Date:  Fri Jan 11, 2002  7:39
pm


Day 7 – late evening



<snip>

                `Tonio started to knock on Eleanora's door, then

chuckled foolishly, realizing his error.



                <DeMarco, please let Cara know that I'm at the door,

please.>



                He waited a moment before the door opened and Eleanora's

head poked out, "Hello."



                `Tonio smiled, <Might I come in?>



                The young queenrider signed back, "Of course. What

brings you here."



                `Tonio paused for a moment before continuing, "I have

heard a couple things about you a couple nights ago. I was curious to

know if it was true and if you wished to speak about it."



<end snip>

****



Eleanora fought hard not to blush, but failed miserably.  There was

really only one rumor circulating about her, she was sure.  “It probably

is true,” she murmured hesitantly.  “What exactly is it you heard?”



"Well, it involves too much drink and a random male.  Further details

haven't been brought to my attention.  I figured I'd go straight to the

source,"  'Tonio said looking directly at Eleanora.



Eleanora nodded confirmation and sighed.  “Yes, it’s true.  I suppose

you heard that Chrysthal had a mating flight, too?  All in all Merissa

and I had an…interesting trip to Ralengarde.”



"A mating flight?"  'Tonio's eyebrows raised.  "How odd, I hadn't heard

anything.  What prompted you to act in such a matter?"



“Act in such a matter? How do you mean? I had to um… help Merissa or

else she and Reolden would have…well, right there in the taproom.”



"Reolden?  Hmmm, very interesting.  And I wasn't speaking of Merissa.  I

was speaking of your adventure," 'Tonio said.



“Ah.”  Eleanora blushed an even deeper shade of red.  “I was rather

afraid that’s what you meant.”  She stared at her hands, trying to

marshal her thoughts without the interruption of “hearing” anything else

‘Tonio might add.  “I’m really not entirely sure.  Certainly the mating

flight…well, exacerbated things, shall we say? And well… I missed Ben,

missed…”  Eleanora broke off and swallowed several times.  “I missed…

y’know.  And I didn’t want to be alone, remembering while the flight was

on and I had had rather a lot to drink and there you have it.”



"And how do you feel about this now that you've done it?" asked 'Tonio.



“About how you’d expect,” Eleanora replied.  “Embarrassed as all hell.

Ashamed…sort of.  All the usual feelings.”  She smiled gently.  “At

least the hangover is gone, now.”

'Tonio smiled, "And where do you intend to go from here?"



Eleanora wrinkled her brow in confusion.  “How do you mean? I don’t

expect I shall see…um…” She faltered, trying to remember the bard’s

name. “Mahti again…always assuming Leo hasn’t simply killed him. “



"So this was just a simple reaction to your recent loss then," 'Tonio

said.



Eleanora considered carefully for a few moments then nodded slowly.

“Mostly, I think so.”



"Only mostly?  Where does your doubt lie, Eleanora?"



Feeling the heat rise up her face yet again – would she ever be so

“warrenlike” that discussing these things DIDN’T make her feel so

ridiculously embarrassed? – Eleanora spoke softly, “It’s not doubt.  I’m

sorry if I misled you. It’s just…. Well, some of it wasn’t just missing

Ben, but also that… I wanted….”  She took a deep breath.  “Wanted to be

with someone…a man.”  She dropped her head in reflexive shame over such

an admission.



"There's no shame in that, Eleanora.  Desire is a very natural

instinct.  However, following desire when judgement is impaired is

another matter entirely.  Your desire may have gotten you in grave

trouble," he replied.



Eleanora grinned sheepishly.  “True enough.  Fortunately, I wasn’t quite

THAT drunk.  Mahti wasn’t that kind of danger.”



"Good.  I would hate for you or any warren woman to be unfairly taken

advantage of.  Fulfilling one's desires should be a voluntary thing," he

said with a smile.



“I grew up in taprooms, ‘Tonio,” Eleanora said.  “I’m aware of the

dangers.”  She grinned ruefully all of a sudden.  “Though I admit, my

father’s preferred advice is not what I find myself following now.”



'Tonio sighed, "I will cease my nagging then.  You are a very special

woman Eleanora and much more worldly than I originally thought.  Forgive

my mothering."



Eleanora smiled fondly at ‘Tonio.  “Hey, you’re not nearly as bad as my

mother.”  She laughed outright then.  “And you’re NOTHING compared to my

brother.”  She laid a hand on the knight’s arm.  “I do appreciate your

concern, I know it’s well meant.”



"So, care to join me for a drink?" 'Tonio smiled playfully.



Eleanora snickered helplessly and wagged her finger at her friend.  “Ah

now, my mother warned me about men like you.”  She regained her

composure and nodded.  “I think a cup of tea would go over well.  Have

you had dinner?”



'Tonio proferred his arm, "No, but I would be happy to accompany such a

lovely woman as yourself for a meal and a cup of tea.”



_________________-



Submitted by:



Chris Weeda aka ‘Tonio



and



Katrina Gischer aka Eleanora