She fumed and fussed at herself as she realized that the paperwork that she needed to send to the nobility requesting additional coal allocations was back at her apartment.  Throwing down the other papers through which she'd been searching in vain, Merissa, slammed out of her office.  Her mood was definitely not improving.

<You need a break, love>  Chrysthal soothed.  <You have been working so hard -- trying not to think. >

<Not to think about what?!>  Merissa snapped back.  <I'm just busy...>  And tired from the interrupted sleep due to the birth of Th'rin's new brother.  Strange how quickly one begins to get used to sleeping through the night again....

<About your mother, about Oldreth..., about Th'rin and Xanthia and Oberon...?>  Chrysthal suggested.

Merissa thought about the funeral the previous evening.  How could she have fought with her mother so, in front of all those people -- and then how could she have just dumped all of her problems on that total stranger, that Oldreth?  Gods she was pathetic!  If it hadn't been for Th'rin hurting so much over B'ril she could have turned to him for comfort, but how could she add to his burdens?

And, and, and... Yes, she needed a break from thinking.  She pushed the lock of red hair behind her ear, fingering it and thinking of the woman Aradia, whose healing touch had given it to her.  Thinking didn't get her anywhere!  Oldreth was an enigma, as much as Xanthia -- so different, so difficult to understand!  But, yet, so much a part of her baby Oberon's life -- was this what she had to look forward to as he grew?

Merissa stomped up the steps into her apartment and was greeted with the incredulous site of Xanthia AND Oldreth in the middle of her apartment, with all of Pa'gan and Aradia's things scattered around.  

"What are you doing?" Merissa asked.

"I just showed Pa'gan and Aradia's things to Oldreth." Xanthia replied, nonplussed.

"You should have asked!"  Merissa felt her anger building.  How dare they intrude into her personal space?!

"I'm sorry," Xanthia apologized, "I need to go... to the med center..."

"And I have an appointment I need to keep with Trinale," Oldreth said,
excusing himself.

"Where's Oberon?" Merissa asked, suddenly concerned that these two in there single-mindedness about the Bear Nomads had neglected the boy.

"Bed," Xanthia replied simply, following Oldreth out the door.

Bed?  Napping?  Merissa ignored the two Bear Nomads as she rushed to the nursery and peered in at the peacefully sleeping Oberon.  Sighing, she snuck back out and proceeded to pick up and replace all the scattered items.

In the process she located the missing papers -- but suddenly realized that she couldn't return to her office with them, as no one would be there for Oberon should he awaken.  And, she couldn't meet Shawnee for the lunch date she'd promised.

<Chrysthal, could you ask Doshayne to tell her rider that we'll need to do lunch in my apartments?>

<Doshayne says her rider understands about hatchling naps, and will be honored to join you for lunch in your apartment -- with her hatchling!>

Merissa smiled, perhaps for the first time that day!  Oberon would be thrilled to see little Lynnie.  He was intrigued by anyone smaller than himself.  She worked up the remaining figures on the coal allocations, and then busied herself with soup and sandwiches for their lunch.

And Shawnee arrived just in time.  Lynnie was asleep in her carryall and the two friends actually had a chance for a heart-to-heart chat.

Merissa found herself pouring out all her concern over becoming a queenrider, and losing the life of the bardswoman which had been the only life she'd known.

"I can't imagine not having Chrysthal as part of my life -- as part of myself -- but, I don't know, I just miss singing.  The only audience I have now is Oberon, and he wouldn't care if I sounded like a frog!"  Merissa complained.

"Then sing!  Merissa, you have such a wonderful voice, and such talent -- don't bottle it all up!  I remember the song you sang at Aradia's... ummm... service.  It was incredible!  I don't think there was a dry eye in the whole dining hall."

"I really wanted to sing last night..."  Merissa sighed.

"It was your mother, wasn't it, who stopped you from singing last night?"  Shawnee sympathized.  

