[DL-T] Matters Of The Heart...And Other Organs
by David Hoover

{Dinnertime}

Forrellyn bent over a large box, checking on the flexibility of  the bow
staves that were being readied inside.  One has to be really careful how much
one steams the wood.  Too little and the stave breaks.  Too much, and not only
has it no pull, but it loses it^ñs shape.  The steam was fed into the box from
a pot of boiling water on the hearth through a tube.  The young bowmaker moved
over toward the fire and dipped a ladle of water out of a bucket sitting
nearby.  He gulped the first ladle-full, then dipped it a second time.  As he
was adding more water to the boiling pot in the fire, his stomach grumbled
loudly.   It must be dinnertime, he thought.  He stretched, groaning. Too much
time spent leaning over.  *What I need was some wine to relax.*  His stomach
added its voice.  *And some food,* Forrellyn supplemented.

********************

As Forrellyn walked through the noisy dining hall with his over-laden tray, he
spotted Thomas seated at a table with the Alpha wingleader and a young man
that he didn^ñt recognize. 

^î...to fill in for me while I^ñm on medical leave,^ï Thomas informed his
companions just as Forrellyn arrived at the table.  The young father^ñs face
turned bright red.

^îI was just coming to apologize again...^ï began the embarrassed father.  ^îIf
Pekin hadn^ñt....^ï

^îSpeaking of which, where *is* the little scamp?^ï asked H^ñnry, interrupting
the stammering young man.

^îNonsense, young man. I^ñm just glad the little boy wasn^ñt hurt,^ï the injured
trainer informed the father.  ^îI just did what anyone in my position would
have done.^ï  Shifting his crutches out of the way, he made room.  ^îHave a
seat.^ï

^îI left him with the child-minder for the afternoon, so that someone could
keep an eye on him while I got some work done. I didn^ñt want a repeat of what
happened....^ï He gestured toward the trainer^ñs leg.  

Forrellyn set down his tray and sank to the bench. Spearing a slice of juicy
meat from one plate, he slipped it into a dinner roll before taking a bite.
Wiping the juice from his chin, he looked at the other diners at the table.
H^ñnry he was familiar with, though they had not exchanged more than a dozen
words at a time since Forrellyn got to the warren.  Thomas he often talked
shop with, and they had become fairly well acquainted.  And then there was the
other young man he^ñd seen hanging around Thomas the last couple of days but
who was still a mystery.

Seeing the questioning look in the young father^ñs eyes, the man spoke up.  ^îMy
name is Eth^ñn, rider of Warton.  I came here to continue my education as a
trainer under Thomas, only to be bumped up to head trainer.^ï  Just at that
moment the young trainer^ñs gaze locked on a sight near the door of the hall.

Looking over his shoulder, Forrellyn spotted the new junior queenrider. She
was leading the older woman who had been sitting under the tree earlier. As
they approached the hall, Mae grimaced and turned away again.  Glancing back
at Eth^ñn, he noticed the glint in the somewhat older man^ñs eyes.  ^îWhat do you
think of the new Junior Queenrider, eh?  She^ñs a little small for my
tastes...^ï

It was Eth^ñn^ñs turn to blush.  ^îShe^ñs so...graceful...and she has the most
wonderful hair...and the most extraordinary eyes...^ï the trainer replied
wistfully, still staring off in the direction she^ñd gone, enthralled.

******************************

After retrieving his young son from the child-minder's apartment, he escorted
Pekin back to their own apartment.  "Did you behave for Sadie today?" he asked
the boy sternly. Heading for the bathing room, Forrellyn started stripping off
his clothes. The sawdust had been making him itch all through dinner. 
Slipping into the pool of warm water, he sighed in relief...

...only to have his small son do a cannon-ball into the tub.  Sputtering
water, Forrellyn grabbed hold of Pekin and playfully shoved him under for a
moment. The boy bobbed up, streaming water, and splashed his father again.

Once the two had finished their horse-play, and they were both clean,
Forrellyn pulled out their best clothes.  He wanted to impress the new
warrenlady...though for a different reason, he told himself, than the one
Eth^ñn had.

******************************

{the reception}

The dining hall was jammed with people, most of whom Forrellyn didn^ñt even
know, for all his time at Telnor.  When they entered the press, Pekin dashed
off through gaps in the crowd small enough that his frustrated father couldn^ñt
follow him.

