Chapter 9: Where The Daisies Laugh and Blow


Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except the people from Tusaine and Margarita. Everyone/everything else belongs to the wonderful and enchanting Tamora Pierce. Oh, and in chapter 7, I don't own the song "Reflection". It's on the Mulan soundtrack and belongs to Disney (I guess). And I don't own the name of this chapter, it's part of a poem by Lois Duncan.


Numair woke up feeling like an elephant had stepped on his face several times. As things slowly came into focus, Alanna started yelling at him.

"You were under a spell, you big-" The Lioness was cut off by Lindhall Reed.

"It's not his fault, Alanna. You know it was the Tusaine mages. And let him wake up, there's a lot he has to answer." Lindhall peered down into Numair's face. "Are you awake yet?"

The black robe in the bed sat up quickly, then regretted it. His head swam and everything became blurry. "I'm- alright."

"Three days ago, Daine was seen running out of the palace gardens in her ball gown, crying. Could you tell us why?" Lindhall asked gently. Numair noticed that he was in the hospital wing and the bed wasn't long enough.

"No-no no no no no no no no!!!!" he shrieked, remembering what he had said and done while he was in the grip of the spell. He started to sob, still crying, "no." Lindhall patted him on the back while Alanna and Onua, along with Jonathan (who had just joined them) looked on nervously.

It didn't look like Numair would ever stop crying, but when he did, Duke Baird, the palace healer, gave him a warm liquid to drink. "Numair," King Jonathan said gravely. "I believe that you can tell us what happened to Daine." The mage nodded, trying not to cry, then leapt out of his bed, upseting the drink.

"I've got to find her!" he cried, heading for the door, but was stopped by his friends. Pushing them away, he ran down to the stables and had mounted Spots, his horse, before they had a chance to stop him. "You don't understand!" he screamed, and explained what had happened. They listened quietly but everyone was angry.

Back in the healing wing, Alanna calmly (as calm as the Lioness could be) explained about the spell. The Tusaine mages had admitted it and all of the party was in custody. "I'll kill them," he whispered angrily, his voice deathly quiet. The liquid that Duke Baird had given him had taken effect, and he drifted off to sleep.

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Daine felt as if her lungs were on fire. She gasped for breath in the heavy afternoon air. It's funny, she thought, I never imagined that death was this pleasant. She hadn't eaten since she had run away from Numair and slowly starving.

Dragging herself to her feet, she gazed around the dark clearing. Daisies blew in the gentle breeze, and she skipped over to the stream that ran through the lovely place. She peered into the water and laughed, a beautiful, melodious sound, like tinkling bells. She had blocked out her wild magic the day before-she wanted to feel completely alone.

Suddenly, a unicorn bounded across the meadow. Dancing Star! Daine cried, opening herself to her magic again. The immortal ran her, sweat laced across her silkly white flanks.

Hunters! she cried, fear that Daine could sense in her mind.

Calm down, I'll stop them, Daine assured the beautiful animal, who still trembled.

Marching across the clearing, Daine found herself face to face with a group of strong young men on powerful horses. When they didn't stop, she held out her hand and commanded the horses to stop. That they did, bucking off their riders and coming to nuzzle her.

"Hey! Who do you think you are, the Wildmage?" one of them asked angrily, standing up and brushing off his clothes. Seeing her face, he laughed. "Apparently!"

Daine was NOT in the mood to be laughed at. "Go. Away. Now." Her words were angry and she was trying not to cry.

The young man and his friends laughed. "And what are you going to do?" one asked. "Turn into a doggie and bite us?" The rest of the men cracked up, some falling over.

Daine called all of the animals in the surrounding forest to her. Standing with her arms crossed in front of her, the People standing behind her, she said, "Maybe. Or perhaps I'll just ask my friends to attack you."

At this, and after seeing the dangerous animals behind her, the men stopped laughing and high-tailed it out of there. When they were gone, Daine collapsed in a heap, laughing wildly. "This is it!" she cried. She laid her head down in defeat. After an hour, one of the horses nuzzled her.

Don't die! she said, trying to drag the Wildmage to her feet. Be strong, like a horse! Trample your enemies!

Another steed joined them. Don't listen to her, he advised. She is a strange one.

The first protested, and they argued until Daine leapt up and hugged both of them. Thank you both, she said. Before they could ask for what, she was gone.



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The most powerful mage in all of Tortall felt defeated. He had been searching for Daine for about a week and a half. King Jonathan had been angry when he tried to kill the party from Tusaine (all of them), so he had left. He wasn't coming back, he declared, until he found Daine.

"And I'm not," he whispered to himself as he set up his pitiful camp. "I don't think I can go much longer without her." Sighing, he fell into a restless sleep.


A/N: Well? It's almost finished, the next chapter will be up soon. I really want to thank FencerN'Writer for the help!!! Also, please review!
~Lady of the Wolves