Author Notes: Here's another chapter hot of the presses! I really enjoyed writing this chapter, and I hope you enjoy reading it .
Chapter 6: Kidnapped
Daine's POV:
Every night for the past two days, I've had terrible nightmares where a voice tells me that darkness is coming and that I have to face my destiny. I wish I had some clue as to what they were talking about. I've decided that it's just a nightmare and that there is no need to bother anybody else, especially since we're going with the rider trainees to their summer camp which is Pirate's Swoop again this year.
I'm working hard as horse mistress again, a position that I enjoy more than Wildmage, even though I'm still the only wildmage in Tortall. Caring for the horses is fun, tiring, and relaxing at the same time.
Just like the first time we went through training camp, several of the trainees had to make several trips with Sarge to pack a bag that wasn't way to heavy. Every year it seems that it's the snottiest students the one that won't make it all the way through training but will leave in a few weeks, with their nose in the air.
The journey is uneventful, I cajole Numair's mount Spot, into a better mood, by promising that I'd attempt to teach Numair how to be a better rider, I also tell Spots that she's the perfect horse for him.
Horses rear, the people roar, and the two leggers all shriek in terror. I grab my bow and look up, only to be caught by a stormwing with a voice I know all to well.
"Now, Now Arram, you don't want to kill your little chickadee do you?" Ozorne says mockingly.
I can feel through our link just how angry, afraid and helpless he feels. I try and send comfort through our link, even as I'm being cut and clutched by Ozorne's razor sharp talons.
It'll be all right, love.
Pain rips through me and unconsciousness takes me.
Numair's POV:
The day started out simply enough, I woke up, packed some books and clothes into a bag and prepared to follow the trainees to their camp.
I got on Spots, knowing without asking that Daine was talking to the gentle horse, apologizing for my lack of riding talent. I'm almost positive that she promised the horse that she would teach me how to ride.
Daine didn't sense the immortals presence a fact which is quite curious, but then we were all knocked off our horses, and Ozorne sunk his claws into Daine. He taunted me, I'd been ready to use my gift to vaporize him into pieces when he'd taunted me with Daine's life. She sent me reassurance, said she'd be fine and then I felt pain as she collapsed into unconsciousness.
I watched in horror as the stormwing and the girl vanished out of sight. We made it to the swoop, but I don't remember much else besides calling in my mind, for Daine over and over, like a prayer.
Ozorne's POV:
Mine the girl is. I will destroy them both. She'll suffer pain and agony like never before. And through their bond, Arram will feel every second of her pain, he'll feel her agony, her bitter despair, and he'll feel it as I get her to die cursing his name for not rescuing her.
She starts to stir, and I laugh bitterly, let the games begin.
Daine's POV:
I wake up to Numair's cries in my head. I'm awake. I allow him in and our minds connect giving me strength and courage. Numair tries to figure out where I am, but the place is unfamiliar to use both, which means they won't be able to rescue me anytime soon.
I cut Numair off as Ozorne comes back into the room.
"Well, well Veraildaine, I almost regret what I'm about to do, you really should have accepted my generosity better, because now you're all alone and helpless."
He taunts me, and I sit up waiting for the worst to happen.
"You're fear tastes delicious and now I shall give you a taste of stormwing magic!" Suddenly I was almost 13 again and my ma and granddad, and all of the animals were bloody bodies littered across our yard. I felt the grief rip through me and the madness. I remember the wolves, chasing down the bandits belonging in the pack, I remember the joyful sensations I felt as I killed the men who took away my family. I remembered the pain of having men I knew my whole life hunting me like I was some animal they were hunting. I felt the pain, like I was there again. I screamed out crying as my magic ripped open, and called for any animal near by to help, no one was around, and I kept screaming until my voice was raw. As every negative memory I ever had was raped from me.
"NO! NO!"
I kept screaming. I could feel Numair trying to reach but I was powerless, my gift useless, a pretty copper fire unable to protect me. The badger's claw still around my neck.
I kept screaming until I dropped unconscious once more.
Numair's POV:
I sat in my workroom at the tower shaking as I was propelled through Daine's worst memories, as Ozorne raped her mind, I tried to reach her, to strengthen her but she was to far gone.
