(Lenna)

"If I win you have to ... do everything I tell you for a week. 
No questions, no arguments, just a 'yes dear' and then do it."

"And if I win?" Lenna's eyebrows raised questioningly. 

"If you win, the same. No arguments, no back talk, just immediate complicity."

 "Anything?" Lenna was clearly amused. "I kind of like the thought 
of that." She was already making a list in her head of all the 
things she would have him do for her. This might prove to be 
interesting. She wondered how far she could go before B'rand 
balked at one of her requests. 'Yes dear' indeed. Somehow she 
just didn't see it lasting the week.

"Me, too. I get the feeling that there's some things we'll both
want to happen," he said with a wink, "and some things we don't. 
But remember, it's only for a week, no more. That'll keep the 
winner from going too far, I think."

"I like it! When?" Her eyes lit up, already counting her victory 
at hand.

B'rand smiled. "I'm the one challenged, right? I'll pick the time."

 "All right." She agreed, quickly. 

 Soon after the excellent meal, B'rand and Lenna bathed (which 
took quite a bit of time), and B'rand dressed for patrol with 
Lonnie. He paused to kiss Lenna soundly before leaving.

 "What was that for?" she smiled, liking the gesture. A lot!

 "Because I love you, why else? Also for an excellent meal. And...
dessert." He waved as he mounted Rook and she watched as they flew 
down to ground level, before reaching for her own flight jacket and 
going to mount Blanchie. She also had a patrol to fly this morning.

Dan'yar was already waiting on the green (such as it was) leaning 
against his Dragon Shinner, when Lenna and Blanchie landed. She 
could tell her brother was deep in thought when he didn't even 
turn to notice their presence, and wondered what he was thinking 
of that had brought that smile to his face.

"What's that smile for big Brother?" Lenna asked as she came up 
behind him already dressed for flight. "Brisse all right?"

"Brisse's getting there," he said turning to face her. "It's the 
Warren I was worried about."

"Why? Did something else happen?" she looked around her 
concerned.

"Not yet, but give it time," he quipped and turned to mount 
his dragon. "Well you coming on patrol this morning or not?" 
he shouted down at her.

She remounted the lavender and purple dragon and shouted across 
to her brother. "What do you mean 'give it time'?" 

"Heard you and the rider of the black that took out Tergath have 
been spending a lot of time together lately." He said by way of explanation.

"Yeah... SO?" 

Dan'yar just laughed and gave her the sign to lift off. 

<<Blanchie?>>

<Yes my human?> 

<<Have you been gossiping about me again?>> Lenna asked.

<Of course, my human.> the dragon replied. <You tell me what other 
dragon has a rider like you? Why you're a legion around here.>

Lenna groaned, and stole a look across the open air to where 
Dan'yar and Shinner were flying, wondering if he would believe 
she was really in love this time. Then realized that Dan'yar 
would. He had told her once that he had never 'heard' her say 
that she 'loved' any of the men she'd spent time with. Never 
found one that she even wanted to become mates with. 

Until B'rand.

Yes Dani would believe her, even if no one else but B'rand 
himself would. She did love B'rand so much, that it took some 
getting use to. It was the first time she'd ever given her heart 
to anyone. and she knew it would always belong to him. No matter 
what..

********
(Lonnie)

"YOU WHAT?!?" Lonnie shouted in disbelief when B'rand told him 
about the sword fight and the bet that went along with it. "Well 
I sure hope you won't mind being led around by the nose for the 
week proceeding the fight?" Lonnie asked and broke out laughing 
so hard he had to lean against Meritanth to keep up right.

"Well you don't have to rub it in," B'rand complained. "I was 
counting on you to help me get out of it somehow."

"My friend you might as well give in gracefully and surrender." 
Lenna's twin told him. "Lenna's hell on wheels with that sword 
of her's and if you think she's going to let you back out of it 
now after you made that bet... then you don't know my sister as 
well as you think you do.'

"What am I going to do?" the red-head moaned. 

"Well if you're bound and determined to go through with it," 
Lonnie grinned. "I might have an idea."

"Anything!!" B'rand was nearly begging.

"Well it won't really be fair to Lenna... but I could ask Farr'in 
if he could work with you. He's the one who taught the rest of us 
how to use a sword."

