Naomi's restless sleep was broken by a triumphant bugling from the Hatching
cavern, and a mental echo that caused a slight headache with it's joy and
intensity....


*Don't tell me* she said to her dragon, blocking Garnet's mental
announcement as best she could  *They're hatching!*


*Whatever gave you that impression?*  Amethyst said, laughter in her tone
*You'd think no other Queen ever had a Hatching the noise she makes!
QUIET!*  the sending from Garnet abruptly ceased but the vocal call became
louder in compensation....


<*Coming?*> the familiar touch of her sister intruded


<*I'll be right there.  Can't Garnet pick a better time?*>  Naomi allowed
her amusement to colour her thought


<*I guess hatchlings pick their own time to be born*>  Lacey's mental voice
said laughingly


Dressing quickly and warmly Naomi went out to ledge where her dragon was
waiting.  The full moon was riding high in the sky, and a chill breeze from
the north blew her hair into confusion around her face.... From this vantage
point she could see the entire Warren laid out before her, and watch the
lights appear in the buildings as the news of the Hatching spread....


*OK love*  she said as she mounted Amethyst, and patted her fondly  *Take me
down.  If I miss it she'll not let me forget it in a hurry.*


A small leap and they were airborne, heading directly towards the rapidly
filling natural amphitheater that served as Norwall's Hatching ground.
Dismounting quickly, Naomi went to where Lacey was standing.


"Well Amethyst said it would be soon."  she said by way of greeting  "I just
didn't think it would be quite....."


"Isn't it wonderful?!"  Lacey's beaming smile was proud  


<*You did good, my sweetheart....12 eggs in your first clutch. & they all
will be beautiful*>  Naomi heard the private thought faintly, as she
sometimes could when Lacey was particularly emotional


A collective "ohhhh"  told Naomi another rider had found his Dragon.  A
young boy, barely taller than the electric blue dragonet he was hugging
tightly said;


"His name is Sparks."  


The grin on the boy's face told of his joy at the Joining, and Naomi felt
tears prickling behind her eyes as she remembered her own Joining.  She
looked at Lacey, and saw that she too was remembering.


"There's nothing quite like this is there?"  Naomi hugged Lacey gently
"Watching the joy on their faces makes all the worrying and fretting worth
while.  Look the last one's hatching... Go to her Lacey and tell her how
wonderful she is.  She'll find it hard tonight to let go of her babies and
she'll need you."


"Thanks Naomi."  Lacey kissed her quickly  "It was worth getting up for then?"


"Always worth it, baby sister.  Go on..."  Naomi pushed Lacey gently, and
the girl went to her dragon


"She's growing up ....."  a deep voice said from behind her 


She turned to S'Ran, a wide smile curving her mouth


"Why didn't you tell us you were eavesdropping S'Ran?  That habit will get
you into trouble one of these days."  She hugged her brother in welcome
"But you're right... she is growing up.  Dad would be proud of her."


"He'd be proud of you too little Naomi." 


"Not so little now, S'Ran."  she punched him lightly on the shoulder  


"I heard Jaquel overturned one of your decisions again."  his tone was
questioning


"Hannah went to Jaquel." she said with a tired sigh


"And let me guess!  Hannah gets to stay where she is?"  Naomi nodded
"Doesn't she understand what she's doing to the Warren by constantly
questioning your authority?"


"It's hard for her S'Ran!  She spent a lot of years doing her best for this
Warren and it must be very hard to see someone else take over and change
things."  Naomi defended Jaquel


"You're going to have to make a stand eventually Naomi... for the Warrens'
sake if no other reason!"  S'Ran's tone held concern for her and the Warren
he loved 


"I've been trying to make it easy for her to change, and it seemed silly to
push my case over unimportant details.  But this is too important to
compromise on.  We can't afford to have our water contaminated like this.
Lilliana says we've been lucky all these years, and she's right!  We could
have had a disaster on our hands with this.  Hannah has to move and quickly.!" 


"What do you intend to do love?"


"I've got to persuade Jaquel to listen to Lilliana.... D'Gerrit intervened
before.  If she won't listen then I'm going to have to make an issue of it
and move Hannah by force if necessary."


"I wish you luck... you're going to need it!  And be careful of D'Gerrit.
He's not a good one to cross."  


"I'm always careful... and I have my own methods of dealing with D'Gerrit."
she looked round and realised that the seats were rapidly emptying with the
conclusion of the hatching  "I'll have to go, S'Ran.  I want to have a quick
word with T'Grat and then I have to go apologise to Uncle...."


"Oh?"


"I didn't give him enough warning!" she said, laughing  "I'll talk to you in
the morning."  


She looked round for T'Grat, and spotted him in one of the lower tiers of
seats talking with a tall, black-clad figure.  T'Grat smiled when he saw
her, and the taller figure ducked it's head and hurried away as she approached


"Why does he always do that?"  T'Grat looked puzzled  "A'shair.... Everytime
I come near him he scuttles off somewhere... fast!  Did I do something to
offend him?"


T'Grat shook his head  "Come on Naomi, you know his history!  It's nothing
personal."


"I know!"  she sighed  "But he never gives me a chance.  However that's no
the reason I wanted to talk to you."  she linked her arm in his  "Walk me to
the kitchens? I have a feeling I'm going to need protection from Jeryn, and
I'll explain on the way."


Naomi recited what had happened that afternoon when she'd gone to see
Jaquel, and how D'Gerrit had taken it on himself to go to see Lilliana.  


"I can't compromise on this one, T'Grat.  This is too important for that!
Jaquel -has- to accept that I'm now WarrenLady."


"I'll help in any way I can, Naomi.  You know that."  he put his arm round
her and squeezed gently, offering his sympathy for her predicament  "What do
you need from me?"


"See if you can keep D'Gerrit away from Jaquel for a while tomorrow morning.
If I can get her to speak to Lilliana I'm sure we can get this sorted out
without too many tears...."  she tried not to let her doubts show, but
T'Grat knew her too well


"And if you can't?  What then?"


"I'd rather do it the way it's always been done.  Informal transfer is
always best for the Warren as a whole... no infighting.  But if it comes to
it I'll call a meeting of all the WarrenLadies and have them confirm me in
my position.  Jaquel -has- to see what kind of upset that will cause here..."


"Let's hope we can avoid that!  We can't afford to have this Warren split
into factions....  not with the more frequent attacks from the wild dragons
and the increasing Wraith attacks.  I'll do what I can for you, Naomi."  he
said as they reached the door of the dining hall


"I know you will, and thank you." 


The dining hall was full, and the kitchen staff were passing large trays of
food and drink among the assembled crowd.  Naomi laughed quietly;


"And I'd thought I was going to have to apologise to Jeryn for postponing
the feast until morning.  Seems he beat me to it!.  I'll talk to you in the
morning?"  T'Grat nodded, and left to mingle with the revelers.  Naomi
prepared to make the most of the unexpected fun, spotting Meena she called;


"And how did young Demme enjoy the hatching?...."


Submitted by


Naomi

QueenRider to Amethyst
Norwall's WarrenLady

NRPG

Ok let's party!









-- 
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

Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands