Checkmate: Cyrano and Valkria
by Kiki the Weird

Gargoyles isn't mine and neither is Star Trek.  I've 
been in a romantic mood lately.  Sorry I haven't been 
writing long stories lately but my schedule has been 
hectic.  This happens somewhere in close future of the Moongrove Tales. 

Checkmate: Cyrano and Valkria
          Valkria and Sara were talking, drinking hot 
chocolate and eating cookies.  Sara had just opened 
Enterprise books a few weeks ago.  And sometimes 
Valkria would stop by the store each night to help Sara 
close and clean up.  And then they'd talk to each other.
          "How did you and Cyrano get together?" Sara asked Valkria.  
        Valkria pulled out a cookie,  "To explain that I'd 
better tell you the story of my first Moon.  I was a 
young thing about Galatea's age and not yet clan 
leader.  In our clan one male had distinguished 
himself.  He was the best and bravest of our warriors. 
Because of this he was the most popular of our clan. 
Everyone liked and admired him and all of the 
available females had crushes on him, except me. 
He had many friends but what he had wasn't exactly 
friendship.  They worshipped him and he ignored 
them.  The only one he didn't ignore was me.  I didn't 
like him that much.  I respected him, I thought he was 
a good and brave warrior but I did not love him.  I tried 
to show him that but it only provoked him even more. 
He saw me as a prize to be won.  I'm not being 
boastful but I was a good catch, I was the best warrior of the females.
        But I wanted more than a good catch, I wanted 
love.  And I found it.  Cyrano was one of my rookery 
brothers and my best friend.  He wasn't a great 
warrior although he did well in battle.  But he was kind, 
sweet, gentle, and fun to be with.  I remember when 
we were hatchlings, he always could invent the best 
games and tell the best stories.  He could make me 
laugh when I was feeling sad.  I really cared about him 
and as I grew older I began to love him.
        I tried to deny my feelings but I failed especially 
when I found out that he loved me too.  I remember 
the night we confessed our love.  There was a bright 
half-moon in the sky.  Cyrano, the best warrior, 
myself, and a few others were hunting in the woods. 
The group had scattered looking for prey.  I had 
followed Cyrano;  I just had to tell him how I felt.  I had 
spent night after night knowing how much I needed 
him and depressed because he did not know my 
feelings.  Finally Cyrano stopped and rested but I 
could not make myself leave my hiding place.  He 
began to leave.   I made a small noise.  He turned and 
spoke, 'Who is there?'          
        I finally got enough courage together and stepped 
out of the bushes.  But I could not speak!  I just stood 
there shaking.  He walked up to me and held my 
hands.  'Is there anything wrong?'  He had such a 
caring look in his eyes that I started babbling and crying.
        'I'm so sorry but I had to talk to you.  Lately I've 
been feeling such odd and scary feelings that I don't 
know what to do.  But I have to tell you these feelings. 
Oh rookery brother, I think that I love you.'  When I 
had finished, I looked at him.  His eyes were 
undefinable.  I thought that my life was over and I was 
crying.  But then he held me and wrapped his wings 
around me.  He started to nuzzle the top of my head. 
He spoke, 'I never thought that this could happen.  I've 
loved you for a while now.  I never thought that you 
would return these feelings.  I'd just assumed that you 
would love the best warrior.  He is the ideal choice for a mate.' 
        'No, he's not.  He isn't loving, caring, and fun like 
you. I like being with you!'
        We just held each other for awhile.  Eventually 
we broke our embrace to return.  I remember trying to 
act embarassed over the fact that we hadn't brought 
any meat home.  But I think I failed; I was just too happy.
        I was a bit worried that there would be a fight.  I 
didn't think that Cyrano would win the fight.  And 
according to clan custom, I would mate with the 
winner of the battle.  So I came up with a plan.  I would 
glide to a prearranged spot.  Cyrano would have 
already slipped away to that spot.  We would meet 
and mate there.  He agreed with my plan. 
        A night, that we agreed on, came and my plan 
went into effect.  I glided away from the castle.  I 
landed about a mile away from the meeting place and 
went the rest of the way on foot.  I was so anxious that 
I went most of the way on all fours.  I got there and no 
one was there.  It seemed that all of my worst fears 
had come true.  He wasn't there and that meant that 
he didn't love me.  I started to cry and was about to go 
back when I felt something touch my wing.  I turned 
around quickly, there he was.  He embraced me, 
'What's wrong beloved?  I'm sorry I wasn't out to meet 
you but I thought it would be best just in case...'  A sad 
look came to his eyes and I knew what he was 
thinking.  'Just in case I didn't show up.'  I smiled 
shyly at him and laid my head on his chest.  He slid 
his hands over my shoulders and nuzzled the top of my head.   
        As he began to slide my top off, we were 
interrupted by an loud 'NO!'  It was the best warrior. 
He yanked me away, 'She is to be my mate!'  Cyrano 
then stepped in front of the best warrior with a 
determined look in his eyes,  'No, she belongs to the 
winner of the battle and I will fight you for her.'  The 
best warrior threw me aside.  Laughing, he jumped 
Cyrano while I stood there helpless to do anything. 
