Written by Medival Wizard
"Kitten, what's wrong with me?" she asked. "I've been feeling poorly for three days now, what's that about?"
Kitten chirped and sat up on her haunches. She looked imploringly at Daine, her big eyes shining. A second later she was gone. She had retreated to the room that Daine shared with the mage Numair.
"Kit, come back!" Daine hissed. She tried to get up and follow the young dragon, but she fell back into the chair when the room started to spin violently. She closed her eyes, and prayed that the animals would stay put. She knew that she wouldn't have the strength to hold them back if they tried to come to her.
A string of curses came from the other room. Shrill noises came from the baby dragon as she urged the mage out of bed. "What in Mithros' name, Kit?" Covers shuffled as Numair Salamalin hurried out of bed. "What's wrong...? Ouch, all right, I'm coming!" He rushed from the room behind Kitten. The small dragon had his wrist in her mouth. The mage was clad only in his nightshirt. His dark hair fell loose around his shoulders. He treads quite softly for a man of his height.
"Kitten," Daine scolded, "you needn't have gotten Numair. I'm fine." Her voice sounded weak to her own ears. It was far from convincing that she was fine.
Numair heard the difference in Daine's voice and hurried over. Her crouched in front of her and looked into her eyes. He saw the sweat break out on her forehead. He heard her breath coming out in ragged gasps.
"Mithros, Daine, what's wrong?" He took Daine's hands in his. Fear crossed his face. He hadn't been this scared since Daine had over exhausted herself, and Alanna had to revive her. He needed the Lioness now. "Kitten, watch her! I need to get Alanna." He let go of Daine's hand, and stood up.
"Numair...no!" Daine stood up and crumpled. Numair rushed forward and caught her, before she fell to the ground.
"Daine, I don't want to hear any of it," Numair scolded gently. " You need Alanna and that's what I have to do, stay put. I won't be gone long." He gently set Daine back into the chair, and hurried from the room.
Daine closed her eyes and rested. This illness had come on so suddenly. Sure, she had been feeling poorly, but that was normal when she got busy. This was more than just fatigue. She knew the Lioness was in the castle, but why would Numair go to her over Duke Baird? Daine knew Alanna was more than a healer. Did Numair believe that her sickness was caused by sorcery? Daine shivered just thinking about it.
"Kitten, make sure that Numair doesn't break down the door..." The small dragon was two feet long with an extra foot of tail. Her scales were not their usual bright hue. They were turning gray around the edges. She was worried about Daine too.
Daine smiled a small smile. Kitten wasn't very worried or her scales would have completely turned colors. She brushed her bangs out of her eyes. She had learned that platting her unruly, smoky-brown curls into a long braid down her back, tamed them considerably. She closed her gray-blue eyes because the room had started to spin again.
Suddenly, there was the crashing of footfalls on flags and frantic whispers. Alanna had arrived. Daine slowly opened her eyes, and saw the fiery-haired Lioness peering contentedly at her. She took Daine's hands in hers and smiled, "Goddess, Daine, what on earth happened to you?" She felt Daine's forehead and gasped. "You're burning up!"
"Alanna, I'm fine, you needn't worry about me," Daine said. The Lioness' hand felt very cool on her hot forehead. She was trying to be brave, but she was starting to get worried. How could she have fallen so ill all of a sudden?
Worry creased Alanna's forehead. Daine was in trouble she knew that much, but she wasn't sure from what. She could feel her nose start to itch, but that could have been from Numair's magic. Numair had said that it might have been related to some sort of sorcery. Alanna had dealt with stuff like that before, but she needed to have Daine in her supervision at all times. She made a very difficult decision, "Numair, I know you'd rather Daine stayed with you, but I think it would be better if she were moved into my rooms. Daine, don't worry it's just precautionary."
