Naomi sighed with relief as she put her signature to the last piece of
paperwork.  Pushing back her chair, she rose and stretched to ease the ache
in her back.  Sometimes sitting still all day could be just as tiring as
wing practice, she decided, though she doubted the combat riders would
agree.  There were times she cursed the position she held as WarrenLady,
the need to be ordinary and free was sometimes so overwhelming......


*So you wish we'd never Joined?* her dragon asked sadly  


*Oh no love... never that!*  Naomi mentally caressed Amethyst's hurt
feelings  *Having you as a partner is a joy I wouldn't swap for all the
riches in Whitbarrow!  I just envy the others their freedom from decision
making sometimes, that's all. I want to be able to just decide something
and go do it... without having to worry whether the Warren can cope while
I'm gone!*


*God complex!*  Amethyst said mockingly  *Sad to see in one so young....*


*Oh you!....*  Naomi laughed aloud as she closed the door to her office and
started towards the admin building's exit  *You can be so unsympathetic at
times!*


*If you want sympathy you need to look somewhere else!*  Amethyst declared
*You have me to love and care for... what other interests do you need?*


She walked to where Amethyst was basking in the last rays of the westering
sun.  Her affection for the Queen was evident as she scratched the dragon's
eye ridges, and then clasped her arms around Amethyst's long neck.


*You're all I really -need-*  Naomi admitted eventually  *Everything else
is -want-*


*Ah... speaking of want.  I want to go swimming.*  Amethyst announced  *And
I          -need- to be oiled.  Since you have finished working.....*


*Can't love.*  Naomi sent apologetically  *I'm having dinner with Meena and
Demee tonight, I really must find out how strong his talent is.  We could
go afterwards if you want?*


*As long as we do!*  Amethyst huffed  *Last time you promised me a
moonlight swim we had a Wraith attack.*


*That was hardly my fault love!  Be reasonable....*  Naomi climbed astride
the Queen's lowest neck ridge as she spoke  *Now if I don't get home and
change.....*


<..>


She showered quickly, the tension of the day draining from her in the
magnolia scented spray of warm water.  Then wrapped in a large fluffy towel
she chose an emerald green tunic, and teamed it with black riding pants.
She studied herself in the large mirror as she brushed out her long red
hair.  She wasn't exceptionally pretty the way that Lacey was... but she
was passable.  So why did she spend her nights alone?


With a shrug, and a  soft sigh she quickly tied her hair back, holding in
at the nape of her neck with a gold comb.  Then she picked up the small
item she'd bargained from S'rah and went out to Amethyst's sandy-floored
quarters, and the landing ledge.


*I'm ready to go love.*  she said as she looked down into Norwall's bowl.  


The light was fading rapidly now, and lights were just beginning to appear
in the windows of the apartments hollowed into the walls of the crater.
The soft yellow glow of the lamps and candles made her feel safe, each
light representing each least one rider sworn to protect the Warren....


*Shall we?*  Amethyst asked, butting her gently to gain attention  *The
sooner you eat the sooner I get to swim!  Have you got my oil?*


*Do I ever go anywhere without your oil?*  Naomi chuckled softly as she
mounted the dragon's back  *You're a hard taskmistress oh dragon mine...
but I love you more than almost anything else!  Come on then light of my
life... To Meena's....*


Amethyst launched from the ledge, gliding down in a slow, lazy spiral to
the Green far below.  She settled onto her haunches by the ancient oak in
the centre of the Green, and Naomi slid gracefully from her perch.


*I'll meet you here in a while love.*  Naomi said  *So don't go gossiping
with the others for too long.*


With a soft laugh for Amethyst's harumph of disgust,  she ran lightly
across the grass towards Meena's new ground level apartment....


<..>

Scene:  Meena's apartments


Ebony lay nose to nose with Vonn, and Naomi had to ask the two to move to
allow her entrance.


