The morning came too quickly.  Th'rin had slept fitfully and moaned often in
his sleep.  Merissa  woke again at 5 to the wails of Oberon in the next
room.

Sighing she hurried to the little boy.  He seemed more upset than normal, so
Merissa carried him back to the bed with her.  His little body cuddled down
between Th'rin and Merissa, comforting all three.

But morning came, and Merissa had a ton of work that she had to get to in
her office.  All the supplies that had been used to defend from the wraith
attack had to be inventoried and orders for replacements made... and then
there were the funerals to arrange.

B'ril -- more like a father to her love than his own father had been.

"I have to check on the patients this morning..." Th'rin called from the
bathroom.  He must also have been thinking of B'ril, Merissa noted.

"I have to get to my office!  What are we going to do with Oberon?"  Merissa
worried.  "Should I get your sister Mara?"

"No, I think she has music lessons..."

"With Analise?  Oh, the poor thing.... Then whom?"

"Xanthia!  Oberon loves being with her."

"Fine!"  Merissa agreed.  It was obvious to her that their baby had a
special bond with the strange girl.  She hugged the little one who was
trying so hard to balllance on the furniture -- when suddenly he did!
"Th'rin!  Quick!  Oberon's standing!!"

Th'rin ran from the bathroom with a towel on -- grinning.  It was nice to
see him smile, Merissa thought, and it is good to have a reminder of life
when one was surrounded by death.

B'ril and D'ni.  Again Merissa found her mind thinking of the arrangements
that would need to be made.  She would have to talk to her mother, Analise,
about some apropriate music....  Kissing her two "boys" Merissa headed out
for her office without taking a moment to eat anything.

*****
People were coming and going all morning from her office, and Merissa got
tired of answering the door -- so decided to leave it open.  Her mind was
occupied with tallying coal bin usage, when someone however knocked at it
anyway.

>KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...she rapped her knuckles against the half open
>door and waited quiet. A bemused "come in" followed the sound,
>ushering Moira into a nicely appointed room dominated with a desk.
>"Why did you knock?" Asked Merissa. "The door was open."

>Moira froze for a moment, berating herself. *Ninny you are, you know
>customs are different here, remember all that you're father told you?
>You had better pay attention! * she told herself. Fixing her gaze at
>the top of the desk she answered the question. "In Weaver's Guild
>custom is to knock at any door, whether open or not. It was just habit."

>"It's not a problem," Merissa answered, noting how tense the young
>woman standing across the desk from her was. Merissa had expected
>nervousness, all new foundlings were, but this one looked like she
>wanted to hide. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

>Moira shook her head no. She often skipped morning meals so that she
>could go and stand in the garden at the guild in the morning. She loved
>the quiet and the sunshine and smell of flowers and vegetables, the
>ring of the wind chimes. A wash of homesickness surprised her, but
>quicky faded.

>"Well then, let's head down to the dining hall and we can do business
>over breakfast." Merissa said as she stood and headed for the door.

"I have to apologize for my haste last night," Merissa said as they walked
across the green to the dining hall.  "It's just that a lot of things
happened last night... and I had misplaced my baby...."  She sighed.  "What
I mean is... Th'rin's sister had him, and I was worried after the fighting
when I couldn't locate them....  And then D'ni and B'ril...."  Merissa again
sighed.  This wasn't coming out right.

Moira looked down at the junior queenrider, noting her agitation and
discomforture, and suddenly felt more at ease.

Merissa laughed at herself, and her laugh had a musical quality, that made
Moira laugh though she hoped that Merissa wouldn't think she was laughing at
her....

"It's okay, I really was tired..."

Merissa nodded as she showed Moira through the dining hall line.  Moira
noted how people seemed to back out of the way for Merissa, and Merissa
seemed totally oblivious to the deferance.

Merissa chatted on about her coming to the warren -- "amazing that it's only
been about 2 years now since I was searched myself."  Merissa smiled in
memory, "and I was completely amazed when Chrysthal chose me!"

They took their food and sat at a table.  "Once you get your dragon your
days will be pretty full with taking care of her and flying lessons and
fight training... and it may be that your dragon isn't waiting in that next
hatching, and may be in a future clutch...so until then... is there
something that you are interested in?"  Merissa queried.

