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1. [DL-W] Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head. - JP
From: "Arlene" <wondermom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
________________________________________________________________________
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Message: 1
Date: Sat, 6 Nov 2004 03:19:18 -0500
From: "Arlene" <wondermom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-W] Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head. - JP
Day 13
Afternoon
The air was sticky and hot as J'red stepped from his office. He'd
given
the order to assemble for inspection. He had all the confidence that
when he emerged from his office they'd be there.
And they were. Row upon row of multi-colored dragons were arranged
across the warren's Green. Alpha wing on the right and Beta wing on
the
left, stretched as far as the eye could see.
J'red felt his chest swell with pride. It was just as he'd imagined
it
would be.
Merissa joined him a moment later and J'red was surprised to see that
Prince Reolden was already with her.
"Good afternoon, your highness." J'red bowed.
Reolden acknowledged his greeting and asked, "Are your wings ready for
inspection, sir?"
"Yes, your highness, they await your pleasure," J'red replied
formally.
---
Ari hurried as best she could to reach the appointed time. She wanted
to wear her usual clothes, but Miss Meri had insisted that she look
the
part and not embarrass the prince.
After her first lesson with Ash, she knew now what he meant, about
playing the game and so she picked out a soft doe skin looking skirt,
not too full, and one she found was more like breeches, and so she
could
move in it fairly well. With a matching vest and soft beige blouse
she
hurried to the Queen-rider's offices.
She was so nervous, having to meet up with J'red. Knowing she would
see
him, made her nervous, but maybe if he saw her all dressed up and
pretty, maybe he would look at her differently.
She was very proud of him, for he had worked so hard with the wing,
and
she could not wait to tell the Prince...her cousin...Reolden, just how
wonderful J'red was. She just knew everything was going to be alright
and when she reached where they were paused chatting she walked up
with
a confidence she did not feel, tried to remember what Ash had shared
with her and make her appearance.
"Greetings My Lord." She said as smoothly as she could to Reolden. "I
am sorry I have tarried and kept you waiting." She waited to see if
J'red noticed her or not, and if he was proud of her.
J'red was startled by Ari's voice from behind him. He should have
expected her to be there, but for some reason he had not. He turned
toward her and was again startled. Ari stood there, not in her usual
attire, to which he'd grown accustomed, but in clothing that
emphasized
her feminine virtues, and with a bearing such that she looked every
inch
a true princess of the royal line.
She looked into J'red's eyes, and saw at first that he appeared
impressed, but then a cloud of sadness descended on him. As he gazed
at
her, he knew that Miss Meri was right and that Ari was not for him.
Reolden, however, stepped forward and began to chat with his cousin,
complimenting her and assuring her that they were not delayed on her
account.
The other queenriders arrived and joined them as well, and they made
their way out to view the assembled dragons and riders, following a
path
along the garden's edge toward the Green.
[TAG: Any of the JQs who wish to be there? Plenty of room to join the
fun.]
---
Nerika was sitting under a shade tree in the garden, keeping herself
as
much as possible out of the sweltering heat while she practiced her
music. She picked up her flute and blew across the mouthpiece, her
fingers working over the keys to produce a delicate trilling of music.
For the coming performance, she'd need to combine a vocal performance
with a few musical passages on the flute, and she wanted to make sure
she had things just right. She moved the flute away from her lips and
hummed a few bars. She thought for a moment that something had gone
wrong with her voice when it came out sounding more like a rumbling
growl. Then she realized it wasn't her voice at all. She turned
around
to see a pair of bright blue dragon eyes glaring at her.
[What are you doing here?] Lyraene demanded. [Do you know what sort of
trouble we will be in with Firefly's rider for missing this
inspection?
We *are* supposed to be part of the wing, after all!]
*I am also a trained bard, with a performance to give,* Nerika
reminded
her. *They have hundreds of riders and dragons to show up and impress
the prince with their pageantry and display, but how many Bards do you
think we have?*
Lyraene snorted and was about to tell Nerika that the number of Bards
in
this warren was one less than she thought, but decided that such
sarcasm
would be lost on her rider. [So, what am I to tell Firefly when he and
his rider notice a rather large hole in their wing formation where
*we*
are supposed to be?]
