A/N: Sorry this chapter took me so long. My excuse is that I discovered that I am signed up for Latin, and have been for three weeks, so I'm majorly behind. And then I was sick yesterday… it's been an interesting week. But here's the sixth chapter, and the seventh is being beta'd right now, and the eighth is being written. So I'll make it up to you, promise.
Wheee! I got a beta! Let's hear a huge round of applause for Keladry Sakura, my lovely beta. Keladry, thank you soooo much!
Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns everything you recognize.
Believe
Chapter Six: Swordplay
"George. You have to see this," Alanna whispered, poking her head back into the hall. George followed her into the room on tiptoe, careful not to wake the occupants up. He'd had plenty of practice as a thief, after all, and Alanna had learned from the best.
In the huge bed lay Daine and Numair. They were curled up together; Daine's head on the mage's bare chest while his arms were wrapped tightly around her. Numair's face was buried in the girl's hair. A small smile touched Daine's lips, though faint tear tracks decorated her cheeks, as if she had been crying earlier in the night. Not anymore, however. Both she and Numair looked completely at peace.
More than anything else, this sight settled Alanna's mind as to whether it was right. They completed each other, and were fully and entirely in love.
"Awww," murmured George into his wife's ear. The noise, however quiet, caused Numair to stir. He stretched slightly, visibly trying not to wake the girl in his arms. Dark eyes opened and closed, blinking blearily.
"What are you doing in here?" Numair asked, slightly shocked to see Alanna and George in his bedchamber.
"It's our castle, laddybuck. We can do as we please. You look like ye're having a good time," George said teasingly. Daine moved in Numair's arms, looking like a cat as she arched her back.
"What's going on?" She asked, looking from Numair to Alanna and George, both of whom were trying not to laugh.
"Nothing, magelet. Just this gentleman and lady making fun of us and sneaking into our rooms."
Alanna cracked up as George scowled. "What've I told ye about callin' me a gentleman, Master Salmalín? I work for a living. Remember that."
Daine smiled. "I remember. You said that on my first day here, back when we came with the Riders,"
"And you were just a young sprout of thirteen. Now look at you. All grown up, and in love with the most powerful mage in the Eastern and Southern lands." George's tone was more serious now, though still warm and friendly. Numair pulled Daine closer and leaned down to kiss her.
Alanna sighed, pretending to be exasperated, though her violet eyes were twinkling. "Didn't we go over this yesterday at dinner? Kiss later. It's time for breakfast."
"What's happened? Where's the real Alanna? You're never this cheerful early in the morning. I should know. We've traveled together enough," Daine commented, eyeing the knight suspiciously.
"I don't know. I guess I'm just glad to be away from the palace and the fighting a while. I needed a break," replied Alanna. "I'll be back to my normal grouchy self soon enough, don't worry." George kissed her lightly on the nose.
Numair let out a cough that sounded oddly like, "Hypocrites!" Then he stood, throwing the covers off him and Daine. The girl shrieked as the cool air hit her bare lower legs. "Up! Breakfast awaits! I'm hungry!" Laughing, he chased Alanna and George from the room brandishing a pillow. Hanging onto the doorframe for support, he threw the pillow after them and shut the door.
Daine lay huddled in the center of the bed, trying to keep warm with the remaining pillow. Numair reached her in three large strides and jumped on the bed, seizing her in his arms. "Actually, we don't really have to get up," He murmured into her ear. The heat in his voice made Daine quiver slightly in delight.
"No, we don't," She replied faintly. Numair pressed his forehead to hers before bringing their lips together.
"I love you, magelet. Always and forever." His hands were soft as they caressed her back.
"I love you back, Numair. Always and forever."
Eventually, however, they did have to get up. Ten minutes later, when they were both nice and warm again in each other's arms, Daine pulled away reluctantly. "We should go downstairs before Alanna and George come after us again."
