Owlean
**********

The trip aboard that big black beast had scared the hell out of her. Any
minute she kept expecting the rider to drop her and put an end to her life.
She knew he was tempted. She could feel the anger and hate everywhere he
touched her.

She'd had men treat her rough before and some had been cruller than others
before they took her. But in this big red-head she could feel none of the
... wanting ... she'd felt from them. No from this one she only felt his
hate. That scared her worse then she could imagine.

They had flow upwards after leaving the caves and then before she could
guess at what was going to happen, they teleported and she found herself
over the hights of the Warren she'd hoped to never have to see again.

The dragon's slowly floated downward when he spoke.

"Get one last good look of the place," he growled and tightened his grip on
her arms. "It may be the last one you ever have. Hopefully the next place
you visit will be that last place you ever see."

She couldn't stop her body from shivering as she thought of his treat. Then
felt is hand moved up into her hair. Softly caressing it and he moved his
fingers thought it.

"So soft," he murmured, his warm breath a whispered caress on her ear. "So
beautifully, just like Shawnee's. But that's where everything changes. Where
Shawnee is sweet and beautiful all the way thought, you're evil and sick. It
makes me sick to think that she and those two kids came from you. They are
NOTHING like you and never could be."

"It must make you hate knowing you'll never have her love!!" Owlean sneered.
"I'll bet it burns you up inside every time you think about her and him
making love... I'll bet you can hear her crying out as he enters her... hear
her cries as he thrusts inside of her and wish it could be you. So sad that
it never will be.... "

The hand playing in her hair pulled sharply, causing her to cry on in pain. 

"I have her friendship," he said in a soft growl. "And will be free to go on
seeing her ... while you will soon be locked up and wishing you had even
that freedom. 

Grunth landed then and Owlean quickly noticed the long drop down. She heard
T'jellan chuckling in her ear as he noticed the fear on her face.

"Oh no bitch," he said softly. "As much as I would like to, I'll not let
anyone harm you. I'll see that you're kept safe and unharmed until you face
the courts. After that you're own your own.

The tall red-head dismounted first and the reached up and very carefully
lowered the woman to the ground. As he took her arm and began leading her
towards a doorway she began to fight him. It was starting to become to real
now. 

It took both T'jellan and J'red to get her inside and down a short hallway
to a cell. 

The imprisoned rider spotted her right away and bellowed her hand out in
anger. A pounding sound could be hear coming from inside the room he was
locked up in. His one thought was getting to the woman who had tried to sell
his daughter.

>"Should we be *kind* and put the lovers in the same holding cell?" J'red
sneered for Owlean's benefit. He felt the woman stiffen as the implications
crossed her mind.

"No, it wouldn't look too good if our prisoner turned up dead..." T'jellan
countered with a grin, though truly the idea had it's merits.

Katla looked back and forth between the two shaking her head. She followed
them as they deposited Owlean in a room across from K'leev.

The large prisoner growled as he saw her through the small window in the
door, "OWLEAN!!!" He roared, "If I ever get my hands on you!"

"Oh, shut up you malingering whoreson." Katla snapped, as Owlean glared back
through the bars, uncowed.  "Don't bother describing how much you'd like to
rape her, she'd enjoy it too much."

She had to get out of here!!! Somehow. This really couldn't be happening to
her. it was all that bitch's fault. Her daughter....

She didn't want to listen to the words the girls outside was saying but the
penetrated her hearing anyway and as the girl left Owlean was yelling after
her. 

Then things got quiet in the cell. Even K'leev across the hall wasn't saying
anything. That scared her more then anything. What must he be thinking right
now. How much did he really know? Was there a way she could lie to him and
say they were setting her up. Trying to split them up out of spite?

It was worth a try. Now all she had to do was think about how to go about it.

Barry
******

Relieved that Shawnee and the baby were both going to be fine, the elderly
tailor took the kids off to school and then went to open his shop. 

If the others of the Warren had noticed he was opening late today, no one
said anything to him, just came in with smiles and picked up their finished
wares or stood around until he had the time to take orders for others.

