Okay post # three... now I think it's time to take a break from Cleft and
move on to another Warren.... humm... which one next,,,,,,,

===================================

*Family's, Fears and Oily Sons*

<<I'm starting to worry about you my friend,>> Farr'in half joked as he
stood scratching the underside of his dragons chin.

He had just finished checking over the work done by the dragonhealer and was
relieved that the damage caused by the mating flight hadn't been any worse.

<<Getting knocked out of mating flights is starting to become a habit with
you.>>

<I didn't do so badly in Norwall if you remember correctly,> the dragon
reminded his rider with a smug sigh of pleasure at the memory. He'd been
careful not to let the female beside him hear his words. He didn't want her
frighten for nothing.

<<No you didn't,>> equally remembering that time with fondness. For it had
been there in Norwall during the aftermath of a mating flight between
Tergath and Vonn that his friendship with Meena and Demee had begun.

<I was very worthy that day and one day will be again when Vonn is feeling
better,> the brown boasted and his rider believed him. 

Farr'in had heard of dragons forming bonds, but it was rare. In this case he
was glad that it had happened, for he knew how worried his mate was over
Vonn's reactions and he was glad she had Tergath to help give her some comfort.

<I will always be there for her when she needs me,> the brown said softly.
<I will let no one harm her again.>

<<I know you will buddy, and I know her rider is thankful you are here
caring for Vonn in her time of need.>>

<I could do no less for my friends. Now .. since I seem to have Vonn calmed
down for the moment don't you think you should make sure your mate is calm too?>

<<You're right there buddy!>> Farr'in gave his dragon one finally thump on
the snout and asked, << You wouldn't happen to know where she is would you?>>

<Try looking on my other side. Over by Vonn. She's there talking with her now.>

<<Why didn't you say so when I got here?>> the rider frowned.

<What! And miss out on a good ten minutes of scratching!>

<<you're cursing buddy,>> Farr'in growled as he walked around front of the
dragons and saw Meena standing there hugging the next of her lifemate.

Lords she was beautiful he thought as he just stood there watching them.
He'd had other women before, but never one who touched his heart and soul
the way this one did. She was everything to him. And there was nothing he
wouldn't do to keep her and Demee safe and happy. She was a gift from the Gods. 

One he meant to treasure until the day...

"How's Tergath?"

The sound of her voice was so sweet. It drew him to her.

"His tail hurts and he's got a few scratches," Farr'in grinned, "Say's it
feels kinda like winning a mating flight without the mating part,"

Meena chuckled, and kissed him, gently, "Well I'm about as ravenous as after
mating."

He grinned, "You are?"

He was always that way when he held her in his arms. There was just
something about her .. Some sweetness, that he knew would always bring him
back for more time after time.

She nodded, her light brown eyes twinkling at him, "But perhaps we'd better
eat first .."

He sighed, "I supposed."

Chuckling she hugged him close and the two headed arm and arm toward the
dining hall.

Once inside Farr'in noticed how busy the place was. Other riders finding it
better then being home alone in their apartments after the thrill and
excitement of the battle, he supposed.

As he looked around he almost didn't see the other woman and Meena bump into
each other, but saw the look of horror that came quickly over his mates face
before she could hide it as the two women faced eachother.

He knew something was wrong.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Meena apologized, silently cursing
for not watching where she was going.

Amberylle brushed at her dress, "No," she looked up at the other woman, "I
should have been watching where I was going."

They both stared as their eyes meet. Small gasps escaped from their lips.

Amberylle arched a brow looking at the woman. "Pardon, may I ask your name?"
Her eyes moved to the man by her side.

"Oh gods .." Meena felt a moment of panic, "Amberylle?" The long forgotten
name slipped easily from her lips.

"Carameena!?" The name was a healthy cross of surprise and question.  But
her arms flung around the young long lost cousin. "Cara..."  she pulled back
to look at her. "Is it you?"

