The ride back for the patrol group proved to be uneventful.  There had been
a little ruckus in the village after they left, since a few people were
being taken by the dragonriders.  The bald man whom H'nry and Lyonnia had
talked to had come, as well as the young woman who had shot the crossbow at
the pair.  The rest had been left behind with a firm warning that their
village would be closely watched.

Now, with the warren in view, Lyonnia felt herself relax.  *It's been an
exciting week, hasn't it Di?* she thought to her dragon, smiling slightly.

<Well, between you getting kidnapped and almost killed, I think 'exciting'
might be a little too weak of a word> came the dry reply.

Laughing out loud, Lyonnia thought *You always were one to put things into
perspective, weren't you?*

<Well, someone has to be able to> came the amused reply.

The group landed back at the warren safely; the man and girl were taken away
by waiting warrenfolk, who had been forewarned that prisoners (of sorts)
would be coming with the group.  The band immediately started breaking up,
each person and dragon going their own ways.

H'nry walked over to Lyonnia and said, "I'm going to report to Sandor on the
situation at the village." 

Lyonnia looked at her partner sympathetically.  "I don't envy you that
task," she said, smiling at him.

"I don't either," he said, running his hand through his hair.  "He told me
that this wasn't a good idea from the outset, and now, to come back with so
little information...."  He trailed off, then waved goodbye to Lyonnia and
headed to Sandor's office.

Lyonnia watched him go, then turned back to Dianthus.  "So," she said out
loud, "what do you want to do now?"

<How about some food?  I'm STARVED!>

Lyonnia laughed and thought *But honey, you just ate about ten hours ago.*

<Oh, real funny.  Well, if you haven't noticed, I eat a bit more than you,
and I get a Lot of excercise flying you around.>

*Why bluebird, are you calling me fat?* she thought mock indignantly,
placing her hands on her hips.

<Now, why would I do a foolish thing like that?> came the sarcastic reply.
<Then I'd be deprived of your wonderful, refreshing company.>

Lyonnia smiled, unable to keep her amusement inside.  "Okay then Bluebird.
You may go."

The dragon bent over in as close an approximation of a stage bow Lyonnia had
ever seen. <thank you dear mistress> came the reply, then, turning around
quickly, Dianthus ambled away.

"Hey, long time no see."

Startled, Lyonnia whirled about, and was suddenly face to face with Ben'sar.
She smiled and hugged him.  "Good to see you!" she said, arms wrapped around
him.  "How have you been?" she asked as she disengaged.

"Good enough," he answered, shrugging.  "It's been rather boring here
though.  What have you been doing?"

"Oh, nothing much," Lyonnia hedged, smiling at him sideways.  "Just got
kidnapped and almost killed in the same week."

"Almost killed?" Ben'sar exclaimed, causing a surprise glance by Lyonnia.
She had meant it as a joke, trivializing her problems, but it seemed Ben'sar
had taken it personally. Lyonnia couldn't understand his reaction.  "I was
just joking Ben'sar," she said, wide eyed.

He seemed to relax when she said that.  "So, you weren't almost killed then?"

"Well....." Lyonnia paused slightly, not wanting to worry him further, which
she knew she had somehow done before, but her silence only proved to him
that he had been right. "So," he said, tensing again, "you weren't joking?"

Lyonnia sighed, then related the entire incident to Ben'sar.  When she told
him that they had brought the culprit back with them, he stated angrily, "I
want to see this person.  Just give me a minute with him."

"Ben, it's okay.  Nothing happened.  And by the way, it's a she."  Seeing
his startled look, she nodded.  "SHE almost shot me with a crossbow, and SHE
was caught by H'nry."  Wanting to change the subject, she took his arm and
smiled.  "How about a little dinner?"

He seemed startled by the question, but quickly smiled.  "That's what I came
here for.  I was going to ask you if you wanted to accompany me to dinner.
Although," he said, playfully wagging his finger in front of her face, "I
was supposed to do the asking."

"Oh!  Forgive this lowly girl," she exclaimed, bowing dramatically.  "She
didn't know the Oh So Great Rules of the heavens on dinner dates!"

She heard Ben'sar laughing, then she was gently pulled up until she was face
to face with Ben'sar.  "I suppose I could bend the rules once," he said,
smiling.

Lyonnia smiled to, then, purely on impulse, moved her head foward and gave
him a little kiss on the lips.  She pulled back then, a small smile on her
face, but the smile faded as she saw Ben'sar's stormy eyes staring into
hers.  She stared, transfixed by the emotions she read in there, emotions
she had never seen before.

"Oh gods," he moaned, then, holding the back of her head with his hand, he
lowered his face to hers and their mouths touched again.

Lyonnia had never felt anything like it.  She opened her mouth slightly, as
she had done for the Shadow, and felt something hot and fiery enter.  She
moaned, holding onto Ben'sar tightly as his arms tightened about her,
pulling them closer together until they were body to body.

Ben'sar tasted her mouth hungrily, delving into its sweetness with his
tongue, as though never getting enough.  Lyonnia, for her part, moaned and
tried to match his kiss with her own, wanting to taste him just as much.

<Oooh!  Nice feelings!  Very nice feelings!>

Lyonnia broke off the kiss suddenly, hearing Dianthus' voice in her head.
She took several deep breaths, staring wide eyed at Ben'sar.

<Awwww.  Don't stop now!  It's supposed to get better!>

*Better?!  How could it get Better than that!?* Lyonnia thought, still
staring at Ben'sar.

<Don't know, but all the other dragons say it gets better.>

"Nia, I'm....I shouldn't have done....Oh shit!" Ben'sar exclaimed, pacing a
little bit. "Nia, I'm sorry about that.  I shouldn't have...."

"It's okay Ben," Lyonnia said, smiling tremulously.  "Nothing to be sorry
about."  Suddenly a thought came to her and she smiled.  "Was that another
bend in the rules, like you said before?"

Ben'sar looked at her incredulously, then burst out laughing. Lyonnia joined
him a moment later.  "Yes," he laughed out, "I suppose that Is another
little bend in the rules."

They laughter died a few minutes later, but they both still were smiling as
they entered the dining hall for dinner.  They got their food and sat at a
far table, and for the next two hours, they just talked about anything and
ate their food.  Neither, however, brought up the subject of the kiss.

Submitted by 
Sarah
Lyonnia/Dianthus *Telnor*