Celia
***
<<This would be the morning of day three.. the day Lothar and Aelxirn get
their messages>>

Celia had settled herself into Ce'lot's apartment .. it was pretty clean ..
but her eyes spotted the missed dust and dirt. There really wasn't much,
but it rankled on the woman's senses.

So she woke bright and early in the morning and searched out his cleaning
supplies.

She came upon the well-stocked cupboard of sponges, clothes and cleaners
and began to clean his apartment to her specifications.

***
<<afternoon sometime that day - after Lothar leaves>>

She was nearly done cleaning Ce'lot's already clean apartment, when she
heard someone in the large dragon chamber. That was the one room she hadn't
bothered to clean. Just thinking of being alone in this apartment with a
huge fire-breathing monster  caused her to panic. She wasn't about to clean
up after it!

"Hello .." the voice called again.

Celia stood and pulled off the tough gloves she'd been wearing to scrub in
and hurried out into the large chamber, "Coming.."

She saw the nice young woman who had brought her here earlier. "Hello,
Molla." She said giving a little bow.

"I'm here to tell you that Lord Lothar and his wife have left the Warren."

"They  l..left?"

Molla nodded, "So if you're ready we can find you an apartment down on the
ground where you don't have to worry about finding someone to fly you up
and down."

"Oh .. I get an apartment of my own?"

Molla grinned, "Yes, we wouldn't force you to live up here in the heights
with your son."

She frowned a bit, "What do I need to do?"

"Need to do?"

"I mean .. who would I work for?"

Molla shrugged, "We'll find you something to do later. You don't have to
worry about it now. We want you to get settled. Our new junior queenrider
has about an hour between training sessions to help you find an apartment.
She's waiting for you now."

Celia paled a bit looking down at her rolled up sleeves and dirty skirts,
"Junior Queenrider?? But I'm .. I'm not dressed .."

Molla smiled, "No need to be. You'll find this queenrider isn't all that up
on appearances herself." Molla thought she might like the new queenrider.
Not stuffy or overly concerned about decorum. She'd watched the girl get
drunk at the hatching party and head out with her arms around another woman
.. No, not your usual queenrider at all!

"Y.. you're sure I look all right .." Celia stuttered a bit.

"You look fine." Molla said motioning the woman toward the green dragon
sitting on the ledge.

Celia took a deep breath .. would she ever get used to those creatures?

***

Celia had to admit Molla was right when she met the junior queenrider, with
her roughly-cut short red hair, and bright green eyes. She eyed the tall
young woman wondering if she'd let her style her hair for her. She was sure
she could make it look attractive.. even if she didn't have the long
well-cared for hair that Celia was used to working with. She had still
become quite handy, often time helping some of the other servants with
their hair ..

"Ilara, this is Celia, our Alpha Wingleader's mother."

Ilara smiled at the frail woman, "S'dan asked me to help you find an
apartment."

Celia nodded and bowed formally to the queenrider, "Whatever works best for
you m'lady .."

<<NRPG: So Sammy, what's Ilara gonna think about Celia .. whose used to
bowing for authority :) BTW fit this in whenever in the afternoon that
works best for Ilara ..>>

Ce'lot
***

>Hesitantly she broached,  "Um, do you know anything about people on
>outlying farms?  We have a girl with us who is looking for her parents.
>Perhaps they may be at Grand Chesa Forest as well?"

>Carlynee steeled herself for the same negative and depressing answer they
>had gotten from everyone they had met coming from Lotherra.

Garth shrugged, "It was bad. Some got away .. some didn't. It was worse in
the farmlands. They had no warning until it was to late. Most o' those in
our group are castlefolk.. a few cityfolk mixed in. No farmers .. But I did
here tell of other groups hiding in the forests."

"Where are you two off to?" Ce'lot asked.

"Looking for Lord Lothar. Without him in the castle, we don't have a home."

"He was at Xylian last I knew. No plans of leaving anytime soon. Coneta .."
Ce'lot paused, seeing the look in Garth's eye. He cringed lightly, and
continued, "Lady Coneta was seeking refuge under the Warrenlady's
protection."

"So that where ya been, Nuns. The Warren. Get yourself a dragon?" Ce'lot
nodded and Garth shook his head, "No wonder the Lady wanted to stay there.
Lord Lothar know yet?"

"No, and I'd rather he didn't .."

Garth nodded, "I understand. He won't hear it from me. Here let me give you
directions to the camp. I'm sure they'll be glad to have Lecia off their
hands."

Darril
***

Darril has slipped out of the castle and headed through town, his head
covered with dark cloak. He made this trip as often as he could, but it
wasn't often enough for him. He'd been hoping that their moving back to
Lotherra would make it easier .. but Gerard's men were worse then Lothar's
ever were.

He had to go in stealth for he knew Gerard would not approve .. as Regil
would not have approved either. Both were so wrapped up in money and
postion they couldn't see anything else. But Darril knew there was more ..
More wrapped up in a beautiful peasant girl. She had no wealth, she had no
connections .. but he loved her and so nothing else mattered.

He looked up and down the street quickly before moving up to a door and
tapping softly.

The door opened a crack and her lovely golden brown eyes peered out. She
grinned happily as she let him slip in and then stepped into his arms.
"Darril .."

"God's Bryn .. I've missed you," he said, hugging her tightly as he kicked
the door closed behind him.

Their lips met in a needy kiss as she pulled at his cloak. As it fell away,
he picked her up carrying her behind a makeshift wall, which served to
seperate the main room from where her tiny bed sat.

