A/N: Before I start the next chapter, I just thought I'd take this time to answer one of the reviews I got for last chapter because I'm thinking its probably a question many of you had, you just didn't bother asking.....
starrynight04: In answer to your review about Jon, I'll say I have a reason for having him be that way. For one thing, he is under a lot of stress and we all know that stress can make one act harshly. Second of all, he's also sad about what's going to happen to Daine, but he's torn between his good friend and his entire kingdom. That is a lot of pressure to take on and still act the way one should. I hope you understand now.....
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"Daine!" Numair called as he opened the door to her rooms, letting himself in without knocking. He wondered if his love had managed to down any, but he sincerely doubted it. He knew that if during the reign of Ozorne, his old friend, he was sent back to Carthak to live, he would have been a wreck. Not only would he have feared for his life, but he would also have missed his friends he had made upon coming to Tortall. Most off all, he would have missed Daine, for he was just starting to admit his true feelings to himself about her in those times. Yes, things would have been every bit as hard for him. He didn't even want to think about what this was doing to her.
There was no answer to his call, and he felt his heart beginning to beat all that much faster. His eyes grew in panic as he hurried his steps into the main room. His love was no where to be found there, and that about did him in. He began thinking the worst, wondering if she hadn't gone and done something drastic. "Daine!" He called again, this time his voice frantic.
It was upon voicing this last call, Numair heard a faint crying coming from Daine's bed chamber. He sighed in slight relief, now having the knowledge as to where she was, and that she was safe. He was not completely at ease however, for there was still the knowledge that Daine was an emotional mess. He felt such pain for her, knowing that she was burdened greatly with sadness and possibly fear. Then there was his own thoughts on the matter to consider. When all was said and done, he was every bit as afraid and worried as she was, if not more. For the most part, he would deny it, but on the inside he knew very well that he was overprotective of his Daine. He had every reason to be. She had a knack for attracting trouble, being a daughter of a god. He was more than attached to her now; his very existence depended on her well being. He couldn't imagine what life was going to be like without her.
Numair made his way from the main chamber of Daine's rooms to her bed chamber. He didn't bother knocking on her door, but instead let himself in on his own. Upon entering, he found Daine just where he'd expected her to be, sprawled out on her bed. Quiet as a mouse, Numair sat down on the edge of the bed, watching intently as she cried with her face buried in her pillow. He felt his heart twisting painfully at the site before him, but pushed all of his own worries out of his mind, knowing that it was best for the both of them if he could be strong and help Daine not to worry about any of this. He had to convince himself, and also Daine that they would find a way out of this ordeal; they would make it through it, together.
Tenderly, Numair reached out a hand and placed it on the shoulder closest ti him. He let himself fall back onto the bed so that he was lying next to her. "Shhhh," he soothed, drawing circles lightly on her back with his free hand, "Its going to be all right." Without warning and against his will, a small tear trickled down his face. Just as more threatened to fall, he pushed them back with force. I have to be the strong one, he reminded himself. If he panicked and showed his pain and fear, it would affect her more than anything. He didn't want to hurt her any further than what she was already going through.
"Numair?" she sobbed, voice muffled by her pillow. Realizing that he would have a hard time understanding her, she lifted her face to turn and look at him. She turned to gaze into his eyes, and found that he held a calm face. She saw further than that though. Daine could see in his eyes that the face he held now was nothing but a mask, hiding his true feelings.
"I'm here, sweet," came his voice once more. It looked to Daine as though his lips barely moved. Daine could see on his cheeks where his dried tears had been, and she could also see a few new ones. He was indeed in immense pain.
Instinctively, Daine scooted closer to her fiancee, allowing him to pull her ever so gently into the circle of his arms. She tucked her head securely in the nape of his neck, as he let his lips rest in her hair. His tense muscles and strong grip on her shoulders revealed his protective manner, and also his unwillingness to let her go so soon. "W-what did Jon say?" Daine asked after several moments had passes. She felt Numair cringe slightly against her weight as he heard her voice this question. This only brought further worry to Daine, knowing that it can't have been good. If there had been good news to tell, it would have been told in a great rush, and he wouldn't have hesitated.
"There's nothing he can do," Numair said quietly, afraid of the words as he voiced them. He hated those words. He had always believed that in every situation, there was a way out. It didn't seem to be the case this time, for if the king could do nothing, then who possessed the power to overrule that? I won't give up hope, he thought quickly, trying to be strong.
Fresh tears leaked from Daine's eyes at his news. She knew that it was over for her. She could no longer live in Tortall, the only place she could fully consider home. Though she had been born and raised in Galla, she had always hated it there. It was no home to her, nor were its people her friends.
