Heh, Daine's going to end up being pretty clueless in this fic. I really do feel sorry for Numair in this particular chapter. Nothing's going right.
Numair Salmalin was having a very bad day. He had spent the entire morning visiting with Delegates from the Yamani Islands, he had a headache and for some reason everyone kept staring at him. On top of all that he had spent the last few hours trying to build up the courage to talk to Daine again. Surely it would have to go better this time. He glared viciously at a couple of page boys who whispered and looked at him suspiciously as they walked by and they quickly scampered off.
"And here I thought you said that the pages terrorized you." Daine said laughingly as she came up behind him.
"Daine, just the person I was looking for! Do you have any idea what's going on? People are acting fair odd around me lately." She shook her head but her blush and how she quickly searched his eyes as though looking for some answer there did not go unnoticed by the mage.
"Who knows? Everyone's been in such a fuss since the delegates arrived; I really haven't paid it much mind." He decided to let her strange behaviour slide as he had more pressing matters to attend to. As they walked he led her into a secluded garden and, finally getting up enough courage, turned to her, halting their movement, and looked her in the eye.
"Daine, I, uh, I have a confession to make."
"Oh, well, um, go ahead." She took a deep breath and suddenly looked incredibly nervous and slightly uncomfortable which confused Numair. Did she already know? Was he only making a fool out of himself? It was too late now; he'd best go through with it.
"Well you see this, this isn't easy to say. In truth I'm not sure how it happened. I never thought myself the type really, I never in all my wildest imagination though I would" He stopped, swallowing, trying to stop himself form aimlessly rambling.
"Go on, it's okay." She said reassuringly, placing a hand on his arm.
"The thing is, I seem to have developed, eh, feelings for someone who, in all honesty, I really shouldn't have. I know it's wrong, but I can't help feel that it's somehow right for me. Please don't be angry with me but Daine, I" She cut him off there, smiling.
"It's ok Numair, I would never turn my back on you for something like this."
"You, you know then?" He stared at her, stunned.
"Well, I mean, people have been talking about it for a few days now. Truthfully I thought it was just more rumours but I had heard" She trailed off looking uncomfortable.
"So, it's alright?" He was starting to get a strange feeling from the way the conversation was going.
"Of course, I mean, I know it's not really accepted here yet but that doesn't mean it's wrong and I won't lie, it may take some getting used to, but really Numair if it makes you happy." She bit her lip, giving him an encouraging smile while he only stared back, more confused that he had possibly ever been before.
"Daine, what do you mean accepted 'over here'?" She actually looked surprised at his question.
"Well, surely you know Numair, our culture just hasn't seen a lot of it, though, in time I'm sure people will become more accepting." Numair was now absolutely dreading the answer to his next question.
"Daine, who exactly do you think I am talking about?"
"Well, Lord Tseng from the Yamani delegation, yes? That's what the talk has been and, well, from what you said." She had gone very, very pale.
"Lord Tseng?!" He asked, outraged and horrified, feeling the blood drain form his face.
"Oh odd bobs. I, uh, I had that completely wrong didn't I? I just though since you said, uh, and well, the rumours, people were saying he was interested and they had seen you together and uh" She trailed off, hands over her mouth, looking almost as embarrassed as he felt.
"Daine! I, people think I, and, of course I was with him he's a delegate. Jon ordered me too. Wait, interested?" He froze as another thought hit him. "Did Jon know that when he told me to show him around?" She shook her head, not knowing.
"I am so sorry Numair, I just jumped to conclusions." He looked at her, nodding weakly and accepting her apology. "Well um, who was it then?" She looked up at him sheepishly, biting her lip. He merely put his head in his hands.
"Let's never, ever, talk about this again, okay?" With that he turned and walked back to his rooms, where he would spend the rest of the week avoiding any Yamani delegates and trying his best to forget the entire incident. How on earth could it be so difficult to say one little thing without the entire world uniting to sabotage him?
I seem to recall Kel saying in her books that being gay was pretty accepted in the Yamani Ilses. Correst me if I am wrong though, it's been a while.:s As always, REVIEW!