Date:  Fri Jan 11, 2002  6:00
pm


Elissa

***

<Evening ­ Day 3>



She felt him there .. even before she was fully aware that he was there.

Somehow, she just knew he would be there for her. She had thought her life

was over when she saw the ground rushing up at her, and her first thought

had been of him .. well, okay perhaps it had been a second thought .. right

after she had cursed Jıred for making her head out on patrols again!



Sheıd been having a lovely time at Aggieıs house in Windtide, but Jıred had

come to remind her of her duty. Despite the awful embarrassment sheıd

suffered from those searchlings watching her and Harıson! How could they

just stare at her that way! She was totally mortified! Aggie had understood

though .. Jıred .. of course .. did not! What was it about that man! He just

drove her batty!



"Elissa? Are you awake?"



Her eyes fluttered open and she saw Harısonıs smiling face, and those

thoughts of Jıred were washed quickly away. "Harıson," she smiled.



"You gave us a scare."



"Did I? Were you worried about me?"



"Of course I was!" He gently stroked her cheek, careful to avoid the large

purple and black bruise which now colored over half of her forehead.



She grabbed his hand and clung to it, looking deeply into his eyes, "Oh

Harıson .. I thought I was going to die .. I thought Iıd never see you

again!"



"But here you are, so donıt even think about that anymore.."



"But .. I .."



"Shhh, youıre going to be fine," he soothed, "Though I expect youıll have to

take some time of of patrols for a while."



Elissaıs eyes flashed and her grip released on his hand, "That Jıred! Itıs

all his fault! I should not have been on patrol so soon after that

humiliating experience .."



Harıson chuckled at the memory of Elissaıs running nude from the searchlings

staring eyes..



Their attention was drawn to the door as Corra came round to chase Harıson

home, "She needs her rest and visiting hours are over, son. You can visit

her tomorrow again if youıd like."



Thırin

***

<Late Evening ­ Day 3>



>Latnem nodded. "Thırin, can I speak to you for a moment?"



>"Sure," Thırin said, standing up from his chair, "If you ladies will excuse

us," Thırin said, addressing Merissa, Xanthia, and his new daughter. He

turned and lead the mind healer into the next room.



>Merissa spoke up, "Any of *what* would happen?  Xanthia gave birth in one of

the most beautiful ways any woman could.. and I am so grateful that I was

given that chance to witness such a miracle!  Thırin... I understand your

concern about Xanthia, but..."



>"No, Merissa. I know what youıre saying is true, but remember what she did to

her leg?  She could have died!  We canıt risk her or Alina."  Thırinıs voice

sounded firm and final.



>Merissa was about to protest again, but acquiesced, "Itıs only for a few days,

right?  And then.. if youıd like, Thırin we could suggest she move into

Maraıs old room...?"  Merissa waited for him to answer.



"Are you sure, Merissa?" Thırin asked. He wouldnıt have dared to think it

possible before this magical night. He was amazed how the birth of this tiny

precious infant had worked such miracles in his life. He couldnıt wait to

introduce his daughter to Tarv!. What a happy family they would be!



"Of course, silly, or I would not have suggested it." Merissa assured him.



His face shone with delight, "That would make me very happy." He hugged her,

hardly daring to believe that Merissa would ever accept Xanthia. He should

have known better. Merissa was an amazing woman! "And Oberon will love

having a sister!"



****

<Dinner ­ Day 5>



>"The baby!"  Both Thırin and Merissa jumped up as their dragons passed on the

distress.  Maxima was frightened, and both Areena and Chrysthal were beside

themselves.



>As the Warrenlady and the Healer raced back to their apartment, they also

noticed the brown Murkash on the ledge outside.



>"Tarvırenon is here!"  Merissa cried as she sprinted inside, "Heıd protect...."

Then her voice caught in her throat... or would he?  "Xanthia! Xanthia?"

She called out as she pushed the door open.



>"Xanthia?  Tarvırenon! Tarvı?"  Thırinıs voice joined his mateıs.



