Disclaimer: sadly I do not own Numair or any of the other characters Tamora Pierce thought of them before I was born

Ruminations

Numair walked out of the room to find the cause of Jonathan's worry walking slowly up and down the hallway thinking intently. "Don't you have anything better to do than wait for me?" he called to her she looked up, alert.

"I was just waiting for you cause I want to talk." She stopped

"About?" Numair prompted as he began to walk down the hall.

"Well about you, and about this trip. I'm not really sure that I should go. You saw what happened last time." she took in a deep breath and Numair saw her eyes begin to water. She looked up into his eyes and saw that they were deep brown and caring, "I'm just afraid that you might get hurt or something."

Numair chuckled, "Oh Daine I'm a grown man! I can take care of myself."

"Many would beg to differ," she mumbled under her breath.

"Now common Daine, I took care of myself last time. And this ruler isn't out for revenge…as far as I'm concerned."

"We never know that." She stated stubbornly

"Daine," he said turning her around and gently grasping her by the shoulders, "all I know is that you're very stubborn and you probably are going to deny what I'm about to say. But I'm saying it anyways. I'm a grown man I can take care of myself and have taken care of myself for a very long time. And if I can't for whatever reason there are many other highly capable people to take care of me you being one of them. Alright?" Daine sighed looking down at the floor and then up into his eyes. She all of a sudden felt something she had never felt for him. A tingling in her chest it went before she could find out what it was.

"Alright." She finally said succumbing to his antics, "You trust me that much?" Numair pulled her into a tight embrace and pulled away again realizing their positions.

"Daine, I trust you with my life. And many other people in the palace feel the same way that I do." Daine felt overwhelmed I can't believe that I've made such an impact on these people.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"Don't you worry about a thing. Remember I'm the black robe!" he cheered throwing his arms out in a flourish. Daine laughed and gave him a small punch to the stomach. "OW!" he cried doubling over on his abdomen in mock pain.

"Oh come on Numair it doesn't hurt that much! You say you can protect yourself I punch you and you double over!" she said trying to speak with out laughing.

"Well magelet you don't know your own strength." He replied, "Anyway I was joking! I'm much stronger than you think!" he stated flexing his muscles. Daine shook her head in pretend disgust smiling the whole time shoulders shaking in suppressed laughter.

"Common Onua said she wanted to talk to you after your lecture." She said, "What did he say anyways. I didn't hear his usually screaming and, 'How many times have I told you to BE ON TIME! If it weren't for us I swear you'd be in the blessed room of your all day long! You must learn to keep track of time Numair. Your nearly thirty year old and you are still late for meetings!' Or something in the realms of that." She stated imitating Jonathan's bellow.

"Well it's hard keeping track of time if he's constantly putting me to work!" he defended himself as they walked down the stairs leading out doors.

"Well I think he has an excuse to get mad at you. You've done some weird experiments even with him asking. Need I go to the subject of the exploding oven?"

"For your information it imploded not exploded. And…" he paused looking for an excuse, "It wasn't a very good oven anyways."

"Well it was his oven anyhow. And half the kitchen staff either attempted to quit or attempted to get you fired." She added poking him in the arm.

"Well who cares they got a new oven. Silly cooks they never even liked me in the first place!" he retorted as they stepped outside. The weather was warm for October and the colors of autumn were gently settling into place. Daine and Numair pushed through a large group of leaves as they continued over to the stables.

"What did Jonathan say anyways was it the same ol' same ol'?" she questioned curiously. Numair thought before he answered Daine would be fair angry if she found out that Jon thought she couldn't take care of herself.

"No he just wanted to check up on an assignment I'm working on for him." He responded. Not the whole truth but not a whole lie. He thought with satisfaction. He hated lying to her.

"Oh ya I heard you talking about some assignment when you walked into the meeting. What was that about?"

"I'm not at liberty to say I'm afraid." He responded smiling.

"Ah Numair you know you can tell me!" she pleaded.

"Nope sorry magelet, a promise is a promise!" Daine sighed in exasperation. Numair simply grinned in return as he opened the stable office door for Daine. "M'lady" he said gesturing her in with an exaggerated bow. She shook her head and walked in. Onua sat at her desk making notes on yellow parchment.

"Ah Numair have any fun getting reamed out by his majesty? Tea in the kettle it you want it, mugs over there." she joked pointing haphazardly around the room.

"If you want to know he was just checking up on an assignment. But now that both of you have spoken of it I'm surprised he didn't even speak about me being late." he responded, "What are you writing?" Numair asked glancing over to her papers on the desk.

"Well I'm making a list of questions an agreements I'd like to make while we're there. Jonathan said it'd be a good idea. Maybe you two should do it." She said a she blew on her steaming mug of tea. Numair got up and poured a cup for him and Daine and brought it over to where they sat.

"I don't think I'll be needing that I'm not important enough to make any big decisions." Daine sullenly stated taking a sip of the tea, "I'm not even sure why I'm going."

"Are you kidding? You're the Wild mage!" Onua gasped

"You're because personally I think he wants to show you what they'd be up against if they decided to do anything." He paused, "Also the fact that you're my student and I'm still teaching you." Onua nodded in agreement with a grin slipping into her face.

"Ya I'm not sure whether Numair could live with out you Daine." She retorted. Numair blushed furiously under his tan trying fiercely to keep his demeanor.

"Onua that's enough." He responded gritting his teeth shooting death glares. Onua being a bright woman got the idea and shut up.

They talked until dinner. "Well ladies I believe it is time for dinner if you will do me the honors of escorting me." He said with a gentlemanly grin.

"Oh give it up Numair I'm surprised you even realized it was supper. Then again a man can become observant when he's hungry." Onua replied causing Daine to laugh. They all left and walked to dinner together.