Chapter 20
Tawney Madison was awakened by a sound she neither expected nor hoped to hear so soon after Lazienne's death: the sound of her Lifemate's helpless laughter.
"Laz....what is it?" She asked.
Raising her head--which had been resting on the Tev'Meckian's chest--Tawney looked into eyes that were filled with amusement.
Lazarus had "shut down" his bond with Tawney during the night, wanting to spare her some of his agony. Now he wanted to keep this news to himself a little longer; the irony of it was just *too* delicious! "I can't, Tawney...not yet...", he stalled, chuckling. His chuckling yielded to full belly laughs, as his Lifemate tried to tickle the information from him. "Tawney...NO!!" he begged.
Tawney was relentless in her tickle-tactic, though, and soon she had her mate gasping for breath between laughs.
"Tell me, Laz. I won't stop until you do!" she threatened.
"All right! I'll tell you!" he said. "...after this!!" He quickly reversed their positions, and had Tawney howling with laughter, as he worked his magic on her ribs.
"NO, LAZ!!" Tawney squealed.
She tried to squirm away, but was held fast by the delightful weight of Laz's body. Finally, Laz took pity on her and stopped his assault. Sighing as he settled back onto the bedding, he drew his still giggling mate into his arms.
After they'd stopped giggling, they took a couple of minutes to catch their breaths. Suddenly, Laz started chuckling again. *You are NOT going to believe this!* he "told" Tawney. He "sent" her the information that Lethe had used to awaken him.
*Believe what sweetheart?*
*Lethe is going to be applying to the Academy...so she can be near her...her...Lifemate!* Another spasm of laughter shook Laz.
"What?!" Tawney asked, totally forgetting to use the link.
After all the pain of recent days, the laughter was intoxicating; Laz couldn't stop...not even long enough to use the link. Tears were starting to roll down his cheeks.
Finally, he recovered enough to "say", *Ipthar has chosen one of our shipmates to be Lethe's Lifemate....*
*NO!* Tawney "repied" disbelievingly. Her jaw had dropped in shock at Laz's revelation. *Not Peter!* The idea of Lazarus' sister having to be Bonded to the arrogant Commander really irked Tawney for some reason.
Lazarus laughed so hard at that, he fell off his bed. As realization came over Tawney's face, he confirmed it: *Not Peter...Laredo!*
"OH, YOU!!!" Tawney lunged at Lazarus once again, slapping her mate playfully on his chest.
*I'm serious!!* Laz "replied".
*You really are, aren't you.* Tawney finally "said".
*Yes, I am*, came the "response". *And that's not even the best news!* He was taking a chance, teasing her like this...and he knew it.
*What now?* Tawney wondered. *Don't tell me...Lareth is Bonded to Katelyn.*
Her reply was dripping sarcasm, but inwardly, Tawney shuddered. The thought of the poor Ensign being subjected to such a torture was very disturbing.
After the ensuing paroxysm of laughter finally subsided, Lazarus was able to continue: *No...but it appeared to be close. My dear brother is destined to be with....* He took a deep breath, knowing how Tawney would react. *...with L'Tisha!*
Tawney--now understanding the source of her Lifemate's laughter--felt the need to laugh herself. She could not think of a better match for one another than the self-righteous Lareth and the bitchy L'Tisha.
Laughter rang out--from both of them--for several minutes; then, Lazarus said, "We'd better get up. I'm certain my sister has more than worn out her welcome with Lareth."
He was referring, of course, to the indignity (if not shame) his brother--not to mention his father--must be feeling, at the prospect of having another Human in the family.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tawney and Lazarus left Lethe's hut and proceeded toward Lareth's. Before they could reach their destination though, they came upon L'Tisha's father, T'Hessen.
"Good morning, T'Hessen", Lazarus said. He started to say something about L'Tisha; however, the Elder beat him to it.
"Good morning, Lazarus. I hear that you have gained a new sister in bond." T'Hessen beamed.
"And that would be...?" Lazarus couldn't resist the urge to tease his father's friend.
"Why, L'Tisha, of course. She and Lareth had their first acknowledgment of the Mating Urge. And if I am not mistaken I believe your sister did as well."
"Well, Lareth and Lethe *are* twins, and therefore reached the Age of Awareness at the same time", Lazarus began. "However, to also feel the Urge at the same time is highly unusual...."
"Why do you say that, Laz? I think it's wonderful that they found their Lifemates." Tawney said to her mate.
"Wait a minute!" T'Hessen said. "You already knew about this, didn't you?" he accused. His answer was a pair of impish grins.