Daine could feel Numair's breathing become sharper, and his body tense. She could feel him trembling lightly, and she soon realized that he was crying. It was then that her tears stopped flowing, and she pulled herself out of his arms to look at him. Tears were pouring freely down his face, more so than she'd seen when she'd told him the news to begin with. "Oh gods," she whispered lightly, voice choked from crying. She reached out a gentle hand and tenderly stroked his cheek, causing his eyes to dart open, long lashes fluttering.
Numair jerked his head up immediately, hastily wiping his eyes with his sleeve. I can't let her see me like this, was all he could think. Panicked at what she might think, Numair fought away his tears, but found it to be a lost cause. It was something that just wasn't going to happen. He couldn't stop his tears from flowing. "Daine...." His voice was hushed and breathless. He took her hand in both of his large ones and squeezed it tight. Gently, he placed a hand behind her head and pulled her down and back into his arms. He needed to hold her, feel her in the circle of his arms. He let his fingers run through her hair, and down every inch of her back. He wanted to memorize every inch of her, to keep with him forever. "I love you."
Daine drew in a sharp breath at his words, wincing with pain. Perhaps things would be easier for her if she had nothing to leave behind. Here, she had everything to leave behind. Almost everything she'd ever truly loved or treasured was here in Tortall, and she was about to lose it, possibly forever. "I love you too," she replied meekly, meaning every word as if that were the last time she'd utter them. Maybe I love him too much, she thought sadly, knowing that he was what she would miss the most about this strange country she had grown to love so much. It was hard to believe that her time here was over. She'd always thought she would live here until her death, maybe even start a family in the mean time. "What are we going to do?" Daine asked quietly, through her tears.
"Graveyard Hag, I don't know," Numair swore to the personal goddess of his old home, Carthak. He brought his spare hand shakily up to his face, brushing his hair back nervously with it. He was trembling all over; he could feel it.
Suddenly, through her tears, Daine remembered something she'd heard Numair telling her just over three years ago when he was teaching her about the basic law of Tortall. She remembered being bored stiff, and insisting to her teacher that she would never find any use for these things. Now, her ears ringed in sudden alarm at the remembrance of a particular part of the law he had discussed with her. During this brief study of the law, Daine could remember Numair telling her about different ways one could bind themselves permanently to a country or place. If Daine remembered correctly, then she could have sworn he had mentioned something about marriage being among those ways. "Numair!" Daine all but screamed as she jerked herself quickly from his arms, eyes wide. He looked shocked at her sudden outburst, to say the least.
"What? What is it, Daine?" He voiced, shocked. His eyes bore a look of utmost bewilderment.
"Numair, do you remember that time you forced me into letting you give me a week's worth of lessons on Tortallan law and customs?" Daine's voice was rushed from her excitement. If things played out the way she was thinking, she might not have to leave Tortall after all! In her mind, she silently prayed to every god and goddess she could think of that this would be her escape.
"Yes, but Daine, what in the name of Mithros, Minos and Shakith does that have to do with you leaving?" Numair asked, as bewildered as ever. He seemed a little hurt that she was suddenly passed her stage of grief, but suddenly grew hopeful when he realized that she must have suddenly come up with some sort of idea as to what to do. He felt his heart beating faster than ever, waiting for her to voice what she was thinking.
"It has everything to do with it!" She said excitedly. Though she failed to notice it, she had let herself slip as she fell into letting herself get her hopes up. "Didn't you tell me once, that marriage was one of the few ways to permanently bind yourself to a country?"
Numair's eyes lit up in sudden recognition. "By the gods, you're right!" He voiced, eyes alight with joy. "I can't believe I didn't think of it before!" Without warning, he drew her into a tight hug, crushing her effortlessly against his chest. He tipped her chin up with his spare hand so that she was looking up into his face. He kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose, showing a faint hope in his eyes. Daine could still visibly see the dry tears on his face that he had shed upon hearing her news. She felt her heart warm up pleasantly when she found that he had grown a hope. Perhaps it would be safe if she too, allowed herself to step that far. "Daine, I'll be right back," Numair voiced, sounding triumphant, "I need to check through some of my private books!"
Numair hurriedly pecked her cheek with a kiss before throwing his legs over the side of the bed and close to running out of the room. Daine could hear the door to her main chamber slam shut as he exited her rooms entirely. She sighed, hoping beyond all hope that he would prove their theory to be true. This could very well be the breech in the rules they were hoping so dearly for. 'Please, Goddess, grant me this one wish!' Daine prayed silently to the Goddess who had helped her good friend Alanna all those years ago when Alanna was still on her way to earning her shield. Perhaps she'll grant me a boone as well, Daine though, cheering up slightly. It was impossible in a time like this to be fully cheerful, and she hoped she hadn't let herself stray too far.
