Date: Tue, 7 Oct 1997 16:08:01 +1000 From: Jayne Gleed Subject: Halloween: Samhain Night Part 1 To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Jayne Gleed@COM TECH 07/10/97 16:08 This little story is in response to the Halloween Challenge. It is the first time I have ever posted a story to this list, so please be kind (but honest). I've noticed most stories seem to start with a disclaimer, so I'll add my own. None of the characters in the following tale belong to me, they are the property of Sony/Tristar/Paragon et al. I'm only taking them on a small flight of fancy. I promise to return them with no harm done. Samhain Night (1/3 ) Natalie leant back against the wall and sighed, her arms ached with fatigue and her hands felt sticky even through the gloves, the instrument in her hand was coated in a thick layer of residue and a sickly-sweet miasma rose all around her. She sighed again and bent back to the task at hand, Why do I always have to carve the pumpkin? She thought to herself. She shook her head, she knew why. This party had been her idea and even if he had known about tonight, Nick would have been nauseous long before now. He could barely tolerate protein shakes; the cloying sweetness of pumpkin flesh would have undone him in moments. Scraping out the last of the flesh she set the hollowed shell next to it's neighbours; six nightmare visages in a row. That should be enough to convert Nicks loft into a suitable atmosphere for a Halloween party. She checked the clock and stripped off the gloves, time to get ready, she smiled to herself, Nick wasn't going to know what hit him. Half an hour later after a quick shower she loaded the pumpkins and other supplies into the car with her costume and headed to the loft, the sun still high in the sky reassured her she still had plenty of time to complete her tasks. Transferring the contents of the car to the loft took a couple of trips and she winced every time the lift door clanged shut, it was a good thing Nick slept the sleep of the dead, she thought, grimacing at the pun. She placed the golden pumpkins in strategic places around the rooms and started putting out the candles she'd brought. Twenty minutes later she heard the lift head downstairs in response to an unknown summons, so she wasn't surprised when moments later Myra entered, her arms full of shopping bags. "Hi My, let me help with those." She said taking one of the bags, staggering slightly at the weight. She looked in amazement at Myra's small frame holding another three bags. "How can you carry so many?" Nat asked "I have a growing teenager, Nat. This is nothing compared to what I usually carry," Myra replied placing the remaining bags on the table, "and it's only the first load," she said turning back to the lift. "Here," Nat said, placing her bag on the table alongside the others, "I'll give you a hand." "No, you start putting them away, you're much more familiar with Nick's cupboards than I am," she said with a sly smile, "I'd just end up putting them in the wrong places and annoying our fastidious detective." "Alright," Nat replied, silently relieved as she realised she had forgotten to clear out the fridge and its unusual contents would be a little difficult to explain. She finished that task just as Myra returned with another couple of bags and two costumes slung over the top, handing one to Natalie and slinging the other over a chair she took a deep breath and said, "Ok, let's get to work." Natalie smiled in response, amazed at the little woman's boundless energy, "I'll just take this upstairs," she said indicating the costume. "Is he awake yet?" "No, and I don't expect him to be for hours yet, daylight and Nick don't agree with each other." She scribbled a quick note before heading upstairs. Stealing quietly into Nick's bedroom she hung the costume on the back of the bedroom door, making certain the note was visible. She paused for a moment, gazing at the recumbent figure on the bed, his face innocent in sleep. She resisted the urge to run her fingers through his golden hair. Being in the room was bad enough, her heartbeat was probably already drawing him toward consciousness, touching him would complete the process. She reluctantly backed out of the room and headed back downstairs. Myra looked up as she re-entered the kitchen, "still asleep?" she asked "Like a baby." Nat replied, "Ok, what's first?" "How are you at chopping vegetables?" Myra asked, indicating the huge pile on the kitchen bench, Natalie sighed as she rolled up her sleeves, "I have a feeling with that pile, I'll have enough practice to make perfect." Three hours later the decorations were hung, the salads made, the punch chilling in the fridge, biscuits cooling on the bench and the roast filling the loft with delicious smells. Myra and Natalie sat side-by-side on the couch, nursing cups of coffee. Myra lent back, relaxing into the cushions. "What time is it, Nat?" "Five-thirty, I think. We've got about an hour and a half until the rest arrive." "I suppose we should get ready then." "Probably, do you want the shower first?" "No, I think you should, that way you can be ready when Nick wakes up. I don't want to have to be the one who explains all of this to him. Do you really think it was a good idea not telling him about this?" "He wouldn't have agreed if I'd asked him, so