Happy New Year to all of you!

Yeah, yeah, I know. This is a pretty late installation to this fanfic, but can you blame me? School's been tough, and life's been pretty dowdy so I couldn't pretty much think of anything.

(drooling listlessly)

Quizzes, projects, papers, assignments, activities…

(droll—Oh, kill me please!)

Hey, I happen to enjoy school even if it tends to be a bit monotonous;; sigh !

Promise…I do!

By the way, I'd like to thank those who reviewed on the last chapter…

Opal Roseblossom: Yes, the madness is back…or rather, is in the process of coming back. Why, and how…well, just read to find out, neh? Hehe, well, I do have a wee bit of evil in my veins…I think I'll write that up on the next chapter. (grinning vilely)

escape5: uhh, well, I'm not quite sure if people are hankering for my fic. But, knowing that at least some people like you, guys… did find time to write a review is enough to swell my still-beating heart. Oh my, I am getting sentimental. Again, I apologize, from the bottom of the same still-beating heart, for not being able to update earlier. I'll try to make amends by updating earlier next time! Yes! A wonderful way to announce a New Year's resolution! (but wait…aren't promises made to be broken? Umm…)

dancingroundthebear: Thank you very much! I hope you'll continue reading and appreciating the next ones!

Jules-Gemma: Umm, yeah, as I had mentioned earlier, I wasn't able to do that…but I'm really, really sorry to keep you guys waiting! I really am! Thanks!

Fauna Greywolf: Aye! I do agree with that! Heehee, I won't tell you what exactly will happen now! Maybe on the later chappies… (damn, I'm evil!) so please continue reading and reviewing! I truly appreciate it!

Sonnet Lacewing: Good question. But actually, the reason why the healer didn't find out about her madness is because her malady is a magical and not a medical condition. To complicate it further, her magic is different and rare as it is wild magic. and—oh no, I think if I explain further, I'll be in danger of writing down the whole plot! So…I'll think I'll lay low for a while. Hehe, thanks for reviewing, too! I hope you do continue reading/reviewing this fic!

Damn, I have such a big mouth!

Well, I should quit blabbering! Without further ado, here is the third chappie!

I hope you have fun!

Oops, I forgot 'bout the disclaimer so…

TamoraPierceownsTheImmortalsnotmesolet'sjustgetSTARTED!

Phew!

CHAPTER III: The Explosion

With one last leap, Daine finally reached the topmost tower. Slapping open the wooden door forcibly, she was met with an extremely surprised and annoyed Numair. An open book, probably about ancient runes, propped on his lap indicated that he had just been disturbed from his studies. Even the little dragonet seemed highly disgruntled by her sudden appearance and started hooting madly about her feet.

"You do know that knocking is part of etiquette," he said, glaring at her.

She ignored him and said, "We have to talk. It's important."

The agitated look on Daine's face told Numair that it was a very urgent matter. Immediately, the great sorcerer stood up, shushed the agitated Kitten, and led her gently with him to the sofa.

"What's wrong, Magelet?" he asked searching her eyes.

Her mouth quivered uncontrollably. "Numair, I—it's back."

"What is?"

And she poured forth with her story, including all of her growing fears and suspicions. All the while, her hands groped on his for comfort. She talked and talked, afraid that if she stopped she would no longer be able to continue. By the time she finished, her eyes were glistening with tears that she vainly wiped with the back of her hand.

"Shh, Daine, it is alright," crooned Numair soothingly as he cradled her into his arms.

"I'm just a bit scared. Why does it have to come back now? What does it mean? Why is it making me so cold, and hurt?" A cold vent passed within her whole body, making her shudder. Angry at herself for feeling weak, she bit into Numair's shirt to suppress her pain. Kitten screeched desperately.

"You feel it, too, eh, Kitten?" she whispered softly. The little dragon hooted in reply and started screeching loudly once more in Nuamir's direction, as though pleading for a cure.

"We'll fix this now," declared Numair firmly, yet gently as though he were conversing with a frightened lamb. "There is a way. I'll just renew the barrier that I made. I believe it is weakening because it is having difficulties suppressing your still growing powers. The pain, I'll have to hypothesize, must be the effect of the power-burst within you. You are the most powerful wildmage in Tortall after all."

Daine laughed weakly at this compliment. "How many wildmages do you know exactly?"

Numair allowed himself to smile for a moment. The young woman curled at his lap and silently absorbed his previous statement before continuing, "What's a hyperthesize, by the way? I didn't understand that part about the pain thing and that."

"A hypothesis, my dear," he corrected as he gingerly pecked her temple, "is a tentative explanation for a certain phenomenon. I believe that the unbearable coldness you feel inside you is the ongoing effect of the weakening of the barrier. Your body is having difficulty adjusting to the release of the power within you. Hence, the pain."

Daine nodded in understanding and pushed her wealth of curls against his neck while burying her face into his shirt, smelling his unique cinnamon scent. Somehow, this seemed to lessen the cold stinging within her. Numair's hand trailed gently along her spine, making her sigh. Yes, he was enough to ease every torture, she thought dreamily.

"A balm," she murmured softly without thinking.

"Hmm?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing," she said hastily.

Slowly tearing away from Daine, Numair said, "We better get started then."

The black mage placed his hands on the top of Daine's head, and they both concentrated as they had done some years back. Vaguely, Daine remembered how they used to train in the woods…along rivers and lakes, cool wind rushing, leaves rustling and falling, and the sound of the animals would engulf her with a sense of belongingness.

