Marialla

    She had too much time to think as she sat at the med center.  Many people had been in and out of her room all day long.  Allora came in with a pair of crutches and proceded in teaching her to use them for assistance.  Mari didn't think it was neccessary but was constantly reminded that she wasn't in control and if she wasn't going to help herself a little,  Heron wouldn't let her leave the med center.

    "Come on, Mari."  Allora said,  "Quit being difficult.   You know that you won't be able to leave in the morning if Heron doesn't see you walk out of here on crutches.  He's not going to have you stressing your ankle."

    "It's only a sprain."  Mari replied.  "It's not like I broke it."

    "Sprains can be nearly as bad as breaks.  You need to keep off of it for at least a week and then I'm not sure if it won't be longer.  But if you refuse to learn then don't blame anyone but yourself if you're stuck in here."

    Mari remembered Jason's face as he pulled away from her when he was there earlier.  He said he'd meet her here in the morning.  He was going to help get her situated back in her apartment.  But he had built a wall between them.  She knew that a decission would soon have to be made.  She hadn't seen T'rell at all since they got back from the island.   She wondered what was going through his mind.

    *Reggie?* she messaged her queen.

    <How are you, my rider?>  she replied.

    *I'm fine, dear one.  But can you ask T'rell to come and see me?*

    There was a long pause in the conversation and then the Jr. Queen responded.  <T'rell said he'll come to see you when your decission has been made, and not before.>

    Marialla sighed in frustration.  "Allora?"  she queried.  "Have you spoken to T'rell?"

    "Yes, I had lunch with him." she replied.  

    "Oh?  How is he doing?"  she questioned her friend.

    "He's fine, Mari.  This isn't that big of a tragedy for him.  We're warren born and he's only having you choose because he thinks it's the only way you can live with the situation."

    This comment surprized her.  She couldn't  think that T'rell would find it just fine to share her love.  Maybe she didn't know him and maybe Allora was misreading what he meant, but it definately gave her something to think about until morning.  Her attitude began to change and she knew it was time to co-operate so she could be ready to leave in the morning when Jason came to help get her settled in the apartment.

    She was frustrated with both these men.  She was looking for help, but neither was giving her any.  Her thoughts were interupted by Regenta.

    <This is a decission you much make on your own, my rider.> the young dragon replied.  <I can't even help you with this decission.  It would be much easier if you didn't think you had to make a decission.  I have no trouble snuggling with both Starfire and Thornguard.  So why is it so difficult for you to snuggle with both Starfire and Flerrion's riders.>

    *Love, I can't explain it so you'll understand.  But let's just say I have to make a choice.  I don't want to hurt either T'rell or Jason.  But in making this decission someone will be hurt.*

    There again was a long silence.  Mari was finally getting the hang of walking on the crutches.  She nearly lost her footing when the young queen again interupted her thoughts.

    <Thornguard says that he believes that Starfires rider will be hurt if you choose Flerrion's rider, but he thinks that Flerrion's rider will handle it better.>

    *Oh?* she replied with a chuckle, *And what makes Thornguard so knowledgable?*

    <He said that his rider and Flerrion's rider has been spending a lot of time together since we got back to the warren, and that's just how he feels.>

    Mari fell silent.  She looked at Allora wondering what was taking place between her and T'rell.  She wanted to ask but then she didn't want to be a victim of Dragon gossip, so she kept quiet.

    Time passed but she had been drug into the gossip and she had to find out if there was more to the afore mentioned lunch.

    "You had lunch with T'rell.  This is new for you.  You've been so busy, things must be lightening up for you."  she tried to sound casual, not sure that she did.

    "Well yes, things are less busy for me.  I'm not sure that Daere is really big enough for two full time leather workers.  But I've been busy here in the med center.  I just decided that T'rell might need some company.  We had a nice talk.  Don't worry about him, he's doing fine and just waiting for your decission." Allora replied.  "You seem to have the knack of these crutches.  I'll only stress that you use them as often as you can while you're here.  Remember what I said about putting the pressure on your hands and not your arm pits.  You'll be much more comfortable."

