Numair had again taken up occupancy in a rather uncomfortable chair stuffed between a small end table in the corner and Daine's bed. Tkaa and Alanna had left to find what they needed to try to create a potion that would counteract the effects of this illness; Numair however had doubts that this was a problem that could be solved by a mere potion, it was too simple.

 He sat with his legs spread out in front of him, he had long since given up on thinking; neither hoping nor worrying he stared blankly out a window. Even with this blanket over his emotion, if Daine stirred at all he would move as fast as possible to her side. But she had not stirred for the past hour since Alanna had departed.

They had begged Numair to accompany them, he had more of an education, but showing his stubborn side he absolutely refused to move at all. His reaction really did not surprise them; and using far better judgment than to quarrel with him they simply left.

~*~*~

Tkaa and Alanna were sifting through dusty storerooms. *We'll find it.* he said in mind voice.

"We better." Quipped Alanna who had to restrain herself from finishing her sentence with 'you overgrown lizard'. He deserved more respect than that, but she was frankly annoyed with her partner, her extremely forgetful partner.

~*~*~

Their predicaments had not much improved an hour later. Numair was a hair's breadth away from ripping his hair out. He was never an impatient person, until now. The waiting was positively driving his mental capacity to the edge. As soon as he considered, mentally joking with himself, to take a flying leap of death out the nearby window. He strangely drifted off to sleep.

Daine had not stirred, until, in a mere moment she sat bolt upright gasping for air. The pain in her lungs had grown, and it hurt fiercely to breathe. Hugging her sides she hung her head, not sure of which way to turn.

Numair registered the noise of heavy breathing after a few moments. He sprang instantly to Daine.

"You'll be alright." Came Numair's voice, cutting through the haze of her mind with sharp clarity.

"Numair-r-r." she moaned, choking in pain; looking to him for reassurance.

Numair's eyes had never been more troubled, but he did not know how to answer. So silently, without uttering a word, he scooted into the bed and gathered Daine into his arms. She made no protest, just leaned her head upon his chest.

Her slender body felt delicate in his arms, and if not for the fact that she was gasping for air and breathing shallowly, it felt strangely comfortable there too. He felt the abnormal heat rise off of her body, and looked down. Her eyes were closed firmly, and she was attempting to focus on something else instead of the fiery pain the erupted through her body every time she took a breath. She felt dizzy and nauseated by the pain, overwhelmed by it.

He shifted her so that she rested in the right crook of his arm, and sat there waiting for this inner battle to end. "It'll be alright magelet." He whispered in her ear. "It'll be alright, I promise you."

She listened intently to the sound of his voice, the single place she drew strength from.

He could wait no longer for them to return with the potion. At the moment that he was just about to stand up and pelt Alanna with orders to hurry. The door slammed open and in walked a very ruffled Alanna and Tkaa carrying a steaming goblet.

Daine did not glance up, but Numair did and shot Alanna scathing look for taking so long. "Where have you been?! She is worsening." He demanded.

"We were delayed." She answered directing his eyes to the basilisk.

Yes, he replied again using his mind voice which carried an edge of worry and anger. We would not have been, except for an inattentive mortal failed to notice the case of powdered wyvern claw right next to her, and we wasted a good half an hour hunting for it.

The Lioness and Tkaa had not had an easy time making the potion. The pressure had caused their personalities to flare up a bit. Alanna bit her tongue and made no reply, she could argue with him later.

She stepped forward to Numair and handed him an intricately carved wooden goblet filled with a steaming gray liquid. He grimaced at the appearance, it didn't look remotely appetizing. He had had his fair share of Alanna's concoctions himself, and new better to think it would taste any better than it looked.

He eased Daine up and held the goblet to her lips. She gripped it with a shaking hand, and swallowed it in three large gulps with no more than a grimace at the taste. Immediately she could feel her senses fading, and snuggling up in Numair's embrace she drifted into sleep. He sighed.

Was that the first time she has awoken? Ask Tkaa. Numair nodded.

Alanna turned to Tkaa, "What do we do now? How long do you think it will take for the potion to take effect?"

We wait. It should only take about an hour to work.

~*~*~*

Two hours later…

Numair paced the room apprehensively, there was a problem, it hadn't worked…

~*~*~*~*~*~

AN: I finally have this chapter up at last! YAY! I am so sorry it has taken me this long, but I have had so much homework and have been working so many things! I hope all of my reviewers came back, and more people too. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. It was nice to slip back into these characters again, thanks to all and please review! ~Roccovende

replies~

Kit49 – Sorry it has been a while since I updated! I am glad you like this story, and hope that this chapter was good too! :)

Witch@heart – LOL. We are the normal ones, I'll stand by that! The hobbit drinking song, which one? The one from RotK or from FotR? I am 'rings freak too! I hope that this chapter was good, I love getting your reviews too! Both flattering a funny! Hannon le *slaps self – no elvish in TP world* Hey, thanks!)

Robinwyn – Finals my friend, good LUCK! I know I posted this probably before I got your suggestion on it. But it will be easier to work out reading after nasssssty finals week! I was your 50th review! *yay* That's awesome, thanks much. Your reviews were great, they make me feel powerful! *ego balloon deflates* Okay, maybe not powerful, but awesome and poised to write more! ttyl :)

Lady-kitty – Glad u like, I hope your still here to review. I will definitely check on yours when I have the chance, I have been so busy these past weeks! In fact I am skipping writing an essay to write this now! Tee hee!

Numair's Angel – So sorry this is sooooo late! I promise I will update faster. I'd love to hear what you think!

Wake-Robin – Oooh thanks so much! I hope you like this chapter as well!

Wildmagelette - *bubbles with excitement too* But I am bubbling with excitement for your review! Fun fun fun! N/D fluff is so much fun to write!

Magikal waterfall – Thanks for the suggestion about Tkaa's voice, now I have him speaking in mind voice, but I just figured out how to make the italics show up when I post! *hehe* Plus it has been a while since I read the books, so many thanks!

Snake feather – less exclamation, another great suggestion. I do not think I have an exclamation point in this chapter. :) what can I say, this is a fun story, it makes me hyper!

 CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88 - ^_^ I looove D/N. Yes I was able to read a few of your fics, all of which were awesome! I need to read them again, and review review review! Hope you likes this chapter! :)

Clarylissa – well I won't say I'm not going to kill her, but I will say that I hate reading death fics. And I *never* write what I hate. ;) Sorry this was late

ArizonaBay – um they made the potion, but it didn't work! Hee hee, I am so evil! *stops self from talking about next chapter* You will just have to see what happens!

Miya-chan3 – Sorry it has taken so long, hope you aren't angry. Perhaps this nice chapter makes up for it? I promise I will update soon, at least by this weekend!

Thanks to all! I hope everyone enjoyed this! ~Roccovende :)