Daine opened her eyes, and felt sick. The world in front of her lurched, and she leant over and retched all over the ground. Large hands patted her back soothingly, and she looked around. Three faces stared at her.

"Numair!" Daine croaked and collecting some unknown energy she leapt for him at such a force that she knocked him down on the ground. He sat up, and stared at her. He looked like he had just woken up from the dead, his eyes were rimmed with red, but the rest of his face was deathly pale.

"What's wrong?" she asked, concerned. He smiled grimly, and then hugged her tightly to him.

"Oh! Magelet! I'd thought I'd lost you all over again! Why do you always do this to me!" He cried out loud, voice breaking. She looked at him confused, what had she done?

"We thought you were going to stay in the Divine Realms" said a familiar voice behind her. She turned to face Alanna, and George.

"What do you mean…you mean…you know what happened?"

Numair looked at her, smiling. "We could hear you speak," he said quietly.

"Oh…all of it?" Daine asked, and when he nodded Daine suddenly realized what it must have been like, not knowing what she would choose, only hearing her side of her conversations.

Suddenly, she was overcome with exhaustion, and yawned. Numair smiled.

"You look as tired as I feel," he said. "Let's return and have a nice, long sleep."

She nodded, and was surprised to feel Cloud nudging her back. She turned to hug her beloved pony.

They all got to their feet. Numair leant on Daine, and Daine leant on Alanna. Daine mounted Cloud and looked around. She was so happy to be back in the Mortal Realms. She couldn't imagine life without these people who she loved so much.

On the way back to Pirate's swoop, she mind-talked to Cloud and told her about everything that had happened.

I'm glad you came back,— the mare said when she was done. —I don't have the patience to train a new rider any more.—

Daine laughed and straightened, —You never had patience with any rider, including me!—

They reached Pirate's swoop and Daine unsaddled Cloud. Very soon she had fallen into her bed, and in no time at all, had fallen into a deep slumber.


Daine woke from her sleep, to find herself on a bed in Pirate's Swoop. She smiled sleepily at the two cats at her feet. —You have been asleep for a long time. —They told her. She thanked them for watching over her, and heaved herself to her feet. She was aching all over, just like the time when she and Numair had been taken to the Divine Realms.

The Divine Realms! She looked down at her hands. She didn't feel any different from usual, but she knew that she was entirely Mortal. She surveyed herself in a mirror across the room, she didn't look any different either.

After a bath and getting into breeches and a shirt, she wandered out to find someone to talk to.

She found Alanna and George sitting at a table talking. When they saw her they broke into smiles.

"Good afternoon, little one." Said Alanna. "You've been sleeping for a week, quite a long time!"

Daine gasped. A week! No wonder she was so hungry! She helped herself to some leftover food from the lunch table and wandered back to Alanna and George.

"So…what happened? Is the war still on? How is Tortall? How Is Numair?—" Daine spluttered, eager to know everything that she may have missed and at the same time stuffing as much as a buttered roll into her mouth as would fit.

Alanna laughed with George at the eager girl.

"Youngling, one question at a time. The war is over. Tortall won. We were wondering whether you could tell us what happened. All we know is that a big sound happened, and half the immortals vanished. Then you came back, we listened to a one-sided conversation that sounded as if you gave up being a goddess for us mortal folk."

George smiled as he answered her questions. Daine processed all this information before replying.

"I told the gods that the stormwings which were on our side should stay. And they decided to let the immortals that were around before the spring equinox to stay too. I guess those immortals which weren't staying just disappeared." Daine looked down and added quietly, "and yes. I decided to be mortal. You heard all that?"

Alanna nodded and took a breath, "Numair hasn't woken up yet. We're sure he will. He's just tired."

Daine nodded. She still couldn't believe she'd slept for a week. She finished her meal and had some extras, and then left for the stables. She wanted to talk to Cloud before she went to find Numair.

She reached the stables, had a quick chat with Cloud and the stable cat about life after the war, then left them to find where Numair was resting. She headed for his rooms.

Numair lay on his bed, covers drawn. His face was still quite pale and set. Daine was felt more than a little worried looking at him. Surely after a whole week he should look better? She sat down on a chair by the bed and reached for his hand. She didn't know how much longer he would sleep for, but she wanted to be there when he awoke.

Daine suddenly felt very tired. I've outdone myself. She scolded herself, then leaning her head upon the bed, she closed her eyes.


