After the Wedding
Part two of Numair and Daine's Wedding
… … …
The wedding was over and Numair was in no mood to celebrate. There was no wife to celebrate with, so there was no reason to. His wife he had for only a minute or two was immediately kidnapped after the marriage was legal by the flock of stormwings that had once been lead by Ozorne. Daine was gone and Numair was determined to find her. He loved her and would stop at nothing to get his wife back.
"Mithros," he said to the men who had first told him to go through with the wedding. "Why did I have to fall in love with an enemy of Ozorne's! She was the first student of mine and I lost her."
"Numair," King Jonathan was the first to say anything about this tragic event. "We will find her. I know how much you love her and I have mages looking for Ozorne's cave. We will find her."
"I just feel so empty now." Numair said absently. "I miss her so much." He slammed his fist on the desk next to him. "I can't just sit by while Daine is being tortured or killed by stormwings. I'm going off to find her." he said and walked to his dresser and started to pack his supplies.
"Numair don't be a fool." Lindhall said, trying to stop his one-time-student and long-time friend. "The odds are against you. It will take you longer to search on your own, wait until we have some kind of idea were she is."
"Sit back and wait for my wife to be killed!" Numair said now deeply enraged. "I can't do that! I have to find her! She's my wife after all."
………
Hidden in the cave just outside Carthak, Daine was blindfolded, bound and gagged. Awaiting the fate that was sure to come. She could hear the rustling of steel feathers and constant talk of her kidnappers.
"When are we going to kill her already?" a stormwing said.
"Yes, when? I'm hungry and I just can't wait to eat her." A second said in agreement
"I know she is promising to be a good meal but we must wait for her lover to come and attempt to rescue her." The third said. "Her majesty wants the man to suffer through us murdering her."
"That's great idea." The first said. "Then we can eat him, too!"
This was too much for Daine. What if he doesn't come? She thought. Or what if he takes a month or two to get here and I die of starvation? It was pointless to think these thoughts. Of coarse Numair would come for her. He loved her, and he would have her mother and father to help him. The animals would join in; they would not let the Wildmage die. Kitten could somehow talk the dragons to save her keeper. They dragons loved their young too much to leave Kit without the girl that had watched over her for so long.
Yes, she would be saved. Her mother and father would not let their daughter die, no matter how much they missed her. Numair would not let his new wife be killed either, Daine knew that he would not give up without a fight; just like with the spiderns. The animals felt so much better off with their beloved Wildmage they would not stand the thought of losing her. The Crown, she was much too valuable to them, they needed her. The Lioness and Onua were good friends that didn't want to lose her.
What was I thinking? She told herself, everyone will try to find me someway or another. I've been told I'm valuable; that the Crown needs me, especially if they get into another immortal war. Or any war for that matter. With that she felt much better and tried to smile under her gag; useless it wasn't going to let her do anything while she still was still wearing it.
No. she wasn't going to die in Ozorne's cave. Numair, the Queen's Riders, the King's Own, and the animals of Tortall, maybe even the gods were going to come and save her from the lair of her dead enemy. This wasn't the place or the time she was meant to die, she knew that somehow.
… … …
The king was pacing in his council room. Everyone who found Daine important in one way or another was present. Numair, her husband; Onua, the woman who first gave her a job and brought her to Tortall; the king and queen, who needed her to help with the court animals; the princes and princesses, who were saved by Daine when they were in Pirate's Swoop and under siege; George and Alanna, who's small fief was saved by the girl; and anyone else who had met and befriended the Wildmage. Evin Larsen, one of her first friends and commander of a group of the Riders; and Miri, Daine's very first friend from the time she had come to help train the future Riders; even Lady Maura of Dunlath was there. The only person not present, whose life was impacted by this woman, was Emperor Kaddar. He had to get back to his country and he felt partially responsible for her kidnapping in the first place.
"We are, from this moment on," Jon said, "on a mission to save Daine. She is too important to the country's safety. We will find her, and stop at nothing to do so. I'm glad you all came. If none of you did, Numair would have left to defeat the stormwings and save Daine by himself."