    "Allora, T'rell won't see me, so if you see him, could you tell him that I'll have my decission made by morning and if he could meet me in my apartment when I get home, I'll let him know then.  Will you come too?  Jason is coming to take me home, so he'll be there also."

    "I'll tell T'rell and we'll be there in the morning.  I'm sorry this is so difficult for you."  she said and Mari thought she heard pity in her voice.  She didn't want pity.  

    Allora left her room and Mari continued to practice walking on the crutches ready to be home in the morning.  She hated the med center.  She believed nothing good ever happened here.  She walked over to the door and looked out.  It seemed like forever since she saw anything but the four walls of her room.  But what she saw when she walked to the doorway was something she wasn't sure she wanted to see.

    Allora was talking with T'rell.  It seemed like a very serious conversation.  Allora took his hand an squeezed it.  There was something about the way Allora looked at him.  Was something happening between them?  She shook her head.  "No."  she whispered to herself.  She returned to her bed and dropped the crutches to the floor with a loud bang.  One of the young assistance hurried into the room and seeing what happened picked up the crutches and leaned them up against the wall within reach of Marialla.

    "Is it nearly time for dinner?"  Mari asked the young girl.  

    "Well if you're ready to eat, I can bring you something from the dining hall."  the girl replied.

    "Thank you, that would be very nice.  Then could you ask Heron if I could have something to help me sleep?  I want to be well rested when I go home in the morning.  I already know that sleep won't come easily tonight."

    "I'll let him know before I head to the dining hall."  the girl said and soon vanished out of the room.

    It seemed like forever before the girl returned.  She had a bowl of Realee's stew.  One of Mari's favorites.  She was sure that Realee sent the stew because she knew it was one of Mari's favorites.  It was comfort food and it was just what she needed.  Shortly after she finished eating Heron brought in a mild sedative.  

    "I hear that you've been much more co-operative this afternoon.  I think your decission to rest tonight is a wise one."  the Healer said with a smile.  "Your attitude makes me feel much more comfortable about you going home tomorrow.  You keep up the good attitude and I'll soon lift all your restrictions."

    "Thank you."  Mari said with only a slight smile.  She took the pill that Heron presented her and Heron left her room.  She was soon sleeping.

    She awoke early and dressed in clothes that someone had brought for her.  Then she waited for Jason to arrive.  He looked very serious when he walked into her room.  She knew that she'd have to tell him what was about to take place and didn't know if she wanted to tell him now, or wait until they were on their way to her apartment.  She decided she'd wait.

    As they exited the med center, she saw Starfire awaiting.  Jason lifted her onto the dragon's back.  He got on behind her and carefully wrapped his arms around her.  The dragon took to the air for the short flight to her apartment.  

    "Jason, I've made the decission.  T'rell and Allora are meeting us at my apartment.  I'll tell you then."  

    Jason seemed to move away from her even though his arms were still around her.  The wall was there, between them, she only hoped that she could tear it down.

    Starfire landed in front of the entrance to Mari's apartment and Jason slipped off his back and helped Mari down, supporting her until she could support herself with her crutches.  Before they got into her apartment, Starfire was snuggling with Reggie.  

    She swallowed hard as the time for her announcement came nearer.  But she thought that the decission she made was the right one.

    Jason got her settled on the couch supporting her ankle with a pillow.  She watched as T'rell and Allora arrived and the four riders all appeared uncomfortable at the situation. 

    Mari cleared her throat, not sure how she was going to start.  She looked around at her three friends.

    "T'rell....I do love you."  she started and as she looked around saw a look of defeat on Jason's face.  "I always will have a place in my heart for you.  But Jason was there for me when I was in need.  At a time when you had deserted me.  The time we spent together, well I can't explain it and maybe that's why I've chose Jason, because I can't really discribe the reason I'm making that choice."

(Tag John, Michael and Joan)


Respectfully Submitted,
Marialla and Regenta