Hello! I'm back, I know it has been nearly a month! Forgive me, and please do not forget about this story! The last chapter, alas, though certainly not my last N/D fic, many more coming soon and I will be happy to have more of a freedom on the happenings. Anyway it seems a bit long, I swear. READ ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM IT MAY GET A LITTLE DULL BUT ONCE AT THE END YOU WILL SEE WHY IT IS WORTH IT (hehe I hope) read and review, please! One last time!

~*~*~*~

Numair slowly paced in front of the flickering light of the fires inside the hearth. Bending down, he forced another log into the crackling flames and savored it's warmth as it sparked, sending ashes upon the tiles; then, turning into the shadows, he sat at a dusty table and placed his head in his hands. He felt as if training weights were attached to his eyes. Sleep, he yearned for it with passion. Alanna's warning about taking rest before he returned rang painfully in his mind. He played with the idea of waiting until the morrow to begin his return journey, but then he thought of Daine.

He could not condemn her to death; if he tarried, that was a near certainty. The full severity and action of the situation was beginning to wear on him, he wouldn't deny that, but he could not do that to his magelet. The thought of her alone, albeit unconscious, back in Corus made his heart clench tightly; but, it also served to fuel his fiery determination. He would go then, and resigned himself to it.

He turned from the room and walked back upstairs to his bedroom. The air was still dusty and he felt as if it clung in the chill of the night to his tunic and pants. Entering the room, he picked up the pouch for his clothing that he had discarded upon the bed. He went over to a dusty wooden dresser in the corner and shoved a carefully rolled up set of clothes, along with the unicorn hair in the smaller pocket, inside the leather pouch.

He glanced up at the waning night, then yawned loudly only to feel his weary limbs protest even the slightest movement. He sighed, and then moved his hand down to finger the golden locket forgotten on his wrist. He wouldn't need it if he transformed as he planned to. Undoing the clasp he held it into the moonlight still coming through the window. It fell opened in his palm, and inside, as bright as the gold around it, was the lock of Daine's hair. 'It fits perfectly.' He mused, then unbeknownst to his own conscious he followed with the thought, 'It fits in this locket just as Daine fits… in my heart.' That was a strange thought to occur to him, seeing his student as more than an ally or friend.

An owl hooted softly from a nearby tree, shaking Numair from his reverie. He stood and slid the trinket also into his handbag, then grabbing that, he went back down the stairs. Once there, he doused the fire, then easily slipped into eagle form. He had to leave his clothing in his home so that no one, even if there were few people around the house, would become suspicious of what he was doing.

The bag was gripped tightly between talons leaving an imprint in the brown leather. He looked around, viewing his home for what could be the last time in months, and then he spread his wings, and giving a few powerful surges, he propelled himself up the chimney shaft.

The polluted air of the chimney was disgusting, it took a lot of Numair's patience to not cough and lose his burden. He was immensely relieved when the ash-ridden pipe ended and he was able to emerge into free air. He felt the soot being pulled from his feathers by the air rushing through them. He turned his head and even through the perspective of a hawk it was impressive to see the streak the mess left in the sky. 'Like a dark falling star.' he thought.

It was harder to cover the distance back to the small village where he had deposited Cloud, for he was wearier than before. He finally did make it, and the village came into his line of vision just as a few rays of light peeked above the eastern horizon. 

Only a few miles from the village, the encampment of raiders, which he thought he had seen in the night, was visible under his flight path. He realized that it was a risky fly-over, but otherwise did not heed much thought to the group of foreign warriors that he would most likely be battling later in the season.

On the ground though, two soldiers were awake and grumbling about the morning duty. "Why do we have to be up this damn early?!" grunted one who was holding what looked to be whiskey because of the large bottle of potent alcohol clutched in his greedy fists.

"Don't know," sneered the other who sounded as if he was talking through his nose. He fingered the edge of an arrow and gazed up at the sky. Strangely enough, he spotted the grey form soaring on the morning breeze. "Hey 'ya see tha'?" he asked his companion.

"Which 'un o' the lil black specks are you talkin' to?" said his obviously un-sober companion. In his eyes the world was tinged with a slight fuzz… 'and…' he thought 'only half of the little specks are in the air… wait…' but he lost track of the rest of his thoughts and keeled over on the ground.