I didn't ask him. That way I can honestly say he didn't say I couldn't." "You are a devious woman, Natalie." "Guilty as charged, Myra." Nat replied with a smile. "And you have been hanging around cops too long with a comment like that, go get wet." "Yes, mother." Nat said, rising from the couch, "I'll call when I'm finished, we can do each other's hair." "You make us sound like teenagers going to the prom." "Is that a bad thing?" "No, it'd be kind of nice to be that young and carefree again." Natalie turned back to the couch, lent down and gave her a quick hug, pulling back she looked Myra in the face, "Are you coping Ok?" "Taking each day as it comes, It's the only way I know how." Myra replied with a shrug. "Now go have that shower." Natalie, recognising her friend's pain, acquiesced and turn back toward the bathroom. Myra watched her go with a slight smile. She recognised and appreciated Natalie's effort to make dealing with Don's death easier, unfortunately that did not make it so. She shook her head, now was not the time. As if there was ever was a 'time' for grief. She got up and headed into the kitchen, immersing herself in the simple act of creating a meal. Twenty-five minutes later she heard Natalie's call, time for the prom she thought to herself as she headed for the bathroom. Nick woke gradually as the sun set, an unusual sound echoing in his ears. He concentrated for a moment and the noise solidified into twin heartbeats, one achingly familiar, the other a mystery. He narrowed his concentration, until he could make out voices amongst the cacophony of sounds that filled his home. He dismissed Natalie's voice as he had already recognised her presence and focused on the other. It took him a moment but eventually Myra's voice surfaced through the background noise. What was Myra doing here? In some ways he almost expected Natalie to be here when he woke, but Myra's presence was a complete mystery. He listened in to their joined voices, and although the words were beyond him, the joy and laughter in the tones were unmistakable. Whatever the reason, he thought it was good to hear Myra laugh again. He opened his eyes and looked around the room noticing at once the outfit hanging from the door. He rose from the bed and padded over to read the note pinned to the front. He'd recognised Natalie's distinctive hand at first glance and hoped the contents would shed some light on whatever scheme she was up to. Assuming it was Natalie's scheme, he'd been noticing lately a predisposition on Myra's part to 'make sure he was eating right' and the smells emanating from the kitchen suggested that she intended to put her theory into practice. He unpinned the note and opened it; the eight words inside were simple, direct and completely baffling. Nick, Don't ask, just put it on. Nat He took the hanger off the hook and looked closely, she had to be kidding. End Part One jgleed@comtech.com.au Subject: Halloween: Samhain Night Part 2 To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Jayne Gleed@COM TECH 07/10/97 15:57 Disclaimers in Part One Samhain Night (2/3) Downstairs, Natalie and Myra were adding the finishing touches to their costumes, trying desperately, without much success, to keep the giggling to a minimum. Natalie wasn't sure if it was the increasing amounts of punch they were consuming or the simple girlish act of doing each other's hair and make-up that has started the laughter, but they didn't seem able to stop. Myra, as was her wont lately, was dressed in somber black, but the infectious smile on her face and the gleam in her eyes as she stifled giggles belayed the seriousness of her garb. Natalie was trying, unsuccessfully, to get her to add a few feathers from her own costume to Myra's attire. Hence the giggles. "I'm a witch, Natalie. They don't wear feathers, especially not that sort," she said indicating Natalie's colourful outfit, "Now if you had some raven feather's handy, I might consider it." "You're much too pretty to be a witch, I know, we'll call you The Enchantress." Natalie said with a theatrical flourish, "sounds much better, don't you think?" "That's Ok by me, especially if it means I don't have to wear this." She said holding up a fake nose with a prominent wart on the end of it. "Definitely, enchantresses don't have warts. So how do I look?" "Stunning, that blue really suits you." "Good, I'm hoping that it will shock Nick long enough to give me time to explain all of this." She said as she lit the last of the candles that she had placed hours ago. "How do you think he's going to take it?" "I'm relying on his gentlemanly nature and the fact I am presenting him with a fait accompli to let me get away with it." Nick, who had dressed in record time, had been standing at the top of the stairs whilst Natalie glided around the loft, waiting for just that sort of opening to make an appearance. "Get away with what?" he asked as he walked down the stairs Natalie spun around at the sound of his voice, and for a moment they were both speechless at the sight of each other, before Natalie broke the silence. "This" she said succinctly, indicating the obvious decorations around the loft. "And this is?" Nick said refusing to give an inch "A party," she replied, still a little stunned at how good he looked "Yes, I can see that, am I invited?" he asked with