He pushed Cyrano to the ground but Cyrano punched 
him in the stomach and managed to get away.  The 
best warrior grabbed a fallen tree branch and began to 
swing the branch at Cyrano.  He managed to hit 
Cyrano on the arm.  Cyrano roared with pain and rage 
as he fell to the ground.  There he fumbled around and 
finally found a tree branch.  He brought it up just in 
enough time to block a blow from the best warrior. 
Cyrano swung his branch with great skill.  He 
managed to disarm the best warrior and to knock him 
down.  Cyrano looked down at him and said, 'She is 
my mate for I have defeated you in battle.  Leave!' 
The best warrior ran away quickly.
        Cyrano sank to the ground, clutching his arm in 
pain.  I ran to his side, fell to the ground, and took him 
in my arms.  'You've been hurt,' I said, 'do you want to 
go back to the castle?'
        'No, do you?'        
To answer him, I began to nuzzle the top of his 
head.  He gently pushed me to the ground.  He slid 
my top off and...I won't tell you what happened 
afterward, that's my business.  But it was wonderful 
and for the first part of my life I felt totally happy 
and totally complete.
        He's always been there for me.  It's just 
something about him that makes my life complete. 
He's always been there when I needed him, especially 
during our imprisonment."
        Sara noticed that Valkria's mood had darkened 
by the end of her story.  "What's that matter?"
        "I'm scared.  I haven't let Cyrano be intimate with 
me since before the spell."  
        Sara was about to ask why but there was a 
knock on the back door.  Valkria hid and Sara 
answered the door.  Sara walked back.  "Valkria, 
Cyrano is at the back door.  Talk to him, please."
        Valkria walked into the cool darkness of the alley 
and saw Cyrano waiting for her.  His eyes, filled with 
confusion and fear, looked into hers.  Her heart 
twisted as she turned away and quietly said, "Let's go home." 
        Cyrano seized her hand.  "No," he growled, 
"Valkria, why have you been so cold lately?"
        "It doesn't matter."
        "It does to me!  It seems that you don't want to 
be around me anymore.  I still love you but I would let 
you go if that's what you wanted."
        Valkria sat down and a crate and put her head in 
her hands.  "No," she sighed, "I...I love you so much. I'm 
just so scared."
        Cyrano sat down next to her and put her arms 
around her.  He felt her lean on him and put her head 
on his chest.  He then began to speal softly to her. 
"Whatever it is...I'm here to help and I'll always be 
here for you.  What are you afraid of?"  
        "According to old clan custom, everone cared for 
all of the hatchlings and no one knew who their 
parents were.  Now, we're adopting human custom 
where the hatchlings are raised by their parents.  I 
was a failure as a clan leader.  I couldn't save our clan 
from Terrog.  How would I be as a mother?  The child probably 
end up dead."
        Cyrano held her even closer as she started to 
cry.  'After all this time,' he thought, 'she still blames 
herself.'  He rubbed her back ans whispered to her, "I 
know that you won't believe this.  But there was 
nothing that you could have done.  In fact you did 
more than anyone esle could have done.  Valkria, you 
were an excellent leader.  Our clan prospered under 
your leadership.  I would like to have a child but only 
becasue I know that you'll be a wonderful mother."
        But she didn't answer.  Cyrano could almost feel 
her pain soak into him.  "Think about it.  And when 
you're ready, just let me know.  Remember, I'll love 
you no matter what happens."  Cyrano helped her up and 
they left the alley.
        *        *        * 
       Two weeks had passed and Valkria kept 
avoiding Cyrano.  Cyrano tried to not let it bother him 
but it seemed to get harder and harder.  He tried 
reading a book but his thoughts wouldn't stay in place. 
He was in his and Valkria's room.  Xanatos had given 
the gargoyles their own bedrooms.  Of course the 
gargoyles didn't need them to sleep but it was still nice 
enough to have a place to be alone.  
        Something brushed against his wing.  Cyrano 
tried to ignore it but the sensation continued.  Finally 
he realized that someone was rubbing the edge of his wing.  
        He quickly turned around and saw Valkria 
standing.  She looked a bit scared.  Cyrano feared the 
worst, that she wanted to leave him.  "Valkria?"
        She then whispered something, "I made a 
decision.  I want a child but I'm still so scared."  He 
stood up and pulled her close.  Valkria felt better as 
his arms and then wings wrapped around her.  She 
was surprised though when his lips touched hers. 
Valkria leaned on him as he kissed her.  
        Cyrano then pulled away.  He knew that this 
dizziness wasn't from lack of air.  "Is that what the 
humans call kissing?" Valkria asked.
        "Unless I was doing it wrong...yes.  Did you like it?"
        She didn't tell him with words.  Instead she kissed him back.
        *        *        *
        Valkria kissed him again several hours after their 
first kiss and the many kisses afterward.  "You know," 
she said rather airly, "This was a lot more comfortable 
than a forest floor."  They were laying in each other's 
arms on top of the bed, with their clothing scattered on the floor.   
        Cyrano grinned and was happy to see the smile 
was returned.  "You had no complaints," he joked.
        "I never had," Valkria put her head on his chest. 
        "Beloved?" she whispered.        
        "What is it, my sweet Valkria?"
        "What if I'm not pregnant?"
        Cyrano smiled at her, "Then we'll just have to do 
this until we get it right.  Only if you want to of course."
        "Definitely!" 
The End