Disclaimer: And I the almighty author of fanfics everywhere! Writer of her own fantasy novel in the works! Maker of stories read by less then 10 people! Is not tamora pierce... *sighs* yesh.. thats right.. unfortunatly I am not her almightyness.. so you'll have to live with a shadow of what truly exists.. sorry for the dissapointment

Chapter 2: Home?

As the darkness passed Numair and Daine found themselves standing in the midst of a hall in the palace. Numair was sweating hard and had gone still as he whispered a word letting the magic around them vanish. Daine was shaking unsteadily looking around her surroundings for support.
Numair dropped his book and pack, turning to Daine quickly and took her chin into his hands. He made her look up at him staring into her eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.

Daine nodded still trying to get reoriented with stable ground. She leaned against a wall for a bit of supported, letting her fatigue pass.

Numair eyed her carefully, "Are you sure magelet? No side effects? Mithrosis, if anything's happened to you-" He touched her face softly looking once more into her grey eyes.

Daine grinned at her teacher amused, "You'd what? Pray tell me... I wonder if its possible to turn a God into a tree.... its an interesting thought- though I wonder what all the hunters of the world would think if Weiryn became a cherry tree, or say the Mother a crab apple... no doubt many peoples prayers would have to change. And you might become a bit unpopular among the rest of the Gods at that." Looking up at him mischievously she added, "I'd really hate for you to become say a flea, or something equally unpleasant."

Numair gave her a mock glare, "Ah but if I became a flea then who would they have to teach you hmmm?" then moving a step closer added, "And if I were turned into a flea then I couldn't do this-" he bent down and kissed her gently on the lips. He held her tightly then let go again breathing hard. "Are you sure your alright?"

She looked up smiling into his face "I swear Numair, I'm fine." she studied his face for a few moments staring into his eyes then moved her glance to look around. The hall seemed empty and undecorated. "Do you have any idea where we are?" Daine asked realizing she had no idea where they stood.

Numair looked about him then frowned, "I'm not sure, though I think-" he walked over to the door and nodded, "Yes I think, mind you think magelet, that we're just off the mages wing-" He saw her yawn again and studied her once more, "Are you positive you aren't having reactions to that shift sweet? You look exhusted."

Daine shook her head, "What did you say? Oh I'm sorry... no Numair I'm fine." Seeing his scepticism added, "Really. I'm just tired. You know what Ma said, its because of my cross blood."

"Daine..." His voice was still filled with worry.

She laughed her eyes filled with amusement, "Honestly Numair if I can just get to my rooms and lie down I'll be fine."

Numair frowned but nodded, "Alright then, lets head down towards ours rooms. You can lay down for a bit, and I for one wish to go see what's going on with Jon and the others." Looking about once more he added, "And I'm also very curious to know why we haven't come across anyone else yet. It may be Midwinter; however, I've never seen the palace so empty."

"Whatever you say" said Daine yawning again.

They picked up their small packs and walked down the hall towards to the mages wing. Once or twice they saw a servant running down a separate wing, but no nobles or even a page was seen.
They reached the last league and Daine looked around again, "Numair? Is this the mage's wing? It looks like it, but theirs not anything like usual. No astronomy tapestries, or those lights you reconstructed from Carthak." she stopped and listened, "I also don't hear any of the usual noises marking the rooms. No People, no experiments nothing..." she had a worried expression on her face.

Numair frowned, "I agree Magelet, not to mention there is no gift on any of these doors. The usual trace most people have, but no residue from experiments and so forth. Its strange, its almost like Jon moved the wing or something." He quickened his pace, "Jon knows better then moving my things too. If he so much as-"

"Jon wouldn't do it without good cause. You know that Numair." she tried to keep up but quickly found herself out paced.

He turned around and saw her falling behind and slowed to a walk, "Oh I'm sorry Daine, I was just worried, here give me your pack, I need to slow down a bit."

"Numair really, its what... four doors away?"

"Sweet your exhausted. Jon can wait-" with a sigh she handed him her pack and he lifted it with his own. "Come on"

They turned a few more halls looking about for signs of recognition, finally Numair stopped. "Am I right to say this is where our rooms should be." He was staring in confusion at the name plate.

Daine looked at the door and nodded, "Yes this is most defiantly your room, mines right there" she pointed to the door next to it. "Why aren't you going in."

"Because according to this- it belongs to Alanna's father, Myles of Olau."

Daine stopped to stare. "What? But why would Jon-"

"I don't know.. maybe its just a mistake." his tone led her to believe otherwise though, as she tried to puzzle out what was going on.

"I think we should go see Jon and see what he has been doing" she tried to sooth the bristling mage, "Really something might have happ-" she stopped mid-sentence as the door opened.

"Thank you for bringing that drought lad, even if it does taste miserable-" said a gruff voice in a tone that sounded half asleep.

A familiar tone answered, "Really Myles its fine. You know though you really should stop drinking, you'd have less hangovers in the morning, and I wouldn't have to bring you all these in the morning. Then I might get to sleep in a bit on my free days" there was a laugh from the two figures, "If we squires ever get to sleep in-" a figure stepped out from the door with bright red hair he turned to see the two mages watching them. "Excuse me can I help you?" Daine let out a slight gasp meeting the boy's amethyst eyes.

"Thom?" said Daine in surprise. After a moment though she realized that couldn't be right. Thom was much younger then this lad, and unless they had been gone for four years and he suddenly changed his mind, Alanna's eldest son was planning to be a mage.

The lad who was watching them paled to a thin white, and terror racked his face until he put up a stone look, but his eyes shone with fear.

Numair stared as another man stepped forward from behind. He was wearing worn clothes, and appeared to be recovering from a night spent drinking. He looked at the two mages in shock. "Thom? No. I'm afraid not. This is Alan of Trebond. Surely you've heard of him? Prince Jon's Squire?"

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Ohhhhh Lookses! Cliffhanger? Maybe or maybe not *g*

For all those who hate these little thank you's to my reviewers... sorry. I for one admire those who get like 100 reviews and say thanks to all of them... and everytime I get a new review it brings joy to my life so just skip it if it annoys you and wait for the next chappy.

Wild Magelet: Thank you! Glad you enjoy it so far... I just thought there wasn't enough D/N fics around here *winks*

CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88: *grins* yesh it was short.. I promise it will get longer in the run, and I promise fluff just give me time. Thanks for the complement.

horseluver444: Thanks It means a lot to see I have a fan out there *g*

Dave the L's Gal: Will do *smiles*