From: "Mint" <mint@saqnet.co.uk>

[Naomi]

Day 6 - afternoon
At the hatching cavern with S'ron

>She looked at him, her green eyes full of panic at the risk she was
>taking mixed with the hope that he wouldn't reject her out of hand. 
>She searched his still face for a sign ... any sign .. that she wasn't
>making a fool of herself.
>
>"Think on it."  she whispered as she tugged her hand from his grasp and
>stood up.

She moved away from him to stop herself from throwing herself into his
arms and begging.  He needed time to consider what she'd said, she
thought to herself.  It was a big step she was asking him to take, even
though she'd asked for no committment and wanted none until it was
given freely and with love. 

Long minutes passed and still he remained silent, letting her stand
alone with her scurrying thoughts. 

[..]

"S'ron?" she prompted a long time later,  finally unable to stand the
wait.  Once more she searched his face for a clue to his thoughts and
her shoulders slumped in tired sadness as she realised she sought hope
in vain.  His face was shuttered and distant, and she doubted he was
even aware of her continuing presence as his troubled gaze turned
inwards.

"I'm sorry Naomi."  he muttered, avoiding her eyes.  "I really don't
know what I want to do."

Her breath caught in her throat and her hands clenched into fists as
unexpected pain lanced through her.  She fought the pain and took a
deep breath as she held onto her dignity and concentrated on what
needed to be said if they were to be able to work together from now on.

"Forgive me."  she said, her voice trembling with regret and sadness. 
"I've been selfish and put you in an intolerable position.  Please ...
forget that I said anything and we'll go back to being just Warrenlady
and Wingleader. Let's stick to a working relationship, and if it will
make things easier for you we can arrange that you give your daily
report to Maeve from now on.  I promise not to embarrass you any
further."

Drawing her pride around her as a shield she turned on her heel and
disappeared into the dim interior of the hatching cave. She kept her
pace to a steady walk until she was sure she was out of sight then she
ran as if all the devils of all the hells were on her tail. 

*Amethyst!*  she called in anguish as she fled.

The queen stirred as she heard the sadness filling her rider's mind and
she lumbered to her feet to meet Naomi's headlong rush.

*Oh Amethyst!*  she sobbed as she flung herself against the queen's
side and gave vent to the storm of tears that was threatening to
overwhelm her.  *He didn't ... he couldn't ... *

*Hush love.*  the queen soothed her.  *Take it slowly and tell me what
happened.*

The queen's tail wrapped her in a loving embrace as she wept.

[Later]

"Naomi?  Can I come in?" M'lent called from the entrance to the cavern,
knowing better than to trespass on broody Amethyst's territory without
giving warning.  "Are you OK?"

"Why shouldn't I be OK?"  Naomi called back with a sigh as she
straightened her rumpled tunic and pushed her untidy hair away from her
tear-streaked face.  She gave Amethyst a final, grateful pat and went
to meet M'lent as he ventured into the cave. 

"I just saw S'ron looking awkward and unhappy."  M'lent told her as she
led him into the small room that was her temporary home while the eggs
were incubating.  "Did he find you? I sent him after you earlier ..."

"I wish you hadn't.  Maybe I could have avoided making myself look like
an idiot. "  Naomi laughed bitterly.  "I made a fool of myself and he
was witness to my madness so of course he looked awkward and
embarrassed.  Wouldn't you if your boss had just thrown herself at
you?"

"But I thought there was something going on between you two."  M'lent
said confused.  "At least it *looked* as if there was something growing
between the pair of you."

"It's strictly business."  Naomi told him with a shake of her head.
"Anything else you ... or I ... saw was pure illusion." 

"I'm sorry."  M'lent held her close, offering what little comfort he
could.  "Maybe when he's had time to think he'll realise what he's
missing."

"I don't think so."  Naomi said quietly as she relaxed in his embrace,
grateful for the human contact he offered her.  "And at least he was
honest in his rejection of me.  And more honest than H'tor ever was."

"H'tor didn't reject you."  M'lent shook her gently.  

