a/n: hello, and welcome to chapter number the third!

thank you for correcting me for all my mistakes. i apologize for making them, and will try to correct myself in the future.

keyword: try

anyways, here it is.. chapter 3. hope you enjoy.

AND KEEP REVIEWING!

oh.. and that story on my favourites.. for all you harry potter fans (lily and james fans that is), that is one heck of a story! i'd suggest you give it a try. its called 'can you keep a secret?'. well, i for one, LOVE IT!

okay, back to tamora pierce with you foobs!

Daine woke up with a jolt. Sitting up on her bed, she held her head from head-rush, cursing herself. There was a weird sound about in the room. And it wouldn't go away.

"Daine, sweet, are you going to answer the door, or are you going to let me do it?"

She glanced to her right where Numair was starting to sit up. He looked at her, and then got off, walking towards the door.

Pulling it open, Numair was face to face with Lymaac, the Emporor's servant.

"I hope you are ready, sir and miss?" Lymaac asked, peering into the room.

"Uh... just give us a few more minutes please," Numair said, as he quickly shut the door. "I forgot about the feast."

Daine nodded in agreement. The sleep had been a good one, and if it hadn't gone disturbed, she reckoned it would last until the next morning. Pushing herself off the comfortable bed, she walked over to where her bags were. Pulling out one of the fancy dresses that Thayet had also helped pick, she walked quickly into one of thw changing rooms.

"Daine, do I have to go?" Numair called as he dressed from outside. He was really not looking forward to any sort of food.

"Yes!" Daine replied, as she stepped outside of the room to reveal herself. The dress had fit her perfectly, hugging her to every curve. With diamonds frosting her skin, she looked radiant.

"I repeat myself; do we have to go?" Numair asked, raising an eyebrow at her, with a sly grin on.

She made a tutting sound and tapped her foot lightly. She couldn't help smiling. "And I repeat MYself; yes!"

Sighing, he held out his hand for her, and the two stepped out, heading towards the feast.

- - - - - - - - -

"You've made it I see!"

Kaddar stood out to greet them with open arms and a wide grin. The hall was spectacular! Everywhere were amazing Carthaki furnishings. Even the food didn't look like food, as it was placed in magnificent settings. There was a whole fountain of exotic, tropical fruits that Daine had never set eyes on. A platter of finely cut chicken stood in the centre, with two other dishes - antelope steaks and some kind of roasted beef. She would have to stay away from the steaks, but would enjoy the other things. Looking around, she saw a table devoted only to desserts, too pretty to eat, but too mouth-watering to resist. It all looked great!

But not so great for Numair. He had gone three shades paler, sucking on his tongue. His eyes travelled around the tables, laden with odd delicacies such as zebra-skin soup. Just thinking about pelican-jelly made him want to gag, but he couldn't throw up in front of all the royal guests. Holding everything back, he took a deep breath and slowly released it.

"How are you holding up?" Daine whispered, tip-toeing so no one could hear. She looked at him with worry and doubt.

"If I can stand Stormings, I can stand anything," he mumbled. He was still looking at the food, unable to take his eyes off from it. Daine giggled at his comment on Stormwings.

Lymaac and another servant ushered the two to be seated beside the emporor. As Daine sat down beside him, Kaddar immediately struck her conversation, trying to make up for the interfered one they had previously. Numair, sitting on Daine's otherside, had no wish of talking. At the moment, he didn't mind being ignored, since if he were to open his mouth, something might just overflow. He found himself gagging, as he was placed right in front of the fish-head and barley stew, as the fumes wafted into his nose. He made a weird coughing noise.

"Have some water, Numair," Daine ordered, turning quickly away from Kaddar and reaching for the pitcher and a glass in front of her, pouring out the liquid for Numair.

Numair took the glass with shaky hands. He was doubtful on consuming anything, even water. What if this might just be the trigger for his stomach to go off? He gave Daine a sidelong glance, who nodded her head in encouragement. Lifting the glass, he shakily put it to his lips until -

He dropped the glass with a shatter. But he wasn't the only one to drop what they were holding. A high pitched screech emerged from their left, near the kitchen doors. Numair was looking at his hands, which had just held the cup. His face was grim as he gaze travelled to where the noise came from.

Daine, on the other hand, had ignored the shriek and stooped low to clean up the glass sheds from Numair's drop. Carefully picking up each individual piece, she finally got every one and raised herself back up to the table. Giving the servant nearby the shards carefully, she wiped her hands on a towel and turned to the noise maker. Her mouth dropped instantly.

There, frozen at the kitchen door, in a lovely periwinkle dress, stood none other than Varice.

"Oh, help me Goddess," Daine muttered dryly to herslef as she saw Varice come to.

The woman - who by now should be in her early to mid thirties, around the age of Numair himself - had started to slowly make her way towards the table to her once lover. Daine glared at Varice with every step she took. Every step she took, she got closer to Numair.

"A-a-Aaram?" Varice asked weakly, her voice wavering and small. "Is that really you?"

Shocked as he was, Numair gained his composure back, and answered her. "Yes. Yes, it is Varice."

"But... you're... dead."

"Can't be dead if I'm sitting right here can I? Sitting right here - in the flesh."

She was now in front of him on the other side of the table, peering at him curiously with a mixture of fear. Poking him with one of her fingers to make sure, she suddenly shrieked in delight and threw her arms around him. Daine rolled her eyes in disgust at the women. Even I wouldn't be shrieking like a lunatic, she thought to herself. Stupid woman.