Merissa nodded.  "And it wasn't even so much what she said, as it was how she said it.  I felt just like a 9 year old not a woman of 19!  Analise just has to look at me and I'm lost.  I just feel... so.... inadequate."

Shawnee understood.  If anyone did, it was this girl.  "I hope I never say or do anything to Lynnie to make her feel inadequate like that."


"Did talking to Oldreth help?"  Shawnee asked, in an attempt to move Merissa away from the gloom that talking about her mother brought on.

"Oldreth?"  Merissa found her face getting warmer.  So, someone had noticed their absence together....

"I just thought..."  Shawnee looked at her friend quizzically.

Suddenly Merissa's eyes clouded with that look that comes over a rider with an intense communication with their dragon.

"Oh, Gosh!"  Merissa stood suddenly.  "Shawnee, would you mind watching Oberon for a few minutes?  Moira, that new searchling, may be hurt, or something.  Wintermoon told Chrysthal that her rider -- that Oldreth -- just found Moira weeping..."

"Oh!  Of course!  Take all the time you need..." Shawnee replied.

*****
Oldreth -- again!  Could she not be rid of this man?  Merissa ran out onto the green.  Chrysthal was waiting for her, and the two launched into the air.

<Where is Wintermoon's rider?>  Merissa queried.

<He's not in the warren... he's followed the stream that leads out to the pastures.>  Chrysthal replied as they winged over the waterfall and headed downstream.

Out of the warren?!  Merissa found herself getting angry.  Trinale had told her that this man needed to be "educated" in the ways of a junior queenrider -- well, he obviously needed to be educated in the ways of the Warren.  One didn't just leave the warren -- at least a queenrider didn't, not unescorted.  Trinale had tried that once, and been attacked by a wild animal -- that Pa'gan had killed just in time.  It was foolish!


Merissa saw the two below and advised Chrysthal to bring her down.  

>With that Moira's sobs became more urgent and he pulled her close and
>heard the snuffling sobs against his shirt, and felt her wipe her nose
>over the clean soft fabric. He sighed and tried to comfort her as he
>shuddered miserably against him.

Merissa thought to rush right over, but found herself pausing, feelings of  jealousy rose in her at seeing Moira being comforted in the same way that Oldreth had comforted her only the night before.  Foolishness!!  What in the world did she have to be jealous over?  

Merissa approached the two, and inquired softly, "Is there anything I can do to help?  Moira?  Are you hurt, do you need a healer?"

*****
TAG: Rob or Rhi.
NRPG:  J'red post coming next -- Promise Jill!  And I'll give Derry a chance to get some help "looking out for" Katla!

{{hugs}}
-Arlene
aka Merissa of Whiteriver Warren rider of the beautiful Lavender Queen Chrysthal.


****************************************************************************
Arlene E. Jacobs (9/22/63) <ajacobs@zebra.net>
Loving Wife to Mark (7/9/59) and Mother of 
Kevin (5/17/92-11/22/93), Jeffrey (5/14/94) and Jessica (3/25/96)
http://www.neosoft.com/~acoustic/wwwarlenejhp.html

"How much better to get wisdom than gold, 
to choose understanding rather than silver!"  Prov 16:16

