Saul
***

Shawnee was not home when he returned to the warren, so he spent the next
few hours with Byrin, Ojean and young Fawna .. who was so pleased to have
Byrin back at the warren, that she followed every move the young man made.

Fayloth had told him that Levka's rider was looking for him, but the man
had been running back and forth from his parent's estate bringing flowers
for Cricket. Saul was pleased he seemed to be so devoted to Trinale. It was
a good thing too .. for if he ever hurt her, he would have to answer to a
lot of people .. of which Saul was only one!

<Levka's rider is ready to talk to you now.>

<Tell him we are here with Ojean and Teewith.>

It wasn't long before the young man found him. Saul greeted him with smile,
"Been busy I understand?"

Derry grinned, "Yes, my mother's idea."

"A good one." Saul agreed, "So what did you need to see me about."

Derry frowned, "With D'ni's death and T'jellan in the med center, Trinale
has asked me to be the wingleader."

"Congratulations."

"The thing is .. I'm not sure I know what it takes. I mean I know there's
the wingleader and his wingsecond .."

Saul shrugged, "I won't be of much help. But I can tell you what T'jellan
did. He put partners together based on workability .. He and D'ni were ..
quite a team."

Derry nodded, "I saw them in action."

"Sometimes I think they could read each other's minds." He stared into the
young man's eyes, "You have to trust your instinct."

"That's all the advice you have?" Derry grinned.

Saul chuckled, "What can I say, I prefer cards to combat, women to fighting."

Tevel
***

"How are you coming, Tev?" L'rian's voice called, startling the young man
as he was resting on his father's couch, reading a book.

"I'm done." He said. "It didn't take long."

He pulled a bag out from behind a chair. "Do you think this will be good
enough?"

L'rian nodded, "I'm sure it will. You got everything Th'rin thought he'd need?"

Tevel nodded, "Yes. I want to thank you for agreeing to bring me up here
and come get me again."

"Anything, son. You're father's a good friend."

"You've been here for a long time .. haven't you?"

L'rian nodded, "All my life, just like your father."

Tevel nodded, "L'rian, would answer me a question?"

"If I can."

"What happened between my parents. Why did we have to leave?"

L'rian gasped lightly. That was a loaded question .. one that was not his
place to answer, "You'll have to ask your mother or father."

"Mom refuses to talk about it. And dad .. I don't think he'll say anything
either. But I think I deserve to know the truth." Tevel frowned, "I deserve
to know why I had to be separated for so long."

"Yes you do, son." L'rian agreed, "But unfortunately, not from me. It's not
my place."

Tevel shook his head, "Somehow I don't think I'll ever find out."

"Perhaps that's better too."

"No .. truth is better."

***

When L'rian let him off at the med center, Tevel was pleased to see Ashelle
coming out the front door. He grinned. He'd been hoping he'd see her when
he stopped in. "Ashelle!"

She stopped and looked at him. He couldn't read the expression which
crossed her face, but he couldn't say it was happy. Well, he'd have to work
on that.  Besides, she was probably still upset about her friend ..

"Are you done visiting your friend?"

She nodded unhappily.

"So you want to take a walk with me?"

Th'rin
***

>Everyone was in the hall when they arrived. Shawnee saw Merissa standing
>beside Th'rin and went willingly when Saul took her arm and led her over
>to the young healer to offer their sympathies.

"Are you going to be all right?" Saul asked of the young healer.

Th'rin nodded. "I will .."

"Good. You know if there's anything you need .."

Th'rin nodded, "I know. It just doesn't seem real that he's gone. I mean
dragonriders go into dangerous situations .. they put themselves in life
and death situations to protect the warren .. but B'ril. He was a healer ..
He wasn't supposed to die."

Saul put an arm around Th'rin's shoulders, offering him support.

Th'rin leaned into the man's body .. accepting the support. How often had
Saul been there for him. Cheering him on .. even when his own father only
sought to tear him down because he didn't fit the mold he'd set for his
'son'. He felt a wave of emotion as tears threatened again. His head
dropped on Saul's shoulder .. and it was so comforting .. so warm .. so
inviting ..

"It's all right, Th'rin .." he heard a voice that didn't belong. Wait .. it
did belong .. it was Shawnee. He quickly became aware he was clinging to
the bearded rider and he released him quickly and looked up at Shawnee pale
faced.

He was horrified, but she was smiling comfortingly. He breathed a bit
easier as he realized they hadn't known what he was thinking .. they hadn't
felt what he had been feeling. "Where .. where's Merissa .." he sputtered,
just wanted to be away from the bearded rider who caused such overwhelming
feelings within him.

"We'll find her." Saul was saying ..

"Yes, You just sit down and relax .."

"We .. we have to start the service .."

>A short while later, Trinale's voice could be heard above the din calling
>for everyone's attentions.

***

Merissa found him after the service, still sitting where Saul and Shawnee
had left him. "Th'rin?"

He looked up at her, "Yeah .."

"Shawnee's invited us to Ojean's birthday party .. do you want to go?"

He shook his head, ".. no .."

