Day 15
Morning

Merissa could never remember feeling as much dread as she did when she
thought about her friend Lady Raine.  What the girl had to be going
through... and she felt guilty in that she had allowed it to happen, or at
least had done nothing to stop it from happening.  Her thoughts on her
friend clouded everything else as she went about her daily business, even
when she stood watching her son playing with his favorite Aunt Xan in her
room at the med center.

As she stood in the doorway to Xanthia's room she was acutely aware of
Tarv'renon waiting for a response from her...

<Snip from Morgie's Post>
>
>"It's just..." she shook her head.
>
>He reached for her face, stroking her cheek and stopping at the chin,
>where he then tipped her head back so he could look her in the eye as
>he spoke so she could see his sincerity.
>
>"If you need to talk, I'm a good listener," he said softly, his heart
>going out to her.
<End Snip>

Merissa stiffened unconsciously, and pulled back slightly from Tarv'renon's
intimate caress.  She saw the hurt in his eyes, as he quickly withdrew his
hand.

"Sorry..."  he mumbled.

"Oh, no!  I'm the one who should be sorry, Tarv!" Merissa exclaimed, feeling
rather sheepish in the way she'd reacted to a kind gesture of friendship.

"Another time, maybe... I ought to be going anyway."  Tarv'renon mumbled,
drawing back.

Merissa felt awful.  The man had never really done anything to her, and here
he was offering friendship... "No, wait... I really could use someone to
talk to... if you don't mind?"

His face brightened.  Merissa backed away from Xanthia's door a bit, and
managed to talk for the next 15 minutes straight, or so it seemed -- and she
realized that Tarv really was a good listener!


****
Day 16
Late Morning

Merissa sat behind her desk, swamped with more requisitions.  The workmen
had been busy repairing the damage to the hatching cavern -- and annoying
Chrysthal, who had threatened to flame them... luckily their foreman had
suggested they take a break, and they had gone swimming.

She was startled from her thoughts by someone loudly pounding on her office
door.

"Come?"  She called out, and half rose as the door was flung open.

<SNIP from Dana's Post>
>"I'm sorry, I'm looking for Warrenlady Trinale.  I
>was sure this was her office.  At least I thought this was the way that
>dragonrider said to turn, but then again, maybe I didn't hear right.  Those
>men just got me so riled up.  The way they're just out there playing!  I
sure
>hope something's being done about catching those evil men.  Well, not the
>ones playing, though the way they were dressed, or rather not dressed, was
>certainly evil.  I mean those butchers!"  She paused to catch her breath,
>never in her life having strung so many sentences together at once.
>
>"Trinale's office is across the hall," came the unruffled response.  "You
>must have turned the wrong wayöan easy enough mistake to make.  Now, is
>there some way I can help you, Adeliannae?  I didn't quite follow what has
>you so upset."

Merissa noticed the girl suddenly growing pale, as she grasped the back of
the chair in
front of her for support.  Quickly, the young queenrider rushed around her
desk and steadied the girl, guiding her into a chair.

>She leaned her head back and closed her eyes
>until the weakness subsided.  Looking up, she saw a glass of water held out
>to her.  After downing the contents, she met the woman's concerned gaze.
>
>"I'll be all right," she assured her.  "I just did too much walking."
>
>"We'd better get you back to the Med Center.  Once you're released, I want
>you to promise you'll rest at my mother's."
>
>"Your mother's?"

Merissa grinned, remembering her early conversation with her mother.
Analise had been anything but pleased to take in the orphaned girl -- but a
Bard's duty was to one of their own -- no matter what -- and it had given
her great pleasure to finally be able to make her mother squirm.

>"Yes, my mother, Analise.  She's going to take you in for the time being."
>She took Adeliannae's arm and led her out the door.
>
>"Oh, that's so good of her!  I didn't have any idea where I was going to
go."
> A warm feeling of relief washed over her.  "Thank you for telling me...I'm
>sorry, I don't know your name."
>
>"Merissa.  We met years ago, but I don't suppose at your age then you would
>have paid much attention to me," she chuckled briefly.  "And I remember you
>primarily because of your father.  His music was certainly unforgettable."
>
>"Yes, it was," Adeliannae agreed softly as they reached the Med Center
doors.
> "And so was he."
<END SNIP>

When Merissa and Adeliannae returned to the med center, Corra met them just
inside the doors.

