HELLO EVERYONE!!! I am SO sorry for the delay..read my message at the bottom of this chapter for some, aherm, interesting comments. Well, this is the beginning chapter of our new fic. Race Against Death. First of all..i wanna give thanks to those who reviewed for the last chapter of Fate has Led Us….
Insomniac-Reader – Thanks for all the things you said…I'm so glad you thought it was a great story. Well..here's the sequel..ENJOY!! and thanks for considering our first fic "successful"!
Lizzie- sorry, I'm too lazy to type your name…I mean it is like 9:00…hehe. CARROTY PARTS ROCK!! Wat are you talking about? Lol..jk…I hope you get a move on on your new fic..u REALLY NEED TO! Okay? See..we did. So now itz your turn..I'M WAITING…..
Goddess of Muffins – I'm so glad you liked this story..and thanks a bunch for reviewing. I can tell you love D/N fics as much as us!!
Narm's Briton 44 – hehehehe..i was laughing quite hard after your review. No apparent reason. Well..daine had a burst of strength..from , um, ME! lol..don't tell me about those stupid mistakes. They are SO obvious..but o well. But thanks for pointing those things out…itz nice to know! Thanks for reviewing, again! Alex luved to hear that you loved drowning!!! Don't tell her, but I haven't read it yet..lol!
darkestflare – here is the sequel! Sorry you had to wait for so long!
Roherwen – like I said..i'm SO SORRY that you had to wait. For this first chapter. Read my note at the bottom..lol. it kind of applies to your review..
megster – oh u don't have to apologize for that…but that was really sweet of you to do so. I FORGIVE YOU!! Hehehe..want a cookie? Lol. Luv your evil/ insane/ maniacal/ streak in you..now I shall copy you! MUAHAHAHHAHAHA! We put a lot of thought into this title. NOT!! Lol. Oh and BY THE WAY!! …I just wanted to say thanks for saying thanks for saying thanks for saying thanks about reviewing!!!!! ;)
Equestrian-babe101 – here comes the sequel, her comes the sequel ((sang to tune of here comes the bride!!))
Jennyvre Moss – you're great to review..lol. thanks again!
wild black fire - wait…wat does AU mean anyways.. I have been trying to figure that out for awhile. If you could tel me..that would be great!! I'm glad you like the fact that Tristan is back..lol. and well..i luv ur army!!! ((blows kisses at them)) hope they don't mind!!! :D
Kevin – wow. U reviewed. Amazing..just a comment. O..future cities sucks. Just cuz I'm stuck wif u!! JK! It ended so soon..cuz I FELT LIKE IT!! and here's the sequel!
Wild Magelet – no prob about the mention. I luved doing it! hehehehhee…so sorry about the long wait. Read note at bottom..lol
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THANKS AGAIN!! And I hope you enjoy the first chapter, as written by Alex..but don't forget to REVIEW!! Plz.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So much for my vacation," grumbled the wild mage. After days of being locked in a dungeon, starved, and abused she had come home only to me swamped with work.
"You'd really think Jon would give a girl a rest after such a traumatizing experience."
She was being unfair though. Jon had given her and Numair an extra week to recover. She had been the one who had bolted out of bed to help train the new Queen's Riders.
"Adjust your stirrup, Trainee!" she bellowed.
She rode around the groups a few times.
"You seem preoccupied," Onua road up next to her.
"Um... Yeah," she looked thoughtfully at a lone figure that sat under a tree. Her head tilted slightly and she bit her bottom lip.
Onua followed her gaze.
"Well you're gone," The Horse Mistress told her. Daine shook her head and looked at her friend,
"Did you say something?" she asked.
Onua snorted and turned her pony.
"Didn't say a word,"
Daine tried to pay attention, she really did, but her attention kept wandering to the base of a certain tree. She stole quick glances when she thought no one was looking but, of course, every time she glanced, she found herself staring.
The man under the tree was reading. His long legs were bent and his back leaned against the trunk. He was absorbed in his reading.
Long black hair, that she loved to tangle her fingers in hung down in his face. The man whom she was spying on rested his book on his knees, still trying to read as he attempted to tie it back. He was having trouble with keeping the volume balanced when a small breeze picked up, threatening to turn the pages.
The mage was not to be defeated though. He took a breath and began to fight the wind, blowing the pages back.
Daine giggled.
Oh she loved that man. Loved him so much.
She imagined that the breath escaping from those perfect lips was blowing upon her and she shivered.
A long time ago he had proposed and she had turned him down. She felt she had been too young. She knew she wasn't now. Her only fear is that his question might not still stand.
After all, it had been months since he had last asked. But look at him! She loved him! And suddenly, she knew that he would love her forever. Before she knew it, the words had ripped from her.
"Numair!" she screamed. Numair looked up suddenly and blushed when he realized that his current position looked less than dignified.
