Untitled
**Disclaimer: Daine, Numair, Tortall, etc. all belong to Tamora Pierce, and I am in no way trying to steal her characters and infringe on anyone's rights and such.**
Chapter 1
Daine sighed, leaning back against a tree and watching the albino rabbit she had just healed scamper off into the forest. She was exhausted; the rabbit had been badly injured, and her sweat-soaked clothes didn't make her any more comfortable.
She closed her eyes and her thoughts drifted to Numair Salmalín – or, to be more specific, his marriage proposal. She had been thinking about it for two months, ever since Numair had saved her from those spidrens.
They were both afraid that the other would wake up to see someone they didn't want. Daine was afraid that Numair would see a child where he wanted a woman, and Numair was afraid Daine would find and old man where she wanted a young one. If that were to happen, their marriage would be a trap. Neither of them wanted that.
Daine's acute sense of hearing picked up the soft rustle of grass beside her tree.
Her eyes snapped open, and she turned her head to see the intruder. Her eyes traveled from the large feet up to the long legs covered with brown riding breeches. Her eyes moved on to the broad-shouldered torso, clothed in a white cotton shirt. They finally found the face, black mane of hair pulled back into a horsetail. The face was dark in complexion, with a long nose.
"Hello, magelet," Numair greeted her softly.
Daine closed her eyes again and patted the ground beside her. "Come sit."
"If you insist," Numair said with a smile.
"I do."
The mage chuckled and, shaking his head, maneuvered himself into a sitting position. They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, until Numair's large hand moved to enclose Daine's smaller one. During the silence, Daine had been seriously pondering marriage, and had reached a decision.
"Numair," she said confidently.
"Yes, my sweet?"
"I'll marry you."
Numair looked over, startled. "What was that?"
"I said I'll marry you."
"Are you quite sure of this, magelet?"
Daine threw up her hands in exasperation. "Of course I'm sure, you silly dolt? I've spent two months thinking on it; I think I'm certain of what I want. Unless you think I kept you waiting two months just for laughs."
Numair nodded in mock thoughtfulness. "You prove quite a reasonable point. Yes, that's all very well, but are you sure?"
Daine rolled her eyes. "Sometimes I don't know why I put up with you."
"Hmm…maybe it's because you love me?" Numair asked hopefully.
"Well, I s'pose that could be a reason."
Daine rested her head on his shoulder and sighed contentedly at their usual friendly banter.
Numair kissed the top of her head and let the young woman fall asleep.