*Have him tell his rider to have the dragons stand a bit farther apart
to fill the gap,* Nerika said absently, making a small notation on her
music sheet with a pen. *Why don't you run along and do something?*
Lyraene rolled her eyes as she whirled around and stalked out of the
garden. Did Nerika not realize that this would get them both into
trouble? She'd tried everything she could think of to get her rider
to
realize her responsibilities to the wing and the warren. What more
could she do? She sighed deeply as she walked in the direction of the
swimming hole, not really noticing or caring where she was.
It wasn't until she nearly bumped into the other dragon that she
returned her attention to her surroundings. [Oops, sorry,] she said,
looking up to see who she'd almost walked into.
---
Azhy had been near by trying not to hover over his heart. She was so
nervous, and excited at the same time. He was not sure what she was
attempting would work. He wished he could talk to Firefly about it,
but
he could not and would not betray her so.
He just had to find someway to get those 2 talking again. And, if he
was lucky, then tell Firefly everything, and they could figure a way
to
help the Prince see she was not royal material.
Not that Azhy did not believe for one moment she couldn't do it, it
was
the matter of pride that she was above them, and belonged with him,
and
a mate of her choosing.
If only..., if only he could come up with a way to help his beloved
heart.
The next minute he felt something bump into him. He looked up and
stared into pretty dark blue eyes.
<*Why, hello*> Azhy replied.
[Ohh...!] Lyraene stammered, moving back a step. [I am so sorry, Azhy,
I
didn't see you standing there. I was, um, sort of...well, thinking
about...something...]
<*That is alright, I guess I was too.*> he sounded forlorn. He peered
at
her and studied her for a moment. <*Is there anything wrong?*> he
asked.
Lyraene hung her head. [There will be, when Firefly's rider notices
that
my rider and I are not at the review for Trendal's rider.] She sighed
deeply. [Of course, that is not the *real* problem...I guess I am
simply
a failure as a dragon...] She hung her head still further and stared
down at the ground.
<*That is not true!*> Azhy exclaimed. <*Who told you that?*> he
looked
at her closer. <*Why aren't you at the review?*> Azhy asked after a
short pause. <*It is very important*> he said. <*Even my dear heart
wants this to be perfect for him*> Azhy said.
[Because I would be there without my rider, and I do not want to be
asked why,] Lyraene said miserably. [She is off...practicing, she
says.
Her music, you know...]
Azhy nodded as if he were thinking. He did not wish to bother his
heart, for she was busy worrying about Firefly's rider.
<*Music? ahh yes, that, well is that more important than the review?*>
Lyraene blinked. [Is it?] she asked, shaking her head. [Firefly's
rider certainly does not think so, nor does Firefly! How could they
be
that wrong?]
Azhy nodded, <*If one asks my heart, then Firefly and his rider are
NEVER wrong*> he lamented, <*But I have heard enough that the Prince
is
very important, like our Queen, maybe we need to ask her advise?*>
[Um, ok,] Lyraene said uncertainly. She sent out a quiet call, asking
if the queen was nearby.
Chrysthal replied that she was on the hatching sands, but that she
could
come join them. She needed to stretch her wings and the eggs would be
fine for the few minutes she'd be away.
The lavender queen gracefully took off and passed over the garden on
her
way toward the swimming hole near the waterfall. It felt good to get
out into the sunshine. She saw Azhy and Lyraene near the edge of the
water and settled down beside them.
{You seem troubled,} She remarked after they greeted her.
Lyraene looked and felt uncertain. [Well, my rider thinks music is
very
important...and she spends a LOT of time on it. Do you think music is
important?] She looked questioningly between the queen and Azhy.
Azhy watched with interest what the Queen would say. Azhy only knew
how
important this visit was to his heart, and all she seemed to care
about
was Firefly and his rider, and that everything would be perfect. She
did not seem to care a fig for the Prince, although after spending
that
night with him, her opinion of him changed. Azhy just wanted his
beloved heart to smile again, and be happy like she was in the days
before they had heard of the Prince. If only he could go and speak to
Firefly, tell him of her fears, maybe they could work on something
together.
