So, it's been a while. I know, I know, you're all pretty ticked with me (but you're secretly loving me right now because I posted this chapter). I have excuses/reasons/whatever you want to call them for this. As we speak, I'm grounded right now. Completely, except on the weekends when I have nothing to do. I have no computer, except for on Saturdays and Sundays, because of PSATs. My mom got my score, and claimed it wasn't good enough because I didn't become a National Merit Scholar. So, I've sort of been short on time when it comes to the computer. But I finally managed to get on, finish this chapter, and post it for you guys. Please know I haven't quit on this story. This chapter's really inspired me, I guess, for some good angst and fluff ('cause that's what I'm good at - sorry, action-lovers).

Whew! That was a long author's note. Please know, however, that Immortals and all the characters belong to Tamora Pierce! And also, I've got a picture of Spirit and Runner on my profile. I found a pic of them - so cute! On with the story! (PS: I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes in here - I posted this as soon as I finished it.)

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Chapter 3

Wildmage! Wildmage! Your mate said wake you! exclaimed the voice of little Spirit as she leaped onto Daine's bedroll.

Daine grumbled as she came to, and pulled the covers over her head. "Numair, don't have these rascals wake me! I'm tired, you troublesome mage!" she snapped in an aggressive manner. The covers muffled her voice, but her lover heard her just the same, and laughed.

He was sitting at the remains of a small fire they had built the night before, his dark hair already tied back and breakfast in his hands. Runner was laying down at his side, playing with a pinecone that had fallen from the nearby trees excitedly as if it were an enemy of his. Kitten looked on, curious at the newcomer, with her head tilted at an angle.

"Magelet, you'll have to get up sometime," Numair chuckled as Spirit came bounding back to him, her tail wagging back and forth like a usual dog's. Her ears were perked and her fur was slightly fluffed as she sat at the mage's feet.

Mothers have no time to sleep, Spirit pointed out rather cheerfully. Mothers protect fox cubs. Mother Wildmage get up and protect Spirit and Runner.

Daine groaned. Numair was the only person she would dare complain to these days. If she had been this stubborn with Onua when she'd first come to Tortall… well, she wouldn't exactly be the girl she was now. If she had been this stubborn with Numair when she'd first started learning from him… she didn't exactly know what would have happened then. As she thought about this, her mind began to fully function, and she sat up, no longer as tired as before. She leaned back on her arms and gazed at her lover thoughtfully.

"Numair, may I ask a silly question?" she asked.

"Ask away, my dear," he said as he handed her a bowl of porridge that he'd made. Daine's sharp eyes didn't miss the fact that Spirit's eyes followed the bowl that was transferred between man and young woman.

Daine considered how to word her inquiry for a moment as she accepted a spoon from Numair. "How did you feel about me when we first met? When I was your student at first," she said. They had never really spoken about this before, and Daine had merely asked it on a whim. They often had conversations like this one, where one of them would get curious about something and ask the other about it.

Numair too seemed to consider his own words before speaking. He swallowed a mouthful of porridge before saying, "It was strictly a student-teacher relationship, magelet. Before that Midwinter's Day, I suppose I had been falling in love with you the months preceding that. Perhaps even in Carthak." They both shuddered at the memory. "But before then… you were only a best friend and a student to me then. I'm sorry if you were looking for another answer."

"No," Daine said, not hurt in the least. "Just curious, is all."

Numair looked at her, seeing nothing but sincerity in her eyes and expression. Warmth seeped into his heart as his love for her became even greater, if that were possible. Daine was understanding, and she was such a strong woman - even if she didn't realize it herself. She never questioned his honesty, and was never hurt by anything he said. He never had to worry about saying the wrong thing, because no matter how much of a mess he made out of things, she could always understand him and know he wasn't lying.

Daine, on the other hand, just looked back down at her porridge and began eating it. As she ate, her eyes swiftly moved to young Spirit and Runner, whom were both playing with the pinecone now.