Daine nodded. She was numb. All she wanted right then was to get better. She had too much to worry about. She could feel the animals starting to get anxious. She couldn't let them wreak havoc through the palace. Still she was the only one with enough magic to keep them subdued. With the last of her strength she sent calming pictures to them. There was nothing more that she could do. The animals would have to trust that she was safe. Alanna wouldn't let anything happen to her. "Do what you must, Lioness." She closed her eyes and lay back in the chair.
Numair didn't need any instruction from Alanna. There was nothing he could do for Daine. He would have to put his faith in the Lioness, his friend to make sure that his magelet was safe. He carefully picked Daine up and followed the Lioness through the castle. Activity was minimal at dawn. The bell to raise the pages chimed in the distance, but most nobles were still in their beds. Numair gently stroked Daine's hair as they moved through the castle. She began to shiver in the cool morning air, and he placed a heating spell on her to try to make her more comfortable. Magic could only do so much though.
Alanna stopped at her quarters, and put her finger to her lips. George and the children were still asleep. "Bring her into the guest room, Numair." Alanna opened the door to the guest room and they hurried inside. She quickly pulled down the periwinkle cover, and positioned the pillows so that Numair could set Daine down. The light of the rising sun dimly lighted the room. It was smaller than the other rooms in Alanna's suite, but it was well equipped. There was a large fireplace that was well stocked with wood. There were also three chairs and a desk in the room. The privy and dressing room were off to the left. Numair set Daine down and watched his friend closely. Her opened his mouth to say something, but closed it until he knew exactly what he would say.
"I know better than to beg you to let me stay," Numair said. He bent down and gently kissed Daine. "I'll come by later, but I've got page training this morning."
"You can come by any time, Numair," Alanna said. She waved as Numair hurried from the room. She tucked Daine in securely, and started searching with her magic. What was the root of Daine's problem? She would have to find out, and soon. Numair thought it could be magical, but why would it just strike Daine? Alanna couldn't be sure. It seemed as though this illness had been brought on by normal causes. But then again, the sweating sickness had looked that way as well until it started killing off healers.
"Lass?"
Alanna turned around and saw George Cooper staring intently at her. He was a little blurry-eyed, but Alanna saw the fear written on his face. "George, not you too, Laddy-me-love. Daine'll be fine; you have my word on that."
"I've been wonderin' what th' commotion's been about all mornin'. Daine's sick, does Jonathan know?"
"No," Alanna said flatly, "I'm not sure if he needs to know yet. Though, I'm sure Numair will tell him."
"Alanna, don't overexert yourself."
"I won't, George," Alanna said. She watched as the ex- rogue walked out of the room. She hoped that she was right. Daine's life was depending on her. She couldn't screw up.
~~~
Numair arrived back at their rooms, and started to get ready for the day. Kitten came over and whistled a question. He patted the tiny dragon's head. He wanted to stay in the rooms and mope, but he had an obligation to Jonathan and the pages. He didn't have a choice he had to go. He brushed his hair into a horsetail, and threw on some clothes. The color didn't matter today. He wanted it to go by faster so that he could see Daine again. He walked slowly through the palace. He didn't feel like teaching. The pages never understood how important patience was. All they wanted was to be able to cast spells. Daine had been patient, even a bit timid. Her magic frightened her, but no one would ever be like Daine. She had the most magic he had ever seen. She could now control it, and do things that people never thought were possible. The Wild Mage was an asset to Tortall. Life wouldn't be the same if something were to happen to her.
Numair was so lost in his thoughts that he wasn't paying attention to where he was going, and he nearly collided with King Jonathan. He was horrified that he had nearly run into his friend and his king. He apologized profusely, " Please excuse me, Jon, my mind is elsewhere."
"Numair, you look troubled," Jon said. "It's not like you. Jon watched the mage closely. Numair wouldn't meet his gaze. It was as if he was almost ashamed of being worried.
"Jon, Daine's sick," Numair said. He finally met the king's gaze. "She's with Alanna. Jon, I'm worried, because I think Daine's illness is the work of magic." This was something he had suspected for a while, but he wanted to make sure Alanna ruled out all the natural causes first.
