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Ok, this ones a bit of a talk-fest. Im trying to set the scene for a number of events and am having a bit of difficulty doing so. One of these events will be rather bloody and depressing and im also having trouble with writing that simply cos i dont like it hehe.

Remember to visit www.forestkeep.net and nominate me for an 'ursa major' award ..thats open till the 18th - I should be getting some fan art soon (pokes those who said they would ) and I will (yay) be putting up my own ridiculous mad chicken scratchings and trying to pass them off as art hehe

anyway...on with the show!

XXXV

The fairies looked nervously at one another. "Well ma'am. We don't trust the humans much as they tend to try and catch us or kill us" Jasmina said and tried to look confident. "We don't hurt them but we have been known to ...um...play tricks on them sometimes"

Cill pondered as she looked at the pair. "Not all humans are bad" her voice was somewhat tart and Jasmina hastened to reassure her. "No doubt as to that ma'am. But how do you tell the nice ones from the bad ones?"

Ploom piped up from behind her "You must have found one of the nice ones ma'am. You can see he really loves you"

Cill's eyes narrowed "Just how long were you up there anyway?" she asked pointedly as Jasmina scowled at Ploom "Um... Long enough Ma'am" Jasmina said abashed, her eyes lowered while inside she was thinking of the wonderful kick in the rear she would give the male when she had him alone once more.

"I see" the frosty reply came and Jasmina jumped in hurriedly "we didn't want to let the human see us ma'am. We were scared he would do something."

Cill sighed gustily and shifted slowly on her bed "He wouldn't. In fact he would be very pleased to meet you."

Jasmina nodded meekly "Do you have anything you want me to tell the King ma'am? I know he is eager to hear from you and to meet you properly as are some of the other representatives of the races."

Cill thought fast. She did not want to upset the local sidhe, as they could get very nasty when defensive but there was no reason to hide the fact of her mate. "Please convey my good wishes to him and that I and my Mate will look forward to meeting him and the others soon" She placed a definite emphasis on the word 'Mate' so they could not avoid the meaning.

"I shall tell his Majesty with all speed Ma'am" Jasmina said with a courtly bow "He may wish to visit here himself to see with his own eyes"

Cill could not suppress a smirk. Fairies were highly traditional and such a coupling would be hard for him to hear about and maintain decorum.

"That would be delightful. Please inform me of the time he wishes though I advise the mornings are best"

Ploom's eyes darted nervously from the dragoness to the fairy. He was young but he was picking up some odd meaning from the words "Thank you ma'am" he said and sketched a quick bow before flitting swiftly up to the window slit, hoping to gain a lead on the angry female hunter who wasn't far behind him.

Duncan poured a tankard of wine for Nokala as he sat comfortably opposite "Try some of this. It's a lot better than the stuff that gets served at dinner" He was still nervous at sitting opposite the dragon and had already drained half his own drink to steady his frazzled nerves.

Nokala took a cautious sip and raised his eyebrows in surprise "It does taste a lot less...raw" he murmured and leaned back into the chair. "Now, how goes it with the troublesome twosome?"

Duncan grinned, "They seemed to have settled in fine so far. The other novices have adapted faster than I would have thought. Father Champlain has agreed to hold the ceremony for James and Cill though I am still not sure as to the timing...as something else has come up"

He slid Lord Hampton's letter across the table to the dragon who took it bemusedly and held it up trying to read the human writing. "And what does this say?' he asked the startled lord.

"Oh, my apologies. I didn't know you weren't able to read our writing," Duncan murmured and reclaimed the letter quickly.

"We are going to have a visit from a nobleman's daughter. It seems she took a shine to James when she met him last and wishes to see him again"

Nokala grunted, He couldn't see a problem "So tell her he is taken and to look elsewhere for a mate"

Duncan sighed, "She will likely be a spoilt young woman and will not like the fact she has been rejected in favor of a dragoness and could possibly make trouble"

Nokala chuckled dryly "In a week my daughter will be able to look passably human for short periods at least so there will be no obvious dragoness for her to make trouble about"

Duncan gave a sigh of relief and sank back into his chair with the tankard on his chest "That will be a lot easier to deal with though there may still be issues between them though we shall endeavor to keep them apart to reduce the risk of discovery"

Rubbing his chin Nokala wondered briefly if Duncan knew about the other pair of dragons wandering through the keep and decided to tentatively enquire about them.

"So, do you think you are up to more visits from friendly dragons now?" he chuckled, leaning back into the soft embrace of the chair to watch the reaction carefully.

Duncan let out a sigh "I don't know, there seems to have been little hostility towards Cill though it is early days yet. Why do you ask? Do you have anyone in mind?"

