~~ As Lasherette called for Corinne she immediately appeared. She lathered her hair well, careful not to get soap into Lash's beautiful peridot eyes. Upon finishing, she wrapped a towel about her head. She was very uncomfortable around her Mistress. As she moved about, taking up a towel for Lash to dry off with. With a look the woman dried her off herself, Lash looked at her and with a smirk on her face. "Something troubling you, Corinne? You appear troubled. Lash made a similiar pouty expression, as the one Corinne wore. "No Mistress, just not used to having you home after so long, and you seemed to have changed so much." Lash looked into the bathroom mirror as the woman hurriedly dried her, then covered her with a chenille robe. "How have I changed Corinne?" The woman stood frozen with the wet towels in her hands, staring at Lash...at a loss for words.

"Be frank, Corinne. I am no longer a child." She scolded the woman. "Well that's a large part of it Mistress....you are no longer a child at all....any trace of that...that...." "Innocence". Lasherette interjected. "Yes....the innocence is gone." "Would that not be expected after 9 years?" Lash queried her maidservant. "Aye, it would at that Mistress. I am used to the yound girl who would love to run about the castle and hide from her father, rest his soul. And you turned out to be a truly a beautiful woman. If....if I may say so M'Lady their just seems this veil of mystery that now surrounds you." Lasherette sat down at her vanity, motioning for her to toss the towels down. "Please....do my hair...ringlets." "Yes, M'lady", as she discarded the towels into a neat pile.

As Corinne began to busily work about Laserette's long locks of ebony, she began to speak to her in a less guarded fashion. "Corinne there have been changes to me.....down to my very soul. I have won and lost at love....I am in love with a man who does not love me, and I have lost children. Three to be exact. Lash fell silent then...pausing thinking about each pregnancy and how it ended, and then the violent way her sweet Drake died. She swallowed hard, as her maidservant ran her hands lightl y over her shoulders. {sw} "Mistress, my heart pains for you. I always saw you as a wonderful mother one day." Lash just shook her head after a long pause. "No I am sure there are those who are far better suited for it than I." Pausing, she stared at Corinne as she rolled her hair in rags, tying them at the ends. "Corinne....if you noticed I fired most of the staff." "Aye Mistress, I did." At this point, her hands began to shake a bit. Lash reached up and tapped her old hand with her delicate youthful one. "No need to worry about me, Corinne.....I kept you for my own personal reasons. First if I did not trust you, you would not be here. Secondly, you know my past, my life before I left here. And thirdly I know you do not gossip. Even a child pays attention to such things." Corinne puffed her chest out a bit, proud that her discreation was noted and trusted. "You will see things you have never seen before. You will not understand all that you see. Do not ask me questions about these things unless it effects you directly. If I choose to tell you something, I expect it to remain between us. Unless I explicitly tell you to repeat it on." Lash's eyes then stared into the mirror. Her hand went to Corinne's busy hands, and stilled them. She stared at her confused face yet one of resolve. "Am I understood Corinne? For if I am not....I would ask you to leave first thing in the morning." Her maidservant, stared into the reflection of the mirror at her Mistress' gorgeous eyes. "I understand, Mistress." Lash studied her a moment....and I am not that woman-child who left here. And I do not wish for you to treat me as such...insisting I eat, or get up...etc. Is THAT understood?" "Absolutely, My Lady". Lash let a little smile then curl on her lips. "Very good then. So you shall remain?" "Aye Mistress....I am flattered by your confidence in me." She saw a slight blush rise to her face. Lash reached over then for the glass of wine, and drank it down, licking her lips....savoring the last of it. "I must hurry and dress. I am going to the Kingdom of Lord Alexander Lasair, to retrive my sons remains." Corinne moved to her to comfort her, but Lash jerked away. {ws} "I must be strong Corinne."