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Daine hadn't moved from where she lay in her room when she once more heard the sound of the door to her main chamber open in a frenzy and the sound of rushed footsteps heading for her bed chamber. She, of course, knew it was Numair, and her heart thudded madly within her chest, knowing that this would be the moment that her fate was decided. There would be no other way out, of that she was sure.
As soon as he'd opened the door to her bed chamber, Daine didn't even give him time to join her on the bed before she voiced what was on her mind. "What did you find? Were we right?" Her voice was frantic and worried, all of her emotions showing clearly.
"Give me a moment, magelet," Numair said softly as he sat down a stack of books on the foot of her bed. They all seemed to be volumes of the same book, which she suspected to be law. "I haven't even stopped to look through any of these." Daine could sense the fear in his voice, and it wasn't far from her own. They were both too frightened to hope, knowing how crushed they would be if they found their hopes to be in vain.
Numair quickly flipped open the book on the top of his stack, turning frantically through the pages, as if any second Daine would slip from his grasp. Daine sat on her stomach, feet stretched out behind her and her upper body resting on her elbows, watching him with a longing in her blue gray eyes. His first book yielded no results, causing Daine's heart to fall slightly. There are still more books in his stack, Daine kept reminding herself, hoping that the gods were on her side this day.
Finally, Daine watching in painful anticipation as Numair found the section he had been looking for. Her eyes grew wide, and her breaths more sharp and quick. She felt her heart plummet when she say his response to what he read. She didn't even need to ask him. She watched in horror as he let out a cry of despair and threw the book he had been reading roughly against the wall, splitting its binding. She felt a tear slide down her face and her heard continue falling until she felt she could fall no more. Without hesitating, she flung herself towards him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. His back was to her, but as he felt her arms fall around him, he turned his body to face her, pulling her up closer to him. As her cheek rubbed against his face, he could feel the fresh tears falling and he felt a pang of guilt. He'd gotten her hopes up, and had crushed her on top of everything else. He felt like a monster for doing such a thing. "Shhh," he soothed, rubbing circles on her back with his hand as he had done before. "We'll work this out. I promise you I'll do everything in my power to stop all of this. I'm not losing you without a fight."
If Daine was reassured by these words, she showed no sign of it. If anything, her tears only fell faster and harder, her sobs increasing. She felt the knot in her throat grow painfully large to the point that she felt like choking. She clung tightly to him, clutching his shirt possessively. "They can't take me!" she began wailing, letting her fears leak out. Numair felt every ounce of her pain, and did his best to hold himself together for her sake. "We were supposed to marry, have a family. What happened to that?"
"Its not over yet," Numair sounded confident, but on the inside he couldn't be any less confident. Though he meant every word about putting up a fight, deep down, he knew it would be in vain. There wasn't anything within the law that he could do to stop them from being separated.
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As the sun rose to the middle of the sky and midday approached, Daine felt no better about her circumstances. She felt as if a part of herself was slowly being cut away from her, tugging and thrashing painfully. She wanted desperately to reach out and stop this unknown force, but there was nothing she could do about it. If there was one thing in life she hated most, it was being helpless. She was used to having control over her life and what went on it. She had been known to stand up to a god, at a times! It was so foreign to her, to be helpless in a situation such as this. She had always been the dictator of her life that commanded herself, and herself alone where to go and when. Now, she had no control over that, and it irked her beyond all understanding.
Thoughts and memories of her times in Galla were floating eerily through her mind, allowing her no peace. She could see herself as a child, walking through the village and receiving glares from those she passed. When she was passed them, they would bring a finger to their chest and make the sign against evil, as if she were some sort of omen to be feared. Daine couldn't bear to return to that, and would do anything she could to keep from doing so. They would cage her, just as they had before. She hated them, hated them all. They had killed her mother, her grandfather, her childhood, and had been close to killing her spirit and herself all together. If it wasn't for circumstance and the favor of the gods, Daine could easily be dead or insanely roaming the forests of Galla in the form of a wolf to this very day.
Daine lifted her head slowly from her lover's chest. His arms were still entwined around her waste, holding her protectively. For the past hour and a half, the two lovers had been completely silent, feeling it was a time that needed no words. They were both taking their time to let the shocking news soak in, and their minds travel to what this would mean to them and their relationship.
Numair, who had been staring intently out of the bed chamber window, snapped back to reality when he felt Daine begin to lift herself from his grasp. He loosened his hold on her, and shifted his weight so that she could move to her desired position. Once she was sitting up, she leaned back to rest on the wall her bed was lined against. She turned to look at Numair, only to find that he was already looking towards her. His face was covered with dry tears, his eyes red from crying. Daine's appearance was much the same, if not more so. It hurt Numair to see her in such a state.
"Numair, I need to go for a walk," Daine said half heartedly. She sat up once more, looking at him to see what he would say. She needed to get out, get some fresh air. She was in a horrible state of mind just now, and she was afraid. She was scared of returning to that gods cursed place, and she needed some time to think about what fate had brought her.
