Hello again! Just over half way through now i think...
Again, sorry to Varice fans - i don't particularly hate her, but this is just the way the story wanted to go...
Imshi - just one more bit to go, and then normal service will be resumed, honest, Sparrow's Lovely Lass - i felt sorry for him too... poor Numy..., estranged - the 'what had he done?' bit was open to interpretation, but i wrote it as more of him asking what he'd done, because he didn't know... USNA - here you go! Thanks again to all of you for reviewing - i hope your enjoying reading this as much as i did writing it... Please,REVIEW MORE!
When Daine returned from the ball, sadness and anger still clouding her face, she found the bed empty again. "It's my own fault," she told Kitten. "I shouldn't have stormed out like that." She sat down on the bed, her dress off, and half out of her shift, her head in her hands. Kitten chirped anxiously, her voice rippling and pooling in changing notes. Daine's ears pricked. Silencing the young dragon, she pulled on a robe and drew closer to the door, listening hard. The voices came not from the living room, but from the study beyond. Silently, she opened the door, and padded through to stand in the shadows behind the door that led into the room beyond. She could glimpse through the crack Numair, face like thunder, talking furiously in a hushed voice. "She's through there! You can't come charging in here to see me, because Daine is through there!"
"We couldn't risk getting caught, could we?" Varice walked up to the man, and ran her fingers along the underside of his jaw.
Numair froze, not moving. When his voice came, it crackled with anger. "Get out Varice. You have caused her enough pain already. This has nothing to do with Daine. Leave her out of it." He snatched her hand away from his face and held it in a vice-like grip, his knuckles white. "Get out."
Varice didn't move away; instead she drew closer, pressing her body against his, her face scant millimetres away from his. Slowly she moved her lips towards his, and kissed them, Numair still stock still. A strangled cry emitted from Daine's throat.
Numair blinked, and shoved Varice away from him. "Daine!" he cried. She slammed the door in his face, and ran into the bedroom, locking the door behind her as her world came tumbling down around her ears. Tears gushed from her eyes, their hot tracks marking her face. She crumpled to a heap at the bottom of the door as Kitten shrieked her rage at the mage. She could hear Numair pounding on the door from the other side, hitting it so hard that Daine could feel the vibrations run right through her. He shouted her name, demanding she open the door, but it was all she could do not to fly out the open window, never mind turning and facing him. Pain ricocheted through her chest, bursting into flames – was this how it felt to have your heart broken? she wondered dazedly.
The pounding stopped; she could hear a scuffle, then Jonathon's voice. "What's going on here?" Then his voice turned cold. "Get out Mistress Kingsford. Numair, go. Both of you, go." A soft tap came at the door. "Daine, are you alright? Daine, open up." She sighed, she could not disobey a royal command.
Thayet's voice came through the door. "Daine?" She stood up, and pulled her robe around her, trying to take control of herself. Taking a deep breath, she turned the key. The door swung open to reveal two worried pairs of eyes. That was all she could stand. Tears burst from her again as Thayet took her in her arms, soothing her. Eventually, she stopped, finding she had no more tears to cry. Thayet led her to sit on the bed. Wiping her eyes, Daine looked up. "Where's the King?" she mumbled.
"He went to speak to Numair. Besides, I didn't think you'd want him to see you cry." Daine laughed softly. "What happened?"
"I – did Onau and Buri tell you what happened yesterday?" Thayet nodded, her dark eyes sad. Daine swallowed. "Well, when I came back tonight, I spoke to him about it, and he said it was nothing, just her," she spat, "trying to cause trouble. And I didn't know if I believed him or not, so I left. And then I came back, and I saw her – I saw her – she – she kissed him. And he didn't stop her. Then he saw me and…"
"Oh, Daine," the older woman murmured, and hugged her again. Just then there was shouting outside, and a furious Cloud burst through the door, two men-at-arms trailing her.
Horrified, they stopped, bowing low to the Queen. "Sorry, your majesty. We couldn't stop her," they stumbled.
Thayet nodded. "That's alright. These are exceptional circumstances. Return to your posts, and – leave the horse." Daine clung to the mare's mane as she told her what had happened.
- I told you – the mare was furious. – I told you that we would show him, we would dominate him, and you refused our help –
"I know, Cloud, but –"
- But nothing Daine. We could have fixed him and he wouldn't have hurt you now – It was no use appealing to Cloud's brand of horse sense, Daine would never win.
