Lyonnia raced down the corridor, followed closely by her mother.  She had
little experience with the warren's hospital; she hadn't been there in a
while.  She, truthfully, didn't know quite where she was going, only that
she was to go straight.

She had gotten here as quickly as she could.  The dragonrider, who's name
she had discovered was V'lariad, had allowed Lyonnia to take herself and her
mother to the hospital on Dianthus, but insisted on accompanying them.  She
hadn't minded, as long as he wouldn't slow them.  Her mother, however, was
almost hysterical; she spent most of the short trip trying to calm her mother.  

V'lariad had told them that someone would be waiting for them at the end of
this corridor; a special friend of his.  She hadn't thought about what
'special' had meant; she and her mother had just taken off down the hallway.

Now, she saw the person the older dragonrider had been talking about.
Melanie, the woman he had mentioned, was standing alone outside one of the
doors.  V'lariad had given a detailed description of the lady, so she knew
immediately that this was Melanie.

Lyonnia saw her mother try to get past the woman but be blocked.  She
glanced at the healers face and, seeing the look, felt a hollow feeling in
the pit of her stomach.  Melanie caught her gaze and told Lyonnia with her
eyes what was inside the room.

"Mother," Lyonnia said softly, not trusting herself to say much more.  Her
mother, however, continued to try to get into the room, trying to get past
the healer.  "Mother," she said a little louder this time, taking ahold of
her arm.  She fought to keep her emotions out of her voice as she said,
"It's too late mother.  He's gone."  Despite her efforts, the last word was
choked out.

That seemed to get Laris' attention, though.  She ceased her struggle and
turned to her daughter.  Lyonnia caught a glimpse of the sadness in her
mothers eyes and knew that her eyes mirrored that.  "He's gone," she choked
out, her eyes starting to tear.

Her mother seemed to defate then, the reality hitting her.  She collapsed
into her daughter's arms, tears running down her face and sobs racking her
body.  Lyonnia let the tears run down her own face but kept the sobs inside,
looking at the healer.

"I'm sorry," Melanie whispered, her eyes filled with agony looking at Laris.
"There was nothing we could do.  It was too late."

Not trusting her voice, Lyonnia mouthed 'I believe you.'  Running the back
of her hand across her eyes, she gently took her mother and turned her
around, leading the still sobbing woman towards Dianthus.  "We're going to
go to my apartment, mother," she said softly, but the woman didn't seem to
hear.  Lyonnia sighed sadly and walked the rest of the way to the outside,
where Dianthus was waiting.

<I'm sorry rider> her dragon told her in a sad voice.  <I wish I could help.
Really.>

Lyonnia tried to smile up at her dragon but failed.  Sighing, she thought
*If you could take us home, I'd appreciate it.*

<Anything you need, rider.>  Dianthus bent down slightly, allowing Laris
easier access to the dragon's neck.  She seemed to have an easy time
mounting though, nimbly climbing up the leg and seating herself comfortably.
She had stopped crying now, but was utterly silent, no expression on her
face.  Lyonnia, mounting behind her mother, grew worried about this but
resolved to deal with it when they got home.  She gave the order and
Dianthus gently took off, heading towards the apartment.

                          * * * * * * * * * *

"This is my apartment mother.  Do you like it?"

Laris said nothing though to Lyonnia's attempt to draw her out.  She just
crossed the room and sat down on the sofa in the center of the room, staring
off into space.  Lyonnia was growing more worried by the moment, watching
her mother sit staring.  She tried vainly for the next ten minutes to get
her mind off her deceased father, trying to interest her mother in the
decorations of the apartment.  She finally gave up, sitting down beside her
mother on the sofa.  Her mother didn't even notice.

"Mother," Lyonnia started, but was cut off by Laris.

"When we heard you had been kidnapped by that outlaw, we were very scared."
Her mother's voice was flat, emotionless:  Lyonnia was starting to get quite
worried.  "We didn't know what had happened.  I didn't even know if I would
see my daughter again."  She paused once again, and Lyonnia started to say
something again, but one look from her mother silenced her.  Still staring
at her daughter, she continued, "Then you come back, safe and sound.  We
were quite relieve, I might add.  But do you come to us, to tell us
personally you're all right?  No, she forgets about her family and doesn't
tell us anything."

"But I had so much to do---"

"You couldn't even make the time for a little visit, though, could you?"
Sarcasm and anger had seeped into her mother's voice.  "You've only visited
us twice since you joined your dragon.  Twice!"  Her mother stood up,
startling Lyonnia.  "Doesn't family mean *something* to you?"

*Dianthus, what's wrong with her?* she asked her dragon, starting to get
anxious.

<Can't you feel it?  Can't you feel her sorrow?>

As if a watergate had sprung open then, she DID feel it.  Everything.  All
her mother's pent up anger, sorrow, frustration; everything her mother was
feeling.  Inundated by the feelings, she backed away from her mother, trying
to get rid of the feelings.

Her mother wouldn't allow it though.  She followed her daughter, staying
within a foot no matter how far back or how fast Lyonnia retreated,
continuing to berate her and continuing to radiate anger, sorrow
and--hate?--.  Lyonnia backed away faster, tripping slightly over a small
table but righting herself before she fell onto the floor.  "Mother, please
stop," she said softly, her head beginning to ring.

