epilogue

The sky had long ago darkened to smudged violet littered with with crystal stars. It didn't carry the thickness of the tropics, but the dry air was still warm from the days heat; it wrapped around Daine like a blanket and she settled back comfortably on the rug spread on the grass beneath her.

"Tell me another one," Daine said finally, breaking the silence between them.

"How about Cassiopeia?" Numair suggested.

"That'll do," she said happily.

"Okay, see that nice bright pattern like a W over there?" he asked, pointing in the sky. "That's the constellation Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia was the wife of the King of Ethiopia – he's there right next to her in the sky, see? Anyway, Cassiopeia – let's call her Cassie for short – was very very beautiful, but she was also very vain and boastful. She was so vain that one day while she was combing her beautiful long locks, she dared to say that she was even more beautiful than a Nereid. A Nereid is a sea nymph, Daine, and they are the daughters of the Old Man of the Sea. One of these Nereids was married to Poseidon – I'm sure you've heard of him, right?"

"Right," Daine said happily, listening intently, "but what's that got to do with the Cassie?"

"Well, not much really, except that the Nereids wanted Cassie punished for her vanity, and so the sea god sent a monster to ravage the coast of Ethiopia, the country of Cassie's husband. This monster is also in a constellation, Cetus, which-"

"Cassie, Numair," Daine interuppted again, smiling to herself.

"Right. Anyway, to appease the monster from ravaging the country side, Cassie and her husband changed their daughter Andromeda to a rock as a sacrifice, however she was rescue by Perseus."

"So why is Cassie in the stars?" Daine asked.

"As a punishment for her vanity, she was condenmed to circle the celestial pole for ever, sometimes hanging upside down which is very undignified for a woman of her disposition. The shape of the constellation depicts her sitting on the throne fussing with her hair."

Daine squinted up at the stars she assumed represented Cassiopeia, the wonky W. "You know, no matter how hard I look Numair, I can't see the pictures in the stars."

Numair chuckled. "Yes, it does require some imagination."

Daine sighed. "The stories are fair gory for such pretty sights."

"They're meant, I think, to be a reminder to mankind for the traps we are prone to fall into. They remind us to mind our lessons in life," Numair said thoughtfully.

"Well, I don't need any stars to teach me lessons or remind me to remember them," Daine said grimly. "I think I've learnt just about enough."

Again, Numair chuckled next to her.

Still staring at the sky, Daine felt his arm creep around her and pull her in tight against his side. She wriggled into place comfortably, sneaking her head up to cushion on his shoulder so she could feel his heart beat beneath her cheek.

"I learnt something very important," Daine continued quietly, still looking at the cold stars so far above.

"What was that?" Numair's voice rumbled beneath her, washing through her with a warm comfort.

"That life is too short," Daine said.

Numair barked out a laugh. "That, Magelet, is the greatest cliché of all time."

"I haven't finished yet," Daine said crossly.

"Sorry," Numair said contritely.

She cleared her throat. "Life is too short," she repeated, "to spend it fooling around saying one thing, meaning another, and feeling something different again."

Numair remained silent, though she could tell he wanted to question what she meant.

"While we were on that island, I pretended to be someone I wasn't. I flirted with Kaddar and let you think things about Kaddar and myself that were untrue," Daine said quietly. "I did that because I was angry at you, and jealous, and hurt."

His arm tensed around her, hugging her close. "I didn't exactly behave in an exemplary manner," he pointed out.

Daine nodded her agreement. "It's still no excuse though, for being dishonest with you. Kaddar and I are friends, Numair. Nothing more."

"I know," he said gently. "Once Varice and I were more," he said softly, "however, things and people change, and she was not the same woman who I cared for."

"She slept with Ozorne," Daine whispered.

"I know," Numair agreed. "But that didn't change the fact that I no longer cared for her in that manner, even though I may have led you to believe that I did."

Daine sighed. "You know how there was something I wanted to tell you?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

He hugged her tight again, and she pressed her face against his chest, breathing in the smell of him like a fine wine.

"I thought I'd lost you," she continued, baring her soul – now that she had started she might as well do it properly. "When I saw you fall over that balcony, it was… I don't even want to think how I felt then."

"What are you going to do when you wake up in ten years time and see an old man lying next to you?" Numair asked tentatively.

Daine smiled. "Tell him to get up and stop being lazy; just because he's old doesn't mean he's dead."

Once again, Numair chuckled beneath her.

"Good," he said. "It wouldn't do for old men to get lazy."

"No, it wouldn't."

So very gently like a butterfly, his lips brushed against hers and he smiled into her eyes.

There was silence, and Daine stared up at Cassiopeia as she danced across the sky. As her eyes drifted shut, lulled to sleep by the silver lights and the warm breeze and Numair's heart beat against her ear, she felt him press a kiss to her forehead and tuck her against him more snugly.

"I love you too, Magelet," he whispered into her hair.

Smiling, Daine drifted off to sleep.

--

And there you have it boys and girls, we're all done!

Hope you've enjoyed the ride – please take the time to let me know because my author's vanity dictates that it needs praise, so praise away!

'Til next time,

Silf

PS I could see Daine being a Vet; what do you think?? I'm not continuing the story, but it's certainly an idea for a modern fic, isn't it?!