J'red waited for the girl to answer him.  He felt nervous but tried to
display an outward cool.  Finally she agreed and followed him out onto the
dance floor.

> He was stiff and awkward at first, but then
> the practice he'd had in his father's house came to his rescue and he
> guided Cali through the dance with a sure step.
> 
> "Are you enjoying the party?"  Cali asked as they circled the floor
> 
> "Hmmm!"  J'red answered distractedly, peering over her shoulder.

Merissa wasn't even watching them.  It wasn't working.

> "And Lord Fowler?"  Cali tried again  "Is he enjoying himself?"
> 
> "Hmmm!"  

No she definitely wasn't even looking at them.  She was looking at that
blonde woman... talking with his father!

> J'red caught sight of Thorin making his way toward the table where Merissa
> was sitting and stiffened slightly.  
> 
> "Do you mind if we sit the rest of this dance out?"  he asked as he pulled
> her towards the table  "Can I get you a drink?  Maybe we can dance again a
> little later?"
> 
> He settled Cali back into her chair, glared at Thorin, and the plunked
> himself into the only other chair available before Thorin could sit down.  
> 
> Cali couldn't help herself... she giggled....

******
Merissa saw her mother making the rounds.  It reminded her of when she was
a girl, and made her feel abandoned.  Not only did Thorin leave without
explanation, then to see her mother flaunting herself in front of the
nobles...Merissa felt ill.

Suddenly Cali and J'red were back.

"Short dance"  Merissa murmured, as Cali giggled, nodding over behind
Merissa.

Merissa turned and saw Thorin aproaching.  He looked bewildered and upset.
Merissa only felt angry.  Angry on Thorin for leaving her tonight, and
angry at Analise for leaving her on many nights just like this one.

The atmosphere at the table was definitely cold.

******
J'red noticed Merissa's cold reception of Thorin.  Hmmmm.  Well.....
He jumped at the oportunity. "Merissa would you care to dance?"

Merissa glanced up once at Thorin, then, even though not feeling all that
strong, turned to J'red, and replied, "Yes, Why I'd love to."

Thorin started to protest as the two walked towards the dance floor, but
instead took one of the empty chairs next to Cali.

******
NRPG:  Tag Les and Kris, what do they talk about?

******
Feeling more exhausted than she realized, and still not having eaten all
that much, Merissa started to feel very light headed.  J'red was spinning
her around the dance floor, when suddenly she found the music fading and
the lights growing dim -- as she blacked out in J'red's arms, sagging with
him, heavily to the dance floor.

******
NRPG:  Tag Kris, does Thorin come to her rescue?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
   /^\      /^\                                 Submitted  By
  /  `._   /  `._                               Arlene Jacobs
 ( : :  `.(  : : `.    \^=^/                         aka
 | : :`. `:_ : : `|_   | '.O'--^-^:                Merissa
  \/^|._ _. \_  ._ _\  | '.')__..''              Junior-Queen
     \/. :-._`|  .: | / .'_.-|    __              Rider  of
        \/. ..,`.\__/.,',...')__/^;;)             Chrysthal
          ^\/ ._,_... | ., )-)____/           
            <> \/ | ..  \__)_ __               jacobs@wsnet.com
                __| ., \____(,;;)          
            ../. / . \)____)\      
 _/\_/\__/\/..  ( ... )____)_)___
<__|__|__|__|___(__|___;;; ___;;;) aej

             http://www.neosoft.com/~acoustic/arlenejhp.html