A/N: Yay! I got like eleven reviews after last chapter! I feel so special! Thank you so much! Wow, that was a lot of exclamation points. Anyway, here's chapter five.

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize - which is probably everything - belongs to Tamora Pierce. I am a lowly high school student writing on She is a wealthy (is she?) author of a brilliant set of books. One of many differences between us.

Chapter 5

Arrival at Pirate's Swoop

"Numair! Daine! Welcome! How's the lass?" George asked as they rode into the courtyard at Pirate's Swoop, casting a glance at Daine, asleep again in front of Numair.

"Doing better, but she still needs rest," replied Numair.

Correctly interpreting Numair's astonished look at George, Alanna laughed. "I told him when we got to the inn two nights ago. And, Numair, you need rest, too. It hasn't even been two weeks since your battle with Hadensra. George, me lad, don't I even get a small greeting?"

Numair sighed, glancing down at the sleeping girl in his arms. "I suppose you're right." He looked back at George, only to find that he was 'greeting' his wife. "Um, Alanna? George?"

George stopped kissing Alanna long enough to say, "Did you need something, Numair? Only I'm a bit busy at the moment." Alanna blushed slightly.

"Actually, yes, now that you mention it. I would appreciate some help here. I don't want to wake Daine." George groaned as Alanna pulled away.

"Give her to me. And you'll have me all to yourself later, so don't worry," she told George, cheeks still pink. George chuckled slightly.

Numair tried not to wake Daine as he gently passed her to the knight, but she stirred anyway. "What's going on? Oh, we're here." She rubbed her eyes blearily, then looked at Numair. "Would you mind letting me down? I can walk, you know,"

"I thought we'd let you sleep. You could still use it, you know. We've been setting quite the pace." Numair told her sternly.

"And let me guess: you haven't slept at all today. You're tired too, Master Mage," she teased him, shaking out her arms to ease the stiffness. Numair dismounted awkwardly (at which Daine inwardly groaned) and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Awwwww!" The entire squadron of the King's Own chorused together.

"Taught them well, have you?" Numair said dryly over Daine's head. The sergeant just grinned wickedly, not bothering to reply with words.

"Well, let's get inside," George said, leading Alanna inside with his arm around her waist, while leaving his guests to fend for themselves.

Daine turned to Numair. "Good thing we've been here before, isn't it? Else we'd be stuck or get lost. Some host he is."

Numair laughed, scooping Daine into his arms before speaking to the sergeant. "I'll take you to Maude, the housekeeper of sorts. She'll sort out where you should go now." Then he strode into the keep.

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Dinner that night was a pleasant and private affair. Laughter abounded as Alanna, George, their three children, Daine, and Numair ate their way through three courses and dessert. After Alan drunk nearly an entire bottle of wine on the sly and proceeded to announce that he was going to the convent (accompanied by numerous hiccups and giggles), they were all roaring so hard that George "thought his stomach might pop."

Unfortunately, the laughter meant that nobody noticed when Kitten picked up Alan's discarded wine bottle and finished off the contents. It took a flaming wall tapestry to calm the party down.

"Kitten," Daine scolded, picking up the offending dragon. "Haven't we been through this already? Alcohol makes you hiccup and burn things up. What do I need to do to stop you drinking it?" She turned the dragon over on her knee and gave her a loud but gentle spank, which of course set the table to laughing again.

Kitten turned gray and let out some squeaky notes, accompanied by more flames that this time caught onto Daine's skirt. She didn't shriek, but gasped slightly. Numair, seeing what had happened, spoke and sent water at the burning fabric.

"I'd best get cleaned up," Daine said practically once the fire was out.

"I'll come with you," Numair offered at once, picking up Kitten for the girl and placing his arm around her waist. She smiled, then the two headed for the door together, promising to see Alanna and George in the morning.

"Wait," Alanna called. "Do you want one room or two? I had Maude ready your regular rooms, which I now are adjacent, but I wasn't sure if you wanted to share - "

They blushed as one. Then Numair looked at Daine. "On the road we had separate rooms. It wouldn't do for rumors to start. We'd like to clear those up ourselves once we're back at the capital. But here… what do you want to do, Daine?"

Daine smiled up at the tall mage. "Let's share," she answered. Numair leaned down and kissed her softly in reply.

"See here, you two, save that for later. You're sharing a room. Can't you use it for your kissing?" George teased.

"I don't remember you doing that this afternoon," Daine retorted. Then she remembered the presence of Thom, Alan, and Alianne.

Alanna seemed to have had the same thought. "All right, littles. Time for bed. Shoo - your father and I want to have a proper talk. And we're not leaving. I want to finish off this cake."

The children groaned in unison and launched into a fury of protests.

"But we're not tired - "

"I want to stay and talk too - "

"Please, Mama - "

But their knight-mother was firm. "No, it's bedtime. Maude will read stories tonight, and I will tomorrow. I promise."

Thom drew himself up. "I can read all by myself now, Mama. I don't need Maude to read to me anymore. I can read anything I want to."

Alanna smiled proudly at her eldest child. "Good. Now go read to yourself for a while, and then go to sleep. Okay?" She shooed the children out of the dining room. Then she noticed that, in all the commotion, Daine and Numair had slipped out unnoticed with the dragon. Alanna turned to her husband. "How long before they marry? Care to wager?"

