This is the next chapter – one that is fairly long, enjoyable (I hope) and – fluffy – for some of you.

Just a little note: I will be going on holiday for couple of weeks starting from this Saturday, so I just want to say that I may not be able to update anything for a while. Really, it all depends on whether I can get Internet access at the place where I'm staying. I promise though, that I will try and update as soon a possible.

In the meantime, please read, and review!!!!

Chapter 11

A second throne had been set up next to the existing one when Daine was escorted to the banqueting hall that night.

Golden ribbons swished and danced in time to Daine's walking rhythm, setting her aflame. That night, she had discarded – to her reluctance – the traditional Tortallen blues, and took on the style of Carthak, clad in its exotic red and gold, shimmering under the light. The bright colours made Daine cringe, and the low-cut neckline and the revealing of her stomach made the wildmage nervous.

This is no way for me to dress! Daine thought impishly, fidgeting with the delicate mirrors that fringed her sleeves. I look far too flamboyant!

Lost in a momentary panic, Daine caught herself thinking the sort of things Numair would say if he saw her now. Then her heart sank, remembering that their association was no longer the same.

A hand rested gently on to the girl's shoulder. Daine turned to find the Emperor of Carthak, dressed in similar shades of gold and scarlet. He really did look magnificent.

'You look memorising,' he murmured, eyes not leaving her, 'who would have thought Carthak colours would look so charming on you.' He smiled warmly, 'you really should wear red more often. It makes you more conspicuous.'

'I don't want to look conspicuous.'

Ozorne laughed. 'Whether you like it or not, Verlidaine, you will find that as the first Empress of Carthak, you will always draw people's attentions. Come now – let us take our places. The guests will be shortly here.'

Daine's throat tightened uncomfortably as Duke Gareth – the first in line to enter the hall – made his way to the gold-washed seats, followed by the rest of the delegates. They entered silently, and from where Daine was sitting, she could see that none of them were smiling.

Roving across familiar faces, Daine felt her heart miss a beat as her eyes found Numair. He sat formally, dark eyes serious and staring into something Daine wasn't quiet sure was there. She noted with a twinge how achingly charismatic her friend looked, with his coal-black hair falling, half hiding his lean face. He was the only one wearing black that night, and the darkness amidst flourish of bright colours set him apart, distinctive and different.

Daine licked her dry lips, heart thudding. None of her friends had seen her yet, and the nerve-racking wait was making her dizzy. Next to her, Daine could feel Ozorne shift in his seat. It seemed that he was just as anxious for the guests to notice her presence. Sneaking a sideway glance at her husband-to-be, she saw that his eyes were narrowed, darting from face to face. An impatient smile played across his features. He will be dying to see their reactions, I'll bet, Daine thought glumly.

Presently Numair glanced up towards her direction. Daine saw him study Ozorne for a few moments. Then his eyes moved to the left – and stopped sharply upon her face. For a moment their eyes locked, and Daine could almost feel the mage's abrupt intake of breath.

It was impossible to read Numair's face. He did not show any emotions – just stared. Stared for a long time, in which Daine squirmed uncomfortably in her seat.

There was a loud yell; someone else had also noticed her. A fist banged on the oaken table. Before Daine could see what was happening, Ozorne rose from his seat, arms spread and face beaming.

'Welcome, friends, guests – and future allies of Tortall.' The Emperor's ringing echo pierced through the deadly silence. Daine hardly breathed.

'I welcome you all to this special night, in which I hope very much that you will enjoy and remember.

'As I understand, tonight is the official conclusion to the honoured peace negotiation with our neighbouring land, Tortall. Tonight, I declare Tortall and Carthak to be at peace, to live in harmony and flourish side by side.'

No one spoke. Daine's stomach did a dangerous flip as she felt the quizzical stares from all of her friends. They were all clearly wondering why she was sitting there, and where the Emperor's talk was going.

Ozorne continued. 'Tonight is also a night of rejoicing and celebration. As our Tortallen friends will be leaving our humble land tomorrow, what better time it is for me to announce an important event that has happened.

