NRPG:  Apologies up front...my computer has crashed...I had to reinstall
everything.. So I know that I am probably missing some addresses and some
tags..  Sorry!  I hope to have everything up and running soon.
Barb....would you mind sending me all the addresses of Geode warren?  Thanks!

*Belarade*

She wrapped an arm around Ce'Lot's little sister, trying to give her both
the emotional and physical support that she seemed to need.  She had never
really had a friend before... but she tried so hard to say the right things
and to be there for Lecia....especially now that she was to be her
brother's mate....not to mention giving her a little niece of nephew to
play with.

Overhead a blue dragon called out it's mating cry and flew - zooming past
the treetops followed by a herd of males.  Bella felt her stomach knot and
a shudder ran through her as her thoughts immediately flew to Ce'Lot.

"Bel....are you all right?" Celia asked, placing a gentle hand on her
shoulder.

She nodded and stopped to steady herself against a tree, wrought with
worry.  Why was she acting this way? 

<Bel?>

<Menia...gods....a mating flight...>

She heard her dragon sigh.  <It happens Bel...surely you knew this would
come up?>

<And you are not upset?> Belarade's brow wrinkled some as she resumed her
walk with the other two ladies.

<No...why should I be?>

Bella shook her head and tried to clear her mind of the images of Britche
catching the little dragon...  She had promised herself that she would not
be jealous....  And of course...she now was breaking that oath..  The
twisting of her insides told her that apathy was not a choice in the
matter....

She knew he loved her....  right?  The expression on his face when he had
asked her to move in had made her question his devotion...but he had wanted
her to spend the night and not leave....

And here was his sister....Lecia....and even though the young girl was
feeling ill, she still glowed with the life that was growing inside of her.
 For an instant, Belarade longed for that feeling of carrying her love's
child inside of her womb...  Quickly though, she pushed the thought
aside...she was too young...what was she thinking?

Still....  her thoughts during the day were often spent going over the
books that she had read...the white knights....the damsels in
distress....the happy endings... 
But life wasn't really like that...was it?.

Should she expect anything less than a storybook romance?  Ce'Lot was
wonderful....tender and loving...but mention committment and he seemed to
shrink back...  Yet she loved him...and as each day passed with their
relationship she became more and more sure of what it was that she wanted...  

"Have you set a date yet?" she asked softly to Lecia beside her.

"Oh no..." the girl beamed as the subject was brought up.  "B'Lin and I
have to decide when would be best...  But I'm sure that it will be soon!"

Bella nodded and pasted a smile on her face for Lecia's sake as they made
their way down to her parents' little house.  "It's going to be
lovely...especially with it being spring in the warren...everything is in
bloom..."

What girl didn't dream of a spectacular white wedding?  Bella had put pen
to paper when she was younger and had written out her fantasy
vow-exchange...  How ironic that she now was a sometime live-in sleep-over
companion...

<Bel.....> Menia chided her.  <Landbound life is not the same as warren
life..>

<I know I know...> she sighed defeatedly.  She had used that argument
playing devil's advocate with herself on many an occassion.  Why was this
so hard?

"Bel!" her mother's smiling face appeared in the doorway as she hugged her
oldest daughter, brushing the red hair out of her face.  "Why so glum dear?"

But before she could answer, she was pushed aside as Eurielle hugged both
Celia and Lecia and quickly started up chattering with the soon to be
mother of the bride. 

Belarade sighed and walked through to the back of the house and outside,
finding a small stool to sit on and feel sorry for herself.

<Stop that!> Menia snapped.  <You act as if you have no friend in the world
at all....>

<No I'm not!> Belarade shot back, her face flushing with anger.
"I'm...deep in thought..." she then said aloud.

"Deep in thought about what?" the rugged face of her father slowly became
visible as he walked up the hill leading towards the back porch.

"Just...deep in thought..." she lied.

"Who are you talking to out here, Beanie?" Nial sat down beside his
daughter, smiling some as he used his petname for her.

"Oh...Menia...is somewhere around here....tormenting me...where have you
been?"

"Helping the others.....we had a barn raising this morning and we all
pitched in to help...things are starting to take shape around here...Come
on inside and help your mother with dinner, bean....and wipe that frown off
of your face..."

Bella sighed and nodded as she stood.  It was silly all of this pondering
over Ce'Lot and their relationship....she needed to take things day by
day...and fight this sudden urge of hers to push them on to the next step.

<NRPG:  Okay...I'm tired now....so I'm ending there...  I'm not sure what
B'Lin is going to do yet....  He'll do something... But I'll write for him
whenever it comes to me...>
Respectfully Submitted,
Belarade and Menia