USNA, ShadowPirate and Narm's Boreas – thank you so much for reviewing!
Also, for those of you who were so kind as to review my random one-shot Midnight which decided to write itself this week! Sorceress Shadow Rain, nativewildmage (hey, you weren't boring me, I happen to really like Romeo & Juliet… and its kinda given me another idea…), My Only Sunshine, an, Narm's Boreas (again!) and FanFictionFantom – you are all far too kind for your own good! Although, I have to admit, I am quite proud of it… : ) I do agree with you, Sunshine, I did find them, Daine esp., to be a bit OOC, but generally not too bad… I don't know if I'm going to write more on it – seriously, all I did was read the word 'midnight' and this whole scene popped into my head and wrote itself as I typed – I don't want to try and force anything out, but I will have a think about it, I promise. There does seem to be quite a few of Numair's P.O.V's of when they do tell each other floating around, although I do have little bits popping into my head now… I'll see what comes of them.
Now, not that I'm about to stop updating or anything (maybe I should say I am…) but I do like it when you review… makes me all warm and fuzzy inside :D
Disclaimer: just thought I'd pop one of these in… yes, so, Tamora's, not mine… mores the pity…
Now, on with the story!
She found the others in the library, with a map stretched over the table in front of them. Alanna turned to her, her face cool, but with the slightest bit of concern in her eyes. "Where about were they exactly?"
Daine studied the map carefully, following the lines drawn that marked the contours of the land until she found what she was looking for. "Here," she pointed at a spot no more than ten leagues away.
"I'll skin that captain," Coram growled. He shifted uncomfortably as he studied the map as George marked the bandits' positions. Coram picked up several coloured stones, placing them on the map. "If we come here, here and here…"
"Then we can back them up against the cliff," Alanna finished, smiling at her old mentor. "A line of men-at-arms along the top, to ensure that none get away. How many horses, Daine, can you tell?"
Daine felt for a moment. "About fifty. I would ask the People to attack the camp, but there are so little nearby already – they've picked the land clean. The only animals I can sense are those that are hibernating, and to wake them up and ask them to work, that would be to kill them. We can use the birds as sentries though."
George nodded. "How many of the horses can you ask to get away?"
"I can set them to chewing their ties, but I don't know how many that would free immediately, or for when we need them. We're going in now?"
Alanna nodded, "They're close enough to attack either tonight or in the morning. We can't risk it. We have to go now. How many men-at-arms can you muster?"
"We're only allowed forty. Will that be enough?"
Alanna nodded. "Not forgetting me. George?" she queried, and smiled as the man nodded, grinning wolfishly.
"You think I would miss a chance to work in the field, when I get so few?"
"No," Alanna admitted. "Daine, Numair?"
Daine nodded fervently. "My bow can do as well as anything else. I can help control their mounts too."
Numair merely nodded. Alanna smiled, then looked at her father. Myles sighed, "As a knight, my duty allows me to do little else. I have no armour though."
Coram grunted. "We have spares in the armoury. Cooper?"
"No, I prefer to work without it. So much more flexible," he grinned. "Besides, when have I ever used armour? None gets close enough!"
"No cockiness, thank you," Alanna nudged her husband. "Your mother'll skin me if you get hurt, laddybuck. Rispah?"
"My aunt and I will see what we can do from here. We need to guard the castle."
Alanna nodded as if she'd expected nothing less. "How many men can we spare?"
Coram shook his head. "None. The men and women from the village will do well enough, if they get close. You saw no more?"
Daine shook her head. "Sorry. I didn't think to look – when I saw them, I flew back here as quickly as I could. They didn't look as if they were about to move though – fairly settled in."
"That's good – we've got the jump on them," Alanna said, thinking hard. "Coram, we are under your orders."
The gruff man nodded. "Meet in the courtyard in ten minutes, make sure you are ready. I'll have someone saddle your mounts. I'll muster the guards, Rispah, alert the villagers and bring them in. Prepare them for battle." His wife nodded and left, and Coram turned to one of the servants. "Take Sir Myles to the armoury and find him suitable gear, and help him get outfitted. Alanna, you can manage yourself?" She nodded. "Daine, do you require mail or anything of the sort?"
She shook her head. "It'll just slow me down. I have a padded tunic."
