Lela-of-Bast: I love reviews too!

Nativewildmage: I've already written the whole caboodle, I'm just in the process of typing it up.Thank you for the compliment!

Narm's Britton 44: I had Numair get Kuri Taylor tomakethe dress.She would have had Daine's measurements from otherdresses she had made. Andand would assume Daine had done the same for Numair. Glad you like the story though!

A/N - I've had issues with paragraphing. If it seems a little jumpy its because it should probably be a new paragraph. Hope you think it reads alright.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to TP.

Chapter 5 - Leaving

Lindhall looked in on Daine, grinning at the two of them curled up together like lovers. Daine was clearly over the worst now, she would have to rest for a week or two and regain her strength, but for now, at least, she was better. As for Numair, he would be needed to go to the Gallan boarder in two days hence to confer with an old mage living there about the evaporation of the barrier. He doubted that Numair would be best pleased about this; he wouldn't want to leave his student after her illness.

Numair stirred shortly after dawn, realising that he had a numb arm cause by Daine having lay on it all night. He left it there, unwilling to move it and wake her. The feeling of Numair's gaze on her roused Daine from her slumber, she opened her eyes and looked straight into a pair of deep brown eyes framed by lashes longer than her own.

"Morning," she mumbled to him. "Have you been with me all the time I've been ill?" Numair nodded as best he could with his head still on the pillow. She smiled at him, not quite sure of what to do or say. For awhile they both lay there, looking and smiling at each other. Numair didn't want to move, wondering when the next time would be when he got to hold and look at her like this.

A sharp knock rapped at the door. Numair groaned audibly. "I bet that's Alanna," he muttered crossly, untangling himself from Daine and getting off the bed. "She has a mighty fine knack of spoiling things."

It wasn't Alanna, but the king himself who has come to see them. He coughed slightly to smother a laugh at the scene before him. However innocent, he had obviously interrupted a moment between the two. Jonathan just hoped that the battles they were certain to face did not cease any more 'moments' from occurring. He looked at Daine, still curled up in bed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her. She sat up a little too quickly and felt slightly dizzy.

"Much better – have the unicorns been herded up?" she enquired, trying to ignore her dizziness in front of the king.

"They've been seen to," the king responded. "I just came here to see how you were doing. Numair, may I have a word?" The king and Numair disappeared into Numair's study and workroom. It was a large room, with lots of equipment and books. Two desks were present; one where the mage generally worked alone and another where he and Daine could go over her lessons.

Numair caught the king's eye. "Oh, Jon, no," he called, "She's only just better. I can't drag her out to near Galla now!"

Jonathan shook his head. "There's no way Daine's going. The healers think it'll take her at least a week to be properly on her feet and then she'll need to rebuild her strength. You'll be gone a fortnight, give or take, and it is necessary, Numair! The old wizard will only speak with you."

Numair groaned loudly. "Hag's bones, Jon. I don't like leaving her now, after this."

"She'll be well looked after. Onua'll be keeping an eye on her. We're hardly going to let anything to happen to her, are we?"

Numair shook his head. "Who's going with?"

"Alanna and Lindhall. You'll be in good company."

The mage sighed. "I know, it's important. When are we leaving?"

"First light tomorrow."

"It gets better."

Numair left Daine sleeping in his bed that afternoon on his own personal mission to find a certain court artist. He had placed the lock of hair he had taken into the old locket with the idea of having a love token. He decided not to think too much about the concept of him having a love token as he found it little worrying. Anyway, if he was going to have one he may as well do it properly. Volney Rain had been given a small room in the servants' quarters while he created portraits of the princes and princesses. A small miniature portrait of Daine would take him less than an hour. He knocked on the artist's door with vigour.

"Hang on a minute!" the door opened a minute later. A court lady Numair recognised distanced herself at the back of the room. Numair raised his eyebrows.

"You can hardly talk!" Volney whispered with a laugh. "Although I've heard you've been quiet on the courtin' scene lately?"

Numair glared at him. "Listen, I'm going away tomorrow and I want a portrait of my student to take with me."

Now it was Volney's turn to raise his eyebrows.

"It's for a speaking spell while I'm away!" Numair thanked the Goddess that most people were ignorant about magic. Volney's eyebrows just rose further.

"Believe what you will," Numair shrugged.

"I heard she's ill. Is she going to want to sit for a portrait if she's not at her best?" the artist enquired.

"She'd probably laugh if I asked her to sit for a portrait," Numair sighed, imagining Daine's response. "I want it to fit into this," he tapped the locket to show Volney the size.

Volney nodded. "I know her well enough to paint her."

"They'll be extra if you have it finished by nightfall," Numair told him.

Volney Rain nodded at the mage. Once Numair had begun to walk away he shook his head, a knowing smile on his face.

Numair returned bringing chicken soup and freshly baked bread for Daine. She was sat up in bed, reading one of his giant spell books.

"Here," the mage said, using his Gift to move the book and place a tray on her lap. He gave her the food. "Eat," he ordered, "I want to see you eat a meal before I go off adventuring." He sat down on the bed, sighing.

"You'll only be gone for two weeks, Numair," she said between mouthfuls. "For most of that time I'll probably be in bed. They're not for letting me get up yet."

Numair smiled at her. "You have been poorly, Daine. You do need to rest."

"I know," she told him, devouring the rest of the soup. A tap sounded at the door, Numair got up to answer it. Volney Rain stood there, a miniature of Daine in his hand. Numair shepherded him outside so Daine couldn't hear.

"I think I understand why you've not been doing much courtin' lately," he said to the mage in an undertone. "Good luck to you, master Numair. She's a mighty fine lass."

Numair looked at the portrait. It was perfect in every detail, right down to her soft mouth and stubborn chin. He gave payment plus a bit extra to the artist. "You've done a good job," he said gruffly, inserting the picture into the locket. He smiled, it was silly he knew, but he felt a bit better knowing he could look at Daine any time he wished.

He looked at her in his room; reading a book on dragon lore.

"Numair, where are you going to sleep tonight?" she looked in concern at the mage. "Shall I go back to my own room?"

"I'll be fine in the chair," he told her.

"But you're up early tomorrow, and you've a long journey. You need a good night's sleep."

"Honestly, Daine. I'll be alright in the chair."

Daine woke in the night needing a drink of water and found Numair asleep on the other side of the bed, snoring softly. A smile came to her lips when she found his hand gently holding onto hers.

Numair left as morning broke over Corus, leaving Daine to continue her recovery alone. Alanna and Lindhall were waiting for him at the stables as he got there and Spots' eyes were willing him to have a more graceful ride than usual. They said little as they began their journey. Neither Alanna nor Numair were morning people, and even Lindhall, who generally made the most of the mornings himself, stayed silent, gazing around at the layers of snow that would make their task so much slower. Winter had hit Tortall hard, and as they were travelling north it would only get worse. Alanna let out a deep sigh. At least the weather would prevent much in the way of trouble, although they would have to contend with cold camps and dingy inns.

Numair wondered what Daine would do while he was away. He had had a rather odd dream a few nights back when they had confessed that they loved each other. He was certain that wishful thinking had prompted the dream and had put it to the back of his mind; but that hadn't stopped the hope in his heart growing just a small bit more.

Now please review! I need to know what you think so I can improve it!