Now Farr'in understood the look that had been on her face. 

Fear.

The other woman went on as if nothing untold was happening. and maybe to her
it wasn't. But surely if she was Meena's cousin she would have heard about
the fight she'd had with her father?

Amberylle looked to the tall man next to Meena and smiled at her.  "And who
is this?"

Farr'in pushed in, "I was going to ask the same thing?" He looked pointedly
at Meena, concern dotting his expression.

For a moment Meena just looked back and forth between the two. Then she
sighed, "Farr'in, I'd like you to meet Lady Amberylle, my cousin. Amberylle,
this is my .. my mate, Farr'in."

Amberylle curtsied properly at the tall fellow.  "It is a pleasure to meet
you Farr'in."  She turned to look at Meena. "Cara, I cannot believe your
father let you run off and marry a dragonrider. Remember how he went
ballistic that night we snuck out to go to that tavern when the actors came
in?"  A slight smile rising to her face as she remembered a happier time.

The mention of her fathers name made him tense up. He stood there and
watched his mate for any signs of her reaction and decided to go along with
that for now, but he would keep his eye on this cousin to try and figure out
if she posed any danger to his love. He had promised to protect them both
when he brought them here and protect them he would.

Meena shook her head, "No .. not exactly. Amber .." She said looking at her
pointedly, "You aren't here because of my father .. are you?"

"I wish, I am here with Lord Vorbis to settle the land.  If I was on some
lord's business then I might be able to go home."

Farr'in didn't know the name, but wondered if he had anything to do with the
group he was being ginning to hear reports about, settling on some land
outside the Warren.

And wondered how many problems that in itself was going to cause with the
Nomad's who thought of the land as their own. it might be interesting to see
how it unfolded. But his main concern right now was Meena and Demee and what
danger if any it posed to them.

He stood back and listened as the two women spoke and could tell from the
grins on his mates face that she and this Lady A had been close as children.
He just hoped the closeness was still there for Meena's sake.

Sometime later Meena suggested they all go up to their apartment and finish
the talk. Farr'in knew she wanted to spend sometime with the woman and find
out what it was about her that seemed to make her so sad.

Though she had tried to hide it from them, Meena saw through her. They must
have been very close indeed, he thought.

When the woman broke down finally, and Meena suggested again that they go
somewhere more private to talk, Lady A readily agreed. 

.......

It wasn't long before they were in Meena and Farr'in's apartment with Meena
pouring hot tea into cups. "I just seem to keep running away .. and when I
saw you .. well I was afraid my father had found me, and that we'd have to
run again .."

Amberylle nodded and sipped at her tea.  "I can understand why. Don't worry,
I won't let anyone know about your being here.  And any who say you are
Carameena Harkon I will let them know under no uncertain terms that
this woman is not Carameena."  She took another sip of her tea.

Meena nodded thankfully, "Now tell me what you and Vorbis are doing here,
and why you seem so unhappy."

Farr'in listened. He figured the more he knew about this man the better it
might turn out for all of them in the end. Something just didn't seem right
and he wanted to know what it was.

"Vorbis is here to stake his claim on the land.  His father left him no land
to rule so he has come out here to take some."

"Stake his claim? Here? But this land belongs to the nomads. They won't give
that up." Meena told her. She looked over at Farr'in who sat listening
thoughtfully. He nodded in agreement with her.

Meena was right. The Nomad's might seem like savages to someone like Vorbis,
but the people in the Warren had come to learn differently. The man was a
fool to believe they would be frighten or submit without a fight. And he
didn't see things happening any other way if the good Lord went on with his
foolish plan.

"He has brought one hundred soldiers to help him make his place.  He thinks
the nomads should be easy to over run.  As brutes and savages."

"Oh dear .. that's not going to happen, Amber. These nomads don't roll over
for anyone but their gods. And it'll cause major problems for the Warren.
We're already not liked by several of the tribes." Meena fretted, "Cynthia
should be warned about this .."

