I'm sorry, i just find it really easy to write arguments between these two at the mo... it's probably just a reflection on my personal life just now... besides, since when is every relationship perfect... oh, and sorry to the Varice fans out there, but if your ex turned up at your engagement bash, how would you react?
I bumped the rating - one because somebody said it wasn't high enough, and two because i know whats coming next... and no, it's not fluff...
Thanks to my reviewers again - Tortall's Resident Wildchild - have a good holiday, and the same applies to you and Karma - update soon please! Sparrow's Lovely Lass - sorry for the cliffie :grins, Lisa Fox, GSCer, estranged, beckythorn13, SerenityEmrys and Imshi
Recap: "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.
"Kitten, do you mind?" He picked the dragon up, then, closing the door, said quietly, "I'm sorry Kit, but this is private. If I put you in the bedroom, will you stay there?" Kitten chirped, and Numair carried her out of the room. When he returned, he closed the door with a soft click. "You'd best go," he said to Varice, not looking at her. "If Daine notices Kitten is gone, then she'll come looking for her."
"Want to hide me from your precious 'Wildmage'?" Varice sneered. "By all means, we can't have little Daine finding out about your betrayal, can we?"
"What betrayal?" Numair snapped. "I have betrayed no one, Varice, and you know it." His voice quietened, and he turned to face Varice, his tone making it hard for Daine to hear. "What happened to the Varice I knew in Carthak? Have you thought about that? Maybe I gave the notion of 'us' up long ago, when you wouldn't come with me?"
"What about at the Peace Talks?" she hissed. "You were more than happy to welcome me back into your arms then. What's so different?"
"What's different?" he asked. "You are different. I am different. I don't love you, Varice. I love Daine, and that's the way it'll stay. You can't change my mind, no matter how hard you try to seduce me." His voice dropped to a whisper; Daine scuttled forwards under the ledge of the hearth, hoping it would conceal her.
Varice shrieked, and threw her shoe at the mouse, missing. "Varice," Numair shouted, "don't!" as the woman lunged for the mouse. Knocking her aside, he grabbed Daine by the tail, placing her in his hand. "Is that you, Daine?" he asked quietly. Daine struggled in his grip, shaking, hoping he would think that if it was her, she would have remained still in his hands. Numair sighed. "Daine, is that you?" he asked again. When Daine simply shook more, he sighed, and went over to the door, opening it. Kneeling down, he placed the mouse on the ground gently, telling her, "Get away from here quickly, and don't let that woman catch you. Watch out for the mouse-catchers," he said in a soft voice. He stroked the mouse on the head, then stood, and closed the door in Daine's face.
Quickly, the mouse dashed across the floor for the cupboard. That was far too close for Daine's liking. Sliding through the gap between door and floor, she resumed her own shape. Bolting the door, she dressed quickly, then tried to fix her hair. Without a mirror, it was useless. Asking a palace cat if the way was clear first, she slipped out of the room, then walked noiselessly over to the cat, picking the ginger tabby cat up in her arms. Talking loudly to the cat, to make sure they knew she was there, she fumbled at the door for her key, only for Numair to open it for her. "Daine," he blushed. "Where have you been?" he eyed her hair.
She smiled innocently, hoping he would not test her for lies. "Hello," she kissed him quickly on the lips, then, allowing a look of surprise to pass over her face, she said, "Varice, what a surprise. Are you feeling better?" The woman fixed her with a glare, and Daine turned back to Numair. "I went to see you on the balcony, and when I found you weren't there, I looked for you in the gardens. I couldn't find you, so I talked to the bat colonies instead. That's why my hair's a bit messed. I was looking for Kitten to fix it. Have you seen her?" she asked, the picture of naivety.
Numair stuttered. "Kitten? Yes she's here. She's in the bedroom, sweet. Varice was just leaving when you arrived," he glared at the woman. Varice scowled, and nodded.