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<DIV>She fumed and fussed at herself as she realized that the paperwork =
that she=20
needed to send to the nobility requesting additional coal allocations =
was back=20
at her apartment.  Throwing down the other papers through which =
she'd been=20
searching in vain, Merissa, slammed out of her office.  Her mood =
was=20
definitely not improving.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><You need a break, love>  Chrysthal soothed.  =
<You have=20
been working so hard -- trying not to think. ></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><Not to think about what?!>  Merissa snapped back.  =
<I'm=20
just busy...>  And tired from the interrupted sleep due to the =
birth of=20
Th'rin's new brother.  Strange how quickly one begins to get used =
to=20
sleeping through the night again....</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><About your mother, about Oldreth..., about Th'rin and Xanthia =
and=20
Oberon...?>  Chrysthal suggested.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Merissa thought about the funeral the previous evening.  How =
could she=20
have fought with her mother so, in front of all those people -- and then =
how=20
could she have just dumped all of her problems on that total stranger, =
that=20
Oldreth?  Gods she was pathetic!  If it hadn't been for Th'rin =
hurting=20
so much over B'ril she could have turned to him for comfort, but how =
could she=20
add to his burdens?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And, and, and... Yes, she needed a break from thinking.  She =
pushed=20
the lock of red hair behind her ear, fingering it and thinking of the =
woman=20
Aradia, whose healing touch had given it to her.  Thinking didn't =
get her=20
anywhere!  Oldreth was an enigma, as much as Xanthia -- so =
different, so=20
difficult to understand!  But, yet, so much a part of her baby =
Oberon's=20
life -- was this what she had to look forward to as he grew?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Merissa stomped up the steps into her apartment and was greeted =
with the=20
incredulous site of Xanthia AND Oldreth in the middle of her apartment, =
with all=20
of Pa'gan and Aradia's things scattered around.  </DIV>
<DIV><BR>"What are you doing?" Merissa asked.<BR><BR>"I =
just=20
showed Pa'gan and Aradia's things to Oldreth." Xanthia replied,=20
nonplussed.<BR><BR>"You should have asked!"  Merissa felt =
her=20
anger building.  How dare they intrude into her personal=20
space?!<BR><BR>"I'm sorry," Xanthia apologized, "I need =
to go...=20
to the med center..."<BR><BR>"And I have an appointment I need =
to keep=20
with Trinale," Oldreth said,<BR>excusing =
himself.<BR><BR>"Where's=20
Oberon?" Merissa asked, suddenly concerned that these two in there=20
single-mindedness about the Bear Nomads had neglected the boy.</DIV>
<DIV><BR>"Bed," Xanthia replied simply, following Oldreth out =
the=20
door.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bed?  Napping?  Merissa ignored the two Bear Nomads as =
she rushed=20
to the nursery and peered in at the peacefully sleeping Oberon.  =
Sighing,=20
she snuck back out and proceeded to pick up and replace all the =
scattered=20
items.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In the process she located the missing papers -- but suddenly =
realized that=20
she couldn't return to her office with them, as no one would be there =
for Oberon=20
should he awaken.  And, she couldn't meet Shawnee for the lunch =
date she'd=20
promised.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><Chrysthal, could you ask Doshayne to tell her rider that we'll =
need to=20
do lunch in my apartments?></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><Doshayne says her rider understands about hatchling naps, and =
will be=20
honored to join you for lunch in your apartment -- with her =
hatchling!></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Merissa smiled, perhaps for the first time that day!  Oberon =
would be=20
thrilled to see little Lynnie.  He was intrigued by anyone smaller =
than=20
himself.  She worked up the remaining figures on the coal =
allocations, and=20
then busied herself with soup and sandwiches for their lunch.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And Shawnee arrived just in time.  Lynnie was asleep in her =
carryall=20
and the two friends actually had a chance for a heart-to-heart =
chat.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Merissa found herself pouring out all her concern over becoming a=20
queenrider, and losing the life of the bardswoman which had been the =
only life=20
she'd known.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"I can't imagine not having Chrysthal as part of my life -- as =
part of=20
myself -- but, I don't know, I just miss singing.  The only =
audience I have=20
now is Oberon, and he wouldn't care if I sounded like a =
frog!" =20
Merissa complained.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"Then sing!  Merissa, you have such a wonderful voice, =
and such=20
talent -- don't bottle it all up!  I remember the song you sang at=20
