It hadn't taken long for rumors to spread around the palace about where the great mage Numair Salmalin had spent the night. Despite the page's insistence that he would say he found Daine alone, it seemed the whole court knew that she had been found in his arms, and in the horse meadow no less. It didn't really bother Daine, she had been hearing it for years. The more conservative set had had her in Numair's bed since she was thirteen. It did however bother her that Numair hadn't so much as gotten within two meters of her since. The man was ridiculous. He didn't seem to understand that no matter what he did the entirety of the court would always think she was a bastard whore. They had been saying it for years...What she had heard that morning was hardly any different.
"Heard he was holding her, and didn't even have the decency to let go when they were confronted!" The feminine voice was appalled. "She's bewitched him for sure. I mean, I've known Salmalin since he first came to court..." the voice hesitated. "We were a bit of a thing for a time. Then he went north and came back with her." She spat the last word as if it was filthy. "They went off to the Barony of Pirate's Swoop not long after that, it's said he has a tower there. When they returned to Corus it was as if they were attached at the hip. He wouldn't let her out of his sight. I don't think he has taken a lover since...at least not one besides her."
"He's besotted is what he is," said another older voice. "She's put a spell on quite a few I've heard." Daine could hear the woman give an exaggerated shudder. "Strange magic that one has. It's said that even some of the knights have considered ignoring her commoner status." The disapproval in the woman's voice was evident. "Salmalin has put a stop to it every time though. Rumor has it he is a possessive one. He's threatened any fool whose come under her spell. I heard that clerk Perin was going to ask the King's permission to wed her before Salmalin scared him off."
"Well the King ought to put a stop to it..." the first woman's voice was quieter, as if she was walking further down the corridor. "It isn't proper to allow a bastard whore to have so much influence over his head mage."
Daine was quite sure Numair had heard the women as well. She had hesitated before stepping out of the cupboard in which she was healing one of the palace rat catchers, assuring that the women's footsteps had faded down the hall. She had leaned down to place the young feline on its feet. She had been whispering to him to watch out for human feet, lest he get stepped on again, when she had seen a set of feet she knew very well. She had stood to meet Numair's dark gaze. He looked gutted. Daine had raised her chin defiantly. She wouldn't let anyone pity her...not even Numair.
It had taken her a minute to realize that Numair was the one to be pitied. She had never seen him look so devastated. She took a step towards him, wanting to assure him it was nothing she hadn't heard before. She wanted him to understand that it didn't bother her, but he took a step back. Her defiant mask fell as she let the hurt of his rejection sink in. It didn't bother her...but obviously it did bother him. His hands had clenched into fists, and his magic seemed to shutter in the air around him. He opened his mouth, closed it, and then had turned to walk away.
He hadn't said so much as a hello to her since.
That had been four days ago.
So here Daine sat, in the meadow, under the infamous tree, wishing the King would just send them out again. On the road Numair would be forced to talk to her. He wouldn't be able to hide in his warded quarters.
She heard a twig snap, and didn't have to turn her head to know the object of her thoughts was walking towards her. The herd of ponies, who had been circling the tree in a protective stance, began pawing at the ground. Daine knew they were picking up on her frustration. She had half a mind to stand, shift, and leave Numair to deal with her angry friends. It would serve him right.
"uu..hum." Numair cleared his throat, and Daine turned to face him. He was standing trapped between the herd's stallion and lead mare, who seemed to be refusing to let the mage come any closer. Daine raised her eyebrows at the man.
"Are you speaking to me now?" She glared at him.
"Onua sent me down," he shuffled his feet, and the stallion dropped his head, pawing at the ground and swinging his head low in a herding motion. Numair cautiously took a step back, throwing a pleading glance at Daine. "Apparently Buri said the ponies are even more testy than normal." He smiled nervously at her, but Daine only frowned.
"Well you can go, and don't come back until it is your own idea. No need for you to lower yourself speaking to me." She dropped her gaze to her feet, her stubborn chin quivering with her effort to hold back angry tears. "I mean...you wouldn't want me to influence you." She bent forward and began unlacing her boots, planning to shift.
"Daine..." Numair's voice was quiet, but she could hear the undercurrent of anxiety in it. She paused, closing her eyes. "Please sweet. Don't go when you know I can't follow." She heard him try to take a step forward, and heard the stallion huff warningly. "Magelet, I...I'm sorry. I should never have put you in that position. I should never have allowed them the opportunity to attack you." He sounded as if he was crying, and Daine really looked at him for the first time. The circles under his eyes were even more prominent than four days ago. His face was drawn, and she could feel his anguish. She stood, silently calling off the stallion, and walked towards him.
"Why do you let them get to you Numair?" She stepped close to him, invading his space, and saw him swallow hard. "You know they are just a bunch of gossips. Nothing they say holds any merit."
"But they are right Daine..." Numair's voice cracked. "I am completely besotted by you...bewitched even. I don't think I could survive without you." He reached up as if to touch her face, but then seemed to rethink the action, letting his hand fall. "It isn't fair though, to keep you all to myself. I haven't been thinking about what is best for you." He gulped. "If you wanted to m... marry Perin..." he choked. She grasped his hand and tugged, forcing him to meet her gaze.
She rolled her eyes, "don't be a dolt Numair. I have no desire to marry Perin." His hand tightened on hers. "No one is going to marry me anyways Numair, so you're stuck with me." The mage opened his mouth to protest, but she leaned forward placing her free hand over his mouth. "I will always be the bastard whore to them Numair," his face tightened, and she saw the tears threatening to spill.
"I don't mean to hurt you." He scuffed his boot. Pawing at the ground like the stallion. If she hadn't been standing so close, she didn't think she would have been able to hear his lamented whisper.
He tried to pull away, but she held on tighter. "The only way you are going to really hurt me, is to let what they say change your opinion of me." She tried hard, but she was unable to hold his gaze, and she dropped her eyes to her unlaced boots. She desperately hoped he didn't see the tear that fell, discoloring the worn leather. She bit her lip in a futile attempt, but the second tear fell, and her vision became blurry. She let go of his hand, taking a step back, wishing she had just shifted. She couldn't deal with more rejection right now.
"Oh sweet," she felt his arm wrap around her, pulling her body into his chest. "Daine, look at me." She buried her face in the V of his tunic, shaking her head. She felt him inhale sharply, and then his fingers were threading into her hair, and he was forcing her to meet his gaze. "I will never think anything but the very best of you Magelet." He leaned down, kissing her forehead. Daine felt the familiar ache in her chest. She didn't know what was worse, him ignoring her, or the yearning she felt being this close.
"You promise?" She hated herself for begging. He let her bury her face back in his chest, leaving his fingers tangled in her hair.
"Always."