Daine smirked inwardly, then yawned. "I understand. It's been a long day. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go to bed." She placed the ginger tom on the ground, and walked through to the bedroom, the cat following.
"Share a bed with her animals too, do you?" Daine heard Varice sneer as she closed the door behind her. She could not hear Numair's reply, but she could hear the danger that tinged his voice when he said, "Good night Varice," and slammed the door behind her.
There was nothing for Daine to do now but get into bed and wait. She heard at least two bells pass before she fell into a restless sleep, wondering what 'betrayal' Numair had committed.
The nightmares returned that night, except no one was there to comfort her this time. Kitten had tried her best, varying the tones of her voice, and the cat had purred, rubbing his head under her cheek, but neither of them was Numair.
When she awoke late the next morning, feeling as if she had not slept at all, Daine rolled over to see an empty bed. It looked as if Numair had not slept on his side of the bed at all that night. Daine turned, rolling her face into his empty pillow, breathing in his scent. Unbidden, tears slid from her face to dampen the pillow. Waiting till the flow stopped, she slid out of bed and padded over to the wash stand. Washing her face in the chilled water as the bell chimed and the eleventh hour was called, she grimaced. What was so wrong that Numair hadn't even come to bed last night? she wondered. She dressed in a simple pair of breeches and a shirt, pulling an old tunic over the top. Intending to head for the stables, she found Numair curled in a chair in his living room in front of the fire. He turned when she opened the door, a small smile coming to his lips. His face was pale, and dark shadows were under his eyes. Coming over to them, Daine touched them, feeling him flinch slightly. "What happened to you last night?" she asked. "I thought I heard Varice leave soon after I went to bed. Did you go with her?"
"No, Magelet," he smiled, his voice a whisper. "I just sat down to read and I must've dosed off, that's all." Something in his eyes flickered, a lie. "Did you sleep well, Magelet?"
"No," she said bluntly. Not sure whether she was telling him to simply let him know, or to guilt him, she added, "I had my nightmare again last night. All night long."
"Why didn't you get me, Magelet?" Numair whispered, his voice full of concern. He stood, and wrapped her in his arms.
"I thought you were working, I didn't want to disturb you," she said quickly.
He kissed her forehead, burying his face in her hair. "You shouldn't worry about interrupting me, Magelet. You are always a welcome intrusion," he murmured. Daine couldn't help but wonder if that last bit was true; she certainly hadn't looked welcome when she came in last night; hadn't sounded welcome when Numair had told Varice to leave so they wouldn't be caught. He released her. "Were you going somewhere, Magelet?"
"Oh, I was just going to go for a ride. You're welcome to come," she smiled, hoping that he would refuse her offer.
"No, I had best stay here, I think. I need to unpack my work." Seeing her look, he interpreted it as her offer to help him. "Don't worry Magelet; enjoy your ride. I will have a peaceful afternoon immersed in my work. Go," he shooed her out the room. She turned to smile, but Numair was already staring out the window, somewhere else.
Daine jogged to the Rider stables, where Cloud was kept; she didn't want to be interrupted, and prayed none of her friends were around to stop her. Quickly, she saddled Cloud, and rode out, heading into the forest. Cloud picked her way through forest silently, worried for her mistress. When they made their way into a clearing, she kicked Cloud into a gallop, racing down the long fields. She did not know how long they rode for, but eventually Cloud came to a walk, and then stopped on a rise next to a rock. Daine slid off, and hugged her face into Cloud's mane, crying slightly. – Will you tell me now what is wrong? Has the stork-man done something to you?– Daine told the mare everything, sparing no detail for her faithful mare. Eventually, the mare bared her teeth. – He thinks he can play with the People? The People will play with him for what he has done to you – she snarled.
"No Cloud," she told her. "I don't know what he's done… just something's not right. I need to find out what's happening before I go rushing into anything." She played unconsciously with the ring on her finger as she sat in silence for a while, Cloud lipping her shirt. Eventually she sighed and glanced at the sun. "It's mid-afternoon. Maybe we should get back." Mounting Cloud with ease, the two picked their way back to the Palace.