Numair awoke with a cramp in his back. He stretched, and was about to rise, when he noticed the sleeping Daine on his lap. She had obviously curled up on the bed, and he felt a strange comfort knowing she was there. He relaxed and unconsciously stroked her cheek. He had never felt so much love for anyone in his life.

Daine opened her eyes at his movement. She smiled sleepily up at him. "So, you're awake now!" she said smiling. Then she hugged him tightly, and nearly toppled off the bed.

He caught her, laughing. "Well, magelet, how are you now after your sleep? By the way, how long have I been asleep?"

"A week and a day, you outdid me by twelve hours" she said, smiling up at his dark eyes. He pulled her close to his chest, and she breathed in his smell of spices and soap.

"I love you so much!" she said, and his grip on her tightened. He smiled down at her. "I love you too" he said quietly, before adding "Now, would you kindly hop off the bed, and I will attempt to find some clothes that are presentable. I believe I overheard the King speaking to Alanna, and there will be a ceremony next week. Apparently it is to be held in the honor of such peoples as ourselves, who participated in the war. And I want to look like I am the type of person they would invite."


Daine couldn't believe it. She was going to a royal ball! She waited patiently as the seamstress took her measurements. And with help, she managed to decide on the style and the materials of her dress. When the seamstress had tried to get her to swirl with it, she had nearly fallen over from excitement. She had never even considered that she, Veralidaine Sarrasri would ever be invited to a ball, at the palace no less!

Daine sighed when she looked in the mirror, she knew she could look almost pretty. Comforted by this Daine smiled, she thought that she looked good enough to attend such a ball, and it was an important ball too. The first royal ball after the war. Her first ever ball. She would descend into the Queen's Ballroom from the great staircase, with Numair by her side. She would even need to curtsy to the King!

Numair had decided that he would escort her. He had attended many balls, and had assured her that if she fell he would catch her. Daine had not been amused, and had been practicing walking and curtsying ever since, to Numairs great amusement.

When the night came, Daine and Alanna prepared together. Daine had never been so nervous. "What if I trip up when I come down?" Daine said nervously as Alanna put face paints on her.

"Don't worry. I've had to do it before, and it's not anywhere near as bad as it seems" Alanna reassured her. She turned to the mirror and looked at herself.

Staring back was a lady! Daine could hardly believe her eyes. Her lips were brushed with red, accentuating their fullness. Her cheeks were ivory brushed with pink, giving her a daintily flushed look. She looked…beautiful! Daine hugged Alanna, who was doing her own face. "Thankyou so much! I look like a lady! I can hardly believe it! Wait till Numair sees!" she said, enthusiasm radiating from her. Alanna chuckled and continued to brush her hair. "Young one, you look beautiful, but don't become to vain, you have yet to see Thayet in a dress!"

Daine sighed, Thayet was the most beautiful woman in the world. She waited patiently for Alanna to finish her hair and face. Then the two women left the room, in search of their escorts.

Numair caught his breath when he saw Daine. Her blue dress highlighted her sky blue eyes, and fell gracefully at her feet. Her hair was pulled back into a series of loops and twists, with stray curls falling at her shoulders. Her face was radiating happiness and beauty. And for a moment, he was caught speechless. "You look…lovely." He said softly as he took her arm and guided her to the room at the top of the Great Staircase.

She smiled, pleased at his reaction. But even that couldn't calm her stomach, it felt as if a thousand tornados had unleashed themselves inside her. She took a deep breath in attempt to calm her nerves. Numair placed his large hands in her smaller ones. "Sweetling, calm down. It will all go fine." He said comfortingly. She looked up at his eyes, which were filled with a mixture of love and concern, happiness and desire. She smiled and nodded.

The footman came to them, and told Alanna and George that it was their turn. Alanna took George's arm and they left, leaving Numari and Daine behind. Alanna looked stunning, in a violet dress that trailed slightly behind her. Daine had never seen her look so…feminine. She also admired George's outfit, the darkness of which highlighted his sun-streaked hair and hazel-green eyes. But even he did not compare with Numair, who was dressed in his black mage coat, lined with silver. A ruby red jewel hung at his ear, and he looked the picture of a nobleman.

The footman soon came back, gesturing for Daine and Numair to descend the staircase. Daine took a deep breath and walked through the great doors. She tried to look graceful as she took her steps down the stairs, holding tightly onto Numair. She kept her eyes on the stairs and prayed to the Goddess that she wouldn't trip.