"Well, I'll leave you in capable hands, Adeliannae,"  Merissa said in
farewell.  "I'll make sure my Mother knows that you'll be released today and
to come for you after she finishes the children's afternoon lessons."  With
a wave, Merissa left her and went to find Th'rin for lunch.

****
Tag Dana and Morgie

*****
Dining Hall, Lunch.

Merissa haphazardly placed food items on her tray, much to Th'rin's dismay.

Her eyes didn't even focus on her choices, as she tried to console
Chrysthal.  The workmen had returned to the caverns, and were replacing the
bleachers that had been destroyed in the bombing.

<Darling, if there are no bleachers, there will be nowhere for the
warrenfolk to gather to witness the hatching and joining of your precious
hatchlings!>  Merissa soothed.

<*I don't want all those people in here!  One of them could be carrying
another bomb!*>  Chrysthal fumed.  Her normal bell-like tones, strident with
worry.

<No, I would never let another person in here like that one!>  Merissa
attempted to reassure the irate queen. <W'lam has been working with the
watch dragons.  They will know whom to screen out and whom to let in.>

Chrysthal, hrmphed, and balefully watched the workers; steam coming from her
nostrils, as her desire to flame them was barely held in check.

Merissa suddenly became aware of Th'rin patiently guiding her to a table.

"Sorry, love... it's ... Chrysthal."  That was all the explanation required.
He'd been around when Chrysthal had been brooding before.

They passed a table were Tarv'renon and J'red were eating lunch.  They
seemed deeply involved in their conversation.

"I hadn't realized that Tarv and J'red had become such good friends!"
Merissa commented and noticed an odd look cross Th'rin's face and she
wondered, but did not ask out loud.

They chatted a bit during their lunch.

****
Tag Kris, does Th'rin need to say anything to Merissa?
****

They were both rather distracted by their work and other matters, and soon
the conversation died.  But the silence was a comfortable one.

"Well, I should probably be heading back to the med center.  I think I'll
walk past the playground and see if Racine has the boys out playing."
Th'rin commented, as he piled his soiled dishes and flatware onto the tray.

Merissa smiled at the mention of their foster son, but then her eyes clouded
a bit with concern, "Th'rin, do you think that Oberon is okay?  I mean, he
hardly talks... Racine said that sometimes kids don't talk until much later
than Oberon... but to be honest, Th'rin I'm a bit concerned...."

"Oh, don't worry, Merissa.  Oberon is still well within the norm,"  Th'rin
reassured her.  "When he has something to say, he'll just one day start
talking -- you mark my words!"

Merissa smiled and nodded, "I know... I know... I just can't help worrying.
Isn't that what mothers are for?"

Th'rin joined Merissa in a heartfelt laugh.  They cleaned up their plates
and headed out.

"I'd better check on Chrysthal before returning to work."  Merissa stated as
she headed towards the hatching cavern.

Merissa stayed with her queen rubbing her down with some of the special oil
that Th'rin had concocted -- the one with herbs that dragons found
especially soothing to smell.  She was aware how the lavender queen's hide
was stretching her bulging sides and smiled as she realized that it wouldn't
be too much longer before the eggs were laid; probably no more than a few
days!

Chyrsthal relaxed and almost seemed to purr under the ministrations of her
rider.  When Merissa was sure that Chrysthal was asleep, she headed back to
her office.

She had just finished a letter to ask for assistance from other warrens --
for additional trained riders, to replace the losses they had taken from the
coal poisoning and the bombing, and Saul and Shawnee's leaving -- especially
a back-up searcher for Trinale -- when two riders came to her door.  They
looked rather sheepish as they tried to explain.  It only took a moment
before Merissa figured out what was going on.

"K'leev!"  her breath caught in her throat.  Suddenly a few of the more
unpleasant mysteries seemed to fall into place.  She had wondered who could
have been evil enough to kill a dragonrider and her dragon -- none of the
suspects that had been put forth as possibilities for Gwyna's murderer had
felt right to Merissa -- but K'leev!  If Gwyna had found out about his being
here at WR....  He'd been caught but now he was on the loose again!

She rushed out, crossing the green almost at a run, heading straight to
Racine's.

