# 120

Early Arrivals

[The night of the verdict]

"I hope you don't mind my just showing up here Jayleigh," Kayla said softly
as she moved past Leigh in to the apartment. "But I've come to a decision
and I felt I needed to talk to you about it."

"No child it's all right," the Warrenlady assured her. "You're family now so
you're welcome here anytime you need to talk. Even if you weren't you know
my door I always open."

"I know," the younger girl tried to smile, but it was a pale imitation of
the happy face Jayleigh had become used to. Well, before Ar'Aman had died
that day in Geode. 

The girl before her now looked nothing at all like that girl Leigh
remembered. Maybe she should have kept a better eye on the girl since she'd
learned of her mates death, but with one thing or another... Such as
Gerald's *rebirth* as it was, or the trail of Alexis, there just hadn't been
enough hours in the day to remember everything.

She motioned Kayla into the living room and couldn't help but notice the
gaunt cheeks and dark shadows under the girls eyes. Or how her clothing
seemed to fit as if handed down by a much larger person. 

Yes she would have to start taking more notice of what was going on around
her and not dwell so much on the problems she couldn't change. 

.......

"No.. Don't try to talk me out of it. My mind is made up," Kayla said
sometime later after dropping a bomb shell in Leigh's lap. 

"Oh I won't," Leigh lied smoothly. "But let me ask you. Have you told R'ven
of your decision?"

"No," the girl looked away unable to meet her eyes. "I knew he'd try and
talk me out of leaving and I just can't stay hee-rr-e...."

"Oh child," Leigh said kindly as she moved to take the girl in her arms and
rock her gently. "I do understand how you're are feeling. I really do. But
running away just isn't going to help you. You'll find your memories with
follow you no matter where you go."

"But how can I stay when everytime I turn around I think he's going to be
there... or each time something happens I want to run to him and tell him
about it just to remember that...."

"Let if go child," Leigh crooned softly when the girl began to cry. "It's
good to cry. Just let it go."

<<Troy please have Zenith tell his rider that Allesha's rider is here and
very upset. Tell him that she wants to leave the Warren and go somewhere
else to escape her pain.>>

Something Jayleigh knew would never happen. 

"Kayla honey, I do know how you're feeling. I know how much it hurts to lose
someone that you love with all your heart," and she did, but leaving Daere
to forget had never been an option for her. Not as long as Troy was alive.

But even now, and by some strange kind of miracle she couldn't began to
fathom, Gerald was back. Flesh and Blood, and every bit the man she had
fallen in love with.

Since his return, she's had little or no direct contact with him since the
night he had come to talk with her. Selfishly she had hoped he'd come to see
her, but she knew he had other responsibilities that kept him busy. So she
waited and went on doing what she had to do to get by.

But in some way's the pain in her heart was worse knowing he was back and so
close.. yet...

"It just hurts so much knowing I'll never see him again. Never feel his
touch or be able to share with him what happens.."

"I know child," she rocked the girl in her arms trying to soothe her. "And
you may not believe me now but a time will come when you can think of him
and not feel the pain you're feeling now. You'll come to treasure those
memories and even smile when you think of him... But running away isn't
going to make them go away. They'll follow you where ever you go..."

"And you have people in Daere who would miss you if you left here," a gentle
voice said from the door way and Leigh lifted her head to find R'ven
standing there. He opened his arms and Kayla flew into them. 

Leigh knew as she watched the two of them leaving that she had done the
right thing in calling him in. Kayla needed him right now much in the same
way he needed her. Maybe together they could help each other begin to heal. 

[[Next morning]]

The next morning Troy filled her in on what had taken place the night
before. Random had told her that the prisoner had been taken to the island
and left to his own devices, and that R'ven had talked Allesha's rider into
staying in Daere. 

She was in her office going over the records with Mari, when Troy once again
interrupted her rider. Jayleigh wondered at the laughing tone in her Queens
thoughts when Tory paused from her giggles (yes dragons can giggle) long
enough to explain what was going on. 

Leigh listened as Troy regaled her with the events of the *wraith* attack,
and all she could do was drop her head down on her desk and shake it back
and forth.

<So how many dragons need to be bathed this time?> she sent back.

<<Not a one.>>

"What's wrong Jayleigh?" Mari asked from where she was sitting on the other
side of the desk.

"Ask Reggie," Leigh chuckled and reached for the file she had been trying to
find when Troy had interrupted them. 