She thought about what they had told her the night before, about the spidrens. There was no doubt in her mind that the creepy-crawlies were after her and Numair, but the question was why. She considered this as she ate her breakfast, aware that Cloud and Kitten had picked up on the calculating tenors of her thoughts. Her pony had come to stand behind her, while Kitten had abandoned her post of watching the fox cubs to curl up at Daine's side.

"What are you thinking about, sweet?" Numair asked as he put his bowl into the pack of dirty dishes they carried with them whenever on a journey like this. "Your forehead scrunches up when you're thinking about something critical."

"About the spidrens. Not about the worry anymore, but… I just wonder why they want us," Daine said thoughtfully, as she fully climbed out of her bedroll and began putting it away. It was time to move on. "Spidrens just attack folk… they don't care about who they attack. I can't help but thinking there's something wrong with this."

"Magelet, the best we can do is be careful and send a message of some kind to Jon when we reach the village. Which we'll never do if you don't get moving," Numair commented with a grin when Daine childishly stuck her tongue out at him.

This is lovely and heartwarming, you two, Cloud fiendishly butted in, nudging Daine impatiently. But I for one don't want to be standing here useless all day. Let's go.

"Be patient, you impish four-legged beast," Daine spat back in an irritated manner. "Or I will find you a dumpling man and sell you in a heartbeat."

I've learned not to fall for that trick, Cloud pointed out with a snort. You don't scare me.

Kitten chortled nearby. She was gathering up some of Numair's things with her paws and was handing him scrolls of empty parchment and other such things he used whenever on a trip. She had taken to helping take down camp these days, and was surprisingly very good at it. And she obviously found Cloud's comment rather funny, as she could understand all tongues - whether they were People or twoleggers.

What is dumpling man? Spirit questioned as she and her brother bounded over to Daine as she finished tying her bedroll down onto Cloud's back.

It's where evil little creatures like you go when you do something you aren't told, Cloud told them sharply, flicking her tail threateningly. It was obvious she didn't approve of Daine adopting the two fox cubs.

Spirit's eyes widened and looked at Daine worriedly. Mother Wildmage, pony sayings true?

Daine laughed at the anxiety in the little cub's tone, but nodded. "If you're good and behave, then you never have to be worried about turning into a dumpling."

Numair, meanwhile, glanced over at Daine and smiled to himself. A few years ago, if someone asked him how he felt about Daine talking to animals, he would have said he felt left out. Nowadays, now that he understood her so much better, he didn't feel left out at all. Speaking with animals was one of her many skills, and one of the many things that made her so amazing to him. He knew he held a special place in her heart, and he had a special trust in her that he'd never had in anyone else before, not even Alanna or the king.

She turned around to smile at him. "Are you ready?" she asked.

Numair nodded and hastily swung up onto Spots's back. As usual, the pony whickered at the ungraceful mounting, but didn't respond otherwise. Spots had been his faithful mount for a very long time, and he never threw Numair off unless something was terribly wrong.

Daine, of course, had no trouble getting on Cloud, listening to the fox cubs bicker about who won against the pinecone.

I won against little enemy, Spirit protested, ears flat against her head. They trotted to keep up with Cloud's walk, and Daine wondered if they would be able to keep up once their small party hit the road.

No. I win, Runner said stiffly, trotting alongside his sister. I had good paw-swipe, like Mother taught.

Spirit huffed, and Daine covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle at the sound. But I had good pounce. Just like Mother taught too.

Kitten, whom was riding in a saddlebag with Daine, and had climbed in before they'd gotten moving, squawked down at the two cubs. Spirit and Runner looked up at her and the pair of them flattened their ears against their heads. This was the typical reaction whenever an animal paid attention to Kitten the first time, and it often made Kitten very lonely whenever she was on a trip.

Don't be scared, little ones, Daine told them silently, patting Kitten on the head. The dragon had turned a sullen gray at the cubs' reactions, and had hung her head almost in a shameful manner. This is Skysong, and she's what we call a dragon. We call her Kitten, or Kit. She won't hurt you - she only wants a friend.