"Didn't he?"  she asked him.  "Didn't he choose to leave me that day
knowing that he was probably never coming back to me?  He didn't even
say goodbye, M'lent!  He took everything he owned and walked away from
me without a backward glance.  That's rejection as far as I'm
concerned."

"I know it looks that way."  M'lent told her as he kissed her forehead.
 "But ..."

" What is it about me that invites a man to hurt me?"  she asked him
angrily.  "First H'tor and now S'ron. Why can't I find a man like you
who'll love me and stay with me the way you stay with Mira?   Am I so
repulsive, M'lent?  Would you love me if I asked you to?"

Desperately she wound her arms around his neck and pulled his head down
so that she could kiss him.

"Love me M'lent."  she begged him

"Hey!  Stop that!"  he pushed her gently away, holding her at arms
length until she stopped struggling and hung limp in his hands.  "You
don't need to beg any man to love you.  You're a strong and vibrant
woman and any man who turns away from you is a fool and doesn't deserve
you.  If I didn't love Mira and she didn't just give birth to my son
..."

"It's OK M'lent.  I understand."  Naomi gave him a faint, bitter smile.
 "And congratulations on the birth of your son. Tell Mira I wish her
well and that I'll be in to see her as soon as I've had a chance to
pull myself together.  And I'd be grateful if you didn't mention my
shameful behaviour just now to her.  Her friendship means a lot to me
and I'd hate to put it in danger."

"I'll give her your love and we'll expect a visit from you later." 
M'lent told her quietly.  "And I'm not going to be telling anyone
anything they don't need to know.  As far as I'm concerned it never
happened, OK?"

"OK"  Naomi nodded quickly.  "And thanks."

"We'll see you later?"  M'lent asked.  "Promise?"

"Promise."  she told him

---------------
[K'lvin]

Day 6 - late afternoon
Med centre with Cat

>"Will you go now ... ?   Please?" she asked, almost in tears.
>
>"Yes... of course..." replied a confused  looking K'lvin, moving
>towards the door.
>
>"But..."
>
>He turned at the sound of her voice.
>
>"Come back sometime soon..." she finished softly.

*She doesn't really want you to go.*  Firegem said in his mind.  *She
wants you to stay but she's scared.*

*She is?*  asked K'lvin in amazement.  *I thought ...*

Firegem's chuckle sounded in his mind and he smiled in response.

"I'm glad you don't mind me being so silly."  Cat told him as she
caught sight of that smile.  "It's just that..."

"I know."  K'lvin told her as he moved back into the room.  "You're
afraid.  And so am I."

"You are?"  Cat looked surprised.  "Why?"

"Because I'm scared I'm going to do something wrong again and frighten
you away the way I did last night."  K'lvin confessed quickly.  "I'm
scared that you'll disappear back wherever it was you came from before
I've had a chance to persuade you I'm not such a bad guy to be with
after all."

He took her hand in his and gently tugged her closer, giving her plenty
of time to protest if that was what she wanted to do.

"But most of all I'm scared that you won't like me as much as I like
you."  he finished in a rush.

He leaned in closer to Cat, snatched a quick kiss before she could
react and was gone through the door before she could do more than gasp
for breath.  He fairly danced along the corridor, drawing censorious
looks from the staffers he passed when he grinned and winked at them.

"She does like me!"  his heart sang as he skipped out of the med
centre.

-----------
[Lilliana]

"Was that K'lvin I just saw leaping along my corridors like a spring
lamb?"  Lillana asked Cat as she bustled into the room and picked up
the chart from the end of the bed.

Cat nodded.

"What in the world did you do to him?"  Lilliana laughed softly. 
"Whatever it was I'd like to bottle it and prescribe it as a remedy to
some of the miserable people I have to deal with every day.  Take two
spoonfuls of Cat's remedy twice a day, and call me in the morning."

Cat grinned at the healer and Lilliana grinned back.

"Well you're cured at least."  she told Cat.  "And you can go...."

Cat thanked her and got out of bed without waiting for Lilliana to
finish speaking.

