Marialla was so excited.  She was going to actually get to take flight on
a dragon all by herself.  She felt most of the class was excited.  The few
that got air sick was hanging towards the back of the line.  T'rell
motioned to her and she approached him.

	"You want me to go first?"  she queried.

	"I usually like to start with someone that is comfortable on the dragon
during our escorted flights.  You were totally at ease. "  He leaned
towards Marialla and whispered in her ear, "Anyway, I promised Flerrion
that I wouldn't start with some of the others.  He wants to start off
easy."  He grinned and looked around the group. "Where's Norin, did she
give you a hard time about coming?"

	"No, I couldn't find her and it was getting late.  Sorry,  it's really my
fault."

	"Don't worry about it.  It will just be easier on the dragons.  They'll
appreciate a break from her whinning like I will." he said as he grinned at
Marialla.

	"T'rell!" she said quite shocked.

	"You didn't hear me say that." he said with a chuckle that got Marialla
laughing too.

	She was really beginning to enjoy T'rells company.  It was nice to have
someone around that could easily make her laugh.  She approached Flerrion.
She couldn't help but be in awe of this magnificant dragon.  They were all
beautiful and she couldn't help but be impatient waiting to stand on the
sands.

	She climbed up into the saddle, speaking to Flerrion as she did.  "You are
so beautiful.  I hope that I'm lucky enough to get a dragon as beautiful as
you are.  Okay I'm ready.  Let's take this flight easy.  Remember this is
the first time I've done this all by myself."

	She looked at T'rell and nodded, letting him know she was ready.  The huge
dragon took flight and Marialla gasped.  What an excillerating feeling this
was.  She didn't ever want to come down.  But too soon the flight was over
and T'rell had Flerrion land.

	Marialla's cheek were red with a combination of excitement and the wind
against her face.  "Oh that was wonderful."  she said as she walked pass
T'rell.

	Kayla had landed just before her and Marialla ran towards the girl to
compare experiences and talk of other plans.  T'rell haulted the flights
long enough to tell the trainees that once they were done with their
flights they were free to go for the day.  Marialla and Kayla headed
towards the Dining Hall.

	"I think a hot bowl of Realee's soup and some rest will be just the
ticket.  I promised Realee that I'd be in for work before breakfast in the
morning.  She was so nice to give me this afternoon off. "  Marialla said
as they walked to the Dining Hall.

	"Well maybe we should talk to Realee about the party tonight.  T'rell's
birthday is the day after tomarrow."  Kayla said.  "We want to make sure we
have everything ready.  We don't want anything to go wrong now, do we."

	The two girls began to laugh.  "Are you promising me I won't get in
trouble for this.  How many people, other than you, know that it's T'rell's
birthday?"  Marialla asked.

	"Well just a few,  more now that I've told you."  Kayla smiled and began
again to laugh.

(Tag Barb, anything you want to add?)

	The two girls entered the dining hall and headed back into the kitchen.

	"Hi, Realee." Marialla said as she entered the kitchen.  "I hate to do
this to you again, but Kayla and I have another favor to ask you."

	"Dear, please don't tell me you can't make it in the morning."  she said
with a smile, knowing full well that if Mari needed the morning off she'd
have it.

	"Oh no, nothing like that.  But it actually might be more work than me not
coming in sometime.  You see...." she paused not sure how to say it. "Well
we've recently discovered that T'rell's birthday is the day after tomarrow,
and we were wondering if we could use the dining hall to throw him a big
birthday party?"

	"Well there is a few things I need to know. "  the woman asked teasing the
girls, and trying to make them fret a bit.

	Marialla shifted the weight on her feet.  "What do you need to know?"  she
asked trying not to stammer as she did.

	"What time, and what types of foods would you like me to prepare."
the woman said with a chuckle that was soon added to by the girls laughter.

	"You wouldn't happen to know some of T'rell's favorite food?"  Marialla
asked.

	"Oh, I think between the two of us we can come up with something the
Birthday Boy will eat." she said with a smile and was mobbed by the two
girls with "Thank yous" and hugs.

	"Well I think that Kayla and I will have a  bowl of your wonderful soup
and then I'm going to head back to the barricks to get some sleep. I
haven't had any since we came back this morning.  And I'm beginning to feel
like I need some.  I'll see you in the morning and Realee, thank you ever
so much for letting us have the party here."  Marialla said and nearly
bubbled.

	"My dear, I would of been insulted if you hadn't asked.  Now go eat some
soup and get some sleep and I'll see you in the morning."  she smiled as
the girls left the kitchen.

	The soup was delicious but the warmth of it made Marialla become very
sleepy, and before she had eaten 4 spoonfuls her head was on the table and
she was soundly asleep.  Kayla tried to waken her with no success.

	Kayla went to the kitchen to let Realee know about their napping friend.  

	"Well Kayla, maybe when Ar'Aman shows up he can carry her to the barricks
and you can get her situated.  Or maybe she'll be awake by the time he
comes.  Just let her rest for awhile.  Wish she would of eaten a bit more
tho." Realee said as she glanced at the nearly full bowl of soup on the table.

(Tag anyone that wants to help get Mari back to the barricks :) )

********************
Next Morning

	The warren was awakened with that Kalindeth'sjoyful cry, notifying the
warren of her accomplishment.  Marialla awoke in her bed where she had a
wonderful nights sleep to the cry of the Dragon.  She quickly dressed and
headed towards the dining hall.  If this meant what she thought it did,
Realee would definately need her help this morning.  But she had to make
sure.  If this meant that eggs were laid that would mean she was possibly
one step closer to becoming a dragon rider.

	She hurried to the hatching caverns and peaked in.  Her eyes caught sight
of the most beautiful sight she had ever seen.  The eggs were all
beautiful, more like jewels than eggs, but in the center near Kalindeth sat
the true gem of the group.  A queen egg.....then Marialla heard a voice.

	"Marialla?" Danika questioned.

	"Oh Danika, you must be so proud.  Congratulations. " Marialla said
meaning every word, but uneasy because of their last encounter.  "Danika,
I'm really sorry about our last meeting, believe me, I didn't know he was
seeing anyone else.  I'm not that type of woman.  Our dear friend C'nis
informed me that sleeping with anyone he wants to is the approved way of
the warren.  Well not for this girl!"  then she tried to smile.

(Tag Morgie)

	The women talked for a little while and seemed to begin again on what
Marialla hoped would be a friendship.  It hadn't started off very good, but
Mari hoped.  That's all she could do.

	She hurried onto the dining hall.  She entered the kitchen almost breathless.

	"Oh Realee,  there's a queen egg.  It's glorious.  All of the eggs are
beautiful.  It was like looking at a cavern full of jewels."  Marialla
bubbled with excitement, but then fell silent.  "What if the new queen
joins with Norin."

	"Please child, don't even think that." the older woman said. "Queens
aren't usually that lacking sense.  Even that early in their lives.  All we
can do is hope for the better."

	Realee had been up working for hours already.  She had fresh breads and
pastries already baked and cooling.  Mari started the breakfast meats
cooking and then frosted the sweet rolls. By this time, people had started
entering the dining hall and the place was buzzing with talk of the eggs.

	Realee started on the quick breads and Mari began to set up the food in a
buffet style.  This was going to be a celebration and they didn't have
enough help to wait on table this morning. 

	The place was already getting crowded and everyone was exciting about the
event.  Most of the trainees were there and as excited as she was about
what this happening meant to them.  This was surely a day full of excitement.

********************************

Marialla

NRPG:  Everyone could write conversations now.....great time for anyone who
hasn't talked to Marialla to do in now IMHO. :)

Dianne