"Wear that. Let's go!" They left at a run, all scrambling to get ready for the fight which was to come. Numair had little time to fret over Daine, but as they waited in the courtyard, Daine checking her bow string and arrows, Numair pulled her aside.
"You'll be careful?" he asked. "I wouldn't normally say it, but I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you."
Daine smiled at him, taking his big hand in hers. "I'll be fine, as long as you are. We can watch each others backs, like we normally do."
Numair smiled, although there was more than a hint of concern in his eyes as he looked at her. "I love you, Magelet. Goddess bless."
Daine nodded, then looked around. The group of defenders were gathering in the courtyard. Coram split the men into four groups, detailing their positions on a map. Daine and Numair listened hard – to make a mistake now could be fatal. They were placed in the group that would attack from the left side of the basin, with Alanna at its head. Numair was to take on the bandits' mages, Daine use her bow and control the mounts in the camp. All the men were given specific instructions to avoid the horses that the bandits rode, if they managed to succeed in that task. As the groups mounted up, Numair swiftly kissed Daine hard on the lips, then climbed on to Spots with no coordination. Daine jumped aboard Cloud, then picked her way through the crowd to stand behind Alanna.
Quickly, the Lioness hugged her children goodbye, sending them into the arms of the waiting Rispah, who ushered them inside, reassuring them. Alanna sighed as she mounted Darkmoon, and turned to face her group. "We travel northwest through the woods, quietly. Numair will guard us from noise and sight, and we have scouts ahead of us, so we will be well warned of the enemies' activities." The men nodded quietly as Alanna surveyed them, and continued her instructions. "When we reach the edge of the clearing, provided no word has got to the bandits, we wait for Coram's signal." Coram led the frontal attack, and when he felt ready to charge, was to signal the other commanders through use of a magicked mirror. "Listen for my commands, and we'll be fine." She nodded to the men, as Coram stood now, in front of the gate.
"We ride fast, but do not push your mounts. This will be a quick operation – I want to keep it as bloodless as possible – let the local magistrates decide their fate." Now he mounted his horse, a big brown beauty, matched for his size and weight. Unsheathing his sword, he cried "Gods all bless," and led the party out of a narrow gap in the gates. The groups trotted out in columns of two at a time, Numair and Daine beside each other, behind Alanna and her chosen second. Daine shuddered slightly as she heard the gates bang shut and the locks fall into place behind them. They would not open again until all the bandits had been captured, other than to admit the most seriously wounded. Numair reached across the gap between them and touched her arm. She smiled at him, trying to ignore the niggling voice in her head that told her she was about to die. It did nothing for her confidence levels, she decided, and forced it from her mind.
Their column peeled away from the others and headed into the woods, as silence absorbed them. She could feel Numair's magical presence drifting over them and masking their noise, but still she winced at every branch that cracked underfoot, worried it would give their positions away. One by one she called out to her spies, sparrows that answered her silently. They could find no trace of bandit sentries – on relaying this to Alanna, the Champion shifted slightly in her saddle, uneasy. Daine understood. Now, within a league from the camp, they would have expected to find at least one unlucky guard. Maybe they think the forest this way is so dense no one would even consider attacking through it, Daine thought hopefully. Suddenly, far to their right, they heard the cries and clashes of metal that marked battle.
Alanna swore. "Coram, what is it?" she spoke into the mirror bright surface at the top of her sword, just beneath the hilt.
"They've found us," came the grunted reply.
Numair dropped the cloaking spell; the need for surprise was gone. Alanna screamed a war cry and, leading the men forward, charged. Most of the men were on foot, and ran to keep up with the Lioness, magnificent in gold plated mail studded with amethysts. Kicking Cloud into a gallop, Daine followed, bringing an arrow to her bow as she guided Cloud with her knees. She could hear Spots galloping behind them, and then suddenly they were out in the open. Alanna sent half her group to charge down into the basin, and stayed with the remainder at the top, to contain any that tried to escape. Spreading out, they covered the ring of the basin to the edge of the small cliff, where they met the group commanded by Myles. On the far side of the basin, in the think of the fighting, Daine could see George, using a mixture of sword and knives to defend himself. Coram's group, to their right, was forcing the bandits who had spotted them back down into the dip. Beside her, Numair dismounted and sent Spots back into the trees out of harms way. He stood, feet planted firmly on the ground as the wind whipped at his clothes, with his staff, glittering fire enveloping the group of five men who came at him, knifes bared. Briefly allowing the thought that Numair looked magnificent to cross her mind, Daine aimed and fired at the first man who came towards her, hitting him squarely in the throat. The man looked at her in wonder, clutching the arrow as he fell. Shaking her head, Daine repeated the process, firing mechanically at those who thought to try her or Numair as easy game whilst Numair dealt with their mages.
