Scene: During Christalla's decision to hold a duel.

Wynn tried to remain at the back, though a number of warrenfolk and riders greeted him from afar. He gave brief smiles, but did not try to talk to anyone. Too much was going on, and he didn't need to hear condolences a hundred times over again.

Christalla's speech was short and to the point, with no room for debate. A champion from Keldarra would challenge the assassin directly. Either way, Keldarra would win, the only question would be if the Warren would pay a terrible price for it.

"What D'neor and I need are, if any of you who think you have a distinct advantage in such a fight, let us know. Speak to either of us after this gathering." Christalla took a deep breath, eyes scanning the quiet crowd. Wynn pushed himself up from the wall he was leaning against, making his way around the crowd. "Anyone," She stressed, "who needs to speak with me may. That is all I have to say." Letting go a deep breath, she turned and left the gathering.

Wynn pushed through the door after the Dragonlady, startling her as she paused beyond the doors. "Wynn?"

"Christalla, allow me to be the challenger." Wynn asked forcibly.

Christalla had expected a few people to approach her almost immediately, but she didn't expect Wynn. She didn't know what to say at first.

"This goes all the way back to the attempts on you and Evelle, doesn't it?" He asked angrily. Christalla looked worriedly at the younger man. How much had he changed? Wynn stepped forward, rage rising within him. "Doesn't it?!" He yelled.

Christalla stepped back. "Wynn, please." She said gently, and the young dragonrider backed down, realizing just what he had done. "There is much to explain to you, but I can't allow you to take up the challenge."

Wynn's face darkened. "I've changed, Dragonlady, I have experience against their type."

"How do you mean? What happened when you left Jasra?"

Wynn looked away, remaining silent. Some things were best left untold.

Christalla gave up, not wanting to push Wynn at the moment. "Either way, I still can't allow it. You're too emotionally unstable right now." He glared at that. Christalla merely looked back at him. "Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me you didn't fall down crying in my office, and now stand before me with more hate and rage than I have ever seen in one person. Tell me, honestly, that this is for the Warren, and not some vendetta that you may have, some act of revenge or even suicidal rage?" Christalla stopped, unable to say anything further. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Please tell me I'm wrong, Wynn. Please." She pleaded. How far had he fallen?

Wynn closed his eyes and looked away, holding back the tears that came unbidden to his eyes. Without another word, he turned and walked away.

Scene: Wynn's old apartment.

Wynn stood in the doorway to his quarters, eyes looking impassively over the spartan room. Little was left when he decided to be Evelle's mate, moving into new quarters to house the both of them and their dragons. Memories of a time that he was not proud of, before he joined with Malekith.

He walked around the living area, finally sitting down in the only chair in the room. Malekith napped in his old grotto.

Wynn winced, memories coming back to him in a rush. The jealousy he held, the anger at being passed over again and again. How could he face his 'brother', when he was so obviously a failure. Five years without a dragon even looking his way.

And then the joy he felt, standing alone, away from the hatching grounds. Scraping sounds caught his attention first. Turning, Wynn saw the frail black dragonet crawling almost pitifully towards him. His heart burst. His dragon had found him.

His life had changed at that very instant, when he first heard Malekith in his mind. He had gone from simply Wynn to Wynn and Malekith. Forever bonded to the dragon. Forever.

"It will always come down to you and me, won't it, my dragon?" Wynn whispered to himself.

His renewed confidence won him Evelle's heart, and a family again with her parents and brother. She had made him complete. She always knew just what to say, what to do. He would have done anything for her. He would have died for her, if he could have.

He scowled at himself. But he couldn't even move. Couldn't even shout out a warning. All he could do was watch in horrified silence as the arrow soared across the hatching ground. Knew what was going to happen before it actually did.

And he couldn't even be there to comfort her as she died. Alicynth had seen to that, in her own frenzy, carrying Evelle with her to oblivion. Leaving Wynn nothing.

Nothing but memories.

Wynn picked himself up out of the chair. He couldn't stay here, not now. He had too many memories already. All he wanted to do was forget.

Maybe it had been a mistake to come back here, to where it all started. But he couldn't go back to Jasra. And he had to go somewhere, somewhere that would accept him without question. That one day, maybe, would forgive him.

"Come Malekith, I can't stay here." Wynn said, entering the grotto. The dragon rose from his slumber, rising quickly, responding to his rider's command.

Wynn mounted onto the back of his dragon, giving one last look before urging his dragon to fly.

Scene: Outside the makeshift Arena.

Wynn watched as the riders left the hatching grounds, but paid little attention to them. He sat upon a small rise which looked down upon the entire area. "She's in there." Wynn said, pale blue eyes staring unblinking at the cave opening. "The queen that replaced Alicynth here."

Behind Wynn, Malekith sat mutely, wings held out slightly to provide protection for his rider. The black dragon reached down and nuzzled him gently. Wynn patted the dragon's snout absently. "A Warrenlord." Wynn snorted. "Fate moves in strange ways."

Wynn placed his sword across his lap, unsheathing it slowly. The metal gleamed briefly in the dying light of the day. "Do you think his queen is up to it? Making sure no one enters the area before the duel?"

Wynn nodded absently after a moment. "A queen sleeps a lot, especially when expecting." He turned his head to his dragon, listening inwardly. "We'll stay and make sure, my dragon."

Another brief pause.

"And I love you." Wynn said with an almost casual air. "You are all I have now."

Opening a side pouch, Wynn pulled out a sharpening stone, and slowly began to draw it across the blade.

Scene: A day later.

"Whatcha doing?"

Wynn cast a look over at the small voice that called to him. A young boy approached somewhat cautiously. The boy looked familiar, but he couldn't place a name. The boy had been amongst those at the earlier altercation on the hatching ground.

<The boy is Arden, rider of Aesir.> Malekith supplied.

Wynn gave a surprised look up at his dragon, then back to the boy, who had pulled himself up onto the rocky promintary that Wynn and Malekith sat upon. "But he's hardly into his teens yet." Wynn said incredulously.

"I'm almost thirteen." The boy piped up, rising to his feet and brushing off his breeches.

Wynn eyed the boy again. Arden was a handsome lad, he supposed, with fair hair and skin, and a youthful exuberance for life that had left Wynn a long time ago. "What do you want, boy?" Wynn asked, slightly annoyed for no reason.

"Just wondering why you're sitting here. I saw you here yesterday, and you're still here." The boy turned, enjoying the view the small prominence provided.

"Just making sure things stay fair."

Arden looked out over the hatching ground and nodded as if he understood Wynn's purpose. "Are you back to stay? I remember when you were here before ... living here, I mean, before you went with Evelle to that other Warren."

Wynn remained silent for a few moments. "I'm here as long as I'm needed." He answered finally.

"It would be neat if you could stay for a long time. Aesir would like to meet Malekith. Something about 'comparing notes' or something."

Despite himself, Wynn found himself smiling. "So, kid, what were you doing at the cave yesterday?"

NRPG: Kurt, I hope Arden was played all right. Feel free to pick up on the conversation. I think Wynn will grow quite fond of Arden over time. Though obviously at the moment Wynn is having trouble dealing with his recent loss. Give him time, he'll soften eventually (I'm just relishing the chance to write angst :)

If others want to interact, feel free to stick it in somewhere ... I'm not sure exactly where everyone is right now, so I didn't want to include people who might not be around right now.



/> Malekith and his boy Wynn 

/< 

O[\\\\\\(O):::<============================================- 

\< 

\> aka Christopher Ackney,

loviatar@interlog.com