Finally! I got the second chapter done! Hahah, Im soooo sorry yall, things have been busy busy here.

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And This?
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The mage, Numair Salmalin, once Arram Drapper, shifted restlessly in his sleep. He was not at all enjoying what his dream eyes were watching. His brow creased in displeasure as he saw dream-Daine look at him with a pitying expression on her face. She was saying something, what was it?

"-so terribly sorry Numair, I just don't love you. I never did, you’re just a lonely old man! A filthy lecher!" And then she laughed horribly as his heart contracted in pain. No, this couldn't be his Daine, not his magelet...But was she really his? What was to stop some other man, a younger man who could devote more time to her, taking her right from under his nose?

These disturbing thoughts were what caused him to awaken with a gasp. He glanced quickly to his side and sighed in relief at the sweet face his eyes encountered. His dark orbs ran down her sheet-covered form to her hands where he saw that his own hand was still entangled in hers from before they both fell asleep. He carefully extracted his large hand from her smaller one and stiffened when he heard her sigh and curl her hand up tightly. He relaxed once he didn't see her move further and turned over, thinking of the events of the night. Trying to convince himself that he knew Daine, that she loved him and would never leave him.

But, hadn't they both been afraid each would be unhappy in marriage? Though, he had become more willing swiftly after. And yet here they were, living together outside of marriage. And though he had had many, many opportunities to bed her, and he was sure many, many people thought he did, it had never really seriously crossed his mind. And when it did he felt disgusted and angry that anyone would defile her like that, taking her before marriage...it had hurt him beyond belief when on that day so long ago in the Divine Realms, Daine had thought that it was all he wanted.

But, he wasn't quite sure why he had such qualms about it. Nothing had bothered him before, certainly. But Daine...Daine was different. His relations with women before had been empty, only meant to satisfy his unbelievably large ego and lustful needs. But the times he had spent with Daine were oh, so full. Full of laughter and love, even as they were filled with pain and suffering. She had been his student, his friend. And then not so much later, his love, even before she had fully known her love for him.

No, Daine was different. Besides the fact she was sixteen years younger than him...was he a cradle robber? Numair shook his head, not wanting to go over that argument with himself again.

Was it possible to love someone as great as he did his Daine? But she had refused his offer, his offer of marriage. And oh, how many things he had done to persuade her to make the date 'sooner' rather than later, without actually asking her again. He never wanted her to think he was pushing her, he wanted her to come to her own decision, without any outside influence...especially from him. He knew she was afraid he would stop loving her, that he would see a baby girl in place of the woman he would want someday. But didn't she see? She was the woman he wanted! The woman he wanted that day...

He smirked ruefully. Numair Salmalin, black robe mage, one of the most powerful wizards of the lands; and he was debating with himself over this slip of a girl lying so innocently beside him... "That slip of a girl, as you call her, has more courage and thought in her pinky then all the women you were previously involved with combined!"

"How right you are..." he said, unable to stop himself before speaking aloud. He heard the sheets rustle and after a moment a face framed with long, loose, smokey brown curls floated into view above him.

"Numair? Why're you awake?"

He looked up at her apologetically. "Forgive me, sweetling, I didn't mean to wake you. Just a good deal on my mind I suppose. I believe I may possibly muse too loudly." he turned to face her.

"That you do," she quirked her mouth in an incredibly loving half-smile and lay down next to him again. "I don't deserve that much love..." He thought silently.

"What's wrong? You looked, funny, for a second. And you don't usually muse quite that loudly,"

He sighed deeply, running fingers through long black hair. "I really don't know, Daine."

She looked at the ceiling and said quietly, "It's not about tonight, is it? You know I'm sorry I worried you so much. I had no idea. But-"

"No, Daine, it's not about tonight. And I know, I trust you, magelet. Let's not rehash it all over again. Sleep?" She nodded and scooted over to lie in his arms circle. Just before he fell asleep her soft voice whispered, "I know there's something else, but I won't push you, Numair."
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Twittering birds from the open window finally roused Daine from a fitful sleep. She opened her mind to them, noticing they were a few of the squire Keladry's own flock of sparrows, and smiled at the happy thoughts she was projected of spring.