"Why would they target our Daine?" Jonathan asked. Her wrapped his arm around Numair's shoulders. "The Lioness will get to the bottom of this. Daine's in good hands.
Numair nodded and they entered the pages' dining hall. They sat down in silence and waited for the young trainees to finish. Numair let his mind wander back to Daine.
~~~
Numair watched half-hearted as the pages filed into the classroom. His mind wasn't on teaching at the moment. He could tell the pages knew it as well. He was all ready known throughout the pages' wing as the adult who wouldn't ever tell on them, since he was always working on some sort of ultra important, I can't be bothered or the out come could be disastrous experiment or another. He also had one of the most attractive women in the palace as his lover, and Daine the Wildmage never gave another man or boy a second glance. She was true to Numair to the core of her being. Many younger men had tried to win her over and failed. This didn't make him very popular.
The pages and squires thought he took magic too seriously. All they wanted was to cast spells, and not have to worry about the problems or consequences of the spells they cast. Numair hoped that this cocky attitude would wear off soon. Many problems would happen if it didn't. The pages grew quiet as Jonathan stepped up.
"You will all give your full attention to Master Numair," the King said. "If you disrupt this class you will answer to me!"
The pages whispered nervously. Jonathan was never that harsh with them. The pages wondered what had gotten into their easygoing monarch. Heads turned toward Numair. He was more subdued than usual. Something must have been going on that they didn't know about. The pages hoped the mage would tell them.
Numair could hear the pages' conversations even though they were talking in frantic whispers. He took a deep breath, walked to the front of the room, and stood next to Jonathan. He looked around at the faces turned toward them. Some of the pages were still talking, but must of the faces were curious.
"Today," he said slowly, "we will learn the spell of detection. Those of you with healing gifts can use it to detect illnesses caused by spells." He whispered the last part. His mind wandered back to Daine. He withdrew his wizard's rod. He couldn't have done it with just his hands because they were shaking too badly. Some pages noticed and gasped, Numair sighed. It was going to be a very long day. They pages wouldn't understand. If they knew Daine was sick, there would be no order left. Everyone loved Daine. She was their Wildmage; she communicated with their animals.
Jonathan patted Numair on the shoulder and leaned in close to whisper, "Numair, I am going to go and check on our Wildmage. You don't need to worry. I'll take care of the spell later." He nodded to his friend, and glided swiftly from the room.
~~~
Jonathan walked swiftly through the dim halls of the castle to The Lioness' quarters. He rapped lightly on the door. He shifted his weight from foot to foot waiting for someone to open it. He heard latches unbolt and the door swung open. Jon stared into George Cooper's steady hazel eyes. "George, I've come to see Daine. I hope I'm not inconveniencing you."
George smiled looking at his old friend, "Never, your highness," he said earnestly, and stepped aside so that Jon could enter their quarters. "Alanna's with her. I'll take you back." He deftly turned and led Jonathan to the guest-room. He quietly opened the door and looked in. Alanna was hunched over the bed. She had her eyes closed, and amethyst light surrounded her. George moved out of the way and let Jon step into the room.
"How's she doing?" Jon asked Alanna quietly. He walked over to Alanna's side and looked at Daine. She was pale and she breathed very shallowly. Jon couldn't believe how sick she looked. He placed his hand on he shoulder and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Jon, what are you doing here?" she whispered. She was shocked that he would even come to see her. She couldn't believe that the king would come and see her just because she was sick. She tried to push herself up on her elbows, but she fell back panting as the world started to spin. Jon gently took her hand and gently helped her sit up. His hands were so cool that they felt like ice on her burning skin. His blue eyes shone with worry as he looked at Daine. It hurt her to see him like that.
"Daine, Mithros be on your side," he said. He felt the foreign magic in her. This was no ordinary illness. He looked over at Alanna and mouthed, 'Alanna, I need to speak with you.' He squeezed Daine's hand and smiled. He stood up and walked out of the room. Alanna followed him.