Onau caught her outside the Rider stables. "Fancy torturing some trainees for the rest of the afternoon?" Seeing the look on Daine's face, she added, "It might help take your mind off things."
Daine smiled into her friend's face. "It might help if I knew what things were before I tried to take my mind off them." She explained everything to Onau, relieved to be able to tell someone who wouldn't threaten to bite Numair. "What do you think I should do?" she said finally, her voice shaking.
Onau sighed, hugging her friend. "I don't know," she said honestly. "How much do you know about Numair and Varice's relationship?
"Not much," Daine admitted, shrugging. "I know that when he was in Carthak, they were lovers, serious ones, and that when we were with the Peace Delegation, she was with him again. But she didn't come with him when he left the first time, although Lindhall says she turned proposals down. She was waiting for him. Maybe that's what she thinks his betrayal was, that he found someone else instead."
Onau sighed. "Maybe. Look, I know that Numair felt – strongly – for Varice, that he loved her. But that was in Carthak; that was a decade ago. Now, well, I've never seen him so happy, and that's down to you Daine, so don't forget it. He loves you."
Daine nodded, "I know." She shrugged as she remounted Cloud, and Onau her mare. "I just wish I knew what's happening." They rode into the field with the trainees. Daine, observant as ever, immediately noticed a stirrup too long, and bellowed at the offending rider, who, startled, fell from his horse to land in the mud.
At the end of the long afternoon, Daine slipped into the large bath with Onau and Buri behind. Daine was staring into space, not listening to the conversation, too tired to be thinking about anything else other than the hot water soothing her tired body. Startling, she realised Buri was talking to her. "What?" she blushed.
"Nothing, I was just asking if you were alright after last night. Did you find out what that Kingsford woman was so upset about?"
Daine sighed and submerged herself in the water. It had been so nice just to forget… She resurfaced as Onau finished telling her the last of the tale. She looked at Buri's face; it bore a worried expression. "Do you want someone to have a word with him? I mean, maybe not me, but the King, or Raoul…" she trailed off when she saw Daine's face.
"I'd druther not think about it at the moment. I need to find out more. I just don't understand it really. Once I do… then I'll have to think about it. For now, though, I just want to have a nice hot bath. With that, she slipped back under the water, creating gills so she could breathe. Onau and Buri exchanged worried looks. Something was most definitely not right.
Daine stayed with the Riders all evening, only leaving when they were given their lessons on herb lore and the like. If she noticed that Onau followed her, she didn't acknowledge her. Silently she walked to a quiet section in the gardens, finding a little knoll which was rarely visited. She sank noiselessly onto the bench, as animals came to meet her. She sat still as birds surrounded her, perching on her shoulders and in her hair, and in the branches of nearby trees. Cats and dogs clamoured for her to pick them up, and swarmed at her feet and on the remainder of the bench. Pine martins, rabbits, all natural enemies, called a temporary ceasefire as silence fell. Onau shivered as she watched from her concealed spot at the woman surrounded by animals who sat in silence.
Suddenly, as one, all the animals keened, the unnatural noise filling the air of the knoll in which Daine sat and flooding over the rest of the gardens. The animals did not move, did not attack, merely emitted the grief which Daine was too scared to show herself, for fear that her marriage was over before it had even begun. Onau walked over to the girl, clearing a pathway for herself. Silently she sat next to her and enveloped Daine in a hug, stroking her hair and reassuring her in whispers. Slowly the animals quietened and dispersed, until only the flock of sparrows that had nested on Daine's shoulders remained, now perched on the bench and on Onau's shoulders. She waited until Daine's quiet crying subsided, her body's heaving receded, until Onau released her and looked her in the face. Finding her handkerchief, she soaked it in the stream that ran through the knoll, and, wringing it out, handed it to Daine, who wiped her eyes then scrubbed her face.