"Stupid idiot," muttered the other and kicked the unconscious man on the ground with a heavy leather boot. He looked up again, and the figure was still within his range. 'Might as well, starved as it is.' The man thought and he notched the crude excuse for a bow in his hand.

The starving soldier took aim, and released a bolt.

The bolt flew in the general direction of the archer's intent, but did not hit its target.

The arrow cut through the air, but Numair's awareness and the archer's eyesight caused it to miss by a good margin.

Numair turned in the air, 'Damn,' he cursed in his head. 'They must have seen me.' He easily turned into a steeply controlled dive and slipped beneath the lighted, inter-twining layers of upper foliage on the trees. He stayed there for a time, until he was genuinely sure that he had evaded becoming lunch.

He would have to take that up with Daine if she was better… when, he corrected himself, when she is better.

It was a short flight time until the town came into view. It was not yet midday as far as Numair could tell. He immediately flew to the stable that he had left Cloud at the previous evening. He continued flying into the woods, a few feet away from the stable, were he made a soft landing.

He probably should have flown on, but holding hawk shape was beginning to wear on him. He could feel the essence of human senses itching at the back of his mind. His grip… was… slipping. It was a struggle.

He slipped to the brush and as soon as he hit the ground he abruptly allowed his magic to release the mind of an eagle. He pulled from the pack his tunic and pants. He griped that he had no shoes, but it was not as if he planned to be noticed. If he did recall he had stored a pair with his tack.

Slipping into the brush he approached the outside of the stable. 'I should have just left Cloud here,' he thought to himself momentarily. 'But on the other hand, if Cloud didn't kill me for doing something like that, Daine would.'

He looked about and it seemed that no one, not even the small stable hand, was around for the moment. Grabbing the chance by the horns, he ran into the barn. Right next the wood-boxed stall where they held Cloud was his tack and boots, something he was happy to see.

Cloud was staring at him a little accusingly, as if to ask, 'Great Goddess, what possessed you to leave me in this horrid place?'

"Sorry girl," said Numair with a hint of weariness. "I need you to go back to Daine; I need your help to make her well again."

The mare mulled over his statement for a time before thrashing her head about and nickering, spraying Numair with food fresh from the morning's grain.

Numair jumped over the wall of the stall and saddled up. He wished Cloud was a tad leaner; fastening the girth was a nightmare for him, but he soon had it about her belly. The sun was just reaching the center of sky. 'Only midday. Making good time,' he thought to himself.

Just after he finished slipping on his boots, another stable boy approached the outside of the stall. He was young and was running a stick along the stone floors, singing softly to himself. His head jerked up upon seeing Numair. He looked surprised for a moment, but he resumed a professional manner a moment later. "You paid yet sir?"

Numair jumped a few feet into the air at his voice. 'So much for going unnoticed.' He forced a smile, "No, young man. I have not. May I pay you?"

The young boy looked tempted to take it; and Numair was hoping, for it would be easier to go unnoticed. The less attention he drew to himself with the large number of enemy in the area, the better.

"No," said the boy, "I'd better fetch the stable master."

Numair couldn't help wincing openly just slightly when he said this. "Instead here, take this," he pulled a few coins out of the coat he was wearing. "Those three are for the lodging, and the one is for your silence."

The boy looked at him curiously, but grinned and scampered off satisfied with a coin to his pocketbook. Numair quickly opened the stall door and slipped Cloud and himself out. He made sure the unicorn hair was tucked securely inside his coat and mounted Cloud. Spurring her rather hard, much to her momentary disdain, Numair and Cloud rode quickly out.

He kept her at a fast paced canter and avoided the main road. He rode alongside it in the woods for a time until the main road led out of the village and merged with the original road he had been on.

No one was traveling that day, and because the roads were so empty he could bring Cloud to a full gallop.

Nearly two hours had passed when the hoof beats of others reached Numair's ears. He sat up, and looked behind him to catch two horses on his tail.

Mounted on those horses were two more gruff looking raiders. 'Damn!' thought Numair forcefully. 'They think I am a messenger.' And in a sense he was.

"Thas' the guy we 'eard pass las' night." Yelled one of the raiders to the other.

