A Hatching Indeed

Writers: Paula, Clancey
Date Posted: 6th October 2014

Characters: Felyna, Corowal
Description: Corowal and Felyna attend the Hatching and the events shake up Felyna.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 12 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Jenackt/J'ackt, Cyradis, Vestian, Zandan

Felyna

Corowal let out a low chuckle and leaned to whisper to his wife's ear.
"Zandan is so going to tear it when he hears that Jenackt Impressed, and a
bronze of all colours! I should probably chain him before breaking the
news." They were representing their Hold together, seated among the other
dignitaries. It offered a good view to the Sands.

She leaned close to him, her hand resting familiarly on his knee. Since
inviting him back into her bed recently, they had been steadily working their
way back to the closeness of lovers. And, frequent lovers, at that, as she
was missing no chance to bind him to her.

Her own voice was wry and soft, though her shock was apparent in the
widening of her eyes. Had he looked toward them? She thought so.
"You had better, Corowal. Zandan will be after him like a shot, bronze
dragon or no, if he hears. Either that, or he will have a fit of unbelief
that such a scoundrel would be chosen by a bronze." She smiled at him.
In one way, it was good. "At least he won't have to steal any more... "
she said thoughtfully, her mouth catching up with her mind.

It was interesting, to say the least, that the young boy that had been a
thorn in Zandan's sides before being taken in by the Weyr was showing there
was much more to him than first expected.

The Hatching continued in its course, with Xebex humming valiantly from her
shoulder for the entire time it took for dragons to find partners.
She enjoyed Hatchings, though she could not fathom ever having done
anything else but what she had done - marry a Lord Holder. While she
expected it would have been full of adventure, and that would have been
fine, she was not sure her ..fortitude... extending to flaming Thread from
the backs of even such lovely creatures as dragons.

Corowal's attention was soon drawn to a fuss at the Weyrleaders' stand.
"What's going on there? Are they bringing in...birth stool?" Twice married
and father of several children, he recognized in instantly. He had known
the Weyrwoman was on her last stages of pregnancy. Her state had been
impossible to miss when she entered the Hatching Cavern.

Felyna followed his attention down and let out a small gasp of
astonishment. "Why! She's having her baby. A Hatching indeed...." She
watched with interest for a moment before her traitorous brain and heart
started to betray her.

She paled slightly under her tan face, grabbing his hand and holding it
tightly. The sight of the birth should have affected her in a good way,
but instead she was remembering snatches of the nightmares she had been
having for over a month, and the sight of Felwal, perfect, and then gone.

Her voice was soft. "Corowal... I don't want to watch. Can you take me to
the Feast?"

"Of course, the eggs are all Hatched anyway. Let's give them privacy,"
Corowal replied and took her arm, escorting her out of the Hatching Cavern.
They weren't only ones leaving, so Corowal used his free elbow to push past
the crowd. He got the outside to the Weyrbowl.

Discomfort made a small hard knot in her stomach. The Weyrwoman here had
5 children.. ..or at least, was about to have 5. She could not even have
one live child. She shivered involuntarily and moved closer to her
husband's solid warmth. She was too schooled to cry in public, but it
was only because she _was_ trained that there was not more pain apparent in
her face and manner.

As they arrived at the Hatching feast and found their seats, she took hold
of herself with incredible aplomb and managed to tease her husband.

"No kissing foster mothers at this party, my husband. Only your wife."

Her lips smiled and her body conveyed itself like the Lady she had been
born to become, but inside, the knot of feelings contracted.

"I can promise that," Corowal lifted her hand to his lips. "Are you taking
red or white wine?" he asked, his tone light. He did know Felyna well
enough to know she was bothered by Cyradis' birth. He was trying to
distract her, direct her thoughts to other things. "Shall we go to greet
the new Harper Hallmaster, Vestian?"

She recognized his attempt at distraction and smiled warmly at him. "I
think the red tonight, my darling." She said softly, then followed his
eyes toward the new Hallmaster he pointed out. She nodded, pulled her
Lady of the Hold persona around her like a cloak, raised her fine chin, and
put aside her deep disturbed feelings. Now was not the time. She could
fall apart at home, once they returned.

"Red it is," Corowal noted and took her a glass when the passed the serving
table. He took her arm and gave her hand an encouraging squeeze.

She was better than this, she thought absently, though she was thankful for
Corowal in more ways than one tonight . Her glance shifted to follow her
husband through the crowd. Had he meant it? What he said? A smile
curved across her face then, displacing the pensive look that had been
there but a moment prior. Yes, he certainly seemed to mean it.

Last updated on the November 16th 2014

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A Hatching Indeed