Spirit and Runner looked at each other, seeming to consider something before looking back at Daine.

Can I be in saddlebag with K-Kitten? Runner asked.

Kitten, her scales instantly turning back to their usual sky blue, whistled her cheer, causing Runner to jump back in alarm. Even Spirit seemed to wince as she trotted along beside Cloud.

"Kit, if you want him to be nice to you, you can't scare him like that," Daine scolded, and Kitten made a whining sound that sounded like an apology.

Before anything else could happen, Numair called from up ahead. "You'd best pull the two fox cubs up into your saddlebags, Daine! We're going to reach the road very soon, and when we get to it, I want to ride as fast as we can so we can get to Whelan before night falls."

"Are you sure you want to ride in the saddlebags with Kitten?" Daine asked as she quickly pulled Cloud to a halt. She hopped out of the saddle and knelt down to pick up the fox cubs.

Runner paused for a brief second before saying, I brave enough. Ride in saddlebag with dragon.

"Alright, but it's your choice. I won't have time to pull you back out once we get to the road - we're going to be very busy," Daine warned him as she gingerly picked him up and put him in the same saddlebag as Kitten.

The response was instantaneous. Very courteously, Kit dipped her head to the young fox cub and allowed him to sniff her, which he did so with a grave air. As Daine placed Spirit in another saddlebag on the other side of Cloud, she heard a small bark and rushed back around to see what was the matter.

There wasn't anything wrong. Runner and Kitten were gently wrestling in the saddlebag, being careful not to break anything as they nipped at each other playfully and rolled around in the bag.

Smiling to herself, Daine mounted Cloud again. Be careful, we're about to go fast, she warned her passengers, and saw that Numair hadn't stopped and was pretty far ahead - he was about to get to the road.

She heard Runner and Kitten stop their play, and Spirit hunker down into her saddlebag. Cloud snorted as Daine spurred her into a gallop, and together Daine and her passengers rushed to catch up to Numair.

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"Whelan," Numair announced as they walked over a small hill. A little town was clustered at the base of it, and there were a few homes scattered around the town itself. The forest was very close to the edge of it, and Daine understood why they were having problem with the spidrens.

"What are we going to do when we get there?" Daine asked. They hadn't discussed this yet.

Numair seemed to consider this for a moment. "We'll get rooms at the inn, perhaps clean up a bit, and then we'll go see who the head of the town is and speak with him… or her," he said. "I want to see what the problem is exactly before we come up with a plan of attack, or defense. I like having evidence and solid facts in front of me before I make a full plan. And Jon expects this place to be clear of spidrens by the time we leave - and I plan on living up to his expectations."

Daine nodded and let out a sigh. She didn't miss how he had said rooms rather than room. As Numair urged Spots into a trot, she huffed and caught up with him.

"Why aren't we sharing a room? It would save money," she protested diplomatically.

Numair sighed, and looked at Daine out of the corner of his eye. "Magelet, sharing a room with you would push my limits. And the people in this town would get the wrong idea."

"What wrong idea? That we're in love, and we don't want to be apart for too long?" she demanded. She wasn't going to let this go easily.

"You know what wrong idea they would get, sweetling, and I'm not going to risk folks thinking that about you," Numair answered quietly. "I'm sick of people thinking that since you were once my student, you had to pay for it in… in, well, my bed. There's hardly anyone in Tortall that doesn't know who we are, and most of them know that you were my student. The rumors spreading around, now that we're officially in love, are bad enough. Imagine what they would start thinking if you began sharing a bed with me! Magelet, I don't want to see you have to go through that."

Daine scowled. "I can handle it, Numair, I'm not a child anymore," she retorted.

"I'm not saying you are a child," Numair replied carefully. "Please try and understand why I'm doing this, magelet. I love you. I care about you. And I don't want you to be disgraced because of me."