"I have tried to talk to her, but I don't know if she understands the game
we play in the courts."  She set the tea down looking at Meena. "One of
Vobis's most trusted counselors was there. Davyd., he has a good heart,
but he is dedicated to Vorbis.  I couldn't out-rightly say anything bad
about Vorbis."

Farr'in thought maybe it would have been better for her if she had. He
didn't feel there was any love loss between the two of them, and liked to
see no woman subjected to the fear he was hearing in the underlining of her
words. 

Even if the woman didn't realize she was telegraphing that fear in her
attempts to hide it from her cousin. He'd hunted enough time to see the
signs and he didn't like what he was seeing now. When Meena told the woman
that if there was ever anything they could do to help her that she had only
to ask, he seconded the offer and let Lady A see that he meant it. She was
Meena's cousin after all. Family and family meant the world to him. There
was nothing he wouldn't do to keep his family safe.

"Let me help you as you've promised to help me in keeping my identity secret."

"I may need you to pick up a suit for me from Danki."  She blushed.  "And I
have another question."  She looked over at Farr'in.  "When it is just us
girls."

Meena looked over a Farr'in and gave him a look. It took him a moment and
then he realized she was asking him to give them a moment. He cleared his
throat, "I .. umm .. I need to go check on Demee anyway .."

Demee wasn't the only one he wanted to see right then. Someone else needed
to know what he had learned here tonight and the sooner he told someone the
better he thought. 

"Thank you," Meena smiled, watching him leave. He hadn't gone to far when he
heard their talk start up again and chuckled when he heard the woman's
question. 

"Is it true in the warren a woman may have as many men as she wants?"

Meena's eyes widened for a moment then she giggled, "Well, I suppose so .."

He was just glad Meena thought differently. That she believed in having only
one lover at a time and that he was the man she loved.

.......  

He asked Tergath where he might find young Demee and after being told he was
with his cousin's and having fun, turned away and headed towards his
brothers home.

He had two reasons for going to see Dani. One was that he had learned of
Brisse's leaving and wanted to see how he was dealing with it, and the
second was to let him know about Lord Vorbis. While it would be nice to have
a settlement in the area. 

"You up for some company?" he asked after letting himself in and finding his
brother sitting on the couch in the living room.

"You're welcome to come in," the taller of the two said. "But I don't know
how good a company I'll be right now."

"You did what you thought was right Bro." Farr'in knew his words didn't
offer much comfort. "She had to do this for herself or you both might have
regretted it for the rest of your lives."

"I know," Dan'yar grinned sadly as he leaned forward and picked up the glass
of wine sitting before him on the end table. "Don't worry. It's only my
first." He said when he noticed Farr'in eyeing it. "I'm not gong to get
drunk and do something stupid."

"Didn't think you were," his older brother grinned back. "I was just
wondering if you had one of those for me. I think I may be in need of one
after I tell you what I just found out."

Dan'yar's interest picked up. Right then he needed something to keep his
mind off the thought of how empty the place felt to him without Brisse here
to fill it.

"Help yourself. You know where the wines kept."

Farr'in got up and walked across the room the cabinet where the liquor was
stored. Poured himself a glass as he wondered if maybe he was over reacting,
but then decided that he wasn't.

"I'm not really sure if this means anything..." he hesitated slightly as he
came back to take the seat across from his brother.

"But... go on. you never bring anything up unless you're worried about
something. And I've known you long enough by now to know your instincts are
good." Dan'yar prompted him.

So Farr'in went on to tell him about them running into Lady Amberylle. About
her and Meena being cousin's and the things she had told them about her
husband and his plans. 

"Has anyone talked to this man yet and filled him in on what's going on
around here?" Dan'yar asked, his wine glass in his hand forgotten now as he
was drawn into Farr'in's tale.

"From what Lady Amberylle says I don't think it would do much good to try
talking to him, but we'll see what Cynthia has to say about it."

