Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 17:58:43 -0500 From: Donna Buschmeier Subject: INT:Emjays:Sprucing up down in the moors "Is it that time already?" The Lady in Black shook her head in dismay as she rose from her viewing place by the fire in her hut. Perceval, her devoted black mastiff, lifted his large head and cracked open his red eyes sleepily. "I've been so busy," Niniane said to her pet as she padded barefoot across the chilly stone floor toward a large wooden chest she kept tucked away in a corner. "Casting spells, predicting fortunes, matchmaking couples, arguing with that old curmudgeon, Merlin..." Once more, she shook her head, causing her long, brown hair to fall into her dark eyes. "Being an enchantress isn't always all it's cracked up to be. "Why, I haven't even been able to stay in one sphere of time long enough to even take a proper rest," she went on, lifting the lid of the trunk. "And now here we are, facing another gala affair." She peered curiously into the interior of the cavernous chest. "What in the name of the dragon am I going to wear?" Perceval snorted at her from across the room. "Oh, hush," The Lady in Black cooed at the beast. "You know you have fun every time we go off on one of these mysterious WRITERS journeys." She paused, pulling out a filmy black gown from the trunk. After scrutinizing the garment through narrowed eyes for several long moments, she finally discarded the dress in disgust. "No, it just won't do," she muttered, leaning into the chest once again. "Woof!" said Perceval. "Yes, I'm sure Woofie will be there," Niniane told the hound. "And all your other friends, too. Phanny and MJ, CK and BT... and all those other initial-people. Father Anthony will be there, too, I'm sure... unless he sends one of his bots. And then there's CathyB and Barbara and Dustin... Raini and Chris... Don't worry, Perceval, you'll get to see them all. And a lot of new faces, as well." "Grrr?" the beast asked. "Wayne?" The Lady in Black frowned. "Well, I'm not really sure where Wayne's been keeping himself. I haven't been to the SPT in months and months. But I'm sure he wouldn't miss such a gala affair as the Emjays." "Eureeka!" she cried suddenly, pulling a sequined black gown out of the trunk. "This is perfect," she said to the black dog, standing up from her crouched position and holding the dress up against her body. "I'll just add the emerald necklace Guenivere bequeathed to me and perhaps the sapphire earrings that Bedivere lost during that gambling game... "And you can wear the diamond-studded collar I conjured up for you on your four hundred and twenty-third birthday," she added. Perceval yawned. "Well, now that that's settled," Niniane said, smoothing out the dress and closing the trunk, "all I've got to do now is vote." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Seen The Lady of the Lake's web page lately? http:www.geocities.com/Athens/5208/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sitting down cross-legged in front of the fire, The Lady in Black pulled out a scroll and began to read. "Hmm... let's see... 'Best All- Around List Member...' Now, who shall that be?" Smiling to herself, Niniane picked up her quill and began to write. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "We chase misprinted lies... We face the path of time... And yet I fight... And yet I fight... This battle all alone... No one to cry to... No place to call home..." -- Alice In Chains "Nutshell" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donna M. Buschmeier ++The Lady of the Lake++ ~~The Lady in Black~~ http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5208/index.html ****************************************************************************