Dalanth landed lightly on Dianthus' ledge.  Bright early afternoon sunshine
filled the space.  Dianthus looked up from where she was curled up in the sun.

<Good afternoon Dalanth,> she said.

<Good afternoon,> Dalanth replied, <My rider is here to see your rider.>

<He can go on in,> Dianthus said.

Dalanth relayed the message to H'nry, who hopped off and walked toward the
door to Lyonnia's half of the apartment.  Dalanth, knowing a good thing when
he saw it, curled up next to Dianthus in the sun.

H'nry knocked at the inner door.

"Come in," Lyonnia called out.

H'nry opened the door and saw Lyonnia sitting on the couch with an older
woman.  Both looked as if they'd been crying, perhaps quite a bit.

"If this is a bad time," H'nry stammered, "I can come back later."

"No," Lyonnia said, "now is as good a time as any.  H'nry I'd like you to meet
my mother, Laris.  Mother, H'nry is my patrol partner."

Laris extended her hand, "Pleased to meet you."

H'nry took Laris' hand in his, "The pleasure is all mine.  I only wish I could
have met you at a less difficult time."

"Life goes on," Laris replied with a sniffle, "If you'll excuse me," she said
heading for the bathroom.

H'nry turned to Lyonnia, "I stopped by to tell you that I talked to Sandor and
he said you can take a few days off from patrolling if you need some time."

Lyonnia thought for a moment, then replied, "I don't know.  It might be good
to get away for a few hours.  There are a lot of memories here."  Thinking
about her father, she changed the subject.  "Where are you headed?"

"I'm going to head out to the caravan.  I want to have a chat with Evart, now
that I know he's still out there."

Lyonnia thought for a moment, then nodded, smiling.  "I'll go.  I'm getting
kind of bored staying inside anyway, after all the action of the past few days."

"Are you sure?" H'nry asked concernedly.

Shrugging, Lyonnia replied, "As ready as I'll ever be."

<Fine then.  Just don't get kidnapped anymore!>  came Dianthus' thought.

*Don't worry sweeting.  I have no plans for getting kidnapped this time
around.*  Aloud, she asked, "When will we be leaving?"

***************************
Tag Alton.  But make it sometime after breakfast; Lyonnia has to meet Kay.
***************************

After H'nry left, Lyonnia turned to get her mother.  She found her in the
bathroom, wiping her eyes and nose with her kerchief.  She stood in the
doorway for a moment, wanting to give her mother some time alone.  Finally
Laris' tears seemed to dry up and she turned around.  She saw her daughter
and, startled, said, "Oh!  I didn't see you there."

"Sorry mom," Lyonnia whispered, her words meaning more than just for the
intrusion.  Laris smiled sadly.  "You know," she whispered, "I miss him.
I've been with him for so long that it's hard to go on without him."
Lyonnia saw that she was fighting back tears and moved to embrace her, but
Laris held up a hand, stopping her daughter.  She continued, "I think you
may know this, but when we married, I didn't love your father.  I don't
think I ever did."  She waved a hand to stop Lyonnia protests to the
negative, her eyes fully dry now.  "No, I think I'm right.  BUT, I grew to
like him as a friend.  A very good friend."  A single tear trailed down her
face.  "And I miss my friend."

Lyonnia rushed to her mother, hugging her tightly.  Laris cried unabashedly
on her daughter's shoulder, while Lyonnia felt tears run down her face.
Whatever her mother's feelings had been, both had loved the man in their own
ways; either as a friend, or as a father.  Both missed him; both were sad
about his passing.

After a moment, Lyonnia got out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes and nose.
She stepped back and saw her mother doing the same.  Sniffing slightly, she
told her mother what H'nry had said.  Laris listened, little after-crying
sobs once in a while shaking her body.  

When Lyonnia was done, Laris nodded and replied, "I think you're doing the
right thing. You need to go back out, not let past experiences stop you.
'If a horse throws you, you have to get right back on.'"

Lyonnia smiled at the familiar parable; her mother said it often to her
daughter.  "That's exactly what I was thinking."

"Well then."  Her mother sniffed slightly, gliding past her daughter.  "It's
time for breakfast.  Would you please take me down to the Dining hall?"

