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Day 4 - afternoon/early evening

<snip from Peter^ñs post>
He looked into the woman's face and saw the rage there. This must be the
dragon's rider.

 "Excuse me my lady please! I only wanted to see the eggs of your
beautiful queen, but the egg *spoke* to me..."

He was shocked by that. He had seen things before which were as
ferocious as a dragon. He had even killed beasts of similar size and
girth before, but how could that egg speak to him!?
<end snip>

^îThere is no excuse? Do you have ANY idea what you^ñve done?  Out, out,
get out!^ï

Madyllin accompanied her words with vigorous gestures pushing the
interloper out of the Hatching Grounds.  He made no attempt to resist
and was quickly hustled from the presence of one very angry queen - but
not from her equally angry rider.

^îI apologize, my lady, I meant...^ï

^îWere you not informed when you arrived here to keep clear of the
Hatching Grounds?^ï

^îYes, but -^ï

^îBut nothing!  You could have ruined the hatching, do you realize that?
Those eggs are kept separate from everyone for a reason and Ayesha
flaming the lot of you is only half of it.  You are to stay away from
the eggs and the cavern, IS THAT CLEAR?^ï

^îYes, my lady.^ï

The stranger bowed once more - including a brief, nervous bob in
Ayesha^ñs direction - and walked away.

Madyllin turned back to her queen.  *I am sorry, dearest.  It won^ñt
happen again.  Are the eggs all right?*

<Hmpf.  We shall see. >  Ayesha^ñs mindvoice trailed off with still-angry
mutterings about people coming in like this was the central marketplace.

*****

Madyllin slipped from her bed and quietly pulled her robe on over her
nightgown.  It wasn^ñt that late, but with Lonnie on night patrol the bed
held little appeal and tired as she was, she was unable to sleep. 
Perhaps a short walk would help  - she could check on Ayesha^ñs eggs. 
She shut the door softly and headed across the green.  She was only
partway when she spotted the stranger who had invaded the Hatching
Cavern earlier.  The indignation that rose again at seeing him faded
rather quickly in light of her rather skimpy garb.  She tried to draw
back into the shadows, but it was too late - he had spotted her.

<snip from ^îWith the Rich and Mighty...^ï>
As Mentorn walked back to his apartment, he saw the QueenRider who had
been so angry with him earlier. Bowing very low, he said

"Excuse me, my Lady, but once more I would apologize for my behaviour. 
Perhaps I can make it up to you with a drink?"
<end snip>

Drawing her dignity - and her robe - as tightly around her as she could,
Madyllin responded in an icy tone.

^îNo further apologies are necessary.  Simply do not repeat your mistakes.^ï

A slow smile spread across his bronzed face and his dark eyes traveled
slowly down the length of her.  ^îTruly, it would be my pleasure.^ï

Madyllin flushed at the heat in his gaze and thanked the gods for dark
skin that wouldn^ñt readily show her reaction.  Half-dressed as she was,
she was almost tempted...but to accept now would be on his terms, not
hers.  She drew herself up.

^îNaturally it would be, but I must check on my queen and her eggs. Good night.^ï

She darted past him, feeling the warmth rising from his skin, and
escaped into the sanctuary of the Hatching Cavern. If he followed her
here, Ayesha could flame him.

Madyllin walked deep into the cave and sat down next to her queen. 
Ayesha was sleeping peacefully and all appeared normal with the eggs. 
At least, so far as Madyllin could tell.  She sighed.  Perhaps she
should have done something to make sure no one could have gotten in.... 
No, it was the touching that was the problem and who would have thought
anyone would be so bold...so rude?!  But what of his claim that the egg
had called to him? Could he be a candidate? Not for the first time,
Maddy wished she was able to ^îsee^ï the affinity.  She sighed and sank
into daydreams.

How long she sat there, simply watching the eggs and letting her mind
drift, Maddy didn^ñt know, but her legs had gotten stiff in the meantime.
 She rose to her feet and stretched slowly.  She was surprised then to
see Trevor walk into the Cavern.  Wasn^ñt he supposed to be off mapping?