Chrysthal loved music and she knew how music made Merissa feel, so
replied, {Of course music is important. It conveys feelings and can
change emotions. It can sooth or arouse.} Then recalling how Merissa
had used tunes to get Oberon to communicate verbally Chrysthal added,
{It can inform and educate, as well.} Then she looked from one dragon
to the other, {Why do you ask?}
Lyraene looked confused. [Well, I know that my rider thinks that
music
is very important...more important than being where the other dragons
are right now.] She sighed. [Or more important than me, I think...]
She'd been resigned to this, assuming that her rider must be right,
that
her music was more important than anything. But hearing it from
Azhy...or especially from the queen...would make it seem more *right*
somehow...that this wasn't because she wasn't training her rider
properly!
Chrysthal looked at the miserable dragon and wondered if she had just
heard her correctly, {Your rider said that her music was more
important
than... you? Certainly she didn't mean that!} She looked at Azhy for
confirmation.
Azhy nodded sadly
<*Yes, she was told that, told she was not important!*> Azhy hotly
exclaimed.
<*My true heart has always placed me before herself, well, before she
came here at least*> he defended her. He was torn about her feelings
for Firefly's rider, and yet she was so happy, well, she had been....
he just wish he understood humans better.
{That is not right. Lyraene, I hope you have misunderstood your
rider,
but if you have not, then she needs to be educated about priorities.
One's bondmate should be, of course, paramount in any human-dragon
relationship, as is only fitting. Nothing should interfere with
that!}
Chrysthal stated indignantly.
Lyraene cocked her head. [Are you sure about that?] she asked
uncertainly. [My rider says that music is most important...Firefly
says
that duty to the wing is most important...I never considered that
there
could be anything else.] She looked down at the ground and shivered.
[I know how much my rider means to me, but...you are saying that she
should feel the same...towards me?]
{Of course she should,} Chrysthal stated firmly. {Without strong bonds
a
dragon and rider do not work well together. But I do not completely
disagree with Firefly and his rider. My duty is to oversee the
welfare
of my warren and all dragons who live within, just as it is the duty
of
all dragons within a warren to look out for the good of the warren and
each other. However, if a dragon and her rider do not work well
together how could they be of service to the warren?}
Lyraene shook her head. [I really do not know,] she admitted.
[Firefly
has asked me that same question, but I have never been able to give
him
a good answer because I have never been able to get my rider to think
of
anything but her music.] She thought for a moment. [If I try to get
her to give it up, then she will be unhappy...so unhappy that I don't
think we would work well...just like I suppose we are not working well
together now. How can I ask her to give up what means everything to
her?]
{My rider has not given up her music,} Chrysthal said gently, {Nor
would
I ever ask her to. But I did not have to explain to her how important
it was for her to put music second in her life... or even third. For
I
know that the running of the warren is now second to me in her life.
Your rider must learn this, as well. She must grow up and not be like
a
selfish hatchling.}
[She isn't selfish,] Lyraene said. [Just...hm, I guess she's
dedicated?
That's what she tells me, at least.]
{You know her heart the best. Do you feel she is being honest with
you?
No, I do not think so, or you would not be so unhappy or so confused.
Azhy, you understand about dedication in a rider, yet you do not let
your rider forget to care for herself or for you. Perhaps you can
help
Lyraene get her rider's attention and teach her about her
responsibilities to her soulmate and to our warren.} This was more
than
a question when Chrysthal stated her request and Azhy could only nod
as
the queen went on. {Lyraene, you must teach your rider what her duty
is
to you and to this warren. But for now, I must return to the hatching
sands, for I have been away from the eggs long enough.} With that,
the
lavender queen rose into the air and flew back across the warren to
the
hatching sands where the surviving eggs were maturing.
Azhy sat there quietly and thought for a moment. He wanted to help
Lyraene, and with the words of the Queen, he realized that what his
heart needed was in fact to be alone with Firefly's rider and made to
talk. He pondered on how he could accomplish this.
<*We need to come up with a way to get her attention*> Azhy spoke
gently
to Lyraene.
Azhy looked around and tried to think of a way. He looked back at the
swimming hole and then up in the sky. It was rather warm here, and
with
everyone standing in the sun....