Late Afternoon
<SNIP from Kris' post>
>"Racine!" A voice called from the other room. It was Merissa! Finally the
>gods were pulling through for her, Mara thought.  Merissa was jut the
person
>she needed.
>
>"In here, Merissa." Racine called.
>
>The junior queenrider hurried into the room and wrapped her arms around
>Racine. "Oh Racine .." she said soothingly. "I heard what happened. How are
>you?"
>
>"I'm packing," Racine said simply. "It's not safe here. I have to get my
>children somewhere safe."
>
>Merissa frowned, "I'm so sorry to hear that .. but I do understand."
>
>Mara saw her chance. "I'm staying," she announced strongly.
>
>Both women looked up at her, "What?"
>
>Mara did not falter, she couldn't. If she wanted them to take her seriously
>and listen to her, she needed to be strong in her resolve. "He isn't
>interested in me." She explained. "He won't bother me. Besides, if we all
>leave who will help out Merissa and Th'rin with the Bear?"
>
>"We can always find help, Mara," Merissa assured her, "You and your family
>are at stake here .. and that's most important."
>
>"I don't want to leave," she said again, "I'm finally happy here. Please
>don't let him ruin that for me again!"
>
>"But Mara, where would you stay? You're too young to be on your own."
Racine
>tried to talk some sense into the girl.
>
>"I could stay with Merissa and Th'rin," She insisted. She knew she was
being
>rude by saying so without asking, but she was feeling she had no choice,
>"That is of course, if it's okay with them," She looked pleadingly at
>Merissa. "It just makes things so much easier .. I'd be there just in case
>anything happened.  It's got ground access so I won't be a bother .. I'll
>cook .. I'll clean .. anything .. only please don't make me go .. Please
.."
<END SNIP>


Merissa saw something in the girl's eyes that she had never seen there
before.  The mousy girl that everyone dismissed, had suddenly become a
tiger.  When had that happened?   "Racine..."  Merissa looked at the tired
and frightened woman.

Racine met her gaze evenly, knowing before Merissa spoke what she would say.

"Racine, Mara is old enough to make decisions for herself.  And to be
honest, I would welcome her help," Merissa spoke softly and Racine nodded
and looked away.  Turning to look at her mate's half-sister, Merissa
continued, "Mara, you are welcome to stay with Th'rin, Bear and me."

"Mama?"  Racine nodded almost imperceptibly.  Mara's eyes filled with tears,
and she came forward to be met by both women, and the three embraced
sobbing.

****
Tag again Kris.

****
Merissa and Trinale met up after dinner to discuss the events of the day.
It had been an incredibly stressful day and the two young women could hardly
speak about all that had happened.  Merissa left the letters on Trinale's
desk to sign and took the requisitions that they'd gone over back to her
office to correct and rewrite.  She heard Trinale get up to leave a few
minutes later, hearing the office door across the hall shut as the young
warrenlady headed out.

<Snip from Kat's post>
>Trinale stopped in her tracks and screamed, both in her mind and out loud.
>"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
>
>Cricket appeared in front of her rider at that moment, as a large red
>dragon launched into the air, keening its good-byes.
>
>"No!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Trinale screamed again as she climbed on Cricket and
>Cricket launched in the air in a vain attempt to stop the red dragon.
>
>Just as Cricket attempted to teleport in front of the red, the red and its
>riders disappeared from sight.
>
>Dragons around the warren keened in despair as one of their own teleported
>away into nothingness. There was a slight break in the keening for only a
>second as they waited for Cricket and her rider to reappear, having failed
>to stop Dandy. It was only a moment before the dragons realized that
>Cricket was gone too. Their keening doubled in strength as they realized
>that the young Queen and her rider were gone.
<END SNIP>

Merissa closed her eyes, her heart suddenly very heavy in her chest.
"No..." she whispered.  Chrysthal's grief ringing through her mind.