"Shall I accompany you?" He asked, looking intently and lovingly at her. Deep within, Daine could see his worry for her. He knew she was afraid, for he could feel it about her. He had always been able to read her like a book, much better than anyone else she'd ever met. Though he had never been able to completely know what she was about, he did know more than most, and that was something.
"No," She said quickly, feeling a pang of guilt when she saw him wince. He looked more than just slightly hurt at her words, and seemed to be taking it as a rejection of a sort. She wanted him with her, she truly did, but she also felt a dire need to be alone for a while. She needed to think. A life changing event had taken place today, and she needed to let the mere thought of it all soak in. "I-I just need to be alone, maybe talk to some of the People."
"I understand," Daine might not have the Gift, but she could tell that he was lying. She could feel it radiating off of him, and it was as plain as day. She reached out a hand, and placed it on his shoulder. He drew her closer for a moment, close enough for her to feel his every breath on her face. Their noses were close to touching, and Daine felt her heart beating much faster than before. Once again, just as she had so many times since she had returned from the Divine Realms, Daine felt that same strange excitement flowing through her veins like wild fire. It made her catch her breath as her breathing became raspy and breathless.
Daine looked into his eyes, and saw a sort of longing, and she felt a dire need to kiss him. She knew he wanted to kiss her, but he seemed to be restraining himself. His eyes held a hesitant look, which confused Daine slightly. He had never been hesitant to simply kiss her before. As if under a spell, Daine leaned closer to him, snaking her arm lovingly around his neck to rest in his horse tail. She pushed his head forward, closing the short distance between each of their faces. His lips were on hers in a breathless instant, kissing her for all he was worth. All of his hesitation from a moment before, melted away to nothing as the kiss went on, growing more passionate by the second.
Numair removed his lips hastily to draw in air, but was back before Daine had time to even acknowledge that he had removed his mouth from hers. Now, he seemed insistent, unable to let her go. Daine could understand this, for she was feeling the same. She felt as if this would be that last time she would kiss him. She had no idea how much time she had left in Tortall before she was to be taken back to Galla. If truth be told, she didn't want to know. She wanted to make the very best out of every second that she had left, treating each moment as if it were her last.
Each with their body crushed against the other, went on into the passion, letting themselves get lost in the other. Though through silent agreement, each knew it would go no farther than kissing, they went on, oblivious to their surroundings. Numair rolled over so that he was on top of her, pressing their bodies even closer together. Daine let her arms slide down from his neck, to fall around his waste. She held onto him tightly, unwilling to let him go.
Finally, long past the lunch bell and just as sundown drew near, the two managed to let go of one another long enough to speak. Daine still, despite recent events, felt she needed some time alone, to reflect in her mind what was going to happen to her. She was scared, of that she was sure, and she needed time to let it all sink in properly. She hated to leave him just now, when she knew he was just as distressed as she, but she also knew it was for the best. He too, deserved some time to think and soak in the details of Jon's words, and those of the letter from Galla. Somehow, she got the idea that Numair had not yet fully accepted what was to come, and it worried her to think of how hard it would be when the actual day of her departure came. Daine was very unsure of how she herself would react when that day did come. It would be a hard task for her to willingly ride off with the Gallan company to go back to her birth place.
"Numair, I really need to go now," Daine's voice came out pleadingly, letting him know that she was truly sorry for this interruption, but also letting him know that it was necessary. He nodded, breathing heavily to regain the breath he'd lost during their passionate kissing of moments before.
"Daine, I'll be back in my rooms for when you get back. Please don't leave me long. I don't think I could take it," He sounded truly distressed, and Daine could see a large mixture of emotions shining in his eyes. He was angry, confused, but most of all, he was sad. She kissed him swiftly one last time, letting her lips linger for a moment. She pulled away hastily, rising up from her bed.
"Don't worry," Daine replied, voice choked," I won't be too long. I need to be with you, now more than ever. Just, while I'm gone, take some time to think about what is going to happen. We both need it."
Numair nodded, not at all liking the idea, but knowing it was a good one and in his best interest. He watched as she threw her legs over the side of the bed and rose to her feet. She went to the ceramic water basin and splashed water onto her face, wiping away the remains of her tears. She would do her best to cry no more, but already knew her efforts would be in vain. She looked back at her love one last time, her eyes meeting his instantly. They held eye contact for a mere moment before she turned on her heel and headed out of her bed chamber, and from there out of her room all together.