<*When I wished to get my heart's attention, and she has taken herself
off for a bit, I used to splash water on her, especially in such warm
weather,*> Azhy said.
Lyraene blinked. [Really? I would never have thought of that!]
Azhy nodded. [It works quite well, actually.]
Lyraene turned and walked the short distance to the pool, and then
waded
a short distance into it. She experimentally poked her nose into it
and
snorted up a froth of bubbles, smiling at how funny this all was.
Despite having come from Jasra, where there was water everywhere, she
wasn't really very familiar with water because her rider hadn't cared
much for it, and anyway they hadn't been there very long. She
experimentally raised her tail and slapped it back down on the surface
of the water, unintentionally sending a spray of water at Azhy. She
turned and saw him dripping. She hung her head a bit but couldn't
help
giggling at how funny he looked. [Sorry,] she chuckled. [Didn't mean
to do that.]
Azhy looked at her suspiciously and snorted. If he did not know
better,
she had learned that movement from his rider.
<*It's ok*> he responded back. <*Now, I need you to practice this*>
he
then showed her how to gather up the water and hold it and then let it
go.
<*Try that, and then we will try to get her attention, so you can help
her learn what she needs to*>
Azhy waited while he watched her practice. Then he got a great idea.
He would help make sure she would not get in trouble for her rider's
problem.
Azhy reached out to Firefly.
<*Firefly, we have a problem*> Azhy began trying to find just the
right
words. Azhy went thru what Lyraene told him, the Queen, and explained
what they were trying to do. Azhy then asked that his rider not be
too
hard on her, she was trying her best to make her rider see.
While Lyraene practiced cupping her wings and spraying the water into
the air, Firefly carefully made his way from the review to the
swimming
hole. He felt sorry for Lyraene and didn't really blame the young
dragon. When her rider did show up, Lyraene did try to follow all of
the instructions to the best that she could, even with her rider
insisting on not paying the slightest bit of attention, but composing
some song or even writing down lyrics during training. He knew J'red
was close to the point of breaking with the Lyraene's rider.
<Where is your rider now?> Firefly asked the young female.
[She is over there,] Lyraene answered, using her nose to point in the
proper direction. [She has her flute and her papers with all those
funny little squiggles on them that she says she looks at to know what
to play.] Lyraene snorted. [I wish I could take those away from her
and replace them with something more useful, if she likes to look at
such things. Maybe that...'Wing Man-u-al that she says your rider
tells
her about?]
She crouched a bit lower in the water. [I really think this will get
her attention, though...if I can just get it far enough!] She swept
her
wings forward, sending a large quantity of water flying in the
direction
of the gardens.
Unfortunately, it was only then that she noticed that both Azhy and
Firefly were in the way of the water. [Um...duck!!!] she called out.
Azhy looked up as he heard her warning and managed to lift a wing and
deflect most of the water, but sadly he got more of it on Firefly than
he deflected off of him.
<*Sorry*> he said sheepishly, <*I was trying to help*>
Firefly snorted some sort of a response.
<*Let's try that again*> Azhy called to Lyraene <*I know you can do
better than that*>
Lyraene cocked her head. [Okay, if you say so,] she said. She dipped
the trailing edges of both wings into the water and once again sent a
surge of water in the direction of the gardens. The main mass of the
water passed overhead, but the trailing stream of water once again
descended toward Azhy and Firefly.
Both of them saw the wave coming their way and they were able to
deflect
most of it, and Firefly noticed if they moved over to the right, they
would not get as wet.
So, the two male dragons moved and once again she tried it again and
was
more successful the next time.
<*See, you are getting the hang of it*> Azhy happily told her.
Firefly agreed and added a bit of encouragement, suggesting she try to
sweep her wings like she would if she were back-winging to land. He
had
become intent on helping Lyraene get her rider's attention that he had
completely forgotten that the review was coming to a close and that
his
rider in the company of the prince, the warrenlady, Ari and the other
notables of the warren would be heading to the garden where Glynda had
set out a splendid tea.
Merissa and the prince praised J'red and Tel'thar for the splendid
review. As they gathered around the white wrought iron chairs and
tables the sweet strains of a flute echoed through the garden.