She's unconscious and scared and I am powerless here. I know she's not done suffering at Ozorne's hands, and no one can find her. Especially if she's no longer in Tortall at all.
I begin to weep, forced to watch helpless as Daine suffers. I will find her.
Daine's POV:
My throat is raw and burning as I wake up still shivering in sorrow as those memories still take their toll. I'm nothing, I'm worthless. I'm powerless. I'm forsaken.
Why did everyone leave me alone! I scream silently as terror grips me. Ozorne's back.
This time the memories come fast and harsh, always alone, friends gone, family dead, the madness that overtook me attempting to come back.
I feel a violet presence in my mind suddenly and I can feel Alanna and Numair trying to send me happier memories, suddenly we're all having a lunch together and we're teasing and laughing about mundane things and my feelings are suddenly my own again. I know now what I must do.
I must be brave. I must standalone and I must fight. I stand up startling the stormwing and I walk up to him.
I shove the badger's claw, the nails as sharp as any dagger into his neck.
"Die." I say simply and neutrally. Ozorne dies but a blackness oozes out of him.
Silver light surrounds me and although I don't see who is speaking, I hear them.
The prophesied child repelled Chaos, she's trapped once more.
Then I'm in my mother's arms and she's cradling me, telling me that I did well, that she's a goddess now, and that she's sorry for all the pain I've suffered and most of all telling me that she's proud of me.
I'm exhausted, and I fall asleep, feeling the familiar prescience of the badger next to me.
Well done Kit.
From the Badger that's high praise indeed, but I just want to go home.
Numair's POV:
When the second attack came, Alanna and tried a technique using our gift and we sent her happier memories, innocent lighthearted moments to counteract the horror that Ozorne was making her relive.
I felt her remember, felt her strengthen and then I saw her kill Ozorne. Then we lost our connection and I could only sit there worrying about her.
Magelet come home.
I feel Alanna using her gift to send me to sleep and I allow her to push me under. Sleep is good.
Sarra's POV:
I watch my baby girl sleep, as I run my fingers through her hair. I feel angry at everyone Wieryn, the other gods and myself. I saw her relive the nightmares and this time I saw them as she lived them and I'm angry for not telling her sooner that I'd become a goddess.
As I stroke her hair, her voice rings through my ears. Ma, you'll not leave me ever right?
I remember reassuring my baby that I'd always be there and then I'd been forced to leave her all to soon.
Baby girl forgive me. Get married, have a dozen children and enjoy your life.
I know that tomorrow she'll be sent back, that we'll never make up for the time the bandits stole from us.
Time doesn't stop just because you want it to.
I cry. Sleep tight baby girl.
Wieryn's POV:
Sarra's crying and I know why, it's the hardest thing as a parent to watch your child suffer, forced to watch helpless as they are tortured almost beyond endurance.
I was unable to be with Sarra and my daughter so I watched them almost constantly it was my only way of knowing my daughter that I was forbidden to meet.
It didn't matter to the rule makers that Daine was prophesied to repel Chaos's pawn, it was prohibited for a god to fall in love with a mortal. The punishment was that I was denied a chance to be a father to my little girl.
Sarra and I both had to watch, once Sarra was killed, as our daughter became a heroine, brave and strong. We watched with pride, with horror at times, but always with joy as our little one became a woman.
Tomorrow she will leave, but just this once I get to look upon her face, and I can touch her soft hair.
Be well daughter of mine.
Love Goddess's POV:
I'm the one chosen to bring Daine back to the mortal realms and I decided to do it before she wakes up, explaining to her mother that I wish to spare her further pain.
So I gather the girl up, and I hand her sleeping body to the lioness, who settles Daine gently next to the sleeping mage and shuts the door softly.
Numair's POV:
When I awoke the next morning, I was shocked to feel someone sleeping next to me. When I saw it was Daine, I clung to her tightly and kissed her forehead gently. I was so relieved to see her alive.
Recovering would take sometime but I know that we'll be happy again. She stirs in her sleep and her eyes open,
"Numair." she sighs, her eyes going from frightened and wild to calm.
"I'm here magelet, get some rest love. We can talk in the morning."
She drifts back of to sleep and I whisper, "Sweet Dreams Darling."
Let the darkness sleep for a while longer.
A/N: Please review? Coming up next the last chapter!