With that, she walked into her dressing room and put on the dress she had chosen earlier. How sad it was to see her in black, thought her maidservant. As Corinne pulled tight the corset, Lash replied to Corinne's thought. "Get used to the color, Corinne it will be all that I will be wearing from now on." Corinne nodded and {ws} "Understood, Mistress." Finally helping her on with her boots, Lash poured another glass of wyne for herself while Corinne prepared the vanity. Sitting down at it as she sipped her wine, she stared at herself in the mirror. She smirked at her reflection. As a few private thoughts came to her. Then nodding to Corinne, "should be ready to come out now I would think."
Corinne felt the rags, they were barely damp. "Aye...they are." Slowly, carefully she uncurled each rag, as a new curly lock of hair bounced free, over an over, till they were all removed. Lash shook her head forward....running her fingers through them, loosening them up. Flipping her head back. She looked in the mirror. Corinne was smiling at her reflection proudly. Lash asked her to find a black large ribbon for her hair, to pull it back and away from her face. Immediately she returned with a scarve made of black silk and tied her hair up just as she knew the Mistress would want it.

Standing up, she walked before the chival mirror. Vanity obviously came with the "dark gift". Never did Lash fuss so over her appearance. Content with how she looked she nodded to Corinne. "That will be all, I will return before sunrise, if not then tomorrow evening. Please see that Gregory is ready...and tell him I am." Nodding and wearing a slight smile, she was more at ease around her Mistress. Backing out of the room, she nodded her head....and closed the doors as she left. Lash paced about the bedroom. Going to her french balcony doors, she bade they open and they did. A cold breeze blew across her warmed body. She shuddered as she went to the edge, holding the railing...the cold marble permeating through her lace black gloves. She stared at the town below. She looked across to David's castle. It was dark. Tears welling, she turned around and merely said..."Aye... I shall need a handkerchief." {s} With that she walked back into her room, the doors closing behind her, on their own. She rummaged through a draw until she found one. An old one...one she had embroidered as a young child. It was white of course. Tucking it into her slip bag....she walked to her bedroom door, and it opened and closed behind her. She was on her way to bring her son home. But would need to make a simple quick stop before she reached the Kingdom.~~~

~~As the carriage began the ascent to the Lasair Castle, having passed through towne...watching the dragons stopping all motion as her carriage passed them. Lasherette's mind wandered back to the first time Alex had brought her here. Safely cradled in his arms as his powerful wings flapped thunderously loud, as if announcing his arrival, with his new mate.
Alex had told her that she was all things to him then. She was his mate, his Pet, his wife, his Queen. That dragons did not have religious ceremonies for marriage. Later he came to believe that he had denied her that in some way, thus creating the ring she gave to Icer...after he had announced their engagement, and left her alone with Drake...before the "Nightmare" began.

As the memories fogged her usually sharp mind, she wasn't aware of Gregory standing there with the carriage door open holding his hand out to her. Snapping to....she nodded as she took his hand. Stepping out, smoothing out her black dress...donned perfectly, minus the gloves which she left in the carriage. She stepped out, meeting the Head Council members. All elder dragons, they looked upon her, having met once before, when Alex first brought her there, she had no memory of their names, nothing came to her. She merely nodded and said. "Evening, Gentlemen." Some ignored her, some nodded out of respect, some did so begrudgingly. One spoke up. "Lady Lasherette is still our Queen and deserves our respect." With that they all bowed to her. She didn't stop them. After all this was their Kingdom...not hers. She never did view it as hers, telling Alex, she didn't want to be Queen and would never fit in there. And she was right. A stable boy dragon came up to Gregory and told him where to go, then lead him off to show him the way.