"Hm!"  Lilliana smiled at Cat's haste.  "Now if I didn't know better
I'd say you were eager to get out of here."

"No offence."  Cat told her with a grin. 

"None taken."  Lilliana agreed  "Just remember to breathe in before
diving and stay well away from lake bottoms from now on and you'll do
just fine.  Hilda will be along in a while with some fresh clothing for
you and then you can go."

No sooner were the words out of Lilliana's mouth than Hilda appeared
with an armful of clean, dry, clothes for Cat to put on.

"If you hurry we'll still have time to make it to supper before the
dining hall fills up too much."  Hilda told her as she slipped into the
dark tunic and pants she'd brought.  "Antwin was playing when I left
and it looked as if he were set for the rest of the evening.  I asked
Roz to save places for us."

[Tag Carina]

-------
[Talli]

Day 6 - evening
Dining hall


>As the last note still hung in the air, Talli threw herself into the arms 
>of the Bard. She planted a passionate kiss on Antwin's lips, much to the 
>approval of the crowd. She pulled away, and smiled at the taller man with 
>fire in her eyes.
>
>Antwin cocked an eyebrow, not letting her out of his arms. With one hand he 
>reached back, grabbed his cape and his wineskin and said to Talli. "Let's 
>go."

With a quick smile for her friend sitting across the room and eyeing
her enviously Talli allowed Antwin to draw her towards the doors of the
dining hall and out into the soft twilight of the coming night. 

"Your place or mine?"  Antwin whispered into her hair as he pulled her
closer to him and kissed her deeply.

She shivered at the frisson of desire uncoiling in her belly as his
warm hand crept up to cup her breast.

"Yours."  she murmured softly.  

She pressed closer to him, grinding her pelvis against the hard
evidence of his need.

"Now...."

[..]

The door was barely closed behind them before Talli's greedy hands were
at work unbuttoning his shirt. She ripped one button from it's place in
her haste to feel skin under her palms ...

"Slow down."  he pushed her gently away and undid the remaining
fastenings himself

"Why?"  Talli queried softly as he wriggled her hips sensuously  

She ran the tip of her tongue across her full lips and then laughingly
threw herself against his chest, her hands busily unbuckling the belt
at his waist.   Her fingers finally found their target and he drew in
his breath as she cupped his hardness. 

His only verbal response was a deep groan of pleasure, and she giggled
as she eased his pants over his hips then pushed him backwards onto the
bed.  

"Isn't this what you wanted?" she whispered as she straddled his prone
body.  "Should I really stop?"

"No."  he told her huskily.

He reached up and tangled his fingers in her hair, pulling her mouth
down to meet his in a long passionate kiss.

Talli moaned softly as she felt his tongue probing gently, seeking
access to the warm, velvety sweetness of her mouth.  She could feel a
chuckle rumbling in his chest as she teasingly nipped the tip of his
seeking tongue, denying him entrance.

He gasped sharply as her hands found their goal once more, and she slid
her fingers along the silky shaft in long, slow strokes.  He tried to
pull her closer, but she pushed him back, her hot breath fanning his
sensitised skin as she trailed hot kisses across his muscled chest,
lingering to nip and tease his nipples with small, sharp teeth.  Her
mouth ventured down his belly to his narrow hips, fingers delicately
caressing him, nails gently raking the skin of his inner thighs until
he moaned softly, thrusting his hips to seek a more intimate caress.

She lowered her head and took him into her mouth and he groaned wildly,
fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her closer, thrusting deeper into
her inviting warmth.  She lifted her head a little, and her tongue
flickered across the velvet soft skin, tracing circles around the tip,
savouring the salty taste, breathing his musky scent... then once more
she engulfed him with her hot mouth....  

Moving slowly she worked hands and mouth together, sucking him deeper
as she felt the tension build in him, and heard his moans becoming
louder as he moved his hips with the rhythm of her strokes....

He tensed suddenly, his hands pushing her head away.....

"Wait.... not yet...." he breathed raggedly  "Not that way....."