"Have you told her yet?"

"No," Farr'in shook his head. "I wanted to see what you thought abut it first."

<<Coppertop where is the Warrenlady right now.. and if she's not doing
anything.. umm.. see if we can have a few minutes of her time.>>

[[Not sure where she is or what she's doing but fit this in the best place
you can...]]

"Trevor not around?" Dan'yar asked as Cynthia showed them in. He had been
hoping the man would be here just for his insight. As Dan'yar knew he'd
spent more time around these new folk them anyone else.

"I am curious as to what you wanted to see me about," she said and walked
inside ahead of them and took a seat. 

"It has to do with this Lord Vorbis and something I found out tonight about
his plans to settle here in the Nomad lands," Farr'in told her, then turned
to glance at his brother before repeating the same story he had just told
his brother.

"I get the feeling all is not well between the Lord and his Lady, but also
that she's not as set in this plan as she let's others think."

"What do you mean?" Cynthia asked.

"It was just something I picked up from talking to her and hearing her
speak. You might do well to get her alone sometime and see what you can find
out from her and form your own opinion."

"I'll do that," she nodded her head then looked at him. "But what is it that
you're not telling me about this talk.. Like how did it come about?"

"Lady Amberylle is Meena's cousin... and I fear there might be some threat
to her and Demee coming from it."

"You don't think ..."

"I don't know what to think, but I'm ..concerned for her welfare," he
dragged his fingers through his hair. "First Jahn shows up from Norwall
looking for her and now this Lady Amberylle showing up. I brought her here
so she'd be safe.. but to many people are starting to know where she is and
I'm afraid word of it will somehow get back to her father."

He looked around the room at both of the others.

"It may be nothing at all and I may have the guy wrong. Who knows," he
shrugged his wide shoulders. "Maybe I'm just being overly concerned for my
mate and our son. But I thought I'd better tell you just in case I'm right."

"I've never known you to go off half cocked Farr'in," Cynthia said kindly.
"So I'll remember your words when I finally speak with this Lord Vorbis and
let you know what I decide."

"That's all I can ask," the rider sighed, but inside he couldn't help
feeling something he couldn't control was about to happen. And he hated the
not knowing. Especially if it concerned his mate and Demee.

The two riders left soon after they talked and went in search of their
children. They found them near Farr'in and Meena's apartment and could have
laughed when they saw young Demee all covered in oil.

"It's not our fault Da," the twins told them, looking sideways at their
Uncle to see if he was upset. 

"Yea.. Demee wanted to do something to make Vonn feel better so he asked us
if we would help him oil her," Arly told them and Leyean picked it up from
there.

"We didn't think we were doing anything wrong. But then we forgot to put the
lid back on the pot and Demee tried to pick it up and it spilled all over him."

"Yea spilled. All over me," Demee agreed and looked up at his Daddy to see
if he was in trouble.

The girls and Demee looked so sad that the two riders were having a hard
time keeping the laughter out of there words. 

"Well you do realize that you will have to help clean it up. Don't you?"
Dan'yar told his girls trying to look stern, but failing.

"Oh we will..."

"..We promise.."

<<Is Vonn feeling any better buddy?>> Farr'in sent the message while his
brother was dealing with the children.

<She always feels better when her hatchling is here with her. She doesn't
want him to feel sad around her and his attentions help keep her mind off
other things.>

Farr'in nodded then looked down at his son who was still wondering if he was
in trouble.

"You know your mother is going to kill me when she sees you this way," he
said then went and picked up the pot and glanced inside to see how much of
the oil was left in the bottom. "So there's only one thing to do."

"What's that daddy?" the little boy asked and then gasped and giggled when
his daddy lifted the oil pot and poured what was left inside over the top of
his own head.

Both girls joined in the giggles and Dan'yar just covered his face with his
hand.

