Mental Chaos

By Betsy Crandall

AN: Okay. I have a few apologies.  

Firstly, I am so sorry that I stopped writing this fic! I guess I had a lot of writer's block and then gave up. To tell you the truth, I don't know why I continue with this silly plot. …But I've started again, really! Second, I was so self-pitying when I wrote those other chapters, and I really am going to shut up about reviews. Forgive me? If you do, then please read on.

Chapter Four… The Way Out

Alanna paced her room at Pirate's Swoop with a swirl of emotions dancing in her head.

 "Stop it, dammit, stop it!" she muttered, pounding on her aching head. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Talking to yourself again, my dear?" George said, walking into the room. And then, more seriously:  "Something wrong?"

 "Oh," said Alanna. She noticed that she was still in love with George, after all. Everything was there, all the signs.  "No. Headache."

"All right, I'll leave you be."

Alanna continued to think about that weird… what was it? Incident, she supposed. But she knew she was going to have to talk to Numair again. She wondered idly if he had told Daine. Most likely not. She lay down…

***

Knock, knock.

"Numair…NUMAIR!"

Pound, pound! Pound!  

The mage felt as if his head was being shaken, but he refused to get up.

"Ug…. Mnodnoww," he grumbled angrily. "Nod geddeen ubbb."

"What was that, dear?" asked Daine, her eyebrows raised; though of course he couldn't see this very well, as he was still half asleep and there was a door between them.

"Hmm," she added as an afterthought. "What would get you up?"

Silently, she called one of the palace birds, Sharptail, in to unlock the door for her. Then she remembered: it was magically sealed. Despite this, an idea sparked in her head.

Sharptail, she sent out, find the rest of your flock, please. Could you bring them into this room?

"Numy, this is your last chance," she called as the sparrow flew out the window," so get up!"

He just made a sleepy uuhhnn noise.

She smirked: now she'd get to play her trick. "Perfect."

A split-second later, he heard the sharp whirring of many wings. They came closer and closer, until…

"AH!!! Daine!" What seemed like tens of thousands of birds had perched on him, pecking incessantly. He took off the door lock instantly. 

 "What the hell?" Numair cried as Daine stood there laughing half to death. "What have you done now?!"

Daine sauntered into the room, still chortling. "Just having a little fun, dear," she said teasingly, tweaking his nose. "You know you've trouble when the greatest mage in Tortall won't leave his bed."

"I've had a bad night, Daine, could you just leave me be?" Numair growled.

She frowned. "Is that how it is… I'm just a child, always annoying you?" Daine, confused and hurt, left the room with the slamming of a door.

"Oh Gods… what have I done?"

His question remained unanswered as he lay there in the morning sun.

***

Alanna knew she was lost.

She looked around, but all she saw were walls. Locking in, they came nearer to her. And then, out of nowhere, a hand appeared. It was a strong hand, flowing with magic. She took it, and it led her out of the maze. When she was out, she heard a voice. "You're safe now." It was Numair. He was so gentle…

Alanna awoke with a start. It was the mid-night, and George was asleep next to her. Silently, she rose and donned a robe. On the balcony, she thought about her dream. Numair… what did he mean? She didn't know, still. A friend? Definitely. Something more? …no, she realized at last. The fire was gone inside her. But what had it all meant?

"Goddess guide me," she whispered.

Fine, so it was short. Please don't sue me!!! I try my hardest but inspiration comes slowly with this fic. Flames are welcome, because they give me a chance to:
a) Delete them

or

b) get revenge.

J See you next chapter!