After the War

Disclaimer: I do not own the Immortals series, and I do not own Numair, if I did, well that would be the last you saw of him.

A/N: This is Daine talking to Animals; this is an animal talking to Daine

Chapter Four

A lone candle lit the window of a storage room, it gave off a little light, and it spread like butter onto the grass outside, illuminating the soft and friendly animals that curled up outside the door. A thin shadow would be cast from time to time, when the person inside would move from one side to the other. The room itself was a comfortable bedroom, no longer an old storage place. It had been home for several years, and now it was once again feeling the presence of its occupant. Though not for long. The morning that was soon approaching would bring not only the sun but also the absence of the inhabitant.

The light of extinguished at last and the yard outside fell into darkness, and the room fell into the dreams that waited. Terror and pain flashed across the human's eyelids, clearly a night terror holding tightly in its grips the lithe body that rested beneath the quilts. Fire danced in the mind and the smell of smoke invaded the nostrils, cold and pain tore at the limbs and blinding panic and savage behavior overtook the mind and body of one Daine Sarrasri. Her breathing became more mechanical and her body stiffened as if threatened by an impending disaster. In the throes of the pain that wracked her paralyzed body a pure coolness coated her body and soothed her aching joints and burning skin. The snow that suffocated her coated everything in the dream, smothering the voices and torches that came ever closer. Blocked out the men who hit her and the children who called her a bastard. A blanket of white clotted out the horrors and let her rest in the peace of comfort and the hope for closure.

The gentle tongue bathed her face with kisses and the face buried itself in her neck, lying down on her chest, curling up and nuzzling against the Wildmage. The soft purring roused the girl and made her giggle at the attention that she was receiving from the soft gray kitten. Putting her fingers underneath the small warm body, she lifted the little boy up and held him to her face, looking into his eyes. The golden brown eyes stared back, cocking his head slightly he yawned and stretched. She grinned at the cute gesture, What is your name handsome? Shadow, papa says I am to come with you today. Can I sleep in your lap? Please? Nice to meet you Shadow, you can call me Daine. Are you sure, you're supposed to come with me? Yes, papa says you need looking after like a kitten and I am oldest! Well then, let's get you breakfast.

Daine rose and settled the little companion in her arms nestled against her chest and went over to the kitchens that were just down the hall. Only a few people were there and she begged some fish and milk for her new friend. Taking the things back to her room, she filled the dishes and set the feline down on the floor. She moved away checking her things and going over the mental list. It had been a week since that meeting and the days had been filled with endless conferences addressing behavior and objectives, and general positions. Daine had learned that the King had an impressive herd of horses that were the pride of the nation. The king had asked for the Wildmage to come especially because he had heard of the miracles she had performed and the court mages had also expressed a great wish to meet the girl and teacher who had supposedly been taking care of a dragon and were rumored to have connections to the Realms of the Gods. Such a friendship with such a powerful nation would greatly benefit them.

The journey would take them to the border where they would be met by an envoy of Gallan nobles and would travel through the country to the capitol and the official convention would begin. The meetings would be in the mornings and the evenings would be filled with entertainments and balls. The Tortallan envoy would be much like it had been when they went to Carthak, but this time Daine would be going to meet with the mages, not as a student, but as a respected equal with knowledge to share. She and Numair would be talking about different magical theories and spells that have complicated origins. Daine was also there to give counsel on the culture to the Tortallans, because of course she was from Galla.

It would be a long journey for Daine; for she had never in her worst nightmare every thought of willingly going back to that land which had seen her worst days and her blood. As much as Numair understood the pain he understood nothing at all as well, he had met Sara, and learned more about Daine than anyone would or could ever guess. The pair were closer than anyone knew, and from their travel in the realms, they had learned to depend on each other and trust only each other to help and keep them safe. When he had battled the mage Inar, she had been afraid to say goodbye, for fear that, she would loose him. He too could barely whisper the words and when he had defeated the mage, he had thought he was done. He had sworn to Mithros that if he made it out he would keep Daine safe and convince her to marry him. To hell with their ages, he had learned better than anyone could have expected that love doesn't differentiate between ages or realms.

The sun began to spill into the room and Daine looked up from her things, checking on the kitten he had indeed finished his meal and was curled up in a ball on her bed. Smiling happily Daine packed extra jerky and dried fish for her cuddly companion. Kitten was chirping from her position on the bed sniffing at the new friend. The kitten didn't like the exploration and rolled over and off the bed with a small thunk. Daine laughed and moved around the bed to pick the kitten up, he purred and meowed a complaint about the dragon. She told the pair to behave and looked over at the corner of the room where a small tree stood on the desk; Zek was sleeping in a small knot of branches, she picked the pygmy marmoset up and set him gently on top of her pack. A knock on her door alerted her to Numair's presence outside the barracks. She lifted cage for Shadow and Zek up and mentally explained that they would have to share for now. The two set off to get to know each other and Daine laughed as she realized they both like to play little jokes on Kitten.

She opened the door and her lanky teacher swept into the room, "No need to make Alanna any crankier, she's mad because we aren't leaving early enough." He took in Daine's riding clothes, admiring her figure, and smiling as she grinned and giggled about what he had said. He took up her packs and she was left to pick up the dragonet and the cage, she followed the man that she loved out of the room locking it and looking back but only for a second. At this moment more than any she wanted to run back and hide beneath the covers, sighing she followed Numair up towards the stables to get Cloud situated. The group of laughing men, and a brooding Alanna were congregating around the group of horses and one wagon that held all of the packs. Spots was fidgeting beside Cloud who stood away from the other horses for everyone's safety. Daine quickly got her things into the wagon and silently greeted every animal she could. She patted Mangle and said a hello to Stephen as he handed Cloud's reigns to her. She settled the cage on the back of the saddle and mounted up, and Numair handed a rather irate Kitten over to her. She settled the bundle on her lap, and squirmed ignoring Cloud's complaints.

Numair gave her a charming grin and as he passed to get on his own horse he brushed her leg with his fingers making her spine tingle. She let her hand fall and her fingers brushed against the loose fabric, he looked back, gave her a predatory grin, and made sure no one was looking. When he was sure that there wasn't he lifted her hand and bent his head to kiss her fingertips, his eyes looking up and latching onto hers. He turned away and mounted up, unhappy that he would have to ride; after all he was a terrible rider. Daine smiled at the thought and the sneaky show of affection. She was anxious to get this trip over with, but knew that they might be in Galla for more than a month.

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So that was the fourth chapter, next they are on the road, a little more Numair and Daine stuff. Hope you all liked it, I am not going to update if I don't get helpful reviews. Just joking probably. Anyway like always please review and I will take your advice and questions into concern. Hope this was a bit longer. And I hope all my readers enjoyed. A special thanks to…

lucid.dreams

megsterbooklover

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Citty

You guys are just great; you always have good reviews and give me great feedback. Not to mention when I feel like I just can't write, I know that someone wants to read this story. So thanks very much you guys, and keep up the good work.

Daughter of the Black