"Oh," the girl gave a short giggle and Jayleigh thought it the most lovely
sound she'd heard in a long time. 

"Yes oh...Now let's get back to what we were doing."

It was sometime later, that Troy once again contacted her rider. This time
to relay a report she had just received.

<The patrols are reporting that a large group of humans are on the road to
the Warren," the queen told her. <They want to know if anyone is expected
today?>

<<A large party?>> Leigh frowned. So what she had heard about the good Lord
of Lynschye were proving to be true. 

"What's wrong?" Mari asked when she saw the Warrenlady's lips curl up in a
frown.

"Oh nothing..." she began to deny but then thought that now was as good a
time as any to start getting the girl used to dealing with the Lords and
their Ladies. "On second thought.. Troy just informed me that a large party
is coming down the main road to the Warren, and I suspect I may know exactly
who it is, so I'll need for you to go talk to steward and make sure he has
those rooms that I asked him to prepare ready for our guest."

"But Lord Naiad and is people aren't suppose to be here until tomorrow."
Mari said as she stood and started walking towards the door to do as Leigh
asked.

"Well that was the date we all agreed on," Leigh grinned knowing things
about the man that Mari didn't. "But it looks like they made better time
then they thought they would and arrived early."

Or else they planned it that way,' she thought to herself. She'd heard form
*somewhere* to watch for this ploy of his. It was a tactic that he often
used to throw the other person off track. To set them on the defensive by
having to pretend not to be offended. 

Something C'nis Gemtrader might do to gain the advantage. Leigh grinned
slightly as she thought of Daere's absent *adviser*, and wondered if the two
men had learned from the same teachers.. But no C'nis was a law unto
himself. His talents came as natural to him as flying to a dragon. 

Still. She was prepared. Knowing Lord Naiad's habits had been easy if one
knew the right people to ask, and Leigh knowing the early arrival of the
family was a possibility, she had ordered the guest rooms to be ready in
advance.

The talks would take place on the day and at the time they had set them up
for. And not one day or minute earlier. Lord Naiad's tactic wasn't going to
rush her into making a quit deal as so many others had before her. 

She was outside watching as the family made their way inside the front gates
and had a smile of greeting on her face as Lord Naiad himself drew up in
front of her. 

She gave a quick wave of her hand and several young people from the stables
moved to assist the Lord's dismount and to take possession of the beast
while Naiad turned to make himself known to the Warrenlady of Daere. 

As she greeted him she could see some small resemblance to the new rider
Somney, and then remembered her promise to try and keep the girl out of the
negotiations as much as possible. Something told her the girl didn't much
care to be part of it. 

"Lord Naiad, M'lady," she bowed slightly at the waist for her protruding
belly really wouldn't allow anything more. "I Jayleigh, Rider of the Queen
Viktroy, welcome you and your family to Daere Warren and offer our wishes
that you enjoy your stay here with us."

"We thank you M'lady Jayleigh," Naiad took the hand she offered and brought
it up to his lips in a courtly kiss of greeting. "I'm sure our stay here
will be beneficial to both our peoples."

"Yes and tomorrow when we begin our talks," her lips beamed in a winning
smile. "I'm sure we will be able to work something out that will make us all
happy. But for right now, why don't we see to getting your family settled
in. Oh and Please... I do so hope you and your mate will do me the honor of
joining my family for dinner this evening. We do have a very good cook here
in Daere if I do say so myself."

"Just so long as you are not the one doing the cooking M'lady," a voice said
coming up behind her and without having to turn, Leigh knew Someyn had
decided to join them. "Brother..." she said stopping just to the left of
Jayleigh.

"Now M'lady.. Why wait until tomorrow to begin," Naiad said smoothly, after
the barest nod to his sister. "I'm sure once my family has settled in...."

"Oh I do beg your pardon My Lord," Jayleigh managed to sound contrite. "But
you see I still have a lot of paper work to do this afternoon and I just
don't know when I'll finish. Had I known that you and your family were going
to make such good time in getting here then.... But I will look forward to
dinner this evening. Good day to you all." 

She again made a slight bow and called out orders for those standing around
waiting to begin escorting the group to the rooms that were ready for them.
then she said another quick good-bye and turned and walked back into the
building where her office was located. 

Only letting her smile break out once she was inside and there was no one to
witness it.

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

Hope you don't mind Kiddo.. but it seemed like something Naiad might do.
Show up a day or so early... 

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

Jayleigh & Viktroy
Warrenlady, Daere Warren

aka
Barbara