Day 9
Afternoon

Merissa sighed as she began her search for Lorelei. Apparently, she'd only
just missed her at the medical center. Th'rin said she was going to move
into her parents' old apartment. Merissa worried about ghosts from her past
haunting her, and didn't know if it was a good idea or not. She'd have to
talk to Latnem about that.

Merissa went by their old place, first. It looked like it had been opened
up, but no one was there. Merissa wondered briefly where Lorelei had gotten
to, but sighed, knowing that Th'rin had probably been right, "The gardens,
that's where he thought she'd be...."

Merissa headed back across the green to the patch of lush flowering beds
with winding walkways, that had been the former warrenlady's pride and joy,
and which everyone now referred to as Trinale's Gardens. Even still,
Merissa could picture the late red headed warrenlady bending down to pull a
weed or plant a seed.

And it was in this same posture that Merissa found Lorelei. Only she wasn't
alone. Another girl was with her; someone Merissa didn't recognize on
sight.

<SNIP from Kas and Kat's post "Friends in the Garden">
"Lorelei..Th'rin said I might find you here." Merissa said, smiling at the
two girls.

Lorelei stood up, brushing the dirt from her hands. "I wanted to see how
the gardens were growing. They were always so important to Trinale."

Merissa nodded. "It's good that you are back to help take care of them,
but we need to talk."

Lorelei knew this moment would come. She was going to have to talk about
what had happened to her. She sighed and nodded. "I know. Lets get it over
with." She turned to Daisy. "I'll see you later...I hope." She smiled, but
the smile didn't reach her eyes. She then turned back to Merissa. "Lets
talk somewhere other than here." she said. "I don't want Trinale's gardens
to be contaminated with such ugliness."

<END SNIP>

"My office... or..." Merissa knew that her office had been Trinale's, "My
apartment... and we can have some tea!" She decided.

Lorelei just nodded and followed where Merissa led, not really seeming to
care where it was they were going.

Tea was put on, and they settled comfortably in the sitting area of the
queenrider's large apartment. Merissa could tell that Lorelei was not in
the mood for chitchat, so cut straight to the chase. "You know why I need
to talk to you... it's about your leaving the protection of Lord Fowler and
what's happened since then."

"Yes, I know," The girl said in a resigned tone.

"Lorelei, I can't even begin to imagine what happened to you and the horror
of it... but the fact is you killed a man... right in the middle of
Whiteriver. Everyone saw. There can be no doubt. But now I have to decide
what is to be done."

"Done with...me?" Lorelei looked up, her eyes shining with anger.
"Merissa, I want to stay here, at Whiteriver. I don't want
to go back to the Fowler's... I mean they were great, and treated me like
family... but the warren, Whiteriver, is my home.... my real family."

"I wish it were that easy, Lorelei. I'd let you stay in a heartbeat. Stay
forever. But.. that man was one of Lord Fowler's, and you are technically
still under his supervision and protection. You aren't joined to a dragon.
So this whole affair is out of my hands," Merissa's dark eyes filled with
tears. "I've sent word to Lord Fowler, asking for his assistance in this
matter. I know he will be fair."

Lorelei looked even more angry. "Fair? Whats fair about being raped
and beaten with plans to sell me as a whore?" Lorelei's eyes blazed. "I
thought my first experience would either be because of love, or in a
dragon's mating flight, not being taken and abused. What those men did to
me was not 'fair'. I responded because of fear and anger. If I hadn't done
what I did, he could have done it to someone else, or even come after me
again!"

"I'm sure you believe that," Merissa's voice was calm and steady, though
her heart ached for the young sister of her late friend. "I just wished you
could have trusted me to have taken care of him and his... associates... in
a manner that would have removed their threat and satisfied Landbound
justice. But what's done is done. Now we have to deal with the
consequences." Her eyes locked and held Lorelei's and she saw the girl
slowly nod in acceptance -- or perhaps resignation. "No, what happened to
you was not 'fair,' and that is not what I meant when I said that. The
families of those men will desire the death penalty for what they see as a
cold-blooded and unprovoked murder." She quickly held up her hand to stop
Lorelei's protest. "I know it was not unprovoked, but that is how they
will see it and want to portray it to Lord Fowler. That is why I have
written to him to suggest that any procedings on this matter be handled
here at Whiteriver -- and swiftly." Merissa sighed.

"Here? You won't send me back then?" Lorelei's face showed a brief flash
of hope.

"I hope not to, but that is up to Lord Fowler. If he determines that for
your sentence he should take you..."

"Sentence! But you just said...?!" Lorelei sputtered.

"No, I did not, I am telling you what I'm hoping will happen. That Lord
Fowler will rule that this was indeed a provoked act and not a random,
cold-blooded murder. But for the sake of peace among his peasants, he may
determine that you should serve some form of punishment. Lorelei, I can't
tell you what will happen. I just want you to be aware of all the
possibilities."

Lorelei's head bowed and she nodded.

Merissa reached across and gently laid her hand on the girl's shoulder. She
was only slightly surprised as Lorelei flinched. "But no matter what,
Lorelei, I want you to know that I am here for you, and I will do
everything within my power to protect you. Do you believe that?"

Lorelei nodded, knowing her only hope lay in Merissa coming to her
defense. She also began planning. She would make sure she had other plans
to follow if things looked like they would not go her way. She didn't want
to leave Whiteriver again. This was her home, and this is where she would
stay. If, however, Merissa couldn't make Lord Fowler see reason, she would
go back to his estates. That was where the rest of the men who had been on
that tithing train were still. She had only managed to kill the leader.
The others still needed to be punished. If she was to be punished for her
actions, she would see that they were also.

Lorelei looked up at Merissa. "I'd like to go clean our old apartment now,
if thats okay?"

Merissa nodded. "Trinale's stuff was moved there as well, except the stuff
that Derry kept. It is in boxes in the front room." Merissa looked a
little concerned about Lorelei going to the apartment. "Are you sure you
will be okay there? There are a lot of memories there."

Lorelei looked at her, straightening up, and looking strong. "Happy
memories. And that is what I need right now. Besides, these things need to
be taken care of, so that I can move on with my life." She looked at
Merissa, her eyes not showing any emotion. "Please let me know when Lord
Fowler plans to arrive. Until then, I will help however I can." She
suddenly had an idea that might help her in her plans, giving her the
freedom she needed, without her being joined to a dragon. "I have heard
that your searcher is gone right now. I can see the affinity, but would
obviously need a dragonrider to transport me around to do the searching.
Please let me know if you would like me to help with that." She turned
towards the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

Lorelei walked through the door, shutting it behind her, and then
immediately sagged against the frame shaking, her eyes filled with tears.
She quickly wiped them away. "I will not let them see me like this." she
vowed, quickly heading for the apartment she used to live in. "I will not
let those men win."

Respectfully Submitted,
Lorelei
aka Kat Robertson

and

Merissa
aka Arlene Jacobs