Wandering around, the bowmaker soon found the food table. And his son, who
was, much to his chagrin, stuffing his face with cocktail weenies. ^îSave some
for the other guests!^ï the father scolded.  Pekin backed away, but not too
far. The father knew that the moment his back was turned the little scamp
would be all over the snacks again.

Forgetting about his son for a moment, Forrellyn spotted that new
queenrider...what was her name again? Morleen...Mardlyn...Maedralyn! That was
it...she looked rather frazzled up there on the dais. So many new people
around. Forrellyn remembered how it had been for him when he^ñd first
come...and how it still was, sometimes. Watching her, he decided that she
needed some moral support.  And some punch.

****************************

<snip from Dana^ñs post>

Wincing as an icy beverage was pressed into her hand, Mae turned to find
Forrellyn smiling down at her. 

^îHello again.^ï

^îHello.^ï  Mae took a quick sip of the punch. ^îHow is your son doing? No
lasting effects from his fall, I trust.^ï

^îNo, like all little boys, he's right back in the saddle again," the young
father assured her. He glanced around the milling assemblage. ^îThere he is,
over there. Sampling all of the desserts, no doubt.^ï He turned back to Mae
with a grin. While his back was to her, she had been greeted by yet another
rider. They stood a moment in conversation. When she was free again, Forrellyn
sympathized, ^îIt must be overwhelming trying to get acquainted with everyone,
especially all at once.^ï

 Mae laughed. ^îWell, I doubt I'll get to meet everyone tonight, and I
certainly won't remember all the names, but it's a start.^ï She handed him her
now empty glass. ^îThanks for the punch. Now if you'll excuse me....^ï Mae
turned away with a smile that encompassed both the archer and her next
acquaintance. 

<end snip>

As Mae turned away, Forrellyn spotted another beautiful sight.  Walking toward
him, sporting a dress for the first time since he^ñd met her, was Lalas.  Her
luxurious red hair, and her great figure, were set off to maximum effect by
the brilliantly colored yellow cloth. 

Stepping toward her, he held out his hand.  ^îMy, but you are looking
especially lovely tonight...would you care to dance?^ï

^îSure,^ï she replied, grinning.  ^îWas coming ask you the same thing.^ï  Taking
his arm, she practically dragged him out onto the floor.

^îGreat contest today,^ï she breathed into his ear as they whorled.  ^îNever met
anyone who could match me so well...^ï

************************

Pekin was looking at the pastries longingly, even though he was stuffed to the
gills.  They looked so tempting.... Suddenly a small hand reached over the
other side of the table and snagged a piece of pie.  The hand returned whence
it came, followed by the sound of giggles.  Pekin peeked under the table. 

Hiding there, enjoying themselves, were several of the kids from the warren
school. Pekin slipped under the table next to a young boy named Jamee, who
happened to be the owner of the pie-swiping hand.  There were also a couple of
the older boys, one of which was Jamee^ñs brother Tarwin.  The other, however,
was an eight-year-old bully named Holt, who had helped himself to the pie that
Jamee had nabbed.  

^îWhat are *you* doin^ñ down here, you shrimp?^ï growled Holt when he spied
Pekin.  On his hands and knees, Pekin backed away from the older boy.  A
necklace that Pekin usually wore under his shirt slipped out, causing the
bully to exclaim. 

^îWhere did you get *that*? I bet you stole it.  Give it here!^ï  The
eight-year-old^ñs hand shot out and started to slip it off the younger boy^ñs
head.  

Inside Pekin, something snapped.  This bully was *NOT* going to get that
necklace!  The smaller boy lunged forward, ramming into the advancing bully,
who was shoved just enough to upset the table, spilling a platter onto the
floor.  Before the bully could recover, Pekin was on him, yanking the necklace
out of Holt^ñs grasp.  Freeing the memento, the bowmaker^ñs son released the
bully and slipped out from underneath the table. Just in time to hear it crash
over behind him.

**********************************

Around and around they went, dancing forever.  His son forgotten, Forrellyn
was lost in the moment.  And Lalas was right there with him.  Closing his
eyes, he leaned down to kiss her....

^îFire!^ï someone shouted.  The young father opened his eyes just in time to see
Eth^ñn throw the contents of the punchbowl onto the flames.  And there was
Pekin, right in the middle of it. 