"We all love Daine." The Lioness said, addressing the group present. "We couldn't leave Numair to do battle alone and keep all the glory for himself. I need some adventure now, too. We all do, because let's face it; the castle isn't as much fun without her. We need her back as Jon has said, she's important to all of us in the same and different ways. We all know her on personal as well as professional levels, and we all miss her greatly."
"Then let's start making a plan on how to save her." Evin said rising to go get a map, and other supplies. "We aren't going to do much good just sitting her talking about her."
Everyone agreed and got to work on a plan to bring back the Wildmage. They were all determined to bring her back, alive. Everyone felt the loss when she left, and Alanna was right, the court was boring without the beloved young woman.
… … …
Daine could since the others were starting to look for her. She had no idea the group was so large. Numair, the king and queen, Alanna, George, Keladry, Evin, Maura, Miri, Onua, almost all of the Queen's Riders(one or two groups had stayed behind to guard the country), the King's Own (except the troop that had stayed behind with the Riders), knights and anyone else who felt the need to come with. The group was extensive but Daine didn't know that was how big it was. She thought it was maybe a group of Rider's or the Own lead by Numair. She didn't know that many people cared for her.
I'm going to be saved! She thought happily. Numair is on his way to bring me home! I can't wait to be home again, in Numair's arms.
She couldn't wait. She longed to be back with the husband. She really missed him; it was because of her undying love for her husband, lover, teacher, and friend. He meant so much to her. She meant so much to him; she knew that otherwise why would he be going to such lengths to save her. Thinking of him she smiled as a lone salty tear tickled down her face. She could feel it as it left a wet trail, it was nor alone for long. Thinking about him being killed and leaving her alone or vice versa made her feel like crying; as she was. It was no use to try to hold them back; no matter how hard she tried they still continued to fall. Finally she just gave up and let them.
"Oh, look." One of Daine's captors mocked, seeing her crying. "She already knows the end is near for her."
The rest of the stormwings joined in laughing at her pain. This was a major bonus for them. Not only did they get to kill her, but they also got to watch her suffer before hand.
She couldn't help that she missed the man that she had lived with for so long. They had the unique once-in-a-life-time kind of love. She couldn't stand the thought of losing him. Or, for that matter, any one else from her new home. Everyone in the new land had shown her that it didn't matter where she came from and what had happened back in her birthplace of Snowsdale.
… … …
"Okay," Numair said, to the others at their first stop. "We know they are keeping her in a cave outside of Carthak. The problem is which one?"
"Try picking up a vision from her." The Lioness said. "And don't you dare laugh at me for suggesting it, because I know it works. My brother, Thom, could do it. He and I learned how to do it so we could communicate with one another,"
"Yes, but you both had the Gift and you were twins." He argued
"So?" she replied. "You are in love and you both have some form of magic. I don't see what the problem is."
"I guess your right." He said reluctantly. "I'll try it, right now I'd try anything."
… … …
Daine, my darling? Numair said trying to contact her. Can you hear me?
Daine heard something. The sound didn't come from her ears but from her mind. It was Numair that was all she knew. Maybe she could answer him.
Numair, is it really you? She said trying to answer the call
Yes! Yes! It's me, how are you doing? They haven't killed you yet I see. He responded happy to have reached his wife.
How do you think I'm doing? She demanded. They aren't going to try to kill me until you come to try a rescue.
What? The man said (or thought). Why are they waiting for me?
They want you to see me die. She explained. Then they are going to try to kill you as well.
They aren't going to get the chance. He told her firmly. I have most of the Queen's Riders and the King's Own not to mention the king and queen, themselves.
She was shocked. So many had come to save her. You have to be joking. Why would they come? I'm not that important, am I?
Yes, you are. He said. Their majesties say they owe you this.
Why would they owe me anything? She replied even more shocked.
You saved their children as well as them in the attack at Pirate's Swoop and the Immortals War. They whole kingdom owes you after the War.
