From: "Demastar A. Mulder" <Dema@positronix.demon.co.uk>


[Ilara's quarters - Erkvinen's exam]

Nineve was as good as her word, though it still seemed like a while
before she arrived.  <Here she is now, Erk, my love.... you're going to
be alright.>

<I'm just tired, that's all.  Let me get some sleep, and I'll be fine.>
Erkvinen put her head down and sighed.

<No.... no, Erk.... it's morning, you would be up and about like the
rest of us if you weren't ill.>  Ilara looked at Nineve anxiously.

<Ill?  Who said that?> Erk retorted tiredly.

"How long did you say she'd been this way?" Nineve asked her, carefully
running through an examination.

"Oh.... ummm, only this morning," Ilara answered.  "Yeah, she was fine
when I went to bed."

"And you can't think of anything that might have brought this on?"
Nineve followed up.

<My love, do you know what it is that caused this?> Ilara asked.

<No....>

"No.... not that I can think of."

Nineve stood up and carefully added, "We'll need to get her to the med-
centre then-"

Ilara interrupted her, "But what's wrong with her, can't you-"

"She needs help, Ilara.  She's dying."

It was a shock.  It didn't really sink in yet, but somehow she'd already
known.  Ilara nodded slowly and asked, "Do you know what she's got?"

"No, I haven't.  Someone else might have, though," Nineve consoled her.
"We'll do everything we can for her."

<You hear that, Erk?  Hang in there, don't go to sleep on me....>


[At the funeral pyres]

Ilara stood transfixed by the fires; they were becoming a familiar
sight, but not one she would get used to.  She looked up as she felt a
firm hand slip into hers and hold tightly.... it was Demathrin, still
looking a little groggy but up to pay his respects.

"Fires are funny this way," she commented quietly.  "They make you
remember all sorts of things."  Tears tracked her cheeks, telling of
memories deeply buried.

He nodded thoughtfully.

"Dema.... ten years ago in Meborham...."

"Hmm?"

"Nothing.... it's nothing."

---<NRPG>---
I'm pretty short on creative energy here, so I'll have to write more
later.  Let me know if I missed anyone, 'kay? :)

    Demastar A. Mulder  -o+o-  Dema@positronix.demon.co.uk
    Ilara & Erkvinen           [Xylian Warren DL]
    Genesis Cave <-- http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Station/6307/
    Every action has an equal and opposite reaction

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