With urgent need he rolled her gently onto her back then  moved over
her, nudging her knees apart so that he could enter her.  A small cry
of pleasure escaped her as he buried himself within her.

She moaned again as he began to move inside her, his long slow, strokes
burying him deeper each time.  She wrapped her legs around his waist,
trying to urge him closer and deeper with each thrust.  Her senses
afire, she trembled violently beneath him, her body wide open to his
every caress.  She writhed under his strong hands, helpless with the
burning need for sweet release that mounted within her second by
second.

Sensing the nearness of her climax he thrust harder and faster within
her. She wrapped her legs around him, holding him within as she rolled
him onto his back and straddled his hips.  Head thrown back in
abandoned pleasure she rode him hard and fast.  Faster and harder she
moved, until with one last hard thrust he reached his goal.  The hot
flood of his release deep within her, and his wordless cry triggered a
climax so intense she hovered on the verge of fainting for long
seconds.

Then,  the moment past, she collapsed across his body in total
exhaustion her eyes closing in sleep before the last shudders of her
orgasm had died away.

-----------
[Naomi]

Day 6 - evening
Daimon's camp

The lights and the bustle of the troupe setting up their acts for the
night drew her towards the far end of the green where M'lent had
directed Daimon to park his wagons.  It seemed strange to see them
there once again - almost as if they'd never been gone somehow.  

And yet the last time Daimon's troupe had stopped at Norwall Lacey had
still been alive to share the excitement and fun with her sister.  With
a fond smile of remembrance Naomi paused at the fortune tellers
caravan.  Lacey had been so insistent that Naomi have her palm read
that she'd almost pushed her sister into the small tent.

"I see my prediction was accurate."  a quiet voice said behind her.

Startled, Naomi whirled to face the speaker and then smiled as she
faced the knowing look that Grace was pointedly directing at her
swollen belly.

"It was a very vague prediction."  Naomi countered quietly.  "Vague
enough to cover any eventuality."

Grace chuckled as she spread the blue velvet cloth she was carrying
across the small table that had been set up outside her caravan.  She
sat down and gestured for Naomi to take the seat opposite her.

"You got me."  Grace's lips curved into a sly smile as she shuffled the
deck of cards she held.  "But here you are again.  So what's it to be? 
Your palm?  Or would you rather try something a little different and
let me read the cards for you."

"I don't think..."  Naomi began as she tried to rise from her seat.

"Stay."  Grace commanded quietly, staring into Naomi's eyes.  

Something stirred in the depths of Grace's dark eyes and Naomi found
herself obeying the quiet command without even thinking about it.  She
sat back in the chair and watched as Grace swiftly dealt a complex
pattern on the table between them

"Good."  Grace smiled as she lay the last card.  "Now this card
represents you."

Her fingers tapped the middle card of the spread and Naomi watched
tensely as she turned the card over.....

[Late evening - Dining hall]

Naomi tossed back the last dregs of wine in the glass she held and
sighed softly.

"A copper for them."  a quiet voice said behind her.

"They're not worth it."  she told her brother as he and her mother sat
down opposite her.

"Leave me to be the judge of that."  he told her as he took a long
swallow from the glass he held.  "I've found a trouble...."

"That won't work in this case."  Naomi told him decisively.  "It's
something I have to work out for myself."

"Do you want to have a word with S'ron for you?"  he asked gently.  "If
he's hurt you ...."

"Not you too!"  Naomi said in angry exasperation.  "Does everyone in
this place know my business?  First M'lent, then Grace and now you! I
can fight my own battles thank you brother mine."

"I was trying to help you."  S'ran told her quietly.  "When you look at
S'ron it's bloody obvious that there's something going on between the
two of you.  I haven't seen you look at anyone that way since...."

S'ran broke off, squriming uncomfortably at the bitter look she gave
him.

"Leave it S'ran."  she told him in a hard voice.  "Now if you'll excuse
me ...."

She didn't look back as she stood up and walked out of the almost
deserted dining hall.