Oh, sure. Wow, this made her feel important. She never knew that the whole kingdom was in debt to her.
Yes, yes we can talk about that later, Numair said trying to get back to the point he had called to her for. We don't know where you are and we need you to tell us.
Oh, yeah, sorry. She had to think back to the ride over, it was an unpleasant ride. When she finally remembered she told her husband what cave he could find her in.
Thank you, he said after getting the directions that he needed. I have to go, give this to the others, I love you.
Daine smiled. I love you, too. See you soon.
… … …
Numair grabbed the map he drew and ran out of his tent and into the circle that the company used for a meeting place.
"I got it!" he yelled to the assembled party. "I know where they took her."
Everyone in the circle smiled and asked the necessary questions.
"We will head out at dawn." The king told the company. "Now get some sleep and rest assured we will have the Wildmage back by tomorrow night."
"Be prepared to fight." Numair said as everyone got ready for the next day and the fight to come. "They plan on killing her as soon as I arrive. Then they will come after me."
"Don't worry, Numair," Alanna said, patting the man's arm (she was too short to reach his shoulder) "We'll get her. No one will kill her, or you. Trust me, we will protect you both."
"Thanks, Alanna." He said, trying to sound reassured. "I know I can trust you. After all you never give up, do you, Alan?" he joked.
"Gods, it's been so long since I've been called that." She replied, thinking back to when she was a page and squire with a hidden identity. "And never do it again! I hated those years, I'm glad I don't have to pretend anymore." She added running her fingers to her, now long hair, and giving her friend a playful punch.
"You could have fooled me!" Jon said, coming up behind her.
"Oh, shut up, Jon. "She said to the man who was once her knight-master. "I hated lying to you and everyone else. You know that."
The king nodded and walked to his tent. Alanna gave Numair one last reassuring word and went to her tent.
Numair sighed and returned to his tent. Oh, Daine, I can't wait till I get you back. He thought to himself.
… … …
Daine heard this and sent him a reply. I miss you, too. I want to go back home with you.
After that she fell asleep, smiling slightly through the gag. Tomorrow she would be on her way home; Numair would come and bring her back. She couldn't wait to be back in the safety of her room, in her tower with Numair just outside of Pirate's Swoop.
… … …
Dawn. The sun was starting to peek up from over the mountains and the large group that was on the mission to save the Wildmage was on the move.
The company was mostly on horse back and all had some sort of way to attack the stormwings that had taken Daine. Men and women a like band together with swords, glaives, bows, knives, staffs, any thing that may kill the evil immortals. They were approaching the cave Daine had sent to Numair.
Daine sensed them coming and had a new found strength to fight the restraints her captors had put on her. She twisted her hands around and tried to get at the blindfold. Got it! She told herself when she reached the knot that kept it in place. She pulled at it and the piece of cloth fell away from her eyes. She could see at last! The sun had illuminated the cave and nearly blinded her; she wasn't able to see for almost a week. Blinking rapidly she cleared her vision, and quickly checked to see if any of the immortals were close enough to see her. None were there. As quickly as she could she scraped at the knot and got it undone after many tries. Then she set to the gag, it had held her mouth open for the same long week. She untied it and flexed her jaw to work out all the knots in the muscles. She had to stretch out her arms as well; it was hard because her arms were so sore. Next her legs, they were tied together at the ankle. She maneuvered her body till she could reach the ropes around her ankles. She worked at it and was soon free. She couldn't move her stiff legs that well, so she did similar repetitive motions till she felt like she could move them well enough.
… … …
"We are getting close." Numair said to the company. "I can smell them."
"I can smell it too." Buri, the co-commander of the Queen's Riders, said. "We better get you to the back. Give me the map and fall back. We'll have a better chance of getting her out if you just stay in the back."
Numair reluctantly agreed and headed back. Buri was right; they said they wouldn't kill her unless he was there to see it. He was going to sneak around well they were distracted by the fight and save his wife. He would stop at nothing to do so now. After all now he had help.
