< Ashelle and T'jellan in the Barracks >

> Ashelle groaned, "I'm being called .. Oaklah's 'starving ..."
> 
> T'jellan grinned, "I'm sure."
> 
> "You can come help me .." she began then paused, "Unless of course you have
> other things to do?"
> 
> T'jellan looked at her, thinking he should probably let her be with her
> dragon .. but she had asked, "I can stay for a few minutes."
> 
> Ashelle grinned, "Good. I'm sure once she's eaten she'll fall asleep. She
> always seems to gorge herself then sleep .."
> 
> "That's completely normal, nothing to worry about."
> 
> Ashelle nodded, "So I've heard. Have you eaten breakfast? I'm nearly as
> hungry as my dragon!"
> 
> He shook his head, "No, not yet. Let feed your  dragon and then we'll go to
> the dining hall and feed you."

  Ashelle nodded, smiling.  It was nice to have company to talk to, and it
was even better as she was so happy that Xanthia was all right and
resting!

  Reaching for the food bowls, she sat, T'jellan squatting next to her,
and started feeding her dear dragon.  She was in good spirits, and in the
mood for a bit of fun.  She placed a bit of meat on Oaklah's snout, and
giggled as she tried to use her tongue to swipe it off.  Finally, she gave
her head a shake, and sent the meat flying, right into T'jellan's lap!

  Ashelle almost fell over laughing, and pointed at the man's lap.  "She
likes you and wants you to eat too, I think!  But her aim is way off!"
Without thinking, she reached in T'jellan's lap to remove the hunk of
meat...then fed it to Oaklah.

[NRPG:  My word, I just re-read that wording, and boy could I get in
trouble!  Where *is* my mind!  A Whiteriver Bobbit! :P ]

  The look on poor T'jellan's face was a mixture of suprise, and a blush
as he'd felt her hand against his lap.  It was an innocent enough
gesture, but it took a bit for him to realize that it sent a warm feeling
through him.

  The feeding went on, and Ashelle started singing until Oaklah was
comfortably stuffed and sleeping again.  Then she stood, and offered her
hand to T'jellan.  "Stand up, or you'll get all stiff."

  T'jellan didn't state the obvious, and chuckled, standing and taking
Ashelle's hand..and together they headed to eat breakfast.  

  After entering the dining hall, and filling their plates, they took a
table, chatting with other riders before turning to enjoy their meal.

  "T'jellan, you said that Oaklah would eat and sleep a lot.  But when
will she stop sleeping and start flying?"

  A look of relief crossed T'jellan's face.  A subject he was more
comfortable with!  And he settled back to explain.

  A few minutes later, Ashelle started to chuckle, and he had to stop
eating to ask what was so funny.

  "Butter!"  At his suprised look, Ashelle reached to wipe a bit of butter
from his beard.  "You're supposed to eat it, not wear it, T'jellan.
Here,"  and she reached to feed him a nicely buttered bit of warm roll.
"no drips."

  Then she let something slip that caused her to go bright red, and almost
choke on her food.  "You've got nice eyes, they make your whole face light
up when you smile."

  At the shocked look from T'jellan, she turned her gaze back to her food,
blushing softly.  THAT wasn't supposed to come out.  Talk about eating her
feet with breakfast!

  One of the children that she'd fixed a pair of pants for slipped over,
and whispered something to Ashelle...causing her to smile and give a happy
nod.  Then she sat back, cleared her throat, and started to sing softly.

  It was a simple song, about children and dreams..but it made the child
smile and she got a hug when she was done.  Turning back to her food, she
smiled at T'jellan.

  "I like making the children happy.  They like my songs. I'd promised to
sing that for him, but have been so busy with Oaklah, and worry over
Xanthia, I forgot.  I try to keep my word to people."

  She looked at T'jellan curiously.  "Do you sing?"

[TAG:  Kris!  I just put poor T'jellan on the spot!  Have fun!]

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

Jeanette
Ashelle/Oaklah * Whiteriver