Nokala drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. So he did not know about Tomako and Shalla yet. This would have to be handled carefully.

"As a matter of fact I do. There is an elder of the council I wish you to meet as well as my mate and possibly the Elder Wyrm may wish to visit to see how you are treating the latest addition to the clan"

Duncan swallowed hard and Nokala hastened to reassure him "they will not appear in dragon form... but look human. They will not trust you at first and indeed with good reason as you are no doubt aware. My mate has special reason to hate humans also but I feel this is going to be important that we can learn to trust one another"

Nokala stood up from his chair and paced back and forth slowly before stopping to look at Duncan

"You don't know it yet but you already have two other dragons visiting James and Cill and who wish to learn more from humans. I believe they are making fast friends amongst the people here too"

Duncan blinked "Two more?" his hands shook as he picked up his tankard once more and took a swig. "I don't know if I can cope with any more of this," he stammered. "What are they doing?"

Grinning widely Nokala took the tankard from the lord's hands "Lets go down and wait for them and then you can ask them yourself"

Tomako and Shalla looked the picture of draconic innocence as they wandered through the family lair. Tomako appearing for all the world like he was going to visit his friends for more drumming practice and Shalla had been primping herself in the mirror all morning and had applied new glittery polish to her talons. Nakkour could not help being suspicious though.

The odd conversation she had had with Tomako kept gnawing at her. She knew all the young males nearby and none had shown interest in her youngest daughter. So who was she primping for, and why?

Nakkour knew the signs and they had her worried. She resolved to have a talk with her impetuous daughter soon and get to the bottom of the mystery. She would not tell Divitchka though, not yet at least.

She waved to the pair and watched them port out together and then it hit her. Together!

They were going to the same place! She put her snout in her paws and groaned.

Lady Caroline was feeling decidedly ill. The rocking motion of the simple covered cart swayed her from side to side and it was rapidly making her feel queasy. She had been pleased to leave the flea-ridden town of Chester and still had the bite marks in embarrassing places as well as nasty memories of the mayor there and the lustful looks he had given her while helping her around.

She pulled out the scroll her father had given her and ticked off the tasks he had set her to do while out on her 'inspection' and thought about how silly she had been trying to hide the her true purpose of chasing down her errant squire by saying she wanted to visit the entire area.

It was still a week before she would make the Keep. Her eyes narrowed and she hoped it would be worth it - she was not going to repeat this trip.

She waved to the head of her guards who came over and nodded respectfully "Yes Ma'am?"

"Pull over for a while and let me recover before I lose my breakfast," Caroline mumbled. With a grin, he waved the lead horses to a halt and cheerfully set the men to setting up a pavilion for her to relax in until she felt better.

A lone rider wandered past on a mangy nag and waved perfunctorily at the guards, his eyes active and the set of his mouth belying the indolent manner as he took in the number of guards and weapons, their stance and attitude before he continued past and along the road.

King Dougal turned purple and a large vein in his forehead throbbed visibly.

"HE WHAT!" He shouted and pounded his ceremonial jeweled scepter violently on the pillow it usually laid upon much to the horror of the watching elders.

"He mated with her," mumbled Jasmina, her eyes on the floor. Ploom stood nearby with his hands rubbing his rump, smarting from the kicking he had been unable to outrun.

"You have the audacity to stand there and tell me a human... a sworn enemy of dragons and faerie had a ...romp ... with a dragoness...and she confirmed he was her mate?"

The king's eyes were as hard as agates and his voice as cold as a winter morning.

Jasmina stood up proudly and nodded firmly "Yes Sire. She was quite adamant he was her mate. And there is another dragoness there who seems to have similar designs on another human too"

The king's frosty gaze slid across to Ploom who saluted and stood up straight as possible, trying to ignore his sore rump. "And are you party to this nonsense as well? Are you going to tell me the truth or the same rot as this hunter is?"

Ploom's eyes flickered between Jasmina's and the Kings and with a sigh he nodded, "Yes Sire. She is telling the truth. Moreover, the Dragoness wants to meet you. In the morning preferably"

He caught the flash of relief in Jasmina's eyes and gave her a mocking smile in return as he thought she wouldn't be grateful to be supported by a mere plain fairy.

"She does, does she?" growled the King. "And I suppose she wants me to meet her human mate as well"

Ploom nodded "Yes Sire, she was quite definite about that" he fidgeted in place slowly as the ache in his rump diminished.

Sitting back in his throne King Dougal crooked a finger at the Huntress "come here Jasmina" he murmured, calming down somewhat.

