Subject: name game
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 20:11:14 -0800 (PST)
From: Stana Hierspiel <darkannex@yahoo.com>

     "You came!" repeated the tinkling voice. Clip snorted, phazing
into human form to snatch her up protectively.  He snagged something
else, a flash of light in his hand, then it was gone.  "I knew you
would."
      "We need to go." Sullam urged "this place is not safe to be.
Even with the wizard gone."
      Clip gave a nod of agreement, shifting into Unicorn form once
more. THe princess perched on his back and giggled.
       "We don't" Stana began, coming out of her daze "not through the-"
       "There's another way out." The princess said.  Clip gave a
short whinny and walked briskly away.
        "Can you make it?" Sullam asked Stana.
        "Yes." she replied. Excuses were of no help here. She would
get out of this place if it killed her. At least she'd be buried
above, and not below with the rest of the dead.

         It wasn't as dramatic as all that, but she finally made it
out. The group stood there blinking in the sunshine.
          Clip, once again human, held the Princess easily in the
crook of an arm. She tapped his arm and looked meaningfully to his
other hand.
           The man-corn gaped, then shook his head.
           "I know not." he finally answered.  Then he looked to the
two mortals. He handed Sullam the princess. She smiled and whispered
in his ear.  Stana was startled to see his eyes sparkle with tears as
he too shook his head. Then the princess held her arms out for Stana.
            The girl held her awkwardly, and the child giggled. Stana
smiled with a swift quirk of her lips.
            "Tell me my name." The princess asked her quietly.
            "Huh?" she responded brightly.
            "My name." the girl repeated. "Sullam and Clip don't know
it so that means you do."
            Child's logic. There was no getting around it, mythical or
no.
            "I-I don't know..."
            The brown eyes looked trustingly at her.
            "Sure you do." the other said implaccably. "You always
have."
            This was something Clip and Sullam wouldn't help her with.
There seemed a pattern of non assistance from those two. She seemed
more at a loss here than underground. She pondered for a moment,
opting for some earth names she knew. Nothing seemd to fit.
            So she started with what the girl looked like. She had a
heart shaped face, with big brown eyes and dark blonde hair. A
beautiful smile curved full lips and a pert nose peek out.
            Just like a little rose blossom.
            ::Rose..?::
            "Davora!" she exclaimed with a moment of delight piercing
through the gloom. She laughed aloud as the girl clapped "Your name is
Davora!"
            The princess looked to Clip and he looked at them in
consternation.  IT was unprecedented that a mortal would have such
sway  in these things. The name was power! She was entrusting
everything to these two.
            Then he heard her unspoken command and he flickered in and
out of his true form in shock. He had to have misunderstood...
            But there it was agaain. The insistant command.
           "The-" he began falteringly "The princess has chosen you as
her gaurdian."  Then as Stana shook her head in confusion he elaborated.
           "Every matron has their chosen protector. A "mother" so be
it. She has chosen you to fill that role. It has never been given to a
mortal before. Such an honor is unprecedented." he handed teh princess
a medallion.
           Stacey stood in a whirl of confusion as the princess placed
the gold and bloodstone pendant around her neck. Looking into the
polished surface she could see teh forest and the beasts that lived in
there reflected back at her.
           Then suddenly the four were enveloped in a world not their
own.