^îPekin!^ï the father screeched anguishedly, jumping forward.  Lalas, having
spotted the boy as well, was right on his heels.   Suddenly they were in a
cloud of smoke, unable to see a thing except for the luminescent flames. 
Choking, Forrellyn plunged deeper into the sea of haze.  Lalas grabbed him,
turning him toward the door. 

^îLook!^ï she ordered, pointing.  There, nearing the doorway, was Mae, laden
down with the young boy.  The boy^ñs father leapt toward her, snatching at his
son, tears streaming down his face.

*******************************
{Later that night}

His hair still damp from the second bath, Forrellyn was curled up in a chair
watching his son sleep.  The boy^ñs small chest rose and fell, his breath
whispering in and out.  Every so often one of the tiny hands would stray
toward the necklace that was strung about his young neck. *He^ñs very
protective of that necklace,* thought Forrellyn.  Taking a sip of some mulled
wine that he^ñd made, the father sighed.  Reaching out, he stroked the boy^ñs
soft hair.

There was a nock at the door.  Getting up, Forrellyn wrapped a blanket around
himself and trudged off to find out who was visiting at such a late hour. 
Peeling back the door, the young  man found himself staring down upon Lalas. 
He couldn^ñt seem to wrest his eyes away from her face.

^îCan I come in?^ï she asked, smiling.

^îOf course!^ï he replied, shocked that he^ñd left her standing there.  Forrellyn
opened the door wide and stepped out of the way.  She slipped in, her body
brushing against his.  The touch sent tingles through him. 

Lalas' insides churned wildly, one hand brushing up the bare - and heavily
pocked with gooseflesh - skin of  the arm that had stroked across Forrellyn's
body. She gave the main room a cursory inspection; it wasn't terribly unlike
her own apartment, except there were a couple of half-finished bows in one
corner, one of which was intricately carved. She liked it at once, and
wondered what it might take in trade to have it once he was finished with it.

^îNice place,^ï she grinned, watching the smooth ripple of muscles under his
skin as he closed the door in her wake. 'Nice ass,' she added mentally, and
was rewarded with passive cheering from Chiharu.

^îThanks,^ï the young bowmaker replied, turning around.  ^îWe can^ñt make too much
noise though.  Pekin^ñs sleeping.^ï Tiptoeing past the door to his son^ñs room,
the young father guided his guest to the sitting room.  ^îCan I get you
anything to drink? I have some wine mulling....^ï

Orange and yellow firelight danced across her face and in the spun copper of
her hair, glistening from the light golden dust that made her green eyes seem
greener than most. ^îSounds good,^ï she replied softly, her voice a sultry purr.
^îIs Pekin alright?^ï

^îHe^ñs fine.  Nothing that a good night^ñs sleep won^ñt cure,^ï responded the
father.  The look on his face indicated that he, however, was not quite as
resilient. 

Lalas took the proffered wine from his hand, letting her fingers trail along
his, her eyes flashing again with the fleeting touch. Where his skin had met
her, little tingles vibrated back and forth, sparking tiny shocks up her arm
and throwing another log onto the fire in her core. ^îI'm glad,^ï she smiled, a
little part of herself sitting up and taking notice at just how true that
statement was.

 She took a long pull from the cup, the sweet, tart liquid bursting on her
tongue into a swirl of flavors. The fire at the reception had dulled her
enthusiasm for the rest of the evening, more because she'd only started to get
into the dance - so different from the dances among the caravan travelers
she'd grown up with - when catastrophe had struck.
 
Much as she'd been swept around the dance floor by the bowyer, the aftermath
of the incident had swept him away from her. Much as she'd regretted that poor
luck, she'd been favorably impressed by Forrellyn's dedication to his son's
well-being. Family was everything, as she well knew from her arrival in the
warren - even still, she missed her family so. It had warmed her more than the
evening's wine to find someone that she could think of as a kindred spirit in
that regard.
 
 Setting the tankard down on the table, she looked at him with much more
favorable eyes. ^îAbout earlier...^ï 

Looking at the expression on her face, he knew.  ^îYou felt it too, didn^ñt
you.^ï  He knew, and yet he spent a tense moment waiting for her nod.  Seeing
it, he slipped to his feet and offered her his hand, in a manner similar to
what he^ñd done earlier that night.  

^îNo music,^ï protested the young woman. Taking her by the hands, Forrellyn
lifted her to her feet.