Lasherette looked at each face. "Gentleman...I would like to see my son, and his father." Some looked worried....others whispered to one another. Finally one spoke again. "My Queen, we believe it may be too much of a shock for you to see them. It was a vicious battle with the wyverns and humans, and well....Alexander fought valiantly to save his son....Lasherette held up a hand and closed her eyes. "Gentlemen....I have already decided that Alexander was a King of his beloved Dragon Kingdom, and his body shall remain here, where those who loved him as a leader, warrior, protector and Ruler can worship him. I wish for you to follow what ever customs you have for the funerals of your Rulers. However I am taking my son, Prince Drake home with me. Looking about, she went on. I have discussed it with the future Queen Icer...and she agrees. I am no longer your Queen. Icer Shimmerscale-Ravenlock is. The King is dead, his male heir is dead, but not so his daughter. Adopted or not. It is her decision to rule or not. I have nothing to say on the matter.

They all listened to her intently, all nodded their heads in agreement. To be honest their greatest fear was having a human female ruling their Empire, after being attacked by humans and wyverns. One of the elders on the councill suggested they go into the Palace. As they did so, Lasherette looked about...there was alot of damage done. It must have been a frightful battle, and her son Drake in the middle of it. Frightened...yet trying to be a brave boy. She imagined him then....seeing the actual damage done to the home.

The Palace main entry was lit by candlelight as were the only rooms permitted entrance. Lasherette froze, as she saw the dimly lit ballroom. She knew that is where they must be lying in state. The councilmen walked ahead of her, one beside her....as they neared the doorway. They all remained at the doorway, watching as she bravely walked towards it. She was trembling....standing in the entry way....she stood poised. For before her in the dimly lit room, lay her mate and her son. Side by side. Upon large marble slabs. Draped with the flags of the Kingdom, and the Lasair family crest. The same crest Alex had fashioned into a ring for her engagement. One councilman remained by her side, the others waited in the doorway. Two young male dragons appeared. Guards.

Lasherette walked up beside the body of Alex. One guard, looked to her. She nodded. "Please". At which point, he pulled back the drape over Alex down to his chest. Lasherette's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes glazed over with tears. He had been murdered! This was an assassination, not a mere easy death. He had cuts all over his face, all over his chest....stab wounds all over his torso...his arms where torn to shreds. His beautiful RED scales...a mere light pink. Reaching out she lay her hand to his face. Leaning down, the tears fell on his face, as she whispered, "What have they done to you....oh Alex!" With that she lay one hand on his scarred massive jaw...placing her cheek to his...the tears falling freely. She caressed his face then. She felt someone touch her back. She didnt move away. She lifted her head and spoke to him as if he were alive. "I...I know you did your best...I know you fought so valiantly....I know Alex....I do!" Lasherette was trying to fight the tears, her words coming out soft and whisper like. She looked down his body, taking up one claw. Some of his talons were missing, imbedded in the belly of some wyvern she was certain. She stared at his massive hand...how small and delicate hers appeared next to his. It could be gentle with her, or harsh. She placed it to her cheek. She whispered, closing her eyes. "You're so cold, my Dear." Sniffling, she was shaking now. She kissed his claw...then placed it back down on his chest carefully. Her hand running along his mangled arm...she winced. Taking the drape....she pulled it upwards as if covering him for the night, as she had a hundred times. When she reached his face, she bent down and kissed his mouth. "Sleep my love...my mate, my Master. We shall meet again. I love you." Her hands trembling, she covered his face carefully. Stepping back....she bowed her head and cried....she again felt the hand upon her back....trying to comfort her. She tried to pull herself together. She wiped her eyes with her hankie, clearing her throat...wiping her swollen eyes....holding the hankie to her nose a moment. Taking in gulps of air, trying to remember to breathe. She knew she had to turn around and face her child.