'In three months time, Carthak will have the privilege of greeting a new Empress. I too, will have the honour of claiming a certain lady's hand in marriage. With all my heart, I thank the Gods for bringing her to me, for creating her existence.'

Turning gracefully to Daine, Ozorne smiled and extended his arm. Daine gingerly accepted his hand and stood up.

'Fellow brothers and sisters, tonight I declare my official matrimony with Varalidaine Sarrasri, wildmage of Tortall.'

There followed a stunned silence. People simply stared, too shocked to speak. Then all of a sudden, the room broke in to a loud burst of angry exclamations.

The Lioness banged her fist on to the table. 'That's impossible!' Daine heard her hiss loudly, 'it must be some kind of trick! Daine's not marrying him!'

'Just a moment,' a stony voice said at the same time.

Daine looked up and was surprised to see Duke Gareth, wearing an expression that could curd milk. 'Forgive me if I may be too blunt, but this marriage is rather sudden. Daine has never spoken of intentions to get married, nor spoken of you as her admirer. Above all, she is barely sixteen and I – as her supervisor – do not believe that she is ready for such commitment.'

Ozorne just smiled. 'Your feeling of responsibility towards Daine is most noble, Duke Gareth. However, I hope to remind you that the subject of marriage and the decisions concerned with that delicate affair are entirely up to the person directly involved. In this case, Daine has complete freedom over her own decisions.'

'And what is her decision?' Alanna hissed angrily, 'we have not yet heard her speak for herself.'

Ozorne shrugged good-naturedly and turned towards Daine. He looked at her for a moment, and then nodded expectantly.

Daine swallowed. This was the part she had been dreading. Standing here before her bewildered friends, Daine struggled to speak. She scanned the faces before her. Duke Gareth was staring at her with a kind of fierce anticipation, as was the expression on the Lioness's face. Her brows knitted together and if her piercing purple eyes could speak, they would surely be saying, 'come on Daine! What are you waiting for?'

Daine turned to her teacher. His face – she noted with fast thudding heart – was as incomprehensible as ever. She thought she could see an odd, disquieting glint within his shadowy eyes.

They are waiting, Veralidaine

Daine caught her breath in surprise as Ozorne's voice rang loud and clear inside her mind. She stole a quick sideway look at him but the Emperor's face gave nothing away.

Remember, your teacher's fate is still undecided

Daine felt sick. Eyes looking determined at the wall ahead of her, Daine said in what she hoped was a firm and sincere voice, 'I have decided – and it is on my own will – to remain here in Carthak permanently.' Her pronouncement was followed by an eruption of startled murmurs. 'It…it is my wish to marry the Emperor, and to serve Carthak as Empress.'

Ozorne's smile was that of suppressed triumph. His eyes danced complacently as he regarded the astonished audience. 'I hope, Duke Gareth, now that we have all heard what Veralidaine has to say, her confirmation will have cleared our little misunderstanding.

Alanna opened her mouth but her angry remark was cut off by Duke Gareth's loud, 'My apologies, your Imperial Highness.' Then, returning Alanna's glare with an equally frightening one, Duke Gareth managed a courteous smile at Ozorne and said, 'Come, let us feast. I'm afraid we have neglected the hard works of the chefs.'

The rest of the meal was spent in forced conversations and hushed whispers. Daine dared not look at any of her friends; just kept her eyes resolutely down on her plate.

It had to be the most unbearable thing Daine has ever experienced. Her body longed to be on the opposite side of the table, with friends that she knew well and have come to love. Already she felt like a stranger, an outcast amongst old friends, and a foreigner around new ones.

'You should try this salad, Veralidaine. It really is delicious.' Ozorne turned towards Daine, one hand gesturing at a large gold-plated bowl.

'I'm not hungry.'

The wildmage's flat reply was followed by a silence – then her mind rang.

Veralidaine, it would be a great shame if the memorising affect of your speech were undone by your hostility.

Daine growled inwardly. Turning to face Ozorne, she forced a smile and accepted the offered food. Picking away at the lettuce, Daine risked a small glance towards the other side of the table. Eyes taking her automatically to her teacher, Daine caught her breath as her own timid peep met his intense gaze.

