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1. [DL-W] Midnight Rendezvous (JP)
From: Allen Veazey <veazeyae@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 19:46:10 -0600
From: Allen Veazey <veazeyae@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-W] Midnight Rendezvous (JP)
Midnight Rendezvous
Day 16
Afternoon
Warrenlady's Office
Ash'chenon could be quiet and unobtrusive, generally, but that did not
keep him from casting anxious looks around as he approached the office
of the Warrenlady. He attracted enough attention, and there was no
reason to let any of it rub off on Eleanora. At least, he hoped not.
Passing through the door, he inclined his head at the Warrenlady,
seated behind her desk.
"We need to talk, I think. Are you aware of what's going to be
happening tomorrow?"
[TAG- Merissa]
Day 16
Past Midnight
Ari waited until she heard the suite grow quiet. She was glad it was
over. It had been hard to sit so close to him, to pretend there had
never been anything between them. Especially since everyone else
seemed to be in pairs.
Ari was happy for Eleanora, altho she too seemed to be slightly out of
sorts with things. Since the arrival of the Prince and all those from
either court or from the surrounding land, she had not had the chance
to wander by and sit and have a chat with her friend. She had also
missed the chance to learn more of the sign language.
As she lay upon her bed, already dressed in the clothes that she would
wear to meet with Ash, she pondered if the relation****p between her
and J'red would have changed had the Prince not come.
But, then without him coming....she would not have learned parts of her
past....or the secrets of her life. Not that she knew them all, but
she
had truthfully never bothered with...nor thought of the things in her
life that had not made sense.
Ari closed her eyes for a moment to pick through the patchy memories,
and how it had been her father....and Jerusha that had been the glue to
keep things together. Then with the coming of Azhy, she had allowed
herself to be embraced with his love and nothing else mattered.
She opened her eyes and sighed. Now she was here, in the real world,
and things were not as she had been taught, nor prepared for. Without
Azhy she was nothing, and he had given her a gift she could never
repay. As her thoughts wandered towards him, she was filled with such
love and tenderness she blushed and curled up as the warm sensations
washed over her and she reveled in them.
She lay quietly and listened to the soft silence that surrounded her
and knew that everyone was abed and it was time for her to slip out
and meet Ash. He seemed different with their last lesson.
She quietly made her way through the quarters and successfully slipped
out. She made her way to where Azhy had come to give her a lift. He
was not happy with what she was doing, but knew her well enough not to
mention once again how he felt about this.
Azhy had a hard time trying to explain how he felt about things. He
liked Firefly and knew that his rider felt for his heart as she did
him. Neither of the dragons could figure a way to get the two of them
together. Both had hoped that the dinner would have gotten them to
speak, and break through the barrier that had been put up.
Now she was sneaking out and going to visit Ash. Azhy did not have a
problem with Wyndamenth; she was a cute little thing. Wyn was unique
and filled with wild knowledge. Azhy enjoyed talking with her about
things that they both knew of and had experienced.
<*Are you sure you wish to do this....*>Azhy asked not able to keep
silent about this issue.
*Aye* Ari responded softly. Her thoughts still flying like swirling
wind clouds.
*Tis the only way I am ta uncover the secret. If I know the secret...*
<*My dearest heart, I am not so sure this is the way*> Azhy tried to
gently counsel. <*My heart grows cold with fear that you and what you
seek will be lost on this path you are on*>
Ari hopped off and turned to embrace her soul mate. *I must do what I
must* Ari responded slightly more distant than normal. *As long as ya
do not desert me, as long as ya are with me Az, all will be fine.*
Ari nuzzled him and hugged him quickly. She turned and slipped into
the Dragon Center hoping that she had not missed Ash. She needed to
hear what he was willing to tell her.
She found him easily enough, still in the Dragon Center, his normal
clothes swapped for short sleeves and sandals. He was wa****ng and
oiling Wyndamenth's wings, and his dragon wasn't unhappy with the
treatment.
"Ari." He said, as Wyn moved her head. "I knew you'd show."
"Ya did?" She responded in surprise.
He turned and looked her in the eye. "You're curious. Not at all
surprising....SO, then, then me what you know of your mother?"
"My mother?" Ari asked and then chuckled. "Surely ya jest." She
retorted softly, but seeing the seriousness of his look, and taking in
his stance, she knew he was very serious.
Well, this is what she had been hoping for. Perhaps, finally, someone
would share the secrets she was so desperate to learn; the secrets
that would keep her here.
"Well, My mother be the Lady Cecily de Winterhaven of Greyhawke." Ari
answered simply. "Not sure of the particulars, but I know she hated
her life at court and left; joined my father and they began a new life
building the Research Settlement. I know that I was a wee bit of a
surprise, seein as I came in ta their life rather late. My father
once told me they had never expected the gift of a child." Ari
explained what she knew.
"Now, I do know my mother hates the king, but as ta why, I can't tell
ya. My father will not speak of it. I know my mother can be
rather......"
Ari paused searching for the right word to describe her mother in the
truest way she could, but without making it sound like an insult.
"Forceful!" she blurted out finally coming upon a word she could use.
"She be exact in her dealin's." Ari added. "She be one ya don't wish
ta upset."
Ari stood quietly and watched as he went back to the oiling of Wyn.
Ari smiled softly as she heard the soft purring noises from Wyn as she
was enjoying her oiling and rub down.
"Ta be honest Ash, I had hoped ya would know somethin more that I can
use ta help me stay here." She confessed softly.
"J'red once spoke...." She paused to take a deep breath, it still hurt
to even think or mention his name. Was that feeling ever going to go
away, or would she feel like this for the rest of her life.