Merissa
was surprised that her mother had been so thoughtful as to provide
some
music. She would have to thank Analise later.
Nerika, hearing the sound of voices, rolled her eyes in frustration.
How was she to *ever* get her practicing done if she couldn't find a
quiet place within this warren to work? She tried to ignore the
sounds
coming from nearby, but finally the sounds got on her nerves. She
gathered up her music, tucked the flute under her arm, and strode
purposefully over to where the voices were originating from. She
rounded a decorative hedge, and was just beginning to speak. "I wish
you would..." she began, and then stopped dead in her tracks when she
saw who she was addressing.
She hastily cleared her throat. "I wish your Highness...and all of
you....would grant me the favor of allowing me to play a short tune
for
you while you have your tea." She curtsied gracefully and hoped she'd
covered her gaff.
Reolden nodded absently, and went back to his discussion with the
wingleaders about the newer tactics that they had implemented after
discovering that the wraiths appeared to have changed from mindless
swarms to swarms that were directed toward a particular aim -- that of
destroying dragon-kind. Tatiana joined in the conversation, adding
her
wisdom, as well.
[TAG: Andrew. Anything you wish to add?]
Ari sat quietly as the men talked over battle tactics and she smiled
happily when J'red gave an answer that inspired the Prince, or made
him
smile and praise him. She tried to smile and keep up the small
chit-chat that was going on with the women, but she just did not know
what to say, or talk about. All she knew was dragons, and some of the
things that Ash was teaching her. She sure hoped his plan worked and
it
would keep her here.
She stole a glance at J'red and sighed softly as she gazed at his
profile.
She was startled when suddenly a young woman walked up and announced
herself, and then offered to play.
She caught the scowl on J'red's face and the stiffening of his
posture.
She looked back over to the young woman and remembered her from the
dancing lessons.
J'red missed the prince's comments as he caught sight of Nerika and
wondered what she was doing in the gardens, and realized that she had
not been in the review.
Ari watched J'red cover his start, and she watched him for a bit
longer,
worried over how he was feeling. She knew he was surprised to see her
there, and the flash of hurt that went across his features tore at her
heart.
The Prince happened to glance over at Merissa and smiled at her and
then
caught the strange look of almost rapture on Ari's face as she watched
the Wingleader. He covered his glance with a sip of tea then smiled
and
nodded at J'red.
He checked again, only to find it was the Wingleader this time
watching
his cousin. Interesting, he thought.
Lyraene, meanwhile, was listening to the comments that both Azhy and
Firefly were giving her. Both the male dragons were quite attentive,
she noticed, and both seemed very anxious to help her with her
problem.
[Okay,] she said, [I think I understand, but maybe you two could help
show me?]
Firefly nodded. [I am always willing to lead by example!] he
chuckled,
and moved into the water.
Azhy, too, was more than willing to help. [Just watch us,
Lyraene...in
fact, perhaps if we all do this together it will help you master the
necessary movements.]
[All right!] Lyraene said happily, basking in the attention. She gave
each of the males a wet nuzzle and then they all stood in a line,
facing
the shore, spaced so their wingtips would not hit the others.
[Ready?] Firefly asked.
[Ready!] Azhy agreed. [On three...One!]
[Two!] Lyraene chimed in.
[Three!] Firefly called out, and all three dragons swept their wings
forward at once, cupping water and sending a wet fusillade skyward, in
the direction of the gardens.
No cloudburst could have drenched the party more thoroughly, as women
screamed and the party turned into pandemonium. Some broke and ran
for
cover. Others ducked under tables. Some stared in utter horror at
the
mess that the tea had become. Merissa hid her face in her hands.
J'red
sat stiffly in his seat and glared at all around.
Prince Reolden, of course was shocked, but he quickly put his arm
around
Merissa in order to protect her from another deluge as it came over
the
trees and washed upon them. But through all the cries and
protestations
one voice caught his attention, that of his cousin. She wasn't
crying,
or cursing, or screaming. She was laughing.
Ari was lost in the soft tones of the music, and the voices around
her.
She sighed and wondered when this little gathering would be over. She
was warm, and uncomfortable is this silly outfit and she longed for a
long lazy swim.
