Numair Salmalin paced his quarters, waiting for Daine. He had sent a message to her through one of the pages to meet him after dinner. He was worried about her, knowing that she had faced an awful lot of cackling in the halls that day because of the news of their relationship. He had dismissed his manservant. Not only because he knew of their relationship, but because a mage as important as himself would not do with having a loose lipped servant.

A knock on the door startled him from his thoughts. His eyes left his feet and flew to the door. "Who is it?" he exclaimed gruffly. The door opened to find a copper-haired matron in its jamb.

A smile spread over the mage's face as he recognized the clean-cut features of the Lioness. "Alanna! Come in! It's so good to see you!" He ushered her into his small study. "Ever since the outbreak of this.....news, I haven't had much time for visitors."

Alanna plopped down heavily on the seat of her breeches into a lumpy armchair and said coolly, "I understand completely, Numair. I have been trying to achieve the honor of your presence since Daine cleared up your story."

"Alanna!" Numair exclaimed in surprise, "There's no need to mock. What is it you wanted? I'm expecting someone."

"Daine, right? She's freshening up. I saw her a little while ago. Numair, what is this! You are 14 years older than her!" Alanna complained childishly.

"And George is 8 years older than you. Next?" Numair reminded her gently.

"Well... well... you're supposed to be her teacher. It isn't right!"

"So was George to you. And my I remind you that Jon is your King?"

Alanna leaped out of her chair and cried, "Numair, how can you do this?!?! Taking advantage of Daine-"

A loud knock interrupted their argument. "Come in!" Numair called, not releasing Alanna from his glare. Daine entered the room quietly. Numair looked away from Alanna when he recognized Daine's step. Smiling warily, he bent over and kissed her cheek gently. "Hello Daine. Alanna and I were just having... words." Daine grinned at him,

"Been there, done that. Have you gotten the 'she's to young for you' speach? Hello Alanna. So...nice to see you again. Really, I don't know why you can't stop intruding on Numair's and my privacy. I mean, at least everyone else isn't lecturing us! Mithros!"

Alanna's violet eye's narrowed angrily. "At least I'm not the one sleeping with a man fourteen years older than me!"

Daine stepped forward and, in a veritable shriek, shot back, "How many times must I tell you?!?! We are not sleeping together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Alanna gave a noise that clearly portrayed her shocked anger. In the very next moment, she screamed a K'miri war cry Onua had taught her and sprang forward, knocking Daine to the ground.

Daine, heavily muscled from archery training, flipped Alanna over her shoulder, but slipped and landed with a thud on top of the copper-haired knight. In momentary shock, she lay face up on the Lioness's chest. She then began giggling uncontrollably. She stood up and offered a hand to the Lioness. Alanna smiled and, beginning to laugh herself, took the Wildmage's hand and stood up. "I'm sorry Daine. I've just got to get used to this. I'll leave you alone now." Alanna left the room composing herself, and strutted pridefully down the hall.

Numair turned to Daine and grinned, "That was some fight magelet. Almost better than my own again the spidren two years ago."

"Almost." Daine admitted, laughing lightly. Numair sobered his expression and gathered her into his arms. She sank against his chest, sighing softly. Numair murmured to her almost incoherently,

"Daine, I'm going to ask you again. Will you be my wife?" Daine thought of what had just happned. She had attacked her dearest friend, just for the honor of this man. She loved him more than anything. She no longer worried about seeming like a baby to him. Somehow, something trivial like that was no longer important. She looked up at Numair, and as her answer, pulled his head towards her and kissed him slowly.