He pulled off her clothes even as she pulled at his. His lips trailed
kisses over her body as first a blouse, then  heavy skirts and finally
panties were shed. He stopped as his hands roamed over her body, resting on
her belly which rounded gently, showing the signs of a pregnancy about six
months through.

"Our son is really showing," he said with wonder in his voice. He looked up
at her smiling face, "I just can't get over this .. I think you are bigger
then yesterday."

She chuckled, running her hands over his head and through his thick dark
hair. "I think your eyes are decieving you, my love."

He sat up, drawing nearer his face nearer to her. "I can't stand this,
Bryn. I want you with me."

"I wish we could .. but your brother .."

Darril groaned, "Yes .. my brother .." he knew that if Gerard found out
about Bryn that she would disappear. Gerard found ways of making people he
didn't like or that got in his way .. disappear.

"We bide our time love. Maybe if we're lucky Regil and Gerard will kill
each other .."

Bryn smiled softly, "That is not a thought worthy of you."

He signed, "I'm sorry. But sometimes .." he looked back at her and smiled,
"I don't want to waste our visit talking about them .." Soon his lips were
on hers once again, driving out all thought of the world around them.
<<NRPG: Jill this just popped into my head this morning .. how's this for
adding another dimension to the Lothar brothers saga :)>>

Britche
***

>The red dragon snapped to attention and opened up her senses to find her
>rider....she was scared...terribly scared.  Menia raised her long snout to
>the sky and cried out a high pitched screech.

><Brit!  Belarade is in trouble!  I have to go...>

<NO, Menia!> Britche screamed, but the red dragon tensed her legs ready to
lunge into the air. Britche acted quickly clamping his strong jaw on
Menia's brilliant red tail. <You can't go! Remember what Queri said!>

<I don't care .. Bel needs me! Let go, Brit! Let go!>

She struggled, but couldn't pull free with out Brit's sharp teeth
shreading the tender skin on her tail.

<We have to think before we act this time! Remember what happened the last
time. You nearly killed your rider. But now she is with the Duchess. They
wouldn't dare hurt her.>

Menia looked back at the patchy white/ivory dragon, <But she's scared! Let
go, or I'll flame you!>

<Patience Menia .. you must learn to wait and think thing through before
you act. You cannot go to Lotherra!>

Darril
***

There was a smile on his face, which though hidden by the cloak was visible
in his step as he hurried down the street again, back toward the castle.
Bryn always had a way of making his day so much better .. dispite the
troubles surrounding them.

He had met her on one of his ventures into the city after he and Gerard had
been banished. Gerard couldn't enter without drawing attention, but Darril
had a way of making himself nearly invisible to those around him. He could
blend into a crowd and not draw attention to himself. Gerard had often sent
him on these ventures to check up on Lothar. That was how he knew the
perfect time for a strike.

Bryn had stolen the man's heart with just a look .. and it was nearly the
same for her. Love at first sight, they called it. Many didn't believe, but
Darril knew it was true ..  When she'd discovered she was pregnant, Darril
knew that something would have to be done. He knew they had to get back
into Lotherra soon. He supposed that made him as much to blame for the
devastation as Gerard was. But his goal wasn't money and power .. it was
for the life of his child.

He was drawn from his thoughts by a screaming woman, "STOP!!" He cringed,
wanting to help, but it was too dangerous .. he couldn't let Gerard know he
was down in the 'slums'. But the next cry gave him pause and he knew he had
no choice but to help. "STOP! We're with the Duchess! Let her go!!"

He moved toward the dilapidated building and ran in the door, throwing off
his cloak and drawing his sword. "What is going on here?" he demanded.

The gaurd, surprised by the intrusion lost his grip on the young red-head
whose clothes he was attempting to remove.  "Who dare .." he started, but
then froze as he saw who it was. the young woman scooted away from him and
her friend, obviously a Lady moved to take her in her arms. "Lord
D..Darril .. sir."

"That's right!" he said, his eyes narrowed, "Did I hear someone harrassing
the Duchess' entourage?"

"But sir, they .. they're spies."

"You idiot!" Darril spat, "Look at her. Would someone send spies dressed as
Ladies to search through the gutter of this city? Have you no brain. Now
get out of here, before I run you through for harrassing visiting
dignitaries!"

"Yes, sir!" the guard snapped, and both him and his companion quickly
exited the room. Darril took a deep breath, and moved toward the two women,
"Are you all right? I'm Darril Lothar."

<<NRPG: What can I say .. he's a hero :)>>

Regards,
Ce'lot & Britche
everyone else :)
***
NRPG: Let me just say, I love B'Lin :)  I had to chuckle through that part
of your post Taylor :) Anyway, I'm stopping here for now. I know I didn't
get to B'Lin finding his sister or Ce'lot finding his either. I'll do that
in my next post.

I'll also get to Lothar who arrives at the Telleri estate sometime the next
day (afternoon sometime at least.. maybe evening depending in what kind of
hurry he's in. But I want to get through this day first. Almost there I
hope ;)

I figure Britche wouldn't tell Ce'lot that Bella maybe in trouble, since
he's really too far to do anything but worry... And Brit can't let Menia
go. He doesn't want her banished .. he has plans for her .. and it has to
do with warming his sand pit :) Well, you know ...

Do you ever feel that you'll never get through a day?? :)

Hugs,
Kris

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  |\  /^~~^\  /|
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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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        \/