Authors Note: I do not own the characters in this story; they remain the property of Tamara Pierce. Sadly.
Chapter Four
Taking a deep breathe, Daine waited outside the oak doors, to be announced to the waiting court.
'Introducing, Veralidaine Sarrasri, Wildmage of Tortall and Galla' said the courtier servant loudly as Daine graced in down the entrance staircase, putting into practice all the courtier skills she had been practicing with Gareth.
She moved through the staring crowd to courtesy at the enthroned King and Queen of Tortall.
Rising from her courtesy, she turned around to address the waiting people;
'Speech! Speech!' cried Onua from somewhere at the back of the throng,
Daine smiled, 'It's heart-warming to see so many of you here to say goodbye. Some of you, who I know it must have taken a while to get here' she winked at Lady Maura of Dunlath
'So you want a speech? Oddbob's…Well…..' She paused pondering how to put her feelings into words 'I want to thank everyone for giving me a home. A home is where you feel safe, where you are loved; a place where you are wanted.' she paused a moment to search the crowd till her eyes met Numair, whose love was shinning through.
'As you all know, I have been ordered back to Galla, the land of my birth. However, my home and my heart will always remain in Tortall. I also want to thank you for the precious memories and experiences which I have found here. Of knights who can be women as well, royalty with a commoner's sensitivity and mages, who know humility.' She smiled, dipping her head to wipe away one escaped tear, 'Too Tortall!'
Everyone who had a glass raised it and those without clapped loudly.
*********
Later between the dancing, talking and the trying of the delicate platters of food laid out, Daine worked her way to chat to Onua.
'So, dear, how are you enjoying the ball?' asked a rather merry Onua
Daine turned back to look at the happy, dancing joyous people
'It's been an experience, I can't believe this many people came because of me! It seems unbelievable how normal this all feels. I remember when you first hired me, back at the horse market, when I found it amazing that someone of your position would even acknowledge me.' She laughed, enjoying a distant memory
'You've… you have come along way, Daine. From that shy, broken lass… girl you were then. But I will always say, I always say… I made one of my best decisions when I hired you! Apart from the fact, me and the horses would have never got back to Corus without….. Your brave and accurate shooting at those stormwings … I also gained a true friend.' Onua said, slightly slurred.
She leaned in to hug Daine murmuring 'I will miss you' before Daine heard quiet snoring noises showing that Onua was out for the count, tonight.
The rest of the night passes in a whirlwind until dawn frayed at it's edges and as all good things must do, it came to an end.
Daine, Numair and the other courtiers left the ball room slightly worse for wear, knowing that come morning most of the guests would be nursing their heads.
************
The following evening saw Daine blindfolded with a silken cloth and led by the hand to a romantic dinner for two outside in the elements, with Numair.
The outside air hummed with the passing people's conversation; of final preparation for winter hibernation and general chit chatter.
The scene which was unveiled to her awaiting eyes was on a quiet hollow, mildly glowing from floating orbs of light casting shadow from the willowy oaks.
Both of them were attempting to talk about anything apart from Daine's imminent departure, but it hung in the air like an oppressive gravitational force.
'Remember, when you were tempted by the lovely chaos women in the divine realms?' Daine giggled,
'I was not tempted, I was merely….. Interested in her for scientific reasons! You are much more lovely then she is' Numair replied faking seriousness whilst tenderly lowering his head over Daine's to kiss her lightly on the forehead. Daine returned his kiss passionately and moved to sit curled up on his lap.
'I going to miss you dearly…I don't know how I'm going to…' He sighed 'words cannot express my love to you…' She moved to stare into his eyes letting her love fill her face.
She wanted to say something, anything which would give him some peace when she left.
'I love you and I will always love you. Distance, although a barrier, will not stop that. But neither do I doubt your love. If I could marry you, I would be your loving wife. But…' She choked 'it was not to be.'
'I'd rather have had the chance to feel this love, this overwhelming love for you then never to have it, even if now knowing that not seeing your face will break my heart. Is it better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all?'
She leaned in, attempting to kiss away the tears free falling down Numair face but there were too many to catch.
'Don't cry… Don't cry love. Please, it's tearing me up. I want to ask you something… No..' Her voice forcefull hardened, her copper curls swaying in the light breeze 'I want you to do something for me when I am gone' she paused, taking his waiting silence as agreement
'when I am gone, I don't want to hear that you are alone, that you have isolated yourself or locked yourself away in your tower and….. I don't want to you not to accept lady's advances because of me' she tried to make her voice firm, however shaky she felt.
This is what she wanted for him, for her love for him overwhelmed her own sense of betrayal. After all if you love someone you let them be free.
'I couldn't do that to you Daine! I love you! Will you stop trying to discount that as something which I can just bury and get over! I will love you forever!' He hotly replied
She whispered 'I know you will love me forever… but I'm not going to be here forever. I'm leaving at dawn tomorrow.'
She stared into his hurt eyes, 'But I don't want my last memory of us together to be one of hot anger, I don't want us to fight. You know my wishes and acceptance of the way it has to be after I am gone. So let's leave it at that. Let tonight be the sharing of our love' she leaned in close to kiss him deeply.
The rest of the night slipped away. Numair deepened their kiss, sliding their bodies onto the lush grass floor. As they held each other close, both of them knew in their hearts, that however close their love making made them tonight, that tomorrow would be the end and that they, perhaps, would never be this close ever again. And that was very sad.
Authors Note:
Please Read and Review. I hope I haven't been too explicit in the ending.
In addition to the issue with the characters being out of well, character. It's bound to be different from the character known in the books due to a different writer picking up the story line. In addition, I am taking the character into different scenes and thus sorry for any out of character responses.