Thank you all so much for the reviews! I'm actually really surprised I got any, but happy all the same. Looking back on the first chapter, I realized I made a lot of grammatical and spelling mistakes and I'm about to rip my hair out right now because of them. Not to mention my older brother somehow got onto my FanFiction account and started making fun of me for the story. When I slapped him, I magically felt better. That'll teach him to mess with Daine and Numair! I don't own any of Tamora Pierce's characters, just so everyone knows and I don't get sued. On with the continuation of By Candlelight…

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Chapter 2

As they pitched camp that night, Numair looked at his love and companion with worry in his eyes. "Are you all right, magelet?" he questioned anxiously. "You've been quiet all day."

Daine sighed - she wouldn't lie to Numair, but how could she tell him how frightened she was of facing spidrens again? Her experience with them in the Divine Realms had truly been frightening, and would remain in her memory for all time. Although the experience had led to her relationship with Numair, which was an undeniable plus, it was still horrifying to think about.

"Just a tad nervous, is all," Daine murmured. That wasn't a lie, at least. Just an understatement.

Kitten, who had come on this adventure, came toddling over curiously, whistling in concern for Daine. Her usual sky blue scales turned a worrisome greenish-blue, almost a teal, in anxiety. She wasn't a very large dragon, considering, as she was still an infant in the ways of her kind. She was nearly three feet long now, not including her foot-long tail and her rectangular head that was on a slender neck. Her scales, like all dragons', changed color based on the emotions she felt.

"Shush, Kit," Daine said to her dragon companion, who whistled again as Daine pulled her bedroll and pack from Cloud's saddle. Numair had turned his back now, apparently having been satisfied by her answer, and was unaware of the conversation between girl and dragon.

I thought the stork-man was your mate, Cloud commented slyly, obviously aware of the conversation. Why will you not tell him of this fear? Even I can smell it on you, as can the young dragon. Tell him, or perhaps I will.

And how do you plan to do that? Daine demanded of her pony friend. Bite him?

Cloud snorted and shook out her mane. Daine's tone of voice hadn't pleased her. Instead of answering, Cloud just nudged Daine away none too gently with her muzzle. Kitten just chattered, as her scales remained their teal color. Spots stood off to the side, near Numair, nickered gently, also having heard the conversation.

Numair wasn't that oblivious to his surroundings, and heard the combined chattering and nickering of the horses and Kitten. Having been around Daine just about longer than anyone else in the world, he knew this was a cause of either worry or stress. So he turned to find Daine attempting to shush the young dragon, her eyes avoiding his as she dutifully set out her bedroll and began gathering things for cooking their dinner from her pack.

"Magelet?" he asked. When Daine pretended to ignore him, he set his belongings on the ground and went to put a hand on her shoulder. "Daine, what's wrong?"

Daine shuddered. She didn't want to admit that she was frightened of the spidrens so. If Numair knew, he wouldn't even let her get within a hundred yards of the blasted creatures, and then he would get himself hurt trying to fight them all off at once. The thought of that alone was enough to send a shiver through her.

But Daine also knew that if she lied, Numair would know. And she knew that telling lies to Numair hurt him, and she wouldn't have been able to live with herself if she knew that she had hurt the one man she had ever truly loved. "The spidrens," came her quiet confession. "They make me fair frightened, because of what happened in the Divine Realms. Them webs weren't the most comfortable, and I… I may have very well suffocated them if Leaf hadn't been there…" The thought of Leaf, her darking friend who had died in the battle against Ozorne, brought tears to her eyes.

Numair misinterpreted the tears and took Daine into his arms, hugging her tightly against his chest like he had in the castle. This time, however, he rested his chin atop her head, using one of his hands to stroke the mass of tangle curls.

"Magelet, sweet, I know you hate spidrens," he whispered. He felt Daine shudder underneath his arms, and he hugged her tighter to him, wishing he could protect her from all of the dangers in the world. "But Jon asked us to do this, and you know we can't fail." Now he felt her nod against his chest. He continued, "If we're both careful, we'll be perfectly fine. I'll make sure nothing happens to you, sweet, and I know you'll make sure that nothing happens to me. We'll look out for each other, just like we used to before the Divine Realms. The spidrens are our mission, and if we don't get rid of them, they'll go straight for Corus."

Daine nodded again against him.

