First of all I'd like to say thank you to all the readers who reviewed my story. Really. You all have no idea how much your words of encouragement have meant. I started this story with little hope of anyone liking what they read. Through the entire story, I've received reviews from so many of you. Special Thanks to White-Wolf and Veralidaine for giving so many reviews. Mazuku-Princess, you also rock! Queen o the Jungle, can't forget you. J But most of all-thank you KIETA, who gave a review for all but one chapter…*Smile*.
Just to let all of you know I received over 400 reviews on my first story. You have no idea how happy I am about that. Over 90 reviewers contributed, voted and gave opinions and suspicions. You all are sooo cool.
Ok, enough with the thanks. J On with the show…I mean, the ending, I mean…well, you know what I mean. Heehee.
*****
Complications
Simplicity
*****
He hadn't realized he'd stopped breathing. Didn't realize that the moment he'd thought he'd lost Daine, it had become impossible for him to breath. So when whatever miracle the Gods had given him gave Daine her own breath back, his lungs screamed painfully for their own refreshing breath. He felt dizzy, even though he was kneeling on the ground. When she gulped down air as color returned to her freshly healed face, he felt everything inside of him crumble in relief.
He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her up against his chest roughly. Daine's breath came heavy for a few seconds but evened out nicely. It didn't matter; he couldn't seem to rid himself of the sheer panic that ran through his veins. His heart pounded mercilessly against his chest making his lungs contract rapidly. His throat was completely useless as it clenched up with emotion. He gripped her body to him so tightly she squeaked. He wasn't embarrassed when a few tears escaped his clenched eyes. And despite all of Alanna and Buri's words, he couldn't bring himself to let her go.
"Numair…" whispered Daine. "Are you ok?" The soft voice was muffled in his shirts.
He pulled away slightly and looked down at her eyes, now unmarked or scrapped. He tangled his fingers in her brown curls, his palms cupping her face. She stared back with reassurance and love. His throat worked painfully a few times before he opened his mouth. His voice cracked with emotion as he spoke. "No more. No more. I can't take this anymore Daine, I can't. You can't….you can't keep scaring me like this. I…I don't have the strength to keep thinking I'm going to loose you. So no more…no more scaring me within an inch of my life, all right? Just…promise me no more. I can't take it anymore Magelet. No more." Tears of anguished relief brimmed in his eyes as he stuttered through his speech.
Daine breathed in audibly at his words, her mouth open slightly as she searched his pain filled eyes. "Oh, Numair…don't cry…it's alright." She ran her smaller hands along his cheeks in reassurance, shocked to feel his entire body shaking.
"Just…Just don't leave me." His voice rose and cracked with his last word as tears spilled over. She hugged him to her this time, his face buried in the crook of her neck as his body shook with tears.
"I'm right here," she whispered to him. "I'm not going anywhere." He lifted his face and crushed his lips to hers, desperate and hungry for more proof she was in one piece.
It took them a good twenty minutes before they had calmed down enough to look around themselves. Numair was startled to see no one around the small space. He turned to Daine when she chuckled. "I guess they thought we needed some time alone."
He grinned evilly. "Just wait until I get you home." Daine laughed. With a groan he got to his feet. He grabbed both of Daine's hands and pulled her up to stand next to him. He looked her over thoroughly. Her face was flawless; no bruises left. They unwrapped the bandages around her wrists and arm to find them not only healed but also scar-less. Daine stared at her arm in awe. The blistering burn/slash was completely gone. Her feet didn't hurt or itch and better yet, there wasn't a whole in her stomach. She looked up at an equally astonished Numair and smiled brightly.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Great." She answered in confusion.
He smiled. "Let's find the others." They pushed past the bushes and foliage to come upon Alanna, Buri, Justice and two firebirds. The group turned to stare at them with knowing eyes. Justice giggled madly, Alanna hid a smile behind her hand, Buri chuckled as the two firebirds quirked their head in curiosity when Numair and Daine both blushed crimson. "Nothing happened!" Numair growled in irritation. Buri outright snorted in mirth. Numair glared at her for good measure.
*****
'You are a very special human; but I'm sure you are already aware of that.' Commented Lorelei.
Daine smiled at Justice's mother as she washed her hands. 'I've been told as much.' There was a moment of silence before Daine spoke again. 'You have a beautiful name, I've never heard it before.'
The red-feathered bird chirped in laughter. 'A human boy gave me that name when I was very young. He told me that my song was so beautiful he had no choice but to seek me out. He was the first and only human to ever catch me. He was a nice boy, very sweet and good to me; brought me freshly caught fish for two straight weeks. He named me Lorelei- meaning….Siren…or a luring call.' Daine smiled.
