Numair caught sight of her standing on the second rung of fence. Her feet were bare, and her breeches were rolled up to her knees despite the cool spring air. Her toes curled around the wood, holding her steady as she leaned the top half of her body over the fence gesturing dramatically. She was facing away from him, but he would recognize her anywhere. Her curls twisted behind her, as the breeze played through the smoky brown ringlets.
He told himself that he should turn and walk back towards the palace. He knew he shouldn't continue this path. He had been doing so well lately, keeping his distance...or at least during the day. He knew he had been failing at night. Fatigue seemed to dull his inhibitions significantly. He had woken up with her in his arms more mornings than not lately, at least when they were out on the road.
They had been back at the palace for three days now, and he was more fatigued than he had been during their entire fortnight away. He couldn't sleep without her. He didn't even need her in his arms. He just wanted to be able to hear her breathe. He had spent the last three nights staring at her miniature portrait...he wanted to be able to fall asleep staring at the real thing.
He sighed. They had only been off the road for three days, and here he was secretly hoping they would get sent out again. He truly was a wretched human being. He continued on his trajectory towards the field that housed the rider's mounts.
He knew she didn't hear him come up behind her. He could tell she was too caught up in the conversation she was having with her herd. He was surprised to see a doe and a fawn grazing next to the ponies. He wondered if they were what held Daine's attention. She usually was much more aware of her surroundings.
Numair frowned, stepping forward to scold her for letting her guard down. A branch snapped under his booted foot, and Numair saw her feet slip on the fence rung. He felt his heart rate jump and his throat tightening as her upper body tilted back. His long arm snaked around her legs, just above her knees, and pushed her back upright against the fence. She seemed to find her footing again, and he felt her hand press against the back of his neck. He pressed his forehead into her hip bone, afraid if he looked at her she would be able to read every emotion on his face.
He tried desperately to slow his heart rate and breathing, exhaling the breath he didn't realize had been stuck in his chest. He felt her fingers slide up the nape of his neck and tangle in his hair. He shivered at the gentle tug and consented to her silent urge for him to look up. With her standing on the fence he actually had to tilt his face up to look at her.
A small smile played on her lips. She wasn't used to seeing him from this angle, and he could tell she was rather enjoying the advantage. "I'm alright Numair." She started to climb down off the fence, but he tightened his grip around her legs. He wasn't ready to let go yet. She stilled. "I was just asking the herd if they wouldn't mind me camping out with them tonight." She gestured towards the group of mountain ponies, who had now come to cluster at the fence. She turned her face away from him, her gaze becoming cloudy. "I...I haven't been sleeping well," she whispered.
Numair squeezed her thigh, pressing her closer to him. "Me either Sweet." He lifted his arm, his palm rubbing the small of her back. "I wish I could enjoy being back at the palace, but to be honest, it's hard to relax knowing it won't last." He sighed. "I don't think I am used to being alone anymore..." He dropped his gaze to her bare feet again, afraid to meet her gaze. "I think I need all the noise of you and your friends to fall asleep now" he laughed trying to lighten the mood.
Daine tilted his head up again, her smile reaching her eyes. He could tell he was blushing. Her palm found his cheek. "Would you like me to ask the herd if you can join us tonight?" He could tell she was pleased. He wondered if it was with the fact that he wanted her near, or if she was simply laughing at his foolishness? He nodded, unable to give up this chance to be near her. "I'm sure the entire court will think we are fair insane, sleeping with the ponies." Numair frowned. He really shouldn't encourage any more court gossip about her. Sleeping together in the rider's field would certainly cause tongues to wag, but he couldn't bring himself to renege on his consent. He wanted to be near her too much, and he desperately needed sleep.
Daine already had her bedroll stowed under the tree in the center of the meadow. She talked him out of returning to the palace for his own, pointing out that they had only been using one on the road. He hesitated, aware of what it would look like to passers by. Then her small hand found his, and any protest he might have been able to muster died in his throat. He was helpless to resist her.
He let her pull him down onto the blanket and sighed when she curled her body into his own. He cradled her head in one arm, draping the other over her increasingly thin hips. He pulled her against him, making a mental note to make sure she was eating. She tended to forget to take care of herself when she was stressed. He tried to stay awake, to enjoy the warmth of her body pressed so willingly into his own. The last few nights of insomnia won out. He tucked his face into her neck, inhaled her scent, and let it drag him off to a dreamless sleep.
It felt like mere seconds, though the depth of darkness surrounding them suggested it had been hours, when a timid hand shook him awake. He fought the urge to shoot a bolt of magic at the page who was disrupting the first good sleep he had gotten in three days. Daine stirred in his arms, and he pulled her nearer as he realized she was shivering. "Shh Sweet...go back to sleep," he whispered. He turned to glare at the page, refusing to let go of his hold on the girl, even if it would only increase gossip. "What do you want boy?" He heard the irritation in his voice, and saw the boy begin to tremble. "Out with it," he said more calmly.
"I'm sorry sir...I've been sent to fetch you," the boy took a step back. "Half the Page's wing is looking for you sir. His majesty has been requesting your presence in the war room." Numair groaned, and the boy took another half step back.
"What does Jon want now?" Numair spat. He had been so comfortable. The boys' eyes widened slightly at Numair's use of the King's first name.
"His majesty said he needs you...Something about a village on the coast and immortals sir." The boy glanced nervously at his boots.
"Tell his majesty I'll be there in a moment." Numair sighed, turning back away from the page and glancing at Daine. She had turned in her sleep to face him, her head curled into his chest. He heard the page clear his throat, and glanced over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow.
"They are looking for her too sir." Numair saw the page's gaze travel the length of Daine's body and settle on where his hand rested on the exposed skin at the small of her back where her tunic had ridden up.
"If you know what's good for you page, you will say you found her here alone" Numair growled. The air in the meadow sparked, and he felt a small hand grip the V of his tunic.
"Numair..." Daine said warningly. Her warm breath brushed his skin, and he closed his eyes. He tried to convince himself to let her go, to spare her the slander that might come from this, but he only pressed her closer.
"You do know I turned someone into a tree..." he kept his voice low but held the page's gaze to make his meaning clear.
"I found her alone sir" the page gasped, before turning on his heel and running back towards the palace.
"You know you only make it worse when you do that." Daine's sigh broke the silence.
Numair tightened his hold on her once again, before sighing himself. "I was getting my first decent sleep in days" he muttered. "I can't bear this insomnia much longer." He brushed her curls back from her face, tilting her chin so he could meet her gaze. "I am sorry though Magelet, I shouldn't have let this happen" he whispered.
Daine frowned, before pushing away from his chest and standing, running her fingers through her sleep tousled hair. "Well it sounds like we are about to be sent out again, so I guess you won't have to." She hesitated before leaning down and offering him her hand.
He took it, standing. "Shall we go see what our king demands then magelet?" He didn't let go of her hand, even as he stooped to pick up his boots. He didn't think he had the strength to abstain from physical touch right now, even though he knew he must. He would resume his intention to physically distance tomorrow...at least that's what he told himself as they walked hand in hand back towards the palace gates.