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A/N: Well, I'm sorry to tell you not to expect another chapter from me for at least another week to two weeks....I have finals scattered all over the place next week, and it only gets worse after that! So, I'll try to hurry and post again ASAP, but you can forget me EVER updating again if I don't get a good amount of reviews! So, REVIEW!! ^_^
starrynight04: In answer to your review about Jon, I'll say I have a reason for having him be that way. For one thing, he is under a lot of stress and we all know that stress can make one act harshly. Second of all, he's also sad about what's going to happen to Daine, but he's torn between his good friend and his entire kingdom. That is a lot of pressure to take on and still act the way one should. I hope you understand now.....
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"Daine!" Numair called as he opened the door to her rooms, letting himself in without knocking. He wondered if his love had managed to down any, but he sincerely doubted it. He knew that if during the reign of Ozorne, his old friend, he was sent back to Carthak to live, he would have been a wreck. Not only would he have feared for his life, but he would also have missed his friends he had made upon coming to Tortall. Most off all, he would have missed Daine, for he was just starting to admit his true feelings to himself about her in those times. Yes, things would have been every bit as hard for him. He didn't even want to think about what this was doing to her.
There was no answer to his call, and he felt his heart beginning to beat all that much faster. His eyes grew in panic as he hurried his steps into the main room. His love was no where to be found there, and that about did him in. He began thinking the worst, wondering if she hadn't gone and done something drastic. "Daine!" He called again, this time his voice frantic.
It was upon voicing this last call, Numair heard a faint crying coming from Daine's bed chamber. He sighed in slight relief, now having the knowledge as to where she was, and that she was safe. He was not completely at ease however, for there was still the knowledge that Daine was an emotional mess. He felt such pain for her, knowing that she was burdened greatly with sadness and possibly fear. Then there was his own thoughts on the matter to consider. When all was said and done, he was every bit as afraid and worried as she was, if not more. For the most part, he would deny it, but on the inside he knew very well that he was overprotective of his Daine. He had every reason to be. She had a knack for attracting trouble, being a daughter of a god. He was more than attached to her now; his very existence depended on her well being. He couldn't imagine what life was going to be like without her.
Numair made his way from the main chamber of Daine's rooms to her bed chamber. He didn't bother knocking on her door, but instead let himself in on his own. Upon entering, he found Daine just where he'd expected her to be, sprawled out on her bed. Quiet as a mouse, Numair sat down on the edge of the bed, watching intently as she cried with her face buried in her pillow. He felt his heart twisting painfully at the site before him, but pushed all of his own worries out of his mind, knowing that it was best for the both of them if he could be strong and help Daine not to worry about any of this. He had to convince himself, and also Daine that they would find a way out of this ordeal; they would make it through it, together.
Tenderly, Numair reached out a hand and placed it on the shoulder closest ti him. He let himself fall back onto the bed so that he was lying next to her. "Shhhh," he soothed, drawing circles lightly on her back with his free hand, "Its going to be all right." Without warning and against his will, a small tear trickled down his face. Just as more threatened to fall, he pushed them back with force. I have to be the strong one, he reminded himself. If he panicked and showed his pain and fear, it would affect her more than anything. He didn't want to hurt her any further than what she was already going through.
"Numair?" she sobbed, voice muffled by her pillow. Realizing that he would have a hard time understanding her, she lifted her face to turn and look at him. She turned to gaze into his eyes, and found that he held a calm face. She saw further than that though. Daine could see in his eyes that the face he held now was nothing but a mask, hiding his true feelings.
"I'm here, sweet," came his voice once more. It looked to Daine as though his lips barely moved. Daine could see on his cheeks where his dried tears had been, and she could also see a few new ones. He was indeed in immense pain.
Instinctively, Daine scooted closer to her fiancee, allowing him to pull her ever so gently into the circle of his arms. She tucked her head securely in the nape of his neck, as he let his lips rest in her hair. His tense muscles and strong grip on her shoulders revealed his protective manner, and also his unwillingness to let her go so soon. "W-what did Jon say?" Daine asked after several moments had passes. She felt Numair cringe slightly against her weight as he heard her voice this question. This only brought further worry to Daine, knowing that it can't have been good. If there had been good news to tell, it would have been told in a great rush, and he wouldn't have hesitated.
"There's nothing he can do," Numair said quietly, afraid of the words as he voiced them. He hated those words. He had always believed that in every situation, there was a way out. It didn't seem to be the case this time, for if the king could do nothing, then who possessed the power to overrule that? I won't give up hope, he thought quickly, trying to be strong.
Fresh tears leaked from Daine's eyes at his news. She knew that it was over for her. She could no longer live in Tortall, the only place she could fully consider home. Though she had been born and raised in Galla, she had always hated it there. It was no home to her, nor were its people her friends.
