True Love Knows No Boundaries

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^oh my goodness, I am so sorry! I got sick and my computer broke and then I had school issues.and then just plain ol' writer's block. Basically, nearly everything that could've impeded the progress of this story occurred. But look, here it is! Part Three! Ta-Da! I hope you all like it, and please continue to review. But, before we begin, I'd just like to thank Martini, who is a total sweetheart and whose encouragement is the reason this part is up. Thanks, Martini! Anyway, on with the show.*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Daine's first Tortallan friend is in the stables, talking with Stefan about the quality of oats the horses are getting. Onua grins briefly at Daine before giving her full attention back to the hostler. The horses whicker softly as Daine enters, and Cloud calls her over. The girl slips into her friend's stall and pats her gently. Cloud tugs at her sleeve, eyes wide.

You smell like the stork man, she accuses, eyeing Daine teasingly. She blushes and doesn't answer, just continues to stroke her.

Onua finishes talking to Stefan and Daine calls her over.

"Ah, Onua." she begins, uncertainly. "Will you come look at the new ponies with me?" the K'mir asks, hand on Daine's forearm. "Certainly" stammers Daine, thrown off by the abrupt change of subject. They make their way outside, to where the ponies are.

As they check them all for problems and as every last pony introduce itself to Daine, the girl attempts to say what she came to say.

"Onua, I moved in with Numair today!" she blurts out, and then blushes. Onua continues cleaning the hoof of a strawberry roan. "Well, it's about time." Daine blinks, mouth agape. Onua glances up and chuckles. "It's been obvious for a while now, Daine. I was hoping you'd tell me soon, but I didn't want to say anything"

When she regains control of her motor skills, Daine speaks. "How.how did you know?"

Onua rolls her eyes. "Please. The way you two look at each other, you'd have to be an idiot not to notice." Seeing the stricken look on the younger woman's face, Onua smiles. "I've known Numair for a long time, Daine. I can see these things." Daine blinks, and then laughs herself. "Well, that was a lot easier than I expected it to be." Onua nods, and says "Hang on to that happiness, Daine. Love isn't always what it seems." She glances off into the distance, as if remembering something unpleasant, and for a moment shadows play across her tanned face. But then she smiles and teases, "Expecting any little Numair's any time soon?" Daine blushes and mutters some meaningless excuse, all but running away and leaving Onua cackling to herself in the field.

As Daine walks through the hall, dreaming and glassy eyed, her old friend Perin the clerk leaps out at her from behind a wall.

"Daine! Good to see you!" he all but yells in his usual jovial manner. Daine smiles weakly. He wraps his arm around her waist and she frowns, furrowing her eyebrows. Doesn't he know.? Daine rolls her eyes to herself. Of course he wouldn't, they only just got back and she and Numair had only told Onua as of now. She tries to shrug herself out of the grip of her first kiss, but he proves a wily foe.

Several maids pass by, with baskets filled with laundry. Daine presses herself to the wall to make room, and Perin presses himself against her. When the way is clear, he doesn't move. Instead he leans one arm against the wall, near her shoulder and the other he places on her hip.

"Perin-" she begins, but then he is kissing her passionately. Alternately revolted and amused, she pushes him away. "Perin-!" And again, with the kissing. Daine works her hands up to his chest, about to shove him off when-

Numair swaggers around the corner, blushing and ducking his head while talking to Lindhall, who looks positively delighted. Numair glances up and stops dead in his tracks, color draining from his face. Daine's eyes widen until she looks like a deer caught in the glare of a lantern. Numair glares at her, and she sees the tears in his eyes. Slowly and deliberately, he turns his back on her and storms away. The message is clear; she is a betrayer and he will have no more of her.

Perin, completely ignorant of recent events, continues trailing kisses down her neck. In her anger, she gives herself the arms of a bear and finally succeeds in getting him away. He crashes into the opposite wall, so hard that he sees stars. Perin swears at her and runs off, dizzily walking into servants and crashing into maids.

Daine doesn't hear or see Perin; she's too much to occupied thinking of how the hell she's going to explain this to Numair..