A/N: Ok had this idea, don't know if you'll like it but it's worth a try. I think Thayet's diplomacy and natural leadership make her an excellent queen and I just thought I'd use this to show a bit of that as well as getting Numair over his ridiculous ideas of his and Daine's relationship. I know, dear reviewer davies-claire, that this isn't what you had in mind but your suggestion gave me this idea as well. I just thought I'd do it chronologically. What you suggested is still coming! Lemme know what you think.
Thayet looked up from her own personal preparations to observe those of the attacking force she had assembled that would tomorrow sail out to aid their king and his army at Port Legann. From where she was standing on the land end of the wharf, she could see Stormwings aiding humans to load the boats; members of the Own and the Queen's Riders pacing the camp to hide any sign of their presence; mages sitting in huddles to discuss their own plans; two lovers saying goodbye...
Thayet's wandering eyes halted and flicked back. Lovers saying goodbye? That wasn't right was it? The only person leaving today was Daine...Daine? No, Thayet thought, I must be mistaken. But sure enough, when she looked properly she could see Daine clearly by the dying light as she looked up into the face of none other than her teacher and friend, Numair Samalin. They were standing where she had left Daine and Rikash Moonsword only moments before, giving the girl the Dominion Jewel for the king.
Thayet blinked. Daine and Numair? How had she missed that? I suppose I could have missed it, she thought wryly, they neither of them ever needed help with matchmaking so I never made it my affair...
And here they were, wrapped in each other's arms, undeniably in a more than platonic manner. Thayet wandered closer as the dragon Diamondflame came to hurry them along. Doing away with any doubts Thayet may have had before this moment – of which there were very little, if any – the pair kissed before Daine climbed onto the dragon's back.
Waiting until girl and dragon had flown away, Thayet stepped forward lightly and coughed, a smile across her face. Numair spun, caught by surprise.
"Thayet, I– I didn't see you there," he stumbled over his words. Then he noticed Thayet's smile, which was quickly turning into a smirk, and grimaced. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough. Have you been keeping secrets from your queen, Master Samalin?" her tone was as light as her smile, "how long has this been going on for then?"
Numair sighed. Covering his face with a hand, he explained what had happened in the divine realms in a muffled and abashed tone. "I know it's wrong of me to take advantage, I shouldn't have let it happen-" Thayet cut him off.
" 'Take advantage'?," she looked incredulous, "Numair, if you hadn't noticed, our Daine isn't one to be taken advantage of easily. And though black robed mage you may be, you would never have the arrogance to do such a thing." Numair looked at her, surprised.
"Surely just our age differences in this situation – and my previous experience in such areas and Daine's lack of such experience – should indicate taking advantage? And..." Thayet let Numair babble some more ridiculous reasons before cutting him off again, rolling her eyes.
"Numair, I think you're over-analysing this a little, don't you?" Numair still looked baffled so she continued, "can't you just let yourself enjoy it? Without your mind popping in little cynical comments every five seconds?" she sighed when he made a face, trying to decide how best to put his fears aside. Then a thought occurred to her. "Come with me, Numair," she said, then led him down to the end of the wharf. Sailors, Riders, Own and foot soldiers alike called greetings and bowed to their monarch as they passed – all of them respected and liked a queen who would fight on the ground amongst them. When they reached the end of the wharf, Thayet stopped and pointed to where the stormwings were helping load the boats.
"You see that, Numair? There are humans and stormwings working in unison. No-one thought it would ever happen but, thanks to your Daine, it has. And now, when you think about it, it makes perfect sense," she turned to face him, "Ozorne is now a stormwing, able to wield their magic. So it makes sense for us to ally with his enemy stormwings," she gestured to the stormwings in the air, "The stormwings can't defeat him on their own because their number is less that his and Ozorne has the God of Chaos aiding them. So it makes sense for the stormwings to ally themselves with us," she looked up into his face, high above hers, and could see her words were taking effect, "you and Daine mightn't have been greatly expected, certainly not by me, but now it has happened, it makes sense. You need her, she needs you. Simple." Thayet could see her words had worked. Numair gripped her hand as he might a male companion and thanked her.
"My queen, it's moments like these that I know why I serve under you and his majesty," his tone was mocking but there was a seriousness to it as he smiled, "I do believe you've helped me greatly make up my mind about the whole thing."
"Good," Thayet smiled warmly back, "what are you going to tell her when you see her again?"
Numair grinned mischievously. "Well provided she doesn't get herself killed, I do believe I shall ask her to marry me, your majesty," he began to walk backwards towards the camp, still facing his queen as he talked, "but we may just have to skip that part and I'll have to whisk her away to the nearest bed!"
"That I did not need to know, mage!" she called after him, laughing. He gave her a mock salute coupled with another wicked grin then turned and walked down the wharf to land, hands in pockets and whistling cheerfully. Good, Thayet thought with some satisfaction, at least someone's happy, if only for a short while. She wandered over to the wharf's railing, placed her elbows on it and rested her chin on her hands, pondering a great many things.
The morning after the Immortals war was won, Thayet set about preparations for a celebratory and commemorative feast. On her way to the kitchens, she stopped by the room Daine had been given whilst at Port Legann. The Wildmage had still not awoken and Numair was assumed to be sleeping, although no-one knew where. Thayet had a sneaking suspicion as to where he might be discovered. Opening the door quietly, she peeked through into the room lit by the morning light alone. She smiled at what she found there and left the room just as quietly as she had entered. As the door closed, Numair Samalin reached out an arm in his sleep to his young love and pulled her closer to him. When they awoke, there would be many questions to answer and reports to give, but for now Thayet left them to their few moments of peace.