Th'rin
***
<< Day 1, Early morning >>

>Th'rin peered beneath the cover. "Wiggle your toes," he instructed.

>Only the toes on the healthy foot moved.

>"Now the left foot," Th'rin prompted.

>"I did." Xanthia said, "Both."

"Can you do it again?" he asked. His face formed into that concerned Healer
face he often got when something wasn't going as he expected .. or hoped.
Xanthia complied, but still only the ones of her one foot moved.

Th'rin tapped at the foot that refused to move, "Move this one again."

"Which one?" Xanthia asked for the first time looking down at her feet. Her
face was a mixture of sadness and irritation which Th'rin knew was meant for
him for distracting her from whatever thought she was having.

He tapped again, "This one. Just this one."

The foot didn't move. Finally Xanthia shrugged and leaned back against the
couch, going back to whatever it had been Th'rin had distracted her from.
"Xanthia." Th'rin called her attention back. "Please try."

"I did, Th'rin .." she moaned, "It's just not working. I'm tired now! And I
miss Trinale .. and Cricket."

Th'rin sighed and moved to sit next to her, "I know .." They could worry
about her foot later ..

***
<< Afternoon >>

>"How's Xanthia handling it?"

>"Surprisingly well. She seems unfazed, as if that's just the normal way of it.
She's more upset over Trinale's death than anything else."

>"That's understandable," Corra replied softly, her spectacled eyes taking in
every detail of Th'rin's expression. "You miss her too, eh?" she asked with
motherly concern.

"She was one of the few who actually believed in me. She and B'ril .. and
Saul. But B'ril and Saul are gone .. and now so is she .."

"I  believe in you. So does Xanthia."

"It's not the same, Corra." He said shaking his head. "Neither you nor
Xanthia were around for my father and his tantrums. He certainly never
believed in me.. and worse, he was very good at having me doubt myself."

"I've heard, son, but he's gone and we're here, and we do believe in you."

Th'rin nodded, "I know." He looked up at her with a weak smile, "I'll be
okay, Corra, honest. I'm more worried about Xanthia."

"That girl's pretty damn resilient too, you know. Despite everything, she's
still here. Which often times is a miracle in and of itself."

Th'rin chuckled, "It is isn't it."

Corra nodded with a grin. "Of course, it's because of people like you."

"And you." Th'rin pointed out.

"Yes .." Corra agreed. "If I were you, Th'rin. I'd be more worried about
Xanthia's psychological health, then the loss of feeling in her leg. She'll
survive that. The other, I'm not so sure about."

Th'rin nodded grudgingly. "I know .. Do you know though, Corra, she let me
hold her last night. Not just a brief comfort hug .. but actually hold her."

Corra grinned, "I know. Who do you think covered you up last night."

He smiled, "Thanks."

"It was my pleasure." She told him. "I think there's something between you
and Xanthia, Th'rin. And I think you can through to her better then most."

"Well I don't know about that .." Th'rin said, thinking about how much the
young woman frustrated him from time to time.

"I do." Corra said simply. "I think you need to spend more time with her."

"I don't have enough time as it is, Corra," Th'rin protested. "As it is, I
haven't seen my mate since .. well since she became Warrenlady." He groaned,
"Gods, she's probably going crazy!"

"Merissa's a good woman, Th'rin. She knows you're needed here, and I think
she probably has a lot more support from other sources then Xannie does."

Th'rin shrugged, "Of course .. but .."

"I won't tell you what you need to do, Th'rin. I can only tell you, what
I've seen happening in the short time I've been here. And there's something
about you, that our Xannie responds too."

"I'll be here for her, You know that." Th'rin promised.

Corra nodded, for she did now that.

***
<< Late Afternoon >>

 Th'rin knocked on her door, and smiled as he heard her lovely voice telling
him to come in. She looked up as he entered and a smile moved to her lips,
"Th'rin."

"Hi .. I .. um .. well .. hadn't seen you in a while .. and .." He said
moving toward her.

She shook her head, "It's okay." She moved from around the desk and wrapped
her arms around his neck.

He hugged her tightly, relishing the feel of her body against his. "How are
you holding up?"

"'Bout as well as can be expected, I guess."

"Gods, Merissa, I'm sorry I haven't been around .." he said,  leaning back
to look at her face, "It's just that Xanthia had something of a breakthrough
last night and I couldn't leave her."

"A break through? Her legs?"

He shook his head, "No, unfortunately her legs aren't doing as well as I'd
hoped. But she came to me last night for comfort after Trinale .. well you
know."

"She came to you?" Merissa said a bit surprised.

Th'rin ginned and nodded, "Yes. She didn't start banging her head against
the wall or cutting her wrists or any of the other behaviors that seem to
plague her .. she came to *ME*."

"That's .. great." Merissa nodded, knowing what a big step that was for
Xanthia.

"Well, and now Corra .. well she thinks that I'm getting through to her, and
that spending more time with her might be a good idea."

"More time?" Merissa asked uncertainly.

"Well you know, letting her know that allowing people to get close is a good
thing." Th'rin explained. "And I tend to agree. It might even help Bear.
Since Xanthia spends so much time with him, maybe if she isn't so closed off
within herself .. maybe he'll open up a bit to. Maybe even start talking ..
And with Mara staying with us, well, you'll have plenty of help at home."

"You think it'll help Oberon?" Merissa asked, almost hopefully.

Th'rin nodded, knowing how much it upset her that their foster son wasn't
talking yet. "I think so."

Merissa nodded, "Okay .. if you think it's important."

"I do. Corra said you'd understand." He pulled her into a tight hug, "I love
you!" he kissed her quickly before waving one last time and hurrying out the
door.

<< NRPG: Well Arlene.. does Merissa really understand :) >>

***
<< Evening >>

<They're back!> Areena shouted joyfully and threw a picture of the small
aqua dragon and the Brilliant blue one bursting into the air over
Whiteriver.

"Saul .." Th'rin breathed, feeling a tingle in the pit of his stomach.

"Saul?" Xanthia asked, looking up at him. The two of them had been in one of
the labs organizing several of the newly dried herbs. Xanthia of course had
told him she could do it alone, but he insisted saying he wanted to help
her.

"Umm .. Areena just told me that Saul and Shawnee have returned." Th'rin
told her, "Probably for the funeral."

Xanthia pouted, but nodded her head, "Probably .."

"I'll be with you, Xanthia." He told her. "I know it's not going to be
easy."

"For you either?" she asked.

He shook his head, "No .. not for me either .."

Regards,
Th'rin & Areena
***
NRPG: Morgie, hope this works for you :) Th'rin probably isn't the most
subtle person .. will Xanthia get annoyed with him hanging around, or is
Corra right, and she needs him .. maybe a bit of both? <G>

Kris

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