Kay, so this chapter isn't as humor based as the past ones but you'll see why. So read, enjoy, review! Tell me what you think!
Numair Salmalin walked through the stabled for about the tenth time that day. He had been absolutely everywhere he could think of multiple times that day in search of Daine. He sighed, defeated as he heard the noon bell toll and remembered that he had a meeting to attend. As he turned around he grinned as he saw Daine entering the stables and upon seeing him she smiled back, waving.
"Numair, good morning, well, afternoon I guess."
"Afternoon, where are you off to?" He asked, reaching her, as he put his hands in his pockets to stop himself from brushing a stray strand of hair out of her face.
"I have the afternoon off so I thought I'd go up on the castle wall for a bit, there's a group of sparrows who fly around there that are fair amusing." He grinned at her, chuckling slightly, only with her would he ever have this type of conversation.
"Will you be there for a while? I, uh, I'd like to talk to you about something but I'm afraid I have to go now." He trailed off, looking at her hopefully.
"Of course, I'll wait for you okay?" She smiled up at him and he felt that familiar flutter in his chest that he now associated with her smiling at him.
"Good, I'll see you then." She waved at him as she walked away and he continued on his way out of the stabled. At one point, however, he stopped as he saw Onua and Alanna leaning against a stall and staring at him, thought when he met their gazes they quickly turned back to each other, pretending to be deep in conversation. He tried very hard to ignore the sense of foreboding that came with that image and continues to walk on.
Numair took the steps leading to the top of the wall two at a time. His meeting had run late and he was hoping that Daine did not think that he was standing her up. He sighed in relief as he saw her standing at the base of one of the turrets with a sparrow on her hand and several more surrounding her.
"Hello" He said, mildly, holding a finger up to the sparrow who hopped onto it, no doubt in response to a request from Daine.
"He likes you." Daine said, giggling.
"I don't think he's the one who likes me." He stroked the small bird lightly, down the back.
"Well, I'm pretty fond of you myself." She looked up at him and unless he was very mistaken her smile seemed impish and even a bit flirty, he found he really liked that particular look. His heart jumped at the implication of her phrase and he stepped forward.
"So, as I said before, there's something I'd like to talk to you about."
"Yes, so what's going on?" She looked at him, curiously, and Numair made to speak but was distracted as the sparrow fluttered from his hand to his shoulder. He made several attempts to speak but found himself increasingly distracted by the many birds flitting around them.
"Uh, could we maybe go over here?" He asked, pulling on her arm slightly and leading her around to the other side of the turret as they left the small flock behind. He stopped when they reached the other side, moving away from the stairs that led to their level and the ones that led to the top of the turret, and pulled her into a corner, taking a deep breath and holding her hands in his.
"Daine, you see, the thing is that for a long time now" He cut off as he heard footsteps running up the stairs towards them at a fast pace and turned horrified as he heard Alanna's voice.
"Onua!" The lioness hissed "Did I miss it? Has he told Daine he's in love with her yet?" Alanna appeared at the top of the stairs, not even noticing Daine and Numair, sprinting towards the turret where Onua's horrified face had just appeared over it's wall, looking down at the redhead.
"Alanna!" Onua hissed down, motioning violently at Numair and Alanna turned around quickly, freezing when she realized what she had done. The only thing Numair could do was throw his hands into the air.
"Thank you Alanna! FINALLY!" He was somewhere between complete outrage and relief, though now he found himself afraid to turn around until he felt a tug on his arm.
"Numair?" Daine asked quietly and Numair turned to her, completely unaware as to whether Onua and Alanna were still present though he guessed they were busy making their escape, and found it impossible to read the expression on her face. Gods, what if she rejected him. When she paused, looking down, he braced himself for her answer. "Is it true?" She asked softly and he ran a hand through his hair, nervously.
"Yes, Daine, it is. I love you." He placed his hand against her cheek, and she merely looked up at him, shock written across her face as he looked back down at her sadly. "I'm sorry, maybe this is a mistake. Don't think you owe me anything Daine, it's okay, really" He faltered when he saw her face widen in a smile and she placed her hands on either side of her face.
"Well why didn't you tell me sooner you dolt?" He closed his eyes and buried his head in her shoulder.
"I tried. You either attacked court women or thought I was gay or I was poisoned." He moaned, suddenly exhausted.
"Oh Numair, I had no idea." She lifted up his face with her hands and he looked at her as she smiled at him, impishly. "Let me make it up to you." As she leaned forward to kiss him and he wrapped his arms around her all he could think was that it had all been worth it.
Heh, sorry I didn't really give you a warning that he was going to succeed soon (not that HE really did, Alanna did though) but it's not quite the end, I am going to do one more epilogue type chapter, probably won't be funny but will be insanely fluffy. So review, tell me what you think! Besides, wouldn't it have ruined the suprise if I told you when it was going to happen? ;)