She tried to look away but found her eyes unable to shift from Numair's. His lips moved silently as if saying something. Daine blinked, and then frowned, trying to understand what he was doing. Then his lips moved again, and this time Daine caught the word clear and distinctive – tree.

She understood straight away. Giving the slightest nod of her head, she promptly returned to studying her plate.

On the first note of music that was to begin the court dances, Ozorne turned to Daine. 'You may return to your room now.' He waved a hand to summon the nearest slave and said, 'Take my betrothed back to her chamber. Make sure that the comforts of her rooms are seen to.'

The slave – a timid girl of bare nineteen bowed low and murmured, 'Yes, Your Nobility.'

Daine followed the girl out of the hall and into the brightly lit corridors. On reaching the open glass door that led to the Royal Garden, she turned sharply and walked through it. Beside her the slave girl gave an utter of alarm.

'Your Nobility! You – you mustn't go out. I was given strict orders to accompany you back.' Her dark eyes widened in dismay and fear. 'If you go…I…I will be punished!'

Daine turned impatiently. 'Look, the others are still in the hall. Ozorne won't be gone for a while yet. Why don't you just go to my room and pretend that I am with you?'

The poor girl was on the verge of tears. 'But…but the guards will – '

'Look, am I the Empress or not?' Daine snapped, 'as your Nobility, I order you to return to my room!'

The girl gave a frightened squeak, turned and dashed away. Daine stared after her, heart thumping. She felt tired, emotionally worn out, and most of all angry with herself. She needed not to be so harsh with the slave girl. She was – after all – only following her orders.

Setting a fast pace, Daine turned right and made for the hill. It was a moonless night and the air was surprisingly chilly. As she began the steady climb, she remembered with a dry laugh how very different the atmosphere was like the last time she was here.

She had been with Numair then, sitting close together beneath the tree, bathed in moonlight. Her heart had been light. Light – and oddly flustered at being so close to her teacher.

Tonight, she will be meeting him once more, though she doubted very that any of them would feel like having an idle chatter. Reaching the tree, Daine slipped into its shadow and waited.

The wildmage felt apprehensive, not sure of how she should act, nor what to expect once her teacher arrives. She shivered and rubbed her hand against her arms, trying to shake off the feeling of dread.

There was a faint rustle. Daine turned abruptly. She saw Numair standing some feet away from her, silent and watching. Shadows played across his tall figure, and to anyone uninformed of his arrival, his presence would have looked threatening.

A large lump appeared in Daine's throat.

'I – ' she began but her voice failed to continue. With an awful shock, the wildmage suddenly realised she no longer knew how to behave around her teacher. It was as if her sudden matrimonial announcement has leashed an invisible wall between them, separating and suffocating their once close bond. She also realised just how dangerous this was; meeting in the middle of the night with the man Emperor Ozorne had specifically forbade her from seeing.

Silently Numair moved forwards to stand beside her. It was too dark – and discouragingly difficult to see his face.

There was a pause. Then the tight whisper of his voice crossed the night. 'Is it true? What you said earlier on.' His voice was minimal, and there was an unmistakable strain in it.

It took just one sound of his voice to leave Daine trembling all over. It scared her to think how much of an influence his voice had over her.

Looking straight ahead into the darkness, Daine replied formally, 'I wouldn't have said it, if it was not true.' She tried to keep her voice distant and cold in the hope of discouraging him. She did not want his presence to overwhelm her right now.

It was strange really; three years ago when she first met Numair, she had tried her best to be rude towards him in order to hide the secret of her madness. Now, she was doing exactly the same, only this time, it was to keep her own feelings safe to protect her teacher. Daine knew that if she turned to him now, if she allowed herself to loose within her own emotions, she would break her resolution of marriage with Ozorne.

'Daine – ' Numair's voice came out as a strangled choke, 'of all the stupid, dim-witted things you are professional at doing … I never… dreamt that you would…' He broke off, thoroughly agitated and unable to carry on.

Daine looked at him timidly. 'Are you angry with me?'