When they reached the platform upon which Queen Thayet and King Jonathon stood, she let out a breath she hadn't realized that she had been holding. She inhaled again, and curtsied. Her curtsy wobbled a bit but not too much, and she looked up to see Jonathon and Thayet smiling warmly at her and Numair.

"The court and kingdom wish to thank you Veralidaine Sarrasri and Master Numair Salmalin, for your help throughout he War of the Immortals. We are sure that without your magic and your courage, the war would have been much harder, and many more lives would have been lost. Please accept our eternal gratitude."

The king finished went on to say more, and when he finished his his speech and Numair said some words to reply. Daine stood there feeling slightly useless, and unsure of what she should be doing. She looked at Thayet who smiled and gave her a wink. Daine grinned, suddenly feeling much more confident where she was standing at the centre of a sea of eyes. She had never been one for glamour and crowds, preferring the quiet and comforting company of her animal friends. At least she knew she had friends here too. Numair turned around to escort her down the remainder steps. She followed, and when she reached the ground, she could feel all her nerves had vanished.

For the rest of the night, Daine wandered around. She did not know many of the nobles, and felt out of place being there. I'm not a lady. I don't really fit in here at all. She thought to herself, and when she saw Lady Alanna disappear through one of the doors, she felt an enormous relief, sure that now she could disappear too. She glanced around and saw Numair talking to a noble, so she headed to the doors. She couldn't bear to stay around and explain to anyone else what her relationship with the People was. Nobody seemed to understand that the animals were her friends, and that she was theirs, she was not their keeper and did not order them around.

She came to the royal gardens. There was no one around, although she suspected if she looked hard enough there would be many couples in the secret and silent shadows. Daine wandered through the rose gardens by herself. A magpie flew down, and she sat to have a nice conversation with somebody who actually understood who she was. She was Daine, just Daine, not the animal-talker, not the animal-speaker, but Daine. It was just an extra that she had wild magic!

She had talked to the bird for a while before Numair found her. He sat down next to her. She looked at him and he smiled back. The magpie flew off, and left them alone. "You left the ball?" he said, tilting his head in question.

"I felt as though I didn't belong. I'm no lady, I'm just a common born girl who talks to animals. And everyone was talking about things I don't understand." She said, trying to explain her actions.

He looked at her, "You look more beautiful than most of the ladies in there tonight" he said, looking back towards the castle walls. He looked at her, his brown eyes wide. "I was so worried when I had to leave you in the war. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to you."

"Well dolt, nothing did happen to me. I'm here with you aren't I?" She snuggled up to him, liking the safe sensation he gave her, she tilted her head up, and before she knew it he was kissing her nose, her cheeks, her forehead, her lips. She kissed him back. They came up for air, then kissed again, their hands checking each other's bodies, simply for the joy of touch.

They came up for air several more times before they had calmed down enough to let each other go—although Numair kept his grip on Daine's hands. "Will you marry me?"

She grinned up at him. "Maybe some day," she replied, eyes dancing. "But only if you're very, very good."

"What if I'm very, very bad?" he whispered, the heat in his voice making her shiver agreeably. He gathered her into his arms and eased his mouth over hers, caressing her lips with his, teasing, until all she could do was hang in his grip.

"Still maybe some day," she replied finally when she could do more than simply gasp. "But you're welcome to try and convince me to make it sooner."

This is as lovely as chicks fluttering in the sun, — the magpie squawked, from up in the tree above them, —but you're going to have company. The lady two-legger with purple eyes is coming. She has a man as well.

Daine giggled, and told Numair what the bird had said.

"Then by all means, let us totter away because I don't want her to interrupt us, just as I have no wish to interrupt her and her George. I don't fancy meeting them when they are probably seeking isolation." The man said with a sigh. "I will resume persuading you in regard to matrimony at another time, when we've escaped from the approaching couple."

They heard approaching footsteps and began to trot down the path. They were soon dancing towards Numair's quarters, and Daine thought she knew what was going to happen. She had heard enough mention of what happened behind closed doors in Snowsdale to know what she was about to do, and instead of being scared or nervous like she would have imagined, she was simply exited and a little curious.

They reached the wooden door, which upon it read "Numair Salmalin" in faded gold letters. She looked up at Numair who had an intense look in his eyes. He leant down to kiss her gently upon her mouth again. She shuddered, not from cold but from desire. She kissed him back and put her hand on the door handle to open it, but he pulled away and held her face in his hands, "Daine, are…are you sure? I don't want to make you do anything your not comfortable with." She nodded and pulled him in for another kiss. She loved him so much.