Daine could feel Numair's breathing become sharper, and his body tense. She could feel him trembling lightly, and she soon realized that he was crying. It was then that her tears stopped flowing, and she pulled herself out of his arms to look at him. Tears were pouring freely down his face, more so than she'd seen when she'd told him the news to begin with. "Oh gods," she whispered lightly, voice choked from crying. She reached out a gentle hand and tenderly stroked his cheek, causing his eyes to dart open, long lashes fluttering.
Numair jerked his head up immediately, hastily wiping his eyes with his sleeve. I can't let her see me like this, was all he could think. Panicked at what she might think, Numair fought away his tears, but found it to be a lost cause. It was something that just wasn't going to happen. He couldn't stop his tears from flowing. "Daine...." His voice was hushed and breathless. He took her hand in both of his large ones and squeezed it tight. Gently, he placed a hand behind her head and pulled her down and back into his arms. He needed to hold her, feel her in the circle of his arms. He let his fingers run through her hair, and down every inch of her back. He wanted to memorize every inch of her, to keep with him forever. "I love you."
Daine drew in a sharp breath at his words, wincing with pain. Perhaps things would be easier for her if she had nothing to leave behind. Here, she had everything to leave behind. Almost everything she'd ever truly loved or treasured was here in Tortall, and she was about to lose it, possibly forever. "I love you too," she replied meekly, meaning every word as if that were the last time she'd utter them. Maybe I love him too much, she thought sadly, knowing that he was what she would miss the most about this strange country she had grown to love so much. It was hard to believe that her time here was over. She'd always thought she would live here until her death, maybe even start a family in the mean time. "What are we going to do?" Daine asked quietly, through her tears.
"Graveyard Hag, I don't know," Numair swore to the personal goddess of his old home, Carthak. He brought his spare hand shakily up to his face, brushing his hair back nervously with it. He was trembling all over; he could feel it.
Suddenly, through her tears, Daine remembered something she'd heard Numair telling her just over three years ago when he was teaching her about the basic law of Tortall. She remembered being bored stiff, and insisting to her teacher that she would never find any use for these things. Now, her ears ringed in sudden alarm at the remembrance of a particular part of the law he had discussed with her. During this brief study of the law, Daine could remember Numair telling her about different ways one could bind themselves permanently to a country or place. If Daine remembered correctly, then she could have sworn he had mentioned something about marriage being among those ways. "Numair!" Daine all but screamed as she jerked herself quickly from his arms, eyes wide. He looked shocked at her sudden outburst, to say the least.
"What? What is it, Daine?" He voiced, shocked. His eyes bore a look of utmost bewilderment.
"Numair, do you remember that time you forced me into letting you give me a week's worth of lessons on Tortallan law and customs?" Daine's voice was rushed from her excitement. If things played out the way she was thinking, she might not have to leave Tortall after all! In her mind, she silently prayed to every god and goddess she could think of that this would be her escape.
"Yes, but Daine, what in the name of Mithros, Minos and Shakith does that have to do with you leaving?" Numair asked, as bewildered as ever. He seemed a little hurt that she was suddenly passed her stage of grief, but suddenly grew hopeful when he realized that she must have suddenly come up with some sort of idea as to what to do. He felt his heart beating faster than ever, waiting for her to voice what she was thinking.
"It has everything to do with it!" She said excitedly. Though she failed to notice it, she had let herself slip as she fell into letting herself get her hopes up. "Didn't you tell me once, that marriage was one of the few ways to permanently bind yourself to a country?"
Numair's eyes lit up in sudden recognition. "By the gods, you're right!" He voiced, eyes alight with joy. "I can't believe I didn't think of it before!" Without warning, he drew her into a tight hug, crushing her effortlessly against his chest. He tipped her chin up with his spare hand so that she was looking up into his face. He kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose, showing a faint hope in his eyes. Daine could still visibly see the dry tears on his face that he had shed upon hearing her news. She felt her heart warm up pleasantly when she found that he had grown a hope. Perhaps it would be safe if she too, allowed herself to step that far. "Daine, I'll be right back," Numair voiced, sounding triumphant, "I need to check through some of my private books!"
Numair hurriedly pecked her cheek with a kiss before throwing his legs over the side of the bed and close to running out of the room. Daine could hear the door to her main chamber slam shut as he exited her rooms entirely. She sighed, hoping beyond all hope that he would prove their theory to be true. This could very well be the breech in the rules they were hoping so dearly for. 'Please, Goddess, grant me this one wish!' Daine prayed silently to the Goddess who had helped her good friend Alanna all those years ago when Alanna was still on her way to earning her shield. Perhaps she'll grant me a boone as well, Daine though, cheering up slightly. It was impossible in a time like this to be fully cheerful, and she hoped she hadn't let herself stray too far.
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Daine hadn't moved from where she lay in her room when she once more heard the sound of the door to her main chamber open in a frenzy and the sound of rushed footsteps heading for her bed chamber. She, of course, knew it was Numair, and her heart thudded madly within her chest, knowing that this would be the moment that her fate was decided. There would be no other way out, of that she was sure.