A lot less than dignified.
The wind conquered and blew several pages. The mage flashed a smile. He always smiled when he saw her.
What does she need? he wondered.
Then her next words came and he could have sworn his heart had stopped.
"Numair! Yes!!!"
Yes? Yes what? Oh Mithros!!! his thought. Because if her answer was what he thought it was, then no man on earth was happier.
What if it's not though? No, what else could it be?
When Daine had screamed her answer, her lover had seemed confused.
What if he doesn't want to? she thought fearfully.
Then Numair jumped to his feet and let his book fall to the ground. He never let a book just fall on the ground. The mage ran toward her and vaulted the paddock fence. Daine slid off Cloud and had taken a few steps before he was there and she was in his arms.
Horse Lords! He smells good! She thought giddily.
"Did I hear you correctly Magelet?" he whispered, "Did I hear you say yes?"
She nodded.
Then his lips were on hers for one long, sweet kiss. He pulled away suddenly.
"And-and you're sure you said yes?" He was being silly now. Then she saw that he was deadly serious.
"Positive. I-" The words were pushed back by his mouth. He broke away once more.
"We are talking about the same question, aren't we?"
"Judging by the way we are both reacting I'd say you were correct. I-"
One more long kiss. Then he was at her eyelids and her nose and all down her neck, showering her with kisses.
"And-kiss-your-kiss-absolutly-kiss-positively-kiss-sure-kiss-that the answer-kiss-was yes?"
Now he was being silly. Daine placed her hands on the sides of his head and brought it up so it was staring deep into her eyes,
"Numair Salmalin, if you can't listen to me when I tell you something, then maybe I'll reconsider my answer."
That terrified him. Then she brought her face close and smiled her wolf smile.
"Only joking you dolt," she whispered and came closer still.
"Your sense of humor is-" The wildmage was the one to interrupt this time. She laced her fingers through his hair and heard him groan.
Numair carried his love over to the fence and sat her on top. Then gracefully, he knelt down on one knee and presented a small velvet box. He flicked it open to reveal its contents.
Daine gasped and covered her mouth with one hand. The mage took the other one and gently slid the ring upon her finger as Daine cried.
Gently, he brushed her fingers with his lips and helped her to feet. Daine stood there, sobbing until she flung her arms around his neck and soaked his shirt with her tears.
"You make me so happy," she told him. Numair pushed her away slightly and cupped her chin in one hand. Gently he brought tilted it up.
"That's what I'm here for," he told her with an impish grin, before slowly, almost hesitantly, he leaned in close.
Daine stood up on tiptoes, catching him by surprise when they met before he expected. He almost pulled away but Daine held him close. She was never going to let him go again.
From behind them came slowly the sound of applause and cheers. Surprised, the newly betrothed broke a part and blushed profusely as they remembered their surroundings.
Onua ran up to them, crying herself. She wrapped them up in an embrace.
"Finally! Oh you two are so sweet!!!" she laughed as Thayet, Buri and Sarge to approched. Sarge couldn't stop grinning and Thayet was crying too.
The Queen glanced at her friend and lightly whacked her on the shoulder,
"Go ahead cry," she told her, "You know you want to."
Buri glared hotly,
"Excuse me? I 'm sorry but I don't cry," she retorted before she broke down and tears began to flow.
"Damn! You guys are never going to let me hear the end of this."
"Not a chance."
Lord Henry paced all over his quarters. He followed no particular pattern and Tillie had to constantly move to avoid being trodden on.
"I can't do it," he said a frown creasing his attractive face. Tillie sighed in exasperation,
"Come on Hen. We practiced this! I know for sure that she will say yes."
"But- I- Are you sure?"
Tillie did a brave or very foolish thing. She moved right in front of the pacing parent. No, not parent. He just looked like her late father. Well, her father wasn't dead, but he was late.
Too late to fix his life after he had ruined it.
Lord Henry looked just like Aeejah and sometimes she forgot that it wasn't really her da. It was like when she was younger and she had such a great relationship with her father. Except that this was better. A whole lot better and it would be better still if Henry would just go and ask!!!
Just four words. Merely four! Hello! Not that hard!
"Henry... Henry... Henry! Relax! Deep breaths. Breathe with me now, in...out..." she stepped on a chair so that she was closer to his height.
She grabbed his shoulders.
"Henry this can't be too hard. I am positive she'll say yes. Positive. I've never seen her so happy."
Of course I haven't seen her this happy, up until a few months ago.
"You're right. Yes, you're right. I can do this. I can do this. I can- I can't do this!"
Gahh! Come on man! Tillie was getting annoyed now.
"Henry!" she snapped, "You are going to march right out of this room, find my mother, get down on one knee and pop the question. And if I don't hear her scream in happiness in the next five minutes, I will most likely decapitate you or SOMETHING!!"