Numair laughed without mirth. 'Believe me, anger does not come even close to the troubles you are putting me through right now.' He sighed disconcertedly, eyes flicking across Daine's face. 'When he came to talk to me, I knew something was not right. He was smiling, and he had that same suppressed yet triumphed look in his eyes. And then you came to visit me, and acted so…odd' – his eyes suddenly became accusing –'that's when I knew you were going to do something unspeakable'

'He was going to kill you!' Daine burst out defensively. 'You were going to die!'

'Then by the Gods you should have let me!' Numair shot back waspishly, 'Mithros I'd rather be dead then have you and him…' Again he broke off, too worked up to maintain a rational conversation.

'What would you had me done?' Daine asked softly, 'left you to die?'

'Yes.'

She bit her lip in impatience. Surely Numair did not believe her capable of doing such a thing? And what's the use of being mad at me? She thought, exasperate, he knows I'm only agreeing to marriage to save his neck. Its not as if I want to marry the Emperor!

She sneaked a look at her teacher. Even in the darkness, she knew his face was like a thundercloud.

'I…I'm only marrying him, Numair,' she began meekly, 'I mean, its not as if I –'

Her voice faltered under the explosive look Numair gave her.

'ONLY?' he shouted, eyes blazing dangerously. 'ONLY? Somebody kill me now – do you even understand the meaning of marriage, Daine?'

The girl cringed under the commotion her teacher was making, and hastily scanned the surroundings. 'You have to keep your voice down,' she whispered sternly. 'If Ozorne hears…I-I'm not supposed to talk to you!'

Numair looked outraged. 'But you are my…student!'

'It makes no difference. Ozorne says I'm not to talk to anyone before the wedding…especially not to you.'

'Well that's all right then,' Numair retorted smoothly. 'Because you are not marrying him.'

Daine sighed impatiently. She could see they were not going to get anywhere with this. The longer they stayed here, the more likely they were to be seen. If Ozorne had decided to finish early and take a stroll…

'I have to go,' Daine said quickly, carefully avoiding Numair's eyes. She turned abruptly to walk away.

'Daine wait – ' Numair's hand reached out to touch her cheek. She flinched and shrank away from his touch.

'Oh, so I can't even touch you anymore?' Numair demanded angrily. He blushed as he said this, knowing fully well how outrageously possessive and inappropriate he sounded.

There was silence. Daine looked down awkwardly. She was shaking, and could feel the anger and urgency that radiated from Numair. A stinging sensation attacked the girl's eyes, and she quickly blinked the tears back. She longed achingly to feel Numair's soothing hand, to breath in the familiar smell of his robe…but she did not trust herself to do that.

'I…I'm sorry,' Daine whispered, knowing the pain she was mentally inflicting on Numair. Turning abruptly, she made to leave.

With a breath of surprise, she felt – before she saw – Numair's arms fasten around her waist, pulling her towards him. She felt the sudden warm rush of his hand pressing her head hard against his chest. He was shaking slightly – or was it her? Daine wondered.

'Don't go,' she heard him whisper urgently, 'I…I will not let you go to him.' His voice shook, and his arms tightened to show he meant what he said.

'I've got to…' Daine protested against his robe. Numair ignored her.

For a moment, Daine forgot where she was; the dangers of getting caught flushed clean from her mind. All she knew was that Numair was holding her, and that the closeness of his body was overwhelming.

Dimly, she tried to resist against the mage's hold but her attempt was feeble, and she was quite imprisoned under his strong arms. Her longing for Numair, also, was too dominant. It was as if the sudden contact with Numair had drawn away all energies that Daine possessed, including her will to leave. But in truth, she knew she did not want to leave.

A sudden breath of wind disrupted the still air. Leaves rustled, carrying the sound of faint footsteps through the silence.

Daine's heart missed a beat, and fear infused her. All notions of the wistful unreality fled from her with the first sound of footsteps. Daine mentally kicked herself for dropping her guard, and letting her own emotions rule over her. Resolute now, she gripped the arms that were around her waist, and tried to pull them away. They only grew tighter.

'Numair!' Daine hissed fiercely, 'you're going to get yourself killed! If Ozorne see you-'

'Daine, I really don't care.' The voice that cut across her own was flat and unconcerned, and it did nothing to help Daine's growing temper.