a completely straight face. Myra, who had been silent until that moment, burst into laughter at the seriousness in his tone. "Nick, don't be facetious, why do you think Natalie got that costume for you?" "This," he said indicating his outfit, "I just thought Natalie was in the mood for a little 19th century role-playing." "That's a little too much information, detective." Myra replied with a smile whilst Natalie blushed furiously. "It's a Halloween party, and you know it." Natalie said hotly "Ah, that would explain your attire." "Don't you think her costume looks gorgeous, Nick?" Myra asked "The most it could do is complement the beauty that is already there," he replied stepping forward to take Natalie hand and place a kiss upon her upturned palm, at his gesture Natalie's blush deepened. "I think at this juncture, I will beat a hasty retreat." Myra said, heading back into the kitchen. Natalie looked up into Nick's eyes "do you really like it?" She said indicating her gown, Nick stepped back as she completed a slow circle to allow him to see the entire outfit. The bodice and skirt of her off-the-shoulder gown were in a beautiful peacock blue velvet, at least to mid-thigh where a split exposed her shapely legs. The two halves of the dress fell away in layer upon layer of peacock feathers, their iridescent sheen catching the candlelight as she turned. The rear of the dress was extremely low-cut exposing her flesh all the way to her lower back, before a swath of velvet and feathers maintained its decency. Her hair was piled loosely on her head in a style that probably took hours to perfect, intertwined amongst the tresses were strings of faceted beads in all the colours of a peacock's tail. All in all the effect was designed to take his breath away, and in that it succeeded admirably. As she completed her turn, Nick stepped back and took her into his arms. Her natural fragrance as sweet as any perfume to his senses. As she rested her head against his chest he lent down and whispered in her ear. "I don't mind what ever you do tonight, for the chance to see you like this I'll forgive you anything." "Thank-you." She said simply, the emotions roiling through her making further statement both impossible and unnecessary. He knew how she felt, and she knew he knew. There was nothing more either of them needed to say. They probably could has spent the remainder of the evening in each others embrace had not Myra's discrete cough separated them. "Sorry to interrupt, but I'm going to head downstairs, the others will be arriving soon and somebody has to let them in. You two just go back to what you were doing," she said with a wide grin as she headed over to the lift door. "Others?" Nick asked as Natalie slid out of his embrace and headed into the kitchen. "Well you didn't think we could have a party with just the three of us did you?" She said as she poured Nick a glass of his 'special' wine. "How many, Nat?" he asked, accepting the glass "A few," she replied evasively "How few?" he pressed, Natalie opened her mouth to answer when the sound of the lift arriving gave her the opportunity to avoid the question. "I'll just get that, shall I?" she said innocently heading toward the lift. Nick shook his head and smiled wryly, he said he'd forgive her anything. It seemed he may have to do just that. "Wow, Nat you look great!" Tracy exclaimed as she stepped out of the lift dragging an obviously uncomfortable Vachon in her wake. "I look great, what about you?" Nat replied eyeing the leggy blonde's costume, "That's Catwoman isn't it?" "Umm yes, I've always had a fascination with her, ever since the old camp comedy series but I think the Michele Pfeiffer version is much more fun to wear." "Somehow I thought you'd be more a batgirl type." "I'm already the commissioner's daughter, Nat. I don't need to be typecast." "True, but it's a great costume, and you Se?or conquistador," she said turning to Vachon, "that really suits you, you look good in uniform." "Thank-you Se?orita Lambert, you are, as usual, too beautiful for mere words to encompass." He replied with a slight bow and cheeky grin. Natalie smiled as she turned to Tracy, "you can keep this one, Trace. I'm beginning to like him." "If the mutual appreciation society has finished," Nick said as he walked over, "you should probably move away from the lift, I'm sure there will be a lot of people using it this evening." He looked meaningfully at Natalie as he said this. She had the decency to look slightly abashed at his comment. Natalie and Tracy linked arms and walked over to the couch to catch up while Nick poured Vachon a glass of 'wine'. "Love the costume," he said taking in the burnished breastplate and helmet, complete with feather. "I can't believe I used to wear this all the time, it weighs a ton." Vachon replied removing the helmet with obvious relief. "You're not exactly out of character either, Nick" "Natalie's idea, I'm just glad she didn't decided on the crusader look, sitting down with a sword is a pain in the butt." "Tell me about it," he said indicating the sword at his side, "but it feels right, you know?" "Yeah, I do. How did you get dragged into this anyway?" "Tracy didn't give me any choice, she just showed up at my place dragging this behind her, and started ordering me around. I've learnt not to argue with her when