As soon as he'd opened the door to her bed chamber, Daine didn't even give him time to join her on the bed before she voiced what was on her mind. "What did you find? Were we right?" Her voice was frantic and worried, all of her emotions showing clearly.
"Give me a moment, magelet," Numair said softly as he sat down a stack of books on the foot of her bed. They all seemed to be volumes of the same book, which she suspected to be law. "I haven't even stopped to look through any of these." Daine could sense the fear in his voice, and it wasn't far from her own. They were both too frightened to hope, knowing how crushed they would be if they found their hopes to be in vain.
Numair quickly flipped open the book on the top of his stack, turning frantically through the pages, as if any second Daine would slip from his grasp. Daine sat on her stomach, feet stretched out behind her and her upper body resting on her elbows, watching him with a longing in her blue gray eyes. His first book yielded no results, causing Daine's heart to fall slightly. There are still more books in his stack, Daine kept reminding herself, hoping that the gods were on her side this day.
Finally, Daine watching in painful anticipation as Numair found the section he had been looking for. Her eyes grew wide, and her breaths more sharp and quick. She felt her heart plummet when she say his response to what he read. She didn't even need to ask him. She watched in horror as he let out a cry of despair and threw the book he had been reading roughly against the wall, splitting its binding. She felt a tear slide down her face and her heard continue falling until she felt she could fall no more. Without hesitating, she flung herself towards him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. His back was to her, but as he felt her arms fall around him, he turned his body to face her, pulling her up closer to him. As her cheek rubbed against his face, he could feel the fresh tears falling and he felt a pang of guilt. He'd gotten her hopes up, and had crushed her on top of everything else. He felt like a monster for doing such a thing. "Shhh," he soothed, rubbing circles on her back with his hand as he had done before. "We'll work this out. I promise you I'll do everything in my power to stop all of this. I'm not losing you without a fight."
If Daine was reassured by these words, she showed no sign of it. If anything, her tears only fell faster and harder, her sobs increasing. She felt the knot in her throat grow painfully large to the point that she felt like choking. She clung tightly to him, clutching his shirt possessively. "They can't take me!" she began wailing, letting her fears leak out. Numair felt every ounce of her pain, and did his best to hold himself together for her sake. "We were supposed to marry, have a family. What happened to that?"
"Its not over yet," Numair sounded confident, but on the inside he couldn't be any less confident. Though he meant every word about putting up a fight, deep down, he knew it would be in vain. There wasn't anything within the law that he could do to stop them from being separated.
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As the sun rose to the middle of the sky and midday approached, Daine felt no better about her circumstances. She felt as if a part of herself was slowly being cut away from her, tugging and thrashing painfully. She wanted desperately to reach out and stop this unknown force, but there was nothing she could do about it. If there was one thing in life she hated most, it was being helpless. She was used to having control over her life and what went on it. She had been known to stand up to a god, at a times! It was so foreign to her, to be helpless in a situation such as this. She had always been the dictator of her life that commanded herself, and herself alone where to go and when. Now, she had no control over that, and it irked her beyond all understanding.
Thoughts and memories of her times in Galla were floating eerily through her mind, allowing her no peace. She could see herself as a child, walking through the village and receiving glares from those she passed. When she was passed them, they would bring a finger to their chest and make the sign against evil, as if she were some sort of omen to be feared. Daine couldn't bear to return to that, and would do anything she could to keep from doing so. They would cage her, just as they had before. She hated them, hated them all. They had killed her mother, her grandfather, her childhood, and had been close to killing her spirit and herself all together. If it wasn't for circumstance and the favor of the gods, Daine could easily be dead or insanely roaming the forests of Galla in the form of a wolf to this very day.
Daine lifted her head slowly from her lover's chest. His arms were still entwined around her waste, holding her protectively. For the past hour and a half, the two lovers had been completely silent, feeling it was a time that needed no words. They were both taking their time to let the shocking news soak in, and their minds travel to what this would mean to them and their relationship.
Numair, who had been staring intently out of the bed chamber window, snapped back to reality when he felt Daine begin to lift herself from his grasp. He loosened his hold on her, and shifted his weight so that she could move to her desired position. Once she was sitting up, she leaned back to rest on the wall her bed was lined against. She turned to look at Numair, only to find that he was already looking towards her. His face was covered with dry tears, his eyes red from crying. Daine's appearance was much the same, if not more so. It hurt Numair to see her in such a state.
"Numair, I need to go for a walk," Daine said half heartedly. She sat up once more, looking at him to see what he would say. She needed to get out, get some fresh air. She was in a horrible state of mind just now, and she was afraid. She was scared of returning to that gods cursed place, and she needed some time to think about what fate had brought her.
