…35 Reviews?????
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I'll try to make this chapter longer than usual, just for all of you!
Unfourtanatly, I'm not putting it up until ff.n sorts out its server problems…
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Daine explained everything. How she was the Wildmage, her magic, why she had gone mad, what shehad been doing, and even, who Numair was. Lory look dazed for a few minutes, but pulled herself together rather well, all things considered. For this Daine was thankful, and glad that she had soothed her friend onf he scare that she had obviously had.
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Numair appeared only minutes after Daine had told Cloud to come. He looked bedraggled. Daine giggled.
"You look awful."
Numair regarded her mock-seriously.
"You are so encouraging."
Daine grinned and placed a hand on her cheek, meaning to coo him like she would a child, but Numair turned it around. As she reached for him, he took her hand and kissed it gently, making her heart beat just a little faster. She paused, rapt in his gaze, but suddenly shook herself when she heard a gasp from behind. Turning, she found Lory, both hands over her mouth and shoulders shaking. Daine put her hands on her hips.
"Well, I'm glad *you* find it funny."
Lory didn't even bother anymore, she doubled over, laughing hysterically.
"Its- its just…oh gods! Its just so *cute*!!"
Daine glanced at Numair, who artfully arched an eyebrow. Daine grinned slyly, and was suddenly grabbed, dipped, and kissed soundly. She didn't know about Numair, but she was so dazed by the kiss, that she didn't even hear Lory whooping and cat-calling. When he finally stood her upright, she looked at him gravely.
"Thankyou, I needed that."
Numair smiled, making her heart drop to her stomach.
"My pleasure."
Lory, who by now had controlled herself, came to stand beside Daine.
"So, Daine, who is this charming man who sweeps you off you feet in my cottage?"
Daine smiled, Loy had always phrased herself artfully, having been educated in Cria. Rand was much the same, which, she supposed, was why they paired together so well.
"This is Numair Samilian, my…" she groped for the word.
"Friend" Numair finished lamely. Daine elbowed him halfheartedly as Lory bit her lip to keep from bursting out again.
"Well, whoever you are, you've obviously done well for her."
Numair blushed, and Lory leaned over to Daine.
"Nice piece of work you've got there." She whispered. Daine gasped.
"Lory!"
Lory laughed merrily, going to the fire and stirring the pot, leaving Daine and Numair to have a hushed conversation.
"Daine, I don't think that we should stay." Numair said, glancing at Lory.
"Numair, you know I came here to make amends, and I would hardly call what I did 'making amends'."
Numair sighed.
"I don't like it Daine. Your village is…"
"Stubborn." Daine finished, Numair nodded. "Yes, I know. They always have been. But I can't lose hope for them!"
"Hope for what?" he asked heatedly.
"Hope that they'll forgive me. Hope that I'll forgive them. Hope that maybe, just maybe this once, they'll overcome the small village mentality and just accept me to some degree, even if they don't completely forgive me."
Numair paused, then hugged her close.
"Oh magelet…" he murmured into her hair, wishing that he could have had the courage to do that for Carthak. Unfourtanatly, they not only had tried to kill him twice, but had imprisoned Daine. He could never forgive that.
Daine clung to him, just breathing him in and letting the scent calm her. Thus she began to calm, and was collected when Lory called for lunch.
As they ate, Rand came in, two children in tow. He looked tired, and hassled.
"Lory…" he started, but trailed off when he saw Daine and Numair in the corner. Daine shushed Numair with a finger to her lips and walked out of the shadows.
"Hullo Rand."
Rand shook his head and dropped the arms of his children grabbing Daine and hugging her. Daine had though she couldn't cry anymore, but this was like a second homecoming, and a silent beg for forgiveness. Tears dripped onto his shoulder, but he wouldn't let them stay there. To Daine's complete surprise, he knelt.
"Veralidaine Sarrasri, I am sorry…I-I have no right to touch you after what I did."
Daine gasped and stood silent, no reply save silence coming to her lips. They stood like that, in awkward quiet for long moments, the children staring alternately at Daine and their father, Lory looking pleadingly and Daine, and Numair. Daine looked at Numair, who nodded back. Daine gulped, finding courage in her love for Numair. She fell on her knees beside Rand, crying again.
"Rand no. Don't…just…please its fine, I forgive you."
These seemed to be the words that he had been waiting to hear, because he looked up to face her.
"Daine, they're talking about you all over the village, everyone's retelling the story."
Daine snorted.
"Is it the same story as I know I wonder?"
Rand shook his head.
"I doubt it."
No more of it was said that evening. The children were shooed from the room until Dinner, and even then, they sat as far away from the two strangers as they could. The elder, the girl, looked to be about five, Daine figured that she was the one that she had played with so long ago. As soon as the sun was down, she and Numair excused themselves to their respective beds, and slept soundly, despite their troubles.
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Alright, alright, so maybe it wasn't quite as good as the others, but tis kind of filler until we get to the next part. And your author has been sick for the lastr two days, so be nice! I'm trying to beat my grastest review count in TP (or in fanfic period) Which is 89 (Taming of the Rose) So come on and REVIEW!!! Pweeeeeease???