"Yes, T'Hessen, Lethe told me this morning through the bond." Lazarus replied. "Although, I must say that I was surprised when she told me."
"About your brother and my daughter, or about your sister, and your shipmate?" T'Hessen asked, clearly amused.
"Truthfully?" Laz asked his father's friend. When the elder Tev'Meckian nodded, Laz sighed dramatically. "Well, it was close, but if I had to say which one was more of a surprise....I guess I would have to go with my brother."
"Because L'Tisha used to 'bully' your siblings?" T'Hessen asked. Lost in conversation--for they had not seen each other in some time--the two Tev'Meckians had apparently forgotten all about Tawney.
Lazarus shrugged. "There is that. And then there's the fact that I already had an inkling about Lethe and Laredo."
"So did I", Tawney spoke up.
The words caused the two Tev'Meckians to jump; Laz threw Tawney an apologetic look. With a smile, she reassured him that she understood.
Not wanting to separate the two old friends, Tawney said, cordially, "We were on our way to meet up with Commander Taggart and Ensign Wingate. Would you care to come with us?"
"Yes, do join us T'Hessen. It has been a great while since we last spoke." Lazarus added.
"That's very kind of you; thank you." The visiting Elder fell into step with Tawney and Lazarus. *You're very lucky to have such a caring Lifemate, Lazarus. Your father and brother will come to see this soon...I promise.*
The smile on Laz's face widened at the reassurance. He had always considered T'Hessen to be like an Uncle and his kindness and understanding in this situation went a long way in endearing the man even more to Lazarus.
*Laz...?* "asked" Tawney.
*Yes, love?*
*I just remembered: The 'duel' your father is demanding is in a few days. I'm scared.* Neither Tawney nor Laz realized that, in her haste, she had forgotten to make the thought "private", as Lethe had been teaching her...therefore, T'Hessen received the thought, as well.
*What "duel"?* T'Hessen pondered. *Luchien, old friend, is your hatred of this woman so deep, that you would forget our new laws?* He was saddened at the prospect. Coming to the path that led to his hut, T'Hessen decided to take his leave, so that he might check his sources. "I thank you both for your company; however, L'Tisha and I have some plans to make...including contacting her mother...."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tawney Madison was awakened by a sound she neither expected nor hoped to hear so soon after Lazienne's death: the sound of her Lifemate's helpless laughter.
"Laz....what is it?" She asked.
Raising her head--which had been resting on the Tev'Meckian's chest--Tawney looked into eyes that were filled with amusement.
Lazarus had "shut down" his bond with Tawney during the night, wanting to spare her some of his agony. Now he wanted to keep this news to himself a little longer; the irony of it was just *too* delicious! "I can't, Tawney...not yet...", he stalled, chuckling. His chuckling yielded to full belly laughs, as his Lifemate tried to tickle the information from him. "Tawney...NO!!" he begged.
Tawney was relentless in her tickle-tactic, though, and soon she had her mate gasping for breath between laughs.
"Tell me, Laz. I won't stop until you do!" she threatened.
"All right! I'll tell you!" he said. "...after this!!" He quickly reversed their positions, and had Tawney howling with laughter, as he worked his magic on her ribs.
"NO, LAZ!!" Tawney squealed.
She tried to squirm away, but was held fast by the delightful weight of Laz's body. Finally, Laz took pity on her and stopped his assault. Sighing as he settled back onto the bedding, he drew his still giggling mate into his arms.
After they'd stopped giggling, they took a couple of minutes to catch their breaths. Suddenly, Laz started chuckling again. *You are NOT going to believe this!* he "told" Tawney. He "sent" her the information that Lethe had used to awaken him.
*Believe what sweetheart?*
*Lethe is going to be applying to the Academy...so she can be near her...her...Lifemate!* Another spasm of laughter shook Laz.
"What?!" Tawney asked, totally forgetting to use the link.
After all the pain of recent days, the laughter was intoxicating; Laz couldn't stop...not even long enough to use the link. Tears were starting to roll down his cheeks.
Finally, he recovered enough to "say", *Ipthar has chosen one of our shipmates to be Lethe's Lifemate....*
*NO!* Tawney "repied" disbelievingly. Her jaw had dropped in shock at Laz's revelation. *Not Peter!* The idea of Lazarus' sister having to be Bonded to the arrogant Commander really irked Tawney for some reason.