Jasmina came closer somewhat apprehensively. "I tell you Sire. There was no coercion or force nor magic... they are truly in love. It was obvious immediately and I believe her when she said he was her mate"

Dougal rubbed his face with his hands "Very well. It seems we have to contend with this unlikely coupling and determine their future impact on us swiftly. I shall go and meet her and her human too" He glared at the various assembled Elders who were sitting and muttering amongst one another off to one side of the court.

"Lord Pepper!" he shouted and one of the elder fairies jumped in his place, wrenching his gaze towards his king.

"Yes Sire?" the elder fairy asked. He was tall, lean, still black haired, and as an elder was reckoned a force with his knowledge of magic and lore.

"You're coming with me tomorrow to meet the dragoness and her human," stated the king flatly.

"Me sire?" quavered Lord Pepper "Why not lord Glade here...I'm sure he..."

Dougal cut him off "Because you were the one who told me about this prophecy. So you are coming along to see if this is part of it" he clapped his hands in anticipation "I want you ready bright and early tomorrow morning"

"Yes Sire" Pepper sighed, casting an aggrieved yet sympathetic glance at Jasmina and Ploom.

Jasmina also cast a sidelong glance at Ploom and felt a surge of guilt towards him. He had stood up for her even after she had kicked him and berated him for blurting out his questions to the dragoness. She would have to make it up to him sometime.

Nokala and Duncan walked slowly towards the inner bailey with the lord of the keep proudly pointing out various industries and services within the keep. He was definitely feeling more relaxed in the company of the human-dragon now though he suspected the wine was mostly to blame.

"So you have many skilled tradesmen under the same roof," Nokala mused as he walked past the bakery and mess hall towards the storehouse where Cill and James lodged.

"Yes. It makes more sense to have them in one place where it's easy to find them" Duncan felt a little apprehensive as Nokala knocked and waited for the dragoness to appear. He had not seen her since that time she had arrived with James and manifested magically in front of him and he did not know what to expect.

There was a creak as the door opened and Cill peered out "Hello Father" she said gaily and gave him a warm hug in greeting. "You are earlier than I expected "

She bobbed her head in a greeting to Duncan who could not help bowing to her in return.

Nokala grunted as his human form was squeezed then chuckled and scratched her chin. "I want to have a chat to the new arrivals and let Duncan meet them too.

"Especially if Shalla is pursuing a human as well" His gaze took on a probing look "You wouldn't have anything to do with that would you?"

Cill felt her ruffs flush "Only indirectly... She took it upon herself to come here and kidnap Tommy as she was curious ... and then things went from there"

Duncan coughed delicately "You mean that Tommy... our Novice Tommy... is courting a dragoness also?" he asked with a sickly smile on his face.

Cill nodded emphatically "She'd deny it at first but she hasn't been far from him whenever she visits and it seems he is just as eager"

Duncan's shoulders slumped a bit "Well, I guess we could have a double wedding..." he muttered to himself.

"How is your shape shifting coming along?" Nokala asked as they wandered out into the courtyard.

"I can change my size anytime now but I still have to receive instruction on the glamour. Master Marre said he would teach me in a couple of weeks"

Nokala shook his head "No, It must be this week...I shall tell you why once I have spoken to our new arrivals. Are they aware of the need for secrecy?"

Cill nodded "It has been impressed upon them and they have both sworn to keep the location secret"

Nokala breathed a quiet sigh of relief "That is good. I would not want Divitchka showing up here searching for them however so they need to be discreet about their visits"

Cill slowly led them towards the travel ring, talking all the while, about how she had eaten in the mess and warning her father to avoid human ale as it could lead to unforeseen circumstances.

Nokala caught the veiled note of chagrin and chuckled then took in the log-encircled travel ring, making a note of it so he could use next time he visited.

Shifting nervously from foot to foot Duncan watched the mist form above the ring as Tomako and Shalla materialized within. He could see they were both young dragons and about the same size as Cill though of differing colors and horn patterns. Looking down he noticed the female dragon's talons were painted turquoise and glittered.

Wrenching his gaze upward, he met her curious yellow-eyed gaze and coughed nervously. Cill stepped forward quickly and made introductions.

"Father, Lord Duncan - I am pleased to introduce Tomakolia and Shalla. The twin offspring from Nakkouralamina and Divitchkaliga. They have both sworn peace and are welcome here"

Both dragons bowed respectfully, immediately recognizing Nokala as a dragon despite his current form.

"We are pleased to meet you both" Nokala however could see a sudden fear leap into Shalla's eyes as she looked at him and he wondered why.

