Hello again! Thought I would update once more, because if i don't it's gonna take me all summer to get through this thing...
Anyway, this is pretty much back to the fluff again, but it's just a sort of interlude before more dramatic events gasp
I own nothing, apart from the plot and Loki...
Please Review! I want to know your thoughts! Good, Bad, Rubbish... what?
Later that night, Daine was scrubbing in a well earned bath. Suds covered her as Kitten chirped and flicked the multicoloured bubbles, chattering her glee as they popped in the air. Daine was laughing as the dragon tried to catch her toes, waving them in the air.
"Daine," the door clicked open as Numair walked in. Seeing her, he froze and blushed. "I'm sorry," he stammered, his face scarlet as he looked at his feet, out the window, anywhere except for the girl in the bath tub. "I should have knocked." He turned to walk out.
"Numair! Wait!" she called. "Don't go!"
"Daine, it's not right," he blushed. "I'm not – we're not – I should just –"
"You should just sit down and tell me whatever it was you were going to. It's not like you can see anything, is it?" Numair shook his head, and sat on the bed resignedly. "Besides, it's not like we're not getting married or anything, is it?"
"We are?" he blinked. "But you said –"
"You think I would say 'no'? But I love you! Maybe not yet, but someday. So just shush, and tell me."
Numair grinned, white teeth showing. "You know, I've forgotten."
Daine laughed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you came in here a-purpose to see me."
Numair laughed. "Its good you know better then, isn't it." Daine stuck her tongue out at him, and the man grinned. "Actually, I was going to talk to you about a maid, but seeing as we're getting married regardless, then we won't need –"
"Ah, now yes we do," she countered. "It's just silly, the dust in here."
"Well then, it's a good thing I've found one. She's coming round tomorrow in the morning for an interview."
"Really?" Daine asked, not managing to keep the shock from her voice. "Finally! So what happens then? Will she live here, is she from the village, and when we're away?"
"Well, that's what we'll be discussing tomorrow. She's from the village, but she'll stay here whilst we're at home, and when we're at Court or away, she'll come once a fortnight to keep everything in order. Why?"
"Oh, I was just wondering what kind of maid she was, that's all."
"What, you mean like a handmaid?" Daine nodded. "Well, that's not what I intended, but if you want, then –"
"No," she interrupted, "I don't. What would I do with a handmaid, Numair? They'd always be after me to sit straight, and stay away from animals. Keep tidy and wear dresses." She made a face before continuing. "Besides, what would a handmaid do while we're off battling bandits, or the like? No, I don't want a handmaid."
"You're sure?" Numair asked. "I want to provide well for my new bride."
Daine smiled. "I'm sure." Kitten chirped an enquiry.
"Well Kit, she knows you're here, so it shouldn't be a problem." Kitten whistled as the man grinned. "Maude recommended her. Well then, now that's sorted, I'll leave you to it." Numair stood and left, Kitten following. Daine lifted herself out the bath, towelled herself down, and, pulling her blue silk robe on, she went to find her man.
She found Kitten sitting on Numair's lap as he listened to her chatter. Smiling, Daine stood in the doorway for a minute, watching two of the people she loved most in the world. She went to stand behind the man, covering his eyes with her fingers as Kitten chuckled. Numair twisted and turned trying to see her, until she finally released her hands.
Numair stared openly, his dark eyes taking her all in. There was something in them that buzzed with excitement. "You look beautiful," he breathed, then suddenly blushed, and lifted Kitten from his lap, putting his hands in her place. "Em…" he looked down. "You should get to bed, you must still be tired." He pulled his chair in closer to the desk and began shuffling papers.
Puzzled, Daine picked up Kitten and headed to the bedroom. "He leaves me fair confused sometimes, Kit," she told the dragon, as she placed her down on the bed. Not taking her robe off, she lay down next to the dragon, curling into a ball around her.
She lay there for a while, stroking the dragon's back as Kitten slept, and thinking. The moon had risen high into the sky by the time she heard Numair come in. She kept still, not wanting him to know she was awake. She heard him stop in the doorway, and sigh. "Mithros, Numair," he whispered. "What's wrong with you? She's beautiful." She heard a soft thud, but still refused to turn round. "You love her, don't you?" he continued softly. "But you can't bring yourself to touch her. Mithros knows why, you want to enough." Daine blushed, but was pleased to know Numair wanted her as much as she did him. Every time they got close, Numair would balk and push her away, leaving Daine feeling confused and alone. She'd even thought it was because she couldn't compare to the beauties at court he'd had before, but she'd pushed that thought away; it did little to comfort her. "Pull yourself together, man. It's the most natural thing in the world; this feeling you have inside you burns for her. Just get a grip!" With that, she heard another soft bang, and then she felt him climb into bed, moving up close to Daine, wrapping his arms around her, holding her tight. "I love you, Daine," he muttered into her hair. Daine lay still, frozen, not wanting him to know she was awake, until eventually, both woman and mage fell into an uneasy sleep.
