Always And Forever
By: Midnight Maiden
(Disclaimer: T.P. owns all characters)
When Daine woke the next morning she found a tray of food sitting on the table. Next to it rested an expressed letter of apology from Numair. He'd had to leave to tend to some business and would be back by nightfall. She smiled and focused her attention on eating. The plates held assorted breads, cheeses, and fruit, all of which looked delicious.
As she ate she wandered the room, looking around closely for the first time since her arrival. Nothing was different. Not a thing had been changed or resituated. It was as if he had been waiting for her to come back so they could resume life as always. Everything she'd left behind was just where it had been before.
Daine also realized that she was currently walking around in just a shirt far too big for her. She smiled, silently thanking her love. Sleeping in breeches and boots would've guaranteed a late-night wake up. But, of course, he would know that. He knew everything about her. The thought scared and thrilled her both at the same time.
A knock sounded on the door and she went to answer it, a piece of bread in hand. She cracked the door open and looked out. A serving maid stood outside with a roll of parchment. "Thank you," she told the maid before taking the letter and retreating back inside. Who would be sending her a letter?
The seal enclosing it told her. The king. Quickly she opened it and started to read. It's contents made her frown. It was to tell her that because her duties were fulfilled, arrangements would be made for her safe arrival back home. She could have as many horses as necessary and would be escorted by a part of the Own itself.
"But I don't want to leave," she thought out loud. Or, at least, she didn't think she wanted to leave. She grabbed more fruit and sat on the bed. Her saddlebags were still packed for the most part. She could always just grab them and leave. Part of her badly wanted to. But then, if she left, she couldn't come back. Ever.
The thought of not seeing Numair again wrenched her heart. As much as she didn't want to, she loved him. If she left she would break his heart. It would break hers. The first time, it had felt like the right thing, but now somehow, it didn't. Now it seemed the absolute wrong thing. He was willing to put himself on the line and she should be able to do the same.
Decidedly she put on breeches, boots, and her own shirt and marched out the door to see the king. He was in his office and she knocked on the door tentatively. She heard him call her in and walked inside. She shut the door behind her and turned around to face him. He smiled at her and motioned for her to sit, which she did.
"So Daine?" He asked. "Will I be preparing horses and an escort for you?" The tone in his voice told her that he wanted her to say no. It seemed everyone wished she would stay.
One last time, she thought about riding off in the sunset, but quickly shook the thought. "No Your Majesty. If it is okay with you I'd like to stay." Finally hearing herself say it almost made her cry. Her mind was so racked with indecision, but she'd finally made herself make one.
She almost thought she saw relief cross Jonathan's face, but couldn't be sure. "Of course I would like you to stay Daine. I believe you've made a very wise decision. Shall I arrange for a room to be made, or will you resume your residence at Numair Salmalin's?" He asked the question, but he already knew the answer.
"I'll be staying with Numair, Your Majesty," she replied. Just thinking about it made her happy. With all the things she was unsure of, there was one thing she knew; Numair Salmalin loved her.
"Well then, I believe we're finished here."
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty." Daine got up and left the room relieved that that was over. Of course, talking to the king was never a problem; it was making herself do the right thing that she'd been worried about. But she'd done it and she was thrilled.
Deciding that she had better inform Cloud she walked down to the stables. Cloud was where ever she wanted to be at the moment, so calling her was easier than looking. ~Cloud, where are you?~
The reply was almost instant. ~In the woods. Where are you?~
~The stable.~
~I'll meet you there.~ Daine sat on an upturned bucket and waited. It wouldn't be long. Cloud never left people waiting; she thought it very rude. Which it was, though she seemed to do enough of it lately. A year was certainly a long time to make someone wait.
Cloud came galloping across a field, jumped the fence, and stopped in front of her. ~I was sleeping quite contently. What do you want?~ Just like Cloud to be so direct. She really did need to learn the virtue of subtlety.
Daine stood and pressed her cheek to Cloud's forehead, to avoid eye contact. Quietly she whispered, "I've decided to stay." The mare stood motionless for a moment, allowing Daine a moment only she could provide. They had always had a soothing affect on each other, and she thought her friend needed soothing.
Then she moved her head slightly, pushing Daine away. Her human friend was forgetting something rather important. ~Then you may want to have someone bring your things.~
Daine jumped backward. She'd completely forgotten that most of her things weren't with her. How would her friends feel when they saw her things being packed and taken? They didn't know she wasn't coming back. "That's right. I have to go, I'll be back later." The mare nuzzled her and she took off.