Now that this pity fest is over, can you please get over your ridiculous fear and get me some oats out of that pack of yours? Cloud asked mercilessly. Spots is hungry too, in case you blockheads haven't noticed.

Spots stamped his foot a little impatiently. I can speak for myself, madam, he retorted, breaking his usual calm charade. Take your time, Daine. He dipped his head and turned away, nibbling on a patch of nearby grass.

Daine pulled away from Numair, glaring at her mare, before turning back to her love and smiling up at him. She stood on her tiptoes, and Numair caught on instantly. He swept her off her feet, kissing her soundly before placing her back on the ground. He winked and said softly,

"If anything, magelet, let that be proof that I'll never let anything happen to you," he said with a mischievous wink.

Daine smiled, this time in amusement. Numair could always make her feel better, even better than Cloud could. At hearing this thought, her pony stamped angrily and let out a frustrated whinny.

Numair looked at Cloud, a mirroring amusement in his own eyes. "I'm guessing you'll need to go and take care of that," he said with a grin. "You go feed Cloud, while I get prepared with feeding us. I'll put a ward around the camp too - never knowing who might be out here and looking for a pretty girl like you."

Daine laughed at the absurdity of this suggestion before going and tending to her pony, who nipped at Daine impatiently as she approached. Feed me, Cloud ordered her before whickering as Numair's warding spell nearly singed off the end of her tail. And tell your stork-man to be more careful with his silly black magic.

Smiling, Daine followed her pony's request.

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That night, Daine was awoken by two shivering fox cubs. They were sniffling, but seemingly comforted by the fact that they were hiding in Daine's bedroll. As she slowly awoke, the cubs nuzzled Daine worriedly as if afraid.

"Good evening, you two darling things," Daine murmured as she opened her bedroll a bit further to reveal the two fox cubs, their wide chocolate brown eyes fixated on the Wildmage (Daine's official title throughout the kingdom). "What's wrong? You seem so frightened."

Momma killed, squeaked the smaller of the two pups. Its voice was decidedly female, and this one's coat was a brighter orange. It became darker around her rump, and her large ears were pricked forward. Poppa gone.

Momma said Wildmage nearby, confided the larger one, this one male. Daine saw his tail flick nervously, there was a tuft of white on the end of it as opposed to his sister's, which was plain. Momma said Wildmage protect. Momma said warn Wildmage.

Daine frowned, and pulled the two fox pups closer. They were comforted by the contact. Their fur was matted and dirty, and Daine was sure she could feel a cut in the female's fur. With a quick glimpse of her magic, she could see both of them had been injured. The two cubs must have gotten into trouble of some sort, which concerned her. What would anyone, or anything for that matter, want with two fox cubs such as these?

Remembering that Numair was asleep, she asked mentally, Warn the Wildmage of what, little ones?

Big spider-humans, the little female urged, without waiting for her brother to speak. They come and destroy home. Making big nests in trees. Family den underneath huge web nest, so spider-humans come and destroy home. Killed Momma.

Daine froze. Spider-humans meant spidrens, which made her shiver herself. The two cubs cuddled closer to her body, ironically providing comfort of their own for the young woman. She gulped and petted both smoothly along the head. They both enjoyed the feeling.

What did your Ma tell you to warn me about specifically? Daine then asked them.

The two cubs looked at each other. Spider-humans talk about Wildmage and long-legged stork-man, the male informed her. Say they kill them. Say they suck blood from veins and eat them. Say they trap Wildmage and long-legged stork-man in web nests. Scary.

Daine was sure she went pale in that instant, and the scent of her fear obviously reached the cubs, because they whined uncomfortably. They nuzzled her with their soft, wet noses, trying to calm her. Daine gulped, closing her eyes tightly and tried to get the words the fox cubs had spoken out of her head. It was a mistake. Instead, images of past nightmares came leaping to her mind. Helpless to her own memory and dreams, Daine couldn't stop the onslaught of horrible pictures.

Numair wriggling in a mass of sticky gray web, a strand of it sewn over his mouth to keep him from speaking. Blood trickles from his temple as he struggles, and suddenly Daine hears him as clear as day even though he is gagged. "Help me," he says continually. Daine leaps up to help him, only to find that she is being held to the ground beneath him by that same gray web. She screams helplessly as a spidren crawls down from the tree and cackles, showing off its sharp silvery fangs. It turns to Numair, and Daine shrieks in agony as she watches her lover get devoured…

"NO!" Daine shrieked out loud, shooting up in her bedroll and sending the two cubs sprawling onto the ground beneath her. The male yelped as he struck the ground on his side - there was internal damage done to his rib on the dash here.