A horse's scream to her left grabbed her attention. Firing again, she looked to see what the problem was. Darkmoon was wheeling, threatening to throw his mistress as he favoured his right fore hoof. Alanna swore as a bandit pulled on her leg, threatening to drag her down. Two men-at-arms ran to her aid, spearing the bandit, then pulling him free of Alanna. Daine dismounted and ran to the horse as his hooves flailed wildly. Placing her will upon him, she forced the horse down to the ground, as Alanna slid off him gratefully. Sending Cloud into the woods, she turned to Alanna. "It's his right hoof. Something's grazed it, cut the tendons." Alanna swore – that usually meant the horse would be good for little but dog meat. "I'll take care of him," Daine assured Alanna.
"Be careful," Alanna ordered, then turned to face the battle, bringing her sword up just in time as a raider brought his long blade down from above to meet hers. For a moment, Daine thought the Champion would buckle under the man's superior weight, but her foot lashed, hitting the man just above the knee, sending the man down. She lay her sword tip at the man's throat, who dropped his blade. One of the guards bound the man's hands, then pulled him roughly away, leading him to wait with the other captives. The battle showed signs of being wound down as raiders all round them put down their weapons in surrender.
Daine relaxed, turning to Darkmoon, praying that no lucky raider would get loose and prey on her. Sparkling black magic enveloped them, allowing Daine to feel safe. Hidden from the outside world, she sank to the ground, easing Darkmoon's pain. Concentrating hard, she let herself slide into Darkmoon's body. First, she searched his blood for traces of infection, and seared it away. Although he had been injured a relatively short time, any virus in his veins could hinder his healing. She scorched the ends of his tendons and veins where they had been cut, stitching the ends together, careful to make perfect joins. She treated the muscle in the same way, knitting together the fibres and strengthening them. Slowly, painstakingly, she worked her way outwards, sealing the skin and then relaxing with a sigh. It was hard work. As she let herself return to her own body, she watched as Darkmoon tested the hoof cautiously, still favouring it slightly. It would take a week or so to heal completely, but Daine had ensured that it meant no early end for the horse.
Daine stood up, stretching, her legs wobbling. It was then she realised that Numair's Gift no longer covered them. Looking around, she saw the mage lying out under a tree. Fearing the worst she ran to him, grabbing his wrist as she checked for a pulse. Numair's eyes shot open. "Worried about me?" he asked, a grin on his face.
"Yes, you old man," she said, butting him with her head gently. Tears filled her eyes and she ducked her head to hide them; she'd thought for a moment she'd lost him.
"Can't be rid of me that easily," he grinned. Sitting up, he pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her lips and face hard. She returned his kiss, feeling warmth run through her.
A chuckle behind her made her tear herself away from Numair. Turning, she found a pair of dancing hazel eyes. "You think we'd not look after your man?" George grinned.
Daine blushed, and turned back to hide her face in Numair's shirt as he stroked her hair, kissing her head as he murmured to her. Eventually Daine managed to part herself from Numair, and looked around to survey the damage. Dusk had fallen, torches were being lit as men-at-arms scoured their way through the bandit camp. In the middle of the basin, a rough pen had been created, containing the remaining raiders.
Alanna, her helmet off, was running her hands over Darkmoon's leg. She turned to Daine, a look of respect in her eyes. "You've done a brilliant job, Daine. What can I do to thank you?"
Daine waved her away. "He'll be fine. Don't work him too hard; it'll take about a week before he's ready to start using it again properly. I'll check it every day to make sure it's healing right. That's thanks enough."
Alanna shook her head, but didn't argue. She walked over to her husband, who sat on a rock. George was covered with small knife flecks, with one long rake down his right arm, bleeding sluggishly through a bandage. "I thought you said you didn't need armour," she teased him. George flinched as Alanna probed one of his cuts. "And I thought your mother taught you better," she scolded. George sighed and submitted patiently to Alanna as she worked her healing magic on him.
