> "Of course.  I'm use to eating small meals.  Honestly this is a lot of
> food to me.  I doubt I could eat much more than this."  He lied.
> Lacey's smile broadened, then she began eating.  As Darrkon reached down
> for his food a sudden realization came over him.  "How am I going to eat
> this?"  He thought,  "I should have thought of this before.  I can't eat
> here without taking off my mask.  I've got to find some way to get
> around this.  Maybe I should just leave."  He heard himself saying,
> "Calindeth needs me.  I have to go!"

Lacey wondered if she had said or done something wrong, darrkon's 
attitude had shifted so suddenly.

> Lacey stopped eating and asked worried, "What's wrong?  Is there
> anything I can do?  I can come along if you need help."
> 
> "Nothing's wrong."  He answered.  "I'm sorry I worried you, I just
> wasn't ready for this."
> 
> "Ready for what?"  Lacey asked confused about his sudden change in
> attitude.
> 
> Darrkon took a few slow deep breaths and began, "I wasn't ready for a
> situation like this.  Eating here, in public.  Other people all around.
> My mask, I never made it for an occasion like this.  I was always alone.
> No one could see me so it wasn't a problem.  Now it is."  He could see
> Lacey wasn't any less confused than before so he decided he had to tell
> her about the mask.  He tried to find the right words but they all got
> caught in his throat.  Finally his mind told him to go straight forward
> like he always did in life.  He just hoped she didn't stop him too soon.
> "I told you a little about my joining with Calindeth, about how I didn't
> know I had joined with him because I was occupied at the time.  Well, I
> was occupied by his mother."  He felt his leg begin to shake underneath
> the table, a nervous habit he hadn't seen in years.  "She knew I was
> there somehow.  She had reutrned with food for her hatchlings and 'felt'
> my presence.  She attacked.  I defended myself, which wasn't really
> necessary because she really wasn't interested in killing me.  Just
> making me leave.  Calindeth told me that.  I escaped, but I was hurt.
> She had bruised my body, broken a few ribs, and..."  Darrkon felt his
> mouth go dry.  He wasn't sure he could continue.  When he looked into
> Lacey's deep blue eyes all he could see was her caring, it helped him
> mutter his next words.  "And she scarred me, my face...badly.  That is
> why Calindeth found me by the river.  I was bathing my wounds.  My first
> action after I recovered was to make this mask.  No one has seen me, the
> real me, since that day."  As Darrkon looked into Lacey's eyes again he
> didn't see disgust as he had expected.  He saw sorrow, which hurt him
> even more
> 
Lacey listened as she heard his story & her heart almost broke over what 
he had been through. She got up & came around the table & looked at him 
deeply & then put her arms around him & hugged him tightly.

"Darrkon" she whispered in his ear "I wish I could help take away the 
hurt & pain. Just always remember I am here for you."

She then saw he was slightly uncomfortable with some of the looks they 
were getting from elsewhere in the room & hopped up. "Come on" she said 
"I have an idea. Grab your tray."

Darrkon complied & followed her as she led the way into a small room off 
the dining room & shut & locked the door. "This room is for when Naomi 
wants to entertain visiting nobles or other Warrenladies, or other 
special occasions. Noone can come in here. Sit"

Lacey motioned towards the floor rather than the table. He obliged, 
although he was puzzled. Then he felt Lacey plop down next to him & sit 
with her back to his.

"There" Lacey said satisfied "Now we can eat together without you being 
embarrassed." Lacey started to eat & noticed he hadn't. "Come on, eat. I 
won't look"

Darrkon said "I know......Thank you for understanding"

"Nothing to understand, now eat"

Darrkon slowly removed his mask & ate quickly while the two of them 
chatted about numerous things in the warren & also about whether or not 
they could do anything more than keep their ears open to discover 
anything about the situation with Jaquel.

Lacey then received heard Garnet say that Naomi wanted to see her.

(Naomi, you need me?)

(Yes, little sis. We need to put our heads together)

Lacey sighed (But I am with Darrkon.......oh, alright) She suddenly 
realized she was being selfish.

"Darrkon, can we get together later? Naomi needs me right now" Lacey sighed

"Of course" Darrkon quickly replaced his mask. "Ready"

Lacey scrambled up & stood looking at him, wondering at everything she is 
feeling. "Can you take the trays up?" Lacey asked. As he nodded she 
quickly leaned forward & kissed his cheek through the mask. "I'll see you 
later" & raced out the door.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

NRPG: Insert Les's post in her office

________________________________________________________

"I don't have any ideas on how to make Greta respectable. I am sorry, Naomi"
Lacey said, feeling badly because she hadn'y been any help to her sister.

"Thats alright, Lacey" Naomi sighed " just had to get you thinking on it too"

"Hows Jaquel? any changes?" Lacey asked

"Shes doing better physically so thats good, & lillianna is going to run 
some tests on me tomorrow, just in case" Naomi said. "Not that its very 
likely she'll find anything" Naomi added as she saw the concern in her 
sisters eyes.

"I hope not." Lacey said.

Naomi brought up a few more things that were going on in the warren & 
then saw Lacey's mind was beginning to wander.

"Go on" Naomi laughed "Go have some fun."

Lacey was almost out the door before she turned & asked her sister "You 
sure?"

Naomi grinned "get out of here, you"

Lacey almost raced out the door.

(Garnet, where are darrkon & Calindeth?)

(Just outside the warren in the clearing)

Lacey climbed aboard Garnet & the next thing she was landing beside 
Calindeth.

"Enjoying the starlight?" Lacey asked Darrkon

"Yes, I have always enjoyed the stars" Darrkon said

They lay there for almost an hour, barely speaking, just lying on their 
backs close to each other, watching the sky.

"I have to go" Darrkon said suddenly scrambling for Calindeth's back

"Whats wrong?" lacey asked worriedly, also scrambling to her feet

"I don't know, Calindeth just says we have to go" Darrkon rose in the air 
& disappeared from sight.

(Garnet?)

(Amethyst Rises)

Lacey felt her heart plummet to her stomach. What if Calindeth wins? she 
thought.

(Garnet, where are they?)

(Near the lake)

(Take me there)

As Garnet landed on the edge of the beach, far enough away from the crowd 
of men surrounding her sister, she watched.

As more & more men dropped out, she watched, trying to figure out of 
Darrkon was still there. Soon there was only one left & she watched as 
naomi dragged him closer to the trees, their bodies already entwining in 
the mating passion. She looked, trying to distinguish if it was darrkon.

(Garnet? Who won?)

(Calindeth won....he flew well)

Lacey screamed inside "no!" as she felt tears weeling up in her eyes.

She climbed aboard Garnet. (Garnet, get me out of here, now!)

And as they rose she saw the two entwined figures, getting smaller & 
smaller, until they disappeared from sight.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

NRPG: There! All caught up!


 
       |\__/,|   (`\     Also known as:
     _.|o o  |_   ) )    Ensign Minx Nightwalker Counsellor USS Apollo
  ---(((----(((--------- Briana & Starleana of Keldarra
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Diana & Zena of Marrid
    ~  Kat Harris  ~     Lacey & Garnet of Norwall
   ~catwoman@indy.net~   Karina of Amber
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Ensign Jillia Firenwood Counsellor USS Faraday
  ??????????????????????? http://www.indy.net/~catwoman