"She'll work things out in her own way."  Ruth said reflectively as she
gazed after her daughter's retreating figure.  

[Sometime after midnight]

*Why won't everyone just let it go?*  Naomi asked Amethyst.

She sighed and curled her feet beneath her, then leant back against the
large rock that sheltered her fromt he cold breeze that was blowing
across the rim of Norwall's crater.  

*Because we care about you.*  Amethyst told her sleepily.  *And because
I want to see you smile again.  And being with Makron's rider makes you
happy ... just as it makes him happy to be with you.*

*You could have fooled me.*  Naomi told the queen.

There was a rush of wind and the stars were blotted out for a moment as
the patrol riders winged across the rim and sped out towards the
countryside that surrounded the warren.  She waved at the departing
dragons and was answered with a dipped wing and a mental  *goodnight*
from the pair.

A soft foot fall told her that the watcher on the heights was checking
up on her again. Was there no where in the warren that she could have
*some* privacy to think things through!?

She looked up, ready to give the approaching rider the sharp edge of
her tongue ... but the words died unsaid as she saw the tall figure
standing before her in the pale moonlight.

"S'ron?"  she caught her breath

*Why didn't you warn me he was coming up here?*  Naomi asked her queen
accusingly.

*And what would you have done if I'd told you?*  Amethyst asked her.

*I'd have found somewhere else to think.* 

*Which is why I didn't tell you he was coming..*  Amethyst told her
smugly. 

"Can I sit down?"  S'ron asked when she didn't acknowledge his
presence.

"Be my guest."  she told him quietly as she stood up.  "I was just
leaving anyway."

[Tag Michael]

----------------
[Talli]

Day 7 - dawn.

Talli slid from beneath the warmth of the blankets carefully, then
shivered slightly as the dawn chill raised goosebumps on her naked
chest and stomach.  Teeth chattering slightly she gathered her
discarded clothing and quietly made her way to the door of the room.

"Wha...."  Antwin stirred and mumbled to himself as the click of the
latch sounded in the quiet room.  "Come back to bed."

"Hush lover."  she whispered as she dropped a quick kiss on his mouth. 
She grinned to herself as he reached for her.  "I'm due on patrol in a
few minutes but we'll do this again sometime ... maybe."

Without waiting for his response she danced from the room.....

[..]

"So?"  J'lik questioned her as the two women prepared to leave for
their patrol.  "How was it?  Does Antwin live up to his rep as a great
lover?"

"Antwin?"  Talli asked with a smug grin.  "Who's Antwin?"

"Tease!"  J'lik laughed softly.  "Come on Talli.  Give me all the gory
details.  Does he know how to treat a woman right or is his reputation
exaggerated?"

"It's not exaggeration."  Talli said with a dreamy smile. 

"So give me the details!"  the other rider begged

"Try him out for yourself."  Talli told her, refusing to be drawn as to
what had happened between herself and Antwin the previous night.   "Now
hurry or we'll be late on patrol and S'ron will be on our backs for
slacking."

-----------
[Naomi]

Day 7 - early morning

She hadn't managed to get a lot of sleep so her reflexes were slower
than they usually were.  And though she tried to put S'ron from her
mind while she sparred with Galen his face kept intruding on her
thoughts, distracting her from the task in hand.

When Galen called a halt to the session and ordered her to take a walk
she complied with good grace.  The exercise would probably do her good,
she thought as she sheathed the practice sword she used and then bid
Galen a good day.  

[Mid morning - Naomi's office]

"There's a caravan making it's way to the warren."  the patrol rider,
P'ril,  reported   "Lots of wagons and outriders. And lots of armour
and weapons glinting in the sunshine.   One of the sweep riders
reported that he saw Lord Harkon's standard raised on the lead wagon,
but I couldn't find any sign of it when I flew out to take a look."

"How far away are they?"  Maeve asked,

"Half a day's ride maybe."  P'ril told her with a shrug.  "Maybe a
little more."

"They'll be here by early evening then."  Naomi said thoughtfully. 
"Have you warned S'ron that they're coming?"