Daine looked around nervously. 'You…aah…wanted to speak with me?'
'Yes.' Answered Lorelei truthfully. 'My daughter told me her very long story this afternoon. I wanted to thank you…no…no, that's not enough. I want you to understand how indebted to you I am.'
Daine's mouth dropped. 'Oh, no…no, really. I didn't do anythi…'
'You saved her. You saved her life, you saved her mind, and you saved her soul. You kept her safe in everyway when I could not. I owe you my child's life.'
Daine cleared her throat nervously. 'You saved mine…with the magic, so we're even.'
'No. I nor Justice nor Hunter saved your life. It was not our magic nor doing. Even if it were, I owe you more than that. You did not save my life; you saved more. You saved my child's life. There will never be anything I can do for you that will be worth more than that.'
Daine blushed madly. 'Thank you is enough, really. Knowing Justice is safe and going home is enough for me.' She looked thoughtful for a moment. 'I've never had a child, but, I've lost two before they were born. The entire time Justice was with us, I couldn't help but feel for you; how much pain you must have been in not knowing where she was or if she was all right. I wanted to give you back what I couldn't have.'
Lorelei turned and gently rubbed her beak along Daine's stomach. 'If I understand correctly, you will soon be blessed with your own child.'
Daine beamed in happiness. 'Eight and a half months away. I can't believe I didn't realize I was pregnant. I'm nervous, but I'm hoping for the best. The magic you used….' Daine stopped at Lorelei's stern look. 'The magic that healed me, healed my child as well. I could feel it. Feel the magic inside of me, somehow melding with my body. It's magic I've never felt before. What was it?'
Lorelei made clicking sounds of consideration. 'It is not my place to explain the secrets of the forest. It has many. All you need to know is that the world was full of magic long before there was the gift or wild magic. It is very strong magic…almost as strong as the Gods. It has no limits, only obstacles.'
They stood in silence as Daine considered the immortals words. 'I…I hope that we won't be forever parted, I know you live so far away…but…I'll miss Justice; that's for sure.'
'I have a feeling you and I will never meet again; but our paths are not finished crossing quite yet. Of that, I am sure.' Daine smiled.
*****
"The riders caught a few stragglers; but they're refusing to talk," sighed Numair.
Justice kicked at a rock in irritation and breathed a deep sigh. "I heard."
Numair turned and kneeled in front of the eight-year-old. "Justice, I'm sorry we didn't catch him. I'm sorry we don't even know his name or what he wanted. But, most of all, I'm sorry we cant get these things off of you."
Justice's mouth quirked at his words. She knew what the mage had wanted, but damn if she ever got to tell anyone that useful bit of information. Firebird rules of magic didn't seem to be very helpful lately. She shrugged. "It's not your fault."
"We're going to keep looking Justice. We won't stop until we find him. When we do, we'll find you and get these things off so you can turn back into a firebird."
Justice shook her head as he spoke. "He ran. Probably to hide. It could be years before anyone even hears from him. I don't want to spend that much time worrying over it." She smiled sadly. "I get to go home. That's enough for me. -Even if I am stuck in human form- I get to go home. It's not so bad once you get used to it. Mama and Papa don't care I'm human, nor does Hunter or the rest of the colony. They're happy to have me back…featherless body and all." Justice chuckled at herself. Numair smiled as well, though he could tell Justice was still bothered she would have to return home stuck in human form.
He smoothed her silky flaming red hair out of her face. "You're a very special girl, Justice. Firebird or Human, you'll grow up and do something special, I can tell." She beamed at him. He continued. "You gave me hope when I had none Justice. Hope for Daine, hope for a child, hope for myself. Even with all the Destiny talk, you still managed to bring me hope. I'm going to miss you very much." She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. Numair dropped to rest completely on his knees as he hugged her back.
"I'll miss you too." She half cried.
They began to walk back to the others for final good-byes when Justice tugged on Numair's arm. He stopped and looked at her questioningly. She swallowed and said, "Just to make sure, what I showed you, the other day –the gift I gave you-?" Numair nodded. "It's for you and you alone. Do you understand?"
"Didn't we go over this already?" he asked.
Justice gave him a look that shut him up. "I don't know everything there is to know about Firebird Magic, but I know this…that one rule is the most important. I don't know why or how…and I don't know what would happen if it were broken; but I'm not willing to be the one to break it and find out. I know it will be hard, there are things I wish I could tell you that I can't, but you have to trust me on this one. You can't tell anyone…not even Daine. You can't tell her anything, understand?"
Not tell Daine about the beautiful child he'd seen. Not tell her about the eyes that haunted him constantly. The joy at seeing her in visions of the future, whether he believed in Destiny or not. It would be hard…keeping it from her, but some things weren't questioned. This was one of those. "I understand." Justice nodded, convinced.