"Magelet?" There was no hint of sleepiness in Numair's voice as he too shot up in his bedroll, looking at Daine with panic in his eyes. "Magelet, what happened? Are you all right?"

Daine sobbed before she could stop herself. Why did she have such a horrible image in her mind? Before she could comprehend what was happening, she was tucked safely in someone's lap - Numair's no doubt, and he was cooing to her gently. He murmured nonsense comfort until she calmed down, and looked up at him through tearstained eyes. He wiped away the remaining tears from her face and looked at her in worry.

"Daine?"

"The fox cubs…" Daine managed to get out. The instant she said it, the two young cubs were before the her and Numair, looking up innocently. "They… they warned me. The spidrens, Numair… they know who we are and that we're coming. They want to kill us, Numair. They want to eat us."

"Sweet, I've told you time and time again that I won't let any such things happen," Numair assured her quietly. "We'll take care of those spidrens together, and everything will turn out alright. Now, who are your new friends?" His eyes went to the two fox cubs, who were crowding eagerly at his feet.

"This is… what are your names?" Daine paused, glad for the distraction, and looked down at the two cubs.

The female bowed her head in shame. No names, she told Daine quietly, obviously ashamed of this. Fox cubs do not get names until great deed. Then foxes known for great deed for the rest of lives because of name. Brother and I have no names because we have no great deeds.

Our Momma was called Wildcat, because she scared away big wildcat from little brothers and sisters, the male provided excitedly.

Daine relayed this to Numair, who looked down at the two cubs with amusement and interest in his eyes. "I think these two have certainly earned their names, then," he announced. "They've done deeds worth reckoning, I think. Why don't you name them Daine?"

Daine considered this, and then gently picked up the male. He yelped as her hand came into contact with his broken rib, and she frowned. "I think I'd best heal them first. Then I can give them their names," she said to Numair, who nodded. He hid a yawn behind one of his large hands, but nothing ever escaped Daine about the lanky mage. She told him to go to bed, and that she'd wake him if anything else happened. Meekly and tiredly, Numair obeyed and climbed into his bedroll. He was asleep within moments.

Daine looked at her newfound friends, and smiled. She cradled the male in her arms delicately and studied the extent of the damage.

Is Wildmage really going to give names? the female asked excitedly.

"If you'd like them," Daine said quietly. "I'm sure it was your mother's job to give you names, wasn't it?"

But Momma gone, the male reminded her. You Momma now?

Daine considered this. She didn't exactly know if she would be able to take care of these two cubs. The mission she and Numair were on was very dangerous, as the cubs had just confirmed, and they would no doubt be in danger. But, as she knew from the wilderness, they would be in much more trouble if she didn't take care of them. On the other hand, Cloud wouldn't be too pleased carrying two carnivores on her back, and neither would Spots. Even though they were just babies, they would grow up to be fierce hunters. But… how could she leave these two all alone where they would either starve or be hunted by other animals?

"I s'pose," was all she said to the little animals, her two new charges. "Now, hold still. I'm going to heal you first, and then I'll give you your names."

The excitement that radiated off the two cubs was practically tangible. Daine smiled and closed her eyes, letting the wild magic from within her heart spring to life. She set to work.

She sewed together bone and repaired damaged muscles in the male. That took nearly an hour in itself. She was lucky - it had been a clean break and no internal organs had been punctured in the process. The muscle around it was a tad damaged naturally, so Daine took her time sorting that out and making sure it was alright.

Once the male was finished, she set him down. The female jumped up onto Daine's lap without a second thought, eager because she could tell that her brother had been completely healed. She wanted to see what Daine had done. Her curious personality made Daine giggle adoringly, and she picked up the little female despite her aching muscles and cradled the little creature to her chest.

The female hadn't suffered nearly as much damage. Daine had to burn out the beginning of an infection in the scratch on the cub's side, and then healed over a small bruise that was forming in her skull - she must have hit her head on something. When she set the female down then, the expected wave of exhaustion rolled over her and Daine crawled back to her bedrolls. The pups followed eagerly, bushy tails wagging.

Names? the male asked excitedly.

