Daine's two last, precious days of freedom went by quickly, and it was now the Fall Equinox. She slipped her very light blue dress on and looked at herself in the mirror. Her Ma was late in coming to do her hair and Daine was worried. "Calm down sweet one, I'm here," a good natured, willowy voice said behind her.
Daine turned quickly and hugged the woman in a normal cotton dress with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. "Ma, it's so good to see you."
The woman scowled and pushed her daughter away by her shoulders. "Why are you doing this Daine?" she said shortly.
"Doing what?" Daine asked, feigning confusion. The lesser goddess gave her a look that made the young girl avert her eyes. "I don't want to Ma, but it's too late to stop the wedding."
An antlered man with odd green stripes on his body scoffed behind her Ma. "Not with you paying for it, it isn't," he said. "That man doesn't have a bronze coin to his name, admit it. He's only doing it for you and money. He doesn't know you at all Daine."
Daine couldn't meet her father's eyes. "Not like the other man did,"
Sarra said kindly. "Skip the wedding, go back to Tortall with them and live a happy life."
"I can't Ma, I can't trust Numair anymore." Suddenly the door opened and both her parents turned to it and stepped away to reveal Jorrain with a knife, he was coming straight at her. "Jorrain, what are you doing?" she asked in confusion.
The average sized shorthaired blond rushed to her and shoved her against the mirror, ripping her dress and looking at her before stabbing her stomach and meeting her shocked blue-gray eyes.
"Husband and wife," he said coldly.
"Numair," she whimpered as her world went black.
Daine sat up in the bed, with Jorrain holding her shoulders. "Daine? Daine, are you ok?" he asked worriedly.
Daine glanced at him in the gray skies before sunlight and fell out of the bed. "Get away from me," she said gasped out, her voice cracking in fear. He moved towards her but she bolted out the door and to the Inn. She rushed inside, and on instinct, she ran to where her body felt comfort would be. Numair's room.
She was knocking on his door, wearing only a thin, cotton white gown before she realized what was happening. As soon as she knocked she thought better of it though. 'Too late now.' Numair opened the door, his large skinny build taking up nearly the full frame. He gave her a confused look. "Daine?" he whispered hoarsely, obviously just have woken up. His hair was mussed from the pillow
She looked at his soft, confused face and fell to her knees with closed eyes. She heard him close the door quietly and she thought he'd gone back in his room to ignore her, but instead she was picked up and carried out to the woods where he knew she'd be more comfortable. He leaned against a tree, the rough bark hurting his bare back, and held the sobbing girl. He didn't even think to ask her what was wrong until she was calm. He hummed, hoping to soothe her enough so that she could think of what was going on around her.
The singing man gently kissed the top of her head as her sobbing finally tapered off. "Daine, what's going on?" he whispered.
She shook her head and buried her face deeper into his bare shoulder. He rubbed her back and looked out over her shoulder and into the rising sun. He felt her calm more and she tried to move off his lap but he held her there. She gave in and leaned against him again. "I've missed you, so much." Her whisper was almost inaudible.
Numair's breath caught at her words. She felt his soft movements suddenly stop and looked up at him. He closed his eyes to block off all the emotions in them. "Daine, what are you doing here?"
Sighing, she remembered he was not one to be brought off track when worried, and his reaction wasn't a desired one. "I had a dream," she said whispered, looking down at the ground.
Numair brought her chin up to meet his concerned eyes. "What was it about?"
"My wedding today," she answered, feeling tears fill her eyes again. "I don't want to get married to him Numair. It kills me! Every single night since I've started sharing my bed with him I haven't been able to get to sleep. Every night since I've left I haven't been able to sleep until I've worn myself out from crying. I don't care how much of a weakness admitting that I cry every night is. I can't live how I am."
Numair let out a deep, sad chuckle and hugged her tighter. "Oh magelet, you can't, and you shouldn't. You deserve so much better than him." He rubbed the pad of his thumb softly over her cheek to smudge the tear tracks while taking in her oh so familiar features. "Daine, I haven't been sleeping as well as you might think either." She couldn't hold back a snort. Numair gave her a stern look before going on. "I'm not properly engaged to Varice, I would never have proposed to her. I love you too much. Your laughter, your eyes, your way of thinking and how you put things so naturally.