Tomako looked from Cill to Duncan and his thought was almost visible to her.

"Lord Duncan rules the humans living here Tomako, and he wanted to meet you and Shalla to welcome you properly and ensure you are treated well"

Cill hoped he would not blurt out the fact that she had in fact claimed sovereignty over the keep and surrounding territories.

Tomako smiled and bowed to Duncan "Thank you Sir" he enthused mentally "I am thankful for the chance to visit and learn here. Mastersmith Desmond has taken me on as an apprentice blacksmith and armorer. I have learnt a lot from him already and look forward to being able to supply armor and weapons for the keep soon"

He extended a paw towards Duncan who thankfully, was still buffered sufficiently by the wine to take it and shake it slowly with a smile.

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance too Tomako and am glad you have been made to feel welcome here. I think it is good that dragons and humans can find some common ground" He risked a sidelong glance at Cill who flushed gently.

Shalla stepped forward and offered her paw to Duncan "And what brings you here Lady Shalla?" Duncan asked her too innocently as he shook it slowly.

Shalla flushed - did the entire world know? "I am here to make sure my brother stays out of mischief and to visit some friends Lord Duncan" she replied, hoping her flush wasn't too noticeable. Nokala stood with his arms folded and a grin on his human face. For some reason that made Shalla very nervous.

Duncan nodded "Then I hope you shall feel as welcome here as Cill is and that you find entertainment and knowledge that will benefit you" He hoped that didn't sound too pompous but he felt that he was acting as ambassador now so it behooved him to follow the proper forms in case he inadvertently - god help him - caused offense.

Stepping forward Nokala greeted Tomako also and murmured something quietly, Tomako nodded and concentrated taking on the human form, he had chosen and Duncan soon found himself talking animatedly to him as they walked slowly together towards the smithy.

Shalla shifted nervously on her feet and looked between Nokala and Cill, wondering what they were talking about privately when Nokala stepped forward and bowed formally

"Lady Shalla, my daughter informs me you may have some questions as have I...Shall we walk and discuss them privately?"

Shalla looked at Cill then back to Nokala and nodded "I do indeed Lord Nokala, thank you for taking the time to speak with me" She stepped lightly out of the travel ring and the pair wandered off slowly towards the bailey leaving Cill looking smug as she made her way back to her house.

Shalla tried to hold in her enthusiasm, as she did not want to appear the giddy female though she was bursting with questions. Nokala could see she was restraining herself and they paused atop the hill overlooking the bailey and training area.

"Is he down there?" Nokala asked quietly. Shalla nodded slowly "He trains with James in the mornings and then comes and talks to me" She looked nervously at him "How did you feel when you found out Cill was seeing a human?" her tongue flicked over her teeth nervously.

Nokala chuckled and sat down slowly "I was a little confused but my mate had read him and she hates humans far more than I. She was loath to kill him but it definitely crossed her mind"

Shalla blinked "She found out before you?" Settling on her hindquarters, she watched the humans scurrying about below.

Nokala nodded "Oh yes and it was a terrible shock for her. I prevented her from throwing him bodily into the forest. He was kind though and in love with her...even though he didn't know she was a dragoness!" he had to chuckle at the memory.

"I decided to see what would happen, after all a human would only live fifty or sixty years" - or so we thought he whispered to himself.

Shalla blinked "So you didn't mind James courting and mating with Cill? What did your mate think?"

Nokala coughed "It was hard on both of us. I still have ambivalent emotions towards him but he is doing well so far. I've never seen Cill so happy - almost glowing in fact," that thought sent another suspicion tumbling through his mind... Oh no...

Nokala looked seriously at her "I do not know your parents well other than meeting them briefly at clan meetings but I am aware of your father's feelings towards humans - I doubt he would look upon such a coupling with pleasure"

Shalla nodded sadly, "I know. However, I feel... something towards Tommy and I think I understand what Cill felt now. He does not want to own me or treat me badly." She rubbed her paws together slowly

"My parents are already arranging a mate for me though. One who will see me as chattel and likely treat me as my father treated my mother and I do not want that!" she said this last statement harshly.

Nokala passed a weary hand over his human face "You are old enough to defy them yet you must realize the consequences of such an act. Your mother may not wish to help as it would risk her position and your father may feel his honor has been threatened"

Shalla nodded "I think she was trying to warn me in her own way - but she will still want to lecture me on not bringing shame on the family. I don't know what my father will do if he found out I was ... interested ... in a human" she twiddled her paws helplessly.