she's in 'cop' mode. It's not worth the arguments, it's such a shame she's a resistor." "Look at it as a challenge, Javier. You've gotten your own way for centuries, maybe it's about time you had someone pull you into line. After all it's not like you have to keep running anymore is it?" "This conversation is getting way too serious, Nick. You got anything better than this?" he said indicating his emptied glass. "Nope, when in Rome, my friend." Nick replied with a smile "Speaking of Rome, is The General coming tonight?" "I have no idea, this party was entirely Natalie's baby. I didn't even know about until this evening." "Sounds like someone else is being pulled into line, to me." "One difference, Javier. I like it." Nick replied raising the glass to his lips and gazing at Natalie as she and Tracy sat on the couch heads bent close together, sharing some private joke. "I wish I knew why she puts up with me, "Vachon sighed "What?" Nick looked startled, as Vachon expressed exactly what he had been thinking "Trace, she believes I'm evil, but she keeps coming back, I just wish I knew why" "As long as she does, is it really important why?" Nick asked gently "Not really I suppose, I just don't want to make a mistake and send her away." Nick smiled at the comment and clapped Vachon on the back, "Javier, there's hope for you yet." Any further comment from Vachon was cut off by the arrival of more guests; Captain Reese strode in, magnificently garbed as Henry VIII with, of all people, Urs on his arm. Nick and Vachon both gaped openly at her costume, or lack of it. She was dressed as a harem girl. Scarlet chiffon with thin golden chains connecting the bracelets at her wrists, neck and ankles, made a gentle tinkling sound as she sashayed across the loft to gather Natalie in a warm embrace. Reese walked over to join the boys in the kitchen, murmuring "you'll catch flies that way," as he headed to the fridge to deposit the wine he was carrying. Behind him Nick and Vachon's mouths closed with an audible snap. After releasing Natalie and a polite greeting to Tracy, Urs walked back to greet the others, moving slowly to allow Vachon to see just what he was missing. She lent up and kissed Nick on the cheek, rewarding him with a cheeky smile and a breathy "hello" before giving Vachon the same treatment. Nick deciding now was a good time to move, gathered Reese in his wake and moved over to the girls, who were watching the scene between Urs and Vachon with a mixture of amusement and apprehension. "I think this evening is going to be very interesting," Natalie said as Nick reached her. "I tend to agree, what other surprises do you have planned?" "You'll just have to wait and find out, won't you?" She replied with a mischievous grin Nick, realising he had been beaten, inclined his head in defeat and turned to Reese instead, "I didn't know you were acquainted with Urs" "I'm not, she was waiting downstairs when I got here, so I escorted her up. I take it those two have some history," he said indicating Vachon and Urs. "You could say that," Nick replied with a grin. End Part Two jgleed@comtech.com.au From: Jayne Gleed Subject: Halloween: Samhain Night Part 3 To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Jayne Gleed@COM TECH 07/10/97 15:57 Disclaimers in Part One Samhain Night (3/3) The evening progressed, as was its wont, conversations rose and fell, stilled only by the arrival of a new guest and the critiques of their costumes. Jenny arrived, stunning everyone with her realistic Xena costume, complete with sword. Grace arrived as a pre-revolution French aristocrat, including pompadour and beauty spot. Alma slithered in, clad in a skintight snakeskin. Various members of the police force joined the party as their shifts ended clad in anything but regulation uniforms. By ten Nick's loft was a filled with all manner of creatures, mortal and immortal rubbing shoulders without incident. Presiding over it all was Natalie, moving effortlessly between groups, making everyone feel welcome and at ease. Although for all that she was never far from either Nick or Myra, watching both with equal levels of concern. But Myra was truly enjoying the sheer joy of the evening and Nicholas was so stunned by how many people were there that he didn't have time to worry about the possible repercussions. So it was that at ten-thirty when the lift signaled another guest Nick and Natalie were a handsbreath from each other and he could hear quite clearly her whispered "Finally" as the lift door opened to reveal Lacroix, clad in the pristine white toga of a roman citizen, with the red mantle of a general slung over his shoulder. All conversation stilled as the vampires in the room turned toward the presence of the oldest vampire in Toronto. Then Natalie was there, gliding through the throng effortlessly; she smiled as she approached Lacroix "Welcome, Lacroix. Come and share this evening with us." Lacroix eyebrows went up slightly at the solemnity of Natalie's greeting, but he recovered quickly and handed her a single rose of deepest purple. "Thank-you Natalie, I am honoured to be invited." Whilst this exchange was going on, Urs had slipped up quietly behind Natalie, bearing a filled chalice in her hands. Natalie turned and interchanged the rose with Urs. Turning back to Lacroix she wordlessly offered him the