^îOh there^ñs music alright....^ï He twirled her around in time to the rhythm of
the tingles and the beating of their hearts.  Soon she was moving in sync. 
The moment recaptured, Forrellyn moved in for his kiss.

***************************

{Mid-Morning, Day 2}

^îDaddy! Can I go play with Jamee?^ï came the stage-whisper, jarring him from
that place between dreaming and waking, into full alertness. Opening his eyes,
he had to squint because of the light streaming in through the windows.  There
stood Pekin, already dressed and ready to go. 

^îNot until you^ñve eaten breakfast.  Go into the other room and play while I
get up.^ï Rolling over, he bumped into something soft and warm.  The memories
of last night^ñs activities came flooding back.  He leaned over and kissed the
slightly older woman awake.  

Returning his kiss with a passion, Lalas had her legs wrapped back around him
in an instant. Groaning, the young man pulled away.

^îI can^ñt. Pekin^ñs waiting for me to take him to get breakfast,^ï explained the
dedicated father. ^îAlthough you can be quite persuasive....^ï  He slipped out
of bed and padded down toward the bathing room, naked. 

*I was right,* she thought. *Really nice ass.*  Wrapping the bedclothes around
her, she followed her lover down the hall.  Forrellyn was just slipping into
the pool of warm water when she entered, his back to her.  Letting the
blankets fall to the floor, she slipped silently into the water behind him. 

He turned, startled, at her touch, but her hand immediately shifted to a lower
grip.  Stroking him, she closed in for another kiss.

^îBut Pekin....^ï he gasped between kisses, then moaned.  Running his hands over
her muscular back, then lower, he moaned.  

^îPekin has to learn...^ï she breathed.  Leaning him against the edge of the
pool, she lowered herself onto him.  ^î...sometime,^ï she finished, feeling him
shudder within her, his resistance having melted.

*************************

{The Dining Hall}

Looking around the hall, Forrellyn marveled at the efficiency of the warren. 
The fire had been contained quickly enough that it had only devoured the
serving tables and a couple of the nearer dining tables before help had
arrived.  The remains had been cleared away, and the char-stained stone floor
and walls had been cleaned, in time for breakfast.  There were still gaps from
the missing tables, and one had to go into the kitchens to get food now, since
there were no serving tables, but beyond that warren life seemed unaffected by
the fire. 

Taking another spoonful of porridge, the young man watched his son stir enough
sweetener into his for at least three bowls.  Lalas had not joined them,
deciding instead that she should report in to the new Junior Queenrider for
the day.  Mae seemed to have arrived just in time, since Laria was apparently
going to be on medical leave for a while due to her baby.  

A shadow fell over his bowl, interrupting his thinking.  Looking up, Forrellyn
noticed one of the riders, Elisa, standing over the end of the table.  He was
just opening his mouth to ask what she wanted when she spoke up.

^îThe new Junior Queenrider would like you to come to Laria^ñs office as soon as
possible,^ï the girl informed him dutifully.  

^îOk...let me just get my son to the child-minder^ñs apartment,^ï he replied,
gesturing to Pekin, who smiled up at the dragonrider.

^îActually, she^ñd like to hear from him as well,^ï she countered, returning the
boy^ñs smile. 

*************************

{Laria^ñs Office}

At the knock Mae looked up from the piles of papers amassed on the desk. 
^îCome in,^ï she called, and was rewarded when the door creaked open.  The young
father and his small imp of a son made their entrance, closing the door behind
them.

^îYou wanted to see...us?^ï asked the tall archer.

^îYes. Please have a seat.^ï  She gestured to the chair across the desk from
her.

Forrellyn sank into the chair gratefully.  He was tired already.  But then, he
hadn^ñt gotten much sleep last night.... He gently lifted his young son up into
his lap, where the boy sat fidgeting. 

^îI have some questions for your son,^ï she informed the bowyer once he and his
son were comfortably arranged.  ^îI saw him slip out from under one of the
serving tables just before it tipped over, starting the fire.  Pekin, what
were you doing under the table?^ï This last she addressed directly to the
four-year-old, speaking kindly but firmly.

^îNuffin^ñ.  I saw Jamee under there, so I went to see what he was doing,^ï
replied the boy shyly. 

^îAnd what was he doing?^ï Mae prompted.