A glance to the right confirmed her suspicion that Numair had beat her to the greeting of the new morning. When he got up before her he usually opened the shutters of the window beside the bed to wake her with "the glories of morning" as he had cheerfully put it one morning after her pained groans. Though she had previously woken up at or before dawn, palace life had softened her that little bit.

Glancing now to her feet, she saw Kitten in her customary spot at the foot of the long bed, curled into a tight ball and sleeping soundly. She smiled sleepily to herself as she settled back down and stretched languorously beneath the soft sheets. She marveled at the luxury she lived in once again. The God's had blessed her richly. She was loved and a friend of so many, she lived in the castle, had the ability to heal and change into animals, and a close confidante of the king and queen of Tortall! What more was there?

"What more is there..."

"Making things solid, marriage, children..." her traitorous mind piped up. Gasping, Daine blindly grabbed for Numair's pillow and slammed it over her head. What was wrong with her!

A loud knocking at the door jolted her out of her thoughts. She waited a moment, wondering if Numair was still in the rooms or had gone off on one of his many errands that seemed to be waiting on him every morning. The knocking continued and she heard no cursing or footsteps to open it. She was not in the mood for visitors. Though she and Numair had fixed things between them, she still had this feeling that something wasn't right...which made her very, very irritable.

Cursing herself, she flung the pillow from her, causing the flock of sparrows on her window sill to flutter away in startlement. She sent them an apologetic thought and bounced off the bed. Grabbing the closest pair of breeches, which turned out to be not her's but Numair's, she jammed them on her legs under her nightgown. She made her way quickly to the door, trying unsuccessfully not trip herself on the excess legging. "Gods bless it! How does he manage to pay for so much yardage!" she muttered crossly and flung open the outer door.

"My, my, storm cloud go away! And I thought Numair was a bad morning person. What has you in such a tizzy this early, Daine, did I wake you?"

"Alanna!" Daine exclaimed, smoothing her cross expression into one of surprise. She then rushed forward to clasp her friend in a firm hug that was returned with a laugh.

Though she thought of Alanna as one of her closest friends, she had not see her at all for at least a year, when Numair and Daine had summered at his tower near Pirates Swoop. And since the lady knight had not been to court since just before Keladry had arrived, Daine had not seen her darken the doorway for some time indeed. "It's so good to see you!" Daine exclaimed, pulling back and then said carefully, "King Jonathan and you patch things up?"

Alanna smiled wryly and nodded. "Mostly. Things will still be a little touchy, at least for me, for a while. But I suppose we're too good of friends to let something get between us for very long. Of course he still knows I did not approve of his decision, but let's not get into that again."

Daine nodded and Alanna continued. "How does breakfast in the city sound? We've got a lot of catching up to do." she winked.

Daine was about to look at the woman in confusion, but decided against it and simply smiled and nodded eagerly. It wasn't really like Alanna to take much time out of her busy life just to catch up with her...Why did everything have to be changing! First her and her strange visions of the door plaque, then Numair being a tad too much like his earlier extremely over-protective self, and now even the Lioness was getting in on the act!

"Yes, but it would be good to have a change of scenery." If only she knew where that tall mage of hers had run off to...Pushing away her fears of why he hadn't left a note as usual, she assented. "Okay, that would be fun."

Alanna nodded in a decisive motion and then smiled mischievously. "Good, though, you might want to at least fold up Numair's breeches so you don't fall on your face half-way there."

Blushing, Daine swiftly invited her into the common room while she dressed in the bedroom.

"Goddess, Daine! Don't you and Numair have a servant to clean your rooms?" Alanna called from the other room. Daine pressed her lips together tightly to keep from laughing and replied, "No, I like to do it myself most times. Though that mess is from Kit. I was a bit late last night and Numair threw anything he could in her path to keep her occupied. We got, um, side-tracked and forgot to pick the rest up."

She heard Alanna chuckle as she pulled a blue tunic over her head, smoothing her shirt underneath, and drug a brush through her curls. Yanking on a pair of boots that had been shoved up under the bed she returned to the larger room and followed the woman out the door and down the hall.

