Merissa had slept better than she had in a long time.  When she awoke and 
noticed her sleeping partner at first she was amazed--no not another 
nameless man, but a beautiful lavendar dragon.

Chrysthal sleepy-voiced <why thank you, Merissa.  Am I really beautiful?>

Merissa jumped.  How strange to have someone else know her thoughts like 
that.  But also, how wonderful!  

<I'm hungry, Merissa.  Also, I've this itch...?>  Chrysthal thought the 
location to Merissa who willingly obliged in the gentle scratching.  

Merissa wandered outside and bumped into a man with some empty buckets, 
who kindly directed her to where she could find food for Chrysthal--and 
food for herself.  Carrying both back to her room, Merissa thought about 
the celebration from the night before.  She had been carefully watching 
the room as she sang.  Old habits die hard, she mused.  She had been 
intrigued by a dark haired, dark dressed woman who had been talking with 
Trinale and then disapeared with a roguish male rider.  There was 
something odly familiar in the aspect of that woman...

<Hurry, Merissa!  I'm starving!>  Chrysthal's thoughts interupted 
Merissa's mental wanderings and Merissa hurried back to the room where 
she ate while Chrysthal gorged on her meat.

<I have to go now--to meet with Trinale.  I'll be back later>

Chrysthal hardly made a reply, just a mental feeling of hoping that the 
meeting went well.

_________________________________________________________________

Merissa tried to remember where the Warren Lady's office was located.  
Cali had given her a brief tour but the excitement of the hatching had 
made her less aware of her surroundings than she should have been.  After 
a bit of being lost, she came upon the correct hallway and the office.

Merissa knocked softly and heard a muffled reply.  She entered.

"Good morning, Merissa, and how are things this morning?"  Trinale said 
in greeting.

Merissa looked at the younger woman.  She couldn't help admire how well 
she was doing with all the responsibilites and being so young.  Merissa 
wondered silently if perhaps she might have found a friend.  But instead 
she replied, "Fine, thank you.  I am feeling still a bit surprised, is all."

"Surprised?"  Trinale grinned.  "Yes I remember your reluctance to come 
with us."

"Guess I really didn't think I was really a joining candidate..." Merissa 
trailed off.

"Please, if you don't mind my asking, would you tell me why?"  Trinale 
gently urged.

Merissa sighed.  How could she explain to this young woman what she was 
all about?  How much to tell her?  What to tell her?  She began softly:

"I'm sorry, Trinale, it isn't something I can easily put into words.  
I've never dreamed of being a dragon-rider.  I only imagined myself as a 
bardswoman, singing until my voice gives out, and perhaps returning to 
the guildhouse in my old age to instruct the youth.

"I really have never stayed in one place for very long."  Merissa 
continued, "and I'm not sure if I'm cut out for this....  I really don't 
know what you meant about being your junior queen rider....  I really 
don't have any experience in this sort of thing."  Merissa ended lamely.  
Feeling like she ought to say something witty or interesting, but just 
unable to come up with anything.

Trinale silently considered Merissa.  Here was her hopes of relieving 
some of her burden.  A new queen, and queen-rider, was what she'd dreamed 
about since Cricket laid that queen egg.  Now she wondered if Merissa 
would be of much help, her being so reluctant.  Had the new queen 
hatchling made a mistake in choosing her?  There must be more to her than 
this quiet, withdrawn outward appearance indicated.  

"What about your family?  Won't they be happy for you?  Would you like to 
contact them and tell them?"  Trinale querried.

"My mother is travelling and I'm not exactly sure where...and I don't 
know who my father is."  Merissa curtly replied, thus cutting off any 
further discussion of her personal life.

This left Trinale feeling a bit taken aback and wondering how to proceed 
when Merissa asked,

"If I'm to be a queen rider, which I suppose Chrysthal has already 
decided, I really want to know what do you expect from me?"

******************************************************************
TAG Kat.  Merissa (and I) need some guidance in what a queen-rider 
can/cannot do and where she is to go from here.  Thanks.
-Arlene (aka Merissa of WhiteRiver Warren rider of Chrysthal)