Daine was standing on legs that were protesting to the new weight they had to endure. She tried to walk to the opening; it didn't work so she ended up crawling. She got to the edge, got down flat on her stomach and looked over the edge.
I hope they make it here soon. She said, and then she noticed a group of small dots. There they are!
… … …
Then the dots were surrounded with a flash of black light and were gone. Numair had cloaked them. They were safe. Daine looked deep inside herself; she looked for the copper spring. When she saw it she called on a single thread to come to her hand. She grabbed the thread and clutched it tightly. When she opened her eyes she could see invisible horses and dogs wrapped in copper threads. She watched the party of invisible animals move till they were at the foot of the mountain she was hidden in.
Two figures appeared and started to shine with purple and blue magic. Alanna and the king, she thought as beams of light ascended the mountain. They were checking it for climbing. They got half way and went back down.
"There is a path." The king said as he called his beam of vision back.
"It goes all the way up." Alanna said as she joined the others on solid ground. "We can ride up it; it's not at all steep. In fact it would be easiest to ride up and not walk"
"Then we ride." Numair said flatly. He was ready to kill all the immortals that had kidnapped his wife. He didn't even get to do any of the traditional things like dinner and a reception. He was looking for ward to a night with his wife. The stormwings had stolen that from him and they were going to pay!
The party remounted and started up the hill. Numair was still in the back, awaiting the time he could rescue his Daine.
… … …
The ride was easy. By mid day they had reached the platform that was at the mouth of the cave.
Daine couldn't stand to wait any longer, she started to run but her legs protested so she walked clutching the side of the cave wall for support. She was weak. The stormwings had not feed her in all the time they had her, she only got a little bit of water each day.
Numair saw her as she slowly made her way out of the cave. He rushed out of the throng of people that was readying itself for an attack. No one saw him leave the protection because they were searching for the stormwings that resided in the cave.
Daine didn't see him either, until he was out of the crowed and had called her.
"Daine!" he yelled and ran to her.
"Numair?" she whispered, shocked. Her voice didn't work, she tried clearing her throat but it still didn't work.
Before she could attempt to talk, Numair had reached her and swept her up in a firm but loving hug. Daine started to cry again, they were tears of joy this time.
Numair put her down, cupped one of his large hand around her check. "Why are you crying? I'm here now, you are safe."
She could only cry harder and return the hug. I missed you. She thought to herself as the tears still fell down her cheeks. I'm only crying because I'm happy to see you.
Numair bent down and kissed Daine. The rush of it made Daine giddy and weak. Her legs gave out but because of Numair's strong arms she didn't fall. When he finally broke the kiss, he let go of her and stepped back. Daine's body couldn't stay active any longer and she fell to the rocky ground in a dead faint. Numair picked her up and brought her back to the people that had accompanied him on this journey.
… … …
Everything was dark. Daine had awakened just as the sun was setting. And in the tent, even the few rays of sun couldn't pass through
"What happen?" she tried to say but her voice didn't work.
Alanna was sitting next to her and heard what was meant to be words. She smiled. "Here, drink this."
Daine accepted a steaming mug. It was some kind of tea sweetened with honey. She obediently took a drink and found it to be lemon. It was really warm but not hot. It was soothing as it went down her sore throat. After taking two more sips of the tea she attempted again at talking, "What happened?" she whispered, for now it was all she could handle.
"Well, we got up the mountain and expected a flock of stormwings to attack but none did." The Lioness explained. "Then, we saw Numair carrying you over. We all thought you were dead but he kept telling us you weren't dead that you just fainted. So we brought you back down the mountain and we stationed you in this tent we made for those we thought would be injured as we fought to bring you back. But as I said there were no stormwings to fight so we put you here."
"Where's Numair?" she asked after hearing the story.
"I thought you'd ask." The Lioness said smiling. "I'll go get him. While I do, try to eat something."
