Right, people. Next update and so soon after the other one! *grins and
looks proud* Can't actually think of much to say, so I suppose that I ought
to shut up now. ;)
DeeSarrachi: I don't know, are there stars in the sky? Found your story. Got my review? Sorry it's short, didn't have much time. :)
TamoraFan: Eeeee! Thank you! I don't intend to stop writing, so don't worry!
ASV: A scene where they consummate their love? You want one? Well, let's see . . . okay! Just give me a bit of dramatic licence with timing and I'll give you one. Hehe! Should be fun. :P
Wildmage101: You're forgiven! Threats seem to work with me, anyway! And I don't have anymore ideas to stop. *grins*
Catty: Good luck with your exams, or should I say, Bon Chance! I don't know what everyone's problem about temporarily killing Daine is though.. . ..
Martini: I'm back and I'm back for Good! :)
Numair's Daine: A big thumbs up? Yay! Sorry to break it to you though, but Evin may have to go out of the story, though setting him up with Miri . . . *chews pencil as thinks * :)
(&*$$*&& I've run out of time! Internet closes in 3 minutes here at school (currently 21:42) so I'll post another chapter to thank the rest of you guys tomorrow!
Knowledge
A week later Daine found herself cornered in the stables by Onua, and decided that she most definitely did not like, did not trust that look on her friend's dark face. Squinting her eyes against the bright sunlight that streamed in through the broken rafters, she tried to sidle out of Onua's grasp, mumbling excuses about needing to tend to the horses.
"No you don't. I want to talk to you, Daine," warned Onua, trapping the girl against the wall and grinning in a suspicious way that made Daine abandon all hope. 'She knows something,' thought Daine half-despairingly, 'She knows about me and Numair.' Onua turned her face to the sky, basking in the warmth that drifted lazily down through the heavy air.
"I love the summer," she breathed. "It makes me feel so happy and warm, like I'm walking on clouds. It seems to be having the same effect on you." She turned her gaze back to Daine, looking directly at her as mischief sparked in her grey eyes. "Either that, or something else is distracting you. I've never seen you acting so blissfully oblivious of everything before." She paused to let Daine speak, a friendly challenge in her tone. Daine opened her mouth to defend herself, but no sound came out. Shades of embarrassment stole over her face as she saw a triumphant, knowing grin spread over Onua's face.
"Who is it then?" Onua asked, more than just a little interested now.
"Who's who?" Daine cringed as she heard her voice emerge as a squeak, trying desperately to avoid the question.
"The person who you're in love with, you idiot. It would be obvious even if you didn't spend half your time gazing dreamily into the distance."
'She doesn't know it's Numair!' Daine realised, stunned. 'Should I tell her or no? Would she be angry?'
Daine! Cloud's angry neigh slashed through the girl's thoughts, dripping with unsuppressed annoyance. Daine's head whipped up and around, confusion registering on her features.
"Onua, I've got to go. Cloud's angry with and I don't know why." Before the K'mir could say anything, Daine slipped out of her hold and ran to where Cloud was stamping impatiently by the gate. She vaulted the fence and walked to Cloud's side, thoroughly irritated by her pony's unreasonable behaviour.
What's wrong with you? demanded Daine. Have I done something to annoy you?
Well, not really the pony sounded almost abashed. 'Miracles never cease,' thought the girl. I have this itch on my back and it won't go away
You nearly deafened me because of that? the girl asked incredulously. Why don't you just roll in the grass?
It's in an awkward place, just by my wither Cloud's horse sense added sharpness to the pony's tone. Anyway, I did want to give you a piece of advice as well
Daine sighed and scratched Cloud's wither reluctantly. What is it? she asked wearily.
"No need to sound so ungrateful retorted the mare. I was just going to tell you that if you don't want the two-leggers noticing this strange state you and the stork-man have got yourselves into, then I suggest you stop walking around like a cow struck dumb.
Pray, don't soften your words to spare me the blow replied Daine, sarcasm thickly lacing her words. The mare simply snorted and moved away towards a patch of fresh, juicy grass that she had spotted.
