| Once Upon A Time Written by Lady of the Wolves |
| Dedicated to Hera, Athena, and Nike Lately Daine had been having disturbing thoughts. (*A/N-I like that word-disturbing-, okay?) Her lover, Numair Salmalin, had been awfully, well-aloof lately. She wondered if he had finally decided that he wanted an older woman in his arms, though Daine, at nineteen, was hardly a child. "Drat it!" she muttered, pounding her fist into the pillow. She couldn't sleep! Skysong, known as Kitten by most folk, chirped in concern as her "mother" tumbled out of bed and pulled a midnight-blue robe over her cotton nightgown. Chirping then in curiosity, she leaped onto the bed and watched Daine. When the Wildmage noticed that she was being watched, she smiled tiredly. "I'm just going to talk to Numair, Kit," she explained. "You'd best wait here, I won't be long." The young dragon whistled agreement and snuggled in the blankets Daine had so kindly warmed for her as the Wildmage left the room. Creeping down the hallway, Daine paused before a door and squinted up at the brass plate, making sure this was her teacher's room. The name Numair Salmalin stared back at her, and she attempted to open the door. However, the door did not want to open. Either that or it was locked. Daine pulled on the doorknob angrily for a while, then sighed and knocked, trying to be quiet so she wouldn't disturb the other residents in the hall. After about ten minutes, she heard footsteps approaching, a thunk, an "Ouch!", and the doorknob twisting open. Her lover peered around the door, keeping it almost closed. "Daine!" he said in surprise, and it hurt her. He seemed like she had bothered him while he was doing something important. Twisting her hands behind her back, she gave him a weak smile. "Um...could I come in for a moment?" The words were barely out of her mouth before he quickly came out into the hall, shutting the door behind him. "No, no," he said hastily. "I-I spilled some powdered cridweed in my workroom and it smells all over." It seemed to Daine like a pretty lame excuse. "Well-um-may I help you?" he asked. She stared at him. "Huh?" "Why did you come to my room?" he explained. "Oh. Well, I just wanted to talk to you about us. You know, where our relationship is going. The future." Numair gulped, afraid of the strangely serious look in her eyes. "Look, magelet, it's getting late and we both need our rest, and I was quite busy before you came, so I'm sure we can discuss this later. Good night." With that, the tall mage slipped into the room and closed the door. Daine stared at the door, biting her bottom lip and fighting tears. Backing away, she turned and ran to her room, where she cried herself to sleep. * * * * * * * Veralidaine Sarrasri woke up with a strange feeling in her stomach, like she had eaten a pound of lead. Clearing her mind slowly, she recalled the events of the previous night. And what Numair had said. Kitten crawled over to plop beside the Wildmage, chirping comfortingly. Absentmindedly stroking her, Daine stared at the ceiling. "Maybe he doesn't want our relationship to have a future," she whispered. * * * * * * * Daine had finally hauled herself out of bed and was busy mucking out Cloud's stall. Her shaggy gray pony watched and criticized as the young woman worked. You missed a spot, the mare informed her. Several, in fact. Too bad, the girl retorted, this is NOT the time to get on my nerves. The pony snorted and gave Daine a warning squeeze on the elbow with her teeth. Daine sighed and apologized. She was so upset about last night that she didn't want to talk to anyone. Finishing up, Daine led Cloud back to the stall and went off in search of Numair. She had to talk to him. Daine walked briskly down the corridor, still wearing her muddy boots and stable clothes. Turning a corner sharply, she ran smack into the man she was looking for. "Numair!" she said, startled. He glanced at her in surprise, then quickly bent to pick up the papers he had been carrying. "Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized, crouching down to help him. "No!" he said loudly, snatching the pieces of parchment from her fingers and grabbing the ones on the floor before standing up and walking away quickly. "I'm sorry," she called, running to catch up with him. She put one hand on his muscular arm, trying to slow him down to no avail. "Numair, what's wrong?" she cried suddenly. He turned to face her. "Nothing's wrong," he replied evasively. She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot. He sighed. "Daine, you aren't my mother. Nothing is wrong, I've just been quite occupied finishing up the transmogrification spell for the king." He strode away, leaving Daine feeling as if she had been run over by a carriage. Or two. About an hour later, Alanna the Lioness came into the hallway. She noticed that Daine was standing completely still, as if she was in shock. Curious, the lady knight strode over and asked if she was all right. The Wildmage did not respond. After about ten minutes, Alanna his her on the shoulder in frustration. Daine started. "Oh, hello Alanna," she said tiredly. The lady knight watched her face carefully in concern. "What's wrong, lass?" she asked gently. Clearly the girl was hurt inside. Daine shrugged. "It's nothing," she muttered, and left in a hurry. * * * * * * * When Daine arrived at her room, she found Kitten rolling on the floor with Zek. The two were absorbed in their game. The Wildmage simply stepped over them. Kitten jumped into her lap once she sat down, and deposited a bit of wrinkled parchment in her hands before bounding away to play again. |
