Minty was still feeling weak when David was finally brought in from the
battle at the Wraiths Stronghold, but she immediately wanted to go to him.
Hovering in the doorway of the room where he was being treated she was
shocked by how pale he was... he must have lost a lot of blood.


*Kaylin says the wound was quite deep...*  Kirimith relayed to her rider
*But he will be fine.  You should eat something.  I am still worried about
you....*


*I'm OK Kiri!  David is the one hurt.... I just fainted, and no-one ever
died from fainting!  I don't want to leave until I know he'll be alright....*  


Just then D'ssarian entered the corridor where Minty was waiting, and came
to speak to her;


"We've stitched him up, and he'll be fine.  The wound was fairly deep but
the edges were clean.... sometimes with ragged edges the wound heals
badly... won't happen in this case.  He's lost a lot of blood, and he's
still unconscious...."


"Can I go sit with him?  I promise to be quiet..."  Minty asked eagerly  


"Not just yet!"  D'ssarian told her  "He needs his rest. How are you
feeling?  Any more faintness?  When did you last eat something?"


Minty fended off his questions as best she could, but found herself agreeing
to get something to eat before returning to bed herself.


"Go on with you!  He's in good hands here.  And you still look very pale....
Good hot meal will work wonders for you.  I'll let you sit with him when you
come back providing you stay away for at least an hour or two.  Deal?"  he
said with a smile  


Minty nodded, and he turned to attend to someone else.  She stood for a few
seconds just looking at him sleeping and then turned away abruptly....


*Wouldn't do to let D'ssarian catch me still here, * she told Kirimith  * He
might change his mind.  Meet me at the entrance to the Med Centre Kiri?  I
think I'll go home... I'm not really hungry.*


************

<Later>


Having bathed and rested for a while Minty had Kirimith take her back to the
Med Centre. Kiri reported that David and Z'lec had talked for a while, and
that David was feeling a little better....


*But Kaylin says he is dreamy.  I do not understand what he means by that
Minty.  Either David dreams and is asleep, or he is awake....*  


*He's probably just light-headed from the loss of blood, and I'm sure he'll
have been given a pain-killer... that gash on his shoulder was very deep!
I'll probably be a will Kirimith if you want to go home and rest.  I can
call you when I'm ready OK?*  Minty walked into the bustle and light of the
Med Centre,  hoping D'ssarian wouldn't spot her.  He was much too perceptive
and might realise she'd disobeyed his order to eat.


She made her way to David's room, and stood for a precious moment just
watching him.  He was still very pale and her heart ached to see him like this


"I'm awake love..." he said without opening his eyes, and she cursed softly
at her clumsiness.


"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to disturb you."  she came into the room and
stood beside him, holding his hand  "How do you feel?  I was worried for you..."


"Sore and weak, but I'm still here.  And you?  Kay and Kiri said you fainted
back there, and Kiri had to bring you home!  What happened, love? Are you
alright?"  he asked her, concerned fro her well-being despite his own injury


"I'm alright." she said with a shrug  "I don't even remember much about it.
Kiri was telling me about some sort of amulet you'd found.  When she told me
how evil it was and that you were in danger from it, I suppose the fright
made me faint. Next thing I know I'm here and no-one will tell me anything
about how you are."


*That is not true Minty!  I told you that David was alive when you asked
me....*  Minty smiled slightly  *And that the evilness he wore had been
removed.*


*So you did sweeting... my apologies.*  Minty returned her attention to her
lover  "Kiri just reminded me that she told me you were fine...  I'm glad
you took that thing you found off.  Kaylin was so scared of it!  What was it
love?"


"I don't know what et was.... but I didn't take et off.  I don't think I
could have if I'd wanted t'.  Et opened a way for te' Wraiths t' talk wi' me
and et felt right...." he shuddered  "I knew et was evil, but et felt good
too.  Seductive.  I can see why Malk wore et all these years.  No!  There
was someone waiting t' take et from me, though I didn't see anyone else on
te' way t' te' pit where I found Malk and Diana....."


"Well I'm glad it's gone!  And I think Kaylin is too."  She bent her head
and kissed him lightly.  As she straightened a wave of giddiness caught her,
and her sight clouded for a second.


"You look pale.  Are ye well?"  his words echoed slightly, seeming to come
from a long way away.  "Minty?....."


Another wash of dizziness hit her, and she clutched his hand tightly willing
the blackness away.  Her knees buckled under her, and she sank to the floor
in a dead faint......


Submitted by


Araminta, Kirimith's rider


NRPG

All... I'm not going to have much time to post this weekend.  Please don't
go rushing too far without me!




-- 
Les

the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  CMO    USS Javelin
T'beth  Counsellor     USS Magellan 
Lillith the Mage          Broken Lands
Minty, Kirimith's rider  Dragon Lands