chalice; Lacroix accepted it silently and sipped from it cautiously, expecting the acid taste of bovine blood. He was pleasantly surprised to discover it was human, and then shocked as the knowledge of whose it was filtered through to him. Natalie smiled sweetly as the knowledge wrote itself upon his features, and then extending her hand she led him into the crowd. "Ms Lambert, what exactly is it that you are up to?" he hissed between clenched teeth. "What makes you think I am up to anything, Lucien?" she replied sweetly He looked down meaningfully at the goblet in his hand and then raising his eyebrows, back to Natalie's face. She smiled slightly at his silent question, "As long as my blood is in your veins Lacroix, we're connected. You could no more harm me now, than you could harm yourself. I have a feeling that I may need that tonight." "What makes you think this will protect you?" he said indicating the half-full glass "I invited you into the place that is more home to me than any other, I welcomed you with respect and friendship, and I shared the cup of life with you. You are bound by rules older than you are to behave yourself until the dawn of a new day." "Touch?, my dear. You've been doing your research I see." "You know what they say, know thine enemy. I intend to know you better than you know yourself." "An interesting challenge, I hope you are prepared to live with the consequences if you fail." "I am, are you prepared for them if I don't?" At that moment Nick materialized out of the crowd, concern for Natalie clearly written on his face, he noted at once the obvious tension in the air between her and Lacroix and stepped in, preparing to defend her. Lacroix smiled wryly at his display and turned toward him. "I believe I underestimated your taste Nicholas," he said as he drank deeply "Ms Lambert is exquisite, in more way than one." Turning back to Natalie he placed a kiss on the back of her hand, "Until the sunrise, Mademoiselle Lambert." "Until the sunrise, Monsieur Lacroix." She replied as he disappeared into the crowd. "Natalie, what was all that about?" Nick demanded, his voice barely held in check. "A gamble, it seems to have paid off," Nat replied, absently rubbing the back of her hand. "You're playing with fire, Nat." "Only way to stay warm, dearest." She said fondly reaching up to caress his cheek, "now if you don't mind I have a party to host." And with that she headed back into the crowd. Nick watched her go with a shake of his head, things were definitely getting out of his control. Not that he ever had any in the first place he admitted silently. Time for another drink, he thought heading in to the kitchen, and hopefully a sane conversation with some nice, friendly vampires. For the next hour of so, Natalie and Lacroix circled like twin sharks hunting the same prey. Until almost midnight when Natalie detached herself from the crowd and pulling Urs and Tracy in her wake headed to the fireplace. After a few moments the obviously posed way they stood, Urs and Tracy flanking Nat in front of the fire, got everyone's attention and the conversation stilled. Natalie took a deep breath and after nodding to her companions began to speak. "Back when the tribes of the Keltoi roamed the world, from the lush hills of Ireland to the cold tundra of the Russian steppes. This night was sacred to them. Turning points made up a great deal of their belief, the time between one day and the next, the shoreline where sea and sand met, the place where cloud and mountain became one. But of all these, the night of the turning of the year was the most magical, the most sacred. Tonight, by their calendar, is that night. Samhain night The time when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was at it's thinnest, the night when the touch of a single thought could breech that barrier and bring those lost to you back to your side. If only for this one night. Unlike us the shades of the dead held no fear for them. There were no ghost and ghouls and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night. It was a time of celebration, a time of remembrance and a time of letting go. On this night when the barrier was down they invited the souls of those they had lost to return to them, to let them know they had not been forgotten. That they were loved and remembered, to say they were our light and our lives and their loss threw all we knew into darkness, but also that life had gone on without them. That the people they had left behind were not lost in their grief and remorse. As one year turned into the next, so too did each life begin anew." She looked up straight into Myra's tear-filled eyes as she continued, " In the last few years we have all lost people we cared about, people we believed would be here forever. Tonight it is time to bid them farewell, to put the past and all that it contains behind us and to greet the dawn of a new year with our eyes fixed firmly on the tasks ahead. As the world turns from darkness into light, so must we." She shifted her gaze to Lacroix, the tightness of his muscles mute testimony to the fact he had understood the message hidden in her words. "Their breath is carried on the wind, their dreams coat the mountain tops and their hopes whisper from the very rocks on which we make our homes. They will always be with us." From the