"Have you seen Numair, Alanna? He usually leaves a note..." Daine looked at the ground, trying not to appear as if she were worried. The swarthy man had been acting so strange last night she didn't know what he could be getting himself into.

And as if her thoughts alone conjured it up, she heard his voice as clear as if he were walking right beside her.

"Ah, my beautiful magelet, your awake! I'm down at the menagerie with Lindhall. Make your way down at your convenience, sweet. Goddess bless..." And his voice faded out.

"Did you know he could do that?" Alanna asked a moment later, amazement in her voice.

Daine looked at her, just as stunned if not more. "No, not really. Though, he did do something similar to that a few years ago, during the Immortals War...but he had been near me then..." Daine colored slightly, remembering the soft kiss she had also gotten along with his message that night she had gone off a-dragonback.

Alanna's eyebrow rose. "'My beautiful magelet'? Daine, that is one changed man." Daine was about to ask what she meant when Alanna spoke again. "Well, I guess we'll just have to pick his brain about his new voice spell later. Let's go, I think we're making the servants nervous."

True enough. Daine had unconsciously stopped dead in the middle of the courtyard outside Numair's rooms. Folks all around them scuttled around the edges of the area, eyeing the two renowned women warily as they went about their tasks. Daine grimaced slightly. She had worked hard to gain the trust of many of the servants in the palace, and she knew this incident would set her back with more than just a few.

They reached the palace stables and Daine started to head off toward the Riders separate barn before Alanna stopped her. "When's the last time you rode a horse, Daine? Come on, change a bit for today! I don't think Cloud will mind too much."

Daine thought for a moment, wondering when she had ridden an animal who's head actually went past her shoulders. Shrugging, she smiled back at the woman and nodded. Making her way through the stables, she decided to go with Numair's reliable old Spots, rather than make Alanna wait as she got acquainted with another animal.

After greeting him she quickly grabbed his tack and suited him up. She met Alanna outside, who was already astride the beautiful Darkmoon. Daine could never get enough of the cocky horse, now in his middle age. Alanna led as Daine tried to get accustomed to the movement of a much larger equine and chatted a bit with Darkmoon.

Halfway down the hill to Corus, Spots broke in, saying, "You are a much better rider than the bony man." She laughed and replied silently, "I'm glad to here that. But bare with him, he has good intentions." The gelding snorted reluctant agreement.

Soon they were moving through the thick crowds of the marketplace. Daine took the advice Alanna had given her years ago of watching her belt purse religiously, and keeping an eye out everywhere. Having a horse whom laid his ears back at any suspicious looking person also helped a great deal.

Arriving at a tavern, the Dancing Dove, the two women tied their horses up outside and stepped in. It seemed as if the usual groups of morning people were there, having drinks or breakfast at their preference. Alanna smiled and nodded at a few people who would make Daine more than slightly wary any other time.

Alanna guided her to a table off to the side and they were quickly attended too.

The lady knight leaned forward, resting on her elbows with hands clasped in front of her. "So, what’s new, Daine? How is the menagerie going, by the way?" Alanna inquired and brought her drink to her mouth.

Small talk? From the Lioness? Daine tried once again not to show her confusion and told her how well the menagerie had been coming along. They were almost finished with the latest addition, which was a holding for tigers that had recently been transported from their neighboring country, Carthak.

"That must be why Numair went down to them menagerie so early." Daine mused. "I bet Master Lindhall needed his help with the climate spells. And I can now guess why he didn't feel he needed to leave me a note. Daine smiled around a bite of food. "He wanted to show off his new spell, I'm sure."

Alanna nodded with half smile, knowing Numair's flair as well as she. She became thoughtful. "Do you still get letters from Emperor Kaddar, Daine?"

Daine nodded and swallowed her food before responding. "Lately they have been slowing down a bit, he has a lot on his mind right now and a lot to try to keep together. The palace is nearing completion, though he says they have a long way to go yet. It would be wonderful to go visit him, encourage him a bit. I've heard some harsh things from his opposition." Daine frowned, remembering one of his latest letters to her. She could not believe some people were still bent on putting great amounts of money into the army, and not more into building their own shelter! Though...Daine guessed she could understand how some might be worried of an attack against Carthak for the many harmful actions of their previous ruler.