The other guy nodded.

Numair pulled Cloud off of the road, but the other men followed persistently. He dodged, cut, and tried to out maneuver them, but it was futile. He sped up Cloud by pouring his magic into her movement but he still could not ditch them.

One of the men drew another crude bow as he rode a few feet away but alongside Numair. It stretched with a creak, if he could not out run the messenger he would shoot him. He released the bolt.

Numair was thrown backward in his saddle and he did not realize that an arrow was protruding from his shoulder until a second later pain erupted from the wound. He gasped and pressed a hand to it.

He turned and pulling his concentration away from physical awareness he shot a spell at those following him. It hit the horses and in a spray of black light caused them to fall to the ground…dead.

The shock of the abrupt action hit Numair, and he felt the great pressure and pain upon his shoulder which pained him like fire. He had been hit before, but he could feel then a sharp toxin spreading through his system.

"No." he said to himself and muttered it over and over again as Cloud continued her gallop. He would not allow himself to lose concentration, not when he was so close, so close to achieving his goal…

He was losing his natural rhythm with Clouds gait, she could feel it and occasionally eyed him, concerned. His breath came in shallow gasps as the edgy pain coursed through him.

Finally he could not withstand the pain in his arm and he yanked Cloud to a halt. His breath was rasping as he clambered off of her, and came to rest, leaning heavily on a nearby tree.

Numair looked at his shoulder; the arrow shaft was still protruding from it. Around it, his shirt was stained a light crimson. After little thought he wrapped his hand firmly about the shaft; he inhaled sharply and just as he was ready to pull the offending projectile from his body a thought struck him. He couldn't remove it, he had nothing to bind the wound with. If he did he would likely bleed to death.

The pain was over-bearing but using what little sense he had left he pulled out his hunting knife. The knife was beautiful; it had a serrated silver edge with an ivory handle inlaid with a gold stag… 'A gift from Daine.' He recalled and tried to picture her smiling face when she had handed it to him to keep his mind off of the pain. Roughly he grabbed the shaft again and taking the knife he sliced it as close as he could reach to his shoulder; it would stay the blood, but it would cause less awkwardness.

Darkness was beckoning him, its blissfulness there just as soon as he shut his eyes.

A nicker brought him out of his stupor; Cloud hit him with her head. Gently she pulled a bunched part of his shirt with her teeth so that he was standing. Taking the hint he mounted her. Without another command she took off.

~*~*~*

Alanna sat inside the courtyard, looking toward the gates. There was little time left unless Numair returned before dark. She was fading fast and despite what she and Tkaa had done to slow the illness' effects, it seemed to be flourishing.

She was deep in her reverie when a foaming grey mare passed through the gates. The knights at the gates asked no questions and immediately Alanna knew it was Numair. 'Thank the Gods!' thought Alanna, relieved. But they were cutting it close and not out of the woods yet.

"Numair!" she cried as the horse cantered close and came to a halt in front of her in the courtyard.

She gasped when she caught sight of him. Sweat was pouring down his face, his eyes were dulled with fever, and he was very tense, holding his left shoulder at a strange angle. "What happened?!" she exclaimed as she rand to him.

She gave him a hand and gently helped the man from the saddle. "Raiders," he managed to gasp out between gasps. "Poisoned dart… but take this." He shoved the leather pouch into her hand. "The little pouch…" he stopped to catch his breath. "...the hair is in it."

He could not say anymore, the world began to blur strangely and he fought for breath. "Numair!" said Alanna who was supporting nearly all of his weight. "Wha-"

But he heard no more, the rest faded into black as at last he lost consciousness, his task finally complete.

~*~*~

White, as blank as the emptiness of the sound around him, that was all he saw. 'Where am I?' wondered Numair, suddenly he blinked and a voice cut in, "Bout time you came-to. Nasty shot they got at 'ya." The voice said.

Numair reached a hand up and rubbed his eyes. Suddenly Duke Baird came into view, standing by his bed. (omit: And) He looked around. He was dressed in only breeches and in a white cot with his shoulder bound tightly.

"How do you feel?" came the head healer's deep voice.

"How's Daine?" choked out a concerned Numair. He had not realized how dry his mouth was; he tried to swallow the feeling.