"Do you think he would?" B'rand asked desperate for anything to 
help him win this fight.

"I'm sure I could talk him into it," Lonnie smiled. "After all ... 
we guys have to stick together. We can't have our women folk 
leading up around by the nose..." 

Suddenly a picture of his sister doing just that very thing to 
his patrol partner entered his mind, and set him to laughing again. 
---------------------------------------
nrpg: Allen....wants some lessons? he he:)
---------------------------------------
(Dinner time:)

As B'rand and rook veered off towards their apartment, Lonnie had 
Meritanth head towards the dinning hall, he was hungry after the 
patrol and felt like getting something to eat before heading up 
to his lonely apartment.

Several of his friends were already there so he joined them and 
soon everyone was laughing and carrying on. When his older brother 
Farr'in showed up with his patrol partner Ta'kar and joined them, 
Lonnie asked the man if he could talk to him privately for a 
moment.

Curious about his younger brothers request and the fact that Lonnie 
looked about to brake out laughing at any moment, made Farr'in agree.

"You're Kidding me right? "the shorter of the two said trying his 
best not to laugh. "Tell me you're playing a joke on me? 

Lonnie just shook his head, still trying to contain his mirth. 

"That boy crazy or in love?" Farr'in asked.

At that Lonnie let go. Just like earlier he had to grab on to 
something to keep himself from sliding to the floor as his 
laughter took control.

"Oh Gods...He'd in love," the older brother grimmest. "And with 
our little sister. 

"Well think you want to help the poor guy?"

"The sooner the better," Farr'in volunteered. "Anything to help 
keep the guy from getting humiliated by our dear sister. Tell 
him to come see me tomorrow."

They rejoined the others and the night went on. Sometime later 
Lonnie looked up to see a woman walking in the front door. She 
was looking a little lost and a little familiar. He being the 
gallant gentleman that he was went over to her, intending to 
invite her over to the table where his friends were sitting. 

"Greetings! I am Lonnie. And who might this vision of beauty be?"
Grinning he offered his hand. 

He saw the confused look that came over her lovely face and 
couldn't help but chuckle when she took a look back over her 
shoulder to see who it was he was talking too. Then he saw her 
turn back to face him after realizing he had been talking to her, 
and she blushed. 

"I am Nelar. Newly arrived from Telnor." She replied shyly and 
shook
the offered hand. 

"Nelar." He said her name slowly and grinned. "A beautiful name 
for a beautiful woman. You must join our table for dinner. My 
brothers and sisters have long since lost their manners and need 
lessons I fear!" He sighed dramatically. 

Nelar couldn't help herself and she giggled. "I'd like that." 

Lonnie led her to the table and introduced everyone and Nelar
immediately felt at ease. There was a lot of teasing and laughter 
and Nelar found herself laughing right along with them. She thought 
she recognized Lonnie's brother Farr'in but she couldn't quite 
remember from where. That made Nelar worry but Farr'in just smiled
pleasantly made her feel welcome. When it was discovered that Nelar 
played a harp, there was an immediate request for music. At first 
Nelar was terrified to play in front of so many people, but 
everyone seemed really nice so Nelar decided to go ahead and play. 
Lonnie's voice joined a few of the songs and his wonderful baritone 
voice blended with the music. 

Sometime later she excused herself from the table, saying that she 
needed to talk to the Warrenlady. Lonnie again took her hand and 
told her that he had enjoyed singing with her. 

"Maybe sometime if you'd like I could bring my guitar and we could 
play some music together. I had a friend at Telnor, Ga'brin, 
Preston's rider... Who I used to play with every once in awhile." 
Lonnie told her. "I really miss it,"

"I'd like that Lonnie," the girl smiled and that's when he 
remembered who she was. Not only that, but the scandal that she 
brought with her. Well it wasn't any of his business. Maybe 
someday she would feel like talking about it to him...but until 
then, he would try to be her friend and enjoy her company. For 
he'd a feeling she didn't have many she could call friends.
----------------
nrpg: I went with the first post and put this back at dinner time..
cause it fit everything else that went on.....

*****Submitted by: *******
Barbara (a.k.a.

Lenna & Blanchie
Lonnie & Meritanth

Cleft Warren