"Don't! Expect me to join you in this brother mine," he said after a minute.
"There are something's that blood ties just don't extend to and this is one
of them. I'm not going to stick around and have your mate yell at me when
she sees this, so I'm doing what any good brother would do."

"What's that Daddy?" the girls asked and Farr'in looked up at him with the
same question in his blue eyes.

"Yes Brother. What is that?"

Dan'yar reached out and placed a hand on each of his girls shoulders. "Why
I'm taking my girls and leaving before Meena catches us here."

"You're going to go and let us face the music all by ourselves?" the stocky
rider pulled Demee over in front of him and both males looked sadly at the
others. Demee had finally figured out this was all a game they were playing.

"That's exactly what I'm doing. And just hope you don't hit a sour note,"
Dan'yar chuckled and hurried the girls off towards home and a bath.

"Boy.. it's times like this when you find out just who your friends are,"
the rider hurumpped and sat down on the ledge while pulling his son onto his
lap.

"Yea.. who your friends are," Demee agreed and sounding so much like Farr'in
that the stocky rider felt his heart swell with love for the boy.

"I'm almost afraid to ask what you two have been up to," a voice called from
the top step. "Is it safe to come on in or will Aunt Meena yell at me to
when she finds you both this way?"

Farr'in looked up to see Sasha standing there grinning.

"Are you a friend?" Demee asked wanting his cousin to be part of their joke.

"Of course I'm a friend," the older boy replied. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Cause the others all left to let us *face the music* on our own," Demee
told him and looked up at his daddy to make sure he got it right.

"Yup.. they deserted us in out hour of need," Farr'in nodded his head in
agreement and stood up, pulling Demee along with him. "But maybe if we can
convince Sasha here to help us finish the job, your mother won't be so upset
with us. What do you think sport?"

Demee looked over at his cousin.

"Want to help? We're gonna finish oilin' the dragons." 

"Sure kid.. Why not. Aunt Meena can't yell at all of us can she?"

Aunt Meena... Farr'in liked the sound of that coming from the boy. Every
since they'd had their talk the boy had come around and had accepted Demee
into his life as if he'd always been there.

Farr'in hadn't forgotten his promise to the boy about them doing things
together. He just needed to make sure he found the time to do so.

And he would soon.

The two dragons were oiled and Vonn seemed to settle down a little once the
boy was around her. Tergath told his rider that he thought the oiling had
been a good idea.

They had just finished up when he heard the sound of the inner door opening
and thought it might be a good idea to hide from their guest so he motioned
the two boys over around to the other side of the dragons and then had to
caution them to keep quiet when Demee and Sasha started to giggle.

"I was sure Vonn said they were out here," they heard Meena saying as she
walked Lady Amberylle to the steps. "Maybe Farr'in took him over to his
mothers for a treat when they finished."

"Well that's okay. I can always see them later," the other woman said and
then there was a moment of quiet as the two women hugged. "I'm so glad I
found you again Cara. I didn't know how much I've missed you until now."

"I feel the same way Amber... Let's not let it go on so long again."

They talked for a few more minutes then the guys heard the sounds of
footsteps on the steps and knew their guest was leaving. A few minutes later
they heard Meena's voice.

"Okay you three I know you're still here," she called out. "You might as
well come out and show yourselves and take your medicine before I get upset."

Farr'in looked fearful at the two boys. "Think we could sneak past her
without her seeing us?"

"Somehow I don't think so Uncle Farr'in," Sasha rolled his eyes and pointed
at the dragons. "Don't think they would let us."

"Yea.. the tattle tales," Demee giggled and laughed even harder when Farr'in
picked him up and carried him around to the other side when Meena was waiting.

"Hi mommy! We was oiling' Vonn and Tergath and Sasha helped!"

"I'm sure he did," the woman muttered as she eyed the three of them covered
from head to foot in oil. "Though I'm wondering just how much of that oil
actually got on the dragons."

Sasha knew when it was time to leave and he figured this was as good a time
as any. 

