a/n: thank you to all of those who reviewed. i must say, the positive feedback is really encouraging.

first off, no, there is no kitten in this story. the thing is, i'm not too fond of kitten. if i mean any offense to anyone by saying this, i apologize, but you cannot contradict me if i dont want a certain character in here. kitten just isn't someone i'd write well about anyway.

i'm trying to make this a bit humorous, so there might be a few thigns that characters aren't like to say, but will say anyway. heh... whatever..

enjoy this chapter, and please review!

(there will be no further needs for disclaimers)

"I can't believe you're actually here!"

Daine had laughed out loud and gave the Carthaki Emporor a long hug. Five years since she's seen him, and he's changed so much. He's only a year ahead of me, she thought. He looks too wise for twenty-one. Too stressed. Too tired. But nevertheless, he looked fantastic. Though not as tall as Numair - no one is as tall as him - Kaddar's height gave him power. With his subtle olive-green robe around and his dark skin, the jewels he wore really stood out. He wore more jewels than he had last time. Blinded, Daine pulled back and shielded her eyes from him. He gave her an odd look.

She saw his face, and gave a smile. "Your jewels are quite dashing."

His smile grew wide as he flahsed his white teeth. "I can spot a jewel in front of me who shines brighter than anything."

Daine had gone crimson and was about to reply, until she heard a cough. She turned around to see Numair, with his eyebrows raised, looking not quite so friendly. The Carthaki must have heard and spotted him too, for he said, "Greetings, Master Numair Salmalin. How have you been?"

"Fine, thank you," Numair replied tightly. He crossed over in two steps to Daine and put his arms around her. She sighed inwardly and shook her head, giving Kaddar an apologizing smile.

"Are you still educating Daine, Numair?" Kaddar asked inquiringly.

"Yes," Numair said shortly.

"How long have you known each other?"

"Seven years."

"Are the both of you - "

"Yes."

Kaddar looked at the couple with an unreadable face. Daine was trapped between both men, trying to avoid both their eyes and minding her own business. Numair was staring at Kaddar intently with some sort of fierce look about him, as if daring him to say something more.

"Well, I think we should be going then," Kaddar said, turning around and leading them to his chariot. "Apparantly, there's a big feast awaiting you."

"A feast?" Daine questioned, looking uneasily at Numair. He still looked a bit worn out, and probably wouldn't be enjoying any festivities with consumptions.

"Yes, why? We always have feasts for our guests. And there's a special one planned for the both of you; friends of the Carthaki Emporor."

Kaddar had patiently waited aside for the other two to enter into the carriage. Numair lifted Daine up and climbed in himself. As they settled in the carriage, the three had an uncomfortable silence.

"So," Daine said, trying to break the ice. She twisted her fingers nervously. "What's been going on with you, Kaddar? I know you've told me in letters, but honestly, hearing it first hand is much better."

Kaddar's face seemed to brighten at the question, as he too felt uneasy about the silence. "Well, as I've told you, I reopened a new zoo. It doesn't only have birds, but exotic animals from even the Copper Isles! I'm quite excited about this collection!"

"Animals aren't things you collect."

Daine and Kaddar turned their heads slowly to the mage. He scowled and turned away from them, looking out of the carriage window, with his arms crossed and his body flung to the side. Daine pursed her lips but said nothing about his attitude. He could at least show some respect, she thought. He's being a pretty big dolt right now.

"I can't wait to see the amazing animals you have," Daine said, turning back to Kaddar. His face once again lightened. "I'd like to hear the stories they'll tell me. Anyway, what else has been going on?"

"Well, I've finally gotten all the renovations done," he replied, trying to avoid her gaze. "You know, from... five years back."

Daine shuffled her feet. She saw Numair stare at her from the corner of her eyes, but did not look back at him. "I'm really sorry about all the mayhem I caused, Kaddar. I didn't really mean it. I never knew the burden would be placed onto you."

"It's alright. I mean, if I were in your shoes, I'd do it too. My uncle really was an awful man. But he was a good man too; in his own way."

"Yes, he really did love his birds. He was such a different person whenever I heard him speak with them. Maybe he did have a heart."

"I doubt it," Numair had suddenly.

Daine had ignored Numair this time. She'd speak with him later. "So what's it like to be ruler of a whole entire nation?"

"It has its ups and downs," he answered thoughtfully. "I mean, everywhere you go, there's always going to be someone who hates you."

Numair had made a small, almost silent snorting noise. Daine had kicked him as subtley and hard as she could.

Kaddar had chose to ignore him. "As I was saying, there will always be those who try to disobey; run their own act. I've got people who tried to overrule me. But I managed to stand on my two feet. Besides, mother wouldn't be too glad if I got overthrown. She wouldn't want to live like a normal person. Whatever that means."

"Do you still have slaves?" she asked tentively and looking away.

"There are always those who don't want a change in lifestyle, no matter how hard I try to persuade them," he replied, giving a sigh. "I guess they like living in the palace with me. I must admit, I'm quite the emporor!"

Daine laughed at him as he puffed his chest out. Soon the two of them were laughing and talking, as if all those years hadn't seperated them. Maybe they haven't really been seperated. Maybe they were seperated physically, but not emotionally. Numair had noticed.