Moira told her about she had some nursing skills and minor cooking skills.
However, coming from the Weavers Guild Merissa determined that she needed to
introduce the young woman to Barry after breakfast.

Feeling more at ease, Moira decided to chance showing Merissa the portrait
that she was carrying... "I was just wondering... I know you said you
haven't been here only a few years... but do you know this dragon and
rider?"

Merissa looked at the portrait. Shaking her head she asked, "Who is it?"

"That's my father, F'ran.  He used to ride a huge red dragon named Fazul.
He used to come visit all the time at the Weaver Guild, but then one day he
stopped coming..."  Moira sighed and put the portrait away.  "I believe he
was from Whiteriver... and was hoping you might be able to tell me what's
happened to him, if he isn't here?"

Merissa again shook her head.  "Sorry."

The girls finished their breakfast and Merissa took Moira to meet Barry, the
tailor.

*****
NRPG: Tag Rhi.
*****
Leaving Moira with Barry, who assured Merissa that he would introduce her to
some of the other guild members in the warren, Merissa spent the remainder
of the morning searching out her mother.

Analise had finished teaching her last pupil of the day and was returning to
her apartment.  She found her daughter standing in front of the door.

Dreading the meeting, Merissa stood, hesitating announcing her presence,
when sh was startled by the oily tones of her mother's voice.

"Merissa, dear, what a pleasant surprise," the sarcasm was not lost on the
girl who felt herself cringe.  "please, come in!  And to what do I owe the
pleasure of your visit?"

"Mother."  Merissa followed Analise into the apartment that was cluttered
with pages of music, musical instruments and stands.  After briefly
explaining about the deaths of D'ni and B'ril, Merissa asked, "Could you
organize a few students to play some apropriate music for a memorial tonight
in the dining hall?"

Sighing dramatically, Analise agreed.  "Next time, bring my grandson when
you come to visit?"  She said in way of fairwell.

Merissa felt relief upon leaving her mother's apartment.

*****
<Chrysthal, dear, do you know where Oberon is?>  Merissa queried her queen.
Just touching the mind of her dragon left her feeling peaceful.  Strange how
Chrysthal always seemed to know where Oberon was....

<He's with Maxima's rider and Wintermoon's rider in the dining hall>  Came
the reply.

Merissa strolled over to the dining hall.  It was late for lunch, and she
found that she was indeed hungry.  Strange how the thought of Wintermoon's
rider made her feel strange... he was so big!  Almost as big as Pa'gan, but
definitely not as threatening.  He was so...

No, she was not going to go there!

<You like him, don't you?>  Came the placid remark from the lavendar queen.

<No!>  Merissa stated emphatically, yet.... <Dear, could you ask Areena if
Th'rin's had lunch yet?>

<Ah!  You *do* like him....  and yes, Th'rin has eaten and so won't be there
to "protect" you!>  Chrysthal almost seemed to laugh.

Merissa hesitated... perhaps she should go see Trinale first about the
funeral...  Turning away from the dining hall, and the chance meeting with
Wintermoon's large rider Oldreth.  What was it with her and men who rode
female dragons??  Banishing those thoughts Merissa headed to Trinale's
office.  She'd get Oberon after lunch....

*****
Trinale's office was locked when Merissa tried the door.
<She's in her garden.> Came Chrysthal's reply when queried.

Merissa headed for the garden -- Trinale's pride and joy.  She was utterly
amazed when she discovered that it was in shambles.  The wraiths had
destroyed many of the flowering plants and trees.

Trinale was down on her knees pulling out the dead remains of the plants.

*****
NRPG: Tag Kat.
*****

Merissa found that Xanthia had gone to the med center with Oberon and headed
there.

Th'rin was giving final instructions to Clarissa and Xanthia, who were
taking over for the evening when Merissa arived.

*****
NRPG: Tag Kris and Morgie
*****

Th'rin and Merissa took Oberon home to get ready for the memorial service
that evening.  The pyres had been built during the day, and Merissa had
spoken with Ybini about the food.  She felt that she had forgotten
something....

*****
NRPG: Sorry if I left anyone out, but Merissa will be around the warren so
feel free to run into her on her way to anywhere mentioned.  And of course
there will be the funeral/memorial to attend.