<snip from John^ñs post >
He walked inside, and saw the queen, Ayesha, curled protectively around 
her clutch of eggs.  She appeared to be dozing at the moment, and Trevor
decided not to go any closer.  Queens tended to be a bit unpredictable
when guarding eggs...Syren had never objected to him getting close to
her clutch, but had been known to growl at others..and he remembered the
time he'd thought that Tymor was going to eat both him and Turner for
intruding on her  clutch.  To better observe the queen and the eggs, he
backed off into the shadows that fringed the cavern...and was startled
as he felt a hand on his shoulder.

He felt a wave of dizziness, and heard a woman's startled cry just 
behind him.  He staggered forward a bit, and then turned to see Madyllin
looking at him, a strange expression on her face.
<end snip>

The world spun for a moment and Madyllin struggled to regain her
balance.  Seeing Trevor watching her worriedly she managed a weak smile.
 ^îI^ñm fine, really.  Must be time to get some sleep.^ï

She patted Trevor^ñs arm reassuringly and passed from the Cavern, barely
managing not to stagger.

*******

Amar snarled.  He had been in a perfect body to reach the Warrenlady and
had gotten shunted away again!  He HAD to learn to control this
transfering.  He paused in his recriminations as he tasted the thoughts
of this new host.  The junior queen? His frustration vanished in an
instant.  Oh, this would do just fine.

******
Madyllin/Amar stopped at the door of her apartment.  For some reason she
was loathe to return to the bed where Lonnie might be waiting.  Before
she could puzzle out that strange aversion, she turned and headed for
her office.  Doing some work now would certainly help her cure her
sleeplessness. Besides, she had those orders to write to send Isara
somewhere else....  

Madyllin/Amar smiled.  Maybe she could find a way to dispose of all
those savages infesting her warren.  She^ñd look into it.

*****
Day 5, VERY early morning

Madyllin/Amar lifted her head from her crossed arms and blinked in
confusion.  Why was she still in her office? Forget STILL, why was she
in her office period?  She glanced at the papers on top of her desk and
for some reason couldn^ñt be bothered to look closely at them.  If she^ñd
done them, they must be fine.  She set them in the box for Cynthia to
look at in the morning - well, later in the morning.  She headed for the
door, intent on crawling back into her own bed - and enjoying the
company she hoped was waiting for her there.  As soon as she opened the
door, however, a new and better thought occurred to her.  Those papers
MUST have been important if she was working on them so late - she should
take them to Cynthia right now.  Madyllin/Amar grabbed the papers and
headed for the Warrenlady^ñs apartment.

<Ayesha, tell Syren I need to speak to her rider.>

Amar smiled to himself.  This was perfect.  Several tithing reports
^îlost^ï, a few other important papers misfiled and the piece de
resistance - one queenrider mistakenly transferred away.  Once he got
into the Warrenlady, he could do even more, but this present host had
worked out quite nicely indeed.

Madyllin/Amar  stepped briskly towards Cynthia^ñs apartment, humming
absently to herself.  Just in front of her, she noticed O^ñtis stumbling
in her direction.  Maddy sighed.  A fine rider once, Dan^ñyar had told
her - but now.... O^ñtis hit a rough patch of ground and started to fall.
 Before Amar could stop her, Madyllin had reached out to steady O^ñtis -
only to stagger with dizziness herself.  

O^ñtis/Amar howled in impotent frustration.

******
 
^îNow, what was so important that you needed to see me?^ï

Madyllin blinked foolishly at the Warrenlady - still distracted and
upset by O^ñtis^ñs sudden shriek.  ^îI...uh...^ï  She frowned, her brow
wrinkling.  ^îI don^ñt remember.^ï

^îYou don^ñt remember?^ï

^îNo, I^ñm sorry.  I... Just now, out on the green, O^ñtis...he stumbled
and I moved to catch him...and then he stood back and...howled.  It^ñs
rather driven things out of my head.^ï

Maddy flushed uncomfortably.  How embarrassing, to ask to see the
Warrenlady - and then not remember why. Then she noticed the papers
she^ñd stuck in her pocket.