*Sorry!  We were just talking about baby Demee and his terrible experience
last night.  Do you know he was even frightened by Ebony!?*  Vonn told her
as she shifted her bulk away from the entrance  *Ebony is quite sad about
it too!*


Naomi petted Ebony in sympathy, and then knocked lightly on Meena's door.
Getting no response, she was about to push the door open when M'lent emerged. 


"Good evening Naomi."  he said as he walked to Ebony's side  "Meena won't
hear you... she's trying to calm Demee."


"Hmmm... Vonn told me he was scared of Ebony."  Naomi laid a hand on his
arm  "Don't take it too hard... either of you.  He had a fright and he's
entitled to be jumpy until he learns to trust our friends again."


"I know"  M'lent sighed "And I know that I shouldn't really take too much
notice of a three year old who's terrified... "


"But Ebony's your friend and you feel his hurt just as if it were yours."
Naomi nodded her understanding  "I expect we'd all feel the same way... the
bond would see to that.  Give him a few days and he'll be fine.  I must
go... "


She caught a quick glimpse of Demee's tearstained face in the window,
watching M'lent and Ebony as they took off, then she entered the apartment....


<..>


Naomi nodded as Meena explained what had happened. 


"He needs time to get over it."  Meena finished quietly  "And I don't think
he needs to be questioned about it right now.  I'd rather he forgot all
about it..."


"That's not possible in the Warren Meena."  Naomi answered, her voice
gentle  "He's surrounded by dragons all day, every day.  Or do you intend
to take him to live in Whitbarrow where they are no reminders?  He just
needs reminding that most dragons are friendly...."


"But if you could have seen him when he realised that Ebony was there!  He
was terrified!"  Meena's voice was tearful  


"I promise I won't even mention about the attack yesterday."  Naomi said
quickly  "But I really do have to find out how strong his talent is... He
won't even realise what I'm doing."


Naomi could see the reluctant denial int eh young woman's eyes and decided
not to push the point.  


"I'll abide by your decision Meena.  You're his mother."  Naomi offered
"And you know what's best for him...."


"You won't frighten him?"  Meena pleaded  "I hate seeing him upset .... You
can't know what it's like to see your child in such distress and not be
able to soothe his fears."


"I promise.  How about if I get him ready for sleep while you're finishing
dinner?  If he appears to be upset then I'll stop talking to him at once...
OK?"


"I'll be in the kitchen."  Meena told her, doubts at the wisdom of allowing
this still lingering in her eyes.....


<..>


"Hello Demee."  Naomi knelt beside the child playing on the floor, bringing
her green eyes level with the boy's enormous blue ones.  "That looks
fun.... Can I play too?"


"You're a growed up lady."  Demee said scornfully  "Growed ups don' play!"


"They don't?  You mean I'm not allowed toys?  In that case this must belong
to someone else....."  


She drew the small toy dragon from behind her back and looked at it
sorrowfully before setting it on the floor beside Demee.  The tiny figure
was beautifully carved, each joint carefully articulated and the wing sails
were almost as delicate as the real thing.  She traced the ridges carved
along the delicately arched red neck, before sighing gently and asking;


"I don't suppose you know anyone who would want this do you?  I don't have
any children to give it to, and I don't think Amethyst would want to play
with it."


She could almost feel his need to reach out to the small toy, and she held
her breath as he touched it with a tentative finger.


"Littul dagon."  he said  "Nice littul dagon."


*Would you like it Demee?*  she sent the thought delicately  *I think it
needs someone to love it....*


"For me?"  he asked her awed  "Me have it...."


She nodded, and he quickly snatched the precious toy up and hugged it
tightly.  He bent his head and rubbed his cheek against the smoothly carved
wood.....


*What will you call her?*  Naomi thought at the small boy  *A dragon must
have a name.*


He looked up at her, a smile dimpling his baby soft, chubby cheeks.  


"Sammyantha."  he crowed softly  "Her name Sammyantha."


