[DL] Meena

>"I've talked to Naomi about this evening and she's told me what you two are 
>planning."  
>
>"And do you approve?"  Meena asked him  "We'll need your help to make this 
>work properly"
>
>"It has to be done if you want to keep Demee here at the Warren."  He answered 
>her  "I can't pretend I like the way Greta is being used though.  I only
hope that 
>nothing happens to her once she's back in Whitbarrow."
>
>Meena looked at him, but said nothing.  His feelings for Greta were his own 
>business, and he would work it out himself.
>
>"What I really need to know is who are the people that will influence your
father's 
>judgement  most?  I have to have them back here at the Warren, and ready for a 
>feast -before- your father arrives....."

"Lord Barnum," came Greta's voice as she walked from the kitchen into the
main room where Meena and T'grat were sitting. Her eyes fell on T'grat, but
she didn't say anything else as she sat down a teacup in front of him.

Meena smiled, "Yes, Lord Barnum is a must. As well as Governor Jemson. My
father would never think of embarrassing himself in front of either of
them." Greta took a seat next to T'grat. Meena looked at her, wondering at
her tight expression. "Greta, are you okay with this? I don't want to force
you to do this if you don't want to."

"It's not for me, Meena. It's for Lars," she sighed, "he deserves to be
recognized as Stont's child and he deserves everything his father wanted for
him."

Meena nodded. She and her brother had never really been close and that
saddened her. But Stont had been much more of a loner, off in his own world
to worry much about her. Though he had made an attempt to stand up to their
father for her when Harkon made the decision to marry her off to the first
young noble who would accept her. Harkon had, of course told Stont to mind
his own business, and Stont had stomped off. Meena realized now, he had
probably stomped right off to Greta for some comfort.

She remembered the way he had looked at her as he left the room. It had been
a sad look of complete helplessness. She had been angry at him for giving up
so easily.  But now she understood a little better what he must have been
feeling.

"Mama can I go play with Lars now?" came the small voice of Greta's little girl.

"I'll take her back over. Sasha's probably about ready to give them lunch
anyway," said Meena.

"Will those two be enough, Meena," asked T'grat.

"Yes, I think so," she turned to the little girl, "Come on Alyne, let's go
find Lars and Demee now."

"We'll get to ride Vonn, again?" she asked happily.

"Yes, definitely, my dear." Meena helped the little girl into Demee's
harness and turned back to T'grat. She saw him looking at Greta and she back
at him. She was stabbed with guilt. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
Perhaps Greta would be happier here with her children. Here with T'grat.

Greta looked at the young woman watching them, "Go on, Meena. We will do
this... for Lars."

Meena nodded and hopped on Vonn to take Alyne back to her apartment.

[DL] Greta

Greta watched Meena go. She felt T'grat's eyes on her, and she turned to
him, "I hope you understand."

He nodded, though she knew it wasn't understanding she saw in his eyes.  She
immediately flushed at the desire she felt rising in her own body. No one
had ever caused this kind of reaction in her not. She was ashamed to say,
not even Stont.

"I have to go find Lord Barnum and Governor Jemson," he said, not taking his
eyes off her.

"I know," she said nodding, "I'll wait for you here."

He left quickly, Greta's eyes watching him as he climbed on his large dragon
and headed out on his mission. She did have doubts about this. But she
didn't want him to know. She didn't want Meena to know either. And she
especially didn't want Harkon to know. He could never know what had happened
here. It could possibly ruin everything. She had to show that she had been
an honest and faithful wife to Stont.

She headed into the kitchen with the untouched teacups.

A short time later she heard the flapping of dragon wings on the ledge. She
headed back out into the main room, surprised by a metallic red dragon she
had never seen before. She watched the two women approach her.

"Greta?" said the younger of the two women, "I am Lacey, Naomi's sister.
This is our mother, Ruth, and she is here to make you a dress!"

Greta smiled gratefully as she looked down at the ill-fitting clothes she
now had on. No, she certainly could not meet Lord Harkon dresses like this.
"That would nice," she said quietly.

"Oh my dear, what pretty dark hair you have. I think a beautiful magenta
brocade is just want we need here," said the older woman. She immediately
set to measuring Greta. As she worked she wrote down the measurement's on a
small tablet. Murmuring as she went along.

Greta studied the young queenrider waiting for her mother to take the
measurements. She looked distracted, and had the impatience of youth on her
face. Greta was sure there was somewhere else the girl would rather have been.

"I am amazed at how much you all are willing to do for Meena's son."

Lacey looked at her surprised, "He is one of us," she said, as though that
were explanation enough.

"So, I see," she said.

"One day Demee will be a dragonrider. He has to stay here."

Greta chuckled, "How can you be sure?"

"I know. I can tell," said Lacey refusing to be undaunted by Greta's doubts.
"Demee has the affinity."

"Affinity?"

"Yes, all dragonriders have it. Though only a few of us can actually see it."

"I'd always wondered how the Warrens searched out young people to be
dragonriders," said Greta, "I'd always thought it was the luck of the draw."

"Well, in many ways it still is, I suppose." said Lacey. 

"I'm done here," said Ruth, "Come, Lacey, my dear, you must get me back to
my store if I'm going to get this dress done in time for the feast." She
turned back to Greta. "Don't worry, you will be a dream in this dress I'm
going to make for you."

The older woman's smile was infectious and Greta found herself looking
forward to the dress she would get to wear. She'd never had anything
brand-new before. "Thank you," she said. Then as quickly as they had
appeared, they were gone, and Greta couldn't help but think how convenient
it was to be a dragonrider.

--Meena & Vonn
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    "   "  "      "   \ : :  : : /   "      "  "   "

(AKA - Darlea & Makayla, Lt. Krysa Jenn, Ens. Darla Shane, 
Ens. Ainese Kev, Bree, Dr. Janna Swansen, Captain Gabriel 
Faison, Waylene & Aura, Meena & Vonn)

http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/kris.htm
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