A/N: Order up! Daine and Numy hot off the grill! Enjoy your update! Oh and by the way, would you like fries with that? (That was for you Hallie!)

Disclaimer: Well, if I must, I must. I don't own any of this, except for the story line, and anything you don't recognize.

Review answers at the bottom!

(((Late winter/Early spring, just after Midwinter)))

Numair smiled in his sleep. He was having that dream again.

Daine and Numair were walking on the beach; hand in hand. They were older than they were now, by about 5 or 6 years. They were laughing and grinning. Then Daine turned and called out down the beach. 'Sarralin! Leave you brother alone!' Numair turned to gat a glimpse of his future children. His grin broadened when he saw them. Sarralin was as beautiful as her mother. She had stormy cerulean eyes, a stubborn chin, soft golden-brown tresses, and a stunning smile. Numair heard Daine bellow, 'Rikash! Just because I only scolded Sarra, doesn't mean you weren't being bad as well!' Daine shook her head. 'I swear it's as if you were both born yesterday!' Numair turned to look at his son. His son was the splitting image of himself. He had black hair, dark colored eyes, a powerful gift, and signs of a scholar throughout his face. Numair was content to just gaze at his future children; but he felt himself waking up, and let go of the dream...

"Magelet?" he whispered. He reached his hand out for his beloved Daine. He expected to find her elegant form lying next to him, but instead he felt something small, soft, and squishy. He frowned, and opened his eyes. It was sometime before dawn, so it was still dark but his eyes adjusted quickly. He looked to where Daine usually lay, beside him, only to find a black blob. The tiny black blob had a small bit of leaf in it. (A/N: Sound familiar? You guessed it! It's Leaf!) The darking formed a blob head, so it could speak. "Message from Daine." it squeaked. Numair sat up eagerly. The darking cleared its throat and began to talk. But it wasn't its own squeaky voice, but Daine's voice speaking through the blob of darkness.

Numair,
Onua needed me in the stables. One of the Rider's mares was foaling, and she wanted me there to help out, just in case. I will be back as soon as possible. I love you,
Daine

"Thank you Leaf." he said, and watched the darking as it slid off the bed and squeezed under the door. Numair decide to get up and go see Daine. He threw back the covers, and dropped onto the cold stone floor. He winced as the stone seemed to suck the warmth out of his feet. He grumbled and stalked off to the privy. After he relieved himself, he scrubbed his face and cleaned his teeth. He pulled on a fresh pair of breeches, and a cotton shirt. He stuffed his feet into his boots, grabbed a jacket, and headed out the door.

When Numair reached the Rider's stables, he looked around for the right stall. He saw one with a light on, at the opposite end of the building. He slowly and silently –as silent as possible- plodded past all the sleeping horses. A few opened weary eyes to stare at him, but closed them again as soon as he passed. He approached the last stall on the right hand side, and carefully peeked over the top of the door. His smiled as he saw the scene before him.

Miri was cradling the mare's head in her lap. Daine and Onua were kneeling behind the horse. They were cleaning off a new-born filly. Miri stood as the mare stirred. The mare pulled her legs up and under her, and turned to clean her babe. Daine and Onua relinquished the job to the mother, and went over to Miri. They watched as the filly tried to stand. Its legs folded under it, causing it to stay down. But it tried again, and this time managed to stay up; at least for a few moments.
Numair watched all of this with interest. He'd never seen a horse right after it was born. He always saw them a day later, after they could walk around and were all clean and frizzy. "So that's what they look like." he murmured, not meaning for it to be out loud. All three women jumped at the voice. Daine smiled, recognizing it. "You couldn't wait until I came back?" she teased. She turned around. "You must love me or something." her smile turned into a very broad grin.
Numair smiled and said, "I must." He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her fingers in his thick hair. They heard giggling, and pulled apart.