"You don't know how it hurt me when you left." Daine fought back the urge to roll her eyes at that. If it had near killed him then he wouldn't have done it in the first place. He must have seen her doubt though, for he quickly explained. "Varice and I have a past, you know that better than anyone, magelet. What you saw was the end of it. When I caught her, I'm assuming you were the one that told the mouse to bite me," he said with a small smile at her blush. "But when I caught her, my reaction was one I would do to anyone. If George were to throw himself at me, I'm sure I would try to catch him the same way. Also, if George were to throw himself at me I would question his wife on his sanity," he said, evoking a tiny giggle from the woman on his lap. "Daine," he whispered, lifting her face up so he could meet her eyes. "Veralidaine, I love you, and I will not marry Varice. I cannot, I don't acknowledge her as my fiancée, because in my heart, you are still the woman who has the ring on her finger."
Daine looked at the ground to the left of him. "George told me that, albeit in a much less romantic way, but I hadn't wanted to believe him." She sniffed quietly then looked him in the eyes. "But we're both engaged and this," she motioned to their position, "is wrong. I'm not going to cheat on Jorrain just because I don't love him. I'm not that type of woman." Her eyes softened as she saw his eyes trying not to meet hers.
"That makes you a better person than me Daine," he said softly.
"Of course it does," she said lightly while scooting off his lap and standing up, offering him a hand. He looked up at her in shock. She smiled shyly at him to show she was just joking and worried about his reaction. He rolled his eyes and took her hand while standing up. Daine had forgotten that when some one as tall as him stood she would have to step back a lot more than with a normal person. She was now nose to chest with him. Daine stepped back quickly and blushed, looking at the ground. "I should go apologize to Jorrain. I kind of just left 'im in the house wi' no explanation."
"Where did all of my lessons run off to?" the man suddenly asked.
Daine blushed harder. "I've had to change Numair. Life here is different. Me having the "Gift" of healing all animals is weird enough, I needed to ditch something ta fit in, so I got rid of my noble's speech."
She turned to walk away and heard him do the same thing, but stopped short at the sight of Jorrain standing livid in front of her. Daine was hurt that Numair hadn't told her that he was there. "Jorrain?" she asked quietly.
"You've been cheating on me to see him?" he yelled.
Daine turned to see that Numair was watching the two worriedly. The girl quickly turned back to Jorrain. "I haven't cheated on you!" she said hurriedly. "I'd had a nightmare and you scared me when I woke up."
"So you went to a complete stranger and bury your face in his chest?" he asked heatedly, his smooth angular face turning splotchy red in anger, making his ice blue eyes stand out all the more.
Daine knew that this would be a way to get out of the engagement, but she didn't want to do it like this. This was rude. "No, we're not strangers. I've met him before."
"Oh? Are you countin' that minute meeting of when he first came, or do you suddenly remember your past?" he snarled, his disheveled blonde hair barely reaching his eyes.
"No! It's just this sense, I can feel that he's safe."
"For what it's worth," Numair interrupted, "she just said she'd never cheat on you."
"Oh, so now you've been confessing to him? Does he feel more safe than me?"
"YES!" Daine yelled, surprising both men. "Yes I did confess to him, and yes he does feel safer than you." She was so shocked at her outburst that her hands flew to her mouth in the stunned silence.
"What," Jorrain said slowly, obviously trying to control his anger. "What makes him, a noble, safer than me. Nobles aren't trustworthy Daine! They take all yer money and land and keep it for themselves. A place near 'ere was destroyed because a mage and an animal speaker came and killed it, leaving it for the animals."
Daine flushed, knowing he was talking about Dunlath. Numair put his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. He understood how she felt about Dunlath, but having it pushed in her face like that couldn't feel good. "They didn't leave it for the animals," she said shrewdly. "We left it to Mara, who takes good care of it now."
"We?" he asked angrily, his face was becoming ugly in his rage. "Yeh mean that the two who destroyed Dunlath was you two?" he asked. Shaking his head, he stepped closer and replaced Numairs hand with his on both of Daine's shoulders. "Yeh forgot everything," he said softly, hopefully.
Daine shook her head, feeling tears coming to her eyes. "No, I told every one I forgot. I didn't want my life coming to me. It did, thanks to George though."
"So now you're talkin' like a noble, and defendin' them. Yer even callin' a Baron by 'is first name."
Daine nodded. "Yes, I am," she said while standing straighter.
His twirled a large piece of her smoky brown hair around his hand and pulled it, keeping it taught. Daine gasped audibly as he slapped her. Numair was stopping him in an instant. "Let her go," he said dangerously quiet.
