Numair sat at Daine's bedside for three weeks as she healed. She had not woken up since Jon's healing and had yet to respond to anything. She hadn't even moved. Numair became worried. What if she didn't survive? How would life go on? He tried to avoid such thoughts and instead daydreamed of what he imagined their wedding would be like...
It was late one night almost four weeks after the incident that she woke. Her cry of pain woke Numair from his light sleep. "Daine!" He ran to her side. "You're awake!" She opened her mouth to say something, but she was too weak. "Shh...don't say a word. You're okay now." Numair hugged her shoulders -- lightly, because she was still healing -- and rested her head against his chest.
"Oh Daine. I'm so sorry. I should have paid more attention. THis never should have happened. I'm so sorry. I --" He was silenced with a finger on his lips. Startled, Numair looked into Daine's eyes.
"Not...your...fault...never..."
"But Daine, you don't understand. If only I had --" This time he was cut off by a rasped yell from Daine. "No!...not...your...fault...don't...blame...yourself..." She gave him a weak smile and opened her mouth to say more. Instead, she let out a small gasp and fell onto the pillow, eyes closed.
No, Numair thought...she can't be..."Alanna! Come quick!" Alanna appeared in seconds. She had been sleeping in the adjacent room.
"Wh--what?"
"It's Daine! She woke up and then talked some and then her eyes closed...please...please tell me she's not...you know...gone..."
Hurridely, Alanna sent her magic over the girl ands sighed in relief. "Settle down, Numair. She just fell back asleep. I don't think her body is quite ready to fully wake up yet."
"Numair sank into a nearby chair. "Oh."
"Next time, tell me when she wakes up so I can give her something to ease the pain." Numair nodded and turned his gaze back to Daine's body.
One Month Later
Daine sat up in bed. She was almost completely healed. However, Numair still wouldn't let her get up out of bed. Lucky for her, he was at a meeting and she could finally sneak out.
She stood slowly and walked to her dresser. Grimacing at how stiff her body was, she pulled on her clothes.
Quietly, she slipped out of her rooms and wandered the hallways. Daine found herself in the archery fields. She smiled at the memory of that night two months earlier. She leaned on the fence and relaxed, letting her mind wander. She thought about Numair -- his love and understanding. She thought about all of her friends who were always there to help her. She thought about Perin -- whose fate was yet to be decided by the crown.
She didn't realize how much time had passed until the sun began to set. Dimly, she felt Numair appear at her side. Wordlessly, he hugged her around her waist and pulled her close, leaning her back against his chest. Daine rested her head under his chin and closed her eyes, loving the feel of his touch.
Together they watched the sunset, content to once again be in each other's arms.