Miri was trying to suppress her laughter, and Onua was grinning. Daine still had an arm around Numair. "What's so funny?" she asked suspiciously. Miri was choking on her suppressed giggles, so all she could do was point. Numair and Daine looked. Daine smiled. It seemed that while they were kissing, Numair had let the blocks on his magic drop by accident. The baby horse was encircled in black fire, and was standing on its head. Numair flushed. He stuck out a hand and gathered his magic back. He set the filly down on the ground next to her mother.
"So Miri, what are you going to call her?" Daine asked, as if nothing had happened.
Numair raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Miri gets to name her?" he wondered aloud.
Onua smiled. "It's her mare, so there for it's her filly." she said pointedly.
"Hmm...I'm not sure," interrupted Miri. "Do you have any ideas Daine?" she asked hopefully.
Daine studied the tiny horse for a moment. It was a golden brown, and its short tufts of mane, were a rich chocolate color. It had a blaze on its face. It had long gangly legs, and the hair above its right front hoof was pure white. "I think Blaze would be a suitable name, but I'll ask her mother." she said. She reached out with her magic, and probed the mind of the mare. Maiko? What would you like us to call your daughter? She asked kindly.
The mare thought for a moment before answering, Wild One, or WindSong. Because by the looks of her, she'll love to be wild, but also love to run like the wind.
Daine giggled. "Maiko says either Wild One, or Wind Song. Because she'll love to be wild, and love to run like the wind. The final choice is yours Miri." she said, all in a single breath.
Miri screwed up her face in frustration. "They both sound good though!" she said exasperated. She pondered what Daine had said. "I like WindSong...what do you guys think?" she asked.
Daine said, "I think its wonderful Miri."
"I love it." replied Onua
"It seems fitting." agreed Numair.
Miri smiled. "Great!" she walked over to the newly named filly. "What do you think of that name?" WindSong gave a shrill whinny. Daine grinned. "Her mind speaking isn't very good yet, but I'm pretty sure she said, she likes the name, but she likes you more."
Miri rubbed WindSong's soft nose. "I'm glad, because I like her too!" she said ecstatic.
"I think we should let the two get some sleep." said Onua.
Daine and Numair agreed, but Miri didn't want to leave. "Miri, you need your rest as much as they do." Daine said lightly. Miri sighed, and gave in. "You're right," she said yawning. "I'm tired."

They group walked out of the stables, and split up. Onua and Miri walked back to the Rider's barracks, and the two lovers went for a stroll in the gardens. They found a small bench that was out of the way of any onlookers. Numair conjured a small light for them. He sighed. "Magelet, will you ever be ready to marry?" he asked quietly.

Daine looked into his dark eyes and smiled. "Oh yes, that." she smirked. Numair's face fell. "Well…I suppose it is someday…and you have been very good…so yes, Numair, I will marry you." she beamed at him.

Numair looked startled. "Y-you will!" he asked excitedly. Daine nodded. He stood and picked her up off the bench, swinging her around. "Magelet I love you." he whispered. He set her down and reached into his breeches pocket. He pulled out a tiny ring box. Daine looked confused. Numair said, "I always have it with me in case you decide you want to marry me, because then I'll be able to give you your ring right away." Daine grinned and replied, "Now there's the scholar I know and love." Numair opened the box and pulled out a silver band. It had a sapphire in the middle with a diamond on either side. He carefully slipped it onto her finger, and then lifted her hand to brush his lips against her fingertips. Then he leaned down and captured her lips with his mouth. They broke apart and walked back up through the gardens to the palace; hand in hand. They went to their rooms, and Daine washed up while Numair sat in his workroom reading a book. When Daine was washed and dressed in fresh clothes, they both went down to the mess hall to eat breakfast. All of their friends were there, eating, talking, and laughing together.

"Neal, eat your vegetables," Kel said.

"I uh…already did Kel…" Neal lied.

"Nealan just eat your vegetables," interrupted Alanna

Neal muttered something under his breath.

"What was that Queenscove?" Alanna and Kel asked in unison. They looked at each other and laughed.

"That's just scary, you know that right?" said Dom from beside Kel.

"We know." they replied, once again at the same time.

Yuki grinned. Neal pushed his vegetables around on his plate, grumbling. Jon and Thayet laughed. Dom smiled, shaking his head. Kel and Alanna grinned, but soon were bursting with contained laughter. Daine and Numair had sat down during this conversation, and were laughing along with everyone else.

"Hi guys," said Daine smiling.

"Good Morning," added Numair.

Everybody murmured their responses of 'Hi' and 'Morning'. Daine and Numair traded glances; they were trying to find the right moment to tell their wonderful news. Alanna caught the look, and said, "Ok spill." Daine looked at her, confused. Alanna sighed, and was about to speak when George interrupted. "You too are obviously about to burst from wanting to tell us something, so, out with it lass." he said gently.

Daine took a deep breath. Numair grasped her hand under the table and gave it an encouraging squeeze. She quickly smiled at him and said, "Numair and I are getting married." She cast hopeful looks around the table. These were her closest friends and she hoped that they would be happy for her.

"That's wonderful lass!" said George.

"Congratulations!" added Kel and Dom.

"We're so happy for you!" Neal and Yuki said together.

Jon and Thayet decided, "We shall throw a ball in celebration!"

Kel and Alanna stiffened at the mention of a 'ball'.

Daine looked at Alanna, eyes optimistic.

"I think it's about time." she said. Then she beamed and added, "And I'm very happy for the both of you. Best of luck."

Daine grinned broadly. Numair smiled at his long time friend.

"Give us a kiss now," Neal prodded.