Duke Baird attempted to hand him a goblet, but Numair shook his head, "No, not until I can see Daine."

"You, Numair Salmalin, do not have the authority to make that decision. Alanna is with her at the moment. Drink it. It's just water."

Numair took it, grudgingly. He was too weak to check it with magic, but stared at its rippling surface for a few moments before taking a sip. After that one sip he was hooked and quickly swallowed the entire thing.

It was not until minutes later he felt his eyes become heavy and lids begin to slip shut. "It was laced…" he yawned and frowned.

"Alanna's orders…" was all that he heard.

~*~*~

The next time he awoke, the healing wing was still, the dark night encompassing all around him. He just lay there for a while, listening to the crickets and soft breeze flittering through the branches of trees on the grounds. 'Like music,' he thought. 'The music of the night.'

He tired soon of listening to what was all around him, and worry ate at his heart. He had received no news of Daine, none. 'What if she is not…?' He could not bear to think of the possibility that she had died. The thought made him feel as if someone drove a stake through his heart. 'No,' he chided himself. Surely they would have told him.

Deep awareness that she might not be alive was the only thing he could think of. He silently stood, a little unsteady but good enough. He slipped on a white tunic and pair of light boots, and then slipped out of the door to the healing wing.

The castle was deserted; as empty as he felt his heart would be should he find that Daine was… gone.

Finally he reached her door, and his anxiety and anticipation were nearly overwhelming. It opened without protest, and he slipped inside. The first thing he saw made him fear that his worries had been a reality. Then he looked closer, and amid her frame of russet hair Daine was calmly sleeping.

Numair was happy. Her face was smooth, unlike before, and showing no trace of the trauma that her body had suffered. 'Except for the dark circles under her eyes,' thought Numair, 'But she is still beautiful.' He looked at his student, his friend. She was beautiful, immaculately so, especially sleeping.

And sitting there, seeing her in a light that he had not before, it was all he could do not to smile. He stepped closer, and placed a hand on her cheek. He was aware that she could not hear him but Numair said anyway, "Thank the Gods magelet. What would I do without you?"

He drew his hand away then picked up his leather pouch which was lying on her end table. Rummaging through it he found the golden locket Varice had given him. It used to bring back bitter memories; but opening the clasp he remembered he had placed Daine's hair there. He would not allow it to represent memories of the past, only his memories with Daine and how precious they were. 'I'll have to have a portrait made for it… without her knowing of course. She'd laugh or something.' Thought Numair. He slipped the golden chain about his wrist.

He lifted up his hand, and bending the placed a final kiss on Daine's forehead. He stepped toward the door and, turning the worn brass knob, stepped out.

A wave of relief finally washed over him, the relief that finally he could rest and Daine would be well. He smiled and just as abruptly that wave of relief came, another wave of weariness crashed upon. 'What an ordeal.' he thought, 'What an ordeal.'

He continued to walk down the barren halls. Even the tapestries seemed to be dulled of their vibrant color in the darkness. He truly felt exhausted, but he paused at the nearest open window to gaze at the full moon as it glimmered down upon the courtyard and surrounding kingdoms.

"Beautiful…" he yawned aloud.

"It is!" said a cheerful voice from behind him.

Numair felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned to see Daine standing behind him, beaming.

Daine was swept up in a tight embrace unrepentantly and swung playfully around the hall. They both were laughing. "How do you feel?" said Daine critically eying her tall companion.

"I believe," said Numair, "That I should be the one asking you that question."

Daine laughed, a bright flowing laugh as water in a mountain stream or music. "Much improved, thanks to you of course."

Numair replied, "Seeing you awake is worth all of the trouble." And he gave her a gentle hug, he was overjoyed to find her full of life again.

Daine smiled, "And what's this? Sentimental, sympathetic Numair. Why I never thought I'd see the day!"

He only continued to stare at the moon as he held her in a tight embrace. "Well, well," she continued, "I know all too well 'It's back to lessons!' in the morning."

"Ha. No, I believe we have earned a few days of relaxation. Bed rest by Alanna's orders; you know, if we wake her up we are both headed for the gallows."

