Trey & Diana had spent the morning making cookies for his boys & avoided 
the subject of the meeting. During the process, they ended up with almost
as much flour on themselves as they did in the batter. They laughed & 
joked but there was a small bit of underlying tension, knowing that 
Trey's future would be decided this afternoon.

"Its almost time for the meeting" Diana said. Trey nodded & they both 
began to get themselves cleaned up. Wouldn't do to show up covered from 
head to toe in flour. 

Trey looked at her as it was time to go with a bit of worry in his 
eyes. Diana put her arms around him & hugged him & looked into his 
curiously mismatched eyes "No matter what I will be here for you"

Trey nodded but knew in his heart that he could never take Diana away 
from her warren. no matter what misguided sense of loyalty she had to him.

They headed for the meeting & dismounted in front of the great hall & 
entered together.
----------------------------------------------------------------

> As Waylene waited for the last of the warrenfolk to come in and settle down, 
> Trey said, "R'chein, this is Diana, a friend of mine here.  Diana, this is 
> Telnor's healer and a very good friend of mine, R'chein."
> 
> "Pleased to meet you," R'chein stated.  "Sounds like Trey could use a few 
> friends here."
> 
> Diana smiled and started to say something when Waylene stood up and spoke.  
> "I want to thank you all for coming.  As I'm sure you all know there has 
> been a horrible rumor floating around which is why I've called this meeting. 
> The rumor that has been going around about our new transfer from Telnor is 
> true."

Diana watched the faces of her friends here at the warren as Waylene 
spoke. Some looked shocked, others just looked expectant wondering what 
was going to come next. She also watched Trey as she was afraid for him.

(Zena, ask Koroth to let us know if Trey becomes too distressed)

(He will, Diana. He knows you care for his rider very much)

Diana watched the faces of the crowd again as R'chein told his story. 
When he came to the part of Laria's rape she felt Trey reliving the 
experience again beside her & gripped his hand. He looked up at her, a 
sadness in his eyes & she gripped harder letting him no she was here. She 
then heard the mutters around her & a part of her grew angry at those who 
were once her friends not ubderstanding, then she realized that had she 
not gotten to know Trey she might be reacting the same way, out of fear & 
ignorance. She turned to listen to R'chein again,


> "This brain tumour," a man stood and said, "you say he's under medication to 
> keep it from regrowing.  Is it going to be fatal?"
> 
> "Probably not.  The tumour isn't cancerous-- it won't spread to other parts 
> of his body.  However, if it does start regrowing, it could kill him, yes."
> 
> Trey glanced over at Diana and saw her pale at that.  "Oh, gods," she said 
> quietly under her breath.

When Diana heard R'chein's words she turned white. "Oh gods" she 
muttered. I couldn't bear to lose Trey too, not after Darrin.....when 
those words registered Diana suddenly realized how much Trey had come to 
mean to her in just a few short days. She wasn't in love with him as she 
had been with Darrin, but he meant a great deal to her & she couldn't 
imagine what her life would be like without him in it.
She looked over at Trey her eyes wide & then turned back to listen to 
R'chein bring his statement to a close.

> He sat down, his eyes meeting Trey's.  "I don't know, Trey, I hope this works."
> 
Diana looked at Trey & R'chein & quietly said "It will. It has too" She 
then stood.

"Warrenlady, Waylene may I speak, please?" Diana asked. All eyes turned 
towards her as Waylene granted permission.

"Most of you here know me well, I have lived here for quite awhile & 
consider you all as my family. Most of you also know, even you new 
transfers that for a while recently I went crazy with grief due to losing 
Darrin" Diana paused to gather herself together as the mention of darrin 
again brought tears to her eyes. Trey reached for her hand & she slightly 
shook her head & smiled at him. They were many in the crowd who knew what 
she was feeling as they had lost too & most knew how close her & darrin 
had been. She then continued "Most of you also know that Trey & I did not 
start out as the best of friends. Only a few days ago I almost punched 
him...here at another meeting when we also faced a crisis. But I now want 
you to know something...." Again Diana paused & looked around the room.

"This man, the man some of you are looking at as though he were a 
monster, is the only reason I am still here today. First, he saved me 
when my grief got me in a mess that could have killed myself & any who 
came to rescue me & second, he has held me & comforted me & let me come 
to terms with my grief. If it hadn't been for him, I would probably have 
done & succeeded at what he tried to do to himself" She glanced at Trey's 
wrists & she heard some gasps in the crowd as most knew Diana as a very 
strong & brave combat rider. "I also believe that what R'chein has said 
is true, that his dragon, Koroth would alert us to any sign of trouble as 
Zena & Koroth have talked & she assures me that Koroth would not take a 
chance with his riders life again."

Diana paused & looked around the room. "Please, my friends & family, give 
Trey the chance he deserves. Knowing what he did, even though he had no 
control, is punishing him every day. He has lost enough. The warren he 
had called home, the woman he loves, & his children....he deserves a 
chance from us. I know you all & you are good people & the type of people 
to give him that chance." She paused again "If you cannot find it in your 
hearts to forgive him & give him a second chance then you are not the 
kind people I believe you all to be.....& I will go with him if he is 
banished from here" She heard gasps in the crowd at her words & saw Trey 
shake his head at her. She looked around her, standing proudly & firmly.

"He deserves a chance at a new life here, please give that to him" Diana 
said & then sat down.

Trey whispered fiercely to her "You will not come with me if they choose 
to banish me!"

"You can't stop me" Diana said quietly & turned back towards the meeting 
to see what Waylene or others had to say. 
--------------------------------------------------------------

NRPG: so.....whats it to be? *grin*

 
       |\__/,|   (`\     Also known as:
     _.|o o  |_   ) )    
  ---(((----(((--------- Briana & Starleana of Keldarra
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Diana & Zena of Marrid
    ~  Kat Harris  ~     Karina of Amber
   ~catwoman@indy.net~   
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   http://www.indy.net/~catwoman