Emmm... couldn't remember where Numair's tower was, or if it was even mentioned in the books, so i made up a name for it... if you know, please, email me and let me know: ) Thanks
Sorry, had to get all that FLUFF out of my system lol... i promise you, minimum fluff by the end of this chap...
Once again, thanks to my reviewers : ) Tortall's Resident Wildchild, estranged, AmiraCarah and Kings Lioness... PLEASE REVIEW!
The next morning Daine awoke curled up next to Numair, her head resting on his chest, one arm across his body. She brushed her bruised lips, and flinched slightly. Lifting the covers she blushed as she peeked under them. Both she and the mage were naked; last night was not a dream. Smiling to herself at the memory, she snuggled closer to him, grateful for his warmth. She and Numair had returned late that night to Numair's room, and had slid in to bed silently, not wanting to wake Kitten, and not letting go of each other. Daine buried her head in his chest, breathing in his scent; the familiar smell of soap and spices calming her. She sighed happily, basking in his warmth.
Kitten chose that moment to announce she was awake, however, rudely dragging Daine away from her thoughts and Numair away from his dreams as she bounded on to the bed, clambering over the couple to sit on Numair's chest, next to Daine's head. Numair groaned, and grabbing the pillow from under him, used it to cover his head. His arm snaked around her waist, pulling her closer to him, if that was possible. When Kitten refused to get off his chest though, he sat up, using the help of gravity to move the dragon. Kitten shrieked as she fell backwards, then, recovering, began to scold the mage, her whistles making Numair's opal drop flare.
Numair sighed as he flopped back down onto the pillows. "Morning, Magelet." Turning to look at Daine, he grinned, making Daine's stomach flip. "I suppose we're going to have to get up then," he smiled, staring into Daine's eyes. "And I'd so hoped we could pick up after last night."
Daine blushed and smiled coyly. "We can get rid of Kitten, if you want." On hearing this, the immortal shrieked her irritation. "S'pose not then," Daine sighed.
"More's the pity," the mage added. Pulling her head down to meet his, he kissed her thoroughly. "I love you, Magelet. Did you enjoy yourself last night?" he asked in a quiet voice.
Daine smiled. "Very much so. I'll never forget it."
"Nor should you," the mage agreed. "I never will." He lifted Kitten off his chest to dangle her in the air above his head, arms outstretched at full reach. Kitten giggled as he shook her, her short forearms trying to claw her way free of the mage's grip without success. Finally, she gave up, and the mage began to lower her down to the bed to settle Kitten between his and Daine's bodies. After a while, Numair sighed and sat up, getting out of bed. "Time to get up, Magelet. Lots to do today."
Daine sat up and looked at him, confused. "Like what?" She slithered out of bed, and slid into her blue silk robe, which was lying next to the bed.
Numair pulled on his loincloth and sidled up to her, slinging his arms around her waist and pulling her close. "Well, for starters we have to arrange when we're going back to Court, and what we'll take." Daine sighed; what she would have given for a few more days here before getting back to the primping, preening and politeness required at the palace. "And we have to begin making arrangements here for when we're married, for you, for Loki, for… well, lots of things. And none of it will get done by us lying in bed for a day, much as I'd like to. Although," he murmured, as he leaned down to kiss her, and helped Daine out of her robe, "it wouldn't hurt, I suppose, if we stayed for just a moment longer," propelling Daine to the bed. "Kit, out," he ordered, and grinned as the dragon sighed and crawled out the room dejected, shades of grey washing over her. Using his magic to shut the door behind her, he nuzzled Daine, then enveloped her in long, slow kisses, pulling her lips apart with his tongue and stroking hers. Daine felt she was flying as his lips eased over hers, turning her knees weak. Daine did not know how long they lay there, but eventually Numair sighed and looked at her. "Veralidaine Sarrasri, you are the most wonderful woman in the world. Will you marry me?"
Daine laughed. "Of course I will. I love you."
Numair grinned. "You know how to make an old man happy, youngling."
"Good, I'm glad. You'll be stuck with me for the rest of your life, old man, so you better enjoy it."