^îHe an^ñ Tarwin an^ñ Holt were stealin^ñ pies and eatin^ñum under there.^ï

^îAnd how did the table get knocked over?^ï

^îHolt tried to take my Mama from me.  I wadin^ñ gonna let^ñim have it.  I
shoved^ñim to keep^ñim away from me, an^ñ he bumped the table.^ï

Mae was confused.  Take is *mother*? From what she^ñd heard, the boy didn^ñt
*have* a mother.  And what was this about the small four-year-old shoving an
*eight-year-old* into the table?   Looking questioningly as the boy^ñs father,
she saw understanding dawning there.  ^îThank you for telling me this, Pekin. 
Now I want you to do something for me. Do you think you can?^ï

The boy looked slightly indignant. ^î^ñCourse.^ï

^îI want you to go over to the Green.  There are sure to be some riders oiling
their dragons there who could use the help of a smart little boy like you.  I
want you to go and help them.^ï

Beaming from ear to ear, Pekin jumped off his father^ñs lap.  With a quick nod
to Mae he was out the door.

^îNow what was all of that about some other boy trying to take his mother?^ï the
Junior Queenrider asked the young father once they were alone.  ^îAnd he shoved
a boy *twice his age and size* into the table?^ï she added somewhat
skeptically. 

^îWell his *is* strong for his age....^ï the father noted proudly.  ^îDid you
notice the necklace he wears?^ï  Seeing that she hadn^ñt, he continued, a note
of sadness in his voice.  ^îIt all starts several years ago in another
Domain....  His mother and I were friends from the time we were very young. 
Her father was the local Lord, and he didn^ñt approve of her having ^„common^ñ
friends.  She used to sneak out and come play with me at my parents^ñ farm.^ï

^îThen came a night I^ñll never forget,^ï he continued sadly, yet that sadness
was tempered with longing, and with joy.  He stared into space as if seeing
the scene replay itself before him.  ^îIt was my thirteenth birthday.  She had
been crying.  My, but she was pretty.  I knew then that I wanted to marry
her....^ï  He trailed off, wiping tears from his eyes.

^îYou don^ñt have to continue if it^ñs too painful,^ï Mae told him
sympathetically.

^îNo, it^ñs ok.  You asked about his mother,^ï he said.  His eyes continued to
haunt that same spot in the air, studying some phantasm that only he could
see.   ^îIn any case, she^ñd been crying.  She wouldn^ñt tell me why.  I held
her, trying to comfort her...and then I kissed her.  She responded
passionately, and before either of us knew what was happening, we were in the
hayloft.  After we^ñd...spent ourselves...in each others^ñ arms, we fell asleep.
 The next morning I took her back to her father^ñs lands, and I didn^ñt hear
from her for several months after that.  I kept telling myself that her father
must have been keeping a close eye on her, so that she couldn^ñt slip away, but
I was afraid that she^ñd left me because of what I^ñd done to her.^ï

He paused for breath, again wiping tears from his eyes.  ^îSeveral days after
our...tryst...I was cleaning out the hayloft and found her necklace.  It had
come off and gotten lost in the straw....^ï

^îI never saw her after...that night.  Months later her nurse appeared, bearing
a very small infant.^ï  At this the gleam returned to the man^ñs eyes.  ^îPekin. 
She^ñd named our son Pekin.  The nurse told us that Elisena, my...friend...had
died from complications in the birth.^ï The tears were flowing freely now, and
through them Forrellyn still studied that vision from his past.

^îI gave him his mother^ñs necklace...when he grew old enough...It^ñs the only
thing of hers that he has.  And *he* is the only thing of hers that *I* have. 
He would do *anything* to keep it.  Just as I would do anything to for
*him.*^ï

^îI can see now why it means so much to him...and to you,^ï Mae responded, moved
by the young man^ñs tale. 

^îCan you?  Have you ever had a child, held it in your arms? Watched it grow
from an utterly helpless little bundle into...^ï The father broke down,
sobbing.


**************************

Respectfully submitted,

David Hoover
Forrellyn & Pekin, Telnor
T^ñdrim, Jasra
J^ñadoube, Xylian
D^ñtagnan & Bonsai, Jasra (currently)

John Keats, IN Seattle (admin)
World Admin of Thimhallan


YOU NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE  CAN THEY *BECOME*?  
-Death, "Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett

"I play the game for the game's own sake."
                   -Sherlock Holmes

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