Trinale raised her head from her desk where she had laid it, exhausted
from crying a good portion of the afternoon, when she heard the knock at
her door.

She wiped her eyes and tried to compose herself. She called out "Come in."

She stared at Derry, wondering what he wanted. He looked about to say
something, but nothing came out.

Trinale wanted to talk to him, try to work things out, but she didn't know
what to say. She was so afraid she would mess things up even more.

"Derry...I...." Trinale hesitated and then buried her head in her hands
and began to sob. Derry came quickly around the desk and put his arms
around her.

"Trinale, don't...." Derry's voice tried to soothe her. "Whatever is
wrong, it will be alright."

"Oh, Derry...." Trinale sighed and looked up at him. "I have really mad a
mess of things. You must hate me."

"Hate...." Derry started but was interrupted by the sound of a dragon
keening.

(Reekor) Cricket supplied the name.

"Pa'gan..." Trinale whispered looking at Derry, her face growing white.
"He is gravely injured, Reekor says. I have to send people after him." She
got up and started for the door, then stopped short. "Aradia and Futhark
want to go after him alone! They can't, its too dangerous!"

Derry nodded and they both headed out the door.

Trinale stopped dead again, Derry almost running into her. "I can't...."
Trinale whispered.

"Can't what?" Derry asked her confused.

Trinale turned around and faced him, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Pa'gan is out there because I didn't respect the ways of their tribe. If
I forbid Futhark and Aradia from going, or go against their wishes to go
alone, then I may be doing it again. I can't interfere!"

"But its dangerous for Futhark and Aradia!" Derry protested.

"I know, but Aradia is a grown woman, I have to respect their ways."
Trinale looked up at Derry. "No matter what I do, it may be wrong, but
this whole mess was caused because I didn't know I was insulting them. I
can't do it again."

Trinale looked up and saw Futhark and Reekor blink out and silently hoped
she had made the right decision.

Trinale looked at Derry. "Can we go to my apartment to talk?"

Derry nodded and they slowly headed for the stairs to climb up. Cricket
was very egg heavy and would lay any day now.

Trinale sat on her couch and motioned to Derry to please sit. She then
looked him in the eyes. "I think I made a mistake last night and I don't
know if you can ever forgive me." She took a deep breath, knowing this
would be hard. "I wanted to know what it felt like to have sex without the
dragonlust involved. I slept with Daimon last night." She watched the hurt
in his eyes and knew she had said it too abruptly. "Derry, it was a
mistake....at least it was if I lose any chance with you! I...." her voice
trembled and suddenly got softer. "I think I am falling in love with
you....Can you ever forgive me?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

NRPG: Tag, Jill! I am going to have Derry there in the mornign...whether
he is there as a friend or more is totally up to you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trinale awoke to the soft keening of a dragon. Futhark! She scrambled from
bed, Derry walking in from her kitchen looking at her worriedly.

(Futhark?)

(We come bearing Reekor's riders body)

Trinale slumped to the bed, her head in her hands, Derry coming
immediately to put his arms around her.

"Pa'gan is dead and its all my fault!" Trinale looked at him, her eyes
filled with tears.

"Not it isn't. You didn't know." Derry tried to reassure her.

"I have to go to Aradia. She will need support....although I doubt if
she'll ever forgive me." Trinale stood and looked at Derry. "Will you come
with me?"

Derry nodded and they headed for the crowd gathering around Futhark. The
crowd parted as Trinale approached and there she saw him, laying on the
ground, Aradia kneeling beside his still form. Trinale slowly went
forward, sinking to her knees next to Aradia.

"Dear gods...."she exclaimed softly as she saw the wounds he had endured,
seeing the stitching that had been done also. Tears trickled down her
cheeks and as she looked up she saw the young priestess looking at her.

"I never meant....." Trianle saw how silly her apology would sound,
looking at the proud man who lay before them. "I cared for him....he
was...special....and its all my fault for not understanding your ways. If
I hadn't misunderstood, he would still be with us" tears were pouring down
her cheeks now. "I am sorry, can you ever forgive me?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NRPG: Sorry it took so long


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                        Kat Harris: catwoman@indy.net


Sysop of Circus of the Mind BBS (317) 888-8755  (Katmandu)

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