"Jon, you feel I too, don't you Alanna asked. She was as worried as Jon was. She didn't know exactly what they could do for Daine, but they had to think of something. She, Jon, and Numair would have to work together to find out what they could do to help her. She saw the look cross Jon's face that she had seen so many times before. "Jon, I don't know what is causing Daine's illness, but I can tell you this that she was targeted." Alanna couldn't believe that someone would target Daine. She didn't hurt anyone.
"I know," Alanna," Jon said. He walked over to his old friend, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He couldn't believe that they might lose Daine. He watched Alanna. He knew that his friend would do everything in her power to find out the cause of Daine's illness. She wouldn't let her succumb. Just as she had when he had the sweating sickness.
Alanna nodded and turned to go back to Daine. "Jon, tell Numair that Daine's doing all right." She squeezed Jon's hand and went back into the guest room.
She wouldn't leave Daine's side until she was well again.
~~~
Numair paced his study nervously. The mid-night hour had been called, but he couldn't sleep. He was prowling around like a nervous cat. He hadn't heard anything from Alanna for a couple of hours. He wanted to go check on Daine, but he didn't want to disturb Alanna. He wanted to give her as much of a chance to figure it out as he could. It was wad tearing at his heart being away from her. She meant so much to him. "Oh, Daine, what did I ever do to let this happen to you?" He remembered the first time he had seen Daine. He had loved her from that moment. He had been trapped in the hawk form and she had taken care of him and saved him. He owed her so much and at that moment he felt like he was giving up on her.
"Numair...?" Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak called. He came into the room and stood next to Numair. "I just heard. I was out with the own. Is there anything that I can do?" He was a few inches shorter than the mage, but he could see the worry written on his face. Numair was hardly ever worried. Now he was the most worried that he had ever seen him. Numair had never actually said that he loved Daine straight out to them, but it was obvious that he worshipped the ground that she walked on. Raoul had seen it since the siege at the start of the immortals' war.
"Raoul, I thank you," Numair said, "but there is nothing that we can do until Alanna gives the final word. She has the healing magic, not me." He pulled up a chair and sat down. Raoul sat down across from him. Numair couldn't concentrate. He wanted to have a normal conversation with Raoul about a few things. He didn't want Daine's illness to stop him completely, but it had for the time being. He reached out with his magic trying to sense Daine and the Lioness. He sensed Alanna, but there was something blocking him from Daine. He knew that had something to do with her illness.
"Numair, if there is anything that I or the Own can do, you need only to command me." There was a sudden chill in the air and he shuddered. Midnight was not a time to be roaming the castle. There was a spark and Numair lit a fire in the hearth. He had felt the chill as well. Was it more than just a midnight chill? He looked over at Numair and saw the mage was growing agitated. What was going on? Raoul wondered, since he had no concept of magic or its abilities. Suddenly Numair jumped up and ran for the door.
~~~
Jonathan of Conte was a wake as well in his study. Thayet had gone to sleep, but he was far from it. Suddenly, he felt a chill than s jolt of pain. Something was going on that involved very powerful magic that wasn't his Lioness' or Daine's. Whatever it was he knew what it wasn't natural. He grabbed his sword and ran from the room. The palace had a very eerie unnatural silence as he hurried through the torch-lit hallways. He nearly collided with Numair who was coming from his study. "Numair, what do you make of it?" he asked. He knew that if anyone would know more about magical happenings it would be Numair.
Numair shook his head; "I'm in the dark, Jon. I'll I can tell you is that's it's something that we don't encounter every day." He didn't slow for an instant and Jon kept the pace easily. He didn't like the feeling he was getting. If any of his friends were in danger the person causing the danger would have to pay dearly. He knew that Numair felt the same way. The big mage clutched the pendant at his neck. The Fire Opal burned in the torchlight. Numair was trying the best he could to get through to Daine. Now that he was getting closer to her rooms it was harder to sense her as well. That was frightening what could be happening to them?