There was a soft tap on the door, and the King walked in. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice full of concern. Daine nodded and sniffed. Behind him, Numair entered the room, face pale as he lingered in the doorway. Cloud snorted and lunged for the man.
"Cloud, NO!" she shouted, using her will. The King caught the horse's mane, and narrowly avoided being bitten.
- Why? – Cloud asked. – You said no last time, and look what happened – the mare snorted.
"Let him explain first. Then you can bite him," she said coldly.
"Daine!" Numair cried, shocked.
"What?" she spat. Ice gripped her. "Do you know how much you've just hurt me? Can you even comprehend how I'm feeling right now? It's not something you can look up in a book."
"Enough," the King interjected, voice firm. "There's been enough fighting here tonight. Either you can talk calmly to each other, or not at all. I don't know entirely what's gone on here, but I'm sure one of you will be kind enough to explain once Daine has dressed, and we have all had something to drink." He led Numair out of the room, talking in a hushed voice.
Daine sighed and slid behind the changing screen. Her hands were shaking and she struggled to button up her shirt. Thayet came to help her. "You know everything will be alright. It probably was just Mistress Kingsford stirring things to get her own way. He loves you. Come on," taking the woman's hand, she led her through to the other room, Cloud and Kitten trailing. Sitting Daine down, she took the chair next to her, squeezing her hand reassuringly. Daine smiled at the Queen, as Kitten scrambled up her leg to sit on her lap, and Cloud stood behind the chair, eyeing the mage angrily. – Just one bite Daine, to set the message into place? –
"Leave be, Cloud," Daine said softly. Whilst she had been dressing, someone had brought tea and biscuits. Now she reached for a cup of tea, feeling grateful for the warmth it filled her body with, chasing the coolness away.
"Now," Jonathon started, his eyes going from Numair's face to Daine's. "Will someone kindly tell me what has been going on? I thought, with the two of you so happy, that I would not have to mediate over an argument a night after your betrothal was announced." Daine could hear sadness in his voice. "I've already lost one friend at Court this month; I could do without another two falling out as well."
Daine took a deep breath, and holding back her tears explained everything that she'd seen and heard since meeting Varice at the ball the night before. Numair tried to interrupt, but had been stopped by Jonathon raising his hand, and a snort and baring of teeth by Cloud. When Daine finished, she sighed, looking at Kitten in her lap, and stroking the dragon. She couldn't look up, wouldn't, to see the look of shock on both the King and Numair's faces.
Jonathon turned to his mage. "And what, precisely, is you version of this tale?" he asked, his voice cool.
"There's not much different," Numair sighed. "I wish there was, but there isn't." He put his head in his hands, staring at the ground. Daine could hear the pain in his voice when he began to speak. "Last night, at the ball, I greeted Lindhall, and then Varice was there. I was shocked to see her, obviously so, because I thought she would have remained in Carthak. The fear you say you saw, Daine, it was fear of what she might do to us. She can be a very determined woman, when she knows what she wants. I didn't think there would be much she wouldn't do to try and end our relationship. So I left to the balcony, and I tried to think of what I could do. I don't know why I didn't tell you then – maybe I thought that you wouldn't notice, or mind, maybe, that her being there had shocked me. Then, I was on the balcony, and she came to me, and was trying to talk to me, get me angry, and I didn't want to ruin the evening by having a fight with her on the balcony, so we returned here. I thought it would be safe territory because I knew you would come back. Maybe she interpreted it differently." He sighed, looking up at Daine. "If I'd known she would hurt you so much, I would have left the ball with you then. I didn't think – I wasn't thinking right.
"Anyway," he continued, "we came back here, and she tried to seduce me. I pushed her away again and again, and she kept coming back. Then I told her, I told her I was in love with you, Daine, no one else. That we were to be married, and she could do nothing to change that. Then," he choked, "she slapped me." He touched his cheek. "She said I'd betrayed her, by finding some 'wench'," he choked on the word. "She called you a wench, Daine! I told her to get out, to leave, that I didn't want her here, because I knew you would come back, and I didn't want you to hear her poison. Then Kitten came in, and you – did Kitten tell you, or the mouse?"