^îOh, these papers....  I stayed up late last night to finish them - they
must have been what I wanted.^ï  Madyllin handed them to Cynthia.  ^îI
think maybe I^ñd better go get some more sleep.^ï

Madyllin turned away from a confused Cynthia and headed for the door.

{Tag, Alton - I do believe there are orders there to transfer Isara
...elsewhere.  Surely Cynthia would...react. <G>}

******
Day 5 - later that morning

<snip>
"Lenna..... No it can't be..." a very familiar voice said softly behind
her and the Girl turned, standing to face the speaker and found herself
staring at a tall blonde man who looked so much like herself. 

She barely noticed the woman standing beside him, or that fact that they
had been holding hands. 

"Unk' Lonnie... Look at the woman I met... she's nice and so is her
dragon," Demee was a bit excited 

"Lonnie..." her tone was barely above a whisper as she said his name... 

"My god it is you!" he just stared back at her unaware of the puzzling
looks they were getting from the woman standing next to him.
<end snip>

Maddy frowned slightly, she stared at the lovely woman standing in front
of them by the purple dragon and wondered what had come over Lonnie. He
was acting really strange. Like he'd seen someone return from the dead.......
 
Return from... then it hit her. He had called her Lenna... 
 
By the Gods... Could it really be...? 
 
She kept on staring at them, waiting for one or the other to make a
move, but they both just stood there. Lonnie dumbfounded and the girl...
if it was indeed the real Lenna, looked half afraid. As if she didn't
know how to react.

 "I think now would be a good time to hug your sister, Lonnie, and
welcome her home," Maddy quipped, elbowing him to get his attention.
"Can't you see she's afraid to make the first move."

<Ayesha, be a dear and ask Shinner to have his rider meet Lonnie and I
on the green here.  Theres something he needs to see.>
 
 Maddy failed to entirely smother a smile, watching Lonnie stare at the
blonde.  Who would've thought this oaf could get it right? 

"Lenna was never afraid of anything," Lonnie scoffed, but Maddy's words
had broken the ice between brother and sister.

 "My God Lenna... I never gave up... I always knew you were out there
somewhere... I knew you'd come home..." he stepped forward then and took
her in his arms. 

She went gladly, tears of joy falling down her cheeks to soak the front
of his shirt, but he didn't care, just held her tighter as his own tears
began to fall. 

 His Lenna... his twin was back home where she belonged.

 Just then a ear-piercing howl filled the air and Maddy saw the woman
move away from the arms that were holding her and fumble with something
attached to her chest. 

 A tiny head covered in wavy dark red hair poked his head out and let it
be known that he hadn't been enjoying the reunion -  smashed as he had
been between them.

"A baby," Maddy exclaimed.  "I just can't take you anywhere, can I? Look
at you, smashing your nephew to bits.  Honestly!"  Maddy grinned,
shooting a sideways glance over at Lenna.  How on earth was she to put
this woman at ease?

 "A baby??" Lonnie's eyes opened wider even as his mind tried to take it
in. "A baby? Who's...?"

 "Mine..." Lenna said in as a shy a manner as Lonnie had ever seen
coming from the feisty woman before. 

 "Yours... But... I mean you weren't... " he stammered in confusion.

 "He's my son... Mine and ... B`rand's," she said softly, holding the
baby tighter in her arms as if to protect him. "He was born while I
was... away..."

"Well, take him out so we can all make goo-goo eyes at him."  Maddy
frowned slightly.  This was not the Lenna described to her - but Lonnie
seemed certain it really was her. 

