Exam

Writers: Chelle, Suzee
Date Posted: 22nd November 2014

Characters: Benani, Chupsin, Betha
Description: The healer comes to examine the Lady Holder with success.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 9, day 14 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Yanley, Zelanka, Zathris

Benani

Benani smoothed her dressing gown and smiled at the ladies attending
her. It was almost the appointed time and she expected Chupsin to
arrive momentarily. So it wasn't a surprise when the knock sounded.

"Betha," she smiled swallowing her hesitation. "Please let him in."

The young woman looked hesitantly at the other lady in the room with
their Lady Holder then nodded. "Yes ma'am," she said and then did just
that.

"Journeyman Chupsin," she smiled at the handsome healer. "The Lady is
ready for you."

He entered slowly and made sure to make plenty of noise to prepare her
for his arrival. He didn't want her to think he was sneaking or that he was
someone other than himself. Approaching Benani, he was immediately
assessing her outward appearance, checking for differences in weight and
other nuances. To her, he was calm and smiling. "M'lady, I am glad to see
you."

Benani turned to face him with a rather shaky smile. "Chupsin," she
said with a nod. "Thank you for coming. I'm.... or I _think_ I am ready
to see you."

"This visit will only be what you will it to be. We can always try again. If at
any time, you feel yourself becoming too uncomfortable, tell me immediately."

This was about her wellbeing and that of the baby. He needed her to
understand that. Chupsin would never put either of them into danger
for any reason. He sat down a little ways from her, not coming any
closer for the moment or moving to touch her. She needed to be
reacquainted with him. After all, she'd lost most of her trust in males.

She nodded as he talked but she was also willing herself to be brave
for the sake of the baby she carried. She hadn't been examined since
Yanley had gone back to the Weyr and although she was feeling fine and
her last pregnancy had been more difficult because of the twins. She
still knew she needed to be followed regularly to be certain they were
both healthy.

"I'll tell you if it becomes too difficult," she half smiled.

"Allright." He came closer then, not yet asking her to disrobe. "I'm
going to check your pulse and listen to your breathing first to make
sure everything is normal." He waited until she extended her arm
before counting quietly. That done, he moved beside her and placed the
cone he used on her back. "Breathe in for me, then out a few times."

She did as instructed and breathed in and out. She knew she was
stressed but so far it wasn't too bad. She smiled and held on to Betha
who had reached for her hand. In a simple dressing gown with her robe
it would only be a matter of opening the front of it for the healer to
listen to her belly.

Satisfied after some time, Chupsin moved back and settled again in
his seat in front of her. "Take your time and keep breathing, Benani.
When you're ready, if you can just open the robe for me, please." His
eyes were watching her and her body's response. If her heart rate or

breathing elevated, he would leave to give her time to recover.

She nodded and kept breathing and then when she was ready she blew out
a breath. "Alright," she said and lay back on the pillows the ladies
had put here for her. Her feet went up on the stool and she bent her
knees. Betha continued to hold her hand and another of the ladies slid
open the robe and held a drape between the Lady's head and the healer's
hands.

"You're going to feel a coolness as I ready you. Nothing you haven't felt
before every time. And then the pressure. I promise I'll be as quick as I can
be." Chupsin got down on his knees so she couldn't see his eyes, only
the top of his head. He could see better that way anyway. Scrubbing
his hands in a redwort pan on the floor, he began to go about his
business as quickly as possible, talking to her the entire time. "I
must say I still haven't forgiven your husband for not letting me
deliver your boys." He made a snort of displeasure, giving her
something else to think about.

That made Benani smile. "Well, I'll make sure you get to deliver this
one Chupsin," she said. She still gripped Betha's hand and fought down
the instinct to try and run away. This was about the baby's health and
she had promised herself she would make sure the innocent inside her
would be protected and cherished. It was her responsibility to make
that happen.

Everything seemed normal. That was a very good sign. No sign of blood
or scarring. If she had been injured, it had already healed which was
another good thing. No infection to fight. Chupsin finished and pulled
back, pulling the blanket back down. He washed his hands again and
pulled back, scribbling on her Record hide. "Well nothing to worry
about. Another healthy baby seems to be on the way. And I'm holding
you to that promise. Oh yes I am." He hummed to himself and moved
towards the wall, letting her arrange herself.

"So how have you been feeling? Any discomfort or anything to remark on?"
He was watching the hide and its scribbles, not her.

"I feel fine," she said while Betha made sure she was all covered and
helped her sit up again. "Just more uncomfortable each sevenday.
Though thankfully not as much as when I had the boys."

"Eating normally?" With so many other things, Chupsin was hoping the
pregnancy hormones wouldn't shift Benani into feeling uncomfortable or
something worse. It was natural for a pregnant woman to go to extremes
but she couldn't afford to right now.

"I don't think Zelanka could push me any more," she chuckled. "I tend
to want less than she wants me to eat. She usually wins." She took a
deep breath and realized that she was far more comfortable with the
healer than she'd feared.

"Ah well, she does usually get her way. I mean you might be the Lady
Holder but she is Zelanka." He'd certainly grown up around the
Headwoman just as she did. And now he worked with her as much as
Benani did or more to make sure he had the supplies he needed and the
holders had the care they needed. "Well it seems as if everything is
progressing normally without any problems. If you'll be okay with it,
we can do our usual once-a-month checkup until it gets closer to
term."

She smiled and nodded. "Yes, that would be acceptable," she said. "And
we'll soon have another baby in the house." She didn't speak of the
fear it might not look like Zathris. "Thank you Chupsin," she held out
her hand.

He took it and gripped it for a moment, then let go. "My duty to you Lady.
And now I need to see a man about a leg. You should probably be
getting to midday meal before Zelanka finds you." He chuckled to
himself as he gathered his things to go.

"I will," she smiled and watched him go.

Last updated on the November 28th 2014

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