Day 10, afternoon
Warrenlady's office

Dargis fussed around Jeneve, getting her a cup of sweet
coffee, and wrapping her cloak around her - nice and snug and warm.

"I'm Okay, Dargis, honestly I am!" she said, and indeed her
voice had almost stopped trembling.

After a pause, she spoke again.

"So, you say that Landon .... *absorbed* the flames?"

"Well, something like that," Dargis affirmed. "I don't
understand the details, but it looks as if it hurts him awful bad, but
it
doesn't *harm* him.

"It's just too horrible," said Jeneve, turning pale and
unable to suppress a shudder.

Dargis seemed content to let Jeneve do most of  the talking.
Settling himself in a chair by the door, he said: "Please don't worry,
Jeneve.  I'll just sit here until you feel better, and then I'll go
away."

"When I fainted .... how many people saw?" Jeneve asked.

"Oh, probably most of the warren," said Dargis. "Nearly
everyone was out there watching,"

"Perfect," said Jeneve, cynically. "Just perfect. Now
everyone's going to be wondering what's *wrong* with me."

"Well, lots of people did look really worried..." Dargis
agreed. "I wouldn't be surprised if Nash came round here later, just
to see
how you are."

"NO!" said Jeneve, sharply. "I'm not *ill*!"

"So why did you scream like that?" asked Dargis, earnestly.
"You sounded awfully upset."

"I'm just .... tired, I guess," she said, looking up over
the rim of her coffee with a sad smile. "Maybe I *have* been working
too
hard.  And then the shock of seeing Landon being .... *burned* like
that...
Well, you can understand, can't you?"

"Yes, of course I can," said Dargis. "But you really must
rest more if you're getting so tired."

He thought for a moment.

"And I know a really good herb tea that'll make you feel
better, too.  Sort of like a tonic?"

"You do?" said Jeneve, relieved that Dargis seemed to have
given up probing to try to find out exactly *what* had upset her.
"Well,
I'll most certainly give it a try." she smiled.

"Thanks!" said Dargis, getting to his feet. "Do you think
you'll be okay now?"

"Yes, of course," said Jeneve, standing also and showing
Dargis to the door. "Thank you for caring,"

"And I'll go and fix you some of that herb tea, too - I
really think it'll help," said Dargis, as he turned and jogged off
down the
corridor.

"If only it were that simple..." Jeneve whispered to herself
as she shut the door behind her and returned to her desk.

No longer distracted by Dargis, the awful memories flooded
into her mind once more. Images of her baby sister, the 'other'
Malani,
enveloped in flames, screaming, and screaming, while Jeneve just stood
by,
screaming too... The picture merged into Landon, the fire all around
him,
his face contorted in agony.

"NO!" she said aloud, covering her face with her hands.

<Hush, my little one. It's all over. Landon's safe> said
Malani.

*But my sister isn't* countered Jeneve, resting her head on
her arms and dissolving once more into sobs.

Landon strode in, narrowly avoiding being knocked down by
Dargis.  Seeing the distraught Jeneve, he walked in, closing the door
behind
him, causing the Warrenlady to jump, "I figured I would come by, make
sure
that you're okay.  Seems that every time I show off my ability,
something
happens to the Warrenlady."

Jeneve looked at him, amazed that Landon was untouched,
except for his tattoos, which seemed to be.... "It's okay Landon, I'm
fine,
really.  Just had a fainting spell."

Crossing his arms over his chest he pulled up a chair and
sat down, "You'll pardon me if I say that I don't believe you.  You're
reaction was too coincidental and too specific for it to be a fainting
spell.  I should know, I reacted the same way once."

Jeneve blinked, and was stunned into silence for a moment.

Then, "How could you have done!" she whispered, almost
angrily, as if annoyed at herself for believing him, if only for an
instant.

"I'm sorry, I'm being very antisocial" she continued,
getting up from behind her desk. "And it's very kind of you to be
concerned
about me - I was more worried about *you*. But, if you'll forgive me,
I'd
much rather be left alone for a while..."

She walked over to Landon, took his arm and looked as if she
were about to show him politely to the door. Landon noticed in her
eyes the
tense, brittle frown of a woman on the verge of tears - but desperate
not to
spill them.

Landon shook his head, "I know what you're going through,
Jeneve.  I know the pain that you feel.  I can see it reflected in
myself.
If it's eating you up inside like it did me, it's time to release at
least
some of it."

The gaze she gave him wrenched at his insides, and he
continued, "I was given the gift of being able to absorb dragonfire.
It
cannot effect me in any way.  Two years ago, a rogue dragonrider
attacked me
and my father.  The dragon breathed....."

Landon took a deep breath, calming himself before he
continued, "Breathed flame.  I was untouched but my father was killed
before
my very eyes, while I remained untouched.  I felt responsible for my
father's death, as well as my mother's, who died of a broken heart one
year
later.  I didn't realize until recently that it wasn't my fault.  I
had no
control over that.  The only person I have control over is myself."

"Oh," said Jeneve, her voice shaking, and her eyes widening.
"I'm sorry. You *do* understand."

"I'm sorry," she said again, taking Landon's hand and
leading him to the comfortable couch beside the (empty) fireplace.
"I'll
explain...

"When I was very small, I was left taking care of my baby
sister, Malani..."

Landon's eyebrows raised.

"Yes," said Jen, with a sad smile. "Malani, like my dragon.
But don't ask me how *that* coincidence happened...  Anyway, while I
was
looking after Malani, a spark from the fire landed on her dress, and
it
caught fire."

Suddenly, Jeneve became more animated. She gripped Landon's
hand so hard her fingernails dug into his palm, almost drawing blood.

"It was *awful*, Landon! The flames! I couldn't *do*
anything - I just stood there and screamed.

"At least my screaming brought Jack running. But by then it
was too late. Malani...." Jeneve gulped. "Malani *died*. She was just
a
baby, and she burned to death, right in front of me. I could have
saved her
- but I *didn't!"

Jeneve dissolved into sobs, and Landon allowed her to cling
to him until the shaking stopped.

Gently smoothing her hair as a brother would, he soothed
her, "It's okay, Jeneve.  You're going to be alright."

Jeneve spoke between sobs, "But...what will...the others
think?"

"Don't worry about that.  If anyone asks me, you had a fainting spell.
When you're ready to talk more or want some tips on how to deal with
it, just let me know, " Landon said, releasing her with a smile.

"Now, I've got to go continue training the riders.  Stay here and
relax, if you want help in overcoming the fear, tell me.  I think I'm
well suited for the job."

Giving her another reassuring grin, Landon stepped out and
closed the door.


Joint Post Submitted by
Carina Norris
Jeneve and Malani

And
Dargis and D'lion
Landon and Vladiggor
AKA Chris Weeda
"18 characters and counting"





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