"Umm.. I think I hear my mom calling me," he said and began backing up
towards the steps. "I better go see what she wants."

"Hummpt..." Demee exclaimed as he watched his cousin leaving. Then looked up
at his Daddy. "I just he wasn't a good friend after all..."

"Nope," Farr'in agreed squeezing the boys hand as they shared their little
joke. "I guess we just have to be brave and face your mommy's music alone."

"Well you can start both of you by taking off those oily rags before you
take one step inside of my house!" she warned them and stood back to give
them room by the door to do just that.

[Tag Kris is Meena has more to say :)]

......

Later after they got Demee put down for the night, Farr'in was in their room
waiting for her to get back from checking on him. 

They hadn't had the chance earlier to talk over the things they had learned
from her cousin, but Farr'in knew her well enough by now to know she was
worried.

And he had reason to think she was right to be.

There were two people from her past now that knew about her being here. He
didn't figure Amberylle to be much of a threat after seeing them together,
but the woman's husband was a question mark. 

Then there was Jahn, the boy/man who had always loved her and blamed Farr'in
for taking her away from her home. How much of a threat he was going to end
up being was something the rider didn't want to think about, but knew he
couldn't shove it aside. 

Two people who may or may not pose a problem for her. He didn't like it, and
knew it scared her... and when she felt that way so did he.

When she didn't come right back he wondered down the hall and found her
sitting on the side of her sons bed just looking at him.

She must have heard him enter the room for she turned to him and smiled sadly.

"He's getting so big," she sighed. "I don't think he's going to be my little
boy much longer."

"Farr'in chuckled softly as she stood then wrapped her arms around him.
"He'll always be your little boy no matter how old he gets. Just ask my
mother. Sometimes I think she forgets us kids are all grown up."

They left Demee and settled in the living room on the couch with a glass of
wine.

"Do you want to leave here?" he asked almost dreading the answer, but knew
he had to ask. "Go somewhere where no one knows us."

"I don't know what you mean," she replied, but didn't look at him.

"Meena .. love," he said softly, his fingers titling her chin up so their
eyes met. 

"I saw the fear in your eyes when we ran into Amber tonight and you and I
both felt it when Jahn showed up here," he told her then pulled her around
so his chin could rest on the top of her head as his arms tighten around her. 

"I promised you I would keep you and our son safe and if it means leaving
here and going somewhere else to start over.. then that's what I'll do if
you want to."

"I can't ask that of you. You're family is here."

"You two are my family. You are in my heart far to deep for me to ever let
you go lady," he told her meaning every word. "So until you tell me you no
longer want me in your lives that is where I'm going to be. For better or
worse. Here in Cleft or somewhere else. It doesn't matter as long as I have
you and Demee to love."

She turned to face him. "You would really do that for us?"

"Lady don't you know by now that I would give my life to see you and our son
safe and happy. You are everything to me."

He kissed her then. A soft kiss that spoke of all his hopes and dreams for
the three of them and any other children they might have one day. There were
tears in his eyes when he finally released her lips. 

"Without you both in it my life has no meaning."

"Oh Farr'in," she cried softly. "I do love you so."

"As I love you. But now I think maybe you should tell me what you know about
your cousin's husband, and about what we might expect from this Lord
Vorbis... It may or may not have some baring on what we decide to do."

[Tag again Kris...]

===========================  

Somehow I don't think Farr'in is going to like this man to much....But he
will not say anything bad to him or search him out unless he thinks is mate
and child may be in danger. He'll just stay as far away from him as he can
and try to keep him apart from Meena if he can.

Darren and Alton... I just wanted to give her something to think about and
maybe make suggestions... weather or not he agrees and follows them is up to
him.....I just didn't think Farr'in would keep quiet about it once he heard
about it. But I know Cynthia is fair minded and will listen to both sides
opening before coming up with anything....

****Submitted by: ******

Farr'in & Tergath
Sasha
Cleft Warren

aka
Barbara