"Are there any other injuries?" Daine asked once Alanna had finished.
Alanna grimaced. "We lost two, run through at the start, but other than that, nothing life threatening. By the looks of things, they were planning to attack just before dawn tomorrow. You saved us from greater losses. We have you to thank for a lot missy."
Daine shook her head, blushing. The men-at-arms would have found them on their patrols later. She'd just saved them the inconvenience of fighting in the dark.
Dinner that night was a subdued affair, family, friends and servants eating in virtual silence. Many were tired from the earlier skirmish, and mourning their friends. There was no entertainment after dinner; the visitors returned to their rooms to prepare for the beginning of the festival.
Daine and Numair were quietly curled up in bed, Daine resting her head on Numair's chest. Numair ran his hands through Daine's hair, stroking her head, relaxing her. Kitten was playing with Aly, Alan and Thom, and they took advantage of the quiet moment alone together, content just to lie together in peace.
After a while, Numair took a deep breath beneath her, then spoke. "What can I do to put it right Daine? I don't want to lose you because I made a stupid mistake because of her," he spat. Daine blinked. She could never remember hearing Numair talk that harshly about anyone, even Ozorne. "What can I do to make it better?" Numair prompted.
Daine sighed. Truly, she didn't know. "We were muddling along fine until today, Numair. Maybe it won't be okay till I know she's gone, that she can cause us no more trouble."
"Kill her, you mean?" Numair asked, the shock apparent in his voice.
She swung to face him. "How could you think that of me?"
"I didn't. It's just, you seem so…" he searched for the right word. "Angry?" he finished, half as a question.
"Not with you, Numair, with her. I'd feel better if I knew where she was. She could be anywhere in this country. She's not in Carthak. Goddess knows, I'd prefer it if she was there. I'd rather be as far away from her as possible, Numair. Then I can know that she won't come near you again."
"Are you jealous?" Numair asked quietly, half surprised.
Daine thought for a moment. "I don't know… I suppose I am, in a way. I'm always anxious that I won't meet up to your standards." She stopped Numair as he opened his mouth. "You've had so many other women, all of them so experienced, so much older than me. It's always niggling at me, that I won't live up to them. And with Varice – she was your first love, Numair! How can I compete with that?"
Numair wrapped her in a tight hug, holding her face so that she looked at his. "Daine, you are the most beautiful, wonderful woman I have ever known, let alone slept with! You don't have to compete with anyone, you have nothing to live up to. I couldn't ask for anything, anyone, more perfect to spend the rest of my life with. You're smart, beautiful, clever, and brave, you can fell almost anything you come up against with your bow, you can control legions of animals. I can't think of one thing that you're scared of. Every time I look at you, you're more beautiful. Every day, you say or do something to make me laugh. The other women that I knew then couldn't stand up to your standards, you surpass them all. There is no need for you to compare yourself. You beat them all hands down when you even smile at me! I love you more and more every minute I spend with you, and every minute without you I miss you desperately. I'd be lost without you Daine. I want to have children with you, I want to grow old with you. I want to wake up with you every morning for the rest of my life, go to sleep with you every night. Daine, you are so down right gorgeous my stomach twists and turns, my knees tremble, my whole body shakes when I look at you. I love you."
Daine stared at the man for a moment, slightly shocked that this tirade of love had come from him. "I love you too," she murmured, recovering.
Numair laughed gleefully, and kissed her hard. "If anything, I'm the one who should be worried." Daine looked at him with questioning eyes. "I could turn my back for a moment and some young, devilishly handsome, brave knight would sweep you off your feet and off to his castle in seconds."
Daine giggled. "That is not about to happen," she assured him. "Besides, you could use your trickery to capture them and free me from their evil clutches. Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, there is no one more handsome than you."
Numair grinned evilly. "Not even the King?" he asked innocently. "I know you used to have a crush on him when you were younger."
Daine blushed. "Not even the King," she said firmly. "He's far too old for me. Besides, I wouldn't want to take Thayet on. You, on the other hand, are just right. Just what I could want for the rest of my life."
"So how can I fix things then, Daine?" he said, voice serious.
"Tell me what you just told me every day. I know that you love me, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to tell me again," she smiled. "Now, those babies you mentioned?" She squealed in delight as Numair dragged her underneath the covers.