She glanced over at J'red and blushed softly when she wished the two
of
them could be swimming and enjoying a delightful picnic.
She closed her eyes for a moment and leaned her head back to try to
help
her clear her mind of her wanton thoughts.
At first she thought it might be a soft gentle sprinkling shower, but
instead it was like mid-winter's downpour.
Ari was up and looking astonished as the down pouring of the water
came
in the middle of the party.
She heard the screeching but she lifted her face to the welcoming gift
and laughed with pure joy and began to spin and dance soft little
steps
as she twirled with pure delight.
Nerika was certain that her big chance had come! She hadn't planned
this, but it couldn't have worked out better. If she managed to
favorably impress the Prince - especially with Merissa and J'red
looking
on - her future as a bard would be assured and there would be no more
of
this dragonrider nonsense!
For the first few moments, everything went perfectly...and then she
felt
the first few drops of rain. She instinctively put a hand over the
music sheet that was clipped to the flute - she'd been taught to
protect
sheet music at any cost short of life and limb! But, of course, she
couldn't play while doing that. So, with a murmured "excuse me," she
snatched the music off of the flute and put it in her carrysack. Then
she continued playing from memory. So intent was she that nothing
short
of a tidal wave could have distracted her from her music.
But when it came, no one could have been more surprised!
<Oops,> Firefly stopped mid stroke, <I think we got her attention...
and everyone else's.> He had of course immediately known that J'red
was
incredibly upset, and at first hadn't associated it with their
activity,
that was until he also caught a glimpse through J'red's eyes of Ari's
sweet dance in the downpour and realized that it wasn't raining
anywhere
but over the gardens, and that was exactly where his rider and all of
the company were.
{Oops?} J'red could feel that Firefly was trying very hard to hide
something. {Where are you! Do you know what is going on?} It was
then
that he sensed that Firefly was not alone and that he was standing in
water. {Oh, no... tell me it wasn't... you!}
Firefly felt his heart drop, <I was only trying to help Lyraene and
Azhy...>
J'red turned and stared at Ari, who was now standing in a ray of
sunshine, her drenched blouse and skirts clinging to her slender form
in
a most provocative way, and then he turned to Nerika and his temper
flared, but all he could manage to stammer was, "What... were...
you...
thinking?"
"Well...er...I wasn't thinking..." Nerika stammered.
"And THAT is the first thing you've gotten right since you've been
here!" J'red snapped at her.
"Well....my dragon apparently...wanted to play in...the water....for
some reason...," Nerika stammered, her voice getting more and more
quiet
as she went on. "But she says...well, that she got the idea from
some...um, other dragons." She had a hard time believing what she was
getting from Lyraene's mind, but if true it would take at least a bit
of
the heat off of her.
Ari gasped as she looked to J'red as his accusation. She felt her
eyes
fill with tears and she was not sure just who he was mad at, but she
knew she had nothing to do with it
*AZ?* she asked suddenly when she felt him trying to keep something
from
her.
<*It was nothing little one, Firefly and I were trying to help,*> he
explained.
Ari got the full story and she turned towards J'red who stood there
fuming and she could not help but laugh.
It was truly not done in malice, and she had wished for it. She
looked
at everyone who stood standing around lost and drenched to the bone.
"Tis it really that bad?" she whispered softly to J'red and touched
his
arm to gain his attention.
She glanced over at her cousin and winked.
Reolden caught the conspiratorial wink at once and said loudly to
Merissa, "What a wonderful idea! That was so refreshing after standing
in the hot sun for so long. You know, they could learn a thing or two
from you at court! They are ever so stuffy there. Even if you were
dying of heat no one would dare to admit it or think of such a great
way
to cool off."
Merissa raised her face from her hands and stared in disbelief into
Reolden's smiling face. She could hear Ari's giggle and she couldn't
help but join in and soon they were all laughing, all except Nerika.
Nerika gulped. "I am...glad...that you liked our
little..ah...diversion... Your Grace!" Nerika said, curtsying again
simply for lack of anything else to do. She stood there with her face
turning increasingly red. *Dumb dragon!* she subvocalized. "I'd be
better off without...!" She cut the thought off and then just stood
there, fuming.
