A/N: ok, guys this is my first fic. I really would appreciate reviews with friendly advice. I love fluff, but sadly this fic won't have any, because I'm sticking to the books. I'm hoping to write a sequel to it, which will be fluffy. This fic alters between Numair's POV and Daine's you should be able to tell which one I'm on, but tell me if its fuzzy.

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the Almighty Tamora Pierce all bow

Chapter one- Homecoming

Good riddance. Thought black robe mage Numair Salmalin as he watched a sliver of land disappear into the horizon. He deeply hoped this was the last time he would have to see the Island of Carthak. A place he had once called home.

His thoughts were interrupted by a brown haired girl who came to stand beside him. "Glad to be leaving?" she asked.

"Very much so." He replied, giving her the kind of smile that he reserved for her alone.

"So I guess you won't be missing anyone then?" She inquired mischievously.

The "anyone" she reffered to was Varice Kingsford. "No I won't." He replied firmly. "Will you?" he asked curiously.

"Yes, I suppose so." She laughed as she noticed his annoyed expression. "Like the emperor's birds, the hyenas,..." She noticed his face relax "...and Kaddar." With that it tensed again. That last one was the one he had been dreading. She smiled and playfully bumped his arm. He observed her for a moment before replying.

"I believe you are trying to provoke me Daine Sarrasri."

She smiled at him "Is it working?"

He grinned. "Perhaps"

Her smiling eyes met his. Those blue eyes he swore could see right into him when they met his dark ones. Mithros, when had his young student become the beautiful woman in front of him? And how had he missed it.

"Well, I think I will try to sleep through most of his cursed boat trip." Daine said, breaking the silence.

"Pleasant dreams Magelet"

She departed, leaving him to his thoughts.

He sat down on a barrel on the ship's deck, and his thoughts fell upon the past week. He had known that the peace talks weren't going well. He also knew Orzone, and therefore knew that he would try to disrupt things. All during the talks that day his thoughts had been on Daine. It wasn't like issues such as fishing rights concerned him. He was worrying about her, and the time she was spending with Kaddar. He knew Lindhall said he could trust the boy, but he couldn't help but worry. Orzone came into the room and declared that one of the Tortallan delegates was plotting against him. The Tortallans were just as shocked by this as the Carthakis. Then Orzone produced a letter and read its contents, including the signature of Veralidaine Sarrasari. Instantly Numair knew that the letter was false. For the first obvious reason, Daine hated her full name. That was something he understood. He himself got tired of people using "Aram" around him. But he also knew Daine, and she was trying her best to not cause trouble while in Carthak. That letter had been forged. He was certain of that. Orzone wanted a war and for some reason he wanted to use Daine to cause it.

In his heart he had know it was his fault. He had revealed to his greatest enemy his weakness. He had shown him that Daine was more to him than his student. And Orzone took Daine to get to him. Even if it meant playing into his hands, he was not about to abandon Daine. Alanna seemed to be the only one who understood this, which was something that he still did not understand. Not understanding something bothered him greatly.

His plan had been successful. He had avoided Orzone's men once, to get them on the chase, and then allowed his simulacrum to be arrested. The problem he had not foreseen was Daine finding out that "he" had been executed. Initially he had been shocked to find what Daine had done to avenge him. Deep inside he knew that it also meant a lot to him that she had cared so much about him. And when he had held her... it was all so confusing. Something had changed to him about Daine, and he couldn't quite place it. Lately being around her brought in emotions he was not sure he wanted.

From the corner of his eye he saw someone standing near him. He turned around to see Daine standing there, watching him.

"Magelet, I did not see you."

"I didn't want to interrupt you. You seemed to be thinking, and I know how much you hate to have your thoughts disturbed. The captain says we will be arriving soon."

"Mithros, have I been out here that long?"

"Apparently so."

"Are you ready to be getting home?"

"Yes! I've missed everyone. Its funny, a couple years ago I couldn't have imaged that so many humans would be counted among my friends."

"Am I one of them?" he asked, though he knew her answer.

"Of course. In fact I'd say you top the list."

"Well I'm very flattered." His eyes focused on the sea ahead. "I suspect Jon will haul us in for an interrogation as our feet step into the castle."

"No doubt he is curious about why I demolished half of the Carthaki's castle. It was awfully nice of Kaddar to not be angry about that."

He wouldn't have cared if you had blown up the whole island, as long as you snoged him afterwards. Numair mumbled bitterly to himself

"Hmm?" Daine inquired

"Nothing Magelet." She gave him a knowing grin that said she knew the gist of what he had mumbled. He pointed to something behind her. She turned her head to see a sliver of land in the distance. She sighed. Home at last.

A/N: ok, so there was Chapter one. Length too long? Too short? You like? You don't like? I'll never know unless you review!! So click and then type like the wind