Daine chuckled at the comment. Yes, Alanna would have their hides. "Well I am happy to oblige her orders. Rest, what a beautiful word. Watch us be called out in a few days. The adventures never seem to end, do they?"

"No, they don't."

Daine yawned, and swayed a bit. Numair, too, came back to the realization that he was peaking on exhaustion. "Back to bed with you, magelet. Trust me-" he paused to yawn, "-that's where I'm headed."

"G'night," mumbled Daine. "Thank you, I owe to you my life, and…" she paused attempting to think of something extremely meaningful and worthy of her gratitude to say, but came up blank. "… I'll see you in the morn…" Was all she could say.

But Numair understood, after all, he always did. He watched her sidle back down the hall and gave one more withering glance at the night.

He turned and walked back to the healer's wing. As Daine walked, she heard a fraction of something he said aloud, "The adventure never ends…"

~*~*~* FIN, for now, this adventure never ends, to be continued too…~*~*

DONE! Wooooo! At last! I thought it was a bit too, well boring but all in all a formidable way to close. Please stick around I have two *action* angst fics planned to be posted within' the month. I cannot say how much all of this support means to me. The idea that anyone would want to read stuff that I, a thirteen year old author wannabe, writes. I am truly amazed and flattered. Please review, please review! –

I'd have a preview of another fic, but hehe I am playing with so many ideas and was so anxious to post I couldn't write it down…

Replies – : )

Robinwyn – well what would I do with out you Robin! *brings out non alchohalic wine and raises a glass while cuddling Numair* Thanks for everything, the corrections, and plot advice, and putting up with my slowness on writing. Anyone out there go read her stuff it's AWESOME! Anyway thanks so much for everything, including making a great friend. I will ttysoon ^^ ~Rocco

kitten who plays with daggers ~ LOL I'm glad u like, I hope u'll stick around for my next fic. *most amusing* u'll keep N and D in a small jar!   That's just a little scary *sidles over to edge* okay nah, but thankee for your reviews they made me laugh. Sorry it took so long to, so I think, in accordance with ur threat to eat me ; ) that I was dinner a long time ago—haha D/N fluff rules!

Lady-kitty – thankee much, hope u enjoyed this too

Fire Mage6 – Thank you very much, I had hoped it went well and was original. That means a lot to me, I have not actually read any other of the "U. Fever" stories, well one I think, I am mostly around the LotR and Les Mis sections, but it seems to be an overly-used plot and makes my day that mine's unique. Anyway what did u think of this chappie as well?

witch@heart – Yes my last chappie, though not my last fic of course. The attention span of a goldfish, no I'm afraid that is me in Algebra class doodling random things all over my notebook. Ah I loved the reviews, and that you love it so *blushes and passes glass of wine* I did think Hamadi was pretty cool I will have to go check ot that book you mentioned. Nope, sorry not a "marine brat", I was adopted tho and that is about the only interesting thing I can say about myself. Anyway I have loved all of your reviews and if u get a chance drop me an e-mail or IM me. Avian, yup, I like that word as well, I realized where it came from and had it on the brain so stuck it in. It's from an awesome book called Hawksong by Amelia Atwater Rhodes. Dear me I am rambling, so I'll shut up, but if you have time drop me a message, I love to talk *clamps mouth shut and is dragged away by the looming update button*  Thanks for everything and the constant support!

kitten55- thankee!

Wake-Robin - *bows low* well here it is, thank you and what do u think?

CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88 – Well not as fluffy or angsty as I wanted it to be, but I felt as if I needed to end it, just to have it done! I am planning on writing a fluffy adventure fic in the near future, within the month I am sure. I will be glad to have some action, I am not normally one for sic fics but this one turned out really well it seems. Wow thanks for all your reviews, from the beginning hehe ^^ and now, I hope you'll stick around for the next one, thanks.

Numair's Angel – Thank you, I love to write D/N fics as well. And you said I should write more of them, well I have one in the making. Thanks for all your support!

Dead Life – Thankee, err the rabid squirrel, fun. More fluff ect in later fics but for now thanks for the support.

Thanks to everyone, wow I am overusing my 'thanks' aren't I. But really everyone your reviews mean a lot to me, and putting up with my lethargy for this fic and posting it, it seems is no small task. I will be back, but until next time goodbye for now! ~ Roccovende