>Both sped through the apartment, barely noticing the uneaten sandwich in the

kitchen, as they ran to the room Xanthia was to share with Alina.  The room

was empty, but there was a pool of dark liquid on the floor and the smell of

... blood.



"Oh gods .." Thırin breathed, he bent down to touch the liquid and confirm

his worst fears, "Itıs .."



"Blood." Merissa finished for him, "Thırin, the baby!"



Thırin rummaged through the piled up crib linens, "Sheıs not here." His

voice was dead and his face was pale. "What the hell happened?"



"Look." Merissa pointed toward a spattering of blood. Thırin moved toward it

and followed it, and then spotted another, taking note of the pattern and

direction. 



"It leads down to the tunnels." Merissa rushed past him, but he was right on

her heels with the closest oil lamp he could find ..



***



Merissa and Thırin both heard the sounds of a scuffle up ahead as they ran,

and Thırinıs blood turned to ice. Please please .. not the baby .. not his

daughter .. The fact that there were no sounds of an infant crying did

nothing to ease his anxiety. She just had to be okay .. he would not allow

himself to think otherwise.



There was a voice, but he could not tell whose. An angry voice; full of rage

and anger. Merissa gasped and he barely her voice as she choked out a name,

"ıTonio .."



 She called it out louder .. stronger, "ıTonio!!!"



The lamp illuminated the walls and then the forms of two men .. one beating

the other senseless. Thırin stopped cold and his eyes widened as he saw Tarv

slump to the floor, clearly unconscious with his face a bloody mess .. But

Merissa kept going and grabbed ŒTonioıs arm, startling him from finishing

the battering heıd begun.



>"What the hell?" shouted TelıThar the whole well muscled 6 and a half feet  of

him looking very intimidating.



>ŒTonio looked at Telıthar blankly. Telıthar doubted ŒTonio even recognized

him.



>"Donıt move a muscle!" ordered TelıThar.



Thırin had barely even been aware of the former Marrid rider entering the

room as his own rage boiled, "You bastard!" he roared and aimed his slight

frame at ŒTonio intending to dish out as much revenge as he could for the

fallen Tarvırenon. But Telıthar was a lot faster and larger then Thırin and

easily stopped him. He struggled briefly, but stopped as he was stunned into

amazement by Merissaıs own attack on ŒTonio.



Telıthar drew his attention away from Merissaıs screams of anger and outrage

at ŒTonio, and pointed toward Tarv. He released the healer and moved toward

the unconscious man.



>Telıthar bent over the wounded man and checked his pulse and then his  airways.

"Well heıs alive and breathing ok." murmured TelıThar. "And not a lot more I

can do." 



Thırin nodded and took over allow TelıThar to get up and head toward ŒTonio

himself. "Tarv?" Thırin said gently as he checked for major injuries that

needed immediate attention. He did not expect a reply, nor did he get one.

Tenderly he cleaned the manıs face as best he could only to be surprised at

TelıThar turned back toward them and expertly spit directly on Tarvıs face,

"HEY!" Thırin yelped in surprise, and would have said more, but others were

arriving and Merissa was gently patting his back and shaking her head.



He issued a few orders to the arriving dragonriders and soon had Tarvıs

unconscious body on itıs way to the med center.



"Stand guard over his room," Merissa said quietly and Thırin looked at her

in surprise.



"Whatıs the matter with you?" he asked.



She looked at him, and he saw the deep unhidden pain behind her eyes as she

pulled him away from the others who were also taking ŒTonio under guard.

"Thırin, have you .. talked to Areena?"



<Areena?> he called to his dragon even as he shook his head at Merissa.

There was no response form her, but he could feel her presence .. full of

sorrow. <Areena? What happened? Tell me!>



"It was Tarv," Merissa answered for her though unaware of the questions he

had put to the still silent dragon.



"I know I saw him .." suddenly he stopped, "You mean .."



Merissa nodded, "I donıt want to believe it either .. but Chrysthal says he

wanted to .. kill Alina .."



"NO!" Thırin choked out, "NO!" He pushed away from her and exited the

tunnels on his way to the med center. He didnıt know what had happened, but

he knew for a fact that Tarv had nothing to do with trying to hurt Alina! He

would never do such a thing.