"None of that matters," Daine protested, her frown turning into a grimace. "I was disgraced plenty in Snowsdale, Numair, I can-"

"No, Daine." Numair looked down, an unknown emotion filling his eyes. "Magelet, I know what happened in Snowsdale. And as your… and as the man who cares about you most in this world, I will not let something like that happen again. That is why we're not sharing a room."

Daine huffed stubbornly. "But I want to share a bed with you," she growled, glaring at him. "Snowsdale is in my past, and it always will be. What will happen when I'm a few years older? Will you still not share a bed with me because of silly rumors about us? You can't hide behind that excuse forever, Numair."

"I'm not hiding, magelet," Numair whispered.

"Then what is this? Because I have said, time and time again, that I don't care about all those rumors! What people think of me doesn't matter. Alanna, Thayet, Jonathan… all of my true friends in Tortall know who I am and they would know those rumors aren't true. That's all I ask, and that's all I need," Daine told him pointedly.

Numair's hands clenched around the reins. "Daine, I'm not hiding behind any excuses. Do you want the complete truth? If you share a bed with me, magelet, in nothing but a nightgown, I won't be able to control myself! I'll take away something from you that you can never take back! I don't want you to lose your virtue because I couldn't handle sleeping next to you. I would never be able to forgive myself. And that, magelet, is why I will not share a bed with you in Whelan. Not until you're ready."

"Ready?" Daine blinked, surprised by his outburst. "Numair, who are you to judge when I'm ready?"

"Daine, I've taken so many other women's virtues," he whispered, his voice tortured. "I won't do the same to you."

"Numair, I'm not those other women," she then answered softly, trying to think of the best way to gently persuade him. "I can handle it, and I'm ready. I don't… I want you Numair. I love you. Isn't that enough?"

"Magelet, you're making it hard enough as it is," Numair said in response. "Please stop asking me to do this…"

"Odd's bob's, Numair, I'm going to ask you however many times it takes," Daine shot at him. Her stormy blue eyes were narrowed at the man riding across from her. "Why can't we be like a normal couple?"

Numair sighed. "Magelet, it's the last time I'm saying this. We are not sharing a bed when we get to Whelan. I will not put your honor in jeopardy in such a way. And I will not sleep with you!" He turned his head away from her, and Daine could tell she wasn't going to get any more out of him. Daine groaned her frustration and felt like hitting something. But, being on Cloud, she knew she couldn't without getting bucked off and trampled over.

You seem angered, Cloud commented beneath her. Very angered indeed.

Daine glared at her pony, who kept her eyes on the road ahead. She didn't feel like speaking aloud, so she said silently, Really? Who did you get your information from?

Don't get so snippy with me, Cloud snapped. I will throw you off and leave you in the dirt if you continue to take that tone with me.

What is matter, mother Wildmage? Spirit asked, peeping her reddish-brown head out of the saddlebag she was hiding in. Angry at mate?

Daine sighed. My mate is being fair stubborn.

Spirit seemed to contemplate this. Runner, who also peeped his head out, perked his ears at Daine. Mate will not share den with mother Wildmage. Why? Is mother Wildmage's mate frightened of mother Wildmage?

Something like that, I think, Daine answered, glancing back at Numair. I'm fair certain he's afraid of what will happen to me, more or less.

Silliness, Spirit piped up.

Runner doesn't agree, Runner amended.

Kitten stuck her head out of her and Runner's saddlebag and whistled her own agreement to the mix.

Cloud snorted. Well I for one think the stork-man is being sensible, she commented, adding her own two-sense to the mix. Before Daine could argue, Cloud flicked an ear. But keep quiet and listen. The stork-man cares about you and what could happen to you. The twoleggers in Tortall are civil enough, but think of the folk outside of it. Remember Snowsdale. Remember that desert-like place you went to where you came back disgustingly clingy to the stork-man. Think of them. Also think of the people in them.

I don't understand, Daine said carefully.