Daine searched within, copper light overwhelming her, and she felt Numair's familiar nudge. "Here."

Daine saw the remnants of Numair's magic which barely even suppressed the burst of power. Much escaped, trickling surely like an overflowing cup. She was, for a moment, abstractedly aware of her own powers, aware that she has never been using her full potential. But this gave her little pride; instead, the thought of the copper light exploding gave the wildmage a tingle of nervousness.

A few minutes later, after resealing and redoubling the barrier with Numair, they emerged from Daine's consciousness. Daine smiled as she stretched and purred like a young panter. There was no more pain.

"You saved me again, Master Mage," said Daine, wiping a stray bead of sweat from his forehead before exorbitantly throwing her arms around his neck. "What would I do without you?"

"I believe I must say the same," replied Numair as he pulled her to his body, eyes twinkling in satisfaction. "What would I do without you? Gods, am I glad you're alright now."

"So am I."

They remained silent for a few minutes enjoying each other's touch when Numair muttered slyly, "You know, every saviour should be given their just rewards, don't you think?"

"Hmm, I believe they really should," replied Daine, with a tiny smirk.

With that, Numair gently pressed his lover against the arms of the couch and began kissing her mouth down to the arc of her throat.

"Wait," Daine hastily pulled away, remembering something. "You have a meeting with Tkaa today, remember? And I promised to meditate with Onua. It's been awhile since we've meditated together."

"Oh, yeah," murmured Numair, blinking absently. Recovering immediately, he whined, "Aw, do we really have to? I mean, we were—"

"Yes, I know," said Daine, as she stroked her black mage's stubble, who was at the moment giving her flushed puppy-eyed looks. Adding with a giggle, she voiced out her immediate thoughts, "You look like Tahoi."

Not knowing whether to be amused or insulted, he muttered sheepishly, "I do?"

Standing up ungraciously while leaning to kiss his lips momentarily, she replied playfully, "Yeah, adorably."

"We really should be going," said Numair as Daine pulled him to his feet. "Else we shall be late for our appointments. I think I'll be joining you later. I haven't been relaxing my mental faculties for some time, too. And we'll be continuing something much more later." He said the last part with a small smile.

"All right, then. Oh, and thank you…for everything," she said simply.

Cupping her cheek gently, he whispered tenderly as he gazed at her heart-warmingly, "Everything for you, my Magelet, everything for you."

Concentrate. Concentrate.

Effectively containing the sound of her heartbeat, Daine slowed her breathing and allowed her inner self to wander and reflect. Physically, she was in the trainees' dining area, together with Onua and others, all meditating; spiritually, she drifted to cool meadows and crystal springs where the animals are abundant. In that form, Daine connected with her friends, enjoying the tranquillity and peace. A stray thought reminded her that, hadn't her situation been immediately mended, she would never have the privilege of staying too long with her friends as this would bring too many catastrophic effects. Brushing away this thought, she shook her head and sighed in relief.

While she listened to the faint rustling of leaves which harmonized with the chirping of birds, she was overwhelmed with the copper magic in all the animals present. It was a wonderful feeling for the young wildmage, giving her a sense of oneness with the People.

As she allowed the sounds and feelings overwhelm her, she felt her heartbeat race, and her hands sweat. An orangey-copper strain was heating up within her. Ominously, the heat gradually transformed to unbearable coolness. Strange, she thought, strained. Yet she didn't return to reality. Instead, she decided to experiment with the feeling. And it was a fatal mistake.

Something within her seemed to pop, like a champagne bottle being uncorked. Coldness flowed rapidly through her being, and in her form, she saw it as the light from her powers. To her horror, she saw that the newly-made barricade had a button-sized hole, from which her controlled wild magic was flowing.

At the sight, Daine panicked. The consequences of unleashing such power were unthinkable. Experience taught her that it was better to withdraw rather than pursue such cases, but even when she tried returning to consciousness, she discovered that she actually could not. Fear surged within her, constricting her throat, suffocating her, even in meditative state.

Trapped, Daine cried internally, trapped!

In a sense, Daine was caged, and if there was anyone who hated cages more it was her alone. The surroundings failed to give her peace now. All she was aware of was the feeling of being kept locked and isolated, and this built up a massive scale of panic within her, so large she couldn't breathe.

The cold attacked her with its full strength. Her body seemed to be stabbed by thousands of icicles and she felt herself writhe and double over in agony. Daine instinctively looked over and was duly more horrified to see that the tiny hole was causing the barrier to grow thinner than ever. Instantly, she knew that her fear was causing this.

I must control myself, and yet she failed to still the wild thumping of her heart. At this rate…

The coldness, animal sounds, and additional shouts of people from the physical world shaking her awake and asking for help were too overwhelming. Daine wanted to scream, but she knew she mustn't. But, out of all the noise, she heard something which stood out among the rest: a howl, a wolf's howl.

It also brought her to the breaking point.

Something within her snapped.

And exploded.

Suddenly, visions and memories seemed to materialize in front of her. Daine's family seemed to be dying all over again, there was ice and fire, and screaming voices, rough wolf-hair, blood, fear, pain, remorse, tears….

It was then that Veralidaine Sarrasri screamed.

Did I leave you hanging?

Honestly, I really hate it when people do leave cliff-hangers, but I just couldn't resist that evil whispering by my ear…hmm, maybe I'm getting a bit mad, too! Heehee…

Don't worry though! I'll make sure…no…I PROMISE to update before the end of two weeks…so that'll be 'round the end of January...no…I think I'll make it earlier…

That is, if I get enough reviews.

(evil grin)