T'rell

>Regenta decided that the best thing she could do is go directly to T'rell 
She at her young age knew she didn't need a go between when it wasn't 
necessary, for such personal matters.

><T'rell, my rider would like you to come and eat with her tonight.> she mind 
spoke to the Gamma Wing leader.

>*Oh? Are you sure this is her request?* He replied.

><Yes T'rell, I wouldn't do anything that could upset her further now.  Even 
if I thought it was the best thing for her.  But I'm not sure this is the 
best thing for her.  But she insisted.  She is full of fear that you will 
tire of waiting for the old Mari to return.>

     T'rell sighed.  *Will she?* he asked hopefully, knowing that if anyone 
knew Marialla's mind it would be Reggie.

     [I am sure she will,] the queen said hopefully.  [She must, but...]

     *But what?*

     [But I do not think that this should be rushed.  She is too impatient.]

     T'rell considered her words.  *Well, maybe that's a good sign,* he 
ventured.

     [What do you mean?]

     *Well, if she's getting impatient, then at least *that* much of her is 
getting back to normal.*

* * * * * * * *
(Evening, junior queenrider's apartment)

     "Mari?" T'rell asked, opening the door a crack and peering inside.

     "Come in!" Mari called.

     T'rell entered slowly, and immediately caught the smells of cooking.  He 
found Mari bustling around the table, setting out a meal of heroic 
proportions.  Roasted meat, at least four types of vegetables, fruit, and two 
different desserts.

      "You must be planning on Flen and Reggie joining us for dinner," he 
joked.

     Mari looked distressed.  "Oh, did I make too much?" she asked.  "Wasn't 
sure whether you'd rather have potatoes or  mixed vegetables, or whether 
you'd rather have the cherry cobbler or the pudding, so I...well, I made them 
all..."

     "It looks wonderful," he assured her, coming around the table to put an 
arm around her.  "And if it does turn out to be too much..."

     "We give the leftovers to the dragons?" she asked.

     [Oh, that would be wonderful!] Reggie put in.

     "*No, it means that I'll be back tomorrow to eat the leftovers myself!*" 
he said, both aloud and telepathically.  "Which wouldn't be a bad thing, 
would it?"

     "No...no it wouldn't," Mari said softly, and T'rell caught just the 
tiniest bit of hesitation in her voice.

     The meal was as wonderful as he'd expected, and then some...Mari had 
outdone herself on this one.  Once they'd finished, they sat in silence for a 
few minutes.  T'rell sipped his wine, trying to think of something to say.  
The awkward silence was beginning to get oppressive.

      "Mari," he said, standing up and walking around the table to put his 
hands on her shoulders.  "That scum who...well, you know...he won't be coming 
back, you know that."

     He felt her stiffen.  "How do you know that?" she asked quietly.  
"Tomorrow they'll take him out of the warren, but then...he could turn up 
anywhere..."

    "I wanted him dead, you know that," he said.  "I would have done it 
myself, if I could.  But at least...well, at least we know that he got *part* 
of what was coming to him.  After what Jason and Allora did to him, he may 
not even be capable anymore..."

    Mari took a deep, shuddering breath.  "I don't know, I just don't know..."

     T'rell knelt down behind her, putting his arms around her and holding 
her tightly.  He had to grit his teeth and hold himself tightly in check to 
keep from stalking out right now and killing Alexis before he could be 
spirited out of the warren tomorrow.  But that wouldn't undo the harm he'd 
done, or help Marialla.  

     "I can't change what's happened," he said softly.  "I can only say 
that...that I'm here for you now, as I should have been when...when that 
happened.  Tell me...what are you feeling?"

(Tag Dianne)

* * * * * * * * * *     

Flerrion
(near the feeding pens)

>Graimor settled in next to Troy, exulting in Flerrion's absence - though, no 
doubt, it was only temporary.  Sure enough, there came Flerrion, settling 
down on her other side before Graimor could do much more than snuggle in.

>With the closest thing he could manage to M'naten's best mocking air, 
Graimor greeted his rival.