Daine sat down where she was, resting her head against the stake and draping an arm over the wooden bar of the fence. 'Strange state, indeed,' she thought, affronted. 'There's nothing strange about it.' Still, she did wonder if her affections were so very obvious. 'No point worrying,' whispered a voice in her mind, a voice that captured cold nights and a distant memory of pack song; it spoke of mountains and the essential existence of all the People. It was both everything and nothing at the same time and stirred a deep longing inside her for the wildness of nature, a sweet, intoxicating flow that urged her to abandon the shell that confined her. 'What will be will be.' The voice seemed to possess her for a century, but in truth had come and gone in but a second, leaving he empty and gasping.
'Father Mithros,' she whispered, turning eyes blinded by tears towards the sky. 'What was that all about?'
Her secret had slipped out of her hold, water fighting past wind and now governed her with a desire to leave this mortality that caged her soul.
*****
Numair gazed longingly out of the window, his face wreathed in boredom. He wanted to go outside, talk to Daine, return to his experiments, anything to break this unbearable tedium. Behind him voices droned and normally his own voice would have been amongst them, adding his comments and opinions, but today his interest was noticeably lacking. He could conjure up no enthusiasm for the topic under discussion, which were the terms for the treaties that needed be drawn up for the countries that Tortall and her allies had defeated.
Movement in the fields below caught his attention. He could see Daine next to Cloud and from the chagrined expression on the girl's face he suspected that the mare was being even more opinionated as usual. He suppressed a chuckled and continued to watch as Daine scratched the pony's back and then settle herself down by the fence.
'Poor girl,' he thought. 'She looks so tired.' A flare of foreign magic suddenly registered on his magical senses as a crushing feeling of cataclysm made him reel inside. The magic was so intense, so strong, it almost blinded his magical vision. Jumping to his feet, he stared outside, trying to find the source that could wield such power and collapsed back again into his chair, his knuckles white with tension when he saw that the waves of magic were emanating from Daine, strong, pulsing magic that lasted but a second. A claw gripped his heart tight, but barely had he had time to register this than the magic disappeared; it vanished not with a final, defiant flare nor did it dwindle and die, but instead cut off all of a sudden without a trace. His magelet was pale and seemed to be speaking to the heavens. And then he understood.
"Gods, no!" his voice was quiet but terrible with fear. He was half-running out of the room, not seeing anything but Daine's pale face and hearing nothing, not even the shouts of people behind him, demanding to know where he was going. The scrapes of chairs meant nothing to him, nor did the surroundings, rd merging into grey merging into black, as he became winged fear on flying feet. 'Don't take her away from me,' he prayed, pleading with the Great Gods. 'Please don't take her away.'
He reached the field at last, and he leant against the fence for support, its rough grain beneath his calloused fingers dragging him back to reality as he gasped for breath. He looked towards Daine, only to find that she wasn't there. An anguished cry of despair spilled involuntarily from his lips in as terror seized him once more. A hand gripped his shoulder and spun him around roughly. Numair found himself looking down at Alanna.
"Numair, I'm . . . Gods, you look terrible. What's happened?" The agonised fear that marked the mage's dark face so clearly caused alarm to creep into her own amethyst gaze.
"Where is she? Tell me you know!" His voice was hoarse and breaking, and it pained the knight to see her friend so scared and helpless, like a lost child. She knew he meant Daine - nothing else could shake his composure so severely. Alanna had seen a lone figure depart from this field not a minute before, and lying a reassuring hand on his forearm she attempted to soothe his fears.
"I saw someone leaving this field just a moment ago. I was a distance away but I'm sure that it was Daine - she was heading towards the barracks - " The rest of her sentence was lost as Numair rose from his defeated position in a second and made his way quickly towards the building to the left of the field, haste marking his steps. Alanna watched him go, thinking that it would probably be best if she left the two of them alone but changed her mind as a chill ran through her bones when she thought of Daine. Fear for this young woman rooted itself deep in her mind and she knew that her heart would remain troubled until she had seen the girl, for something not of this world was happening, and she would be damned if she failed to protect her friends from being hurt by it. Sighing but determined, she followed, though at a slower pace than the one Numair had set.