Their arrival back at court was a good one. Helping Numair take his things to his rooms, she found her name had been freshly engraved on the bronze sign below his. Spying the sign, Numair grinned. "I hope I wasn't too presumptuous, Magelet, but I thought that you would be living with me, now we're betrothed." Dumping the books he was carrying, he lifted her into his arms, catching her off-guard as a squeal escaped from her lips. Popping the door open with a magic word, he carried her across the threshold and swung her round in the air. Giggling, Daine was eventually released to slide down to the floor, and she stood on her tiptoes to reach up and kiss him. "Mmm," Numair murmured, sliding his tongue between her lips. He pushed her towards the door to his private living room, grasping for the doorknob with one hand, and wrapping his other around Daine's back.
Lifting her up, he swung the door open, only to reveal a slightly embarrassed looking King Jonathon, Queen Thayet, Buri, and Onau. The King coughed. Numair let Daine slide to the ground, his face beet red as he murmured a greeting to his guests. Daine rested her head on his chest, considering the possibility of changing into a mouse, or something small, and running away, or even just melting in to the ground, if the Gods were listening. They weren't. She swung round, a bright smile pasted onto her face. She hoped she wasn't blushing too much. Quickly, she bowed a greeting to her monarchs, keeping her head down and letting her hair fall over her face.
"Welcome back," Jonathon said. Daine chanced a glance at the King. His face was tinged with red too, but a smile played on his lips. Thayet covered her mouth with her hand, laughing silently, as did Onau. Buri didn't even bother to conceal her amusement, and laughed openly. Daine felt her cheeks flush a deeper shade of red. "We were here to congratulate you on your engagement, but you are obviously busy. We'll come back later," the King smiled.
Numair muttered something incomprehensible, then cleared his throat and spoke louder. "You are welcome anytime, Jonathon. Please stay." His tone told a different story, his voice dripping with sarcasm, but the King remained motionless.
"If you insist. Please, sit," Jonathon's eyes were dancing with laughter. He motioned to two chairs, and watched as Numair, scowling, and Daine sat on them. Kitten came racing in the door at that moment, followed by Tkaa. She skidded to a halt as she saw the company, then gurgled, making her way along the row of visitors, until finally she clambered up on to Onau's lap. Tkaa paused at the door. Seeing there were no seats for him, Daine slid off hers, taking a tailors-seat at Numair's feet, leaning back against his legs. He bowed to the monarchs, and then to Daine in thanks, and sat down. Jonathon coughed and smiled at the two before him. "Truly, welcome back. You have been missed. We were expecting you somewhat sooner actually," he grinned, "but I can tell you've been busy." Daine flushed and felt Numair fidget behind her.
Thayet shushed her lord. "Don't tease them," she reprimanded him. "You remember what it was like." She turned to Daine and Numair, a smile shaping her ruby red lips, stretching across her face. "Congratulations, you two." She stood up, and taking Daine's hand, pulled her to her feet into a hug. She kissed Daine on both cheeks, then released her to hug Numair.
Buri was next to hug the couple, enveloping Daine in a gruff hug. "Congratulations," she smiled. "I hope you won't be too busy to keep helping with the Riders. If he's keeping you away, let me know and I'll sort him out," she grinned, laughing.
The King was next, shaking hands first with Numair, and clapping him on the back, then placing his hands on Daine's shoulders, and kissing her on both cheeks. "I'm delighted for you both. You've made my friend here so happy, and looked after him well these past few years. That alone deserves a medal," he laughed.
Tkaa patted her shoulder, and embraced her, congratulating her using mind speech.
Last came Onau. Daine was pulled into an encompassing hug by her first Totallan friend. They hugged for several moments, then Onau released her, kissing her forehead. "No one is more happy for you than I, Daine." Daine noticed the K'mir's eyes were bright, as were her own. "Look after you man well, you deserve him." Daine nodded, a lump securely wedged in her throat. Onau quickly wiped her eyes, then patted Daine on the shoulder and moved onto Numair.
"I suppose a toast is in order," the King said. At that moment, a servant tapped on the door and entered with a bottle of the finest champagne. Each took their glass, and the servant left, placing the tray on the table. "To old friends, new relations and to the end of the war. Gods bless you, Numair and Daine." He raised his glass to them as the others murmured, "So Mote It Be!" and chinked glasses with one another. As Kitten thought no one noticed, she took the bottle from the table and proceeded to gulp it down.