"I was the mouse," Daine said. Numair lifted his head to meet her eyes, and she could see something moving in his eyes: hope.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that. I told her I'd done nothing wrong, and you heard her. I told her I loved you, that I wasn't the same person I was in Carthak, that neither was she. It would never be the way it was before, because I love you. Then you came in, properly, and she left, after making a nasty comment. You heard?" he glanced at Daine, and she nodded. Numair blushed. "She asked if I shared a bed with the animals as well as Daine… I told her to get out, and she left. I didn't come through because I needed to think about what to do. I lost track of time, Magelet," he said, a small smile touching his lips. "Like I always do. The next thing I knew, you were coming through and it was morning." He rubbed his eyes, and then tugged his nose. "Then you went for a ride, and I tried to unpack." He gestured to the still half full boxes. "I didn't get very far. I kept trying to think about what I could do to stop her. She's got something planned, I know it, but I don't know what. Then when you spoke to me earlier, I tried to explain what she was trying to do, that she was trying to split us up. I thought you believed me – I didn't think she'd hurt you so much already. That's why, when you came back tonight, I was in my workroom. I was just about to come and talk to you, and I heard someone at the door, and it was her. I tried to get rid of her, get her to leave. I didn't want her to upset you anymore than you were already. Then she came up to me," he ran his hands through his hair. "I couldn't move, I didn't want her there – I tried to move, but then," his voice dropped to a whisper, it was choked. "Then, - then – she kissed me."
He covered his eyes, trying to blot out the memory. "I froze; I couldn't even push her away. Then you were there Daine. You… you… I tried to stop you running, I wanted to explain. It's honestly not what you think. I love you," his voice trailed away.
The room was silent for a moment. Then Thayet sighed. "Well, I think it's time for a royal word with Varice," she said, looking meaningfully at her husband. "You or me?"
"I think a woman's touch would be best, don't you? Just make sure you don't offend her too much; our stance with Carthak –"
"I don't care about our stance with Carthak; I care about what she's done to our friends." Seeing Jonathon's look, she sighed. "I'll play nice. Just make sure you keep a tight leash on Buri and Onau. You have some good friends, youngling," she smiled at Daine. "I can leave you to handle this?" she asked her King. When he nodded, she turned back to Daine, "Try not to have any more arguments tonight, okay? I'll come by in the morning, if you're not down at the Riders." She hugged the woman tightly. "If you don't want to stay here tonight, there's always a bed at the barracks," she whispered. "Take care," she said, and left for her 'word' with Varice.
Jonathon turned to Numair. "And that's all of it? There's not a seemingly insignificant detail that you've missed out? One that could make things worse if it were to come out at a later date?"
Numair looked up at Daine, his eyes boring into hers. "That's all of it. I swear in the name of Mithros and the Goddess, that's all of it. Put me under a truth spell if you must. That's the truth."
Jonathon nodded. "I don't think there's any need for that, do you? Daine?"
Daine shrugged her shoulders. "No, if Numair says it's the truth, then it's the truth. I believe him." Some of the coldness in her heart melted. She felt a smile tug at her mouth; just a small one, but a smile nonetheless. "I don't think you need to bite him, Cloud." The mare snorted as Jonathon laughed; she wasn't so sure, but if Daine said so, then she must listen. "Yes, Cloud, you must. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll take my horse back to her stable."
"I can leave you two to discuss the finer details of your reconciliation? Don't tell me what the details are, though. I'm not sure I'll want to know." Jonathon stood up, and stretched. "Mithros, it's been a long day; if you'll excuse me, I'm for bed. Once I've found my Queen that is. If it weren't Varice she was having a 'word' with, I'd rescue whoever it was; I've been on the receiving end of one of those things, and they are not pleasant."
Numair snorted. "She deserves it."
"That is as may be, Numair, but sometimes I wouldn't wish one of those on my worst enemies. If Thayet has anything to do with it, I don't think Varice will still be here at the end of the week. I'd give her two days at most. Good night, you two."
Once the King had left the room, Numair turned to Daine. "I'm forgiven?" he asked quietly.
Daine nodded. "Next time, tell me if you think one of your old lovers is going to try to divide us; it'll save us both so much heartache." She smiled. "Next time, I might not stop Cloud."
The mare snorted – Nor should you. –
"That's enough from you for tonight. Back to the stables with you, missy." She looked at Numair. "You'll come with me? I'd like the company."
He smiled. "Of course I will Magelet." He crossed the room and swept her into a tight hug. "I love you. C'mon Magelet. Let's get your grumpy old horse back to her stable. If you want, I could buy you a nice, placid tempered horse." He yelped as Cloud lunged for him.