*****
Numair knocked on the door of Daine's room, but no one answered. From beneath the palpitations that wracked his body, he noted that the door was locked and wondered why on earth she would do such an action that would rob her of her animal companions. Knocking again, he was still met by no answer, and ignoring all rules of courtesy, he used his magic to unlock the door, refusing to believe that she had gone. He stepped into the room, praying that she was there and his gaze fell on her bed, capturing the sight of her lovely form lying there. His breath caught in his throat and he was rendered motionless by the fear that she might be dead. Silent, he saw her fingers move and his paralysis dissolved.
"Daine?"
She sat up suddenly, tear-streaked face glistening in the shadows that surrounded her. She saw who it was for the first time, for she had scarcely noticed her door being flung open, and her heart began to break, rivers of grief turning to ice and cracking, shattering till she could stand it no more. Choking back a sob she flew into his arms, burying her face in his chest, not wanting to say a word lest it be the last word she ever said to him. Numair's arms drew her closer and she felt him shaking; her decision became so much harder. Before, just a moment ago, she had thought that maybe she could survive without Numair; now that she was in his arms again, she knew that she couldn't.
There was no need for words. They were afraid - they both knew that, but still they tried to console each other, just holding tight, never wanting to let go. Moments passed in the security of their arms before a soft cough interrupted them. Both turned their faces towards the other person in the room, reluctant to unwind themselves and upon seeing Alanna, smiles chased away some of the sadness that resided in their faces.
Alanna crossed over to the pair. "I'm sorry," she apologised softly. "I don't want to interrupt because I know that you need to talk, but I just came to say goodbye."
"Goodbye?" repeated Daine. No, no she needed Alanna here. She couldn't go and leave Daine feeling so lost.
"Yes. I'm afraid that after having finished with the fighting and having fulfilled my duties as the king's Champion, I must return to Pirate's Swoop, where George and the children are."
"Of course, Lioness. Have a safe journey." Daine embraced her friend, silently chiding herself for being so selfish when Alanna had a family to return to. Numair hugged the Lioness affectionately, wishing too that she didn't have to go.
"Thank you for everything, Alanna. We'll be seeing you and George sometime in the near future I hope?"
"We'll be coming up to the palace midway through August. It's Jon's birthday, as you know, so we are required to attend the celebrations. Goddess bless, both of you." Not trusting herself to speak as the sight that she had encountered when she had arrived had far from appeased her fears, she departed quickly, flashing a grin over her shoulder, albeit it lacked the usual light-hearted humour.
"I wish she didn't have to go. I have a feeling we're going to need her," murmured Daine sorrowfully, once more wrapped in Numair's arms, needing his love and support more than ever. Numair tipped her face up, trying to control his actions and kissed her lips tenderly, glad that she still responded with her usual love to his embrace. He trailed a finger down her face, speaking quietly.
"I know, magelet. But sometimes people have to leave, no matter how much we need them."
*****
Evin backed away from the open door, a tumble of emotions rushing through his mind: he was sad, shocked and still in a state of utter disbelief. He had finally plucked up the courage to tell Daine of his affections, only to find her in the arms of the mage, Master Salmalin, her teacher. At first he had dismissed it as a display of concern by a friend, but they had not broken apart, even when Alanna had come in. Then he had kissed her. Daine. The only girl that Evin longed to hold and kiss. He had seen the reaction of Daine, knew how she felt about the man in whose arms she stood. She loved him. She would never belong to Evin because she had already given her heart away. Yet, why did Evin get the feeling that Daine had a lot more to lose than just her heart? It had been the expression on everyone's faces, their movements, their . . . .he didn't know quite what, but he knew that it threatened Daine. Even if she couldn't be his, he would look out for her, protect her. Protect her with his life.
*****
What the hell is happening? What the hell is going on? I don't know! (well actually I do, but I don't want to b giving the plot away, so there! :P) The big question is: do you want to know what's happening?