Cloud snorted again. Of course you don't. Because you are obviously too stubborn to see past your own thick skull. Your stork mage is only trying to protect you. Remember what I just said. Though this place, Tortall, is a good home full of good people, there are other places that are not so welcoming. You sharing a fluffy cot with your mate will arise rumors. And some rumors will contain how closely you two are connected. Others, those from the less friendly places, will use that information. It is not only for your sake, but for your mage's as well. Her ears flicked and Cloud inconspicuously glanced over at the quiet mage. I honestly believe the hopeless stork-man couldn't live to see you hurt.

Daine considered this. She realized what Cloud was trying to say, what Numair was trying to say. But, at the same time… She looked at the man she loved so much. Was she really that much of a vulnerable target? "Numair," she said quietly. "If this about my life being in danger, or about my honor, I think I understand."

"Do you?" Numair looked at Daine through the corner of his eye. They were approaching the fringes of the town, and Numair reigned Spots in. Daine copied his actions, and both of their ponies came to a stand still. "Magelet, I have never felt this way about anyone in my life. I… I revolve around you. I need to protect you from whatever-"

"No, Numair." He looked to see that Daine was staring at him evenly, an unknown expression in her beautiful stormy eyes. "You don't. I can handle myself in any situation. And I'm not just talking about the rumors, and the whisperings behind my back. Cloud explained to me that you're afraid of more than just that. You're afraid of me getting hurt. Trust me, Numair, I won't. Not only do I have the People to protect me if, gods forbid, you aren't available, but if you can recall, I'm in fair good fighting conditions myself."

"Magelet, I-"

"There isn't any need for apologies. Not from you," Daine whispered. "So please. I do love you Numair, so much. I don't want anything more. I just want to spend an evening with you. I don't want to have to say goodnight and not see you again for hours."

Numair looked pained, caught in a dilemma. He looked at Daine, the only woman he had ever loved like this, who had an almost pleading gaze. Oh, how he wanted to spend his nights with her too. Holding her, kissing her, keeping her close where no enemy could ever get her… but that was just the thing. Though he had said it was because of the rumors, and because of the honor that all women held dear, that was only part of it. He knew that in other countries, his reputation wasn't exactly unknown. Foreign mages feared his presence, his magic. Governments and kings and emperors and empresses respected him.

But, he had his enemies. There were those that still opposed him. People he had known once, people that would now probably wish to see him dead.

They couldn't hurt him. He knew that. His gaze landed on Daine.

But they could hurt her. Numair wasn't a fool - he knew he could not always be at her side to protect her. And though Daine was right, and she could hold herself in a fight as she'd said. But against a Gift such as his own? He wasn't so sure. He had watched Daine face down Ozorne in Carthak, when she had been a hyena and enraged beyond all reason. Ozorne's Gift had not been in full power, and Numair knew that if it had been, Daine would not be sitting on her pony today, so close to him.

From what he knew of Daine's final battle against Ozorne, the details she had given him, Ozorne too had been out of Stormwing magic there.

Daine could fight. But she couldn't fight magic. Hers had its limits.

That's what frightened him.

Daine seemed to read his thoughts, and she reached across the small space between them and gently took his hand. "Numair, I know you're scared for me. But you don't have to be. I just want to spend more time with you. All the time that I can. It doesn't matter who's after me, or any of those things."

Numair let out a painful sigh, but then came to a resolution. "I'll try," he said firmly. "We'll try this here, in Whelan. But so help me, magelet, if you make one move that will make me lose my control, we will never share the same bed again as long as you live. Do you understand me?"

"You're as clear as crystal," Daine replied, rolling her eyes.

Together, the pair of them ventured down into Whelan. It was time to officially begin this mission.


EOC: Proud of me, huh? Yeah, I'm fair proud of myself right now. Next chapter, the first confrontation with the spidrens mixed in with some beautiful fluff! =D Haha, and I was serious about that picture of Spirit and Runner. If you just want to go 'AWW' for about five minutes straight, check out the picture on my profile. I'm serious. Hope you guys liked that one, and sorry again if there were any serious grammar or spelling mistakes or things that just didn't seem right. I tried to post this as soon as I could. 'Til next time (which hopefully won't be too long from now, right?)! - Viv