Turning around, it was the arm of the councilman beside her that guided her over to her small Prince. Standing there, she ran her hand over his tiny body, over the drape...putting off looking at him. He was so cold to the touch. The guard watched her, awaiting a nod from her to pull back the drape. Swallowing hard, she cleared her throat....and nodded. The guard slowly, with delicate reverence, pulled back the drape baring the Lasair coat of arms. Immediately Lasherette's eyes went to Drake's cherub face. Both hands flew to her mouth...then covered her eyes....she turned away...and sobbed...her body bowing down. Silence filled the room, then a mother's cry shook the walls of the marbled Palace, echoing from room to room. "My BABY! My precious boy!" She turned back hurriedly...and went to him, the guard was holding the drape about to cover him up, she slapped his hand away instinctively. The councilman waved the guard off, and stepped back away from her. Lasherette was a woman undone. She scooped him up to her, clutching him to her chest. MURDERERS!!!!!!! She screamed...her eyes turning blood red. His little gray body laying against her heaving chest. Her arms wrapped about him tightly, kissing his cheek...rocking him back and forth against her. She didn't care about anyone or anything around her. Sobbing she spoke to him, whispers in his ear...only for him to hear. All she had to see was his gray scales, and the selfdefense cuts to his little arms, and she wanted to see no more.

The councilman then approached her. "My Lady....please...let us help you....we have a carriage and driver ready for you..." "NO!" She screamed at him. Her eyes no longer blood red, having faded from her calmly whispering to her dead son. "I....I will carry him." Horrified, the Elder Council Members began to come forward...the guards walked in front of Lasherette as if still protecting Drake. And that's exactly what they were doing. The eldest one who had been with Lasherette the entire time, waved the others back. "Its the Queen's wish for us to turn the body of Prince Drake over to his mother. She is permitted to do so however she wishes." Sobbing against his small body...he was so small...yet when alive he seemed so large...a "big boy", like his father. Had he survived he would have been as large as Alex had been.

Lasherette wanted away from this place. This cold Palace, she never felt at home in. A palace that her son didn't even know as home. Home was the cottage...the Orchards...the bath. At that thought, she clutched him close once more to her, burying her head against his little lifeless body. Remembering the baths they took....Alex telling Lash she couldnt be nude in front of him. She ignored him. It wasnt sexual....it was NATURAL. Lash breast feeding him....he was always ravenous, taking to her immediately...her afraid he wouldn't take to her, being human. His birth...Alex delivering him. Proudly holding up his son to her. All these visions crossing her mind at once, all jumbled together...to all those about her, only her cries were known. Slowly she stood up straight, clinging to her baby's body. The guard stepped before her. She stared up into his young dragon's face. Silently, he wrapped the Lasair drape over Drake's lifeless body. Lasherette nodded to him. He proceeded her, as she walked to the door, the elder following her. She stopped once more before Alex's body. "Sleep well, my Love. I have our son. I'm taking him home." With that, she turned and proceeded out the door, not looking at the faces staring at her. Some crying, some in sheer disbelief, some in disgust. She didnt care. Gregory held open the door to the carriage. A bit uneasy he wasn't certain what to do. "Just hold the door, Gregory." With that, Lasherette, lay Drake upon the seat inside the carriage, covering him carefully, lovingly as if tucking him into bed. She then turned to the eldest Councilman. Wiping her eyes with a tear soaked hankie, she nodded to the elder Dragon. "Thank you." He nodded in response. "The guard will remain with the Prince until he is buried." Lasherette looked to the young male dragon and nodded to him. Barely audible she whispered, "Good-bye". Then turned and stepped into the carriage beside her son and sat there. She lay her arm across him protectively. Holding her head up high, as the guard entered the carriage across from her. "M'Lady may I ride in here with you both, or shall I stand on the back?" She stared at him for a moment unblinking. Then realizing what he said...she shook her head...."N...No...no here is fine." With that Gregory shut the carriage door. As they rode down the hill....away from the Palace, there was a line of dragons along the way. Some waved...the mother's crying holding their own little ones. Lasherette, nodded in gratitude to some...mainly she was fighting to hold herself together. Head held high until they were out of the Kingdom and on the road back to Rhydin, where she finally slumped forward her face in her hands crying hysterically. The young guard, patting her back, his face stoic....nothing could comfort the pain of a mother who has lost a child...nothing.~~~