Date:  Sat Apr 13, 2002  2:57
pm


Thırin

***

<< Day 7 ­ Afternoon (After sign language class) >>



"Merissa?" Thırin called as he saw his mate trying to scurry out of the

room. She turned guiltily to look at him, and he grabbed her hand, "Come

with me .. we need to chat."



He pulled her out of the room and around the corner to an empty corner of

the med center, and turned to face her, "So .. were you going to tell me

about the Prince?"



"It was a mating flight Thırin .." Merissa stammered.



"Yes, but .. You didnıt know that .. did you?" He said pointedly.



"Thırin .. I was drunk .. I .."



He put a hand gently to her lips, "Shhh .. We are only human Merissa.

Havenıt we proved that time and time again? I know you love me as I love

you. We are a family. I donıt think one drunken night of lovemaking would

ruin that."



She looked up at him in shock, "You wouldnıt have minded?"



He shrugged, "Well, it not like I wouldnıt have cared .. itıs just that well

.. You and I always come  home to each other. Isnıt that whatıs important?"



She smile, "Yes, yes it is!"



They embraced, and he softly tasted her lips, "Not that I want you to go out

seeking someone else to sleep with .. but sometimes things happen, and I

want you to know that I have complete faith in our family. I think Iıve

proven that I am not my father .."



"Many many times over," Merissa agreed.



"We are good together, you and I. And Oberon is happy .. and Xanthia and

Alina are with us .. and well .. I canıt wait until we make our family even

bigger!" He pulled her close and hugged her tightly, "Not right away of

course .. but sometimes soon .. yes .. sometimes soon .."



"Thırin .. are you suggesting .." Merissa started to say, but was

interrupted by a voice calling loudly for Thırin.



"Thırin! Thırin! Jeezieıs about to have the baby! Thırin! Where are you!"



Thırin grinned broadly, "I think Jeezie and Kenlaien are about to have their

baby. He sounds excited doesnıt he?"



Merissa nodded, "You better hurry."



"Babies and children are what life is all about, my love!" he told her as he

ran off down the hallway.



***

<< Day 8 ­ Afternoon >>



>"The warrenlady will explain," was all the more answer forthcoming from the

guard as he hung the keys on the wall, out of reach but tantalizingly within

sight.



>"There must be some mistake. Let me out of here! Please!!!" his ravings

dissolved into tears.



"There is no mistake." Thırinıs normally warm voice was ice cold.



"Thırin!" Tarv spun to face his lover, "Why am I here .. I donıt understand!

Where is Merissa .. Please .. please help me .."



"Have you forgotten .. You tried to kill my daughter."



"No .. no, itıs not like that. Thırin you have to believe me. Everything I

did .. I did for us.. for you and me and Merissa!"



"You are never to speak her name again .. nor mine. You are dead to me .. do

you hear .. dead."



"Wha .." Tarv was thunderstruck for a moment, then his face turned hard and

his eyes flashed. "Youıre just jealous because Merissa loves me. Not you ..

ME! Do you hear ! ME!"



"Rot in hell .." Thırin said in a low voice before turning and heading out

of Warrens very small .. very dark lock up. Tarvırenon continued to yell

after him .. cursing .. then begging .. then pleading .. but Thırin walked

on.



<< NRPG: Soooo, do you think Tarv might be a tad upset with Thırin now? >>



***

<< Late afternoon >>



>Xanthia lowered her head and nodded, "But I still donıt see why...."



>Merissaıs eyes hardened, "Because, Thırin and I are Oberonıs guardians -- the

only parents heıs ever known -- and it was up to us as to when, how or even

if Oberon learns about his birth parents!  Xanthia, youıve overstepped your

bounds."



Thırin stepped between them, "Now wait .. both of you." He said, looking

back and forth between them a few times before turning much gentler eyes on

Xanthia. "Its just that  Merissa and I feel that even though we arenıt

biologically Oberonıs mother and father, we are by all other standards his

parents, and itıs our job to explain that to him. Yes," he affirmed looking

back at Merissa, "We would definitely have told him about Aradia, but," he

looked back at Xanthia, "he really needed to hear it from us."



Xanthia still looked confused, while Merissa looked a bit less ready to

pounce on her. Thırin put an arm around her and pulled her away, signaling

Merissa to give him a moment alone with Xanthia. When the Warrenlady was

gone, he spoke softly, "Whatıs done is done, Merissa and I will handle it

from here."



>Xanthia couldn't shake the feeling of being a caged animal. Grabbing a wrap and

strapping Alina to her with the Cuddler, she strode out of her room.



>"Where are you going?" Th'rin asked.



>"Out," Xanthia said simply.



>Th'rin shook his head, "No, *where* are you going?" he asked.



>"I want to talk to Oldreth," Xanthia said.



>"That's going to be a little difficult. He's not here." Th'rin stated.

<< SNIP >>



>Suddenly Xanthia felt like she was suffocating as panic engulfed her along with

the realization that Th'rin was indeed telling the truth. She shook as she

stood there staring at Th'rin, longing to reach out but the words failing

her.



><Sign it!> Maxima prodded.



>~Scared~ Xanthia signed simply.



>"Scared?" Th'rin asked for verification.



>Tears started streaming down Xanthia's face as she fervently signed ~Abandoned!

Alone! Help!~ Her small body shook as the tears became full sobs of despair.



Thırin pulled her into his arms and again silently cursed the Barbarian who

dropped in and out of their lives doing nothing but creating havoc! "You

will never be alone as long as I am alive, Xanthia. Do you hear me.. Never

alone."



She continued to sob and he rocked her gently, rhythmically in his arms,

"Iım here for you," he whispered, "You are not alone."



When her tears has slowed, he tilted her head to his, and looked into her

eyes, "You are not alone." He wiped away her tears and gently kissed her

cheek, "You are not alone .."



Regards, 

Th'rin & Areena

***

NRPG: This should get me caught up to Xanthia's mating flight .. I'll get to

that next .. with help from Arlene :)



Kris