"There's nothin' t'be heard on my watch," the man with a deep, lilting brogue said. He was tall, broad shouldered, with a long hooked nose and eyes that usually sparkled with ill-disguised mischief, but now were solemn and quiet. "If there's a cure, none of the Court have heard a thing."
Numair sighed, knowing of wasn't George's fault no one could find an answer. He just wished someone would find some sort of cure! "Thank you, George. I'll let you get some rest before your wife finds out I've kept you up so."
A soft, partially-forced laugh escaped the ex-Rogue. "Aye, I wouldn't like to see that either. But Numair," he said, sobering again, "if there isn't a way to make her better-"
Numair cut him off. He couldn't bear to hear such things right now. "There has to be. The alternative is unthinkable."
George sighed himself and nodded. "May the Crooked God show favor on ye then. Goddess knows yer going to need it."
The speech-spell closed and Numair threw himself back into his books with a desperation borne of necessity. He had mages, healers, scholars, even royalty in two different realms! There must be some sort of cure- be it toe of dog or a rare plant only found in the realms of the Gods. He was willing to do anything for her.

Something caught at his attention and he looked down at something sparkling on his desk. It was a box, and he knew immediately what housed it. Picking it up, he opened it and a note spilled out.

Numair

I trust this will fit the idea that you had. I'm terribly sorry it had to come at such a time. The picture will never fade, nor will the locket break. Seek peace, my friend.

Volney Rain

Numair's eyes misted as he lifted the delicate oval locket out of the box. With the press of a thumb it opened smoothly to reveal a sight that took his breath. Volney had outdone himself. The picture was priceless, setting Daine's face in early morning light and making it glow, her blue-grey eyes sparkling with life. Even her curls sprung with passion and a zest for life. The mage could take it no more as he took out the small lock of hair that he'd taken earlier. How could he manage to get past this? Why did he feel as if his entire world was shattering? Spelling the hair so it would forever stay inside the locket and in as perfect condition as it was now, he shut it and hid it. He put his elbows on the desk and sank his head into his hands, trying to put his mind back together. It felt as if everything were shattered.

"Numair?" A sweet voice called from the flap that joined his tent and Daine's. He groaned, rubbing his face with his palms as if it would scrub away the insanity leaking into his brain.

"Why can't you leave me alone? Is it not bad enough that she is dying and I cannot find anything to help her? Why must you mock me like this?" His voice was ragged and torn.

It had finally happened; his sanity had slipped and he was no longer walking the edge of madness, he was falling into a twisted kingdom.

"Numair, look at me." Daine's beloved voice called again, closer this time, and he felt the touch of her work-roughened hands against his. The fake Daine pulled his hands away and he let it, if only to look at her again. The sight made his brow V together. Surely the Gods would at least allow her to look as she once had been, when she was full of life… right? Her hair was damp, matted from fever sweat, her skin white-but with no tinge of grey- and her eyes had lost the glazed look. "You call me Magelet, you were stuck as a hawk when we met, you put the white wall between my Self and my magic so I wouldn't go crazy again. Why would I say these things if I wasn't real?"

Reality sank in slowly, and Numair stood inch by inch with it. His hands came to her face, feeling her cheeks, her eyelids, her nose and finally her mouth. As his thumb brushed over her full lower lip his brain kicked in. He ran from her to the tent flap, peering into the much hotter tent. The bed was messy, as if a war had been fought in it, but empty. Joy split across his features and he spun around to pick her up in his arms, spinning her around and around. "You're alive! You're back! You're… you're alive!" Numair's highly intelligent mind was shortcut as relief and bliss settled into him.

Daine laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, laying her head on his shoulder. "But…" his voice grew somber and his eyes turned worried. "Daine, how are you here? Are you completely healed? What happened?"

Chuckling, she covered his mouth with a hand to silence him. "If you'd stop for a moment, I'll explain. Yes, I'm completely healed. I was dying. But Badger saved me- no, wait. He brought me to a phoenix, who saved me."

Curiosity and wonder bloomed over his face. "What? You met a phoenix? How did it heal you?" He stopped when Daine arched a brow. "I'm sorry. You were saying?" he smiled at her.

"Badger took me to this place called Nesting Point, and there were all these birds. But Badger said I had to call for a phoenix and I did. I didn't think it would come, cause Grandda told me that only the pure of heart can call, and it would only shed a tear with someone who really needed it. But it did, and I explained that I just wanted to go home, and… well… here I am."

Numair looked like he wanted to ask more, but she yawned, feeling suddenly tired. "I'm sorry, Magelet. Of course you're exhausted. Come on, let's get you to bed." Instead of carrying her to her cot, where he feared she might somehow catch the Fever again, he placed her on his, which looked like it hadn't been slept on in days- which it hadn't. He settled her down into the sheets and pulled it up to her chin, smiling. "Sleep well, Daine. I'll let the others know you're okay. I'll also let that mule hiding as a horse know as well," he grumbled, unconsciously rubbing his arm. Daine chuckled, knowing Cloud had undoubtedly bitten him there.

"Thanks, Numair," she said, but she was so sleepy the last word came out as Nummy. Closing her eyes, she was instantly asleep.

'Nummy' beant down and kissed her forehead, eyes full of soft love. "You're welcome, Magelet," he whispered, and blew out the candles with a wave of his hand.

A/N: Hurray! The first scene is FINALLY DONE! I love it, but damn did that thing take forever! Hopefully the next one won't take so long otherwise I'll never get to any other stories! :D See ya soon!