<Snip from Morgie's Post>
>*Dining hall*
>
>The keening died down and Tarv'renon wiped the tears from his eyes. As
>he wondered what would happen to the warren now, his mind went to
>Merissa.
>
>{Gods,} he thought, {She's warrenlady now.}
>
>He remembered how troubled the young woman was, so overwhelmed by all
>that was going on in her life. Gods, what this must be doing to her,
>to lose her friend and gain all this responsibility all in one fell
>swoop!
>
><Murkash where is Chrysthal's rider right now?> He stood up from his
>dinner and headed for the door.
>
><She's in her office.>
>
><Is anyone with her?>
>
><No, she's alone,> Murkash confirmed his rider's fear.
>
><Take me to her.>
>
>Moments later he found himself opening the door to the new
>warrenlady's office. All he cared for was making sure she was all
>right.
>
>He found her at her desk, her head bowed, resting on folded hands. He
>walked over to her and stroked her hair lovingly.
>
>"Sh... it's okay... I'm here now," he soothed.
<End Snip>

Grief stricken, Merissa clung to the offered arms, sobs shaking her slight
form.  "Why?  Oh gods, why?"

"Sh.. sh..."  The arms tightened around her, rocking her gently, a hand
stroking her hair.

Merissa melted into the embrace, desperate to overcome her despair.  She was
the warrenlady, "Oh gods!"  She exclaimed again, "How can I go on?"

Her thoughts were suddenly flooded by all the various responsibilities that
were now hers.  All of them would be turning to her for leadership.  She had
to get a hold of herself!  But the more she tried to bring her mind into
focus, the more her emotions rocked her, and she found herself wailing,
tears streaming down her face.

He held her still, as she slowly drew herself together, the sobs slowing to
hiccups, the flood of tears to nose blowing.  Finally she was able to look
up, with a cloak of rationality drawn about herself.  It was then that she
realized who it was that held her in his arms; who it was that had comforted
her.

"Tarv?"  She looked at him in amazement then gratitude, "Thanks."  She
swallowed; another hiccup shaking her.  "I'll be okay, now, Tarv..."  her
voice breaking, belying her bravado.

He nodded, releasing her and backing off.  "Do you need me to do anything?
Anything at all?"

Merissa's dark eyes looked haunted.  She tried to think of what she needed
to do next, but nothing came to her.  They had just been talking, Trinale
and her, and now... now she was gone!  Sniffing, her mind went to their last
discussion -- they needed replacements, they needed help ... and now they
desperately needed a searcher! ... and they would have to inform the other
warrens and the Dragonlady, about Trinale's... accident.

"I need you to inform the other warrens about... about what has happened,"
Merissa spoke softly to Tarv.  "Could you?  Would you carry a letter from
... Whiteriver?"

****
Tag Morgie... well?

NRPG:  I assume that the party crashers will be hitting the cult about this
time?  I can backpost for Day 17...
****

Evening Day 17

Merissa was sitting at her desk... now the Warrenlady's desk.  Events had
been moving rather swiftly, and she was glad of the chance for some quiet
before retiring to her apartments.

She was startled by the knock on her door.  She hadn't even heard the
footsteps of anyone approaching!  It took her a minute before her heart
stopped pounding before she could call out, "Come!"

The door opened and a dragonrider whom she had never seen before, and a
young whisp of a girl came into her office.  She stood to greet them.

"Warrenlady?"  The dragonrider inquired with raised eyebrows.

Merissa smiled and nodded, "Hello and welcome to Whiteriver.  Please, come
in and have a seat...?"

The two entered and sat.  Merissa noted that the dragonrider seemed rather
at ease, but the young girl sat on the edge of her seat, eyes downcast, her
hands nervously plucking at her skirts.

The dragonrider again spoke up, "I'm Har'son, rider of Fourd."  He offered
her his transfer papers, which Merissa took from his hands.

She glanced over them swiftly and a relieved smile spread across her face,
"A searcher!  How wonderful."  She said without realizing she had even
spoken.  Her eyes looked up and were tear-filled, but she blinked them back,
before Har'son was sure that any had been there.  "Welcome, Har'son ... of
Whiteriver.  Please, take which ever empty apartment you would like..."  Her
eyes turning with inquiry to the girl.

"This is Ashlyn... I found her at Ralengarde ... she has the affinity."
Har'son supplied.

"Ashlyn?"  The girl looked up briefly.  Merissa smiled warmly.  "Please,
feel welcome here!  Would you like to tell me anything about yourself?"

*****
Tag Darren and Angela.  I assume that Merissa will have someone escort them
to their new quarters... Barb, would Kanler like to volunteer?
*****

Respectfully submitted by
Arlene Jacobs
AKA Merissa, rider of Chrysthal, Warrenlady of Whiteriver Warren.