[NRPG: Okay sorry for sending you so much :) but I worked really hard on
this so I wanted you all to have a chance to read it. This is how Meena came
to be a dragonrider at Norwall :) I'll get to the recent stuff at the end
honest. Kat and Les, sorry you have to read this all over again...]

[DL] Meena (Two years ago)

He could barely see her as she made her way in the moonlight to where he was
standing by the road that led out of town. As she approached slowly, he drew
toward her. He smiled at her, though in the dim moonlight she could barely
see his face, "Meena, you made it. You got out." he whispered

"I told you I would, even if it killed me." she echoed his whisper.

"Don't say that." he drew her into his arms, hugging her tight. Releasing
her, he reached out and touched her growing stomach, "Now our child will
know who his parents are."

Meena smiled with joy. Even though she was only in her 16th year, she knew
that he would always be the love of her life and thier child would be the
proof of that love. 

Her father, Lord Harkon, a Nobel in the town of Whitbarrow, had been ashamed
when she had become pregnant, particularly when he discovered that the
father of the bastard child was the son of a poor cobbler. He arranged for
Meena to marry the son of a noble in a neighboring village. The two lovers
had decided to run away before she could be sent away.

"Where are we going, Devon?" she asked.

"The Warren. Once we're there, we'll become dragonriders and your father
won't be able to  ever get near us or our child again." He said with conviction.

Together, hand in hand, they followed the road out of town, moving slow
enough so as not to trip.

****

They walked all night and on into the morning, arriving at Norwall just
after breakfast. Meena was exhausted, but wouldn't tell Devon of her
discomfort. She didn't want to stop for fear someone would come after them.
Upon entering Norwall, Meena collapsed and had to be taken to the Medical
Center.

Devon stood by panic-stricken as he encountered Lilliana for the first time.
The healer looked Meena over. She turned to the young man standing off to
the side. "How long have you two been walking?"

Devon faltered, feeling guilty for not having thought of that as they had
walked. Even thier few stops to rest had not been enough.

"Answer me, boy. How long?"

"Since late last night," he said. "We walked from Whitbarrow."

"Did she eat anything?"

He nodded, "I had some bread and cheese in my pack."

The woman snorted, "As if that's enough in her condition. What is she 15?"

"She's 16," Devon said lamely.

"Well, she's still a growing girl, with child on top things and all you give
her is bread and cheese."  The healer looked at the young man, "You aren't
looking much better yourself. Go lay down over there before you fall over."

"W-Will she be alright."

"She'll be fine, now go lay down."

****

Lilliana had been right and Meena had recovered. Thankfully, her pregnancy
still appeared to be going well. Devon had been right, Norwall had not
turned them away. They had been allowed to stay and Devon had even been
chosen to be a candidate at the upcoming hatching. Meena was not accepted,
mostly due to her advancing pregnancy.

While disappointed they both understood. Devon wanted to wait until he and
Meena could stand together on the hatching grounds, but Meena wouldn't hear
of it. So on hatching day Meena sat in the stands watching her lover
standing alone on the hot sands. Because of her belief in the fact that
Devon would join, she was not surprised when the first egg that hatched
produced a beautiful olive dragonet which awkwardly made it way to Devon's
feet. He kneeled down gently caressing the infants eye ridges,  "His name is
Xanith." he called looking directly at Meena.

Meena felt the tears running down her face as she watched him. She was about
to burst with pride.  One by one the other dragonets hatched and found their
riders. All but one. One egg that didn't rock, or crack or show any signs of
hatching.  Meena heard a woman behind her say, "It doesn't look like that
one is going to make it."

Meena looked at egg. It looked so alone as the chosen began to drift off to
feed thier new dragons and the other began to leave, realizing that the one
remaining egg was not going to hatch.  Meena felt such sadness at the loss
of the dragonet. Her hand rested on her swollen belly, thinking how sad the
queen must be that her infant had not survived.

It was then she heard the voice in her head, <Vonn.> She looked around to
see who had said that. It echoed in her head again, <Vonn, I am Vonn.> The
crowd was beginning to thin out in the stands and she also stood to follow
them out. As she drew closer to the unhatched egg she heard the voice again.
<I am Vonn.> She paused looking at the egg not believing that she was
hearing a voice from a dead egg.

She heard a voice behind her. "Do you hear it?" Thinking she had obviously
going mad, she didn't turn, and was startled when a hand touched her
shoulder. "Do you hear it?"

She turned to see a small woman with long red hair and bright green eyes.
"I... I thought I was going mad. What is it?"

"It's Vonn, and I think she wants you."

Realizing she was pointing to the egg, Meena exclaimed, "Oh, but I'm not a
candidate."

The woman laughed, "Sometimes that doesn't matter to the hatchlings."

"So the egg isn't dead." Meena said turning to the egg.

"No."

"We have to get her out then."  Meena hurried toward the egg which began to
rock as she approached. A wee crack appeared near the top. "That's a girl,
you can do it.." she said soothingly to the dragonet with the egg."

She put a hand on the crack and gave a quick tug, pulling a piece off. A
pink eye looked out at her. <I am Vonn.>

"I know, I heard you." she said softly.

<What took so long, Meena?>

"I didn't know you wanted me." she smiled at the little eye peering at her,
"Do you need more help?"

<No, as long as you are near, I can do it.>  And true to her word the little
dragonet punched her way out of the egg with only words of encouragement
from her rider. Meena bent down and hugged the little albino dragonet once
she was free. Her pale white skin was tinged in pink just like her eye. A
plate of raw meat was brought to Meena so she could feed her new dragon.