"Kitten!" Numair exclaimed, pulling the bottle away. The dragon screeched her outrage, then was interrupted by a hiccup. Shocked, the dragon fell silent and promptly sat on the floor.
"Serves you right," Daine tutted, as the others laughed around them. Bending down, Daine scooped the dragon up as she hiccupped again, examining her closely.
Once the group had settled back into their seats, Daine still holding the hiccupping dragon, Jonathon spoke. "Now comes the question of when you are to announce your betrothal to the Court."
Numair sighed. "Is there no way we can avoid it? I don't want any hassle; we've only just got back. Besides," he added, with a calculated glance at Daine, "we don't plan to actually wed for some time."
Jonathon shook his head. "You know as well as I do that the Court has to be informed. It's the best way to disperse any rumours for a start. Many of the ladies will be so disappointed," he teased, "that the most eligible bachelor Master is no longer available." Numair blushed. "You have to announce it. The question is merely when, rather than if."
Thayet nodded. "We could do it in two days, to give the chefs enough time to prepare a feast, and organise a ball." Seeing the look on Daine's face, she smiled kindly. "I know you'd rather avoid it if you could – I wanted to avoid one at all costs, but then I chose to get married to the King, so I had no choice – but at least one night of celebration is required. We can try and keep it relatively low-key, but it still has to be announced."
Numair sighed and nodded. "And I was hoping we'd get some peace to recover from our – escapades – in the war and at the Swoop, being such valued servants" The King fixed him with a glare. "But duty calls," Numair sighed. He tapped Daine on the head, causing her to turn around. "That means you, my sweet, have to get a new dress." Daine opened her mouth to protest, but Numair cut her off. "If we are to be presented to court as betrothed, then it's only proper."
"Even Alanna wore a dress when her engagement was announced," Thayet added. Daine noticed she shot a subtle glare at her husband as she said so, who flinched, just barely, when the Lioness's name was mentioned. Poor Jonathon, she thought, he can't win. Thayet continued, "Think of it as a betrothal present from my lord and I. You and I will meet with the dressmakers today and discuss it." Seeing Onau shoot Daine a look of sympathy, she added cruelly, "You too, Onau. You brought our little Wildmage to court; you have to be there when the match is announced. And Buri," she added, grinning widely, "as Commander of the Riders, you cannot escape the pleasure either."
"But, Thayet –" Buri began.
The Queen cut her off with a look. "My faithful friend and guard, you do not seriously think you could avoid the betrothal ball of one of your most, my most, esteemed members of staff, did you?" Buri was speechless. "Well then, that's settled. We will meet at the Third Bell this afternoon, in my suite."
Daine, Buri and Onau sighed, resigned, as Numair and the King dared chuckle. Daine silenced her man with a look of contempt. Jonathon had the doubtful pleasure of seeing Buri, drawn up to her full height, and Onau behind her, voice, with the Horse Lords as their witnesses, that they would make him regret that show of amusement on the Practise Courts. That was of course, if he was able to get away from the horse he rode so much that was covered in paper and made of wood. Jonathon visibly paled as the two K'mir glared at him and stalked out. He coughed, trying to smile. "I'm not the most favoured person at Court at the moment, as you can see," he told Numair and Daine, with a sigh. "The sooner Alanna gets back here the better."
"Then you know what to do," Thayet spat, and followed her two countrywomen.
Jonathon groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Sometimes, I hate this job."
Numair laughed, and clapped him on the shoulder. "At least it's not all bad," he joked. The King slid one of his fingers back to eye him with a questioning sapphire eye. "At least it's not Alanna that's challenging you to a duel."
Daine stood nervously behind the giant doors at the head of the Great Stair. Behind those doors lay the Queen's Ballroom. Behind those doors waited King Jonathon and Queen Thayet's court, who were no doubt immersing themselves fully in discussions over who the latest arrival was, or what was to be announced by those that came through those doors. Daine gulped, feeling sick with nerves. She had been in that hall before, so many times, but never had she felt such nerves as she did now. Not even waiting for the battle at Legann to begin, whilst she was worrying about Numair. This was the most stupid idea she had heard of in a long time. She didn't need to be introduced to the Court; she'd been there for four years now, even the freshest girls from the convents knew who Daine was. She'd even heard herself being described as legendary for her magic; the whole of Tortall, and most of her neighbours, knew Daine's name.
