Sorry about the formatting in the prologue, peps, I did do paragraphs, but
then the computer was being stupid. I know you're confused since it seemed
like Daine was dying in the prologue, but I needed something feasible to
replace the section of the book that I cut out! Anyway, she is not dead,
nor is Numair and . . . I'll shut up now or you'll know the story before
you read it.
Thanks to you guys who reviewed - I'm sorry about the no anonymous reviews thing but I reckon I've sorted that out now. By the end of this chapter there will be fluff, I promise, as well as a plot - aren't I multi talented- so keep reviewing!!
Disclaimer: Unfortunately none of the characters belong to me *sigh* - they all belong to the great Tamora Pierce.
Chapter 1 - Soft Awakenings
Daine opened her eyes slowly and groaned as fierce sunlight hit them, causing her eyes to water profusely. Her aching body protested when she attempted to sit up, and emitting another low groan she collapsed backwards onto her pillows again, her eyes tightly shut. From behind the mantle of hr groggy mind she heard the light footsteps of someone crossing the room towards her.
'That's it,' she thought, 'I'm dead and in the Divine Realms. That'll be Ma coming to force one of her horrible healer's messes down my throat.' She did not notice the single tar that rolled softly down her sculpted cheek.
"Are you awake yet, Daine?" enquired a faintly familiar voice from somewhere above her.
She squinted up at the man who stood beside her and sighed in relief when she saw that it was Duke Baird. A small smile appeared on her face.
"I take it that I'm not dead then?" Her voice was rusty, scarcely more than a croak, and she gratefully accepted the glass of water that was held out to her. Duke Baird, supporting her back as she drained the glass, shook his had slightly and smiled in response to hr question. Refilling the glass, he turned back to her.
"You are incredibly lucky though, youngling. When we finally found you lying near . . . Ozorne's body, you were close to dying since you had lost that much blood." He smiled again and added, "As you can see, we healed all your wounds up very nicely."
She grinned, but her face became fearful all of a sudden as a dark thought entered her mind. Trying to appear calm, she asked him the one question that she was afraid to hear the answer to.
"What of Numair? Did he defeat that Scanran mage, or was he . . . " she trailed off, unable to say the word "killed," terrified that if she did it would be true.
Duke Baird looked over at the girl, concerned by her pale face and by the doubt that darkened the troubled depths of her blue-grey eyes. He opened his mouth to answer, but before he could utter a word h was interrupted by a muffled cry of pain. Glancing at Daine, he saw that she was clutching her head in her hands, trying to fight off the blinding agony of the headache that was beginning to set in. He got up and walked towards a table.
Daine was then able to breath again, the tortuous burden of the headache chased back as cooling magic entered her veins. She looked up to see the Duke mix the contents of a sachet with some water.
"Drink this," he commanded quietly, holding the cup to her lips. Daine drank obediently and was asleep even before her head touched her soft pillows.
*****
Daine stirred in her sleep, sighing as if all the world's troubles lay on her young shoulders. Gentle fingers reached forward to caress her soft skin, their movements hesitant and unsure, conducting a secret love affair with the contours of her face. The owner of those fingers let his heart rule his actions and he leant forward, placing his lips on those of the sleeping girl in silent possession.
Daine didn't have to open her eyes to see who it was who was kissing her; she knew his touch, the taste of his kiss, his scent, which was one spices and soap. A slender hand slipped around his neck, weaving fingers through his long hair a she deepened their kiss. She sighed once again, this time in pleasure, as strong arms lifted her upright and drew her against a warm, hard chest, never breaking the kiss. She marvelled in a world of fire and happiness, secure in the hold of arms that promised never to let her go.
Numair withdrew his lips slowly, his dark eyes filled with so much emotion that Daine's heart near broke upon looking into them. Reaching forward, she brushed away the black strands of hair that had fallen across his face and he bent to brush his lips tenderly across hers. Reaching her ear, his voice horse with emotion, he whispered softly to her.
" And that is one of the most important lessons I'll ever teach you, magelet."
Daine glanced up, confused, "What?"
His lips almost touching hers, Numair said, "That's how you wake up someone whom you love, when for the last week you've been unsure as to whether they're dead or alive."