Alanna grunted. "Has he formed a marriage alliance yet?"

Daine looked at her quickly. "No, not that I have heard of. The last I got out of him on that account was he was going to wait until the palace was completed. And even then he was not sure if he wanted to get married. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no particular reason, I just thought he would have found a suitable lady by now, he was involved with the ladies at the university, or so I heard..."

Where was she going with this? Daine shifted uneasily in her seat, feeling as if the room had become twice as warm.

"In fact, you and him spent a good deal of time together while we were in Carthak, didn't you? Did he...?"

Daine's eyes widened in astonishment. "No! He would never think of it! We were only friends, nothing more. We still are just friends." Daine blushed at the memory of one night at dinner during their stay in Carthak. Numair had come over and basically told Kaddar to stay away from her in any intimate way.

She heard Alanna chuckle. "Good, that's good. Did you hear the king and queen may be thinking of their own marriage alliance with Carthak?" Daine frowned, this was news to her. "Seems Princess Kalasin may be the lucky lady. Though, this was brought up before at the peace talks, when she was only ten."

Daine looked down, muttering, "Now she's only sixteen."

"It's a hard life, being a child of the king. Thank the Goddess I wasn't cursed with it." Alanna sighed. "But the alliance will be a good one, we need some added strength between Tortall and Carthak. And at least Kaddar will be good to Kalasin, he's a good man."

"Yes, he is. But I don't know if he will even agree. Though I would rather see the princess with him than allianced to some other country."

"Mmm, I agree." Alanna put her drink down with a loud thump and peered at her closely. "All right, I'm done beating around the bush. I'm no good at this small-talk bit, as you can tell, I know those looks." Alanna said at her expression of surprise. "Here's my deal, plain and simple; when are you going to stop torturing Numair, not to mention yourself, and accept his proposal?" she held up her hand when Daine opened her mouth in shock. "Daine, it's gone on too long. You've been living with each other for too long, what has it been now? Almost five years?! And you've both loved each other for too long to not be happily married for the rest of your lives. Are you going to be his mistress until the Black God comes for one or the both of you?!

Daine sat rigidly. She had never thought this was what Alanna was going on about. Her and Numair? She was concerned about her and Numair's relationship? And mistress? She was nobody's mistress!

"What!? I am not his mistress! He would never even ask me to be! How could you say something like that?"

Alanna looked genuinely surprised and confused. Lowering her voice she asked, "You mean your not sleeping with him?"

"Yes, I am sleeping with him. And that is all we do, sleep!"

Alanna fell back in her seat, an amused look coming across her face. She started snickering softly and it soon turned into out-and-out laughter. Daine looked at her in disbelief. "Alanna? What do you find so amusing?!" Daine found herself sounding like Numair, which seemed to only make the lady knight laugh louder, she was now laying across the table and pounding it with the flat of her hand every so often. Daine wanted to laugh just looking at her. But no! She was supposed to have righteous anger coursing through her! But the young woman couldn't take it anymore and soon everyone in the tavern had looked they're way more than once.

Finally, they both wiped tearing eyes and looked at each other.. Daine couldn't believe she had just seen the Lioness break down in laughter like a little girl!

"Thank you Daine, I needed that. Goddess knows it's been too long since I've laughed that hard. And now I suppose your wondering what got me to 'alaughin in the first place." Alanna had the grace to look abashed as she said, "I really did think Numair was bedding you, but now I know I should have known better. He loves you incredibly, as hard as it is for me to fathom he is capable of love for anything but books, and he wouldn't do such a thing to you. Daine, there's a whole passel of nitwit courtiers out there falling all over themselves to get Numair to even glance there way, and since you both got back from the Devine Realms, he hasn't. Can't you see how much he wants to be with you? How much he would do for you? What is it? What is the real reason you won't marry him, Daine?"