Daine yawned and smiled as she got into her bedroll. "I suppose so, little ones."

Now, she knew that if special names were given for special deeds, then the names had to be symbolic. The names had to be important, something that the cubs could be proud of when they told other animals their names someday. So, with all the energy she had left, Daine concentrated on picking out names.

Remembering taking a good look at the male's muscled legs during his healing, she grinned at the young cub. "You must have been awful fast and strong to bring your sister here, which means you're a fast runner. Which is just what I'll call you. Runner."

The newly named Runner yipped at his new name, puffing his chest out with pride. He flicked his white-tipped tail and looked at his sister expectantly.

Daine looked at the female now, who was watching Daine with thrilled chocolate brown eyes. In those eyes, Daine could see a bright soul that had a lot of life within it. All in all, she had a lot of spirit. "And you're a very brave little fox cub, sweetling, for having come all this way with your brother. Courage comes from the heart and from spirit, which is what you're name will be. Spirit."

Spirit perked her ears and yipped at her new name. Runner nudged his sister affectionately, and the two looked at Daine expectantly now.

Momma now? Runner repeated the question from earlier, tilting his head to the side.

Daine smiled sleepily and opened her bedroll a little wider so the two cubs could climb in. "Of course, little ones. I'll look after you," she assured them. Runner and Spirit climbed in obediently and curled up by her chest, falling asleep almost instantly. It had been a rather long day for them. Daine smiled, knowing how they felt, and felt herself drifting off to sleep.

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Two Weeks Earlier

"These are the two you want? Why?"

The mage being spoken to growled, and turned to face his questioner. "Those two are instrumental to King Jonathan of Conté of Tortall, and my master wants to see Tortall grovel to him under a rock. After them, we'll target the legendary Lioness and then his queen and children. I want every last one of them at my mercy."

"But this is a complicated job. I want to be paid heaps for this," snipped the questioner, a pirate who was wise and skilled beyond his slightly aged years. "These are all very valuable people you're asking of me."

"My master knows this," snapped the mage, obviously impatient. "You will be paid five times your weight in gold and the weight of your ship in silver. You'll have enough wages to never have to pirate my cargo ships ever again. Is that clear?"

The pirate considered this, stroking his blond beard with a wry smile on his face. "Crystal, sire," he answered. "Now I'd like to know who exactly I'm workin' for. Mind telling me who you are?"

"My name is none of your concern, scum," the mage hissed as he whipped around to face the pirate with a glare in his eyes. "Can you get the job done or not?"

"You're insulting a man and his work, sire," the pirate teased, standing. He smirked at his new employer as he folded his arms tightly across his broad chest. "I'm in quite a good deal with some spidrens who've been looking for a new place to nest for quite some time now. I give them one or two of my crewmembers when those numbskull lads cross me. I'm sure I could direct them into Tortall with a little persuasion."

"I want the two alive, you pick-pocketed dimwit," the mage snarled. "Numair Salmalín and Veralidaine Sarrasri will be no use to me dead. Make sure you tell your spidren friends that."

The pirate stroked his beard again. "As you wish, sire," he said with a bow before exiting the room.

The mage grumbled under his breath. He turned back to his mirror, his best scrying tool, and looked at the famous mage and his lover again. The two were riding on ponies it seemed, the ponies and their riders exhausted. The mage smiled wickedly and ran a hand through his dark hair. These two would be easy prey, and they would be the first step in taking over Tortall. The kingdom would soon belong to a new ruler, and though the mage was not said new ruler, he would definitely be a part of the ruling class. He couldn't wait.

For just about all mages loved power.


EOC: I decided to slip in a little bit of a villain at the end, to make sure the story looked like it had an ulterior plot other than the spidrens, which it does. Not as dangerous as Ozorne, I'll admit, or as exciting, but I figured Daine and Numair need a little bit more of an adventure.

As for Runner and Spirit, I love foxes and baby foxes are even cuter! I have a picture of the adorable little things on my profile for anyone who wants to take a look at them. So cute! Haha, but I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I hope you aren't too annoyed by the sudden appearance of Spirit and Runner. And no, Kit didn't disappear in the night... she'll be there in the morning to meet the innocent little fox cubs. Please review, and thank you once again for the kind reviews last time! I'll keep working on this story at full force. Daine and Numair fluffiness and awesomeness must continue!