DeeSarrachi: I don't know, are there stars in the sky? Found your story. Got my review? Sorry it's short, didn't have much time. :)
TamoraFan: Eeeee! Thank you! I don't intend to stop writing, so don't worry!
ASV: A scene where they consummate their love? You want one? Well, let's see . . . okay! Just give me a bit of dramatic licence with timing and I'll give you one. Hehe! Should be fun. :P
Wildmage101: You're forgiven! Threats seem to work with me, anyway! And I don't have anymore ideas to stop. *grins*
Catty: Good luck with your exams, or should I say, Bon Chance! I don't know what everyone's problem about temporarily killing Daine is though.. . ..
Martini: I'm back and I'm back for Good! :)
Numair's Daine: A big thumbs up? Yay! Sorry to break it to you though, but Evin may have to go out of the story, though setting him up with Miri . . . *chews pencil as thinks * :)
(&*$$*&& I've run out of time! Internet closes in 3 minutes here at school (currently 21:42) so I'll post another chapter to thank the rest of you guys tomorrow!
Knowledge
A week later Daine found herself cornered in the stables by Onua, and decided that she most definitely did not like, did not trust that look on her friend's dark face. Squinting her eyes against the bright sunlight that streamed in through the broken rafters, she tried to sidle out of Onua's grasp, mumbling excuses about needing to tend to the horses.
"No you don't. I want to talk to you, Daine," warned Onua, trapping the girl against the wall and grinning in a suspicious way that made Daine abandon all hope. 'She knows something,' thought Daine half-despairingly, 'She knows about me and Numair.' Onua turned her face to the sky, basking in the warmth that drifted lazily down through the heavy air.
"I love the summer," she breathed. "It makes me feel so happy and warm, like I'm walking on clouds. It seems to be having the same effect on you." She turned her gaze back to Daine, looking directly at her as mischief sparked in her grey eyes. "Either that, or something else is distracting you. I've never seen you acting so blissfully oblivious of everything before." She paused to let Daine speak, a friendly challenge in her tone. Daine opened her mouth to defend herself, but no sound came out. Shades of embarrassment stole over her face as she saw a triumphant, knowing grin spread over Onua's face.
"Who is it then?" Onua asked, more than just a little interested now.
"Who's who?" Daine cringed as she heard her voice emerge as a squeak, trying desperately to avoid the question.
"The person who you're in love with, you idiot. It would be obvious even if you didn't spend half your time gazing dreamily into the distance."
'She doesn't know it's Numair!' Daine realised, stunned. 'Should I tell her or no? Would she be angry?'
Daine! Cloud's angry neigh slashed through the girl's thoughts, dripping with unsuppressed annoyance. Daine's head whipped up and around, confusion registering on her features.
"Onua, I've got to go. Cloud's angry with and I don't know why." Before the K'mir could say anything, Daine slipped out of her hold and ran to where Cloud was stamping impatiently by the gate. She vaulted the fence and walked to Cloud's side, thoroughly irritated by her pony's unreasonable behaviour.
What's wrong with you? demanded Daine. Have I done something to annoy you?
Well, not really the pony sounded almost abashed. 'Miracles never cease,' thought the girl. I have this itch on my back and it won't go away
You nearly deafened me because of that? the girl asked incredulously. Why don't you just roll in the grass?
It's in an awkward place, just by my wither Cloud's horse sense added sharpness to the pony's tone. Anyway, I did want to give you a piece of advice as well
Daine sighed and scratched Cloud's wither reluctantly. What is it? she asked wearily.
"No need to sound so ungrateful retorted the mare. I was just going to tell you that if you don't want the two-leggers noticing this strange state you and the stork-man have got yourselves into, then I suggest you stop walking around like a cow struck dumb.
Pray, don't soften your words to spare me the blow replied Daine, sarcasm thickly lacing her words. The mare simply snorted and moved away towards a patch of fresh, juicy grass that she had spotted.