mantle-piece she took a single white candle from the pile sitting there and bending lit it from the roaring fire behind her. "This is for Richard, brother and friend. Listen and know that a part of my heart with always echo with the sound of your name." She walked to the open window and placed the candle on the sill, "May its light guide you to the land of eternal summer." She whispered and let the tears flow. Behind her she heard the rustle of leather and silk and the joined voices of Myra and Jenny "For Don, father and husband." And then Myra's voice alone "Your daughter will always remember your name with pride, my love." Then side-by-side they walked to Natalie and placed their candle next to hers. Behind them the litany continued, "For Susan, forgive me my fear and know that I will remember you always." For Screed, the craziest friend I ever knew; and the best. I hope you're never hungry, wherever you are. The role-call continued, name after name as the party goers said their farewells to those they loved, occasionally Natalie would hear a name she knew, "For Jordan, my brother. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for your sacrifice. Thank-you for the chance to live. The windows of the loft blazed with light as each placed their candle amongst the rest, and then the voice she knew so well; "For Alyssa, beloved lady, forgive me the hubris that led to your downfall. A portion of my soul will always be thine." Natalie lent back into Nicholas' embrace as he slid an arm around her after placing his candle alongside hers, behind them the silence stretched on and on and then barely above a whisper the voice she never expected to hear. "For Fleur, the most beauteous flower my world has ever known. Forgive me for leaving you behind, I have paid for that decision in pain from the moment I left your side, and without you beside me, it will never cease." Natalie slipped from Nicholas's embrace and went to meet Lacroix as he moved toward the window, reaching up she brushed the blood-red tears from his cheeks before standing aside to let him move to Nicholas's side. When all were assembled gazing out into the night and lost in their thoughts, she spoke again, "Now is the time to bid them farewell, let them go in peace to the land of eternal summer and let their existence be filled with joy and laughter as they await the day that we may join them in the world beyond the veil. Let your last thought of them be a joyful one, and may your last memory ring with the sound of their laughter and bask in the warmth of their smile. Now let them go!" As one the entire room heaved a vast sigh as the grief and remorse left them, to be replaced with a sense of wellbeing and happiness. They turned to one another and embraced, laughter coming easily to their tongues and the tears in their eyes one of joy not pain. From where she stood Natalie watched as Nick placed his hand on Lacroix's shoulder, squeezing it slightly, and Lacroix responded by laying his hand on his son's. They stood that way as the others drifted off to resume conversations, lost in the memory of a beautiful girl 800 years dead. Natalie headed back into the throng, leaving them to begin rebuilding bridges long destroyed. The party lasted until the early hours of the morning, everyone was so involved in the joyful sharing of memories of those they had lost that no one wished to leave. The first to go were the vampires as the approaching dawn signaled an end to the evening's festivities. They all embraced Natalie as they left, their thanks and respect said in a hundred silent ways. As the vampires left, their human companions followed until the loft was empty of all save Natalie, Nicholas and Lacroix. Natalie stood by the windows watching as the last of the candles guttered and went out, she could hear Nick moving around, putting things away in the kitchen so it came as no surprise when Lacroix spoke from behind her, "That was an interesting ceremony, Ms Lambert." "I meant every word of it," "I don't doubt that for a moment, you're hardly the sort to resort to feints. A frontal attack is more your style" "It's more honest that way." "Honest, yes. Strategic, no" "I'll leave the strategy to you, General" Lacroix paused for a moment before continuing, his tone somewhat softer, "Is mortality really worth this war between us?" "He thinks it is, that's enough for me" "Is it? Truly?" "I'll tell you when the war is over" "When it's over you may not get the chance, have you considered that?" "I've considered everything, for him it's worth the risk." "You're dedication is admirable, if misplaced. I shall almost regret tearing it from you strip by strip." He lent forward and rested his cool hands on her shoulders. Natalie stiffened at his touch and raised her head to stare out the windows once more. "It's almost dawn," "And with it our truce is ended, from that moment on you are fair game." He breathed against her neck, causing the hairs to rise. "And not a moment before." "Indeed," he said as he stepped back, "Cry Havoc, dear lady." With a rush of displaced air he was gone. And as the sun crested the horizon, her whispered reply traveled on the wind, "So be it, let the battle be joined." Fini I hope you liked it, by-the-by if you want to archive this to your page Mel, you're more than welcome. jgleed@comtech.com.au