 <Ayesha, ask Rook's rider to come too, if you please.>

<Rook has just left for Telnor  - should I call him back?>

 <No...I guess it can wait. Thank you.>

Lenna moved back a step, not knowing who this woman was with her
brother. She had never seen her before, but gave her a shy smile of
apology, and lowered the blanket covering the rest of Rand's face.

 "I'm sorry...he must be hungry and a little scared at being around
people he doesn't know... he... this is all strange to him... not what
he's used to," Lenna spoke, asking silently for the woman's name.

"Oohh, he's adorable," Maddy cooed, elbowing Lonnie sharply to introduce
her.  When there was no response, she shook her head and offered a hand
to Lenna.  ^îSorry, apparently Lonnie^ñs manners still haven^ñt improved -
despite my efforts.  My name is Lady Madyllin D^ñAvorre, rider of the
queen Ayesha.^ï
Lenna looked around.. A Queenrider?" she looked confused.." But what
about Cynthia.. is she still here?" 

"Not only still here but she'll be as happy to see you as the rest of us
are..." a voice said from behind her and Lenna turned to see her older
brother Dan'yar standing there.  

"Welcome home Lenna," he told her and held his arms open for her to
enter. 

*******
After Dan^ñyar hustled Lenna off to go visit Cynthia, Lonnie turned to
Maddy, grinning from ear to ear. With a whoop of joy, he grabbed her and
spun her around.

^îShe^ñs back!^ï

^îLonnie! Put me down!  No more spinning, please!^ï

Lonnie set Maddy down carefully and peered into her face.  ^îNo more
spinning? Are you all right? Did you go see a healer yet?^ï

^îNow, stop it. I^ñm fine, really....mostly.^ï  Madyllin frowned slightly,
remembering the odd dizzy spell earlier that morning.

^îMostly?  Mostly isn^ñt well.  You need to go.^ï

^îI^ñm fine,^ï Maddy protested, fully intent on heading back to her office
to work.  Then Lonnie pulled a trick so dastardly she had no choice - he
used the puppy-dog eyes. 

^îGo for me? Please?^ï

^îOh, all right.^ï

She took Lonnie^ñs arm and they headed for the MedCenter.

******
Day 5 - later

S^ñlomon came back into the room where Maddy sat waiting.  Lonnie had
been called away and Maddy sat waiting none too patiently.  This was
ridiculous.  She wasn^ñt sick.

^îWell, I^ñve got the test results for you.^ï  The man was grinning from
ear to ear - positively beaming.  ^îAnd it^ñs good news.  You^ñre pregnant.^ï

Maddy stared at S^ñlomon.  Strange, it almost sounded like he^ñd said...Oh
dear gods, he had.... 

^îHo...,^ï Maddy rasped through a dry throat, swallowed and tried again, ^îhow...what....pregnant?^ï

S^ñlomon chuckled.  ^îYes, pregnant.  A little over a month I^ñd say....^ï  

S^ñlomon continued to discuss times - and a schedule for her to come in
and be seen, and how to take care of herself now.... Madyllin heard none
of it.  Her mind was whirling with confusion as she tried to calm down
enough to count.  A little over a month....oh dear gods, no.  The mating flight.

Madyllin numbly accepted the large pile of papers S^ñlomon handed her and
staggered out of the MedCenter.  Gods, pregnant....what was she going to
do. She couldn^ñt tell him - no way, no how.  No child of hers was going
to be a savage - no matter what!

Unsure how she^ñd gotten to her apartment, she shrugged and dumped the
papers onto her bed.  This was a nightmare - an absolute nightmare.  

Madyllin nearly fell over from the force of the mental cry that filled
her head.

<MY RIDER!! IT^ñS TIME!!!! MY EGGS!!!!>

___________

Submitted by :

Katrina aka Madyllin and Ayesha

NRPG:  Ok, hatching time! Call it early afternoon Day 5?  And yes, I
know....it hasn't really been a month since the mating flight - it's
fluid time! 

And no, she^ñs NOT telling Andahar, so there! <G>

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