***** Hehe! That's all for now! I promised you fluff and that's what you get! What do you think? Please send me your reviews by means of that little purple box! (and hit the computer if it says I don't accept anonymous reviews because I do!)
Thanks to you guys who reviewed - I'm sorry about the no anonymous reviews thing but I reckon I've sorted that out now. By the end of this chapter there will be fluff, I promise, as well as a plot - aren't I multi talented- so keep reviewing!!
Disclaimer: Unfortunately none of the characters belong to me *sigh* - they all belong to the great Tamora Pierce.
Chapter 1 - Soft Awakenings
Daine opened her eyes slowly and groaned as fierce sunlight hit them, causing her eyes to water profusely. Her aching body protested when she attempted to sit up, and emitting another low groan she collapsed backwards onto her pillows again, her eyes tightly shut. From behind the mantle of hr groggy mind she heard the light footsteps of someone crossing the room towards her.
'That's it,' she thought, 'I'm dead and in the Divine Realms. That'll be Ma coming to force one of her horrible healer's messes down my throat.' She did not notice the single tar that rolled softly down her sculpted cheek.
"Are you awake yet, Daine?" enquired a faintly familiar voice from somewhere above her.
She squinted up at the man who stood beside her and sighed in relief when she saw that it was Duke Baird. A small smile appeared on her face.
"I take it that I'm not dead then?" Her voice was rusty, scarcely more than a croak, and she gratefully accepted the glass of water that was held out to her. Duke Baird, supporting her back as she drained the glass, shook his had slightly and smiled in response to hr question. Refilling the glass, he turned back to her.
"You are incredibly lucky though, youngling. When we finally found you lying near . . . Ozorne's body, you were close to dying since you had lost that much blood." He smiled again and added, "As you can see, we healed all your wounds up very nicely."
She grinned, but her face became fearful all of a sudden as a dark thought entered her mind. Trying to appear calm, she asked him the one question that she was afraid to hear the answer to.
"What of Numair? Did he defeat that Scanran mage, or was he . . . " she trailed off, unable to say the word "killed," terrified that if she did it would be true.
Duke Baird looked over at the girl, concerned by her pale face and by the doubt that darkened the troubled depths of her blue-grey eyes. He opened his mouth to answer, but before he could utter a word h was interrupted by a muffled cry of pain. Glancing at Daine, he saw that she was clutching her head in her hands, trying to fight off the blinding agony of the headache that was beginning to set in. He got up and walked towards a table.
Daine was then able to breath again, the tortuous burden of the headache chased back as cooling magic entered her veins. She looked up to see the Duke mix the contents of a sachet with some water.
"Drink this," he commanded quietly, holding the cup to her lips. Daine drank obediently and was asleep even before her head touched her soft pillows.
*****
Daine stirred in her sleep, sighing as if all the world's troubles lay on her young shoulders. Gentle fingers reached forward to caress her soft skin, their movements hesitant and unsure, conducting a secret love affair with the contours of her face. The owner of those fingers let his heart rule his actions and he leant forward, placing his lips on those of the sleeping girl in silent possession.
Daine didn't have to open her eyes to see who it was who was kissing her; she knew his touch, the taste of his kiss, his scent, which was one spices and soap. A slender hand slipped around his neck, weaving fingers through his long hair a she deepened their kiss. She sighed once again, this time in pleasure, as strong arms lifted her upright and drew her against a warm, hard chest, never breaking the kiss. She marvelled in a world of fire and happiness, secure in the hold of arms that promised never to let her go.
Numair withdrew his lips slowly, his dark eyes filled with so much emotion that Daine's heart near broke upon looking into them. Reaching forward, she brushed away the black strands of hair that had fallen across his face and he bent to brush his lips tenderly across hers. Reaching her ear, his voice horse with emotion, he whispered softly to her.
" And that is one of the most important lessons I'll ever teach you, magelet."
Daine glanced up, confused, "What?"
His lips almost touching hers, Numair said, "That's how you wake up someone whom you love, when for the last week you've been unsure as to whether they're dead or alive."
***** Hehe! That's all for now! I promised you fluff and that's what you get! What do you think? Please send me your reviews by means of that little purple box! (and hit the computer if it says I don't accept anonymous reviews because I do!)