Daine sat on the beach, watching the waves crash against white sand in the moonlight. She sat cross legged, muscles still relaxed from meditating, no particular thought floating through her mind. It felt nice to be alone after the few frenzied days of greeting friends and acquaintances that she hadn't seen since her last visit to Pirate's Swoop. She had especially been spending time with the Lioness' children, who had been her friends and admirers since her first visit to the small castle.
A small smile played across her lips as she remembered how shocked she had felt at their height increases. The twins had shown her how well they had taken care of their ponies with pride, and a quick conversation with the animals had confirmed that Alanna's children did indeed take after their mother and father. Honor, responsibility, and kindness came naturally to the whole family.
The scuffle of shoes behind her pulled Daine from her reminiscing, and a glance confirmed that she was no longer alone. Numair stood awkwardly behind her, one hand rubbing up and down the opposite arm.
"May I join you?"
Daine scoffed. "Why so formal? You know you always have a place by me." A blush worked it's way up her cheeks as she realized what she had said, but he was already sitting down next to her, seemingly unaware of her embarrassment. The last few days of not having to worry about death, destruction, or war had allowed the germ of a realization to grow in Daine's mind. She was falling for her teacher, and she didn't know what to do about it.
"It's bright out tonight." His voice forced her from her thoughts, and she smiled up at him. Even sitting down he was a head taller than her. He shifted his position, and their arms brushed at the elbow.
"Their were some whales just off the coast earlier - you could see them break the water a few times - but now they've moved out of range."
He quirked an eyebrow. "The same ones that refused to help you the first time you met?"
Daine nodded, and her expression turned thoughtful. "You know, after seeing war, I can't really blame them for thier lifestyle. If humans were more stubborn about it, maybe..." She let her sentence trail off, not needing to go any further. They both knew what they had lost in the war. Numair's hand moved to hers, laying face up on her knee from her earlier meditation, and squeezed it. Unable to help herself, she laced their fingers together, than leaned over so that her head rested on his shoulder. She held her breath as he stiffened for a moment, but she let out the air she was holding when he relaxed.
They sat like that, unmoving, for a few minutes. Finally, he removed his hand from hers and sighed. "We should go to our rooms at the Swoop. We're getting up early to go riding with Alanna and her family." Daine sat up straight as he stood, seeming to take forever to get to his full height.
She took his hand when he offered it, allowing him to pull her up. She stumbled, legs asleep from being in the same position for so long. Numair caught her against his chest, a small chuckle escaping. "Magelet, you've been clumsy lately."
Daine didn't answer. Seemingly unbidden, her arms wrapped around his torso, and she pressed her cheek into his shirt, listening to his heartbeat.
"Daine..."
"I've been feeling jealous of Alanna and George. What they have...makes me feel lonely."
Numair stiffened, and tried to take a step back, but Daine just went with him, unrelenting in her hold on him. What am I doing? she thought to herself, but seemed unable to stop her actions or words.
"You know, George and Alanna were friends for a long time before they fell in love. I wonder...does that happen often?"
"Daine, please." Was Numair's only reply, but now that she had started, she could not stop. Daine was no coward, after all, and now that she had realized her feelings, she had to keep going. "I think it must, because lately, I have been having a similar experience."
"Daine, stop it."
"Numair...you have to know that I..."
"Veralidaine." This time, he was firm. He grabbed her shoulders to keep her from following when he stepped back. She studied her feet, unable to force herself to look at his face. What would she see? Revulsion? Anger? Or worse, pity? All of her earlier boldness rushed out of her, and all that was left was an awful ache in her chest and tears stinging in her eyes.
"So you don't feel the same way then." She said quietly. She mentally berated herself for sounding so pathetic.
"Daine..." a strangled laugh escaped him. "Of course I feel the same way." Shocked, her head snapped up to search his face, a glimmer of hope bursting through her bleakness. His face did indeed look like that of a man who was in love. It also looked...guilty?
"It's just...I'm so old, and you're so inexperienced...I don't want to take advantage..."
She couldn't help it. She laughed. He stopped talking, shocked at her reaction. "Odds bobbs, Numair! I'm not some young, idiot maiden! I've fought in a war! I've lived through kidnappings, and mage attacks, and Ozorne! I am not easily taken advantage of!"
"But, your reputation..."
"My last name is Sarrasri. My reputation is already shot with those who care about such things." Her hands had left his chest and were planted firmly on her hips by the end of her sentence. "Do not treat me like a child. I have not been one since I was eleven. And if you can't see that just because I'm not one of your blonde, buxom, and...and...flirty court ladies, well, then..."
Her tirade was stopped by a kiss. It was just a tentative brush of lips, but it brought her thoughts to a screeching halt. Eyes wide, she could only stare at Numair when he pulled back.
"Okay." He whispered.
"O - Okay?" She stuttered out. "That's it? You're giving in?"
A soft smile lit his face, and he brought his hand up to caress her cheek. "I love you, Daine. It doesn't take much convincing." He leaned down slowly, probably to give her time to change her mind, or something foolishly noble like that, but the breath ghosting across her lips only served to make her melt into him when they finally connected. He brushed his lips against hers a few times, tentatively, until she growled with frustration pulled him into her. He didn't need further urging. He deepened thier kiss, only pulling back when lack of air forced him to. Daine stared at him, pulling oxygen into her lungs, and thought he was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. At some point she had buried her hands into his hair, pulling most of the silky strands from his band. They now fell softly around a face illuminated by moonlight. He lips were full and red from kissing, and she was leaning in to claim them again when she heard a chuckle from behind her. With a gasp she spun around, and was surprised when she saw Alanna and George standing behind her.
"We were...I mean...we just..." Daine felt her cheeks turn a bright red as the two laughed good naturedly.
"So," Alanna said, "I guess you won't be needing your sleeping bag repaired, after all?