Someone squeezed her hand, pulling her from her thoughts. She smiled up into a pair of dark, deep eyes which pooled with knowledge and glimmered with humour. She could willingly get lost in those eyes, just to know what was behind them. Numair blinked, his soft mouth stretched into a grin, and her insides melted. "Nervous?" Numair asked her. "Mithros knows why, but I am." He fidgeted, running his hands over his hair, pulled back into a horse-tail, his skin slightly paler than it was normally. She ran her eyes up and down his muscled body, taking him in from under her lashes. Numair wore his black silk robe for the occasion like a cloak, revealing underneath a simple but expensive charcoal grey silk shirt and black silk breeches. Curled around one of his smartly shod feet was Kitten, a grey shade tingeing her pale blue scales; Numair, his nerves getting the better of him, had snapped and told the dragon to stop trying to climb Daine's dress and sit, quietly, or her Grandsire would hear about it. Kitten had uttered a defiant chirp, but had quietened when Numair had mentioned Daimondflame.
Daine smiled; she loved Numair more every time she saw him. The tall man next to her continued to fiddle uneasily, his hand smoothing out the non-existent creases in his shirt. Suddenly, the herald at the doors nodded and swung one of the great doors open. Daine and Numair both took a deep breath, glanced at each other, and stepped forward into the Ballroom. Daine hesitated slightly at the top of the staircase, dizziness overtaking her as she looked round the ballroom; she was terrified she would fall down it.
"Master Numair Salmalín," the herald cried, thumping his post three times for attention, "Black Robe and graduate of the Imperial University of Carthak, and master of the Tower of Blackheath," the herald paused, taking a breath. "Veralidaine Sarrasri, of Snowsdale, Galla, daughter of Weiryn the God of the Hunt and the Green Lady of the North, Assistant Horsemistress to the Queen's Riders, and the Wildmage." Daine frowned; she wasn't sure where she where she had earned the name, but it had stuck.
Numair and Daine descended the staircase, her hand resting on his arm, Kitten following behind. Daine could hear whispers surrounding them, contemplating what was happening, then the more confident voices that declared they had known all along; a fine thing seeing as Daine had known only herself that she loved Numair and he her for a few months, let alone they would marry. They themselves had no intention of actually marrying for some time, as they had tried to inform the King several times unsuccessfully.
Walking across the floor to the Dias on which sat the King and Queen, Daine smiled at the rustle of her skirts. Thayet had eventually persuaded the woman to take a charcoal grey dress that shimmered with a silvery blue as it caught the light. It was a compromise; as she was not Tortallan, she did not have to wear the colours of mourning that adorned the Court for those lost in the war. Daine, however, had argued that Tortall had been her home for four years now and she had fought to defend it from it's enemies, and therefore was as Tortallan as the next person in the Palace. Her hair had been pinned up, leaving curls to cascade down her back. The neckline of the dress was not too high, nor too low; Numair had approved strongly. The slight amount of face paint she wore had been under orders from the Queen, and Daine was forcibly sat down by the maids and made to hold still whilst it had been applied. Round her neck she wore her Badger's claw, the pregnancy charm a mere shimmer of gold tucked behind, and out of sight.
Reaching the foot of the Dias, she and Numair curtsied and bowed to the monarchs respectively. Numair turned to Jonathon, his voice clear and confident as it echoed around the room, although Daine could feel the clamminess of his hand in hers. Now he took it away. "Your Majesties, King Jonathon and Queen Thayet. With your kind permission, I would like to ask the lady Veralidaine Sarrasri to do me the honour of becoming my betrothed."
Jonathon nodded regally, a smile on his lips. "You have our permission, and our greatest blessing."