"I suppose so," Numair sighed, then reached for his shirt and a new pair of breeches. Daine went behind the changing screen before pulling off her nightgown and changing into a borrowed set of clothes. In all the chaos after the hurrock attack, her lost pack had never been retrieved. Alanna had gotten a maid to lend Daine some clothes for the day until a seamstress could make up what was lost. The knight's clothes wouldn't fit - she was both shorter and stockier than the Wildmage.
Together they headed down to breakfast, holding hands. This time the men from the Own joined them. The talk was light until conversations turned to the hurrock attack.
"I thought all the immortals returned to the Divine Realms! But if they did, why was a hurrock attacking Daine?" a soldier queried Numair.
He looked at Daine. "Correct me if I'm wrong, magelet. I believe only the immortals that came here after the barrier's collapse returned. All released before then stayed in the Mortal Realms. And the stormwings, of course, stayed here. Is that right?"
Daine nodded. "That's what Mithros said, anyways."
The table went silent but for the clatter of a couple soldiers dropping their forks. "You spoke with the bright Mithros?"
"A bit," Daine answered, casting her eyes down in embarrassment. She didn't want to sound like she was bragging.
"Argued with him is more like it," Numair put in proudly. Daine shot him a glance. If these people, who had seen more than their share of what stormwings did to people, knew that she had spoken for them in Mithros's court, they would hate her. Numair, realizing what Daine was thinking, fell silent and squeezed her knee under the shoulder. She looked up and smiled at him. A few of the soldiers smirked.
"So, Daine, want to come practice?" Alanna asked, breaking the silence.
"Sure," Daine replied, glad for the excuse. She quickly picked up her dishes and followed the knight into the kitchen. "What weapon?"
"Which one do you want? You're best on bow, but I can teach you swordplay if you want…"
The girl's eyes lit up. "Would you?" She had come a long way from the thirteen-year-old girl who had declared that swords were nobles' weapons.
Alanna laughed. "Of course. I think we've got one that'll suit you in the armory. Come on, let's go. But we're going easy. Your wound isn't fully healed yet."
On the way out, they met Numair on his way to the library. He gave Daine a swift kiss and said that he was going to catch up on some reading, but he'd meet them at lunch. When he had gone, Alanna winked. "He's your first love, isn't he?" She asked the blushing girl abruptly.
"Yes," admitted Daine. "I mean, a couple boys kissed me last year, but that's all, and it's different with Numair. It's so much more than just kissing. I don't mean in that way!" she added hurriedly, catching the look Alanna gave her. "I mean, I feel so much more strongly about Numair than I did about anyone. Those boys were - well, it sounds horrible to say this now, but it seems like they were just practice."
"I never got any 'practice'. Boys don't usually run around kissing other boys on a whim."
"But you fell in love with King Jonathan, didn't you?"
"Yes," Alanna replied sheepishly. "I fell for Jon, and we were in love a long time. But that's over. George is my romantic love now - a good thing, since we're married. I still love Jon, but it's like a friend. A person needs friends, too."
Daine nodded. "And I have many of them now. Real friends, who I know won't turn on me."
Alanna smiled at the girl as they reached the armory. She took a sword down from the rack and handed it to Daine. It was heavy, but not terribly. "This one should suit you fine. It'll take strength and practice, but I know you've got the strength from that giant bow of yours, and you'll practice. I know you."
Daine stared at the weapon in her hands. "It's so sharp." She sounded almost awed.
Alanna grimaced. "Trust me, they can get dull. This one shouldn't for a while, though. It's good steel. Not Raven Armory - no offence, but that's too tough for a beginner - but good nonetheless."
"No offence taken. Now how exactly am I supposed to wield this thing?"
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A/N: gets down on knees and begs for reviews Thanks go to nativewildmage, and Jon for reviewing last chapter, and (of course) Keladry Sakura for both reviewing and betaing. Also thanks to Sonnet Lacewing for reviewing Sweet Sixteen. I think that's it for now, and please review!
Lunaterra