"Or what?" Jorrain asked. "Yeh think yeh can take me? I'm a mage." A light gray shimmered over his body for show.
Numair chuckled and untwined Jorrain's fingers from Daine's hair. "I can see that," he said calmly while flexing his hard thin muscular arms where Jorrain had none. "Do you really think that you can beat me though."
"No!" Daine said suddenly and Jorrain smiled.
"Daine, this man deserves to die, that way you'll have no distraction from..." he trailed off as he noticed she was standing in front of him while facing the noble.
"
Shut up Jorrain, I'm doing this for your own safety," she said harshly.
"Daine, he could hurt you again, move," Numair said through clenched teeth.
"Numair, I don't want you to regret something. Don't you regret enough in this life?" she asked quietly. "I lied when I told you he was powerful," she whispered.
"Are you drawn by the color then?" he asked harshly. "Were you drawn by how much it was like mine? Daine, you idiot girl! Didn't I teach you better?" Daine felt tears come to her eyes at his derogative and hurtful words, but knew that he was only angry at the man and was lashing at anyone that got in his way.
"Numair?" a soft, yet angry voice said from the door of the inn.
The three turned around to face Varice. She was wearing a silk purple slip that fell to her knees, and looking very angry. Numair's face paled at being caught by his fiancée. "Varice," Daine said in icy greeting. "Welcome to our little get together. Your fiancé was just helping me with my own."
The buxom blonde sniffed and looked angrily at Daine. "Well I woke up to an empty bed and immediately knew that he'd be with you. You're such a flirt, what with that stunt you pulled in the bar."
Numair laughed coldly, making Varice and Jorrain back up a step. Daine stayed firmly by his side. "She's the flirt," he said coldly. "Who was the one who made me cheat on my first fiancée?" he asked harshly. Daine felt more tears come to her eyes at the memory. "Who was the one that cheated on me these past three years? You think I didn't know?" he asked, taking a step towards the blonde woman. "I've seen you with the pages and squires Varice. You disgust me," he spat out at her.
Varice looked like she'd been slapped. "Numair, I," her eyes watered and her voice faltered. "I love you," she whispered.
Daine felt horrible. What she said sounded true, then she remembered how she'd grieved over Numair's death. "Bull," he said angrily.
Every one seemed to have forgotten about Jorrain, who took this moment to gag Daine and drag her back almost silently. Varice saw the struggle behind Numair but stayed silent. "Numair, how can you say something like that?" she asked, falling to the ground and grabbing his leg. Her slip rode up even higher. "I do love you."
"No, you don't," he said emotionlessly. He turned towards Daine but didn't find any one.
"Looks like that whore doesn't love you! I do though," she said, latching onto his leg in pleading, looking up at him with tearful sky blue eyes.
Numair kicked her off, ignoring her grunt of pain, and ran into the forest. She watched the muscles in his back move smoothly; not really caring that he was leaving her.
Numair raced through the forest that got denser and denser. He was getting scratched, but he followed the path of broken twigs. Finally he got to a clear lake and didn't see any one. He stopped to rest for a few seconds. Stopping at the edge of the lake, he splashed water on his face and gazed at his reflection. He glared at it, until it stopped rippling then ran his Gift into it. Black tendrils of magic spread over the surface until it settled into the water.
He saw Daine being forced into a wedding dress by Jorrain. She had her jaw clenched as stubborn as her chin and her arms were stubbornly crossed and not going in the sleeves. "Green Lady and Lord Weiryn, I beg help for your daughter" he said half expecting nothing to happen.
His cuts and scrapes started to heal, and a stag walked out of the forest. Numair stood still as the deer studied him before turning and walking calmly back into the forest. Numair followed it with more energy than he thought he had, picking up speed in his run as the deer started to run as well, they were following a hunters trail and it was easier to navigate than what he had been running through earlier.
The deer finally stopped for outside of the back of Lord Beckinson's castle. "Thank you," Numair breathed, but wind rushed through the trees, cooling his sweaty body, and giving him yet more energy.
He ran into the building and begged a shirt from a taller servant for a silver noble. The servant then led him to the mages Veralidaine, and Jorrain. They were in a room with Lord Beckinson. Numair ran a hand through his hair, which had just been tamed by another servant, disheveling it. He walked in calmly, throwing the doors open and making them bang against the stone walls. "Ah, Master Salmalin," the lord said happily. "I'm happily surprised that you are here. We were just wondering who would witness this wedding."