It was at times like this that he really missed Shawnee's help around here.
She'd been such a help to him and he missed her skill, as well as the talks
they used to have while working.

The door opened and the young lady from yesterday came in. He looked up and
smiled as she made her way inside.

"Ashelle isn't it," he greeted her. "I have your things all ready for you my
dear."

"All ready?" she asked with a shocked grin. "I know they told me you did
quick work... but with everyone I saw in here yesterday I didn't think you'd
have my things ready for a day or two at the most."

He nearly laughed when she had finished. Who'd have thought the quiet girl
from yesterday would turn out to be such a chatter box today.

"Well to tell you the truth," he winked and then went on. "It's a lot more
fun to work for a pretty young girls then some of those stuffy dragonriders."

He saw her blushing as she smiled shyly back at him. 

"That's what I like to see. A pretty smile. It does much to warm this old
man's heart, I tell you," he said kindly and moved over to where he'd placed
her things on a shelf behind his work table. After he'd retrieved it he
turned back to hand it to her. "Now I made those changes we talked about,
but I also added a few pretty things I thought you could use when you sing
for us at night. I know how you young girls like to look your best in front
of a crowd."

"Oh but I couldn't take them!" Ashelle told him. "I don't have enough marks
to pay you for them."

"Sure you can dear," he told her and pushed the package back across the
counter to her. "Just make me proud when you get up there and sing. Hearing
your lovely voice will be payment enough for these old ears....now go on
with ya. I've a ton of work to get through today."

His crinkled face was smiling as he watched her go... his mind already thing
of that young dragon rider who'd been in here the other day... maybe he
could introduce them... they'd make a cute pair...Well he hadn't done so bad
getting that rogue Saul and his beautiful Shawnee together...

Shawnee
********

He kissed her gently, "But I don't want you worrying about that now. Right
now you just need to rest and think only pleasant thoughts about our baby."

She nodded, "I will. But .. when can I go home?" 

She wanted to laugh as she thought about how much like him she was sounding.
Did he ask that very same question the last time it had been him laying on a
bed here in the medical center? 

"I'll ask Clarissa if I can take you home tomorrow."

"Not tonight?" Shawnee asked hopefully, wanting very much to be home with
him and the kids.

"I don't think Clarissa would allow it. But definitely tomorrow." He smiled.
"Though, Clarissa has put you on bed rest until the baby comes."

Shawnee grinned teasingly at him, "Oh I could enjoy spending all day in bed
with you, my love." Remembering their aborted plans of that morning. Maybe
this bed rest would be a good thing after all.

Saul sighed, "Well, as wonderful as that sounds .. Clarissa also says that
any .. intimate .. contact is out. It could cause contractions."

Shawnee frowned, ".. oh .." Anything but that! What were they going to do.
Heck how was she going to stop her body from wanting what she had found only
in his arms. 

Saul chuckled, "That was my first thought to. But we need to think of the
baby before ourselves."

She nodded, "I agree. But I'm going to miss loving with you."

"No more that I with you Sweet Shawnee," his feeling showed in the deep blue
of his eyes. 

She was still amazed that he was with her. Loved her!! His openness to admit
it thrilled her heart to no end. 

"Come lay here with me love," she patted the bed. "You can still hold me
can't you?"

"Let them try and stop me," he grinned and moved so that she was cuddled up
next to him on the narrow bed, as he drew her closer. "Now rest love. The
sleep will do you both good."

And she did. Safe in the circle of his arms she soon drifted off to sleep,
and dreamed of babies and Saul. 

---------  

(the next morning)

<<Doshy love would you see if your mother's rider could spare me a few
minutes of her time,>> Shawnee asked. She was still in the medical center,
even though she had told them she was feeling fine and wanted to go on home.
But both B'ril and Clarissa wanted her to wait just a little longer. 

Saul had left just a little while ago to go find his son and the kids were
already in school. Barry had taken them there after bring them over for
breakfast earlier. 

Now she was feeling lonely and more than a little depressed. Maybe a talk
with Merissa would help ease her fears and cheer her up a bit.

Merissa knocked softly on Shawnee's door, and entered upon hearing, "come in!"