Numair produced a small box from inside his cloak, one that Daine had never seen before. He clicked it open as he turned to Daine, sinking to one knee, a wide smile on his face. "Veralidaine, will you do me the honour of agreeing to become my wife?" Daine nodded; her throat was choked, and it was all she could do not to leap into his arms. Numair's smile grew even broader as he offered her the box. Inside it was to most beautiful ring she had ever seen. A white gold band lay in the box. At its centre was a black opal the size of the nail on her small finger. Its blue face sparkled with hints of green and red flames captured within, and a single fleck of grey in its centre. The opal was set in a border of blue-grey sapphires ("To match your eyes," Numair later confided to her), with a single, perfect diamond at each side of the cluster where it met the gold band.
"Will you take this ring as a symbol of my betrothal to you?" he asked, his eyes sparkling. Again, she nodded, and managed to emit a small squeak. The mage grinned. Taking her left hand, he counted out to her third finger and slid the ring on. Without a doubt, this was one of the most expensive thing she had ever seen, let alone held or worn, even more so than Numair's opal drop that he wore on a chain around his neck. Numair lifted the ring to his lips and kissed it, the sign of his silent promise to be faithful to her. She did the same, making her own promise, meeting his eyes. With that, they turned back to face the Dias.
Jonathon stood. "My court, I present to you Numair Salmalín and Veralidaine Sarrasri as betrothed. May you go with our blessing."
"And the best wishes of all the Gods," Thayet smiled. "Kiss her!" she whispered at Numair, who stood, seemingly overtaken by the moment, simply staring at Daine's face. Daine giggled as Numair swept her into a breathtaking kiss, then turned to face the Court to be greeted with cheers and applause.
Daine searched the crowd for the faces of her friends. There was Onau, Sarge and Buri, nearby stood Raoul of Goldenlake, whistling with his fingers in his mouth, with Duke Gareth the Younger of Naxen cheering. Dukes Baird and Gareth the Elder clapped in a manner more befitting of their station, and behind them stood her friends in the Own and the Riders, Evin and Miri. She saw many other friendly faces, recognising them all as she swept the crowd looking for two faces in particular. She frowned when she could not find them, and then she remembered. The violet and hazel eyes she sought for were not in Corus, and if Alanna had anything to do with it, wouldn't be for a long time. The presence of the Lioness and the Baron of Pirate's Swoop would have completed the already perfect evening for her, but she would have liked George's flow of jokes and Alanna's encouraging smile here all the same. Then Numair kissed her again, and all was forgotten.
Daine could barely remember that night; it had been a whirl of smiling faces, shaking hands and congratulations. She did remember one thing quite clearly though.
"Numair! Daine! Congratulations!" a familiar voice had cried from behind. Numair had whirled; Daine in the circle of his arm, was swung round.
"Lindhall!" Numair had cried, embracing his old teacher and friend. "No one told me you were here!"
"Ah, we came last week." ("We?" Daine had thought, then had seen Bonedancer perched on his shoulder, and disregarded the comment.) "And since then," the mage continued, a sheepish smile on his face, "I have been somewhat immersed in the workings of your magnificent university."
Numair had laughed, then turned pale, catching sight of something over Lindhall's shoulder. Daine followed his gaze. Lindhall turned, a smile on his face. "Varice, I didn't think you were feeling well. Are you better?" he enquired kindly. He turned to Daine and Numair, "Varice came north as soon as the war was over and met me in Port Caynn last week. She was very excited to hear of your safe return, Numair," then he frowned, the pieces clearly falling into place. "Ah," was all he managed.
Daine took the woman in, from her curvy shape that her expensive satin dress clung to under her silk robe, to her beautiful face and smile. This though, was not the Varice she had known in Carthak, all smiles and flirtations for Numair. This Varice had a pale face under her face paints, eyes that blazed with unshed tears and a mouth that was contorted in a mixture of grief and rage.
"Varice?" Numair stuttered, dropping Daine's hand. "I thought – what are you doing here?" he asked, face pale with worry, and, if Daine hadn't known him any better, what looked like fear. That was strange – there had been more than one noble woman that night who had congratulated them through gritted teeth, but Numair had not reacted like this to any, merely brushing their jealousy aside.
"I came here to see you Master Salmalín," she hissed. "I foolishly thought that since you were alive and well, that your love for me might also be" she spat, staring at the ring on Daine's finger. "Obviously not." With that, she stalked off, raging eyes clearing a path for her.