"No thanks, Numair," she laughed. "Cloud keeps an eye out for me and she's a good friend. You on the other hand, Master Numair, are just a pesk." She laughed at his outraged face, and holding his hand in her left hand, and Cloud's bridle in her right, she left to take her horse back to the Rider Stables. Onau saw them and smiled, relieved to see the couple handfast once more. Once Cloud was returned, the two walked back up the hill to the Palace, taking in the cool night air and clear sky. The two dawdled up the hill, wordlessly looking at the stars above them. When they reached the top of the hill, Numair turned them and the couple took in the view.
Daine sighed. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yes," he smiled. "But not as beautiful as you…" he leaned down and kissed her ear, his warm breath tickling her.
She giggled. "You know Numair, seducing me won't get you anywhere…" she trailed off as he kissed her on the lips, starting softly then building force until both could do nothing but cling to each other and gasp. "But it'll put you someway to getting back into my good books."
Numair grinned. "Oh, well then, if that's the case, you and I are off to bed then."
"You won't get away with it that easily, you know." She was cut off by Numair kissing her.
"No, but I'll try my best." He stopped, and sobered suddenly. "You know I mean it when I say I love you, don't you?"
"I've never doubted it Numair."
"Yes, but – this thing with Varice – I did nothing to encourage her, you understand? Nothing intentional. I didn't want any of it. You believe me?" He took her hands, and crouched a little so he could see into her face. "If there's the tiniest doubt, Daine, tell me, and I'll do everything I can to put it right again."
"I believe you, Numair. It's just, I didn't know what to think – you weren't talking to me, you didn't come to bed, I thought you were avoiding me, that maybe you thought you'd made a mistake. I –"
"Daine," Numair interrupted. "You are as far from a mistake as I could ever be. You are the one thing in my life that I know everything is right with, is right about. I've made mistakes before, plenty of them, but you are not one of them." He straightened. "I believe Thayet made some mention of you working for the Riders tomorrow. I think that therefore, the best thing for us to do is get you to bed, because we won't be able to lay a-bed in the morning." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hair. "I love you, Magelet. Never think otherwise, and never ever forget it."
Training with the Riders the next morning, Daine could not help but let her mind wonder to the night before, when the two had eventually returned to their rooms, where Numair had proved his love for her. Every so often, she would feel a smile stretch over her face, and would have to shake her head to clear her mind.
The other Commanders watched her. "I don't even want to know how they made up," Buri muttered under her breath.
Thayet, standing next to her, retorted, "You know perfectly well how they did, and it's a good thing too."
Onau nodded. "I don't think I would have been able to cope seeing the animals all so fidgety again. That thing she did where they just cried – she didn't even utter a sound, she wasn't even crying. It was only when I came up to her that… I'd much prefer it if she was happy. I think it may have knocked some sense into Numair as well, seeing her so upset. I don't think she'd been so sad since I first met her… When will 'Mistress' Varice be on her way then?"
"Oh well, Jon's betting that it'll be tomorrow, and I think most other wagers I've heard are putting it by the end of the week. I personally," Thayet grinned wolfishly, "don't think she'll make the day. The sooner she leaves the better. That's the impression I left her with anyway."
"Are you women going to stand around all day gossiping like crows?" Sarge interrupted. "There are more important things to be doing than blathering, and if you must, do it somewhere else."
"You just don't want to hear the details, you old man," Thayet laughed, and the women returned their attention to the trainees before them.
Varice left that night. Numair didn't go, but Daine wanted to check that she left all the same. She was joined upon the battlements by the King and Queen and Onau.
"Making sure she's leaving?" Onau asked quietly.
Daine nodded. "Best safe than sorry. I don't want her hanging around any longer than she has to be, so I just thought I'd make sure."
As Varice rode out of the gates, a scowl on her face, she turned to view the Palace. Daine waved politely; Varice's scowl deepened.
Thayet laughed, then turned to her husband. "That is twenty Gold Nobles you owe me, sire."
Jonathon raised his hands in protest. "I said no such thing!"
"Ah, but you did. You said last night, and I quote: 'Twenty Gold Nobles says she'll last two more days.' Well, sire, 'two more days' is tomorrow, so pay up." Jonathon sighed heavily and reached for his belt purse. "If you'd wanted her to last longer, you should have spoken to her yourself. Like I was going to let her away with what she did."