>[All hail Flerrion - the mighty hanky-killer.]

     Flerrion yawned, pressing himself closely against Troy's side.  [I'm 
ready for a nap,] he announced.  [Being a hero is hard work.]

     Troy giggled, and nuzzled the crimson dragon.  [Yes, and we all feel 
*much* safer having you here. No wraiths will *dare* show their faces around 
here.]  The queen, of course, knew the truth, but had decided to play along.

     Graimor rolled his eyes.  [Viktroy, you know that was no...]

     [My goodness, look at all these humans that are arriving,] Troy said, 
quickly changing the subject.

     Flerrion looked up.  [Say, do you suppose they came here to congratulate 
me on being a hero?] he wondered. 

     Graimor snorted.  [Flerrion, you are *not*...]

     Troy coughed, giving Graimor a nudge.  [What he means is, you are not 
going to have time for anything like that today.]

     [I'm not?]

     [No, dear,] the queen reminded him.  [As the leader of Gamma Wing, you 
have a responsibility to fulfill.]

     [Oh, yes...of course,] Flerrion said quickly.  [So today, I need to, 
ah....]

     [To take the new dragon in your wing *under* your wing, so to speak,] 
Troy said, [and show him the ropes.  Graimor here *is* assigned to Gamma now, 
remember?]

     [Oh, that's right!] Flerrion said brightly.

     [I'd rather be under *your* wing, Troy...]  Graimor grumbled.

     [Oh, this will be fun!] Flerrion said.  [I've never been asked to train 
anyone other than the hatchlings!]    

     [Train!?!] Graimor spluttered, outraged.  [By him?? I don't need to 
be...trained!  At Geode, I was...]

     [Oh, I was at Geode!] cried Flerrion happily.  [A very nice little 
warren from what I could see, though I didn't get to stay long.  I'm sure it 
must be rather intimidating for you, suddenly finding yourself at a big, 
important warren like Daere, but don't worry, in time you'll fit in!  With me 
as your tutor, you'll soon be just as knowledgeable and sophisticated as I 
am!  And maybe, someday, you can be a hero just like me!]

     [Aargh!] said Graimor, thumping his tail on the ground in frustration.

     [So, what would you like me to teach you today?] Flerrion asked.

(Ok, Katrina...what's Graimor's next move? :)

* * * * * * * * * *
(Later)
        
[My rider, Troy said to tell you that her rider wishes you to join them for 
dinner this evening.] Flerrion told T'rell sometime later that day. [Seems 
she wants all of the Wingleaders to make themselves known to this important 
human who is here to see her rider.]
           
[Oh, joy,] T'rell groaned as he watched the next of the hatchlings take off 
in flight. [Just what I most, having to sit through dinners of state where I 
have to be polite and listen to *Important humans* telling me how I can 
improve how I run my Wing. Isn't there any way to get out of it?]

     [Well, you and Regenta's rider could get into a mudfight, and then tell 
Troy's rider that you're too dirty to go,] Flerrion said helpfully.

     Now Troy herself spoke up.  [No, there is no way for you to get out of 
it, and you'd better not even try,] she informed him.  [I've already told 
Regenta to pass this along to her rider as well.  She has to go too, of 
course.]

     T'rell sighed, but knew that the queen was right and that he was stuck 
with attending.  He told the trainees to keep practicing, and hurried over to 
where Mari stood watching Regenta practice her landings.

     "I heard," she said.  "Do we have to?  I don't know if I'm ready for 
this."

     "Being a junior queenrider...or a wingleader...has its downside, I 
suppose," he told her.  "Hey, you'll do fine.  In fact, I imagine Jayleigh 
will want you to be part of these negotiations."

     "Me?" she asked, alarmed.

     "I don't know of anyone who could do it better," he assured her.  

(NRPG:  Many thanks to Barb, who helped with this last part!)


Submitted by:

John

T'rell & Flerrion
Daere Warren

Trevor & Trissana, Cleft Warren
Warrenlady Tara & Queen Varaenna, Jasra Warren