Aradia's... ummm... service.  It was incredible!  I don't =
think there=20
was a dry eye in the whole dining hall."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"I really wanted to sing last night..."  Merissa=20
sighed.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"It was your mother, wasn't it, who stopped you from singing =
last=20
night?"  Shawnee sympathized.  </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Merissa nodded.  "And it wasn't even so much what she =
said, as it=20
was how she said it.  I felt just like a 9 year old not a woman of=20
19!  Analise just has to look at me and I'm lost.  I just =
feel...=20
so.... inadequate."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Shawnee understood.  If anyone did, it was this girl.  =
"I=20
hope I never say or do anything to Lynnie to make her feel inadequate =
like=20
that."</DIV>
<DIV><BR> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000>"Did talking to Oldreth =
help?"  Shawnee=20
asked, in an attempt to move Merissa away from the gloom that talking =
about her=20
mother brought on.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>"Oldreth?"  Merissa found her face getting =
warmer.  So,=20
someone had noticed their absence together....</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"I just thought..."  Shawnee looked at her friend=20
quizzically.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Suddenly Merissa's eyes clouded with that look that comes over a =
rider with=20
an intense communication with their dragon.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"Oh, Gosh!"  Merissa stood suddenly.  =
"Shawnee,=20
would you mind watching Oberon for a few minutes?  Moira, that new=20
searchling, may be hurt, or something.  Wintermoon told Chrysthal =
that her=20
rider -- that Oldreth -- just found Moira weeping..."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"Oh!  Of course!  Take all the time you =
need..."=20
Shawnee replied.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>*****</DIV>
<DIV>Oldreth -- again!  Could she not be rid of this man?  =
Merissa ran=20
out onto the green.  Chrysthal was waiting for her, and the two =
launched=20
into the air.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><Where is Wintermoon's rider?>  Merissa queried.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><He's not in the warren... he's followed the stream that leads =
out to=20
the pastures.>  Chrysthal replied as they winged over the =
waterfall and=20
headed downstream.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Out of the warren?!  Merissa found herself getting =
angry. =20
Trinale had told her that this man needed to be "educated" in =
the ways=20
of a junior queenrider -- well, he obviously needed to be educated in =
the ways=20
of the Warren.  One didn't just leave the warren -- at least a =
queenrider=20
didn't, not unescorted.  Trinale had tried that once, and been =
attacked by=20
a wild animal -- that Pa'gan had killed just in time.  It was=20
foolish!</DIV>
<DIV><BR> </DIV>
<DIV>Merissa saw the two below and advised Chrysthal to bring her =
down. =20
</DIV>
<DIV><BR>>With that Moira's sobs became more urgent and he pulled her =
close=20
and<BR>>heard the snuffling sobs against his shirt, and felt her wipe =
her=20
nose<BR>>over the clean soft fabric. He sighed and tried to comfort =
her as=20
he<BR>>shuddered miserably against him.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Merissa thought to rush right over, but found herself pausing, =
feelings=20
of  jealousy rose in her at seeing Moira being comforted in the =
same way=20
that Oldreth had comforted her only the night before.  =
Foolishness!! =20
What in the world did she have to be jealous over?  </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Merissa approached the two, and inquired softly, "Is there =
anything I=20
can do to help?  Moira?  Are you hurt, do you need a=20
healer?"</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>*****</DIV>
<DIV>TAG: Rob or Rhi.</DIV>
<DIV>NRPG:  J'red post coming next -- Promise Jill!  And I'll =
give=20
Derry a chance to get some help "looking out for" Katla!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>{{hugs}}</DIV>
<DIV>-Arlene</DIV>
<DIV>aka Merissa of Whiteriver Warren rider of the beautiful Lavender =
Queen=20
Chrysthal.<BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2>****************************************************************=
************<BR>Arlene=20
E. Jacobs (9/22/63) <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:ajacobs@zebra.net">ajacobs@zebra.net</A>><BR>Loving =
Wife to Mark=20
(7/9/59) and Mother of <BR>Kevin (5/17/92-11/22/93), Jeffrey (5/14/94) =
and=20
Jessica (3/25/96)<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.neosoft.com/~acoustic/wwwarlenejhp.html">http://www.ne=
osoft.com/~acoustic/wwwarlenejhp.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>"How much better to get wisdom =
than gold,=20
<BR>to choose understanding rather than silver!"  Prov=20
16:16</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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