Nokala grinned at her confusion "Cill will help; she will make a good friend if you let her and I'm sure James will help as well. Nevertheless, I advise you not to tell your mother or father about your human friend until the time is right. And only you will know when that is"

Shalla nodded slowly, looked down towards the bailey to where James and Tommy were sparring with their respective partners, and sighed once more.

"When I first found out about Cill and James I thought she was keeping him as a pet and only wanting him around for entertainment. But now I find myself wanting to stay close to Tommy and talk to him and protect him" She turned back to where Nokala was standing, his arms folded quietly as he listened "What does this mean?"

Nokala grinned and patted her on the neck "It means you are growing up and that you have come to recognize another's value in relation to yourself"

Shalla twitched her tail slowly "D-do you think I should make myself look like a human woman for him?" she asked carefully, her eyes tracking the novices on the ground below the hill.

"Has he asked you to?" Nokala murmured, "I do not believe James has ever asked Cill to turn human though she has finally realized that she must if she is to join his world in the same manner that he has joined ours" He sat down on the lip of the hill and pondered.

"You mean he does not want me to? Or perhaps he does not realize that I can?" Shalla mused.

Leaning back on the grass Nokala grinned up at her "perhaps that is something you can surprise him with. Once you find out his tastes in human women - He may prefer you in dragon form though as James certainly does with Cill"

Shalla's ruffs flushed heatedly at the thought of the sounds she had heard and the images it brought into her mind's eye. "Do you really think so?"

"Why don't you ask him?" Nokala chuckled. He was enjoying himself. "Just don't go jumping into something you aren't ready for...or he isn't ready for either"

Shalla nodded slowly and hugged herself tightly as she sat on her haunches "Thank you Nokala. My mother is not stupid and will want to know what is going on but father barely acknowledges I exist so will likely only miss me if I am careless"

Canting his head to one side Nokala thought this over "You are clan Shalla and that makes you family too. Come and talk to Carlina if you want her views too"

Shalla turned her head to him "Tomako wants to stay here and make a lair of his own" she shivered visibly "That would leave me alone at home"

Sitting upright Nokala rested a hand on her neck "That is up to him. He has found a purpose of his own and wishes to pursue it. Have you found a purpose yet?"

Shalla shook her head slowly "I do not know yet. I do not want to be taken away and mated by a strange drake who just wants eggs." Her eyes widened briefly and she flicked a look at the drake beside her "C-can James give Cill eggs?" she asked and her ruffs flushed brightly - why should she want to ask such a question!

Nokala paused, should he tell her his suspicions? "We are not sure. It may be possible as he has shared in her power now but there are many who would consider this a perversion of the highest order" he finished warningly.

Fidgeting slowly Shalla nodded "I know what my father would have done if Cill had been his daughter"

Nokala stood slowly "And this makes you afraid? That he will lock you up in purdah and forcibly have you mated?"

Shalla nodded sadly, her eyes starting with tears as Nokala stroked her snout.

"Give it some time and think about it. Visit Tommy when you want but be the dutiful daughter when at home and you may be able to postpone any actions he has planned"

Shalla sniffled quietly "Mother said they are already in negotiations with drakes so I do not know how long I have before I am claimed"

Nokala thought hard, While it was perfectly within their rights to mate their daughter with a powerful family to assist in securing ties and territories. He could not help feeling that it should not be against the females will.

"Wait and see, Find out what they have planned. You may like the drake they choose or something else may happen. If you feel trapped come and talk to either Carlina or myself and we shall assist you as much as we can. The council tend to take the parents side though so you do not have many options"

"Why can I not do as Cill did and make my own lair?" Shalla asked suddenly, as this idea had only just occurred to her.

Giving a cough Nokala looked meaningfully at her." And what do you think your father would do when you told him you wanted to do that?" he sighed, "Cill was always pushy, she kicked her way out of her egg and demanded food on the spot. She also sought independence from an early age - much to her mother's horror I might add"

Shalla looked thoughtful "I could come and stay with Tomako..." she began but stopped when Nokala interrupted.

"Isn't that just exchanging one form of dependence for another?" he murmured. "I know Cill has claimed the territory here as hers though I doubt the wisdom of the move. She would let you have her old lair should you desire it as she has ..." he waved his hands around with a laugh "...All this as her lair now."

Shalla lowered her head and nodded slowly "I shall think on this. Thank you Lord Nokala"

Reaching out a hand and stroking her snout once more Nokala smiled. "Talk to Tommy about how you feel and about your predicament. He may have some ideas of his own"

He stretched slowly, the leather armour creaking noisily around him "And now I have to go and warn my daughter about a human female who has designs on her mate" Ruefully shaking his head he wandered back down the hill leaving the dragoness to watch her human and ponder her future.