Chapter 3

Author's Note: I'm ba-aack! lol. Yes, I have returned and I come bearing a new chapter. Hope you all like it!

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.

The ceremony took place outside, in an, open grassy space near the palace. Chairs were set up for the spectators and an exquisite white trellis entwined with ivy and roses was where the bride and groom were supposed to stand.

As Daine walked down the aisle, Numair gazed at her and how beautiful she was. Especially with the sunlight glinting off her hair, making her look as if there was a glowing halo above her head. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with more brilliance than usual, and her skin had a healthy radiance. As the sapphire blue dress she was wearing trailed along the ground, she smiled and looked happier than she ever had before.

Numair also knew she was determined and stubborn, but it only made her more attractive to him. He liked a woman who knew what she wanted and how she was going to get it.

*****

Daine finally arrived at the spot where Numair and King Jonathan were standing. She took her place facing Numair and gazed at him. The dark hair he usually pulled back was let down now, and she liked it like that. It made him look handsome and softened his other features. He was wearing a green silk shirt and his best black breeches.

She admired his intellectual ability and how he could figure out the solution to a problem without breaking a sweat. And he stayed level-headed most of the time, anyway.

*****

As the vows were exchanged, both Daine and Numair could feel the sparks that jumped between them. Then they took each other's hands and kissed. A magical breeze seemed to swirl around them, making Daine's ringlets flutter and both Daine and Numair's hearts ascend to the sky.

*****

Daine and Numair entered the room arm in arm. The banquet hall was full of people, all dressed in their best finery. The couple made their way to the head table, greeting everyone and nodding their heads as they went. When they reached the head table, King Jonathan and Queen Thayet greeted them. Thayet had tears in her eyes.

"I always knew you two would eventually tie the knot," she sniffed. "Oh Goddess, look at me, sniveling all over the place!"

Daine and Numair laughed nervously, because that's what they were—nervous. They had been going to banquets for years, but neither of them was yet truly comfortable with them, especially when they were the reason for the event. They sat down at the head table and waited for Jonathan to make his announcement and get the banquet underway.

Jonathan cleared his throat and said loudly, "Attention please, attention! I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all to Daine and Numair's wedding banquet. I myself was really quite pleased at their engagement. Both of them have been valuable assets to my kingdom and good friends of mine. So now, without any more remarks on my part, I welcome you to this happy feast." With that, he sat down and everyone clapped and cheered.

Throughout the dinner, neither Daine nor Numair could keep their eyes off the other. It was obvious to all the people who had come to the banquet that they loved each other very much. And that's why when the couple left early, no one complained or wondered why.

There was silence as Daine and Numair walked outside on a path lined with sweet-smelling flowers. All they wanted to do was enjoy each other's company. There was a rustle up ahead of them, but they didn't notice, however, being too wrapped up in the other's company.

Suddenly a large man sprang from the bushes on one side, and a smaller man leaped out from the other side. The smaller man quickly grabbed Daine and covered her mouth, making sure she couldn't scream, then pressed a drug to her nose, knocking her out immediately. He then stuck her behind the bushes so that she was completely hidden.

Meanwhile, the larger man grabbed Numair and deftly tied his hands together behind his back. The man blindfolded Numair and quickly led him away to where three horses were waiting. Numair mounted one, while the men mounted the other two. The large man grabbed the bridle of Numair's horse and they rode off.

"We did good, didn't we, Rob?" the small man asked excitedly.

"Yeah, we did," Rob replied gruffly. "Now, shut up Alex or I'll shut you up myself. We need to get this guy to Asiya soon or she'll shut us up. Permanently."

"How's she gonna do that, Rob? With a gag, right? Right?"

Rob sighed and rolled his eyes with exasperation. "Yeah, right, with a gag. Now shut up."

"Oh, right, right."

*****

Asiya sighed impatiently. "Argh, where are they? I knew I shouldn't have trusted those nitwits with this job!" she complained to herself. She swiped at her long blonde hair, trying to get it out of her eyes. She paced back and forth and was muttering to herself again when Alex rushed into the room.

"Asiy—er, I mean Your Ladyship! We have the mage!" Asiya stopped abruptly and whipped around.

"Where is he?" she demanded. "Bring him in here, right now!"

"Y-yes, Your Ladyship!" Alex said, flustered. He ran back out of the room.

In no time at all, Alex was back, but this time with Rob pushing Numair along in front of him. They stopped, and Rob slid off the blindfold.