Kel, who was conveniently sitting next to him, elbowed him in the side.

"Ouch Kel, what was that for?" he asked innocently.

"I don't know, but I'll think of something." she replied with a smirk.

Neal pouted. Numair turned to Daine and pressed his lips to hers and kissed her passionately. The entire table erupted with cheers. Even Neal came out of his pout and cheered for the happy couple.

Once everyone had finished eating, and Neal had finished his vegetables, they all went their separate ways. Kel and Dom went to the practice courts, with Daine and Numair in tow. Alanna and George went for a ride to the City, Neal and Yuki went to help out in the infirmary, and Jon and Thayet retired to their rooms.

Kel and Dom sparred, while Diane and Numair watched. Kel was the victor. Then Kel and Daine tried to best each other with bows. Not being Kel's weapon of choice, she lost. After that, they all decided to go for a nice ride. So they saddled up their mounts and rode into the woods following the small trail. They reached a tiny meadow and stopped. There was a small stream only a foot or so wide, but it was enough for the horses to have a nice drink. Since they had Daine with them, they decided it wasn't necessary to tether the horses to anything, and they let them graze to their hearts content. They sat down in the lush green grass and talked for a few hours. Soon Kel asked, "So when is the wedding?"

Daine blushed. "Well…umm…we hadn't thought that far yet…but hopefully sometime very soon." They chatted about some other wedding plans and such things as where Daine should get her dress, -and of course Kel told her to go to Lalasa- what Numair should wear, and such. It was about three in the afternoon by the time they were heading back to the Palace. They hadn't brought anything to eat, so their stomachs were rumbling.

"It's a good thing Neal isn't here," said Kel. "Because he would have been complaining for hours about how hungry he was."

"Yep," added Dom "That's my Meathead." Everyone laughed.

"I always wondered," Daine spoke up. "When did you start calling him 'Meathead'?"

Dom thought for a moment. "Well I suppose it all started when…" He stopped. It took him a moment longer to remember the whole story . "I suspect it started in our childhood. He was always doing very…meatheaded things, I remember this one time in particular…"

Flashback

Fief Masbolle: Mess hall:

A shaggy haired brunette boy, with striking green eyes was having a dispute with his older, blue eyed cousin.

"Dom just because you're older doesn't mean you're always right!" Neal shouted.

"Well just because you're younger doesn't mean everything gets to be your way!" Dom yelled back.

They started calling each other childish names.

"Dummy!" screamed a young Nealan.

"Idiot!" retorted Dom.

"Meanie!" shrieked Neal.

"Dolt!" bellowed a very short Domitan.

"Poopyhead!" hollered Neal.

"Meathead!" shouted Dom.

Neal stopped. "What's a 'Meathead'?" he asked, confused.

Dom grinned evilly. "Allow me to demonstrate," he smirked. He picked up his meatloaf, put it on top of Neal's tiny head, and pressed down. It gushed into his hair and rolled down the side of his face. Neal screeched. "Thus we have a Meathead," Dom said loudly. Everyone in the mess hall turned to look at poor Queenscove. The expression on his face was priceless. He jumped out of his seat and bolted for the door, screaming the whole way. Everyone at Masbolle was laughing.

End Flashback

Dom chuckled as he remembered that day. Kel, Daine, and Numair all had red faces from laughing do hard. "Now that was a day." Dom said grinning. All the others could do was nod and try not to fall off their horses from snickering. They finished the ride up to the Palace with Dom telling stories of an adolescent Meathead.

After they un-saddled their horses, they split up, with Kel and Daine making plans to go to the city tomorrow morning. Daine and Numair first went to their rooms and put on fresh clothes, then went to the rider's mess to eat dinner with Onua, Miri and their other friends. They laughed and talked until they were the only ones left in the room, and the cooks kicked them out. They decided to go to the stables and visit Maiko and Wind Song. Daine and Numair clasped hands and walked behind their friends.

A/N: So? What do you think? Like it? Luv it? Hate it? Review and let me know! I'm sooooo sry for not updating in sooooo long! I wanted to! I really did! But it was all my moms fault…blame her! Oh and I have lots planned for this story and my other two stories too!

Catri Howlman-Carthaki spy: Hey! Glad you like it! I though it was funny too! Did you like the Peachblossom part? That was my favorite!

x17SkmBdrchiczxx: lol! Thanx! I luv it too!

CoPpErFyRmAgE: Oh good! I'm glad! Here's the chapter! Hope you like it! Sry it's short…but it's better than nothing right? You're welcome, thanx for being mine!

Sorceress Shadow Rain: True, but it's a dumb rule and I don't like it…but thanx for looking out for me! I appreciate it! I hope you get the computer back soon! As soon as you do get online and talk to me n' Hallie!