Lyonnia, noticing how hungry she herself was (especially when she heard her
stomach rumble), nodded and both went out onto the ledge and mounted the
waiting Dianthus.
***************

After dropping her mother off at the kitchen, she headed down for the dining
hall.  She got her food and started looking for a place to sit.  Out of the
corner of her eye, she saw Kay eating by himself and, turning to him, saw
that he was looking at her.  When he saw that she had noticed him, he waved
her over.  Lyonnia was happy to comply.

>"Hi Kay," she said as she sat across from him.
>
>*I'm sorry about your father,* he signed. 
>
>She nodded, "Thanks."
>
>*I've something I want to ask you.*
>
>"What is it?"
>
>He signed very slowly adding some pantomime to get his point to her, as he
>didn't want her to misunderstand him. *The other day, when the dragon took
>you .. you screamed, 'Help!'*
>
>"Did I ? I don't remember."
>
>He shook his head, *No, not with your voice. With your head. I wouldn't
>hear your voice, but I heard you scream.*

"With my....."  Lyonnia confusion was plain on her face, so Kay sought to
explain better.

*You know how I'm telepathic?  How I can hear dragons?*

"Well, yes but I'm not---"

*Well* he signed, cutting her off, *I heard you scream help that day.*  He
smiled, signing *It seems I'm not the only telepath now.*

Lyonnia was confused for a moment longer, then realized what he said.  She
gasped lightly, surprised.  "You mean I can...."  Not knowing what to say,
she trailed off.

Kay, though, nodded, signing *Yes.  You can talk with your thoughts.  Just
as I can.*

Thinking back now, she realized that she had done this before.  Her parents
had always told her about her affinity with animals, how they always calmed
down when she came.  They had always been surprised when she said she had
told them it was okay; they said they hadn't heard her talk to the animals.
Lyonnia realized that she had used telepathy on the animals, talking
mentally to calm them, not audibly.  Then there was Thrayfar, on that first
day at the weapons green....

Kay was continuing, so she turned her attention back to him.  *You can talk
to all the dragons, I'll bet.  Didn't I hear that you'd heard Thrayfar when
you were found?*

"Yes, I just remembered that."  She sat silent for a moment, then signed
*What's it like?*

Confused, Kay signed back *What's what like?*

*Talking to the dragons.*

Kay smiled in comprehension and answered *It's wonderful.  I get to hear all
the news of the warren, and they warn me of things that are happening.*  He
smiled, remembering that day at the beach when L'sein was dumping people
into the water, Lyonnia included.

Lyonnia smiled then, happy for once since yesterday afternoon.  "Thank you
Kay.  You've been a real friend to me."

Kay was a bit confused and asked *What do you mean?*

Lyonnia didn't think she could explain it, so just signed *You helped me
learn a new talent, and helped me forget my problems.*  Her smile slipped
somewhat at the mention of her 'problems', making her think of her father
once again.  She was going to get the funeral going, but didn't know quite
what to do.

Kay, noticing his friend's growing melancholy, tried to lighten up the mood
by saying *I'm going on a picnic today.  With Tahlaya.*

Lyonnia smiled again but sadness still in her eyes.  "Good for you."

Just then, Lyonnia realized what time it was.  *Kay,* she signed, *I need to
go.  I'm going on another patrol of the caravan.*

*Okay then.  I need to go too.*  Grinning evilly, he signed *Just don't get
kidnapped this time.*

Lyonnia smiled and gave him a little punch on the shoulder.  Smiling, Kay
stood up and, waving goodbye to Lyonnia, took his leave.  Lyonnia stared
down at her plate, noticing how much of the now-cold food was left, and
decided she wasn't that hungry now.

<Lyonnia, H'nry said it's almost time to go.  Can we go now?>  Dianthus'
voice was tinged with anticipation, making Lyonnia smile.  *Yes, bluebird,
we can go.*

<Didn't I ask you not to call me that?> Dianthus asked, her voice somewhat
irritated.

Dumping her leftover food in the garbage, Lyonnia answered *I think it's a
beautiful nickname.*

Lyonnia heard a mental snort, but also felt the satisfaction trickling
through the link. Smiling, she put her plate in with the others and headed
out to see her dragon.


NRPG:  Okay, Alton, whenever.  I'm ready.


Submitted by

Sarah
(aka)
Lyonnia/Dianthus *Telnor*
Laris