Was this why her mother behaved so cold and distant? Was there some
broken heart that lay buried in her past, which twisted her into the
woman she now was? What was her secret? Ari prayed that Ash knew
something.
"J'red said what?" Ash prodded her as he noticed the distressed look
on her face as she grew silent.
"Huh? OH! Uh...well....tis rather strange he would think this,
but.....he
asked questions about my mother and a possible relation****p with the
King. But this was before we knew that I be related to them, thru my
mother... she be the cousin of the King." Ari replied.
"Ash?" she asked softly. "Do ya know anything? Anything that will
help me? I know there be some secret.....so many little things make
sense now....but I can't figure it out. I had hoped ya would tell me
what ya know....."
Ash paused, did not speak for a long time. "This makes things
difficult," he said. "I do not know what J'red knows. There are some
things..." He shook his head.
"Greyhawke is a good holding," he said casually, returning to
Wyndamenth's wing. "It is fertile, and there is much land. There is
also the fact that Cicely is not there ruling over it, which makes it
a target, a prize to be taken over."
Ari started to nod, then her skin went cold. He spoke of her mother so
casually...
"It is not the first time that the king has meddled in her lands." Ash
said. " -Your- lands, Ari. Long time ago, while I was in Ralengarde,
the King promised those lands, and Lady Cicely.....to the 15th Earl of
Ravencroft."
"Wh....why?" Ari stammered as her mind tried to taken in all what Ash
was telling her. She found herself not prepared for this. But then,
her parents had sheltered her and kept such things from her. But
suddenly certain memories and heated words in the dark made sense.
"They were friends." Ash said. "And he is King. That's the only
reason he needs." He turned and stared at Ari.
"I knew her. Cicely was not known for her even temperament, even in
my day. She's likely been warring with the Crown ever since. That
kind of promise is not one given lightly- it's survived to the here
and know. That is why Reginald feels that you are his."
Ari felt her knees weaken and if not for the sudden flow of love and
sup****t sent to her from Azhy she would have surely lost the contents
of her stomach, not to mention her composure as she slumped to the
ground.
How she managed to stand tall and straight as if she were indeed a
reed in the wind allowing the breeze to push her to the brink before
flowing over her.
She did find the strength to swallow. Her mind reeling with yet
another blow; she tried to allow the thoughts find a pattern within so
she could make sense of it all. Could this have been why her parents
had hidden her away? Could this be why her parents welcomed
Azhy......Azhy!
"I can't belong to him......or anyone!" she blurted out. "I belong to
Azhy!" she exclaimed. As that knowledge swept through her, it grew
stronger, and she knew that her earlier claims of going rogue might
just be born this night.
Ash turned to face her, studying her intently.
Ari began to pace and softly verbal mumble to herself as she tried to
think this new information out. She stopped and turned to face her
teacher again.
"Reolden....." she blurted out as she realized he must know what the
King wished. She had been so sure he had been her ally. So sure he
would have stepped in and degreed that she would be free to choose the
life she wished.
Why....he had even spoke to her of being a DragonRider, and not to
worry
about things. Could she really trust him now? And surely even J'red
knew. Why else would he pretend nothing had been between them?
Seeing the look on her mentor's face and the clouding over of his
countenance only validated the fears she had.
"Is there a way out Ash? She begged. "Can you see a way out? I will
do anything....anything you ask."
She took a deep breath and prepared herself for the words he would
speak.
Ash hesitated, then put his arm around her.
"Legally," he said, "it is as it was before. Nothing has changed. Once
you joined with your dragon, you went beyond the laws of the
Landbound." He paused. "What this concerns is your birthright, your
Holdings. The other part of your heritage, Ari. Reginald, or the King,
want to take this away from you. It is not im****tant that you did not
know of it. What -is- im****tant is what you want to do. You could make
a very strong case for staying in Whiteriver, allowing them to
protect you, and giving up your lands to Reginald... if you do
nothing, that is what eventually will happen. Or... if you decide to
claim Greyhawke... your lands... that will be a little more
complicated. Fortunately, you have a little time to decide this." He
seemed about to say something else, but stopped.
"For now, Ari, there is little to do. Reolden seems to be working for
your benefit. But I would not trust him completely." Another pause.
"And I would be ready for an attempt to take you away from the warren.
By force, I would wager. Reginald is far too possessive to let legal
snarls stop him."
Ari listened to his words, and altho he spoke of the harsh realities
that faced her, somehow she felt as long as he was on her side.....she
would be ok.
"Ya really think he be daft enough ta try ta take me by force?" Ari
whispered softly. Speaking the threat made it all the more real.
"Be the lands in the name of my mother? Or be that the problem....they
be in my name?" she asked him. If the lands were in her mother's
name....then as long as she was alive this issue of lands was a mute
point.
On the other hand, perhaps she already knew the answer. Why would such
a big deal be made over her? Even after the court knew that she was a
Dragonrider?
"I will tell ya this Ash." She spoke softly and with serious intent.
"I shan't be goin with anyone. I shan't leave
WhiteRiver.....unless....."
she paused and turned to face him. Looking at his features, taking
them in, and gleaning his strength for her own.
"I will go Rogue before I allow myself ta be taken."
Ash was silent for a long moment.
"I made that threat, once," he said. "With Tahlaya. In fact, we left
our Warren, went out into the wastelands. It ruined us. Going rogue,
leaving everyone behind... it is not a decision to be made lightly." He
tried to smile. "Let us hope that such a decision would not have to be
made."
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Summary: Ari comes to meet with Ash'chenon. He gives her
hints about her family and past, and they discuss what he
thinks Reginald will do in the next few days...
Respectfully submitted by:
Allen Veazey (Ash and Wyn)
Carys Murray (Ari and Azhy)
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