Lindhall squirmed. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. I shouldn't have brought her here tonight, I should have left her to her business."
"It's alright, Lindhall, you weren't to know," Numair murmured quietly, eyes staring after the departing woman. He shivered, shook his head, then turned to Daine. "I need some air, do you mind if I –" he jerked his head in the direction of the balcony. He didn't wait for Daine's response as he walked quickly towards the doors.
Daine watched her man worriedly. Feeling a finger tap on her shoulder, she turned to find Onau, her eyes full of concern. "What happened?" she asked.
"That was Varice Kingsford," Daine managed to force out, almost choking on the name.
"Oh…" Onau paused and trailed off. "That explains more than it doesn't. So what happened?" Daine stood silently, watching Numair as he stood on the balcony, looking over the palace gardens, as Lindhall explained. "Are you okay?" Onau asked, taking hold of Daine's hand.
Daine managed to smile weakly at her friend. "Yes, I think I just need to go sit down for a while." She left Onau and Lindhall, who watched her worriedly, as she found a vacated table and chair on the outskirts of the hall, one where she could keep an eye on Numair. It was not that she didn't trust him, more it was Varice, whose rage had looked so barely suppressed, that Daine felt she had to worry about. The look in the woman's eyes as she had stared with hatred at Daine had made her shiver, and the look on Numair's face of shock and fear had done little to put her mind at ease either. Daine was sure she would not have liked one of her first loves to be there when her engagement was announced, but then, she thought bitterly, her first love was Numair. She still loves him, Daine realised with a shock, cold filling her veins, creeping through her body and wrapping itself around her. And he knows it.
Daine was aware that a cluster of her friends gathered around Lindhall and Onau, talking softly and watching her with worried eyes. She sighed, and smiled at them in an attempt to reassure them. Thayet beckoned her over; with a sigh and quick glance at Numair – he didn't look as if he was going anywhere – she hurried over. "I'm okay, you know," she told her friends, a false smile on her lips. "I'm just a little tired, so I thought I'd sit, that's all."
They looked at her disbelievingly. "Are you sure, youngling?" Thayet's eyes were worried as she scanned her friend over. There was something about Daine that rattled the Queen now, and she could see it affected the others too. She was acting suspiciously cold, as if she didn't care what had passed, or more as if she pretended not to.
"You know," Buri put in, "you have every right to be upset. Don't think that we would think worse of you for showing it."
Daine nodded. "I know you wouldn't." She glanced back at the balcony; Numair had disappeared. Picking up Kitten, she straightened, the false smile still on her face. "Truly," she added, "I'm just tired, that's all. It seems like I've barely had a day to myself since the war ended. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go to bed now. I'm sure I'll feel better in the morning. G'night," she turned, dipping in a quick curtsy to Thayet, and left, thinking hard. Where could he be? Padding silently along the palace corridors back to their rooms, Daine sent out whispers to all the animals in the palace, using sight, sound and scent to furnish her description. Most of the animals knew and recognised Daine's companion, from seeing him with her so often, but none could find him now. Turning into the corridor where their suite lay, she contemplated asking the animals in the city, when, reaching their door, she heard hushed voices. Leaning over to listen at the door, she heard a woman talking frantically, anger in her voice. It was Varice. A soft, deep rumble responded, Numair's voice, though she could not hear what they said, even with bat ears in place of her own. Ordering Kitten to be quiet, she slid into a nearby cupboard. She had to get into that room.
"Kit, if I change, will you open the door and go in?" The dragon peeped quietly in reply. "Thank you," she nodded, then added, "don't let them know I'm there. I'll stay hidden." The dragon nodded, as Daine slid out of her magnificent dress, folding it and placing it over a chair, and then felt her body slide into the shape of a field mouse, one which wouldn't be noticed or out of place in the Palace. Kitten looked down at her, her snout looming large. Daine squeaked, and scurried out of the cupboard to wait by the door. Kitten followed, then croaked a deep rumbling note, causing the door to swing open. Numair stopped in mid-breath, glaring at the dragon, as Daine slid in behind, unnoticed, to cower behind a foot of a small table nearby.