The wildmage looked down at her hands which were wrapped around a mug of now cooled drink. She thought, really searched herself, for the answer to that question, as she had many times. But this time, the answer was different. She knew he loved her with ever ounce of his being, as did she. He cared for her, wanted to protect her, he had a way to provide for them both...and a child if that day should come. He was handsome, strong, powerful, yet kind and loving with a child-like passion for learning...Daine laughed giddily. This man loved her! That wonderful description of any girls dreams, loved her! A supposed bastard child born to a common mother, and a not-so common father. Most men wouldn't think of touching her about marriage with a ten-foot staff. But Numair had touched her in the most intimate ways...her teacher, friend, and love of her life.

She looked back up at Alanna with a bright light shining in her eyes. "I love him, Alanna, more than anything. And you’re right, he loves me as well. Mithros knows why, but he does! Yet..."

"Yet...?" Alanna said carefully as she heard her voice fade out.

"The age, Lioness, the age!" Daine grabbed her drink and downed it in a long swallow, about choking herself in the process.

Alanna looked at her with a frown. "Daine, that is the most petty and doltish excuse I have ever heard. And believe me, with as many children as I have, I've heard a good deal!"

Daine shook her head. "But, Alanna, I am not jesting! Suppose Numair and I do get married, and one day, after a few years, we're walking together in the city. Here comes a gorgeous, mature, buxom older blonde. Numair sees her, looks at me, and regrets marrying me! Regrets he even asked me! I can't live with that, Alanna! I would do anything to keep Numair from hurting, and that would hurt him...I can't help but think it could happen."

Alanna sighed heavily and reached out to squeeze her hand briefly. "Your too nice to people, Daine. But that is not something to be ashamed of, certainly. I can't tell you it won't happen, and it may. But consider this, don't we all regret decisions made? One time or another? However brief? Especially one as important as marriage! I know I've regretted getting married more than once, God's know George has!" she laughed, but quickly became serious again. "But that's life Daine, that's life."

Daine nodded, not wanting to argue more, and not wanting to admit she agreed that little bit with what her friend was saying. They finished the rest of their meal actually doing what Alanna had suggested, catching up on things. Alanna recounted some of the many funny stories she had of her children getting into countless messes, and Daine tried to catch her up on the goings on at court, though the girl didn't have much to relate as she didn't make much of an effort to keep herself informed.

"Have you encountered the girl squire, Keladry?" Alanna inquired innocently. Daine smiled, "Yes, she is wonderful, I enjoy talking with her. She loves animals and cares so well for Peachblossom, her sparrows, and Jump."

"Jump?" Alanna asked through a mouthful, and Daine told her about the palace's new mascot.

"Well, I believe I'll be seeing her soon at the midsummer festival." Her face grew dark. "That still makes me so mad that I wasn't able to interact-"

"Daine! I need you now! Get to the menagerie as quickly as possible!"

Numair's voice cut through the air and was gone almost before the two could register its presence. Numair needed her...

Daine leapt from behind the table and ran out the door, Alanna right behind her, dropping a handful of coins in front of the stunned owner.

They leapt on their horses and did everything possible to get through the crowds, Alanna bellowing loud enough to make even Sarge nod with approval, Daine was sure. But once they saw the famous Lioness with her sword raised above her head, it didn't take much to persuade folks to get to out of they're way.

Frantic thoughts ran through Daine's mind as they raced up the hill to the castle. What could be wrong? What could have made Numair call on her in such a frantic voice? What could she do that he, a knight, or even the king, couldn't?

Then she knew, the animals... "The tigers!" Daine sent an urgent plea for Spots and Darkmoon to move even faster. The tigers brought in from Carthak a week ago had been very unsettled from they're voyage and new surroundings. Daine had done her best to soothe them and assure them their new home would be comfortable. And she had thought she'd succeeded...

Alanna and Daine jumped from the horses at the menagerie gate and were off again past various barriers and habitats. Animals all around her were growing agitated and restless, wanting to know what had distressed her so, but she pushed them away. In her fear and worry she had no patience to reassure them, not until she reassured herself that she could help the situation, that Numair wasn't in danger.

