From: alden@coos.dartmouth.edu (Laurie F. Alden)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: Barmaid's Journal/[L] Over the Cliff
Date: 6 Nov 92 17:19:03 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

The silent guard blended with the mist, understood it, prepared himself.

Luthor looked through a mage's eyes.  Looking for an enchantment, one
that might cause Serene's strange wandering through the foggy night,
her eyes so glazed and her answers so distant.  He found nothing.  At
least she was out here by her own choice, that was a relief.

"Serene, you seem unwilling to return to the inn.  I accept that, but
you must accept that I promised to stay with you while you are out
here.  No matter where you go, I will follow."  Luthor draped his cloak
around Serene for added warmth against the chill of the night.  It was
then that Luthor noticed that there was no chill.  Although the fog was
unusually thick, it was more of a comfort than a worry.  Perhaps it was
just Luthor affinity for the obscure... perhaps not.

The woman spun, her loose hair flying in the mists.  An expression of
wonder crossed her eyes and she focused on him fully.  "Promised to stay
with..," she echoed, and she solemnly touched Luthor's sword-hand.
"Protector."  She named him.

Luthor noticed that Serene's pace was quickening as she reached the
coast.  He kept with her, but hoped that she wouldn't make a mad dash
at some point. He did not have the stamina of a young and constantly
working barmaid.

At the coast, Serene turned Northward and began to look for something.
Her pace had reached a slow jog now.  "Serene, I could help you find
what you are looking for if you tell me what it is."

She did not answer, but a strange look crossed her face.  "Beloved,"
she cried.  She ran off toward the cliffs with Luthor chasing her and
calling her name.  As if time was stretched, Luthor saw Serene speed
toward and then leap off the cliff.  He slowed his pace so he wouldn't
follow her to death.

When he reached the edge of the cliff, he looked over.  Tears welled in
his eyes.  Even thought he could not remember this woman, he felt a
special bond with her.  He blinked away the tears and it was then that
he saw her, falling slowly toward the beach below.  She was surrounded
by, dancing with what looked like a tiny but very dense cloud.

Wasting no time, Luthor blended with the darkness.  As his form
dissolved in one place, it reformed at the bottom of the cliff, just in
time to catch Serene.  She draped her arm around Luthor's neck and
smiled at him warmly.  Then she pointed to a small alcove in the cliff
where thousands of years of rising and falling tides had worn the stone
smooth.

The other figure emerged from the shadows.  As it moved through the fog
and into view, Luthor gasped.  "Nightstalker!"

After making a few motions with his hands, there was a pinkish glow in
the alcove.  "Luthor, set her down there.  I have warmed the stone to
make her more comfortable.  We are hidden here."

"More comfortable for what?" Luthor asked.  Now he was very confused.

Serene smiled and handed the folds of her cloak to Nightstalker.
"Night Guardian."  She named him.  Her eyes smiled.  "Mista is coming,"
she said absently as she touched her swollen belly.

"No.  Serene, you are not big enough.  The baby will be weak and small.
 We may still be able to get a cleric to prolong the pregnancy.  At the
very least we need a midwife."  Luthor tried to hide the panic in his
voice.

"We will deliver the baby.  You can do it Luthor, you have already
helped deliver a baby...your son." Nightstalker helped Luthor lower
Serene to the warm stone of the alcove, wrapped by Luthor's ShadowCloak.

The Fog rolled in thickly, obscuring all but this small nest.
--
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