"Th'rin  .." she said moving to wrap her arms around him, "You've got to
move on. This service was to give us a chance to say good-bye to our loved
ones .. and then go on with living."

"I know."

"Ojean's birthday party is a time for living .. let's go."

He looked up at her, debating whether or not to tell her the things that
were going through his head. But in the end he decided not to. After all it
would surely only serve to drive her away.. and he couldn't let that
happen. He loved her .. He just wished he could get over whatever it was
that plagued him whenever Saul got to close..

"Just a brief visit .." her dark eyes pleaded.

Finally he nodded, "All right. I'll go."

Saul
***

Watching the bearded rogue being the perfect host .. holding trays of
snacks and beverages .. greeting guests .. was all quite amusing. But Saul
was enjoying himself. Everyone oohed and aahed over his new daughter,
welcomed his son .. gave Ojean gifts .. oohed and aahed over Teewith  ..

The was something he never thought would be in the cards for him. What a
life! He wondered briefly what his own father would say. He hoped maybe had
his mother offered this kind of life, he would have been happy, and content
to stay .. but even he, who idolized his father, had his doubts about that.

He was glad to see so many stop by even for brief moments before heading
home to their beds. Th'rin and Merissa .. Trinale and Derry .. Caitlyn and
L'rian .. It was a great turn out.

But still he was glad to see it end. He and Shawnee helped fly Barry,
Byrin, Ojean and Fawna all down to Barry's apartment.

As he hopped off Fayloth, he moved to take Shawnee in his arms. "Perhaps we
should think about taking a ground level apartment .. a big one .. with
enough rooms for everyone. And for three dragons."

"Yes we probably should. But I love this apartment."

He grinned, "Well think of it this way .. We'd have all new rooms to break
in .."

Th'rin
***

Th'rin was snuggled close to Merissa when he heard screams .. he sat up
quickly realizing the screams were calling him name.

Merissa sat up quickly, "It's Mara."

He shook his head trying to wake up as the door to their bedroom burst open
and the 14 year old Mara burst in, "Th'rin.. It's mama .. she's having the
baby!"

Th'rin wiped at his eyes, "Okay .. I'm coming."

Satisfied Mara ran out of the room leaving Th'rin to dress.

As he dressed, he grumbled, "Why the middle of the night.. why always the
middle of the night .."

Merissa lay comfortably snuggled in their bed and chuckled at him. "Maybe
babies just like to wake you up."

He rolled his eyes at her, "Yeah, but I thought we'd left that behind with
Oberon .."

She chuckled, "Do you need my help .."

"No, you better stay here with Oberon. Mara can help." He finished dressing
and leaned over the bed to kiss her, "I'll be back .. soon .. I hope."

***

Racine was panting heavily when Th'rin entered. He hurried to her side,
"How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling ready to have a baby!" she said a sweaty grin on her face.

"All right, I'm gonna check and see how your progressing."

She nodded and Th'rin took a position between her legs. He noticed Cill off
to the side looking a bit lost. "Cill, can you get me some towels and put a
kettle of water on the stove."

She nodded, glad to have something to do, as Mara was sitting at her
mother's side holding her hand. She wiped Racine's brow with a cool cloth,
"I told you I could get Th'rin."

"You did good, sweetie." Racine told her, then a contraction hit and her
breathing accelerated.

"Breath slowly, Racine .. You'll hyperventilate."

The woman forced herself to slow her breathing. When the contraction
subsided, the woman relaxed, "I'm getting to old for this, Th'rin."

"You're doing great. This baby isn't wasting any time."

"It's a boy," Racine said. "K'leev's son .."

There was bitterness in her exhausted voice. Th'rin couldn't blame her. He
harbored a bit of bitterness himself.

"But it'll be different this time, Th'rin. He'll be my son .. K'leev won't
be around to .. ARGH!!" She screamed in pain as another contraction hit.

"Don't push yet, Racine .. fight it a little longer."

She nodded as she fought to steady her breathing. Mara mopped her brow
again, "Squeeze my hand, mama .. I can take it."

***

It wasn't more then an hour later when the angry squalls of a child taken
from his warm comfy home and brought into the cold world echoed through the
apartment.

"It's a boy!" Th'rin said. "And he's beautiful!"

Racine laughed in relief, holding her arms for the child. Th'rin wrapped
him up in blanket and handed him to his mother. Mara looked on wide-eyed,
"He's as beautiful as Oberon .."

"Have you thought of a name?" Th'rin asked her.

Racine nodded, staring in wonder at the tiny hairless creature in her arms,
"He will be Neeril. For D'ni and B'ril .."

Saul
***

Bright and early the next morning, Shawnee was kicking Saul out of bed. As
he glared at her with bleary eyes, she reminded him that he was to take
Byrin home in time for school.

He groaned, "What's missing one day of school .." He fell back into bed
snuggling up to her.

She pushed him away, "Because, my love, you promised his mother. And you
don't need to be going against her wishes. Or she may never let him visit
us again."

Saul grumbled unhappily, but crawled out of bed and padded across the floor
to find his clothes.

Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
Th'rin & Areena
Tevel

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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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