| Happily Ever After Dedicated to Fred Dear Daine, I agree with you; indeed, we do need to discuss our future. And to do so, I would like to take you to our favorite eating-house. Please be ready at about 6:30. I will come for you at your room. -Numair Daine couldn’t stop the flow of tears that coursed down her cheeks, blinding her from the words. She choked on a sob and collapsed on her bed. Kitten came over and chirped gently, in a concerned way. Zek came over as well. What is wrong? he asked. Daine wiped her eyes. “It’s Numair,” she said softly. “I don’t think he loves me anymore.” Zek and Kitten didn’t know how to comfort her, and they finally left when she asked to be alone. Lying on her bed in the dark, she heard thunder rumble in the distance. An hour later, Daine rose from her bed and looked at her reflection in a mirror that was propped up on her dressing table. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, her hair was a mess, and her face was tear-stained. Suddenly she straightened. “If he’s going to-to dump me, well, then I at least want to look good for it!” Another hour and a half later, the Wildmage was ready. She was wearing a long, elegant silver gown that clung to her curves. She had on long white gloves, and her hair was done up in an elegant knot at the base of her neck. A pearl necklace that Numair had give her for Midwinter hung around her neck, and she had pearl earbobs to match. Kitten and Zek, who had returned, whistled their approvement together. A knock at the door startled Daine out of her thoughts; what was she supposed to do when Numair told her that he wanted to move on? Kitten leaped off the bed and opened the door. Numair was waiting there, clutching a bouquet of roses in one hand. He looked as nervous as she felt. “You-you look magnificent,” he said, blushing slightly. “Thank you,” Daine whispered, her heart pounding in her chest. Drat it, she was still in love with him! He handed the flowers to her, still blushing, and picked up Kitten as she put them in a vase. “Are you ready to go?” he asked, putting the dragonet down and offering her his arm. She nodded, feeling that if she said anything, she might cry. * * * * * * * Numair led Daine to the private table he had reserved for them. Seating her first, he took the chair opposite from her. After they had both ordered, the silence stretched long between them. Finally Numair said something. “Daine, I’ve been-well, courting you since the end of the Immortals War.” Daine nodded painfully. She wanted to get it over with. He took a deep breath. “So we’ve been together for about three years now. Three years is a long time. Over these three years, I feel like I’ve really gotten to know you. Your faults, and your good sides. But now I truly think that-” Daine couldn’t take it. She leapt up from her seat. “Why, Numair? Why don’t you love me anymore? Do you think I’m a child? Have I done something? Because I cannot stand to just be-be gotten rid of because you think that I’m too young! I thought we were in love!” she shouted. Then, more quietly, she whispered, “I thought you loved me.” With that, the Wildmage turned and ran from the building. ************** Numair Salmalin sat in the now empty room. He was in shock. Daine had just shouted at him and run away in the middle of his speech. It had taken forever to write it. Three years, in fact. And now Daine had left. But why? he asked himself. Why did she think that he didn’t love her? That was why he had taken her to dinner-to propose. Reaching inside his dinner jacket, he removed the small velvet box. Popping it open, he examined the diamond-and-sapphire ring, twirling it in his fingers. Where had she gotten the idea that he didn’t love her anymore? That he had come to get rid of her? He quickly put the ring back in the box and the box in his jacket. Standing up, he ran out of the room after his love. * * * * * * * Daine had ridden Cloud, as fast as she could go, back to the palace. She was dizzy with hurt...or was it anger? She didn’t know. Racing back to her room, she flung herself onto her bed and sobbed. When Kitten had come over, she had said to leave her alone. * * * * * * * Numair was out of breath. After taking Spots back to the palace, where he suspected Daine had gone, he had ran at top speed to the palace. Finally making it to her door, he leaned against it heavily and gasped. He knocked again. There was no reply. “Daine?” he wheezed. “Go away!” “Daine, PLEASE let me come in-” he stopped for breath- “and talk to you!” “Just leave me alone.” However, her door swung open. A small dragon dug her claws into his silk breeches, growling and whining at the same time. “Kitten?” That was Daine. Her beautiful face was wet with tears and frozen in a hurt expression. He walked into the room slowly and sat on the end of her bed. She inched away slowly. He met her gaze, but she looked away. Taking her hands in his, she tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her. “Daine,” he said seriously, “this is important.” He pulled her chin up so he met her eyes again. Her blue-gray eyes were wet with tears, but his dark eyes were very serious. “Why don’t you love me anymore?” she whispered, her eyes threatening to overflow. Suddenly she was caught up into an extremely tight hug. “But I do, magelet,” he whispered in her hair. “I love you more than words could ever describe. And I did not take you to dinner to get rid of you.” She pulled away, eyes leaking. “Then why did you?” She watched his face carefully. He smiled and knelt before her. A beautiful ring appeared on her finger. Upon closer examination, it was an engagement ring. “Veralidaine Sarrasri, my magelet and true love, will you do me the great honor of being my wife?” He gazed, with tremendous hope, into her eyes, and continued, very softly, “Because I cannot live without your perfect smile and incredible being.” Daine didn’t smile, she didn’t move. Numair’s heart pounded, he was so worried that she would say no. “Why-why were you being-being somewhat, well, rude to me before?” she finally asked. He tightened his grip on her hands, blushing slightly. “I was extremely nervous about proposing, and I suppose that I just took it out on everyone. I’m so sorry that I hurt you. I would never mean to do that.” Veralidaine Sarrasri slowly put her arms around his neck adn leaned forward. He gripped her waist tightly. Her nose touched his. “Let’s get married,” she whispered, and smiled. Numiar kissed her passionately, then scooped her up in his arms and kissed her again. And again. Pulling her onto the bed, they fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms. ****The End**** |
| *** ToRtaLLaN TaLeS II *** |