Alanna

"So, how did it go last night?" inquired Alanna in an overly happy voice. Standing the in bright light her purple eyes sparkled. When she had at last got to sit down, from all the (forced) dancing with George, She had seen, Numair and lady Adeovia disappear out of the ballroom last night. Alanna hoped that it was a sign of Numair moving on.

As much as Alanna liked Daine and missed her, She couldn't quite forgive her for leaving. Daine had only left a letter, explaining that she had to leave, Alanna didn't get to say goodbye. In the days after Daine left, Alanna had noticed that all the animals were quiet and subdued. This was a sign that told Alanna that Daine wasn't coming back.

Cheeks blushing, Numair answered in a slightly sheepish maner

"We just talked. We walked around the gardens and talked about our lives. It was quite enjoyable."

Standing outside the stables where Alanna had tracked him down, he watched as the light streamed into the stable. The fragments of dust floating down, glittering in the sunny rays. Numair signed.

Alanna noticing that in the months since Daine has left, Numair had gained a few grey hairs. It made him seem tired and old.

"So will you be seeing her again?" Alanna innocently asked.

Numair turned to her, smiling, and muttered "maybe, maybe".

Just as Alanna was going to say more on the subject the dinner bell chimed, and Onua had appeared at the doorway of the stable. Alanna knew that this wasn't the time to coax Numair into dating another woman, as ouna still believed that Daine would come back. Alanna didn't share this belief, but wished that she did.

Daine

Staring into the dark eyes, Daine felt the swaying world, become stable.

"Come on Daine" Ozorne said beckoning her up the red stairs.

Daine readily followed. Grabbing Ozorne's hand like a needy child she smiles and followed him up the stairs. She didn't see or feel as she walked into many people, only seeing Ozorne's figure. He was the only object in Daine's mind everything else was secondary.

Even under the spell, Daine could feel that something was wrong, she felt that she should hate the man, that was guiding her though the throng of people. But she couldn't. She dismissed the sickening feeling in her stomach that something wasn't right. Even if things weren't right, very few things in Daines' life were. So tonight she ignored her gut instincts and followed a single ray of happiness, forgetting the burning sensation in her heart.

Feet gliding up the red-carpeted stairs, they walked onto the dim lit hallway bordered with doors. As she and Ozorne walked along they could hear creaking and muffled voices from the other side of strong wood doors, telling them that the rooms were accompanied. At the end of the hallway they came up to a locked door, Ozorne drawing a key from his breeches pocket, and inserting it into the lock and with a click they entered the dingy room.

Numair.

Absentminded, Numair picked at his food in the dinner hall. His thoughts were accompanied with lady Adeovia. He couldn't get over how elegant and sophisticated she looked. Along with looks, Adeovia was blessed with awe-inspiring intelligence. He had meant what he had said to Alanna, all they did last night was talk. But they talked about magic, astronomy, goddess's and gods. He was fascinated by her in-depth knowledge in magic, though she possessed little magic herself.

Numair was surprised when; king Jonathan clapped him on the back and took up a seat opposite him.

"So I here you and lady Adeovia got on well last night?" chuckled a grinning Jon.

Numair couldn't believe it; everyone thought he had bedded the lady. They couldn't understand that he was only fascinated by her knowledge not her physique. Suddenly angry that anyone could take the place of his magelet, he shouted

"Why must every interaction with a women when you are not married, be an assumed that the pair are involved intimately? Why would I want another women when I've got Daine!" Eyes bulging, Numair got up from the bench he was sitting at, and walked towards the door. Everyone in the room was staring.

"Numair, come on. I wasn't implying that, I was just commenting on how well you both got on with other, in a friendship way." Jon said carefully staring at his friend.

"Anyway, Its been months, maybe it is time to move on." Jon muttered but Numair still heard it.

"Don't tell me what to do. I…." Numair began speaking, his voice getting louder the longer he spoke and his face getting redder.

The door of the dinner room, banged open and a flustered looking guard ran in,

"Hurroks on the horizon heading this way!" everyone in the dinner room jumped up, worry plain on their faces.

"What do you want us to do your lordship?" the guard asked king Jon.

"Arms to the walls" Jon shouted over the loud crowd in the dinner hall, as everyone hurried out, to go the thick walls surrounding the castle.

Jon turning to Numair quietly saying

" If you wish to help, your strength would be very welcomed" and walked out, clearly upset about Numair yelling at him.

Numair sighed. As much as Numair was angry with Jon, he knew that it was his duty to protect the kingdoms and due to his friendship with Jon, he knew he had to go help. Numair Dashed out of the door, following Jon figure in the distance, he ran towards the incoming immortal's attack. Running towards death head on.