Th’rin

***
<< Day 10 – Afternoon >>


"What’cha got there," Th’rin asked, still with a lightness to his heart as
he entered the apartment to find Merissa standing stone-faced over a note.


"From ‘Tonio .. he’s left."


"What?"


"He’s got other matters to attend to .. he’s left." Merissa shrugged, though
Th’rin could see it was not a shrug of non-concern.


"Just gone?" Th’rin asked, "Just like that?"


"He left a note for Xanthia .."


Th’rin felt a deep well of concern flood over him. Xanthia was not going to
take this well at all …


***


>"Scoot over," Th'rin directed as he shoved off his shoes. She wriggled over
toward the wall, and Th'rin lay on the bed beside her. Wrapping his arms
about the small woman he asked, "Is that better?"


>Xanthia nodded her appreciation and the two lay there in silence for
several minutes. Xanthia was the first to break the silence. Kissing Th'rin
on the cheek, she confessed, "I love you. I never stopped loving you."


"Oh Xanthia," he sighed moving to kiss her forehead. "I love you too. I just
.." he frowned, "Sometimes I don’t know what I want. You know according to
my father, love and sex are two different things. Hell I don’t think he ever
really knew what love is."


"You never talk about your father .."


"He’s not a pleasant subject to talk about. But he is always on my mind.
Everything I do .. everything I touch .. he’s there taunting me." Th’rin
sighed heavily, "I’m so afraid I’ve messed things up for you .."


"You? You could never .."


"No really, Xanthia," he held her close, "I .. sometimes wish we’d never ..
I mean .. If I’d not taken advantage .. of you .. back then .."


"You mean you wish we’d never made love?" There was hurt in her voice.


"Oh gods," he sighed, "I don’t know. Everything is just so confused. Where
do you stand? Where does Merissa stand? Where do I stand? I just don’t know.
I feel .. I feel for all of you. I love you and Merissa, and I thought .. I
thought I loved Tarv too .. but that was totally messed up! And I just ..
think maybe I’ve ruined everything!"


"I’m not sorry." Xanthia said quietly. "I’ll never be sorry .. because you
gave me Alina."


"Alina," a smile played on Th’rin’s lips, "there never was a sweeter baby,
was there? No, I’ll never be sorry about Alina. You are very right there.
She’s my daughter, and you’re her mother, and .. and that’s why I feel like
we’re family. Like we belong together. I just don’t want to mess anything up
anymore. I want you and Merissa and Oberon and our sweet little Alina to be
happy .. to be a family. Do you think we can, Xanthia? Or is it impossible?
You are certainly more my family then my father ever was."


Regards,

Th’rin & Areena

Kristen Gant
AKA:
Saul & Fayloth, Kalewyn & Sabbith, Darlea & Makayla from Jasra Warren
Th'rin & Areena from Whiteriver Warren
Meena & Vonn from Cleft Warren
Devon & Xanith from Daere Warren