She awoke the next morning, Numair's arm still over her, a dead weight. Kitten had vanished, but Daine could hear her somewhere in the room. Sitting up slowly so as not to disturb the man sleeping next to her, she looked around the room for the dragonet. She spotted the immortal's tail poking out from behind the changing screen.
"Kit, what're you up to?" she asked suspiciously. The dragon squawked and tumbled out from behind the screen, her paws tangled in ribbons. Daine sighed and flopped back down on to the pillows.
Numair opened an eye, his face crushed against the pillow. "What's she doing?" he asked drowsily.
"Making a mess," Daine sighed. "Let's leave her to it." She rolled over to face Numair. "What took you so long last night?" she asked.
"Oh, just some book," he said, not meeting her eye. Daine knew he was lying. "I'd best get up. That woman will be coming soon." He rolled onto his back and sighed, lying there for a minute. "Right," he sat up and swung his legs out of bed. "You should get dressed too. You need to meet the woman who'll be looking after your household, once we're married." He turned to look at her.
There was a red mark on his forehead. "What's that?" she asked touching it.
Numair blushed. "I, eh… fell asleep when I was reading and banged my head on the desk. It's nothing," he brushed her hand away, and went to get changed. Suddenly Daine put the two soft thuds she'd heard last night and the mark on his forehead together. She walked up to him, putting her arms round his waist from behind.
"You know, Numair, you're a fair handsome man. You shouldn't be banging your head off doorframes. You've got enough sense in there for the two of us."
"How did you know I banged my head off the –" he paused, blushed. "Were you awake last night?" he accused.
"Maybe." Now it was her turn to blush. He'd caught her eavesdropping.
"What did you hear?" he rounded on her, lifting her chin to meet his eyes.
"Enough to know that you love me." She stood on her tiptoes, reaching up to kiss him. He smiled, and bent down to meet her lips.
"C'mon Magelet, hurry. The woman will be here soon, and we're not even dressed." He grabbed a stack of clothes and headed out the room. "Meet you in the kitchen soonest, sweet."
Daine sighed and dragged on her clothes. She was just sliding her breeches on when she heard Numair shout. "Daine, the maid's here." Daine swore; she would not have enough time to untangle Kitten's mess. Scooping the dragon up, she headed downstairs.
She found Numair in the hall, shaking the hand of a young woman, only a few years older than Daine herself. He turned to Daine, smiling. "Sweet, this is Loki. Loki, meet Veralidaine Sarrasri, my betrothed." The woman took Daine's hand, bobbing. "And this," Numair continued, taking the dragon from Daine's hip, "is Skysong, but everybody calls her Kitten." The woman's eyes lit up.
"You're a beauty, aren't you?" she told Kitten. Kitten, delighted with the praise, squirmed, forcing Numair to put her down, and went to meet the woman, standing on her hindquarters. Catching Daine's eye, Numair grinned. This maid would be more than capable of welcoming some of Numair's stranger guests. Loki bent to meet her, shaking the young dragon's forepaw. Placing his arm around Daine's back, Numair led them into the kitchen, gesturing for the young woman to take a seat. Once Loki had sat down, he pulled a chair out for Daine, and sat down himself, pulling Kitten up so she could see. Numair and the woman chatted away, Kitten adding whistles now and then to ensure she was heard. Daine only half listened, her mind still on what she had heard the night before.
"Daine?" Numair nudged her, frowning. "Is there anything you want to ask Loki?"
Daine shrugged, then thought of something. "Sorry, I'm away in a dream," she smiled apologetically. "Can you defend yourself? With your hands, with a bow? It's not that I think you'll need to, but I think it's something you should know."
The woman blushed. "It's not my place to go fighting, lady. I wouldn't know where to begin."
Numair frowned. "Well, we can fix that. Every woman should know some self-defence, especially in the world we live in." He disappeared for a moment, then came back smiling. "How would you feel taking lessons from the Lioness?"
"The King's Champion?" the woman's face was white. "I couldn't do such a thing, to be associating with the likes of her."
"You know her husband's common born?" Numair smiled reassuringly. "Alanna is always more than willing to help train people. That's what a Knight is supposed to do. And the Baron will help, or their men-at-arms. Trust us," Numair comforted her, "this is something you should know. We'll get someone from the Swoop to make sure you're trained properly."
"I can help too, if you want," Daine added, "I've a fair eye with a bow, and I can teach you some basics as well." She reached across the table to squeeze the woman's hand. Loki smiled at her gratefully.
