The war was over. One final battle and it was over. All of Tortall was celebrating. Jon had planned a huge party for the next night. Relaxing in my rooms at the palace, I was still trying to get used to the fact that I could relax. A knock at the door startled me.
"Come in."
It was Daine, looking beautiful even in a dirty brown tunic and pants. "Hey," She smiled slightly and shut the door.
Remembering belatedly that I didn't have to restrain myself anymore, I kissed her. "We have to talk," She told me. "In the Realms of the Gods we agreed to talk about us after everything else was resolved."
I released her and sat down abruptly. She had finally come to her senses. Waiting for the gentle let down, I instead heard something very different.
"I love you. I may not be ready for marriage, and I certainly don't want to trap you, but I am ready for something else."
Realizing she meant sex I stood up hastily. "Daine… I don't think that is such a good idea."
"Why? Do you still think I'm too young? Alanna was only a year older when she and Jon became lovers."
"You talked to Alanna about this? I thought we weren't going to tell anyone until we figured out what was going on between us."
"It was more in an abstract sense."
"Well Jon was only a few years older than Alanna, that was different."
She sighed impatiently and didn't answer.
"Daine, I don't want you to do anything you might regret."
"Numair," She took my hand and gripped it tightly. "If it didn't work out between us, I would regret that. I could never regret being with you."
"What about the rest of the world? What will they think?"
"We won't know until we find out." She shrugged. "My mother approved."
I started, "When did you talk to her."
"After I killed Ozorn, the gods brought me back to their realm." Daine began. "They had me make a choice. I could stay in this realm, or live in the Realm of the Gods as a minor goddess. I choose to be with you."
I was shocked. "You gave up being a goddess for me?"
"Please don't make that a decision I might regret." She kissed me softly. "I love you."
I grinned. "I know." Tilting her head up for another kiss, I made a choice also. When we made love, I didn't have any regrets.
"Come in."
It was Daine, looking beautiful even in a dirty brown tunic and pants. "Hey," She smiled slightly and shut the door.
Remembering belatedly that I didn't have to restrain myself anymore, I kissed her. "We have to talk," She told me. "In the Realms of the Gods we agreed to talk about us after everything else was resolved."
I released her and sat down abruptly. She had finally come to her senses. Waiting for the gentle let down, I instead heard something very different.
"I love you. I may not be ready for marriage, and I certainly don't want to trap you, but I am ready for something else."
Realizing she meant sex I stood up hastily. "Daine… I don't think that is such a good idea."
"Why? Do you still think I'm too young? Alanna was only a year older when she and Jon became lovers."
"You talked to Alanna about this? I thought we weren't going to tell anyone until we figured out what was going on between us."
"It was more in an abstract sense."
"Well Jon was only a few years older than Alanna, that was different."
She sighed impatiently and didn't answer.
"Daine, I don't want you to do anything you might regret."
"Numair," She took my hand and gripped it tightly. "If it didn't work out between us, I would regret that. I could never regret being with you."
"What about the rest of the world? What will they think?"
"We won't know until we find out." She shrugged. "My mother approved."
I started, "When did you talk to her."
"After I killed Ozorn, the gods brought me back to their realm." Daine began. "They had me make a choice. I could stay in this realm, or live in the Realm of the Gods as a minor goddess. I choose to be with you."
I was shocked. "You gave up being a goddess for me?"
"Please don't make that a decision I might regret." She kissed me softly. "I love you."
I grinned. "I know." Tilting her head up for another kiss, I made a choice also. When we made love, I didn't have any regrets.