As Mc'Key and Ghost went to rejoin the others, Key was feeling rather low.
Although he managed to hide it, he wanted to just take her away from all of
this and be with her. Unfortunately, this was not to be. The Lords would not
reconvene until tomorrow morning and he could not leave the Warren for such
a length of time.

"You know that I will have to go back tonight, don't you my love."

"Why? Just staying here until tomorrow won't cause the Warren to fall down,"
Ghost complained.

"Maybe my love, but it cannot be. With the Wingleader out of action, I
cannot leave it to anyone else to take up the reigns for long."

He looked at her, at how much she missed him and though he did not want to
upset her, it made him glad that their feelings ran so deep. They decided to
take a walk outside as the air of the hall had been stifling. It was
beginning to get later and the air was damp and cold. This refreshed the
couple after their day in court and so they walked on until they came to a
patch of green and sat under a large spreading tree.

Before they had left, Norik had given Mc'Key some provisions in a small
cloth bag. He took out some bread and broke off two large pieces. Taking out
his knife, he sliced some filling and filled the bread, handing some to
Ghost.

"I'm not really hungry," she said.

"Please eat with me my love."

And so she did. As they sat together looking out at the damp, cold lands,
Mc'Key saw in his mind's eye how beautiful they were in summer, when the
crops were waving in the fields and all was golden. Ghost was giving up a
lot. Yet, her home had never been here and she was not the 'ruling' kind.
She never wanted power, just some love and happiness. He would certainly
provide those. Perhaps he could understand her decision even better now.

He felt her run a hand under his shirt and gently touch his back. She
lightly brushed his spine and he had no inclination to stop her. He sat
enjoying her touch and soon she moved round to his chest. He closed his eyes
as her hand gently smoothed his skin. He reached out to her, lightly
brushing her cheek with his hands.

"My love, you make it hard for me to resist you."

"Then why try," she whispered in his ear and then planted small kisses on
his neck.

"Because in spite of my desires - and right now, I have a *lot* of desires -
I must leave soon with Phaedra."

She whimpered and pressed herself into him. He was finding it very difficult
not just forget about all of the reasons why he should not make love with
her. They wanted to be with each other so badly. It was then that he saw the
Geode party beginning to come out of the buildings.

"We are preparing to go," he said, "but take heart, for this will be the
last time we have to be apart. Tomorrow, the Lords are sure to grant your
request and I will escort you home."

"They will also annul my marriage," she said. "So who's home will you take
me too?" she looked at him seductively.

"I don't know yet," he said. "Your mother may not come back with us for
long, if at all. You certainly can't be trusted on your own," he laughed.

She gave him a slap, mock offence all over her face. "How dare you!"

"Maybe I'll just have to take you to my apartment. Until you can find one
for yourself."

She looked at him and he could not prevent the smile spreading across his
face.

"Or maybe I should just *take you* in my apartment."

"Maybe you should," she looked up into his face and they became sad as they
reached the others.

Vasleth was ready and so were the others.

"Goodbye my love," he said, "I will see you tomorrow to hear the outcome of
the proceedings."

"Take care, love," she said. "Come to me soon."

As all the other goodbye's were said, they took off and flew back towards
Geode. Looking back, Mc'Key could see the small figure retreating and
finally disappearing. Soon they would be together and he would make her as
happy as anyone could be.

NRPG:

Barb, leaving it to you to settle things with the Landbound. I think Mc'Key
is looking forward to having Ghost back...

Respectfully submitted,

FCO Lt.(jg) Olivier Patru, USS ORION NCC-1997, Starfleet.
Special Agent-2 Jim Reaper, X-Files Division, FBI.
Ar'Aman Bowright and Darar, Daere Warren, DragonLands.
Mc'Key and Vasleth, Geode Warren, DragonLands.

aka Peter Shillan.