Numair smiled and stood. "Well, if that's sorted, then we should show you around." He led the woman out of the kitchen, Daine following behind. Kitten raced ahead up the stairs, and Daine smiled as she heard the bedroom door bang shut.
Numair showed the woman around the tower, giving her information and instructions on each specific room. Coming to the bedroom, he opened the door to find Kitten, and the mess of ribbons, tangled together again. "How many times Kit?" Daine sighed.
"No, no, no, this won't do," Loki scolded the young dragon. Kitten looked shocked at the new source of direction. The woman hurried over to the dragon, and began to untangle the dragon from the ball of ribbons as she scolded.
Numair smiled, wrapping his arms round Daine's waist. "I love you," he murmured into her hair, holding her tight. Daine grinned, watching as Loki disentangled the ribbons. Suddenly she felt more at home than she'd felt since she came to Numair's tower. Daine knew this was right.
Once Numair had shown Loki out, he turned to Daine. "So, what do you think?"
Daine nodded. "This is your tower, not mine. But if I were you, I'd pick her."
"Just because we're not married, Daine, it doesn't mean this isn't your home. You have as much say as I do." He turned her, holding her arms. Something twisted in Daine's stomach, and she smiled as butterflies flew inside her.
"Well then, pick her." Daine answered.
Numair kissed her forehead. "I'm glad you agree, Magelet," he murmured. Leaning down, he kissed her deeply as Kitten squawked. He waved his hand at the dragon to shush her, and when that failed, he pulled the door closed, leaving Kitten stranded in the courtyard. Daine giggled as Numair kissed her, hearing Kitten's outraged screeches as she clawed at the closed door.
Finally, Daine pulled herself away. "Let her in, Numair. She'll only blow the hinges off if you don't let her."
Numair sighed, and reached for the door handle. Just before he opened it, he kissed her nose. "We will resume this later," he promised, then let the door swing open. A furious, red Kitten charged in, hitting their legs. Daine laughed as Numair bent to scoop up the dragon, holding her at arms length as the dragon screeched. "Will you behave?" he asked Kitten once the noise had receded. Meekly, she nodded, and Numair brought her into the embrace between him and Daine, wrapping his arms around the two.
That night, Daine was undressing behind the screen when Numair tapped on the door, putting his head round. Kitten was already fast asleep on the bed. "Daine?"
She waved a hand round the side of the screen. "Come and meet me on the astronomy deck." With that, he left the room. She wrapped her robe around her, tying the belt tightly around her waist. Checking Kitten, she covered her over with the blankets, not wanting the small dragon to be cold, then hurried to the deck.
Climbing up the ladder to the roof, she shivered; it was cold. She gathered her robe around her so she wouldn't trip, then lifted the trapdoor to the roof. Numair was waiting for her there. He lifted her onto the deck as she looked around. Cushions were scattered across the deck, and Numair looked at her anxiously. She hugged him closely, grateful for the warmth of his body. As she shivered, she heard Numair whisper a few words. She saw fire sparkle over them in a dome, and the stones that capped the parapets glowed, giving off a faint heat and soft light. She looked up, about to thank him, but was unable to as his mouth came down on hers. Numair kissed her deeply, his hands wondering over her body, unable to stop himself. Daine kissed him back, desire building inside as she ran her hands over his back, inside his shirt. He pulled away to tug his shirt off, then pulled her back into his arms. Heat radiated from his skin, and it raced into Daine where they touched. He lifted Daine, her legs wrapping around his waist tightly, twisting his hands in her robe.
"I love you," he breathed between kisses. He broke the kiss to pull her closer, hugging her tightly, burying his face in her shoulder. Suddenly he pulled away and laughed, and bore her down onto a pile of cushions. They lay there for a moment, limbs entwined as he stroked the hair away from Daine's face. Then he smiled, a wide, heart-warming smile that twisted Daine's stomach and melted her insides. Leaning over her, he kissed her gently, working his way from the base of her neck slowly up to her lips. Lingeringly, his lips stayed there until both of them could merely cling to each other and gasp. The fire within Daine raged, she was so caught up in his eyes. Now, his hands roamed down her body, to the tie of her gown. Daine's hands explored too, running them down his smooth back to the waist band of his breeches. She tugged at them slightly, too nervous to voice her wishes. Numair grinned and slid them off, so he was just in his loincloth. Kissing her harder, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her on top of him. Daine giggled nervously. "Numair," she whispered, "what if someone sees?"
"It's alright. The spell I used protects us from all sight, listening and probing spells, and no one can even tell we're here." He pulled her head down to him, kissing her so hard that Daine's lips burned with the force. "Not even your almighty parents," he added with a grin.
