Chapter 4: The Welcoming Ball
Daine rapped on the door for the thirty-second time with gloved hands. "Numair, we're going to be late for the banquet!" she yelled. Kitten was busy admiring herself in the mirror; Daine had polished her scales.
"One more minute, love!" Numair called on the other side of the door. "Let me just do something about my hair and I shall escort you to your waiting audience." Daine giggled. Finally (to Daine; it was actually ten minutes later) he emerged and offered his arm to her.
He caught his breath. Daine looked magnificent in a stunning midnight-blue ball gown with long white gloves, her hair swept back into an extravagant, detailed bun at the base of her neck. He kissed her hand, then her arm, and worked his way up to her lips.
Daine pulled away and looked him over. He was wearing a fancy green jacket with ruffles on the shirt. An expensive pin held them in place. His hair was smoothed back into a horsetail with a green ribbon and he was wearing fine silk breeches. High, polished black boots completed the look. "You're so handsome," she whispered at the same moment he whispered that she was so beautiful. Then they left for the ball.
Once at the rooms where the chatting and such before the meal and the ball took place, they were separated by people from Tusaine and Tortallans wanting to talk to them. Both had many questions to answer, and several mages from Tusaine wanted to hear about Kitten. About an hour later, a gong was sounded and everyone stopped talking. It was time for the banquet to begin.
Numair squeezed her hand as they made their way to their seats. Luckily, Alanna was seated nearby, as well as Lindhall Reed, so they had plenty of conversation that night.
"I don't see why," Lindhall began, "all of these court ladies from Tusaine had to come. They aren't helping with the treaty!" Numair and Daine nodded in agreement as the Lioness laughed.
"They're showing off or they want to inconvenience us," she muttered. "I wouldn't be surprised at either reason."
After the meal, Numair whisked Daine away to the dance floor for the ball. She laughed as they twirled for dance after dance. When they finally retired, carrying a very sleepy Kitten, they were both exhausted but happy.
As they climbed into bed, Numair leaned over and whispered into Daine's ear, "Just think, my magelet. In less than four weeks we will be wed."
The Wildmage smiled drowsily at him and fell asleep.
Daine rapped on the door for the thirty-second time with gloved hands. "Numair, we're going to be late for the banquet!" she yelled. Kitten was busy admiring herself in the mirror; Daine had polished her scales.
"One more minute, love!" Numair called on the other side of the door. "Let me just do something about my hair and I shall escort you to your waiting audience." Daine giggled. Finally (to Daine; it was actually ten minutes later) he emerged and offered his arm to her.
He caught his breath. Daine looked magnificent in a stunning midnight-blue ball gown with long white gloves, her hair swept back into an extravagant, detailed bun at the base of her neck. He kissed her hand, then her arm, and worked his way up to her lips.
Daine pulled away and looked him over. He was wearing a fancy green jacket with ruffles on the shirt. An expensive pin held them in place. His hair was smoothed back into a horsetail with a green ribbon and he was wearing fine silk breeches. High, polished black boots completed the look. "You're so handsome," she whispered at the same moment he whispered that she was so beautiful. Then they left for the ball.
Once at the rooms where the chatting and such before the meal and the ball took place, they were separated by people from Tusaine and Tortallans wanting to talk to them. Both had many questions to answer, and several mages from Tusaine wanted to hear about Kitten. About an hour later, a gong was sounded and everyone stopped talking. It was time for the banquet to begin.
Numair squeezed her hand as they made their way to their seats. Luckily, Alanna was seated nearby, as well as Lindhall Reed, so they had plenty of conversation that night.
"I don't see why," Lindhall began, "all of these court ladies from Tusaine had to come. They aren't helping with the treaty!" Numair and Daine nodded in agreement as the Lioness laughed.
"They're showing off or they want to inconvenience us," she muttered. "I wouldn't be surprised at either reason."
After the meal, Numair whisked Daine away to the dance floor for the ball. She laughed as they twirled for dance after dance. When they finally retired, carrying a very sleepy Kitten, they were both exhausted but happy.
As they climbed into bed, Numair leaned over and whispered into Daine's ear, "Just think, my magelet. In less than four weeks we will be wed."
The Wildmage smiled drowsily at him and fell asleep.