Daine sat down where she was, resting her head against the stake and draping an arm over the wooden bar of the fence. 'Strange state, indeed,' she thought, affronted. 'There's nothing strange about it.' Still, she did wonder if her affections were so very obvious. 'No point worrying,' whispered a voice in her mind, a voice that captured cold nights and a distant memory of pack song; it spoke of mountains and the essential existence of all the People. It was both everything and nothing at the same time and stirred a deep longing inside her for the wildness of nature, a sweet, intoxicating flow that urged her to abandon the shell that confined her. 'What will be will be.' The voice seemed to possess her for a century, but in truth had come and gone in but a second, leaving he empty and gasping.
'Father Mithros,' she whispered, turning eyes blinded by tears towards the sky. 'What was that all about?'
Her secret had slipped out of her hold, water fighting past wind and now governed her with a desire to leave this mortality that caged her soul.
*****
Numair gazed longingly out of the window, his face wreathed in boredom. He wanted to go outside, talk to Daine, return to his experiments, anything to break this unbearable tedium. Behind him voices droned and normally his own voice would have been amongst them, adding his comments and opinions, but today his interest was noticeably lacking. He could conjure up no enthusiasm for the topic under discussion, which were the terms for the treaties that needed be drawn up for the countries that Tortall and her allies had defeated.
Movement in the fields below caught his attention. He could see Daine next to Cloud and from the chagrined expression on the girl's face he suspected that the mare was being even more opinionated as usual. He suppressed a chuckled and continued to watch as Daine scratched the pony's back and then settle herself down by the fence.
'Poor girl,' he thought. 'She looks so tired.' A flare of foreign magic suddenly registered on his magical senses as a crushing feeling of cataclysm made him reel inside. The magic was so intense, so strong, it almost blinded his magical vision. Jumping to his feet, he stared outside, trying to find the source that could wield such power and collapsed back again into his chair, his knuckles white with tension when he saw that the waves of magic were emanating from Daine, strong, pulsing magic that lasted but a second. A claw gripped his heart tight, but barely had he had time to register this than the magic disappeared; it vanished not with a final, defiant flare nor did it dwindle and die, but instead cut off all of a sudden without a trace. His magelet was pale and seemed to be speaking to the heavens. And then he understood.
"Gods, no!" his voice was quiet but terrible with fear. He was half-running out of the room, not seeing anything but Daine's pale face and hearing nothing, not even the shouts of people behind him, demanding to know where he was going. The scrapes of chairs meant nothing to him, nor did the surroundings, rd merging into grey merging into black, as he became winged fear on flying feet. 'Don't take her away from me,' he prayed, pleading with the Great Gods. 'Please don't take her away.'
He reached the field at last, and he leant against the fence for support, its rough grain beneath his calloused fingers dragging him back to reality as he gasped for breath. He looked towards Daine, only to find that she wasn't there. An anguished cry of despair spilled involuntarily from his lips in as terror seized him once more. A hand gripped his shoulder and spun him around roughly. Numair found himself looking down at Alanna.
"Numair, I'm . . . Gods, you look terrible. What's happened?" The agonised fear that marked the mage's dark face so clearly caused alarm to creep into her own amethyst gaze.
"Where is she? Tell me you know!" His voice was hoarse and breaking, and it pained the knight to see her friend so scared and helpless, like a lost child. She knew he meant Daine - nothing else could shake his composure so severely. Alanna had seen a lone figure depart from this field not a minute before, and lying a reassuring hand on his forearm she attempted to soothe his fears.
"I saw someone leaving this field just a moment ago. I was a distance away but I'm sure that it was Daine - she was heading towards the barracks - " The rest of her sentence was lost as Numair rose from his defeated position in a second and made his way quickly towards the building to the left of the field, haste marking his steps. Alanna watched him go, thinking that it would probably be best if she left the two of them alone but changed her mind as a chill ran through her bones when she thought of Daine. Fear for this young woman rooted itself deep in her mind and she knew that her heart would remain troubled until she had seen the girl, for something not of this world was happening, and she would be damned if she failed to protect her friends from being hurt by it. Sighing but determined, she followed, though at a slower pace than the one Numair had set.