Her mother, if she heard, didn't respond.  "Are friends worth more to you
than family?" she continued, anger now fully in her tone.  "You see your
little friends more than you see your own family."

Lyonnia stepped back some more, then ran into resistance as her back came up
to the wall.  She tried to edge sideways, but her mother blocked her,
continuing to lecture her.  "Mother, Please stop," she said, this time her
voice a little stronger.

Her mother heard her this time, but took it the wrong way.  "Oh, so now I'm
not good enough for you?  Is that it?  Why, I ought to---"

"Mother!"  Lyonnia practically yelled this time.  "Stop this!"

This time, Laris looked closely into her daughter's eyes and, seeing the
wild look, stopped her tirade.  "What's the matter?" she asked, anger fading
into concern.

"I can....feel....you," Lyonnia responded, head pounding.

All feelings stopped then.  For Lyonnia, it was like going from extreme
sound to utter silence; it left a hollow feeling inside her.  Focusing on
her mother, she noticed Laris was backing up, a shocked expression on her
face.  "Oh my god," her mother said, shock in her voice.  "You could....feel
me?" she asked.

"Yes."

All anger fled from her mother's face, replaced by sadness.  "I'm so sorry,"
she said, pulling her daughter into an embrace.  Lyonnia couldn't help
herself this time; sobs racked her body as she cried on her mother's
shoulder.  "I love him too mom," she sobbed out after a moment.

"I know," her mother said softly, running her hands through her daughter's
hair, tears running down her face.  "I'm so sorry."

"No, I'm sorry," Lyonnia said, lifting her head off her mother's shoulder,
tears still roaming down her face.  "I should have gone to you first.
You're my family and....."

"No, you did what you thought was right."  Lyonnia's mother stepped away
and, getting a kerchief out of her pocket, handed it to Lyonnia.  "You
reported it to those who needed to know first.  That's what you're supposed
to do."

Lyonnia dabbed her eyes and wiped her nose as she answered, "That's what I'm
supposed to do, but I should have come to you right after!"

Laris remained silent, and Lyonnia knew that she agreed with that
assessment.  "I'm sorry mother," she said softly.  Then she broke out into a
new batch of tears, saying, "I didn't even get to say goodbye!"

Her mother stepped to her daughter and envelope her in a hug.  Lyonnia
hugged back, crying once again on Laris's shoulder.  "Neither did I,"
Lyonnia's mom whispered, "neither did I."  They stood like this for a little
while, both crying on each other.  

Finally, both ran out of tears.  They continued to hug, though, for another
minute or so.  Laris finally stepped back, dabbing her eyes with her
kerchief, while Lyonnia wiped them with her shirt sleeve. 

"Mom, I was wondering..."
"Lyonnia, I was thinking..."

They both stopped and paused for a second, then burst into laughter.  "You
first," Lyonnia said.

"No, you go first."

Both remained quiet, wanting the other to start first.  Finally, Lyonnia
spoke up.  "I was wondering if you could stay up here with me for a little
while."

Her mother looked surprised for a moment, then thoughtful.  "Well," she said
after a moment, "where would I sleep?"

Lyonnia didn't hesitate.  "You could sleep on the bed.  I would take the
couch until I could have something brought up."

"No, I couldn't impose on you," Laris protested, but Lyonnia waved her hand
in a negative, "You wouldn't be imposing mother.  You would be my guest.
I'd take you down to the kitchen every morning and bring you back up at night."

"I still don't know...."  Laris looked doubtful, but Lyonnia pleaded,
"Mother, Please.  Stay with me?"

Laris had only to look at her daughter's face to see that she was welcome
and wanted; she knew she wouldn't be imposing.  "Okay," she said finally,
"I'll stay."

Lyonnia clapped her hands together in delight and said, "Okay then.  The bed
is all ready, so we just need to get your stuff from your old apartment
and...."  She stopped here, sobering a bit.  Just mentioning the old
apartment reminded her of her father.  One look at Laris told Lyonnia that
it affected her also.  Not knowing what to say, since almost everything she
could come up with was somehow or another connected to her father, she kept
silent as they rearranged the bed, taking one of the thick quilts and a
pillow and putting them onto the couch.  After doing that, both were silent
for an uncomfortable moment.  Finally, Lyonnia, who was getting tired of
silences, said, "I'll go get your stuff now."  She looked outside and was
surprised to see it was already dark out.  "We can get the rest tomorrow.
That okay?"

"That's fine," Laris told her daughter, smiling.  Lyonnia smiled back, happy
to see her mother happy.

"Okay then," she said.  "Mother, you go to sleep.  You've had a rough day
today.  And don't try to deny it," she said as she saw her mother begin to
protest.  She added to herself, "We both have."

The once again reminder of Horan wiped the smile off both faces.  Somehow,
it didn't seem right to smile when someone had died.  So Lyonnia went out
onto the ledge and, mounting Dianthus once again, left to go towards her old
apartment while Laris headed for the bed, realizing that she truly *was* tired.


NRPG:  Okay, this is kind of my introduction of Laris.  She's going to be an
NPC of mine; I have some interesting things planned for her.  <BG>  Anyway,
for anyone who didn't get this: Laris is Lyonnia's mom.  (Duh!)


*****Submitted by*****

Sarah
Lyonnia/Dianthus *Telnor*
Laris  *Telnor*