Title: Of Healing and Love—Chapter 9

Author: I Dream of Peace

Category: drama, missing scene, pre-romance (pairing Numair/Daine)

Rating: PG-13 for lots of ouch-ies

Spoilers: All the Immortals books, though of course you wouldn't be reading this without those, would you?

Archive: Feel free to take it, but please let me know if you do.

Feedback: Only reason I'm finishing this bad boy

Series: stand-alone

Author's Notes: I had no power for most of today, so I had plenty of uninterrupted time to write this chapter. Stupid electric company. The quote that started it all can be found on p. 92-3 of Emperor Mage.

Chapter 9—Of Weariness and Success

Numair opened his eyes and blinked until the room came into focus. He was exhausted, and this simple task took longer than it should. It was early morning; they had worked through the night. He saw Onua supporting Neal, who wearily slumped against her. Numair caught the youth's eye for a moment and nodded in gratitude. Neal looked away quickly.

Numair eagerly turned his attention towards Daine. He smoothed her hair back from her face, feeling her forehead for fever. Though she still slept, her skin was cool and she lay quietly, no longer plagued by restlessness. Onua glanced up just then and was amazed by Numair's brilliant smile.

"Did it work?" she asked, already knowing the answer. Numair's expression was all the answer she needed.

It was Neal that responded. "Yes," he croaked. Onua frowned slightly and poured the boy a glass of water from the jug near the bed. He took it gratefully and sipped it.

"Alright," Onua said, satisfied. "It's bed for both of you then. You're spent." She helped Neal to stand, supporting him with an arm around the shoulders. Onua guided the student towards the door slowly. She turned to see if Numair followed and found him still sitting by Daine, gently touching her face as though to reassure himself that she was still there.

"Numair?" Onua asked. Numair looked up at her voice; as soon as he stood, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he immediately collapsed.

Onua made an exasperated sound. "You overextended yourself," she told the unconscious man. Neal gave her a funny look, and Onua sighed in annoyance.

"Come on," she told the boy. "You need to lie down. I'll get someone to take him to his rooms."

Numair woke slowly. He noticed that he was in bed, and by forcing his eyes open, he found that someone had carried him back to his rooms in the palace. Numair was grateful that they had taken the trouble to do so, for he hated waking up in the Healer's wing. He remembered passing out and was both amused and irritated with himself. Children just learning their limits passed out from exhaustion; Numair should have known his power better. He knew Onua would tease him endlessly for this.

Dragging himself out of bed with a groan, for he hadn't fully slept off the effects of draining his powers, Numair checked the clock and found it was just after midday. He headed back to the Healer's to check on Daine.

Walking through the palace slowly, Numair considered what they had done. Though it would be a while before his magical reserves were back to their normal levels, he did not regret the price he had paid for his student's safety. Indeed, had it been necessary, he would have given even more of himself, no matter how dangerous that might have been. There was nothing he was unwilling to do to help Daine.

Reaching the Healer's wing, Numair paused at the main desk to inquire about Neal. Assured that Neal, though still resting, would be fine, Numair continued to Daine's room. He knew he owed the young man a great deal for his assistance and was determined to make it up to him somehow.

Numair entered Daine's room and was delighted to see that Daine was awake and propped up against a mound of pillows. Her arm was bound in a sling, and she was still pale, but she looked so much more—healthy—that Numair couldn't stop a grin from spreading across his face.

Daine caught sight of her teacher and returned his smile. "Numair," she said, pleased and nodded for him to enter properly. Numair approached her bedside and sat next to her.

"How are you?" he asked earnestly. He took her good hand in both of his, and she squeezed reassuringly.

"Better," she affirmed. "Still weak as a kitten, but everything was hazy before. Now at least my head's clear."

"Good," Numair said, pleased. He continued to beam at her; Daine giggled a little.

"You look pleased as a momma hen," she told him, amused. Numair laughed, too.

"I suppose I do," he agreed. "I'm just happy that you are well, magelet."

After a moment, Daine sobered. "Numair?" she asked. He nodded for her to continue.

"What about my arm?" she asked. He sighed; he knew he couldn't hide the truth from his student.

"I don't know," he admitted. "Alanna told me that there was a lot of damage from the infection, and the wound was bad enough already."

Daine nodded seriously. "Alright," she said slowly, accepting this for the moment. Numair hastily steered the conversation to more pleasant topics.

After a little while, Numair noticed his student tiring. He urged her to sleep, and she readily agreed. Sitting with her until she rested easily, Numair eventually got up, intending to find some food and perhaps some rest of his own.

He found Neal in the doorway, leaning against it. Like Numair, the boy did not look entirely rested, but he was wearing his uniform showing he was on duty. Numair looked him up and down and raised an eyebrow at this. The boy was definitely not ready to resume his responsibilities yet.

"I'm just pushing papers today," Neal said quietly, off Numair's silent question. Numair glanced at Daine's sleeping form and indicated to Neal that he would like to speak in the hallway.

Closing Daine's door, Numair turned to Neal. The student was leaning against the wall, looking at Numair with a strange, guarded look.

"I don't have words enough to thank you," Numair began gratefully.

Neal brushed off his words. "It was nothing, sir. It's my duty to serve."

Numair was a bit puzzled by the boy's attitude.

"It means a great deal to me," he told Neal gently.

"Yes, I can tell how much you—care—for her," he responded in an odd tone.

"Daine is my student; she is dear to me…" Numair answered slowly.

"Yes, sir," Neal said finally, after a pause. He continued to study the mage for a moment then appeared to decide not to pursue it any further.

"I'm off the case," he remarked casually. "I'm going to be doing clerical work for a week; my mentor is rather—annoyed—at my lack of respect for my limits."

"I'm sorry you got in trouble on our behalf," Numair said contritely, glad the conversation seemed to have returned to normal.

"It's fine, sir," Neal responded. "I need to get back to my duties." He made to leave.

"Thank you," Numair said again, and the boy nodded. Numair watched him go, trying to figure out what had passed between them.

He knew that the boy had had extraordinary access to his and Daine's thoughts through the link, and Numair questioned if the boy had seen something in one of them to give him pause. Numair wondered if Daine was perhaps annoyed with him? Everything seemed fine when they talked…

Numair shook his head and decided to worry about it later. He strode off towards the kitchens, hoping to find food and then his bed. Later, there would be much to deal with, he knew, as he worried about Daine's arm. Would she regain full use of the limb? Indeed, Numair was troubled by many things as he left the Healer's wing.