Henry drew himself up to his full height and pecked her on the cheek.
"I'm leaving now. How hard can it be? One question, four words. Wish me luck!"
"I've been wishing you luck for the last two weeks!' Tillie muttered.
The noble smiled and strode briskly out of the room. When the door closed the girl sank down in the chair and gave a sigh in exasperation.
As she flipped her brown locks over her shoulder the door opened and Lord Henry stuck is head in.
"What Now?!"
He smiled sheepishly,
"I, uh, forgot the ring.' Tillie nearly threw it at him but caught herself in time.
Tillie ventured down the hall after Henry but he was already out of sight. She wanted to see the proposal. A man joined her. He was of average height and quite attractive.
His nose was crooked and he sometimes walked with a limp. That was the result of a little running he had with a black robe mage (a/n: Cough:Numair:Cough. Just in case you forgot)
His hair was blond and hung down to his shoulders. A small silver hoop hung in one ear.
"Did he ask her yet?" he said anxiously as he quickened his pace to catch up with the nearly running girl.
"No. Just got him out the door." she was jogging now.
The man matched her pace.
"He forgot the ring for crying out loud, Lasku!" she exclaimed, moving a little faster now.
As the pair moved down the hall they took sidelong glances at each other gradually getting faster. Finally, they broke out in an all out run. They were neck in neck.
"You are so childish Lasku, You know that? What are you? 25 now?" she panted as they turned a corner and narrowly avoided a maidservant.
"20, actually." A shriek filled the air.
"That would be Ma! Finally! Has it been past five minutes yet?" the spy shrugged.
They turned another corner and sprawled on the ground with another figure.
"Tillie! I'm engaged! I'm engaged!" Elsinore cried from the floor.
"Finally Ma! Where's Henry?" The girl's mother looked around.
"Um, I, don't know. I sort of just ran off." Tillie covered her face in her hands.
"Oh, ma. He probably thinks you don't want to. Shut up Lasku,"- Lasku was roaring with laughter.
"But I took the ring. And, and I screamed yes a few times and that I love him and I kissed him a few times... Shut up Lasku!"
Lasku couldn't stop. He wiped away a tear,
"you just-you-you just left?' he gasped out, "Nice one, El, real smooth!"
He was silenced when Elsinore threw her shoe at him.
He threw it back as Maura rounded the corner.
"What is going on?' she asked.
"I'm engaged! I'm engaged!'
Maura screamed in joy and rushed towards her best friend's mother. Lasku's leg was in the way, however. She tripped and sprawled out, the spy beneath her. The women screamed with laughter as Lasku shouted indignantly,
"My gods, Maura! Watch out will you? Your crushing me, you know that?" The girl made to move to get off of him.
"Lasku, I'm not that stupid. I know you tripped me on purpose, " she retorted sternly.
"I resent that you think I would sink that low! And if you don't get off of me you will be responsible for when I suffocate! It will be all your mmph-" Maura had covered his mouth with a hand.
"Well, that was getting annoying," she remarked as the spy glared.
"Thank you." Elsinore giggled, "Now that we can talk without being interrupted-" she was interrupted,
"Nory! Where'd you go?" called Lord Henry as he too rounded the corner. He stopped suddenly when met with the sight of his fiancée, his soon to be step daughter, his foster daughter, and his best friend sprawled out on the floor. The later two tangled up together with Maura's hand still over the spy's mouth.
"I-uh, there you are," he finished.
Elsinore got to her feet and skipped to her fiancé (still missing her shoe,) and put her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest. He gently kissed the top of her head.
Tillie got to her feet and joined them, giving them a big hug, then kissing her mother before standing on tiptoe to kiss Henry's cheek.
"Glad you finally went through with it. I didn't want to kill you,"
"I didn't much feel like dying," he answered. Lasku got to his feet, picked up Maura who gave a squeak of surprise when she left the ground.
"You could've done that at any time couldn't you?" she accused.
The spy shrugged, "Cumph oo akeph ur and oph ow?" he pleaded.
"Huh?"
Lasku took her hand off of his mouth before repeating himself, "I said, 'can you take your hand off now?"
Then he replaced her hand.
She giggled.
"No, I don't think I will," but she did anyways. Lasku placed her gently down on her feet. They walked over to the others grinning broadly.
"Congratulations!" Maura said brightly.
"Yes," continued Lasku, "So...Have you set a date yet?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Finally! Finished!! Hurry and Post it!! Hurry Hurry Hurry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" THAT WAS QUOTE ON QUOTE from alex from the email I got from her. So make sure you blame it on her that this chapter took so long to upload. Because SHE didn't write it. lol. I'm luving this…blaming her.
So everyone make sure to write in your review…
ALEX, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU TOOK SO LONG TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER!
Thanks to those who do..and I'll hand out cookies! ;)
REVIEW PLEAZ!