Once Vonn was sated, Meena helped her to the hatchling barracks where they
settled in. Meena found she was as tired as Vonn was, but she wanted to find
Devon.  So as soon as she was sure Vonn was asleep, she got up and searched
for him. She found him sound asleep, wrapped around his new dragon. Not
wanting to disturb him she turned to go lay down with Vonn. 

As she was walking she about doubled over in pain. Vonn was instantly awake,
<Meena?> she called.

<I'm here, Vonn.> she said as the pain stopped and she was able to begin to
walk again.

<He's ready to be hatched, isn't he, Meena?>

<He??>

<You're hatchling.> said Vonn, as she watched Meena approach her.

Meena sat down next to Vonn, "No, it's too early." She paused for a moment.
"You said 'he'?"

<Yes.>

Before Meena could say anything else, she was hit with another contraction.
F'nor, the hatchling trainer, noticed her discomfort and walked over to see
if there was anything he could do to help.

"Are you alright?" he asked. He glanced at her very pregnant figure and went
pale, "Is it time?"

"No, I've still got a few weeks to wait, I don't know what's wrong." Meena
said once the contraction was over. She was getting scared. 

"I'd say we should get you to Lilliana."

"Vonn..." she says putting her hand on her little dragon's head.

<I'll be fine, Meena. I will wait for you and your hatchling, here.>

She smiled at the albino dragon, then turned to F'nor, "I need Devon.."

"Devon?"

Meena was about to answer when another contraction hit, and she was unable
to speak. F'nor, helped her up, "Don't worry, we'll find your Devon."

<I'll get him, Meena.> called Vonn as F'nor helped her walk toward the
medical center.

****

<Devon,> he heard a voice call. For a moment he was disoriented, not quite
remember what had happened.

<Devon, Vonn's rider needs you.> the voice sounded sleepy.

Devon smiled as he remembered where he was. He looked at the olive
hatchling, "Who is Vonn, my little Xanith?" He absently stroked the dragon's
drooping eye ridge, closing his eyes again.

<That is Vonn.>  

Devon looked up to see a little pink tinged dragon staring at him with
sparkling pink eyes. He sat up and yawned. "I don't know Vonn's rider," he said.

<She says her rider is about to have your hatchling.>

"My hatching..." he mumbled. Then his eyes grew wide, "Meena!"

<Yes.>

Devon jumped up and started to run out of the barracks, the stopped to look
at his dragon. He saw that the little albino dragon had taken his spot and
the two dragonet's curled up and fell asleep together. He quickly continued
he trek to the medical center.

****

Demee was born early the following morning. While a bit on the small side,
Lilliana pronounced him to be healthy.  Devon grinned as he stared at his son.

"She said it would be a 'he'." said Meena softly, her face drawn from
exhaustion.

"Who," said Devon absently.

"Vonn."

Devon looked up and her, "That's right, I'd almost forgot. How did that happen."

Meena gave a tired smile, "Oh, Devon, what a wonderful, exciting, and
surprising day I've had." She filled him in on what had happened to her at
the hatching. He listened to her, completely flabbergasted at the events.

Then a huge smile broke over his face. "That means we did it, Meena. We
joined together, just like we planned. See things are going to be great.
Just you wait and see."

They looked down at the sleeping babe in their arms and for the moment life
was great.

****

Rybeth was rocking Demee when Meena walked in to pick him up. She had been
at training with the other hatchlings, but was now had time to spend with
her infant son. She was in an excellent mood as she and Vonn had flown for
the first time today. It was completely exhilarating. She was sad to see it
end, but also wanted to get back to Demee. Devon had stayed to fly a bit
longer with Xanith. Though he promised to be back soon.

"How was your day today, Meena?" asked the older woman.

"Excellent, Rybeth." She smiled, "But I'm so glad to see you again," she
gurgled at the baby as she took him from the woman's arms.

There was a loud keening from the dragons, and an agonized call from Vonn,
<Meena, Xanith is gone...>

Rybeth took the baby again as Meena began to swoon, <What, Vonn... What
happened.>

<Xanith missed... he and his rider tried to teleport and they missed.>

<What are you saying?! Where did they teleport to?> her thoughts screamed.

<Nowhere... they teleported nowhere....>

[DL] Present day (See I told you I'd eventually get here :)

"Are you looking forward to the Hatching Meena?....."  Naomi asked the
younger woman.

Meena nodded, "Yes. I have wouldn't miss one, and especially not Garnet's
first." Demee, in her arms, was squirming to get down. But Meena held him
tight, as once down he was apt to disappear all to quickly. "It's all Vonn
says the dragons talk about. It seems so long since the last one."

Demee continued to squirm, "Maaa, maaaa, maa..." 

Meena looked at the child, exasperated. She hugged him tight and then looked
at Naomi, "I'm going to take him over to Rybeth's for a while. She and Sasha
are having a play session for the little ones this afternoon, and I think
Demee could really use it."

Naomi chuckled. "I know we all could use a really good play time." Looking
at 'Uncle', she said, "And the hatching should prove to be a great play
time, right."

Jeryn grumbled something about 'if only she'd give him enough time once in a
while'. Naomi and Meena headed out of the kitchen laughing, both knowing
that he was happiest when under pressure.

--Meena & Vonn

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Kristen and Scott Gant
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/gant.htm
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