"Numair, what's going on?" Jon asked. He had never felt such a rush of power before in his life, aside from the Black City, but this was different entirely. They picked up their pace and raced to Alanna's rooms. Their footsteps echoed through the vacant hallways. It was a sound that wasn't meant to be heard at that hour of the night. They arrived at Alanna's quarters and were shoved back with the sheer power of the magic coming from inside the room. Numair tried the door; it was locked. He was tempted to use magic, but he wasn't sure what kind of adverse reaction would occur.
"I'll handle the door!" Jon said. He moved back from the door, got a running start, and smashed through splintering the door frame. The door came in with a deafening crash. He looked around and saw George in the corner of the room with Thom and the twins. He met Jon's eyes and carefully ushered the children from the room.
"Whom can I get to watch these younglings?" he asked breathless. Raoul was sprinting down the hallway. He took the children's' hands and led them to a safe distance from the room. "Raoul, I can't let my lass fight that thing alone. Stay out of harm's way." Raoul nodded and moved further down the hall.
"George, what is going on?" Numair asked. He charged into the room, and stopped an instant before slamming into the guest room door. The magic threw him back. He watched Jon and George both. George was physically able to handle an attacker, but the only magical ability he had was the Sight. He was coming into a fight ill-prepared. Jon on the other hand was trained in both ways. He was better prepared, but Numair had no idea what they were coming up against.
George was sweating. He wiped nervous palms on his breeches. He had no idea what was going on in the other room. Suddenly there was a scream from the other room and he shuddered. "That was Daine!" He watched as wild panic swept through Numair's eyes. There was no restraining him any longer. He watched as Numair crashed through the door that stood between him and Daine. He stared dazed. Then he and Jon followed quickly.
Numair gazed around the darkened room. He saw an Amethyst shield surrounding Alanna and a very pale looking Daine. She looked over at Numair and tried to smile. Numair saw the person causing the disturbance. He recognized the mage immediately. Numair couldn't remember his name, but he had been one of his classmates at the university. Anger boiled in him. He though going after defenseless people was pure cowardice. If he had wanted to face Numair he should have faced Numair directly, and not gone after the person that meant most to him in the whole world. He now knew how to fight this spell, and he quickly muttered the counter-spell, and black lightning shot from his fingers. His mage opponent screamed as the spell hit him. Daine bit her lip to stifle a scream. She was linked to the Mage by a spell. He shouted a spell quickly and Daine collapsed onto the bed in a dead faint. With that threat neutralized Numair was able to concentrate on his enemy without worrying about. He felt the powers build up in his fingers and he let the white-hot black fire streak at his opponent. There was a bright flash and everything went black.
~~~
Alanna stood at the door of the guest room watching Numair and Daine. Daine was still incredibly weak, but she was alive and that was all that mattered. Numair sat next to her gently stroking her hair. Alanna gasped as he stood up and took Daine's hands in his. "You better say yes, Daine," she whispered quietly.
Numair had butterflies in his stomach. He looked straight into Daine's eyes. He had asked this question before, and she had said to wait. Would she say that again? He didn't want her to. Almost losing her again had shone him that life was too precious to waste time waiting. He loved Daine. There was something about that love that had kept her alive though that mage should have killed her before he had even stepped foot in the palace. Was it love that had given her the will to live? He knew that it had to be true. "Daine, I love you," he said. "I don't want to take no for an answer, but if I have to I will. "Will you marry me?" He held his breath waiting for Daine's answer. He turned to Alanna who smiled reassuringly.
Daine felt tears come into her eyes. She stood up and wrapped her arms around Numair's neck. She owed him her life more than once. She loved him more than anything she owned in the world. She had said no before when she was young and naive. She wasn't going to make that mistake again. "Yes, Numair, I will marry you!" She burst into sobs.
Numair tilted her chin up and kissed her gently. He had been waiting for this day for a long time and it had finally come. He was marrying his Wildmage. Daine would be his for the rest of their lives.
The End