"What exactly did you tell her? Or is that something to be discussed in private quarters?" Onau asked.
Thayet sighed. "Probably. Nevertheless, I shall tell you anyway." Ignoring the warning look she received from her King, she proceeded, "I told her that if she was still here when the sun sank again I would chase her from the Palace myself. That if she ever went within ten leagues of Daine I would hear of it, and if she even laid a finger on wither Daine or Numair, in any way, then she would have me to answer to. And my husband, of course."
Jonathon sighed. "I thought you were supposed to be handling the situation delicately?"
"I handled it in the politest manner possible, my lord. I told her with the greatest decorum, and merely the slightest hint of a threat."
Jonathon shook his head, and led the party down the stairs, his arm around Thayet's waist. Onau and Daine followed, grinning from ear to ear. With Thayet on her side, Varice was unlikely to cross either Daine of Numair again; the Queen had more than a threat of danger about her when she was angry, and a temper to match the Lioness's when she lost it, however rarely. It was something Daine wished everyday never to witness.
Life at the Palace fell into routine after that; Daine helped everyday with the Rider's training, in riding and in archery. The new season began and fresh pages arrived at the Palace. Daine and Numair heard little of the girl that had caused so much grief between the Lioness and the King, and what little they did hear they passed to George; Alanna was suspiciously quiet on the matter. When Numair had asked her if she had anything planned, she refuted all knowledge of anything, saying she was too busy concerned with updating the Swoop's defences to even wonder. Numair wondered; they knew Myles kept Alanna up to date on all the happenings of Court life, and they doubted very much if he left Alanna uninformed of the matter, never mind whether Alanna would follow the King's orders and refrain from all contact. Early one morning, a few weeks before the midwinter festival, a messenger came to the door, bringing Numair and Daine out of their bed. He bore with him a small package and a letter written in Alanna's scrawl. Breaking the seal and reading the letter, Numair sighed.
"What is it, sweet?" Daine came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and placing her cheek against his bare back.
"This package," he said, waving it, "is for Page Keladry. We are to give it to her, anonymously, from Alanna, for her Midwinter gift. What is she thinking?"
"Oh," Daine managed. "So this is why she's been so quiet, I'm guessing."
"It would seem so." Handing the letter to Daine, he examined the box, his fire flowing over it.
"Are you looking at what it is? That's cheating Numair! How am I supposed to give you your present without you already knowing what it is?" she cried exasperatedly.
"Calm down sweet. I'm not looking. I merely felt magic in it and wondered what it was. Healing magic, strong as well. Alanna's own creation if I'm not mistaken. Which I rarely am," he smirked.
Daine hit him playfully on the chest. "Again, how am I supposed to give you anything magical if you test what it is before you've opened it?"
"I won't, I promise. You're giving me something magical?" he teased. "Let us return to the question at hand. How are we supposed to get this dratted thing to Page Keladry without anyone finding out? I would have thought George, with all his connections, could have given it to her without anyone the wiser."
"Maybe George doesn't know," Daine put in.
"That, Magelet, is what worries me."
"Well, getting it to her is easy. We can put it outside the woman who looks after the pages room, with a note, and she'll give it to her. No one need know."
Numair sighed. "I suppose. The other question is, are we to accept Alanna's invitation? Alanna has invited us to Trebond for Midwinter – would you like that, sweet?"
Daine sighed – she had hoped secretly to have Numair to herself for their first Midwinter together, but it would be nice to see Alanna and George and the children. "Yes, I don't see why not. Will the King let us go though?"
"I don't see why not, but then, is he likely to let his two favourite mages go wondering off for the Midwinter festival all on their own?" Numair sighed. "It would be nice to get away from the Palace for a while though, away from all the flirtations and the like." Daine glared at him. "Not my flirtations, Magelet, the only person I flirt with is you, but the general flirtations of Court, and the vanity of it all."
Daine laughed. "You, Numair, are the vainest person I know! Always primping and preening – you look in every reflective surface along the way, just to see if a single hair has slipped out of place. You have more lotions for your face and hair and skin than even Thayet!" she exclaimed.
"But you love me for it."
"Yes Numair," she sighed. "I love you."
"Good. I love me too." With that, he kissed his fingers and then placed them on his cheek, flouncing out the room leaving Daine shocked, with nothing to do but laugh.