"He was busy with practice."  P'ril shook his head.  "So I brought the
news straight to you."

"Let him know as soon as practice is over."  Naomi told P'ril.  "And
have someone go check that it IS Harkon in that caravan.  If it is then
we'll know to be prepared for trouble."

"Do we let him into the warren?"  P'ril asked her.

"Yes." Naomi nodded.  "We treat him as an honoured guest until we have
reason to treat him any other way."

"But if there's trouble..."  Maeve began

"Then I'd rather Harkon was where I can keep an eye on him and head him
off before it escalates too much."  Naomi told her. "I've dealt with
Harkon before and he always makes the mistake of looking at us from a
Landbound viewpoint.  He always seems to think his army gives him the
edge in any dealings he has with the warren.... never remembering that
one or two dragons could wipe out any force he could bring to bear
before it could get close enough to harm us.  He sees our refusal to
physically fight him as a sign that we're weak willed and frightened."

There was an urgent knocking on the door, and K'tarr entered when she
called for the knocker to come in.

She took a moment to dismiss P'ril about her business then turned her
attention to the waiting hunter.

"What can I do for you, K'tarr?"  she asked quietly

"A very dangerous man is headed this way."  K'tarr told her seriously.

"I've already been informed of Lord Harkon's imminent arrival."  Naomi
assured him.  "And we're well prepared for any trouble he might have in
mind."

"Harkon?"  K'tarr asked puzzled.  "I know of no one of that name. 
Ka'Larken is the one I'm concerned with."

"Who is this Ka'Larken?"  Naomi asked him with a frown.  "And why would
his arrival give cause for concern?"

[Tag Wil]

----------
[Hilda]

Day 7 - Late evening.

Hilda gave Cat and K'lvin a cheerful wave as she left the dining hall. 
By bad luck she'd drawn tonight for patrol duty and would miss the
festivities that had been prepared for Lord Harkon's entertainment this
evening.   The muted chatter and soft music that filled the hall died
as the great door swung closed behind her, and the silence fo the
chilly night closed around her.  

[..]

Hilda nodded a greeting to the loitering Galen and K'tarr and then
proceeded to check her saddle's straps and fastenings before climbing
aboard.

"Ready?"  Hilda called across to her partner.

"Ready."  Faye answered.  "Let's hope tonight is quiet and uneventful."

She looked up at clear sky just as a cloud obscured the new moon and a
superstitious shiver ran down her spine.  

*Let's go.*  she urged Lonnisgrave.  *And keep your eyes wide open
tonight.... there's a *feel* in the air that I don't like.*

Together the two patrol dragons rose high into the air, their wings
working to take them up and over the high rim of the warren's
sheltering crater.  With a series of quick hand signals the two women
came to an agreement on where they were to start their sweep and then
they were winging swiftly away from the warren.

[..]

*There's something moving down there.*  Lonnisgrave told her a short
time later.

*Human?  Animal?  What?*  Hilda asked as she strained her eyes in the
darkness to see what it was that had caught her dragon's eye.

*Human I think.*  Lonnisgrave told her.  

*Go lower.*  Hilda urged him.  *And let's check it out properly.*

Lonnisgrave did as he was asked, and soon two dragons were skimming the
treetops searching for any movement.

*Are you sure this is where you saw whatever it was?*  Hilda asked. 
*There doesn't seem to be anything here now.*

"There!"  Hilda heard Faye's call just as she caught a movement from
the corner of her eye.

*Wraiths!*  Lonnisgrave told her as he dived to avoid the creature that
seemed to appear from nowhere.

There was a shrill scream of pain, followed by the bellow of an enraged
dragon and the night was suddenly lit by a tongue of fire that licked
towards the undulating shapes that were rising towards them from the
trees below.

*Alert the warren.*  Hilda told her dragon as they prepared to flame
their ancient enemy.

submitted by

Naomi & Amethyst
and sundry others.


NRPG

Sorry for the delay - RL can be a pain sometimes :(  

Have fun!

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