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Date Posted: 03:50:57 12/26/01 Wed
Author: Leigh
Subject: Re: Orignal Gemstone 9
In reply to: Leigh 's message, "Orignal Gemstone" on 03:53:05 12/24/01 Mon

*
In the privacy of her chambers Madeline sat deep in thought. She'd known this day would come. Had prepared for it all her life, and yet, now that it was here, she was reluctant to see it come to pass.
She inhaled deeply, rose to her feet and walked slowly over to the chest at the foot of her bed. Opening it, she reached in, removed the ornamental case inside, then carried it back to her seat.
Nineteen years.
Where had the time gone, she wondered as she sat down and ran her fingers over the case. A distant look shadowed her dark eyes as she recalled the words of the prophetess; "The babe you carry shall be the gemstone in the Vatian crown... destined to expand the boundaries of the empire and provide for the survival of her people in the new millenium."
Opening the case, Madeline sat and stared at the ivory tusk inside for several long minutes. What she was about to do would hurt her much more then Nikita would ever know, but it couldn't be helped. Nikita had a destiny to fulfill; a responsibility to her people. Nothing and no one could come before that... not even her daughter's heart.
Madeline's eyes hardened as she laid her hands upon the carved bone and sought strength from its encrypted message. Then, sighing silently, she set the box aside and prepared to ring for her courier. It was time to send a message to Michael's uncles in Scythia.
************
Nikita inhaled deeply, a smile curving her lips as she stretched and rolled over lazily in bed, She opened her eyes, anxious to behold the man who had claimed her heart so completely. The bed beside her though was empty. Disappointment stabbed at her as she sat up and looked about the room. Then she saw him standing by the window, his bare back to her, as he looked out at the early morning dawn.
Her heart fluttered and her expression softened. Quietly she drew her knees up and laid her head upon them. A ghost of a smile hovered on her lips as she admired the broad shoulders, his muscled back, the sexy firm curves of his buttocks, his strong thighs. He was so beautiful; just looking at him caused her to ache to be near him. With a sigh she untangled her feet from the blankets then slipped out of bed and padded over to where he stood.
With each step her hunger for him magnified. The ache in her groin throbbed with need. Her breasts tingled and her hands were restless. Moving up silently behind him, she placed her hands on his sides, then glided her hands around to the front, hugging him from the back.
She felt his muscles contract as she came into contact with him. Heard his sharp intake of breath as she pressed her naked skin against his. He moaned softly and rolled his head back and she imagined that his eyes were closed as he reveled in the feel of her hands gliding across his flat stomach.
"Good morning," she said, her voice husky as she pressed her cheek against the back of his shoulder.
"Good morning," he answered, then gasped as her hand suddenly dipped and took hold of him. "Ni-ki-ta" he whispered, then slipped his hand over hers. She sighed, rubbing her nose gently along his back.
"You're up early."
"I couldn't sleep" he answered, then turned and drew her into his arms. There was a tenderness in his green eyes as he looked at her. "I can scarcely believe it..."
Nikita smiled up at him. "What? That I love you?" she asked, then laughed when he nodded. "Mmm," she moaned, hooking her hands around his neck. "Believe it, Michael. I love you."
He laughed softly, gathered her up in his arms and swung her about. They spent a few more minutes in play before Nikita pulled back and took his hand in hers. "Come," she said, her eyes shining. "Let’s get dressed. I'm anxious to show you something I've been working on."
Michael groaned, releasing her reluctantly. "It’s still early."
"I know," Nikita answered. "But this is something that requires we ride out to the border. Don't complain," she admonished, smiling up at him. "I think you'll like it."

Despite their intention to leave early, duty called and Nikita had to delay their departure. Barra, a chief magistrate, from the southern providence had sent a courier with an urgent message. Nikita excused herself from Michael, leaving him to explore the still empty coliseum, while she attended to business. She returned an hour later looking grim.
"Something wrong?" Michael asked.
"No," she answered, "Just something I'll have to look into later." She looked down into the arena and saw that a few of the seasoned warriors, including her doyan, were just arriving for their morning exercise. "Tell me," she said to Michael, her brows drawing together slightly. "Do the Scythians train for war often?"
Her question sounded strange to Michael, but being the M'yrene and raised in a society where the women prepared for war on a daily basis, Michael thought she was merely curious.
"Our training is not as intense or as thorough as the Vatians," he answered thoughtfully. "There is the Kiosk, they're the regular army of soldiers who serve the Anax."
"The chief ruler?"
"That's right. Scythia is divided into four provinces, one for each of the four brothers."
"Your uncles," Nikita said, her voice hardening.
"Yes," Michael answered quietly. "Furthest north is Sidha, ruled by Stephen. South of him is Morrigan, Megara's land. Then there is Rhus who is the Anax of Danu. And last of all is Taranis which belonged to my uncle Paul."
Nikita stopped and turned to face him. "Walter tells me that Taranis should rightfully be yours. That Paul had named you as his heir."
A tired look crept into Michael's eyes. "That was a long time ago," he said. "A lot has changed since then."
Nikita nodded, her lips forming a frown. "Your uncles have discredited your claim with those rumors they started."
"Were they rumors?" Michael looked about, making sure there was no one near them, then he raised his hand and touched her lips softly, as if he were trying to erase the angry frown there. "I did help you escape," he said tenderly. "And even at that early stage of our acquaintance I knew that I felt something for you."
Nikita sighed, her expression relaxing for a moment. But she soon returned to her earlier train of thought. "Still," she said, "Paul's wish that you should succeed him should count for something. You are, after all, still their flesh and blood."
"No," Michael closed his eyes for a moment and inhaled deeply. Then he looked at Nikita. "You're my blood now, Nikita. You're all that I need and want."
She looked skeptical. "Are you sure of that Michael? Right now your eyes are blinded by emotion. I cannot believe you would be happy for long though in our present arrangement." Her eyes softened as she took a step closer to him. "Despite what you say, your blood is still Scythian. You've been groomed to lead your people."
Michael stared at Nikita in confusion. "What are you saying?" he asked. "That I should return to Taranis?"
"Not exactly." Nikita took a deep breath, then pointed with head down toward the arena where more warriors had arrived and were preparing for their training. "I have the means by which you can take back what is yours," she said quietly. "There would be no need for you to live your life in exile from the land you were raised in." Turning she looked at him with eyes that were bright. "We could combine Taranis' land with ours. Rule side by side."
"No." Michael shook his head as he turned away.
"Why not?" Nikita asked. "It would be an easy feat."
"No, Nikita," Michael repeated firmly. "I cannot do that which you ask."
Nikita stared at his back in puzzlement. "Even after all they did to you? They've taken your inheritance, threw you in the dungeon, tortured you..."
Michael turned to face her. "My uncles did that," he said to her. "Not the people. If I go back to reclaim Taranis, it'll be the people I'm fighting. They'll be the ones killed, not my uncles. I can't live with that. I won't."

************

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