*And where will you and Sammyantha go?*  Naomi asked  


"You whisper like Va."  Demee said suddenly  "And 'Beny and ... Met....
Metf...."  He struggled to say the name....


*Amethyst?*  she asked him  *Do you mean Amethyst?*


"Metfist... yes!"  he nodded vigorously.  He looked at her suspiciously
"You dagon?"


*No sweet thing.  I'm just like mummy....I'm people..... but I can whisper
like the dragons can.  Can you whisper too?*


The little boy closed his eyes, and screwed up his face in concentration.
Faintly, almost inaudibly she heard him, his baby voice tugging at the
edges of her mind...


*Me whispering*  he announced proudly  


She scooped the child into her arms, and hugged him.  


*Well done Demee.*  she praised him   *Clever boy.*


"Mummy not like it."  he said, opening his eyes again  "She get sad..."


"That's OK.  I talked to mummy and she knows that it's just something you
can do and she can't.  Like Piper or Soliel can sing... and I can't."


"You hurt ears.  You not sing...."  he said sorrowfully.  


"Thank you young man!  You do wonders for my ego."  Naomi laughed aloud
"So I'm not allowed to sing you a lullaby then?  How about a story instead?"


"'Bout Sammyantha?  Go flying?"  Demee begged  


"Let's get you into bed and we'll see."  


She picked him up, and carried him into bathroom to brush his teeth. The
she settled him into bed and sat beside him to tell him the adventures of
Sammyantha the good red dragon, and her human the fearless and handsome
Demee.....


<Later>


"He's not very strong just yet... but given time and practice...."  she
shrugged,  "Who knows?"


She pushed the small dish of fruit away, and sighed with satisfaction


"Thank you for a wonderful meal Meena.  I can't remember the last time I
enjoyed a meal as much.  And thanks for the company... it's no fun always
eating on your own."


"It was no trouble really.  And I'm grateful for your gentleness with
Demee.  But you really didn't need to give him the toy... I know what a
hard bargain S'rah drives for her work."


"My pleasure.  I like kids Meena... and I since I have none of my own to
spoil...."  Naomi smiled, but her eyes showed her sadness at the lack.
"Have you ever thought of having more someday?..."


When Meena didn't answer immediately Naomi bit her tongue hard, and pushed
her chair back, ready to retreat in embarrassment


"I'm really sorry Meena.  I didn't mean to be so nosey."  she flushed
"Throw me out....."


<NRPG  Tag! Kris>


<..>


Scene:  Lake Soulsease


Naomi floated on her back in the middle of the lake.  Her long red hair,
unbound, spread fanlike around her head.  She drifted slowly, the moonlight
silvered ripples spreading outwards from her gently sculling fingers....


*You promised to oil me!*  Amethyst called impatiently  


Heaving a sigh, Naomi swam slowly to shore.  She stood on the small strip
of sand that edged the Soulsease and squeezed the water from her hair, then
pinned it at the crown of her head to keep it from her face.  Picking up
the vial of scented oil, she walked over to Amethyst


*Alright love... I hadn't forgotten.*  she said as she began massaging the
fragrant balm into Amethyst soft hide   *I enjoy swimming too you know.*


*Don't you enjoy oiling me?*  Amethyst purred, turning over onto her back
so that Naomi could reach her underbelly  


*Of course I do....*


*Someone's coming.*  Amethyst said sleepily  *Perhaps you should dress?*


Scooping up her tunic and pants, she hastily struggled to pull them over
damp skin so that whoever it was wouldn't catch her at a disadvantage.....


Submitted by


Naomi & Amethyst


NRPG  So who's visiting Naomi's favourite swimming spot?  <grins>



-- 
Mint,  the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  FO   USS Javelin       T'beth  Counsellor     USS Magellan 
Lillith the Mage     Broken Lands     Minty, Kirimith's rider  Dragon Lands
                       
                             Caliban, Lute's human,  Dragon Lands
Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands

 
 http://www.netkonect.co.uk/l/lovers/mint/norwall.html