'Well I care!' she snapped, 'I'm not going to marry Ozorne for nothing you know!' With that, she gave a determined push against his chest so that she leaned back far enough to look at him squarely in the eyes. The eyes that met hers were equally determined – and burnt with an intensity that scared the girl.

'You don't love him!' Numair whispered heatedly. 'You love… me… as I recall you once telling me.' His eyes blazed, refusing let go of Daine's. He studied her face, and then very slowly, his eyes moved down, travelling along her clothes. Daine squirmed under his scrutiny, and then cringed, suddenly remembering that her dress was from Carthak, a style notably less covered than the Tortallen gowns.

'He'll come for you during the night, you know,' Numair said softly. 'He'll come under some excuse of checking for your comforts… and he won't leave until the morning. I know well of his habits.'

Daine squirmed again, uncomfortable by what he was saying. It wasn't usual for her teacher to embark upon such personal matters.

'I…I won't let him do anything,' Daine replied, turning red.

'Really? He can be very persuasive when he wants. He has already forced you into marriage. What is to say he can't force you to – '

'Numair!' Daine cut across, blushing furiously. She really did hate it when Numair started talking to her like that!

Suddenly a burst of chatter pierced through the air. Daine froze. Someone was coming up this way!

'Numair, let me go now!' In a panic, Daine struggled to untangle herself but something strange seemed to be happening to her. The air around her seemed to become active, infusing together to create a force that stopped Daine from moving away. Puzzled, the wildmage looked down at herself and saw that her body was wrapped around in her teacher's black fire.

'Numair…' she began weakly. It was the first time he had used magic on her against her will. She turned to face him, eyes frightened and miserable. She could feel Numair's quick and ragged breath as he gazed back, face inches away from hers.

Daine caught her breath, aware that her face has never been this close to his before. Heat rushed through her spine, making her light headed. Despite the darkness, she saw his eyes change, a flicker of burning excitement and desire. Then his mouth was on hers, warm and urgent. His hands stretched out to stroke her hair, fingertips brushing along her neck, leaving tingling sensations long after it has passed.

Daine breathed raggedly, hardly believing what was happening. She had never felt so close, so intimate with Numair as she did now. She was acutely aware of the places his hand touched, from her neck, to her back and across her waist.

Lost in a temporary dream, Daine surrendered herself to Numair's affections. His soft lingering breath, the tight hold of his arms, they felt like wild fire, passionate and fierce. For Daine, who has never experienced this kind of intimacy, it was enough to weaken her knees.

Then, the noises of reality brought her back. Daine had to tear herself from the kiss. Pushing against Numair violently, the wildmage broke off into a run towards the Palace, leaving Numair to stand alone in the dark.

She ran down the hill, past the rows of rosebushes and down the cobbled path that led to the backdoor of the Palace. Going through the Garden, Daine remembered seeing a flash of red and purple of two people's clothes. They looked like Carthaki nobles, and she hoped that it was their chatters that she had heard.

Once inside the Palace, Daine hurtled herself down the corridor. Crossing the well-tended courtyard that let to her chamber, Daine felt herself collide full force into the Emperor himself.

Ozorne looked startled, and even more surprised at her tear-stricken face.

'Veralidaine, are you ill?' he asked concernedly, 'have you hurt yourself?'

Through blind tears, Daine looked upon Ozorne's face, creased with what Daine thought was false concern. She glared at him, the feeling of resentment crashing against her body. She hated him then, hated him for the pain he made her go through.

'You do not look too well,' Ozorne murmured, 'why don't you sit down for a while?' Gently, he gripped Daine's arm and led her towards a bench. Daine recoiled at his touch and flung his hand away.

'Go away!' she shouted through tears. 'Just go away!'

Ozorne's eyes hardened. 'Veralidaine, this is not the respectable manner a bride-to-be speaks to me – '

Daine's eyes flashed, her face twisted in scorn and fury. 'I might be marrying you, Ozorne,' she spat, 'But I'll never, ever respect you!'

With that, the wildmage pushed her way past him ran into her room, where she slammed the door with a tremendous bang.