They came into view of the others. Justice saw Alanna and Buri. She waved happily at them and began to run towards them. She stopped suddenly and turned back to Numair. "You know what you said, a few weeks ago, about Destiny just being this game of chance, something you'd just have to wait for?"
Numair scrunched his nose. "I remember."
Justice looked contemplative for a few seconds before smiling slightly. "Destiny…it's…it's not a matter of chance, it's...a matter of choice." She quirked as smile at him. "And it's not something to be waited for either." She started walking towards the others again. She turned and started walking away from him backwards, a smile plastered across her face. "It's something to be achieved." She turned forwards again and ran towards the others. Numair smiled. She would do something very special one day, he'd bet his fortune on that.
*****
Everyone had said his or her good-byes. There were tears and there was laughter. Everyone was set to go. Justice preparing to climb onto Hunters back for the first part of the journey home. The girl looked absolutely dwarfed by the Firebirds mighty size. From behind Raoul popped a little slender bluish green head. Kitten. Hunter screeched in surprise as Lorelei squawked in disgust. Kitten turned a deep gray, disgruntled by so much rejection.
Daine giggled. "It's only Kitten. She only wanted to say good-bye."
Justice inched closer to her mother, eyes wary of the little dragonet. Kitten stepped forward and came closer to her. Justice squeaked in fright hiding behind her mother's protective wing.
"She won't hurt you, Justice; honest." Daine tried again.
Justice came out from behind her mother and slowly approached the baby dragon. She cleared her suddenly dry throat. "Umm, bye dragon…have a…nice…ahh…life." Kitten took a few steps closer, observing Justice curiously. She sniffed at her feet and ankles…Her little snout rubbing against the bands. "What's she doing?"
Daine scrunched her nose. "I don't know."
Kitten began to make a series of clicks and trills and the young girl. All eyes stared at the baby dragon curiously. "Daine…" offered Numair, "doesn't that sound a lot like the noise Kitten makes when she's…"
All of the sudden, the bands around Justice's ankles unlatched. They still surrounded her ankles, the skin, newly healed, attached around them, but they were no longer latched.
Silence.
Not a single word was spoken. Not a single chirp nor scratch nor cough nor gasp.
Dead silence as the entire group stared at the bands around Justice's ankles in shocked silence.
Numair, finally finding his voice, finished his sentence. "…opening locks?"
Justice began to breath heavily.
"Oh my Gods." Whispered Daine.
Hunter squawked in agreement.
Buri, ever-observant breathed. "She just unlocked those bands, with the same spell she uses to unlock the pantry doors in the kitchens."
Alanna whispered, "That was…"
"SIMPLE!" blurted Buri.
"Get them off." Whispered Justice.
Alanna kneeled down and gently began to pull at them. Justice winced in pain. Alanna pulled out her dagger and gently began to separate skin from band. Dislodging the curved band from flesh took almost 10 minutes. Finally, after much whimpering from Justice's part, Alanna got the one off. She handed it to Buri and began to work the second.
Ten minutes later, Alanna separated the last of her skin form it. Everyone stared at Justice, waiting for an explosion or a bright light. Waiting for her to change back into a firebird. She did. But not with bright lights. Curiously, it happened the same way Daine shape-shifted. She began t turn bright red. Her hair shortened and disappeared into a golden crown of feathers. Her arms stretched into golden tipped wings. Her feet shortened into golden hawk legs with silver talons. Her mouth lengthened into a golden beak. But her eyes…they stayed the same crystal blue. Everyone knew she would always carry some human characteristics in her. It would make her all the better.
In only a minute the small girl disappeared into a small 2 and a half-foot firebird. Unlike the adults, she wasn't for the most part, completely red. From earlier discussions, the Tortallan's had learned hatchlings were born completely silver. When they were a bit older they turned completely gold. Slowly, they would turn brilliant red as they grew.
She screeched in happiness hopping around madly. Her mother and father immediately began grooming familiar feathers. 'It's time to go,' declared Hunter. Daine translated. Last minute good-byes were exchanged as one by one 35 firebirds took flight in the air behind Hunter. Lorelei and Justice were the last to take off. Justice looked back at Daine and Numair once more. Her mother screeched for her to come. The young firebird screeched in joy, flapped her wings and took off into the air.
Numair came up behind Daine, hugging her. "Do you think we'll ever see them again, Numair?"
"I don't know Magelet."
"I hope she doesn't forget about us."
As if to answer, a high-pitched siren came from the trailing firebird, soon joined by the others. Harmonic sirens filled the air until they were to far to be heard.
"She won't forget us." Assured Numair.
