Date:  Tue Apr 9, 2002  10:11
pm


Day 9,  midmorning



Having had his ear bent by the angsty Xanthia that morning at breakfast, 

Latnem was only too glad to retire to the relative quiet of the office that 

Th'rin had set up for him in the med center. As word had spread of the 

existence of a mind healer on premises, more and more warren residents, 

riders and landbound alike, had sought out his counsel, thus necessitating 

an area where patients could come to him and speak in private.



He unstrapped the Cuddler from his chest and settled Alina into her cradle, 

having voluntarily given Xanthia a needed break from the baby. He couldn't 

help but smile at the titian haired infant, a good natured child who rarely 

cried; a blessing for an easily stressed mother such as Xanthia.



His attention was diverted from his young charge as a knock came at the 

door. "Come in!" he called out, realizing that today would indeed be a busy 

one. The door opened and the warrenlady stepped inside.



"Have a moment?" she asked as she shut the door behind her before taking a 

seat.



"For you, always," the young mindhealer replied "You seem a bit," he 

frowned as he studied her aura and searched for an appropriate word, 

"stressed, if I may say so."



"Stressed, that would be one word for it," Merissa sighed.



"Tell me what's stressing you," Latnem prodded, crossing his legs and 

leaning back in his chair, a move which almost seemed preparatory to 

listening though he did it without thinking.



"Where do I start? The mercury? Oldreth? Xanthia?"



"She meant no harm, you know." Latnem defended his primary patient gently.



"What she meant and what she did..."



"Now," Latnem interrupted, "we don't know that any harm is done yet."



"But she shouldn't have told him."



"He asked. I spoke with both Xanthia and with Oberon, and he corroborates 

this. What would you have her do. lie?"



"Merissa..." Latnem sighed, "You do realize Xanthia's incapable of lying, 

don't you?"



"Incapable of lying?"



"Let me ask you this," Latnem asked pointedly, are you more angry at 

Xanthia for telling the truth, or are you more angry that it was Xanthia 

who shared that moment with Oberon and not you?"



"I don't follow..."



"Let me put it this way," Latnem tried a different tack, making sure to 

pitch his voice softly so as to be as unantagonistic as possible while 

being direct. "And I must tell you, I mean no offense by this question, nor 

am I taking sides. But I want you to be honest with me and yourself, for 

the good of both you and Oberon," he prefaced to be certain there was no 

misunderstanding and paused so that the import would sink in.



After the brief pause the mindhealer asked directly, "Are you envious of 

the closeness shared between Oberon and Xanthia? Does the fact that Oberon 

and Xanthia share a unique bond,  a bond of blood as well as being able to 

communicate telepathically to each other, threaten your sense of security 

as his foster mother?"



<<NRPG: TAG Arle! He'll also listen to any other things he wants to discuss 

with her.>>

****



After his visit with Merissa, Latnem decided to try once again to talk with 

the elusive junior queenrider. Tired of chasing her down, he decided to 

pull physician privilege and had one of the joined nurses use their dragon 

to send word to Daetyn to have her rider come to the med center. He only 

hoped she would respond.



A short while later a knock came at the door. "You sent for me?" Arri said.



"Have a seat," Latnem offered congenially. "Please," he added, sensing her 

hesitance.



The junior queenrider took a seat and then looked at him quizzically.



"I just wanted to touch base with you. I heard that Oldreth left, and was 

wondering how you were adjusting to the work? And how you and Daetyn are 

doing over all, what with her being "with egg" or whatever you dragonriders 

call it."



"That's it?"



"That and anything else you wish to talk about. I have as much time as you 

need," Latnem reassured.



<<NRPG: Tag Betty!>>



****



NRPG: OK, I wanted to write more but my brain just went blank. Anyone who 

wants to, feel free to interact with Latnem. Kat, what about Lorelei? Kas, 

either or both of the twins having issues? Kris, is Th'rin feeling the need 

to talk?





Blessed be,



Morgan

MorganElfwench@comcast.net

morgan_the_dragonwench@yahoo.com

ICQ: 28792949



If I can stop one Heart from breaking

I shall not live in vain

If I can ease one Life  the Aching,

or cool one Pain,

Or help one fainting Robin

into his Nest again,

I shall not live in Vain. - Emily Dickinson