Memories of Tarvıs kidnapping of Xanthia so long ago that it seemed unreal

tried to seep into his mind, but he pushed them aside. NO! Tarv was

different now. 



<Itıs true ..> Areenaıs sweet voice echoed sadly through him and he uttered

a strangled sob, and felt his knees buckle beneath him. The ground was hard,

but he didnıt care. The man he loved had tried to kill his daughter .. tears

burst from his eyes and he wept bitterly.



He was barely aware of Merissa as she helped him to his feet and led him

toward her office where they could sit .. and talk ..



***

<Early Morning ­ Day 6>



Alina was safe .. Xanthia was safe .. Tarv and ŒTonio were under guard and

Thırin and Merissa had clung to each other all night. Both lying awake until

the wee hours of the morning but neither doing much sleeping.



They had tried to talk about what had happened. But the pain was still to

fresh.  Thırin felt the weight of his own fault in this. In bringing Tarv ..

this .. monster .. into their lives. Oh gods .. into their very home ..



He saw that Merissa had finally eased off into sleep and disengaged himself

from her. Sleep had eluded him and he knew there was no use in even trying.

He might as well fill his body with coffee and face the day. There would be

no hiding from the problems that were sure to have to be faced today.



 Moving as quietly as he could, he entered the kitchen and began to make a

very strong pot of coffee. He paused as he heard footsteps stealing almost

silently down the hall.



>"Xanthia?" Thırin, bleary eyed, questioned as he peered from the doorway of

the kitchen. "Couldnıt sleep?"



>"No," Xanthia confirmed.



>Thırin eyed the bag in her hand with a frown "Where are you off to?"



>"Checking on ŒTonio. Alina just was fed and changed and should be asleep at

least till I get back. I wonıt be long" she offered in explanation.



>Thırin cast her a stern gaze, causing Xanthia to wonder if that was a look  of

disapproval. "I owe him a debt," she further explained.



A debt .. for saving Alina. How could he stop her? Clearly he owed the man

the same debt. There was not yet enough coffee in him to even begin to think

about that. Maybe one pot would not even be enough .. so he tried again.



>"You shouldnıt fly."



>"I wonıt," Xanthia said.



There would be no stopping her, and Thırin didnıt have the strength to even

try. He turned back to his coffee, adding a double scoop to the filter ..



***



>Oberon nodded, seriously, "Me take methage?"



>"Right! I want you to go to Latnemıs apartment... You know who Latnem is,

right?" At the boyıs nod, she continued, "I want you to tell him that your

Mamma and Poppa need him to come to their apartment to talk with them and

Aunt Xanthia. Did you get that? Can you tell Mamma what youıre to say?"



>"Latnem to come to Mamma and Poppa to talk Aunt Xan."



>"Right!" Merissa beamed and hugged Oberon tightly. He squirmed out of her

embrace and ran out the door.



>Thırin stared at her open mouthed. Finally he managed to ask, "Youıre letting

our son go across the green by himself?"



>"No, he isnıt going alone. All the dragons are watching out for him," Merissa

smiled.



He wondered how she could smile, but then he saw Oberon .. a 6 year old

looking nearly 8 or 9 .. heading proudly across the floor to the exit of the

apartment on his first all growed up mission for his dearest mother, and the

smile he did not know was inside him, climbed to his own lips.  "I remember

when .." he signed nostalgically, missing the baby his son no longer was.



Merissa slipped her arms around his waist, "Me too .. " she sighed her eyes

watching Oberon as well, "Oh but isnıt he just getting better with age?"



This elicited a chuckle from Thırin. Their spirits had been lifted. Neither

dared change the subject. There would be time enough to worry about Tarv

once Latnem arrived and they could sit down and get the whole awful tale

from Xanthia ..



***



Thırin had sat silently through Xanthiaıs version of events. He had not

really been surprised at the proof of Alinaıs telepathy. After all Xanthia

was a Telepath as was Oberon. And .. the dragons had all known .. and he

suspected that somehow his precious newborn daughter had let them all know

what it was that had happened to her. He would never tell Merissa of his

suspicions because he knew that Oberonıs telepathy had bothered her, there

was no need to let her know that there was a great possibility that Alinaıs

telepathy was even stronger ...