He watched her smile; it was brighter than the last few days he had seen her. He heard her laugh, which seemed more delighted. He saw the look in her eyes; the glowing glint that tells she's truly happy. He tried to push these thoughts out of his heads, but how could he possibly do that? To see the love of his life, taking more pleasure in another man would obviously anger him. He did not understand why Daine had kept such close bonds with the Carthaki. Though he understood how the two got on so well - their age. Only one year difference, the two would have much in common. Also, Daine wasn't the type of girl who'd sit around the house avoiding the sun; she was as bright as the sun itself. She loved the outdoors, and archery. Numair knew Kaddar had a love for archery too. That wasn't a surprise. He turned his face away from them once again, losing himself to his thoughts.

---

"Numair?"

Before he knew it, he was being shook. He had fallen asleep thinking, and now his neck was cramped. He opened his eyes and turned the other way to find Daine still patting him lightly and smiling at him. All thoughts gone from his head, Numair smiled back at her. He could never resist her smile. That smile that made his heart open. The same smile that had changed his life.

"Are you awake yet?" she asked him, trying to pull him up.

He gave in and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I am now. Where are we?"

"We've arrived, silly! Now, if you could move out of the way, so I can get off..."

Numair, still yawning from his sleep, had slowly stepped out of the chariot. After helping Daine out, he turned to see the marvelous sights of his former home. Although he didn't much like Carthak, it still ceased to amaze him. It's wonderful surroundings, the beautiful water scenes, the odd looking animals that roamed the place; it all felt so familiar yet so alien to him.

Servents had met them at the palace entrance, and guided them through the enormous maze of gardens. Daine grinned when she was greeted by several squirrels and chipmunks, and bent down to pet a few. She breathed in the lovely floral scent. She loved Carthak. She loved how it always stayed beautiful. The longer she stayed, a weird, excited feeling of elation had seeped into her. Carthak really is a magical place, she thought to herself.

"Um... would you like seperate rooms, adjoining rooms, or would you like a room together?" Kaddar had asked when they reached the hall. He was stuttering and a bit red.

Daine had giggled at him, trying hard not to burst out in laughter at the emporor. Numair, on the otherhand, had bit his tongue and started tapping his foot. He looked over at Daine, who gave him a look saying 'I'd prefer to stay with you'. He hid a triumphant smile.

"We'd like a room together," the mage said evenly, glancing over to his wild mage. She gave him a devilish smile, and he cocked an eyebrow, grinning.

"My servent, Lymaac here, will show you to your room. He'll be waiting for you in two hours, when the feast will start," Kaddar exaplined. "If you can excuse me, there are a few issues that need to be dealt with by me. I'll see you at the feast." And with that, he quickly whipped around and headed to the main hall into a room that looked as if only a few certain people were allowed in.

"If you please, sir and miss," Lymaac said, bowing to them.

"Please, don't do that," Daine said, wincing at the courtesy.

"Yes, miss."

Lymaac had led them to the end of the hall, where a gorgeous room awaited them. The largest bed ever sat in front of the center wall, with the softest sheets. Two wardrobes were on each side, with two tables and odd but marvelous furniture around everywhere. Daine gasped at the sight, too shocked to say anything. She had never seen a room of such size - not even in Jon and Thayet's place.

"I shall be back for you in two hours," Lymaac said from behind them. "You can start settling yourselves in. Another servent will be outside to care for your other needs."

When he left, Daine was still at the doorway, taking in everything. She never knew of such a room the Carthaki Palace had.

"Daine?" Numair asked, putting a hand on her slender shoulder. "Are you going to spend your time staring at it, or are you going to spend your time enjoying it?"

She stepped inside the room carefully, as if scared she'd suddenly break something not visible. Numair had just dragged their belongings across the floor and plopped himself onto the bed. He was tired, he felt sick, and he wanted rest. He was almost asleep until he felt the soft weight on the other side of the bed. Turning over he saw Daine sitting, still wide eyed.

"Daine? Sweet? Is something bothering you?" he asked, looking concerned and sitting up.

Daine had shifted herself to a laying position on the bed. "No. I'm just so surprised."

"At what?"

"At this. This is wonderful! When I first came here, my room was nothing compaired to this!"

"Hmmmm...."

Numair had put himself down on the bed again, and began closing his eyes.

"Numair?" Daine asked quietly.

He cracked an eye open. "Mmm?"

"Are you tired?"

"Quite."

She looked at him and smiled. His back was to her. She didn't want to disturb him, but she didn't want him sleeping umcomfortably. She took out the tie of his horse-tail and finger-combed his hair. He had then turned over to her.

"You know, Daine, if you don't stop fidgeting with me, I'll get grouchy on you," he said, trying to sound cross, but was smiling.

She gave out a small laugh. "I'll stop now. I want some sleep myself."

She turned to her side and began pulling the covers over herself, until Numair had stopped her. He wrapped his arms around her, and she snuggled into the curve of his body, feeling herself getting warm instantly.

"Two hours before the feast," she whispered, shutting her eyes and sighing with content.

"Two hours until misery for me," he mumbled. "And forced manners."

She shook her head and smiled before falling into slumber.