Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Messa and the storyline

Chapter 19 Watching and Fighting

The group faithfully followed Messa through the woods. They were curious about the fact that Daine didn't live at the palace, but were stopped in the thoughts when Messa came to an abrupt stop. "Why have we stopped?" Numair asked.

"We're here."

"Well, then, what are we waiting for?" Numair asked, eager to see Daine despite his earlier doubts in her.

Messa grabbed his arm, "No, we must hide first."

"Why?" Onua asked.

"Ozorne is coming, and if he finds you all with her, it will be her that pays the worst price."

"How do you know that he is coming?" asked Alanna of this seemingly magicless girl.

"Don't you hear the birds? They only get this loud when he is coming. It's their way of giving her time to prepare for the meeting. Please, we must hide, and stay hidden no matter what you see."

They all agreed to hide and stay hidden, though they had to practically drag Numair off the path since he wasn't that fond of the idea of hiding from Ozorne. They got him off just in time, too, for the second he was hidden Ozorne rode up at top speed atop his horse. With the house in view, he started yelling, "JOSEPHINE! JOSEPHINE, YOU DAUGHTER OF A WHORE GET OUT HERE THIS INSTANT!"

Everyone saw a shaky, yet determined looking, Daine come to the door of the cottage. "What do you want, my lord?" she asked with a sneer.

"YOU…YOU EMBARASSED ME IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE COURT! YOU UNDERMINED MY AUTHORITY!" Ozorne yelled, jumping off his horse and coming towards her. It was obvious to the others that Daine wanted to back up in fear of the older man, however she wouldn't let herself.

"May I ask how I did that, Emperor Ozorne?" Daine asked in mock politeness.

"You left the ball when I explicitly told you not to," he answered, his voice dangerous.

"Well if you hadn't of invited my friends as a…surprise…maybe I wouldn't have needed to."

"That doesn't matter; I gave you an order and disobeyed. You obviously have forgotten what I have taught these two years. I guess I'll just have to teach you again."

"Teach me what?" Daine answered with as much rebellion as she could muster, for she already knew the answer to that question.

"That I am your lord and master, and you my dear, are here simply for my pleasure." With that said, he roughly grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the cottage.

It took the combine efforts of George, Thayet, and Messa to keep the lady knight in her place, and Lindhall, Kaddar, the King, and Onua to prevent Numair from doing anything. "Please," Messa pleaded quietly with tears in her eyes, "You mustn't interfere."

"Not interfere?" Numair asked incredulously, "How can we not? If we don't, he's going to beat her."

"Yes, I know he will do that, among other things."

Numair didn't even want to think of the "among other things" meant; no one did. "Then why are you telling us to just sit here."

"It'll be worst for her if you interfere. Please, for her sake, don't." Numair wanted to so much to go and save his once pupil, but finally listened to Messa's pleads. It didn't take them long to figure out what Messa's comment about other things meant as the sounds of a fight died down to Ozorne's groans of pleasure and sounds of Daine's obvious pain. Everyone had to close their eyes to images of their Daine being hurt like that popping around in their minds. Everyone had tears in their eyes.

After a while, all noise died down. Eventually, Ozorne left the cottage, looking very pleased with himself. He was even whistling a little tune as he rode off. That fact almost had everyone jump him then and there in attempt to kill him. However, they were all much more concerned with Daine. As soon as the coast was clear, Messa led them quietly to the door. She whispered as she went, "Thank the gods that Kit, Cloud, and the wolves weren't here for this." She slowly reopened the door.

Daine was sitting on the floor, feeling pain all over. Her dress was torn and barely covered her body which made the bruises that were forming all that more obvious. She had a few cuts as well, some went pretty deep, and a nasty gash on her head. She slowly started to pick up the pieces of plates on the ground when she heard the door open slowly. She spoke without looking up. "Messa, I'm sorry, but it seems we're going to have to go shopping again." Instead of the comment that she expected, there were several gasps.

It was then that she remembered that Messa had gone to fetch her friends. She looked up in horror, she hadn't wanted them to see her looking like this. Her eyes settled on a pair of eyes she had dreamt of seeing up close again for a long time. The next thing she knew, she was caught up in a bone-breaking hug and a heart-breaking kiss.

A/N: Thanks to the following for their reviews:

Noc and NC

laurashrub

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Tortalls Resident Wildchild

Queen of Tortall