When she got back to the room and almost tripped over her bags, she decided something needed to be done. Numair had gotten sloppy with his laundry and his clothes were stuffed randomly in their large dresser. She took everything out, refolded it and organized it the top three drawers. She occupied the bottom three with her things. She placed her toiletries by the washbasin and discarded her saddlebags. Now things looked much better.
Next came writing a letter to the people she was leaving. They needed to know she wouldn't be returning. As she was writing Numair walked in. Noting what she was doing he glanced quickly around the room, not seeing anything of hers. "Leaving a goodbye note for me this time?" He asked, voice quivering.
"Well, Numair-" she started. Instantly he interrupted her, "Daine, please don't go." His voice wavered as he continued. "I'm not going to make you stay... but I'd hoped you would." He stopped when he saw her laughing.
She couldn't help herself. He was just so cute when he was being ridiculous. He seemed puzzled so she explained. "I'm not going anywhere silly." This seemed to confuse him even further.
"But your things."
"Are put away." She got up and grabbed his hands, entwining them with hers. "Everything's just how it should be." Relief washed his face and she smiled at him. He released her hands and engulfed her in his arms. She clung tightly, breathing in his smell, absorbing his touch. Now everything was how it should be. It was like she just... fit inside him. They were like a key in a lock; only one fits.
They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Numair answered it and motioned her to the door. A messenger waited outside to talk to her. "Good evening Lady Daine. I am here to inform you that a Sir Derwood is here to see you. He says he's from Penscott."
Daine's heart fell. All her good spirits left. Why in the gods was he here? She thought she'd gotten Penscott out of her mind, and one of its inhabitants had come to see her. Why? "Tell him I'll see him in the council meeting room." She'd just left Penscott mere days ago, but it felt like a lifetime.
When they were inside, Numair looked at her curiously. For once she couldn't tell what he was really thinking. "Sir Derwood of Penscott?"
(A/N: Well, my dedicated readers, here's chapter five as promised. Did you like it? I hope so. Now, here's my new limit. Do you think you can handle it? 35 reviews. In a quick few comments chapter six will be yours, but not before that. Thanks, ^_^ Peach!)
By: Midnight Maiden
(Disclaimer: T.P. owns all characters)
When Daine woke the next morning she found a tray of food sitting on the table. Next to it rested an expressed letter of apology from Numair. He'd had to leave to tend to some business and would be back by nightfall. She smiled and focused her attention on eating. The plates held assorted breads, cheeses, and fruit, all of which looked delicious.
As she ate she wandered the room, looking around closely for the first time since her arrival. Nothing was different. Not a thing had been changed or resituated. It was as if he had been waiting for her to come back so they could resume life as always. Everything she'd left behind was just where it had been before.
Daine also realized that she was currently walking around in just a shirt far too big for her. She smiled, silently thanking her love. Sleeping in breeches and boots would've guaranteed a late-night wake up. But, of course, he would know that. He knew everything about her. The thought scared and thrilled her both at the same time.
A knock sounded on the door and she went to answer it, a piece of bread in hand. She cracked the door open and looked out. A serving maid stood outside with a roll of parchment. "Thank you," she told the maid before taking the letter and retreating back inside. Who would be sending her a letter?
The seal enclosing it told her. The king. Quickly she opened it and started to read. It's contents made her frown. It was to tell her that because her duties were fulfilled, arrangements would be made for her safe arrival back home. She could have as many horses as necessary and would be escorted by a part of the Own itself.
"But I don't want to leave," she thought out loud. Or, at least, she didn't think she wanted to leave. She grabbed more fruit and sat on the bed. Her saddlebags were still packed for the most part. She could always just grab them and leave. Part of her badly wanted to. But then, if she left, she couldn't come back. Ever.
The thought of not seeing Numair again wrenched her heart. As much as she didn't want to, she loved him. If she left she would break his heart. It would break hers. The first time, it had felt like the right thing, but now somehow, it didn't. Now it seemed the absolute wrong thing. He was willing to put himself on the line and she should be able to do the same.
Decidedly she put on breeches, boots, and her own shirt and marched out the door to see the king. He was in his office and she knocked on the door tentatively. She heard him call her in and walked inside. She shut the door behind her and turned around to face him. He smiled at her and motioned for her to sit, which she did.
