Ce'lot
***
<<Morning - Day 2>>

<She's smiling .. and motioning you to come to her.> Britche pointed out.

<She's waving and she hasn't a choice since you dumped me here!> Ce'lot
shot back. Both stunned by her presence as much as the dive he'd taken into
the cool water.

<You're smiling too.> The dragon pointed out again.

 He felt the smile on his face. Probably a dopey one. But Bel had been on
his mind ever since their fight the other day. It hadn't been that long,
but he missed her. <It's good to see her ..>

<So swim over and see her.> Britche was fond of pointing out the most
simple and obvious course of action. This time there was little else to do.
She was between him and the shore. And he couldn't just swim past her, even
if he wanted to.

So Ce'lot turned and headed in her direction, stroking in to where she was.
He stopped as he got close, "umm .. Hi."

"Hi," she repeated.

<Damn why is it so hard ..>

<It wouldn't be so hard if you would stop thinking so much and just kiss her.>

The dragon's words made him smile guiltily, since he'd just been thinking
that he wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her.

"What?" she asked, looking at him questioningly.

He stopped, realizing she wasn't in on the irony. He'd better explain
before she got the wrong idea. "Umm .. well .. Brit just .."

"Belarade!" a voice called from the shoreline. Both turned to look and saw
Bella's little sister standing on the shore with her hands cupped together.
She waved as they looked at her.

Bella looked at him for a moment, "I guess .. we should go see what she
wants." She nibbled at her bottom lip nervously for a minute, "But .. um..
well .. I don't have any cloths on."

He looked at her for a moment. He'd been between the murky lake water
covering her and the fact that he'd been watching her face so closely for
any signs that would tell him what she was thinking, he'd not noticed. "I
can go see what she needs."

"Would you?"

He nodded, not sure if he was glad for the interruption to the slightly
awkward moment or not, especially now that he knew she had been skinny
dipping. Something he'd had to really work to get her to do the first time.
He began to head toward shore.

The girl smiled at him and he couldn't help but think she had Bella's sweet
smile. "I'm sorry to interrupt you two love birds," she giggled, "But I
thought I saw Menia flying to the lake earlier and mama would like to see
Bel. We've gotta plan B'Lin's wedding and mama needs some help."

Ce'lot nodded, "It's all right."

"Can you tell her that it'll be our turn to help out Lecia this afternoon.
Your mothers with her this morning."

"I'll tell her."

The young girl giggled again. "So how come you aren't naked too?"

Ce'lot chuckled, "You know your sister didn't want you to know .."

Anadia shrugged, a big grin on her face, "She can be stuffy sometimes you
know."

Ce'lot nodded slightly, as a thoughtful look came over his face. Anadia
must not have noticed as she bounced off back toward the little town on the
Lake. It was definitely a full town now, even boasting a few shops and a
healer of it's own whom Nineve had trained. All the town needed was a name.
Thee was talk already going on over what it should be, but so far no
decision had been made.

He turned back toward Belarade, picking up a towel that lay a short
distance out of the way. Obviously one she'd brought for when her swim was
over.

He waded in a short distance, and held it out to her. "I'll turn my back if
want."

She nodded and he did, not turning back around until after she'd taken the
towel from him said, "Okay."

 Then the two of them stood there, calf-deep in water, just looking at each
other. Finally Belarade asked, "What did Anadia want?"

"Your mother needs you .." he said, "To help plan the wedding."

She nodded, ".. okay .."

She moved toward the shore. Ce'lot's eyes stayed on her as she went, a
small frown coming to his face. Something didn't look quite right ..

"Bel ..?" he called.

She turned and looked at him.

"Are you okay? I mean .. well you look .. tired."

"I am .. a little. I'll be fine though."

He nodded,  and she turned away again.

"Bel .." he said again. There was so much he wanted to say .. but looking
at her, he could remember none of it. "I .."

"I'm fine, Ce'lot. Really."

He nodded, his shoulders drooping.

***

<I don't know what's wrong with him, Menia.> Britche grumbled. <I really
thought that .. well you know how that can be together. They used to be
happy .. and every time he sees her he wants her. He's so unhappy without
her.>

<She without him too.>

<So what is keeping them apart.>

<Human foolishness ..>

***
<<Later that morning - Rhia's office>>

>"Just one thing," Ce'lot put in. "What makes you so sure they'll attack
>again so soon?"

>Dema turned with a thoughtful expression. "It's what I would do, in their
>position. And..." He straightened uneasily. "I have a bad feeling I'm
>right."

Ce'lot didn't necessarily like the new rider, he was arrogant, patronizing
and sometimes just plain rude. However, over the summer that he'd been in
Xylian, it was clear he had excellent instincts, and Ce'lot respected that.
It would have been different if the man were a complete baffoon, or even if
his intentions were mean and vindictive.

"I think Alpha was hit the hardest," he said, "So perhaps if we shift some
riders around, a bit. It'll mean more work for everyone. But if Dema's
right and they'll be back again soon .."

Chalia nodded, "I agree, I don't think there will be too many riders that
will complain if it mean's protecting our home."

Rhia nodded, "What about the non-combat riders we have. Are there some who
could be counted on to do extra watches, extra local patrols, so that would
allow the combat riders to devote more time to training and readying
themselves."

Ce'lot nodded, "I think so."

Celia
***
<<Late morning - Day 2>>

>"Oh yes...the wedding!" Celia smiled. "Just as soon Lecia is feeling
>better everyone should be getting the official announcement."