Numair inwardly flinched. If he hadn't walked in the wedding might not have happened. "Yes well, actually My Lord, I wish not to witness it. I came to tell you I take my leave, and to ask if Miss Veralidaine would join our departure. We are in great need of an animal healer in Tortall, and her help would be greatly appreciated." Lord Beckinson seemed to consider it. "Of course we would pay for her," Numair added in disgust at the man's greed.
"Of course you may. Jorrain, you wouldn't mind putting this wedding off for a few weeks would you?" the short fat balding lord asked.
"Yes I would!" he said loudly.
"Thank you sir!" Daine said just as loudly. She curtsied to him and smiled widely as she walked back towards Numair. Daine curtsied to Numair. "I am ready to depart when we must," she said in relief.
"Now," Numair said darkly, sending a triumphant look towards Jorrain. "I cannot promise when she will be free to come back sir. I suggest breaking off this engagement, until she does return, should she choose to."
"It will be hard for him, I am sure, but Jorrain can handle it. If Miss Weirynsra will give him the ring?" the lord answered for the man. Daine slid the ring off easily and threw it at Jorrain, not caring about looks.
"Say goodbye to Danni and Stormwing for me My Lord," she called over her shoulder, running out the doors.
As soon as they were out of the castle Numair caught her around the waist. He spun her around and crushed his lips to her, his hands running through her thick brown wavy locks. Her arms went around his neck and she returned the kiss just as passionately. They finally broke off and Numair met her gaze. "Marry me," he said quietly.
Daine looked away. "Numair," she whispered uncertainly. "I can't just forget everything you've done. That's not how it works."
"I know that you're worried, but I swear, I've learned my lesson. By all the gods, I have learned it and I will do nothing to risk you."
She sighed. "Give me time to get to trust you," she said while stepping away from his arm. "We have to get George and most likely Varice. It'd be better to bring her home. She couldn't live up here." Daine silently called two horses to her. They both came happily up to the two leggers.
Daine swung on her horse and watched Numair clamber on, like the non-equestrian that he was. "Race you to the Inn," Daine said with a small smile.
Numair snorted, "yeah, and me owe you money? I'd rather not," he said while looking ahead and trying to act noble. It probably would have worked better if the horse hadn't decided to start galloping under Daine's orders. Of course she won. George was waiting for them outside with a disgruntled Varice.
"So you've finally come back?" the green eyed man asked with a large smile. Daine hopped off and ran to hug him. "Where's your husband lass? I thought yeh'd be on yer honeymoon by now."
"I've missed you so much George," she said from hugging him.
"I know, twelve hours is a lot, think of what my lioness will do to me when we get back," he joked.
Daine faked a shudder, "I really don't need to hear anything that will create mental images of a kinky lioness," the girl said with a small smile.
Numair came up behind her. "I don't think any of us want that mental image besides George. I fear my own mind has gone to the dungeons with chains," he said airily.
"Yes," Daine said just as high and pompous. "Mine has joined you and brought whips with it."
"Hey now, no imaginin' my lass unless you're me," George said defensively, but with a strange, rare, twinkle in his eyes. Daine and Numair traded knowing glances with each other before Daine left to go in the Inn. "So she's really comin' back with us?" George asked when she'd gone, now totally business.
"She'd better not be. The king will be cheating on Thayet in no time with her flirtatious manner," Varice said stiffly.
"No, he wouldn't. Jon knows that if she's any one's, she's mine. He wouldn't touch her unless he had a good reason to," Numair said still jokingly. He bent and picked up three rocks and started absently juggling them. "Yes, she agreed to come back. I even managed to crash a wedding, and break an engagement while convincing the Lord Beckinson to allow her to come. Oh, remind me to take a few gold nobles out of Jon's collections when we get back please," Numair said off handedly.
George smirked. "Of course, but what happened to your vast supply of it?"
"I cut it off when I stopped doing work. Just didn't feel right," Numair said with a small shrug. "But I will start earning money again now that I have an actual reason to live every day."
"You're pathetic Numair!" Daine said from the front door of the Inn. "Blitzy and David have accepted that I will be going to Tortall with you. When do you plan on leaving?"
George smiled widely, clapping his hand on Numair's shoulder, keeping the man silent. "Well, we came here for you, lass. Now that you'll be coming with us, we can leave whenever you're ready to go." He could tell from the look in her eyes that they wouldn't be hanging around for long.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone recognized in this story. Tortall characters belong to Tamora Pierce.
P.s. Kitten doesn't appear in this fic, sorry, I have no explanation for that.