"Thanks," she murmured, wiping her nose on the tissue. She looked into Onau's face. "Sorry if I scared you like that, it's just…"
Onau nodded. "He loves you. He wouldn't do anything to hurt you. Not intentionally anyway. And he would not go anywhere with that woman, okay? You know he wouldn't. He keeps his promises, when he makes them."
Daine bobbed her head in reply; she knew he loved her – she could see it in his eyes everyday, and that night on the tower roof, fresh in her mind, reinforced the fact. She knew he loved her, she loved him, but she also knew Varice loved him too. There lay her problem.
Onau walked Daine back to her rooms in silence, speaking only when they reached the door. "Go and talk to him," she encouraged. "He'll only tell you what you already know. That he loves you, and not her. If you need me, you know where I am."
Daine nodded. "You won't come in?"
Onau sighed. "No, you need to talk to that man of yours. Tell him what you're feeling. I shouldn't be there for that. Go," she nudged her friend towards the door. "I'll see you in the morning."
Daine put her hand on the door handle apprehensively, the sliding the key into the lock, opened it and pushed the door open. Nothing. Numair was not in the reception room, the study, the private living room or the bedroom. She sighed, wondering back into his study, then noticed a door ajar. Frowning she went to close it, then realised it was not the cupboard door she thought it was. Inside was Numair, mumbling to himself as he went about his work. So this was his workroom, she thought. She had always assumed it was just a closet of some kind. She stood and watched him for a while, not wanting to disturb him, then eventually turned to go.
"Daine?" he called.
She turned round. "Yes?"
"Are you alright? Is everything okay? It's just – I noticed – that something's different. The animals have all been acting strangely, Kitten won't come near me… What is it sweet?" He turned away from the counter to face her, bracing his arms on the surface and leaning back. His face was full of concern and worry, anxiety moved in his eyes.
She couldn't look at him. Eyes on her feet, she asked quietly, "What was Varice doing here last night?" She brought her eyes up to meet his; now it was his turn to look away.
"Look Daine, she was just congratulating –"
"Rubbish," she interjected. "She didn't look like she was congratulating us at all. In fact, when she stormed off after hissing at you, she looked slightly less than being in a congratulatory mood. And you were no better, leaving straight after her, then vanishing. Next thing I know, you're in here, talking about some betrayal or other. So Numair, what is it?" She took a deep breath, then continued, "What's the betrayal you have committed? Against me or her?"
"Betrayal – I haven't betrayed anyone!"
"That's not what she said last night."
"How did you hear –"
"Does it matter how I heard? The bit that's worrying me is what I heard, Numair. So what is it?"
Numair looked at her, furious. "You believe what she said? Then she's winning, Daine," he cried, exasperated. "Can you not see, that's what she wants! She wants us to fall apart, so she can come and pick up the pieces! She's trying to pull us apart. If you believe the poison she spouts, then she'll only win." He crossed the room to Daine, putting a finger under her chin and forcing her to look into his eyes. He searched hers, then moved his head closer to hers. "I love you, Daine," he whispered, kissing her gently. She nodded, still unhappy, and walked out the room, leaving Numair staring after her. She didn't know whether to believe him or not anymore, whether it was just venom that Varice was using to separate them, or whether there was some degree of truth in what she said. She walked into the bedroom, and finding one of her dresses, began to get changed wordlessly. Numair walked into the room as she came out from behind the dressing screen.
"Where are you going?" he asked. When she didn't answer, he strode over to her and put his hand on her shoulder, forcing her to turn around. "Where are you going?"
"I," she said, barely controlling the anger in her voice, "am going to the Ballroom. You can come, or you can stay here, whatever is fine by me. C'mon Kit," she called, and strode out the room, the dragon following in her wake. Behind her, she heard Numair call to her, "I love you Daine." When she didn't reply he sighed and crumpled on to the bed. What had he done?