*****
Epilogue"Get it out, get it out, get it OUT!" screamed Daine.
"Calm down, Daine." Alanna soothed.
"Calm DOWN? You want me to calm DOWN! Alanna, I'm passing something the size of a watermelon out of a whole the size of a lemon and you want me to calm DOWN!"
Alanna smirked as she sat next to a sweating Daine. "Something like that."
"Is it that bad?" questioned a nervous Princess Kalisen.
Daine stared at her hard.
"We just have to get her mind off of the labor pains for a few more minutes…she's not quite dilated enough," supplied the midwife.
"How do we do that?" asked Kali.
"I…don't…care…" breathed Daine. "Just talk about something! Anything!"
Kali looked blank. She raked her mind for subjects that could distract Daine. She came up with one quick enough. "I'm betrothed to Emperor Kaddar." She blurted out.
Alanna, Buri and Daine all turned to her suddenly and called in unison, "WHAT?"
Kali shrugged. "It's all arranged. Six months."
Daine grabbed her hand. "Are you all right with this Kali?"
Kali smiled. "He's a good man. Even you said he would make an excellent ruler. I respect what he's trying to do for his kingdom. One day, I'm sure I'll learn to love him."
Daine, breathing heavily scrunched her nose up at Kali. "You're…so…weird."
Kali burst out laughing. "I know. But it got you're mind of the pain now didn't it."
Daine moaned in pain. "Thanks for reminding me."
"I wonder what color eyes she'll have. Blue like you or black like Numair." Questioned Onua from a chair across the room. Daine smiled at her. Eight months of recovery had made Onua extremely cabin sick. She sat, resting in the corner.
"Well, we'll find out soon enough," answered Kali.
"Actually, we won't know for a few weeks. Babies are born with gray eyes…it'll get its true color soon."
"Ok Daine. I want you to give me one big push," called the midwife.
She scrunched up and pushed. "AAAAAUUUUGGGGGHHHH………"
()()()()()()()
He stood in the hall outside the birthing room, eyes blood-shot, nervously rubbing his marriage ring.
George chuckled. "She'll be alright laddy. She's had a perfect pregnancy, no complications."
The door opened and Alanna pocked her head out. "Numair, you can come in now."
He pushed through the doors and into the room full of woman. Daine lay on the bed, thoroughly exhausted. Sweat dripping down her forehead. He kneeled down next to her bead and pushed aside strands of curly wet hair. He kissed her forehead when she smiled at him. From behind him he heard the new born cries of his child. His throat caught with emotion. "It's a girl," breathed Daine blissfully.
He smiled a knowing smile. "A girl."
"I'm just cleaning her up a bit." Informed the midwife.
"We haven't picked out a name, Numair." Daine breathed.
He smiled. "You have a name in mind?"
"No." she answered honestly. "You pick I'm to tired to think of one."
He looked thoughtful. He hadn't seen his daughter yet but he could feel her inside his heart. He remembered the visions of her face, of her eyes. "How about…Jade?"
"Jade?" questioned Daine. "That's an odd name."
He smiled, "If you don't like it, we can name her something else."
"No, no…Jade is fine. I like it." He smiled.
"Here she is, all cleaned up and ready to see meet her parents," cooed the midwife.
She handed the small baby to Daine who leaned up against the headrest with Numair's help. Tears of joy sprung from her eyes. She's so perfect. Ten toes, ten fingers…perfect."
The woman crowded around them, cooing and awing at the baby. She stirred from her slumber and opened her eyes to the world for the first time.
Daine gasped audibly, as did the other woman in the room. Numair felt his throat constrict with emotion but otherwise made no noticeable sounds.
Daine looked from Numair to the baby then back to Numair. "Numair, her eyes…she has green eyes."
"I've never seen eyes that green." Kali said in awe. "Not even mothers. They're…they're the color of…Jad.e"
Alanna squinted curiously. "We shouldn't be able to see the eye color yet, it's too soon."
"Does it matter? Asked Numair.
"No!" said Daine. "It's just…Numair, how did you know…how did you know she'd have green eyes? You named her Jade before you even saw her and she has green eyes." Numair smiled warmly.
"I…just knew." He kissed Daine's forehead again and then his daughter's forehead. Daine smiled.
He whispered warmly to his daughter. "Welcome to the world, Jade."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THE END*****
I hope you all enjoyed this story. I sure did.
Just to let you all know I will be starting the next story in about a
week. I gotta get back to school on
Monday and get settled again. I know
you all have unanswered questions, but I'll answer them in the second and third
stories. They'll probably be just as
long as the first. Thank you all for
reading. Let me know what you think of
my ending. (Told you I'd give Kitten a
special role). Thank you,
Karigan J