holding a pair of breeches and a loose shirt in her hand .
" These should fit." She said, handing them to him. Ha accepted them, and nodded his thanks.
" Well, magelet." He said, " Let's go have lunch."
A/N - Well, there ya go! A whole other chapter! Sorry about the flashback... I had writer's block, and couldn't get rid of it until I had written that scene down somewhere... So, how'd you like? Good? Bad? Ugly? R&R!!
DISCLAIMER - Sadly, everything belongs to Tamora Pierce, who I AM GOING TO SEE ON TUESDAY IN TORONTO!!!!!!!!!