>"When is the damn thing anyway?" B'Lin asked and then shrunk back as his
>mother cast him a glare.

>"B'Lin...watch your language around the baby."

>"Sorry mom."

Celia shifted a bit, remembering her daughters demands, "Well ..Lecia wants
it to be today. Of course I told her that was too soon .. "

"Yes, definitely!" Eurielle agreed.

"So then she demanded tomorrow." Celia sighed unhappily, "I can't see us
being ready, but .. well she's got it in her head .. and sometimes.. well
it can be so hard to change her mind."

Eurielle frowned slightly, "Well .. if we could find a way to get the
priest here .." Suddenly she looked at B'Lin, and smiled, "Of course there
are some advantages to having a son whose a dragonrider."

"What?" he asked looking at his mother in dread.

"You, my son, are going to have to run some errands for us in order to keep
your bride happy."

"Her? What about me?"

"B'Lin, be a good boy. The wedding is for bride. So let's make it a nice
one for Lecia. I'll need you to find a priest, and get him here in time."

"In time? When is in time?"

"Tomorrow. Mid Morning. Then we'll have a lovely lunch reception in the
dining hall. Combining the reception with a meal will make it much less
difficult on the cooks."

"Oh wonderful!" Celia smiled. "Excellent idea, Eurielle! Lecia will be so
pleased."

Lecia
***

The girl groaned as she climbed back into bed. If she'd thought getting up
and going to the bathroom had been tough at nine months pregnant, it was
100 times worse after having given birth. What a horrible experience. One
she didn't plan to ever repeat! She'd asked Nineve about birth control and
the healer had been very supportive promising that as soon as she was
feeling better they could discuss the matter more.

Now the apartment was quiet, B'Lin and her mother had taken the baby out
for a walk and a trip to records, so that she could rest in silence. She
was glad. That baby's crying could grate on a person's nerves very quickly.

And then there was breast feeding! But it made B'Lin happy .. she supposed
she could live with that for a while ..

All she wanted to do now was to rest ..

She grabbed the bottle of medicine Nineve had left for her. She'd said only
one dose a day .. but it wasn't working. One more dose couldn't hurt her.
So she poured a little in the cup .. then shrugged and poured a little more
.. just to be safe.

Then she threw the foul tasting stuff down her throat, following it up with
a big gulp of water.  She could feel the medicine beginning to take effect
almost immediately as she became sleepy, and the discomfort began to fade
away ..

Suddenly the warren dragons began to squawk! By the Gold! Couldn't they
ever shut up!

She buried her head under her pillow ..

<Are you ready ..?>

She felt a warmth come over her and she began to drift down .. down ..

<Can you come to me?>

down .. down ..

".. no .. leave me alone .."

down ..

<I will wait for you ..>

The girl didn't even give a second thought to the voice she'd heard in her
head. Nor the fact that she'd answered it. All she knew was that she wanted
to be left alone! Soon it all was nothing more then a dream ..

Ce'lot
***
<<Noon - Day 2>>

The Alpha wingleader had made his rounds of the med center, checking on his
injured riders when the dragons began to trumpet with joy.

<The eggs are hatching!> Britche told him excitedly.

He looked up and saw the rainbow of dragons heading into the hatching
grounds. Among them he spotted the large dirty white Britche. He grinned,
<I'm on my way.>

Hatchings were great events for all. The combined birth with joining and a
party. He had missed the last one, due to the arrival of the Lothar's.
Thankfully Regil Lothar was tucked away some where and wouldn't be around.

He didn't know about Lady Coneta. He'd heard she'd left her husband and was
living in Eos with Gerard while the fighting continued over the land of
Lotherra. But as it was these eggs were several days ahead of schedule.
Most of the nobles who normally attended had not even arrived yet.

Unfortunately that happened once in while. It was nearly impossible to
predict when dragon eggs would hatch. One could only come close to guessing.

He looked around for Bella. She'd missed the last hatching as well, and was
sure she'd want to see this one. Maybe he could just talk to her ..

Sadennetta
***

<Why do you not hatch, my little Sadennetta?> The queen asked of the last
of her eggs yet to hatch. <Everyone is waiting for you?>

The tiny dragonet within the shimmering orangish-brown egg refused to
stretch, <It is not my time .. I wait.>

<Your clutchmates are with their humans now. Getting fed and scratched and
loved. Do you not want this? There are plenty of young humans yet to choose
from.> her mother urged.

<Not the one,> she maintained stubbornly.

<None of these suit you?>

<I feel her. But she is not ready for me. I wait here with you until it is
time.>

<You may wait.> the metallic red dragon drew the hardened egg closer to her
body, shooing away the eagerly waiting searchlings. She looked to her
rider, <As it is not time for your hatchling, neither is it time for mine.
I will sit with her a while longer.>

Regards,
Ce'lot & Britche
Celia
Lecia
 & Sadennetta (Stubbornly refusing to hatch)
***
NRPG: Well as you can see I've decided that Lecia will join, but like I
said before, I wasn't quite ready. However, rather then making poor Sam,
with his limited access, have to change it, Jill and I came up with a
compromise. Hope you all like it :)

So everyone sorry for the delay, and please go ahead with the hatching.

BTW the wedding will happen on Day 3, mid morning.. and everyone is invited
to attend.. It'll be a big affair (much to B'Lin's chagrin, I'm sure :)

Kristen
*********************************************************************
  |\  /^~~^\  /|
 -qqQ-\O||O/-Qpp------------------------------------------------------
       \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
 --d----------b-------------------------------------------------------
        ()
       \()/
        \/


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