"So Daine?" He asked. "Will I be preparing horses and an escort for you?" The tone in his voice told her that he wanted her to say no. It seemed everyone wished she would stay.
One last time, she thought about riding off in the sunset, but quickly shook the thought. "No Your Majesty. If it is okay with you I'd like to stay." Finally hearing herself say it almost made her cry. Her mind was so racked with indecision, but she'd finally made herself make one.
She almost thought she saw relief cross Jonathan's face, but couldn't be sure. "Of course I would like you to stay Daine. I believe you've made a very wise decision. Shall I arrange for a room to be made, or will you resume your residence at Numair Salmalin's?" He asked the question, but he already knew the answer.
"I'll be staying with Numair, Your Majesty," she replied. Just thinking about it made her happy. With all the things she was unsure of, there was one thing she knew; Numair Salmalin loved her.
"Well then, I believe we're finished here."
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty." Daine got up and left the room relieved that that was over. Of course, talking to the king was never a problem; it was making herself do the right thing that she'd been worried about. But she'd done it and she was thrilled.
Deciding that she had better inform Cloud she walked down to the stables. Cloud was where ever she wanted to be at the moment, so calling her was easier than looking. ~Cloud, where are you?~
The reply was almost instant. ~In the woods. Where are you?~
~The stable.~
~I'll meet you there.~ Daine sat on an upturned bucket and waited. It wouldn't be long. Cloud never left people waiting; she thought it very rude. Which it was, though she seemed to do enough of it lately. A year was certainly a long time to make someone wait.
Cloud came galloping across a field, jumped the fence, and stopped in front of her. ~I was sleeping quite contently. What do you want?~ Just like Cloud to be so direct. She really did need to learn the virtue of subtlety.
Daine stood and pressed her cheek to Cloud's forehead, to avoid eye contact. Quietly she whispered, "I've decided to stay." The mare stood motionless for a moment, allowing Daine a moment only she could provide. They had always had a soothing affect on each other, and she thought her friend needed soothing.
Then she moved her head slightly, pushing Daine away. Her human friend was forgetting something rather important. ~Then you may want to have someone bring your things.~
Daine jumped backward. She'd completely forgotten that most of her things weren't with her. How would her friends feel when they saw her things being packed and taken? They didn't know she wasn't coming back. "That's right. I have to go, I'll be back later." The mare nuzzled her and she took off.
When she got back to the room and almost tripped over her bags, she decided something needed to be done. Numair had gotten sloppy with his laundry and his clothes were stuffed randomly in their large dresser. She took everything out, refolded it and organized it the top three drawers. She occupied the bottom three with her things. She placed her toiletries by the washbasin and discarded her saddlebags. Now things looked much better.
Next came writing a letter to the people she was leaving. They needed to know she wouldn't be returning. As she was writing Numair walked in. Noting what she was doing he glanced quickly around the room, not seeing anything of hers. "Leaving a goodbye note for me this time?" He asked, voice quivering.
"Well, Numair-" she started. Instantly he interrupted her, "Daine, please don't go." His voice wavered as he continued. "I'm not going to make you stay... but I'd hoped you would." He stopped when he saw her laughing.
She couldn't help herself. He was just so cute when he was being ridiculous. He seemed puzzled so she explained. "I'm not going anywhere silly." This seemed to confuse him even further.
"But your things."
"Are put away." She got up and grabbed his hands, entwining them with hers. "Everything's just how it should be." Relief washed his face and she smiled at him. He released her hands and engulfed her in his arms. She clung tightly, breathing in his smell, absorbing his touch. Now everything was how it should be. It was like she just... fit inside him. They were like a key in a lock; only one fits.
They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Numair answered it and motioned her to the door. A messenger waited outside to talk to her. "Good evening Lady Daine. I am here to inform you that a Sir Derwood is here to see you. He says he's from Penscott."
Daine's heart fell. All her good spirits left. Why in the gods was he here? She thought she'd gotten Penscott out of her mind, and one of its inhabitants had come to see her. Why? "Tell him I'll see him in the council meeting room." She'd just left Penscott mere days ago, but it felt like a lifetime.
When they were inside, Numair looked at her curiously. For once she couldn't tell what he was really thinking. "Sir Derwood of Penscott?"
(A/N: Well, my dedicated readers, here's chapter five as promised. Did you like it? I hope so. Now, here's my new limit. Do you think you can handle it? 35 reviews. In a quick few comments chapter six will be yours, but not before that. Thanks, ^_^ Peach!)