"You think it's okay, then? The age difference? I don't have a problem with it. But the court gossips are vicious, and they've had them sleeping together since Daine first came to court. I don't even want to think about what they'll say about the lass now." George shuddered.

"Daine won't care. If anyone will, it'll be Numair. Until he fries the person who says something. I'm not worried for Daine and Numair, only for the stupid gossipers. They're perfect for each other. Have you seen how much happier Numair's been in these last few years? He seemed a bit lost before she came into his life. Now… I don't know. He seems more complete. And Daine - well, we know what her life was like before she came here."

George smiled, putting an arm around the woman's shoulders and pulling her close. "I know. Numair pulled her out of her 'madness'. They've been good for each other." He smiled wickedly. "And now they're in bed. Shall we do the same, my sweet Lioness?"

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Daine was crouched in the forest, wearing only the badger's claw, watching helplessly as Ozorne advanced on her. He raised a steel wing. "Why don't you just bare your throat now, and make it easy on yourself?" She looked around wildly for an escape or a weapon, but could see nothing. Grasping at straws, she picked up a rock with one hand and flung it at him. Her aim was true, but the metal wings merely deflected the stone. It was no use. She was as good as dead.

Ozorne's eyes were filled with triumph. The girl was alone and at his mercy. Once he would have tortured her, but Daine had given him too much grief. It was time to end her life. But he could afford to toy with her a little. He smiled viciously and pushed aside a bush. There lay Numair, covered with blood and clearly dead. Daine gasped and dropped to her knees, swaying.

"You killed him! No!" Daine's voice was faint. Numair was supposed to be fighting Inar Hadensra! Ozorne couldn't have gotten him.

Even Ozorne's voice was cruel. "Yes, I killed him. It was a trade; his life for yours. But now that he's dead, I see no particular reason to honor that promise. After all, he won't be coming back to haunt me, will he?"

Daine threw herself on Numair, sobbing. She knew that she should be defending herself, but there was nothing left to live for. She couldn't remember Onua, Alanna, the Riders, Tortall. Couldn't remember anything but Numair and her mother, both dead now. Ozorne raised his wing and put against her throat.

"You should have joined me when you had the chance. Because of you, Numair is dead. He was a traitor, but I would have let him go had you taken my part. It's your fault he's dead."

Daine shook her head slightly, trying not to rub her neck on the wing still positioned there. "Liar," she whispered. Zhaneh Bitterclaws had tried this trick. It was Ozorne's fault her love was dead. Ozorne's, and Uusoae's, and anyone who had supported them.

"You know the truth, Veralidaine. I know about your mother. Had you been there, she wouldn't be dead now. You know it. Had you not loved the traitor Salmalín," he spat the word out as though it were poison, "he wouldn't be dead. It's too late for repentence. Good bye, Veralidaine."

He drew the wing across her throat. Blood billowed from it - "

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Daine sat straight up in bed, a cry ripping from her throat. She shook with sobs, then stiffened as large hands came around her shoulders to pull her close to a large form. She twisted to find Numair holding her tightly. "Shhh, magelet, hush, it's okay. I've got you. You're safe."

Tears blurred her vision as Daine turned to bury her face in Numair's bare chest. "It was Ozorne," she explained through her sobs, answering the man's unspoken question. "He killed you, and said it was my fault. He killed you, and then he killed me. If I had stayed in Snowsdale, you wouldn't have died." Part of her knew she was being irrational, but she couldn't bear the pain in her chest. She struggled to remind herself that it was only a nightmare.

"I'm not dead, sweetling. I'm right here. And if you'd stayed in Snowsdale, we would both be dead. Remember? You saved my life when I was a hawk. And you killed Ozorne. It was a dream, nothing more. It's over now. We're safe in Pirate's Swoop. Nobody's dead except Ozorne." He held her away for a moment, studying her face, then gently leaned in to kiss her tears. Daine smiled hesitantly. Numair was here. Everything was all right. As long as he was here, she would be safe.

"I love you, Numair," she murmured, brushing a hand across her cheek to flick away the remaining droplets.

"I love you too, my darling magelet." He rubbed her back gently, keeping her close against his chest. "Sleep now. It's okay." Numair pulled her down to lie on the bed again. Daine kept her head on Numair's chest, curled up against him for warmth and security. She could rest easier now, safe in the knowledge that she was loved.

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A/N: Sorry if the ending was a bit cheesy. My hands wanted to write that, and my brain just had no choice but to go along. Thanks to nativewildmage, Keladry Sakura (see below), Lady Dove, Mage of Dragons, Tortall Princess, confusedpink, LadySalmalin06, and mary mary quite contrary for reviewing. I love you all!

Keladry Sakura: Did you get my email? Would you still be interested in beta-ing? I would absolutely love it if you would - please let me know. Thank you so much for all the reviews!

Anyway, I should have the next chapter done within the next couple of days, after which I will get it off to Keladry Sakura if she still wants to beta. I don't exactly have a ton going on in my life (one of the perks of not knowing the language spoken where you life), so I can usually type relatively fast once I get at the computer. The only trouble is kicking my sister off. Seriously, though, thank you so much to all my lovely, loyal reviewers and see you soon!

Lunaterra