Daine nodded and saw the food laid out on the table beside her bed. She took a piece of buttered bread and ate it. It tasted so good. It was the first thing she had eaten since the small breakfast she had on the day she got married. It felt good to have something in her stomach again. She finished one piece and was on to her next when she saw a tall figure appear in the flap at the entrance to the tent.
She swallowed he bit in her mouth, "Numair!" she said gleefully and put the bread down as he ran down the aisle to hug her again.
They shared an embrace that seemed to last forever. Daine started to cry again. When they finally pulled away, she tried to force a laugh. "I got your shirt all wet." She sobbed.
"Forget it, it's just a shirt." He said as he cupped her cheek with one of his big hands and kissed her. "I thought I had lost you. I was so scared I would have to live on my own, again." He said after letting her catch her breath. "Why are you crying?"
"I'm just so happy to see you again." She said hugging him. "Besides, I would never leave you. I love you too much."
"I love you, too my darling" he said giving her a final kiss before standing up. "Now you should try to get some rest now. I will see you in the morning."
"Don't leave me." She said grabbing his arm as he tried to leave. "I missed you, please stay. I don't think I could stand another night without you."
"If you insist I will stay." He replied smiling as he moved the closest bed so it formed a larger bed with Daine's. He laid down on it as Daine moved to cuddle with him before she nodded off to sleep.
"You know, I had a feeling something like this was going to happen when we were at the wedding. Did you get the same feeling?" he turned to look at her. "Daine?" he asked. Then noticing she was a sleep, he kissed her cheek and whispered "Good-night, my love." Before he laid his head back down he noticed a smile creep onto his sleeping wife's face. He let his head sink back down onto the pillow, a smile on his face as well.
… … …
When morning came Numair snuck out of the double bed and went outside. He was careful not to wake his wife as he went to talk to the others.
"Hey Numair!" the Lioness yelled when she saw her friend emerge from the tent. "Did she get enough sleep last night? Or did you keep her up the whole time?"
"Alanna," he said shaking her head. "You know I wouldn't intervene with her well being. We talked for a while, just talked don't jump your little mind to something else, then she fell asleep."
"Oh, I'm sure." She said sarcastically
"I wouldn't have even stayed in the tent but she begged me to. I really missed her so of course I didn't object."
"I guess I have to believe that," she said and sighed. "I know you wouldn't do anything to upset her well being. After all you can be sensible, sometimes. You can also be quite a dolt sometimes when it comes to her or other things."
Numair laughed and walked with Alanna to the center of the circle. Most of the Own, the Riders, knights and others that came along were already assembled there to talk about the way home, now that they had the Wildmage back. Everyone had scheduled a time in to visit the woman that way they could have her monitored and they would be able to know when she was ready to move again. They also just wanted to see her again; she was very popular in the palace. Many of the pages asked her to help with their new mounts and troublesome animals.
… … …
Alanna was in the tent with Daine every hour or so to help with some of her aches, and long unused muscles. After the first day, Daine could stand again. She had built up enough strength to be able to stand. Her legs still were weak, like the rest of her, but now her stomach had gotten use to food again and she could eat without worrying about it coming up later. She was slowly making progress on the unused muscles. After the second day she could walk and run, though only for a short time. She worked on her arms, she was determined to be able to string and shot her bow once again. It took her two more days to string even the most flexible bows. Slowly she built the muscles up and was soon able to string her long bow once again. Alanna and some of the Riders helped her with her practices until she got her deadly aim back.
A week later Daine heard the voice; it had awoke her every morning in her time with the Riders, and she had missed. Sarge's loud voice boomed across the section with the Riders, "All right, my lambs, time to start movin' out." The great sound was soon fallowed by the sound of the company packing up their belongings and taking down there tents.
At this she smiled, she could still remember the days she had woken, and fallowed instructions given to her with that same voice. It was the power that was held behind the voices that made the whole company of Riders respect and obey it. Sarge was the man in charge of training the future members of the Queen's Riders. He had befriended Daine when she first came to Tortall. Even though he was tough, he could also be kind.
