Later that night

Numair walked into his rooms to find Daine sitting in a chair meditating. Her eyes were closed and her lips were moving, probably talking to some animals.

Smiling, Numair walked over and knelt in front of her. Noticing how oblivious she was to his actions, he leaned forward and lightly pressed his lips to hers.

Startled, Daine opened her eyes. She glared at the satisfied look in his eyes. "Mithros, Numair. You scared me."

"Well, I figured I'd just give you a wake up call."

"Did you have to do it that way?"

He put a hand to his heart, mock-offended. "Excuse me, would you prefer I do it another way?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Daine looked up into his eyes. "Maybe next time you can try a bit harder. You know, wake me up a bit more."

"Ohhh, like this you mean?" He began to tickle her mercilessly, only stopping when they were both gasping for breath.

"Hmm..."Daine pondered mockingly. "No, I meant something more like this." She pulled his head down roughly into a passionate kiss. Numair responded happily, wrapping his arms around her.

When they at least broke apart, Numair looked into Daine's dancing eyes and replied, "Huh...I guess I'll have to remember that next time."

One week later

Daine was walking back to her rooms when she shadow in her doorway. Thinking it was Numair, she crept up behind it and yelled "Boo!"

Her smile quickly faded when the man turned around. It was Perin. He had been courting her before Numair left, before she had realized that she loved him. Now here he was again, she assumed, to win her back.

He smiled at her and raised his eyebrows. "What? Not happy to see me?" He started towards her, but Daine backed away. "Come on. Did you replace me already?"

Daine looked up to him and replied dryly. "Actually, yes." She saw his smile falter, but he just chuckled and moved forward again. Catching her off guard, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

"Daine, Daine, Daine," he whispered, "What am I going to do with you? I know you want me. There's no point in denying it." Daine pushed hard against his chest, trying to push him away.

"No, Perin. I don't want you." She saw his eyes go hard. In an abrupt change of attitude, he gripped her shoulders and shook her roughly.

"Who then? Tell me. I want to show him just what I think of this."

Daine's temper was rising. She didn't like being pushed around. "No." she said loudly, "That is none of your business."

"Daine!" he yelled, "Tell me!"

"No! I Told You--" She stopped when she heard someone behind her call her name.

"Daine? Are you there?" It was Numair. Daine sighed with relief and turned to Perin. "What goes on in my life is none of your business. It never was and never will be." Numair appeared next to her. "What's going on?" he asked suspiciously.

Glaring at Perin, Daine replied "Nothing. Perin was just asking about some scribe work I had for him." She could tell Numair didn't believe her. "He was just leaving."

Taking the hint, Perin turned and stalked off around the corner. Numiar sighed. "Magelet...how about telling me what actually happened?" Daine looked down, wondering how he could read her so well.

"Perin wanted to start courting me again. When I said I didn't want to, he started backing me against the wall, telling me he knew I wanted him. Then you came." She looked into his eyes, expecting to find anger. Instead, she saw understanding and warmth. "I don't know why he didn't believe me, and I have a feeling he's not giving up."

Numair wrapped his arms around her, his lips against her hair. "I'm sorry Magelet. I don't know what to say." He pulled away lightly and looked into her eyes, finding something hiding in their teary depths.

Daine met his gaze and whispered "Then don't say anything." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his face down to hers. "Don't say anything at all." With that, she kissed him, pouring in all her love. In his arms, she forgot all about Perin.