Ce'lot
***

>Bella took the healer's hand reluctantly and glanced over at Ce'lot....the
>look of disappointment on his face apparent. "I'm so sorry, Ce'lot...I'm
>sorry..."

"But why?" he asked. "Was it just the pain?" He looked over at Nineve,
almost begging, "You know if she was in pain .."

"Those particular pills are strictly for short term use. You know the
regular remedies for pain almost as well as I do, Ce'lot."

Ce'lot turned to Belarade, "Why, Bel? Why did you need them?"

She looked at him with wide chocolate brown eyes, "The pain .. " she
pleaded, "I mean, it hurts when I don't have them .."

"Shakes? Sweats?" Nineve said calmly.

Belarade nodded, "Yes, Yes that's it! You see? You see why I need them?"

"I'm sorry, Bella. Those are symptoms of addiction. I'm going to admit you
right away."

"But .. but .."

Ce'lot moved toward her to wrap his arms around her in comfort, "It'll be
okay, Bel .."

"No! Stay away from me!" she shrieked, "It won't be okay .. I ~need~ those
pills. Please .. please .."

Ce'lot pulled back and Nineve stepped in carefully, "It's not going to be
easy, Bella," the healer said gently, "But in the end you'll feel better
and you'll be healthier."

The woman wrapped an arm around her waist, and tried not to show the
concern on her face, "Bella, have you been eating .."

"I .. I .."

Nineve nodded, "I know, you aren't very hungry when you're taking those.
Com'on let's find you a bed."

"I'll help," Ce'lot offered, but Bella struggled away from him.

"I think it'll be better if you go now too."

"But .." Ce'lot began.

"She just needs some time," Nineve told him. "I'll talk to you in the morning."

Ce'lot finally nodded and left Nineve to her job.

Lecia
***

The young queenrider crawled tiredly into her bed not long after the other
newly joined had left. She was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. And for
the first time in a very long time, she didn't wonder where B'Lin was.

For now she was just as glad he wasn't there. Now perhaps she'd get some
sleep ..

***

She woke startled, sometime later as the piercing cries of both a human and
a dragon infant came to her ears. R'har was clearly unhappy and his cries
were shaking the air with their intensity. Sadennetta was keening loudly.

<Sadie, what is it!> Lecia asked sitting up and covering her hears from the
cries of her child.

<That baby! Lecia make him stop! Make him stop!>

Lecia was at something of a loss, normally B'Lin took care of that. She
looked over and noticed he wasn't in bed. "B'Lin?" she called.

<Glay and his rider aren't here, Lecia .. Please .. please do something ..>
the little queen begged.

Lecia stood and bumped her toe against the bedpost as she fumbled in the
dark, "OUCH!" she cried.

<Where the hell is B'Lin, anyway!> she asked her dragon, dropping back on
the bed to rub her injured toe.

<Over there in Mattina's apartment.>

<Where?>

<Lecia! Please .. the baby .. >

<All right, all right!> Lecia groaned and once again stumbled through the
dark room toward where she knew the lamp would be.

Soon she had it on and headed into R'har's room. The baby's cries settled
briefly to quieter hiccoughs when he saw the light. But quickly became
louder once again as Lecia moved toward his crib. "R'har .." she said
gently, "Shhhh .. it's not morning yet. You have to sleep longer .."

The baby paid her no mind. "R'har .. please .." she groaned rubbing his
tummy. She pulled her hand away quickly as the infant was soaked! "Oh ..
R'har."

She set the lamp on the stand and picked the infant up carefully to place
him on the changing table.  "When are you gonna stop making messes?" she
asked, but inwardly she knew it was her fault. The nanny had mentioned that
he would need to be changed before she went to bed .. and well she'd
forgotten. After all, she'd been so tried, and he had been sleeping. Why
ruin a good thing?

Sh'han
***

Calixto had been laying with the brilliant red Menia outside the med center
when Sh'han made his way out of the dining hall and the small celebration
of victory that had been going on there. <She's upset about her rider ..>
the dragon informed his rider.

<Why, What happened to Bella?>

<She's been taking pills she wasn't supposed to, in order to look beautiful.>

<What?>

The dragon shrugged, <You know I don't understand you humans. Apparently
she took them for pain and noticed that they helped her to not eat so much.
And Menia says that thin is supposed to be beautiful.>

<Hmm ..> the rider changed direction and headed to the med center. <Maybe
Ce'lot will need a break and I can see her for a minute.>

<The wingleader isn't around .. Menia says he and Britche took quite some
time ago and haven't been back.>

Sh'han grinned, <Oh good, then I'm definitely stopping in.>

He pushed into the med center and soon found Belarade's room. He'd only
been there a few moments when Belarade woke from a restless sleep and
looked up at him in confusion. He flashed his best smile. The one he'd been
told would melt any woman's heart. "Hey Bel! You're awake."

"Sh . sh'han .."

"Yep that's me," he said moving to her side and taking her hand. "As soon
as I heard you weren't feeling well, I had to come and check on you.
Couldn't let you be alone at a time like this .."

Regards,
Ce'lot & Britche
***
NRPG: Taylor, have fun with Sh'han, he'll be a major flirt. Very flattering
etc ..  Also Lecia's got her first hint as to B'Lin's infidelities .. we'll
see how long before she figures it out :)

Kristen

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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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