Lazarus laughed so hard at that, he fell off his bed. As realization came over Tawney's face, he confirmed it: *Not Peter...Laredo!*
"OH, YOU!!!" Tawney lunged at Lazarus once again, slapping her mate playfully on his chest.
*I'm serious!!* Laz "replied".
*You really are, aren't you.* Tawney finally "said".
*Yes, I am*, came the "response". *And that's not even the best news!* He was taking a chance, teasing her like this...and he knew it.
*What now?* Tawney wondered. *Don't tell me...Lareth is Bonded to Katelyn.*
Her reply was dripping sarcasm, but inwardly, Tawney shuddered. The thought of the poor Ensign being subjected to such a torture was very disturbing.
After the ensuing paroxysm of laughter finally subsided, Lazarus was able to continue: *No...but it appeared to be close. My dear brother is destined to be with....* He took a deep breath, knowing how Tawney would react. *...with L'Tisha!*
Tawney--now understanding the source of her Lifemate's laughter--felt the need to laugh herself. She could not think of a better match for one another than the self-righteous Lareth and the bitchy L'Tisha.
Laughter rang out--from both of them--for several minutes; then, Lazarus said, "We'd better get up. I'm certain my sister has more than worn out her welcome with Lareth."
He was referring, of course, to the indignity (if not shame) his brother--not to mention his father--must be feeling, at the prospect of having another Human in the family.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tawney and Lazarus left Lethe's hut and proceeded toward Lareth's. Before they could reach their destination though, they came upon L'Tisha's father, T'Hessen.
"Good morning, T'Hessen", Lazarus said. He started to say something about L'Tisha; however, the Elder beat him to it.
"Good morning, Lazarus. I hear that you have gained a new sister in bond." T'Hessen beamed.
"And that would be...?" Lazarus couldn't resist the urge to tease his father's friend.
"Why, L'Tisha, of course. She and Lareth had their first acknowledgment of the Mating Urge. And if I am not mistaken I believe your sister did as well."
"Well, Lareth and Lethe *are* twins, and therefore reached the Age of Awareness at the same time", Lazarus began. "However, to also feel the Urge at the same time is highly unusual...."
"Why do you say that, Laz? I think it's wonderful that they found their Lifemates." Tawney said to her mate.
"Wait a minute!" T'Hessen said. "You already knew about this, didn't you?" he accused. His answer was a pair of impish grins.
"Yes, T'Hessen, Lethe told me this morning through the bond." Lazarus replied. "Although, I must say that I was surprised when she told me."
"About your brother and my daughter, or about your sister, and your shipmate?" T'Hessen asked, clearly amused.
"Truthfully?" Laz asked his father's friend. When the elder Tev'Meckian nodded, Laz sighed dramatically. "Well, it was close, but if I had to say which one was more of a surprise....I guess I would have to go with my brother."
"Because L'Tisha used to 'bully' your siblings?" T'Hessen asked. Lost in conversation--for they had not seen each other in some time--the two Tev'Meckians had apparently forgotten all about Tawney.
Lazarus shrugged. "There is that. And then there's the fact that I already had an inkling about Lethe and Laredo."
"So did I", Tawney spoke up.
The words caused the two Tev'Meckians to jump; Laz threw Tawney an apologetic look. With a smile, she reassured him that she understood.
Not wanting to separate the two old friends, Tawney said, cordially, "We were on our way to meet up with Commander Taggart and Ensign Wingate. Would you care to come with us?"
"Yes, do join us T'Hessen. It has been a great while since we last spoke." Lazarus added.
"That's very kind of you; thank you." The visiting Elder fell into step with Tawney and Lazarus. *You're very lucky to have such a caring Lifemate, Lazarus. Your father and brother will come to see this soon...I promise.*
The smile on Laz's face widened at the reassurance. He had always considered T'Hessen to be like an Uncle and his kindness and understanding in this situation went a long way in endearing the man even more to Lazarus.
*Laz...?* "asked" Tawney.
*Yes, love?*
*I just remembered: The 'duel' your father is demanding is in a few days. I'm scared.* Neither Tawney nor Laz realized that, in her haste, she had forgotten to make the thought "private", as Lethe had been teaching her...therefore, T'Hessen received the thought, as well.
*What "duel"?* T'Hessen pondered. *Luchien, old friend, is your hatred of this woman so deep, that you would forget our new laws?* He was saddened at the prospect. Coming to the path that led to his hut, T'Hessen decided to take his leave, so that he might check his sources. "I thank you both for your company; however, L'Tisha and I have some plans to make...including contacting her mother...."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*