*****
Numair knocked on the door of Daine's room, but no one answered. From beneath the palpitations that wracked his body, he noted that the door was locked and wondered why on earth she would do such an action that would rob her of her animal companions. Knocking again, he was still met by no answer, and ignoring all rules of courtesy, he used his magic to unlock the door, refusing to believe that she had gone. He stepped into the room, praying that she was there and his gaze fell on her bed, capturing the sight of her lovely form lying there. His breath caught in his throat and he was rendered motionless by the fear that she might be dead. Silent, he saw her fingers move and his paralysis dissolved.
"Daine?"
She sat up suddenly, tear-streaked face glistening in the shadows that surrounded her. She saw who it was for the first time, for she had scarcely noticed her door being flung open, and her heart began to break, rivers of grief turning to ice and cracking, shattering till she could stand it no more. Choking back a sob she flew into his arms, burying her face in his chest, not wanting to say a word lest it be the last word she ever said to him. Numair's arms drew her closer and she felt him shaking; her decision became so much harder. Before, just a moment ago, she had thought that maybe she could survive without Numair; now that she was in his arms again, she knew that she couldn't.
There was no need for words. They were afraid - they both knew that, but still they tried to console each other, just holding tight, never wanting to let go. Moments passed in the security of their arms before a soft cough interrupted them. Both turned their faces towards the other person in the room, reluctant to unwind themselves and upon seeing Alanna, smiles chased away some of the sadness that resided in their faces.
Alanna crossed over to the pair. "I'm sorry," she apologised softly. "I don't want to interrupt because I know that you need to talk, but I just came to say goodbye."
"Goodbye?" repeated Daine. No, no she needed Alanna here. She couldn't go and leave Daine feeling so lost.
"Yes. I'm afraid that after having finished with the fighting and having fulfilled my duties as the king's Champion, I must return to Pirate's Swoop, where George and the children are."
"Of course, Lioness. Have a safe journey." Daine embraced her friend, silently chiding herself for being so selfish when Alanna had a family to return to. Numair hugged the Lioness affectionately, wishing too that she didn't have to go.
"Thank you for everything, Alanna. We'll be seeing you and George sometime in the near future I hope?"
"We'll be coming up to the palace midway through August. It's Jon's birthday, as you know, so we are required to attend the celebrations. Goddess bless, both of you." Not trusting herself to speak as the sight that she had encountered when she had arrived had far from appeased her fears, she departed quickly, flashing a grin over her shoulder, albeit it lacked the usual light-hearted humour.
"I wish she didn't have to go. I have a feeling we're going to need her," murmured Daine sorrowfully, once more wrapped in Numair's arms, needing his love and support more than ever. Numair tipped her face up, trying to control his actions and kissed her lips tenderly, glad that she still responded with her usual love to his embrace. He trailed a finger down her face, speaking quietly.
"I know, magelet. But sometimes people have to leave, no matter how much we need them."
*****
Evin backed away from the open door, a tumble of emotions rushing through his mind: he was sad, shocked and still in a state of utter disbelief. He had finally plucked up the courage to tell Daine of his affections, only to find her in the arms of the mage, Master Salmalin, her teacher. At first he had dismissed it as a display of concern by a friend, but they had not broken apart, even when Alanna had come in. Then he had kissed her. Daine. The only girl that Evin longed to hold and kiss. He had seen the reaction of Daine, knew how she felt about the man in whose arms she stood. She loved him. She would never belong to Evin because she had already given her heart away. Yet, why did Evin get the feeling that Daine had a lot more to lose than just her heart? It had been the expression on everyone's faces, their movements, their . . . .he didn't know quite what, but he knew that it threatened Daine. Even if she couldn't be his, he would look out for her, protect her. Protect her with his life.
*****
What the hell is happening? What the hell is going on? I don't know! (well actually I do, but I don't want to b giving the plot away, so there! :P) The big question is: do you want to know what's happening?