The Chronicling of a Relationship
"There. She'll sleep late tomorrow. I've put her into a dreamless sleep." Alanna looked at Numair's relieved face. "Now will you tell me what happened?"
Numair, sighed, replying, "Of course, Alanna. You now I would."
Alanna and her husband listened intently as Numair recited what had happened earlier. At the end of Numair's speech, Alanna looked grim, and George outraged.
"That little jerk!" cried George indignantly. "How could he!"
"That's what I'd like to know." Alanna replied darkly to her husband's outburst.
Ever sensible, George asked, "You do know we'll have to report this to Jon, don't you?"
"Of course. More complications," Numair sighed. "When you go, would you send a maid up with a cot and extra bedding? You two can tell Jon whatever. Right now I'm going to bed." To Alanna's questioning look, he responded, "I'll unfreeze Perin later. I've had too much excitement for one night."
As Alanna was escorted to the door by George, the thief turned and winked roguishly at Numair.
The mage returned the wink.
¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸ ¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸
Earle the next morning, Numair sat up in his cot, which was in his bedroom, and waited for Daine to wake. He new he'd have some explaining, and comforting, to do.
He watched as the sun rose higher, showering Daine's innocent face in its rays. Her smokey brown curls framed her angelic face. Her eyelids were closed, but Numair know that soft blue-gray eyes were underneath. Daine's stubborn chin was softened by the smile on her lips. Daine's eyes gradually fluttered open, taking in her surroundings.
"Numair?" That was all she said, but the mage understood perfectly.
Numair got up and walked towards the bed. Sitting down beside her, he settled his arms around her waist. Daine was contented to just sit, safe in the protecting circle of his arms. Numair rested his chin on the top of her head, and started to explain what had happened.
"So you brought me back here and Alanna out me to sleep?" Daine interrupted Numair with a question.
"Magelet," he replied, "I brought you here, and Alanna got you the nightgown, and put you to sleep. A dreamless sleep, to be exact. I got a cot, and slept it." Ruefully, he added, "Of course, it was too short, so my feet were hanging off the end the entire night."
"Poor thing," she sympathized, and promptly placed a kiss on his lips. She giggled as Numair returned the favor. Daine sighed and leaned back against his chest.
"Numair?"
"Yes?" he answered.
"Can I stay with you? All day?" she asked.
"If you want to, sweetling. Are you sure you want to be around when I tech those rowdy pages?"
"Of course I want to. Why else would I ask?"
Contented once again, Daine reached up and tickled a small patch of dark hair that showed over the top of Numair's tousled shirt.
Laughing, Numair begged, "No, stop. That tickles!"
"Of course it does!" Grinning wickedly, Daine tickled again, saying, "I'll stop if you promise me one thing."
Still unable to stop laughing, the mage replied, "Anything! Please, stop!"
Daine's grin spread broadly from ear to ear. "Are you sure? I kind of like your reaction." Pretending to pout, she drew her arm down, and encircled Numair's waist.
Now the mage was grinning. "Now I can get you back!" He took advantage of her lowered arms, and plopped a kiss on her lips.
After a second, he asked, "So, are you going to tell me what you want?"
Looking down, Daine softly replied, "Numair, do you think they'd let me move into your rooms?"
Curious, he questioned her, "Why would you want that?"
"I thought… well… I don't know." She truthfully admitted. "I just would feel better, safer, staying near you."
Unsure that if he promised something, he would be able to keep it, he replied, "Magelet, I'll try my best. You know that! Now… should I unfreeze Perin?"
Daine, grinning once again, answered coyly, "Oh, I don't know. He is rather attractive the way he is. A nice, colorful statue, I think!"
Numair threw his head back and laughed.