Rolling onto his side so Daine slid off to face him, Numair hesitated and smiled. He's nervous, Daine realised, putting her at ease. She stroked his face. Gently, she pulled his head back to meet hers, sharing a long, slow kiss with the man, filled with heat and desperation. Numair slid his loincloth off, and she fumbled with the ties on her robe. Numair helped her, and pulled her closer towards him. He fingered her chain, running it through his fingers until he found what he was looking for: Alanna's charm. He fiddled with it for a second, not meeting Daine's eyes. Then, he put it down, and returned his mouth to hers. Slowly, he slid her robe off, until they were both lying naked together. For a moment, they could only look into each other's eyes, blushing furiously, both suddenly very aware. Suddenly, Numair swooped in for a kiss and laughed nervously, the noise erupting as a strangled cry from his throat. Then, for a long, breathless, beautiful moment, all was quiet. Slowly, apprehensively, the mage reached for her.
He gasped when he touched her skin. To her, Numair's cool hands felt wonderful on her hot skin. Before, she had not felt so nervous, but now she felt so self-conscious she could barely look at him, although something compelled her to keep her eyes on his, as he followed the path of his hand. Numair traced his hand along the length of her body, running his fingertips over the curves of her side. Catching his eye, Daine blushed. She felt so exposed; so worried he would find something which didn't compare her to his past lovers, would weigh her up and find her wanting. Starting on her leg, Numair ran his hand up her thigh, over her hip and up the side of her upper body. His hand brushed over the sensitive skin normally covered by her arms, causing her to squirm. He pulled his hand away, worried he'd upset her. Daine caught it, kissed his fingertips and put his hand on her shoulder. He slid it up the back of her neck and pulled her head towards him, kissing her gently. This relaxed her; Numair wouldn't have kissed her if he didn't want her. He moved his head down and rested it on her shoulder. Daine wrapped her hands in his hair, stroking his head, and Numair looked at her.
"Goddess, Daine, you're beautiful," he whispered, wonder in his voice. She laughed, and could feel tears sliding down her cheeks in relief. Numair kissed them away, and smoothed her hair away from her face. Looking into her eyes, he added, "I love you, Daine. It feels so wonderful just to say it. I love you, Daine," he rolled the words around his mouth, and kissed her deeply.
"I love you too, Numair, so much. You mean everything to me." She could hardly look at him; she was so excited and anxious. She wanted to know she would do everything right, better than others that had done it to him. She placed her hand on his chest, feeling the coarse hairs under her hand, and burying her hand in them. She moved her hand further down his torso, the hairs becoming more soft and downy. She smoothed her hand over his stomach, running it all over. Daine never wanted to forget what this felt like, to be touching his bare skin. Edging her hand down slightly, then up and over to his back, Daine memorised every inch of his body. Numair groaned and pulled her closer, his lips brushing her face and shoulders. Slowly, tantalisingly, Daine slid her hand back round to his front, but stopped on his hip, too scared to go any further. Gently, Numair rolled her onto her back, kissing her head, shoulders and breasts. She could barely breathe now, her breaths coming as short, ragged gasps. His fingers brushed her so gently, but Daine felt fire filling her veins. "I –"
"Shh," he soothed her. "I know, Daine. I know. I love you." Daine could see in his eyes that the man meant it. He rolled on top of her, and Daine was shocked at the heat that came from him, as his wet mouth fell on hers, kissing her desperately. The longing for him was almost unbearable, as he pulled the covers up over their heads. He broke his kiss only to ask her, "Daine, are you sure? We don't have to, not if you're not ready."
Daine could only nod, her body was filled with fire and heat, and her nerves were buzzing. She was scared if she said anything her voice would break and she would cry, she was so nervous, but yet nothing had ever felt better or more right. Numair soothed her, calming her nerves, whispering in her ear how much he loved her. Daine felt all over his body with her fingers, familiarising herself with his skin, so this memory would be etched on her mind forever. She wanted nothing else but Numair, to hold him in her arms for all of her life, to never let go. Gently, slowly, never breaking eye contact with her, Numair made love to her, as she gasped from the pain and intensity of it. Fire built inside her, then burst, flames racing under her skin, and she felt she could hardly contain them. Numair's head fell onto her, his head resting at the hollow of her throat, breathing heavily. Daine could contain her tears no more, and wept in relief and happiness.
Numair looked at her, "Goddess Daine, are you alright?" he asked, concern filling his voice.
"Numair, I've never ever felt better. It's just –" she broke off, unable to find the words to describe what had just passed between them. Numair nodded, and kissed her, holding her tightly in his arms, as if he would never let go. Daine knew now, more than ever, that this, what she had here, was all she would ever want, that nothing else would ever compare to what she and this man shared. Love.