"I just wanted you to know that I will personally oversee... that...woman's
being turned over to the Guild of Swords!"  Merissa swore.

"Just as long as she is never allowed to hurt the kids again," Shawnee told
her. "Katla was here earlier and told me her father had filed a petition on
my behave to become their guardian, if the Warren doesn't claim them first.
It doesn't matter to me, because I know they are happy here, but it was kind
of them to think about that. That way If for some reason she gets off...
she'll never be able to try to claim them again."

"As if we would ever let her," Merissa reached for her hand. "You and the
children are a part of our family here. You have to believe they will be
taken care of and kept safe."

"I know," Shawnee couldn't help the break in her voice. "I've already seen
what all the Warren will do to keep them that way. I'll never be able to
thank all of the riders who went out looking for them."

"Don't worry about trying," the Queenrider said with a warm smile. "You're
all family and we protect out own here."

"Yes we do .." a voice said from the door way and Shawnee and Merissa turned
to find the tall red-headed T'jellan standing there. His face held a warm
smile for the girl on the bed as he came into the room. 

"I just stopped by to make sure for myself that you were all right," he told
her. "I've been worried I might have..."

"I'll leave you two alone to talk," Merissa said and stood up to leave.
"Remember Shawnee if you need anything, I'll always be here to help."

"Thank you M'lady."

"Merissa," the girl grinned. "We are friends are we not?"

"Yes we are!!" their eyes met and for a moment they shared a bond between
them, then the girl left.

She watched her friend leave and then turned her attentions back to the big
man standing at the end of the bed.

"Sit down would you," she said and offered him the chair where the Queen's
rider had been sitting. "It'll save my neck not having to look up."

She joked with him trying to set him at ease, for she could tell her was
still somewhat nervous about being with her. 

"I really don't have time, as much as I would like to," he told her snaking
his head at her offer. "I just had to see for myself that you were okay
before we left for Ralengarde."

"So you're talking *her* there?"

His shaggy head nodded. 

"Just as soon as the escort and Merissa are ready to go," he told her, his
eyes searching her face for any sigh of... of what he didn't know. He just
wanted to make sure she was all right...and yes... that she didn't blame him
for what had happen after their shared mating flight. He would hate it if
she did.

"I'll be glad when she's away from here and we never have to see her ever
again," Shawnee said with more heat in her voice then T'jellan had ever
heard before.

"Well that'll happen soon enough, I promise."

"T'jellan... we need to talk."

"Later Shawnee," his voice sounded strained to her. "Later... but.. not
right now."

"Tonight?" she asked and saw him nod his head.

"Tonight."

He turned then and left the room before she could Say anymore. He had seemed
a little ill at ease with her after Merissa had left and she was worried
that he was still upset over what had happened between them. 

Tonight they would have to talk about that... But he was right. Now was not
the time. Now she just wanted him to get that woman out of her home and take
her someplace where she would never bother anyone ever again.

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

Out on the green near the building where the prisoners were being held
T'jellan met up with Katla, Derry, J'red and N'lin who had joined the party
in his position of being Katla's patrol partner. 

Cali had begged off going with them, as she wanted to stay in the Warren and
keep an eye on Lute. 

As they met to discuss what would happen, the Queen Chrysthal landed near by
and Merissa came over to join them.

"Are K'leev and *that woman* ready to be transported to Ralengarde?" she
asked the Wingleader, who smiled wickedly and nodded his head.

"Good them lets go get them," she ordered and began to walk towards the door
leading inside to the cells. "But I want every precaution made so that
Bruteth will be unable to come to his riders aid. That mean's he goes with
one of you. I'll let you decide who the lucky rider is."

"Owlean is mine," T'jellan spoke up as he moved to hold the door open for
Merissa to walk in. "I'll take her on Grunth."

No one argued. But Derry and J'red grinned at eachother knowingly. They were
both sure the big man would be able to handle the woman. He'd done okay with
her so far.

He motioned for the Queenrider to stand back by the door as the others went
to open the cell doors one at a time and took the offenders into custody. 