J'red had found himself chuckling with the others and though he knew
he
should be extremely angry with Nerika he almost felt sorry for her.
Yet, she had brought this all on herself. Perhaps she had learned a
lesson. If not, he'd be sure to point it out to her, but not today.
Her petulance seemed so childish and she looked so ridiculous, that it
made him laugh all the harder.
Firefly, though, knew that what had happened had cut Lyraene to the
quick. His eyes caught Azhy's glance and they both tried to cheer
her.
Azhy could not believe her rider was so thoughtless. He nuzzled her
and
let her know that everything was ok. Both his heart and Firefly's
rider
were not mad, and even the others enjoyed the little incident.
<*We need to speak with our riders to share with them the depth of her
rider's lack of caring*> Azhy shared with Firefly. <*and speaking of
riders speaking, we need to do something about ours. My dear one is
miserable and she does not sleep, and she is so cold inside.*> Azhy
shared.
Firefly was relieved to hear this from Azhy. He had been afraid that
Ari had stopped caring for his rider, as Azhy had been keeping his
distance as I avoiding the crimson dragon. He agreed with Azhy and
said
they'd have to plan to do something to get them together, alone.
Firefly suggested that they should get something to eat, and tempted
Lyraene by saying that he knew where to find wild game, rather than
the
fat cows that the warren kept and that he would even catch her one if
she found the task not to her liking.
Lyraene nodded, not knowing what else to do. The last thing she
wanted
right now was to go and face her rider. She wondered how their idea -
which had seemed such a good one - could have failed so miserably.
Maybe...and she could hardly bear to think this...maybe nothing would
work, because her rider didn't want it to. She had always thought
deep
down, that when her rider realized the truth of her situation, that
things would get better.
But, as she took off to follow Azhy and Firefly, she was beginning to
believe that it was she herself who did not understand. And that
things
would not get better, only worse.
As the dragons flew off, the tea party was quickly cleaned away by the
kitchen staff and the prince offered to escort Merissa back to her
apartment before heading to his own to change. He glanced over at
J'red
who was still standing beside Ari and asked in an almost offhanded
manner if he would be so kind as to see that the Lady Arideregh
arrived
safely to her quarters.
J'red was a bit startled by the request, because at that particular
moment, he had been imagining Ari in her hot steamy bath, and felt his
cheeks redden. He quickly covered it with a bow, and graciously
accepted the prince's request.
Ari took his arm and the two followed the others out of the clearing,
leaving Nerika all alone, as she had only a few moments before, wanted
to be.
---
SUMMARY:
Day 13
Afternoon
The leaders of the warren escort Prince Reolden on a review of the
wings
as the dragons and riders assemble on the Green.
Lyraene tries to convince her rider, Nerika, but Nerika stubbornly
insists that her music is more important than some silly review.
Instead
Nerika decides to practice in the garden.
Distraught, Lyraene wanders, and bumps into Azhy near the swimming
hole.
They ask Chrysthal's advice and she assures them that nothing should
get
in the way of a rider and her dragon. They talk about how to get
Nerika's rider's attention and Azhy suggests splashing her with water.
Firefly joins them at Azhy's request.
After the review, the royal party and leaders of the warren go to the
garden for afternoon tea. Nerika, hearing voices and becoming
annoyed,
ventures into their midst. Realizing an opportunity, she asks if she
may play her flute for them.
Lyraene is not being too successful with splashing, and Azhy and
Firefly
join her for a little help. They send a few waves of water onto
Nerika,
and then entire party at the tea. Most of those in attendance are
horrified, but Ari begins to laugh, and Reolden joins her, putting
everyone at ease - all except Nerika, who has been castigated by
J'red.
Azhy and Firefly determine to cheer up Lyraene and take her hunting.
Reolden escorts Merissa home, and requests that J'red escort Ari, and
the rest of the party breaks up, leaving Nerika alone in the garden.
---
Respectfully submitted by:
Carys Murray
AKA
Ari and Azhy
John Pepper
AKA
Nerika and Lyraene
and
Arlene Jacobs
AKA
Merissa and Chrysthal
J'red and Firefly
(and playing Prince Reolden)
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