Yet the scene that greeted them from around the corner was not something to reassure anyone. An extremely large male and female tiger had managed to break free from their cage and were only being kept from escaping out to the rest of the palace by a wall of black, sparkling magic.

"Daine! Talk to them! Make them understand we are not going to harm them! Every time they test my shield it hurts them, I don't want them to be killed." a voice called from across the way. The origin of the black magic, voice and magic she both knew well.

Daine nodded at Numair quickly, seeing the truth in his words as the two tigers roamed around and jumped at his magic every so often. She opened her mind to them and found they were in a complete rage. Get away two-legger! My mate and I will not put up with this any longer! I will rip you all to shreds!" And though the male sounded strong and mighty, he and his mate were beginning to show the toll of too many encounters with Numair's barrier.

Listen to me! Both of you! You're killing yourselves! You have to stop that!

This time the females voice echoed in her mind, Silence! You know nothing! You promised us we would be happy here! That we would have all we want! We wantout! And with that she threw herself at the barrier with all her might and passion, aimed directly at Daine herself, and the wildmage saw Numair physically shudder even as she stepped back involuntarily.

"What's happening, Daine? Aren't they listening to you?" Numair cried. And it was then that she noticed how weak he had become. Sweat had darkened his shirt and made wet ringlets of his dark hair on his neck, the age lines in his face become more prominent. "That must be why Numair went down to them menagerie so early. I bet Master Lindhall needs his help with the climate spells." She heard her own voice echo back in her head. Besides using magic on the climate spells, Daine didn't know how long he had been trying to hold off the tigers himself, trying to get them to calm down, without bringing her into it. He was being drained, and fast. "Drat him and his protectiveness!" she muttered darkly under her breath. Once again she tried to reason with the tigers, using her best skills and as tight a will on them as she dared...and then finally, she felt a lessening. The tigers continued to pace back and forth but had stopped throwing themselves at the magic.

"Daine?" Numair questioned.

"Yes," she answered with a relieved sigh. "I think they're all right now." She noticed others gathered behind a fence. Lindall Reed, Alanna, a few mages Numair worked with frequently, and two large men who Daine assumed were the tiger’s attendants.

Daine quickly cast her gaze back on the tigers, watching them closely. But they still appeared to be settling down. Numair kept his shield up, but she could see him relaxing a bit, pushing the damp hair from his face.

Daine smiled at him, "I like that new speaking spell of yours, very convenient." he flashed his own white teeth in a wide smile. "I thought you might, though-" a loud roar broke him off and before anyone could react the tigers had leapt at the barrier as one. And finally broke through.

Daine heard someone screaming Numair's name in an anguished voice, and later realized it had been her own.

The male tiger bounded at him with incredible speed as Daine did the same, running to her love and her life's existence.

"How could I live without him..." the thought raced lightning fast through her brain.

It was all too fast, Numair had no time to react, to do anything to save himself in his weakened state. But Daine had energy to spare. With an incredible amount of will power she threw her hands out and SCREAMED in her mind "NO!" with all her self-being. And when people told her about it later, she still couldn't believe it had occurred.

The tiger was pushed aside, one mighty paw breadth's away from him, and then the great beast fell heavily to the ground. But Numair didn't...she had changed the tigers will, she had willed it to turn aside, and somehow in doing so, she had killed him.

The agonized roar that went up from his mate set Daine's hair on end, the sound of grief and sorrow being extraordinary. Daine quickly shut the tigers mind out from her own.

She had only eyes for one thing, or one person. She ran the rest of the way to him and threw herself into his waiting arms. She sobbed her pain of killing an animal, her fear of almost losing him, her fear of the future and the decisions she had to make, and the fear that she would never be able to make them...

"Shhh, magelet, it's all right, I'm all right." Numair comforted, rocking her back and forth with arms tight around her torso and lips pressed to her head.

It had been so long since Daine had cried, and she had so much sorrow and fear inside her, she couldn't stop the tears. They're seemed to be an endless flow, and no matter what Numair tried, she couldn't oblige his want for her to cease her sorrowing.

It wasn't until she felt cool fingers on her head and the impression of purple light, did she feel peace come over her...