At one point when K'leev's cell door was open, it took both Derry and J'red
to hold the man back and keep him from getting at the blonde women he wanted
to tear limb from limb.

"Just give me a minute with her..." he growled still struggling to get to
her. "I'll kill her and then you won't have to worry about her ."

"Sorry K'leev," Merissa said from the door way. "But you will both be taken
to Ralengarde and stand before the courts for your crimes."

"Why waste the courts time? Just let me do it for them?"

"I don't think so," the Queen's rider turned to look at T'jellan who had
been shielding the smaller blonde woman behind his huge body. "You want her?
Find. Then she's all yours. Let's go... I want this ...filth out of the Warren."

Owlean didn't make it easy for the big man. She refused to be led outside
meekly. And it was only when T'jellan leaned close and whispered something
in her ear that she complied. None of the others had heard his words, but
they saw the color drain from her face when he was finished speaking.

They took a few minutes to make sure both were bound and then led them
outside to the awaiting dragons. Owlean was mounted on Grunth in front of
T'jellan who held onto her a little more tightly then was necessary, just to
make damn sure she didn't fall off. 

She was afraid. 

More afraid now then she had ever remember being in her life before now. The
riders threat.... he would carry it out. She knew he would. What did he care
what happened to her. 

She shivered as he climbed up behind her and felt his arms go around her
almost cutting off her air. A few seconds later she felt her stomach drop as
the big winged beast took to the air and then they did that thing they did
before and they were somewhere else. 

She knew this place. She didn't like it here. Her face was to well known,
that was one of the reasons she had sent K'leev here on his own before. But
she hadn't mentioned that to him. She knew what she was in for here... there
wouldn't be any mercy shown to her by the courts. 

Minutes later they were landing... and that bitch on the Queen was walking
up to an older man and someone younger who had his look and spoke to them
for a few minutes before they turned as one to look her way.

She saw the older man nod his head and then T'jellan was lifting her down to
the ground and pulling her none to gently after him as he lead her in the
same direction the younger man was leading them. K'leev was following behind
her with the other riders. That girl with the big mouth was among them. 

Owlean turned her head and looked back at her, only to see the girl's smile
widen when their eyes met. She turned away quickly when the girl made a
cutting motion across her neck and then pointed at her as if to say that was
what was going to happen to her.

She had to all but run to keep up with the longer strides of the man holding
her for he was making so moves to slow down. 

They were led inside a building and down a long hall to finally stop in
front of a big wooden door, where the younger man took out a key and opened
it before T'jellan pulled her on through and down another hall way to stop
in front of a door with an even bigger lock on it.

"Put her in this room," the man said and the tall dragonrider pulled her
inside and then turned her away from him while he removed the ropes holding
her wrist together. Then she felt herself pushed away from him only to land
on the hard bed before her.

"Oh look Owlean...a bed!" Katla grinned. "To bad you'll be the only one
using it... poor dear. No men to seduce here. But maybe if you ask real
sweetly we'll put K'leev in here with you. Would you like that dearie?"

Owlean wisely made no comment, but her eyes shot daggers at the bitch.

"I didn't think so." Kayla laughed. "No well it was just a thougt."

The sound of the door closing behind her let her know this was all for real.
She was well and truly trapped this time and nothing was going to save her....

---------  

The guard at the front door thought he was seeing things when the crowd of
people walked in. He ducked back behind a corner when he saw the blonde hair
of a woman he recognized being led in with her hands tied behind her back.
He didn't want her to see him. 

His tongue came out to lick at lips suddenly gone dry, as an idea came to
him. This was a way out of the trouble's he was in with the money lenders.
If he told them who was here.... he had known they have been looking for her
for quite sometime, but would the information be enough to square himself
with them?

He slipped out of the door the others had just entered and forced himself to
walk away slowly as to not draw any attention to himself. Then, when he was
sure no one would spot him, he took off running. 

If he was lucky, he would be the first one there to tell them she had been
found. Maybe then he could go on with his own life without living in fear of
every shadow that moved....

****Submitted by: *********

Barbara (a.k.a.

Shawnee & Doshayne
Barry the Tailor 
Whiteriver Warren