M'tan's hands began a slow, sensuous exploration of his body.  The man he
had wanted so badly was curled behind him, lips leaving hot trails on the
back of Almiron's neck as his hands worked slowly downward.

Almiron arched back against him, feeling M'tan's arousal against him.

M'tan's lips found his ear, slowly nibbling, then whispered in his ear,
"Do you want me?"

"Yes..." Almiron groaned.  "Take me, M'tan."

He awoke to cheering and dragons trumpetting.  He looked in embarrassment
at his companion.  M'tan cleared his throat and looked away.

<Darshan?>

<I think you've been talking in your sleep, pet.>

M'tan smiled wanly at him, attempting to dissolve some of the tension that
filled the space between them.  "I don't know how your culture handles
dating, but Happy New Year anyway."

"Happy new year," Almiron answered, then stood quietly to dress, not
knowing what, if anything, to say about his dream outburst.  Probably best
to leave it.

******

He entered the apartment thoughtfully, wondering what he was going to say
to Darlea.  He didn't want to hurt her.

But in his culture such arrangements were common.  Surely it could be
worked out.

"Darlea?"

"I'm in the bathroom," he heard her call.

He waited, pacing.

"How's your day going?"

He turned toward the sound of her voice, smiling at her.  Trying to act
normal.  "I am sorry about not coming home..."

She shook her head, shrugging the comment off before he could finish.  
"Don't worry about it. I know M'tan needed you more then I did last night."

She slid past him, heading into the kitchen.  "How is M'tan, anyway?"

"M'tan..."  He tried to keep the desire out of his voice.  "...Okay,
considering."

He saw her eyes narrow and felt horribly guilty.  He should just tell her.

"I'm sorry.  Stupid question." She lifted the cup to her lips, but didn't
drink.  She suddenly sat tha glass down on the counter.  The sound seemed
to echo loudly in the room as she turned away from him, heading into the
bedroom. "I should probably get changed for lunch. I .. I told mama I'd
have lunch with her before the trial .. I hope you don't mind." 

"No, I don't mind," he called after her.  She knew.  It was the only thing
he could think.

He stood there miserably.  Somehow, he had ruined everything. He heard her
footstep in the room and looked up in surprise.  "I .. uh ..  I guess I
don't need to change .." she stared at him for a moment before weakly
adding, "It is just mama .." 

He nodded, still unable to speak.

She stared at him a moment longer and then moved closer to him, finally
wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head against his
shoulder. She whispered, "I do love you." 

"I love you, too," he answered, all his emotions wrapped into that little
phrase.

Their eyes met, hers filling with tears, then she turned and fled.

He stood, unable to follow, and heard the sound of Makayla's wings bearing
her away.

He sat, staring at the cabinets as if they would provide answers to his
dilemma.  It was obvious he needed to explain to her, but he didn't know
what to say.  He didn't know what he wanted.

It was a long time  before he roused himself to prepare his own lunch.  He
spent the rest of the early afternoon in the apartment, hoping she would
return, but she didn't.

It was time for the trial.

It would have to wait.

He arrived at the Great Hall where the trial was to be held.  Everything
had been set up for the trial.  Christalla showed him where he would be
sitting, where Lori would be sitting, and so on.

He sat, reading through the notes he had made himself, as the crowds filed
in.

"It's time," Christalla whispered.

He nodded and stood.  He glanced at his notes, noting all the appropriate
places for 'the's. "The trial of Lori, rider of Wyndalie, for the murder
of Al'dairan, rider of Rendal, and the attempted murder of DragonLady
Christalla, rider of the empress Kaeryth, is now in session.  I call for
Lori, rider of Wyndelie."

The pregnant woman was lead forward and stood before him.

"Lori, you may now speak on your own behalf.  Have you anything to say?"

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Almiron and Darshan

NRPG: Well, I wasn't sure what the standard procedures were, so I'm making
them up to be a bit different than standard US court procedures.


 # Lynette R. F. Cowper        o       INWO Line Editor & Goddess      #
 # lcowper@indy.net             <><     Circle of Janus Secretary      #
 # lcowper@io.com                  o       Captain, USS CALYPSO        #
 # http://www.io.com/~lcowper/  ><>     Warrenlady, Telnor Warren      #