Everyone began to pack up their things, and get ready to head back to their homes in Tortall. They were all anxious to see their homes again and what had changed while they were on their quest.
It was left unsaid but they were going to be heroes in the eyes of everyone left behind. They were not there so they could make their stories as colorful as they wanted, making themselves the heroes and saving everyone else. They all spent the ride home thinking up their stories and trying to make their stories as believable as possible. They couldn't wait till they could tell their friends and family of their made-up stories. They were all thinking up the stories that someday would get them into songs and tales of truth.
Everyone, that is, except Numair and Daine. They both were just happy to be with one another again. They were inseparable for the entire ride back to Tortall. They shared a room, of course, where they engaged upon many things that normal married couples did at night. On the rare occasions they were outside they would be kissing and talking of things that concerned their new life together. They were already making plans to move Daine's stuff into Numair's room and start to move new thing they might someday need into the spare room that had once occupied Daine. They talked of future children and the things they had to agree upon if they were to fight in separate battles. They knew they would be distracted in the fight by the other. They eventually agreed to try to stay together or to stay focused on the task at hand.
Everyone had visited Daine while she was still unable to walk or travel, so she was already caught up on all the new things and people in the castle. She knew of the new page, a girl that would need to be talked with about her new mount. The new girl was known as the Princess with the other pages, even when she had no royal blood. Daine was surprised to find out the fief where she lived was the same as hers, Snowsdale. She made a mental note to talk with this girl privately. She wanted to know everything that had happened since the time she left after her mother was killed. This would prove to be a great opportunity to see if she could risk a visit.
They returned just before the start of summer. This made Daine even happier to return. She could see her parents again; they could only visit during solstices and equinoxes. She would once again be protected by her parents if the stormwings decided to pop in to say hi again. It was a relief and yet somehow she wasn't sure if she wanted them to return. If they did Daine would probable be locked up in the tower she called home and be forbidden to leave.
… … …
Daine could hardly wait to meet the new page. "Princess" Rianna took to demanding respect from her fellow pages, and even the few squires who had mistakenly crossed her path, by refusing to obey the older pages who still found it fitting to make the younger ones fetch their things. Keladry, or Kel, and her friends had tried to get rid of these rules when she was a page. Now a knight, she and Alanna looked after the girl. They found she had the same uncanny ability with a bow as Daine and was also a wildmage. She would have been identical to Daine if it wasn't for her flowing waist length hair and shapely appearance. She had refused to cut her hair when she came to the palace; this was when the boys had taken to calling her "Princess" but not in the same respectful manner. She was tough like the boys and was just as good as, if not better than, the boys in almost everything. She could string and shot a bow as easily as Daine, she could wield a sword like any other boy and she was one of the best fighters in both armed and unarmed combat. All the field knights were already fighting over her even though she still had over three years till she was a squire, and Raoul's advice to stay away from having a female for a squire. Raoul did like having Kel as his squire but still didn't recommend it to his fellow knights. His experience had taught him not to pick females because their monthlies and their love-life with other squires. Rianna was still one of the best pages in the palace and was the odds-on favorite to win the new page tournaments.
The tournament was also a new thing. It was an annual event where knights got a chance to see the pages before they became squires and try to pick the best ones. Rianna had already shown the others she was going to beat a lot of the boys but still kept with her training and kept herself grounded instead of getting over confident and arrogant. The tournament was a time when the pages could test out their skills against anyone the chose. Rianna had not challenged anyone but was challenged by almost every other page. She refused to turn down a challenge and was faced with the new record. She would have to back out of a few, or the tournament would be over a week long. If the tournament was to go on that long the extra days would be Rianna in back to back challenges against almost every page that she hadn't already fought and some she had in earlier events.
Note: as I said before no one in this are people I actually made up (except for Rianna), they are all the brilliant thoughts of my hero, Tamara Pierce, things have been seriously tweaked from the first draft of this. Length for instance, I thought it was too long efore and it makes more sense to cut it in half for me. Well, I must put my nose to the page again and return to writing, untill then happy reading, hope you enjoy it.