"Shall I accompany you?" He asked, looking intently and lovingly at her. Deep within, Daine could see his worry for her. He knew she was afraid, for he could feel it about her. He had always been able to read her like a book, much better than anyone else she'd ever met. Though he had never been able to completely know what she was about, he did know more than most, and that was something.
"No," She said quickly, feeling a pang of guilt when she saw him wince. He looked more than just slightly hurt at her words, and seemed to be taking it as a rejection of a sort. She wanted him with her, she truly did, but she also felt a dire need to be alone for a while. She needed to think. A life changing event had taken place today, and she needed to let the mere thought of it all soak in. "I-I just need to be alone, maybe talk to some of the People."
"I understand," Daine might not have the Gift, but she could tell that he was lying. She could feel it radiating off of him, and it was as plain as day. She reached out a hand, and placed it on his shoulder. He drew her closer for a moment, close enough for her to feel his every breath on her face. Their noses were close to touching, and Daine felt her heart beating much faster than before. Once again, just as she had so many times since she had returned from the Divine Realms, Daine felt that same strange excitement flowing through her veins like wild fire. It made her catch her breath as her breathing became raspy and breathless.
Daine looked into his eyes, and saw a sort of longing, and she felt a dire need to kiss him. She knew he wanted to kiss her, but he seemed to be restraining himself. His eyes held a hesitant look, which confused Daine slightly. He had never been hesitant to simply kiss her before. As if under a spell, Daine leaned closer to him, snaking her arm lovingly around his neck to rest in his horse tail. She pushed his head forward, closing the short distance between each of their faces. His lips were on hers in a breathless instant, kissing her for all he was worth. All of his hesitation from a moment before, melted away to nothing as the kiss went on, growing more passionate by the second.
Numair removed his lips hastily to draw in air, but was back before Daine had time to even acknowledge that he had removed his mouth from hers. Now, he seemed insistent, unable to let her go. Daine could understand this, for she was feeling the same. She felt as if this would be that last time she would kiss him. She had no idea how much time she had left in Tortall before she was to be taken back to Galla. If truth be told, she didn't want to know. She wanted to make the very best out of every second that she had left, treating each moment as if it were her last.
Each with their body crushed against the other, went on into the passion, letting themselves get lost in the other. Though through silent agreement, each knew it would go no farther than kissing, they went on, oblivious to their surroundings. Numair rolled over so that he was on top of her, pressing their bodies even closer together. Daine let her arms slide down from his neck, to fall around his waste. She held onto him tightly, unwilling to let him go.
Finally, long past the lunch bell and just as sundown drew near, the two managed to let go of one another long enough to speak. Daine still, despite recent events, felt she needed some time alone, to reflect in her mind what was going to happen to her. She was scared, of that she was sure, and she needed time to let it all sink in properly. She hated to leave him just now, when she knew he was just as distressed as she, but she also knew it was for the best. He too, deserved some time to think and soak in the details of Jon's words, and those of the letter from Galla. Somehow, she got the idea that Numair had not yet fully accepted what was to come, and it worried her to think of how hard it would be when the actual day of her departure came. Daine was very unsure of how she herself would react when that day did come. It would be a hard task for her to willingly ride off with the Gallan company to go back to her birth place.
"Numair, I really need to go now," Daine's voice came out pleadingly, letting him know that she was truly sorry for this interruption, but also letting him know that it was necessary. He nodded, breathing heavily to regain the breath he'd lost during their passionate kissing of moments before.
"Daine, I'll be back in my rooms for when you get back. Please don't leave me long. I don't think I could take it," He sounded truly distressed, and Daine could see a large mixture of emotions shining in his eyes. He was angry, confused, but most of all, he was sad. She kissed him swiftly one last time, letting her lips linger for a moment. She pulled away hastily, rising up from her bed.
"Don't worry," Daine replied, voice choked," I won't be too long. I need to be with you, now more than ever. Just, while I'm gone, take some time to think about what is going to happen. We both need it."
Numair nodded, not at all liking the idea, but knowing it was a good one and in his best interest. He watched as she threw her legs over the side of the bed and rose to her feet. She went to the ceramic water basin and splashed water onto her face, wiping away the remains of her tears. She would do her best to cry no more, but already knew her efforts would be in vain. She looked back at her love one last time, her eyes meeting his instantly. They held eye contact for a mere moment before she turned on her heel and headed out of her bed chamber, and from there out of her room all together.
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A/N: Well, I'm sorry to tell you not to expect another chapter from me for at least another week to two weeks....I have finals scattered all over the place next week, and it only gets worse after that! So, I'll try to hurry and post again ASAP, but you can forget me EVER updating again if I don't get a good amount of reviews! So, REVIEW!! ^_^
