Day 35 - afternoon
***
Th'rin
***

Th'rin whistled contentedly even as he poured over the latest batch of
records on his way to his office. Despite the epidemic number of illnesses
being reported lately, he was in a good mood. None of them seemed serious at
the moment and all patients were responding to treatment, even if it wasn't
as quickly as he would have liked. He knew there had to be more to it then
met the eye. Still the past month, with Merissa and Tarv'renon, had been the
happiest of his life, and it kept his spirits cheered and hopeful.

He planned not to spend a few hours in his office going through B'ril's old
dusty tomes for any and all information he could find.

His whistling was brought to a stop as he approached his office. The door
was open and there were hushed and unhappy voices coming from within. He
coulnd't hear them well enough to know who it was or what they were talking
about, but it caused an uneasy prickling at his spine. He tried to whistle
again, to chase away the uneasiness, but it dind't work, so he gave up even
before he crossed the threshold.

"Hello?" he asked with as much authority as his prickling spine would allow
him.

Merissa's was the first face he saw, and he smiled in relief .. until she
took a step toward him, reached out his hand and slapped him hard against
the face. "Damn you .." she hissed, and exited quickly.

Th'rin watched her, mouth agape.

"Th'rin!" A happy shrill voice squealed and he felt himself stumbling
against the rush of Xanthia into his arms.

"Xanthia ..?" he said incredulously, "You .. your back?" He smiled at her,
happy to see her, though still puzzled at Merissa's behavior.

"Oh I've missed you!" she said, hugging him close.

He returned the hug, but she felt different .. her body felt .. bigger. He
pushed her back as it began to register. His eyes confirmed his suspicions,
and his jaw dropped again. "Xanthia .. you .. your pregnant .."

"He is an observant man .." Latnem said dryly, drawing Th'rin's gaze upon
him.

Th'rin's eyes narrowed, as he immediately began putting two and two
together. Unfortunately in this case, his math was flawed and he came up
with three, rather then the appropriate four .. "Who are you?"

"Latnem Troppus, Mind healer from Tinoble." The man said holding out his
hand.

"Mind healer? You're Xanthia's doctor?" There was a bitter accusation in
Th'rin's tone. Obviously this man had taken advantage of Xanthia's nature
and seduced her!

"Yes .." Was all the man got out before Th'rin's punch hit him squarely in
the jaw.

"How dare you take advantage of her!" Th'rin began to rage.

"Th'rin .." Xanthia tried to interrupt the healers tirade as he cursed at
the visitor, calling him ever name in the book.

"Th'rin!" Xanthia said with a stronger voice. "Stop it!"

"Oh Xanthia,": Th'rins gaze softened as he turned from Latnem and looked at
her, "You just are too sweet to understand how incredibly wrong this is.
He's your mind healer .. This is a horrible breech of ethics.. it's not
right!"

"And what about your breech, sir!" Latnem pulled himself up and accused as
he rubbed at his aching jaw.

Th'rin spun around, "MINE? You know nothing about me.. or about Xanthia .."

"The baby is not mine, sir .. it's yours." Latnem said calmly.

This threw Th'rin for a loop. It was not something he was prepared for. He
turned to look at Xanthia and she nodded and beamed a smile at him.

".. mine .." he said weakly, faltering a step back away from Xanthia's
rounded figure. ".. mine .."

"Of course it's yours," Xanthia said matter-of-factly. "You and I both know
how a woman become pregnant and so when we .."

"I know .." Th'rin interrupted her. "But .. why .. why didn't you say
anything .. write me .. anything .."

"What was there to write you about. I knew I was coming back." Xanthia
looked at him puzzled.

"Oh gods, no wonder .. Merissa .." he groaned as he moved to sit in the
chair behind his desk.

"Th'rin?" Xanthia asked. "Are you upset with me?"

Th'rin looked up at her and shook his head, "Of course not .. I'm just ..
surprised. I wasn't prepared for this."

Xanthia still pouted unhappily, "Aren't you glad to see me?"

Th'rin could here the tinge of panic in her voice. He could sense the
fragile nature of her psyche as it started to crumble. "I am glad, Xanthia."
He assured her, and forced himself to get up and move toward her, "I am very
glad to see you."

She smiled happily now and she met him halfway, cuddling up against him,
"I'm so glad to be home."

He held her gently, smoothing her hair, not allowing her to see or feel the
turmoil that churned in his heart. He was glad to see her. But if she was
pregnant .. with his child. Oh gods .. what was that going to do to the
world that had just begun to settle in comfortably with him, Merissa and
Tarv'renon ..

Regards,
Th'rin & Areena

NRPG: There's more but wanted to get these part out now...

Kris
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  |\  /^~~^\  /| 
--qqQ-\O||O/-Qpp-------------------------------------------------
       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Th'rin & Areena,Whiteriver Warren, Head Healer
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                      Saul & Fayloth, Jasra Warren, Searcher
                      Darlea & Makayla, Courier
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Dragonrider
                      Devon & Xanith, Dragonrider
                http://members.home.net/sgant/kristen/kris.htm
 --d----------b---------------------------------------------------
        ()
       \()/
        \/


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