>Merissa slowly approached the shaking woman, and kneeling down in front of her,

she slowly opened her arms. Without a word being spoken, Xanthia allowed

herself to be enveloped in her embrace. After a few moments the sobbing

lessened and Xanthia was able to straighten up and look at Merissa, Th'rin

and Latnem.



>"You did what was necessary," Merissa stated plainly, and the anger and doubt

that she'd been feeling toward Xanthia dissipated. The absolution left her

feeling slightly light headed. She could not even blame 'Tonio for acting as

he had, though it had been a little harsh... though much less than the

treatment that Oldreth would have given him had it been he that had caught

Tarvr'enon after the attack.



"Yes, Xanthia, you saved our daughter's life!" Th'rin exclaimed, with more

enthusiasm then he felt. But he could never let Xanthia think she had done

anything wrong. She had been right, and he wasnıt going to let his own

depressed moods over Tarvırenon do anything to change how she felt about it.

"It was instinct, and I'm sure you would never have thrown that knife if you

hadn't felt Alina was in mortal danger!" He took her hand in his and

squeezed it. Truly Xanthia was the hero here. She may have thought that

ŒTonio helped her, and in some way he did, by making sure that Tarv couldnıt

follow her, but Xanthia had been the one that had rescued their child from

the arms of danger, and for that she deserved to be heralded!



***

 <Afternoon ­ Day 6>



Thırin kept his distance from Tarvıs room. His feelings were too mixed to

even try to see him now. Maybe in time ...



He kept Corra on his chart and told her that if anything went wrong he did

not want to be called. The he could not be called. The older woman patted

his shoulder understandingly and promised that she would do what she could.

Still even as he avoided the guarded room, his thoughts were never far from

the person inside. He was starting to get over feeling guilty about having

brought Tarv into his family, and beginning to feel great betrayal .. and

anger. He certainly did not trust himself to see the man yet.



He also found himself tending to keep his distance from AıRillia .. The

woman, believe it or not, seemed even more fragile then Xanthia. Certainly

more depressed .. and the last thing he needed was to be around someone that

was depressed! Thankfully the med center was mostly quiet after the

excitement of the previous night and he was able to lock himself in his

office and pretend his most important duty was to study old patient charts!



****

Day 7 ­ morning



>In only a matter of seconds it seemed, the caravan was surrounded by dragons

and their riders.  Along with the wing, Areena landed, with her rider.

Thırin only gave the dead hauler a brief glance before he came over to

Jıred.



>"Lorelei? Lorelei, itıs me, Thırin.  Youıre safe here, Lorelei.  Your home."

Thırinıs soft, calm voice worked its magic on the girl and she turned from

clutching Jıred to fall, sobbing, into Thırinıs arms.  Thırin managed to

lead her away to Areena, for the short flight over to the medical center.



It did not take Thırin long to discover that there was nothing physically

wrong with Lorelie, aside from some minor cuts and bruises. It was clear

that she had been sexually abused as well and he worried about her mental

state, calling one of his staff to summon Latnem for him.



"I want you to rest, Lorelie," he told her, "Youıll be safe here, there are

dragonrider guards all over the center. I will not let anyone in that can

hurt you."



Lorelei nodded, looking only slightly less nervous, even here in this

familiar place. Thırin held out a steaming cup of tea, "Sip this slowly,

itıs hot. But there is something in there to help you relax and to take away

the pain."



Regards,

Thırin and Areena

***

NRPG: Thırin is caught up!



If anyone has a post written by Arlene describing the events that took place

with them and ŒTonio, Tarv and Telıthar in the caves, please send it to me..

I have a hole there.. Arlene canıt find it either, and thinks itıs possible

she wrote it and never sent it. I filled it in with my impression of what

happened, but if there was a post it may conflict and I can change it ..



Kris



-----------------------------------

Kristen Gant