Daine and Numair talked long into the night that night, talking of the things they wanted to do and their plans for the future. Finally they came to the agreement that, once they were both ready, and the country was at peace, they would be married. Daine privately thought, and suspected Numair agreed, that at seventeen she was too young to be thinking of marriage and children. They talked about the places they wanted to see together, things they would like to do. Daine had no desire to return to Galla, but she wanted to see other areas in the Eastern lands, travel in Carthak to the South, and to the Yamani Isles, and Copper Isles if Tortall was ever at peace with them. At the moment though, both were satisfied with remaining in Tortall and working for the King. That way, they saw much of the country that had adopted them, and the work was useful, if tiring.
The small group of friends celebrated Midwinter quietly, but enjoyed themselves. The raiders were marched on the first day of the holidays to the nearest market town to be held. Their judgement would wait until after the festival. Increased patrols were sent out daily to check for more bandits, and Daine took to flying around the area, covering large amounts of ground quickly, her range stretching from Trebond's borders with Fief Hillspass in the South to Carmine Tower in the North, scouring the land for signs of life that shouldn't be there. Each day she found nothing, and the group would relax. On the fourth day, the day gifts were swapped traditionally, she was woken by a pounding at the door. Pulling her robe around her, and holding her bow in one hand, she yanked the door open as Alan, Aly and Thom came charging in to bounce on the bed. Numair groaned and pulled the sheets over his head, as Kitten screeched and joined the excited children. "Ma says we can't open our presents till you get up!" Alan shouted.
"Get up!" Aly giggled as Thom pushed her and she narrowly avoided falling off the bed. She recovered just in time, and pushed him back. The three children tumbled into a pile, giggling furiously as Kitten clambered atop them all and trilled.
"Daine, help!" Numair cried, trapped underneath the giggling heap. Daine began to giggle helplessly, watching the scene unfold. It was all she could do to stay standing; she was frozen into place by the shock of the three children rushing in, and laughter had overtaken her completely.
"Where are you, you little horrors?" Alanna's voice came echoing down the hall. Moments later, Alanna emerged from another corridor, following the noise of her children. "George!" she called. "They're up here!" Seeing Daine standing in the doorway, she stopped for a moment, then ran into the room. "Goddess, Daine, I'm so sorry," she managed, before she too began to laugh powerlessly. "I didn't know," she said in between breaths, "they'd – they'd come and – make you – get up!"
At that moment Numair cried for help again, and the two women began again. George strolled into the room, surveying the chaos around him. For a moment, it looked as if he too would begin to laugh, as he put his arm around Alanna's waist, grinning wildly. Finally, when Numair began to voice threats at him, George sighed. "To work then." Strolling over to the bed, he picked up Kitten, whom he tucked under one arm, and Aly, who he held under the other. The girl and dragon squealed and tried to squirm free. "Oh no you don't" he laughed, as he handed Kitten to Daine and Aly to her mother. He gave the same treatment to Alan, and threw Thom over his shoulder. Thom tried to wriggle free, but George had a tight grip on his son as he deposited Alan on the floor at Alanna's feet. Swinging Thom down, he trapped the red head between his arms and his chest, and began to tickle the boy mercilessly. Aly and Alan raced to help their older brother, but were soon captured by Alanna, who tickled one with each hand. Finally they stopped, allowing the children to catch their breath. "See what you have to look forward to?" George laughed at the appalled look on Numair's face. Alanna and George towed their children and Kitten out the room to allow Daine and Numair to get dressed.
"It won't be so bad," she told him. "As long as our children can't shape shift, that is. Then we might have trouble keeping hold of them."
"They wouldn't learn so quickly," Numair pointed out, but there was more than a hint of fear and doubt in his voice. "Did I mention that I didn't think we should have children for a while? Quite a while," he nodded to himself. "Definitely not yet." He gathered his thoughts as he got out of bed and dressed. "No, I think we should wait a while."
Daine laughed. "It almost sounds as if you don't want children!"
"Not if I'm going to be woken up by that every morning," he muttered, and grinned as Daine launched herself at him. He caught her and spun her round, kissing her firmly as he let her slide to the ground. "You'll get your gift later sweet," he said in a husky voice that made her shiver.