"Well, don't let me interrupt!" Varice announced, once she had detangled herself from Numair. "Eat! Eat! I prepared all this! Isn't it spectacular?"

Suddenly, Daine had no more appetite than Numair did. She slumped back in her chair to wait for Varice to leave. She didn't.

"Here Aaram, let me get a few things for you," Varice said, grabbing a plate and piling all sorts of things on it. "Try the rose creme, and the lobster patee!"

Before Numair had a say, his plate was laden with food of all colours; more colours than he thought possible. He couldn't eat it - all he could do was simply stare at it. Stare at it without puking.

Daine looked around the room. The last time she was here, there were some dogs that helped Numair clean his plate without looking suspicious, but not this time. She frantically worked her mind for a solution, but found none. Sighing to herself, she decided to speak up. "I don't think he'll be eating all that."

Varice, who hadn't noticed Daine until now, gave her a surprised look. "Hello there; you look rather familiar. Have we met?"

Daine eyebrow cocked in suspicion. Narrowing her eyes, she replied, "Yes, we have. Five years ago. I'm Veralidaine Sarrasri."

"You mean the girl who was riding that awkward skeleton?"

"Yes. Anyway, I don't think he'll be eating too much for the time being."

"Who?"

"Numair!"

"Numair? Oh - you mean Aaram?"

"Yes! And he prefers to be called Numair Salmalin!"

"I don't mean to be rude, dear, but I think I know the mage better than you do."

Before Daine had time to reply - and to throw her a hit - Numair had stepped in. "Thank you, Varice. You've made very nice food. But I honestly don't think I can have it all."

"There's no need to be polite with me," Varice said, turning to him. "Eat all you want!"

"No, you don't understand. I don't have much of an appetite after travelling."

"Oh."

At this, Varice immediately turned red from embarassment. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"Well, how could you know in the first place?" Numair said, his voice becoming gentle. "You don't need to apologize for something you didn't know about."

Varice who still looked sad, had immediately smiled. As Daine hated to admit it, Varice was beautiful. She was older, more sophisticted, more powerful. She had a body any man would lust for, and a smile that attracted men like bees to honey. Varice had come around the table, plucked a chair and sat it on Numair's other side, and the two engaged in full fledged conversation. All Daine could do was glare.

"Daine, are you alright?"

Daine turned to her other side to see Kaddar, with a frown and a worried face. She smiled forcefully at him. "Great!"

His face eased somewhat but still looked unsure. "Are you enjoying your stay so far?"

"Of course I am, Kaddar! I've always thought Carthak was a lovely place."

"Well, that's good to know."

---

The feast was done, and the two Tortallans were back in their bed chamber. Both hadn't spoken a word to the other since Varice had come in. In fact, both were a bit disgruntled with each other.

Daine had already gotten dressed for bed in her nightgown. She threw herself down onto the bed and buried herself within the covers. She was angry, though she did not know why. She had no need to be angry with Varice. She was just happy to see Numair, after five years of thinking he was dead. And they were past lovers. They aren't together, she thought to herself. They're not together. Numair is with me. And he loves me.

But he loved Varice too.

She shook her head under the covers, trying to get the thoughts away. But they wouldn't stop. Naggin at her, she kicked the covers back and sat up, holding her knees to her chest, resting her head.

"Are you feeling alright?" Numair asked her, as he came forward to the bed, fresh from a bath, smelling like soap. Climbing into the bed and sitting up with her, he looked at her with concern.

"I'm fine," she muttered, her words only half heard as her face was on her knees.

"You know, Daine, I don't know what you're mad about. I was just talking to varice."

Daine had quickly lifted her head, sitting upright. "What makes you think it's about Varice"?

Numair gave her a look and then shrugged. "Don't know. Just suggesting."

"More like making assumptions!"

"But I'm right, aren't I?"

Daine decided to remain silent than answer him. Yes, he was right. And yes, she was angry. But what did he mean when he said he didn't know why she was mad?

"I take that as a yes," Numair said, making himself more comfortable. "I should be mad too."

Daine's eyes had narrowed and she gave him a sidelong glare. "What is THAT suppossed to mean?"

"I was just talking to Varice for a short period of time. What about you and Kaddar? Jabbering like monkeys!"

"He's my friend!"

"She's MY friend!"

"Yes well..."

"I wouldn't talk without thinking first."

"Well, Kaddar and I are friends. And WERE friends to start out with! What about YOU?! You loved her!"

"Daine, when are you going to understand that I'm not with her anymore?!"

"She still loves you."

"She might, but I don't. I love YOU."

"I don't know, Numair..."

Sighing, Numair turned over to face her. He took both her hands and looked her straight in the eye. "Daine, sweet, you need to understand that Varice means nothing to me anymore. Yes, we shared a past together, and yes, it was a pasisonate one. But I'm not with her now. I'm with you. And I wouldn't trade what I have with you for anything in the world."

As happy as those words made her, Daine still wasn't sure she believed him. She had trusted him with everything, but right now, she didn't feel so trusting towards him. But what he said had hit her; she had ignored him throughout most of the day for Kaddar. If having Numair ignore her for just two hours, with all that anger welled up inside of her for such a short period of time, she wondered how Numair had felt for the past day here at Carthak.

She turned her attention back to him. He was still staring at her intently, with a face of longing. "You wouldn't trade what we have for anything in the world?"

He took one of his hands away and placed it over his heart. "I promise."

"Prove it."

By now, Daine was smiling again. Numair had caught her grin, and he too gave a devilish look.

One of the best things about him, Daine thought, grinning from ear to ear, is that he sure knows how to prove a point.