Thanks for all the reviews. I know some people write personal replies to their reviews, but no one really wrote anything that seemed to need a reply...just "I love it, update" you know? So if you want me to reply to your review, give me something to reply to. I hope that didn't sound mean...it's just supposed to be matter-of-fact. Disclaimer: I don't own any of this...just love it a lot.

Traveling back from the forest, Daine was riding "piggy back" (A/N: I doubt that's what they would call it in Tortall) on Numair. Her head was resting on his right shoulder. There wasn't any reason why Daine couldn't walk; but this way their bodies were touching more than hand-in-hand. Numair had used his Gift to hold her to him so he wouldn't have to keep re-settling her higher on his back. This way, neither Daine nor Numair had to hold on to each other, but they did anyway. Daine loved the fact that his Gift was holding her to him; she was being hugged by his entire essence.
"I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you." Daine was saying. "It's not working. Those words don't mean enough. Why aren't there any words to describe this tremendous feeling I have about you?"
"Well, sweet, because it is such a rare feeling that no one thought it necessary to make up words for it. And the people whose job it is to make up words are so absorbed in their job that they don't have time to go out and experience the feelings that they write words for. Understand?"
"Just barely. That was quite confusing." She laughed a little. "I'll make one up." They walked on in silence for a few minutes while Daine was trying to come up with a word. "It's too hard. Words just can't describe enough." Suddenly, the most incredible, and beautiful sound came out of her mouth.
"What, in the name of Mithros was that?" Numair looked at her.
"I don't really know...it's like thousands of animal voices came together to give me voice to describe my feelings."
"It sounded a little like the mythical creatures called sirens (A/N: I don't think is spelled that right) which lure men away by singing. Only, this was not in any way hypnotizing...just.... beautiful." He turned his head towards hers and kissed her softly.

They arrived at the tower and Daine regretfully climbed off of Numair. They unloaded their leftover picnic and brushed the horses. From there, they took their stuff into the kitchen and started putting things away.
"I've got an idea." Daine said. "I'm going to teach you one of the games that kids play in Galla."
"Ok, as long as it doesn't hurt." He laughed.
"Come on, we need 4 pieces of different colored chalk, and something we can use as a spinner."

They got the supplies and went out to the front porch. Daine drew five circles using each color in a square like pattern. Then she drew the spinner. (A/N: The game is Twister if you haven't yet guessed...and they're playing it so their bodies will get to touch a lot) She explained the rules to him and asked him to use his Gift to spin the spinner once they got started. They played for about an hour; they were both quite good because Daine is small and flexible but Numair has long arms and legs. The game ended when Numair had to get his right arm onto the other side of the grid, weaving his way in and out of Daine's arms and legs. They fell on the ground on top of each other laughing.
"Ok," Numair said when he caught his breath. "My turn to teach you a game that kids play in Carthak. Help me find 48 small stones that are about the same size." When they had the stones, Numair dug two rows of six circles each, then two bigger holes on each end. (A/N: You guessed it! Mancala) "You have to try to get as stones as possible by choosing a pile and putting one in each hole as you go. You do drop one in your hole, but not in mine." (A/N: There are so many different variations that I'm not going to explain all of the rules.) They played for about an hour, learning many different ways to play.

When they decided they were hungry, yet again, they went into the kitchen and washed up. They decided to have chicken and vegetables. Numair roasted the chicken, and Daine boiled the vegetables. Numair put candles around the room and lit them. They sat down to eat.
"My compliments on the chicken. It is neither raw nor burned." Daine said after a few bites.
"Well, there are advantages to being able to hold the fire at a steady temperature and turning the chicken at a steady rate." Numair had done the whole thing with his Gift, so he basically followed Daine around the kitchen, grabbing food here and there. "The vegetables are also good. Not too crispy, but not soggy." He told her. They finished their dinner talking about their friends.
"You know," Daine said, "with all the rolling around in dirt and then falling during that game, we could both really use a bath." She smiled mischievously. "Would you like to join me?"
"How could I say no to that?" He said sweetly. They cleaned their dishes and walked upstairs to the bathing room. Daine pumped the water into the basin while Numair heated it with his Gift. Daine walked over to Numair and started undressing him. He did the same to her. They climbed into the washbasin, Daine leaning her back against Numair's chest.
"Mmmmm," Daine moaned. "This is wonderful." After about twenty minutes of just sitting and soaking, Numair grabbed a washcloth, rubbed some soap on it and proceeded to wash Daine. He started on the back of her neck, moved to her right shoulder and down the outside of her arm. Then he went up the inside of her arm, across her breasts and chest and down the inside of her left arm, changing direction at her hand, and back up the outside. When he got to her shoulder, he did little spirals all across her back. Then he did her legs in the same pattern that he washed her arms. When he finished, Daine took the cloth from him and proceeded to wash him in the same pattern. When they were done, Numair pumped some water into a bucket to rinse off with. Then they climbed out and wrapped themselves in towels. When they were dry, they walked into the bedchamber and climbed into bed. Daine leaned into Numair as close as she could as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. They both fell asleep with smiles on their faces.