Nothing But Heartache

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 18th July 2016

Characters: Saibra
Description: Saibra learns of R'enh's injury and rushes to be by his side... Only, someone else is already there.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 1 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: R'enh, Aishara
Notes: Contains excerpts from "Don't Cry"

Saibra

It always felt weird to watch her Wing preparing for Threadfall without her, but since she was still early in her first trimester with her pregnancy, Saibra couldn't risk the amount of /betweening/ that Threadfall required, not even at the low altitude of the Queen's Wing. The only part of being grounded from Threadfall that the Weyrwoman _did_ enjoy was putting her dragonhealer training to use and working with W'ser in the infirmary.

There was an extra flutter of nerves in her stomach that morning as she knew that Dolphin Cove would also be flying Thread and she still hadn't been able to tell R'enh yet about their good news.

**Maybe he'll have time to come by tomorrow.** She thought as she watched the Dragonsfall Wings begin to rise.

~*~

"More bandages!" Saibra barked at a nearby apprentice, who quaked beneath the Weyrwoman's tone, but scurried off to get the necessary bandages. Dragon ichor smeared the front of the apron that Saibra wore over her clothes, and it coated her arms, even past the sleeves that she'd rolled to her elbows.

}:You must be still, Aldruith.:{ Chioneth's elegant voice had an underlying steel beneath it that left the blue dragon unable to disobey his Queen's order.

Blowing a strand of her escaped hair out of her face, Saibra took the bandages and began packing the gaping wound on the blue's flank. He'd somehow become entangled with a wingmate in the air and in their desperation to get free he'd taken a puncturing, talon wound.

Once the wound was properly packed, Saibra was able to leave the rest of the clean up to one of the senior apprentices. Taking a deep breath, a dizzying wave of exhaustion made her find a wall to brace herself against.

"Weyrwoman," it was W'ser. "Go get cleaned up and get off your feet."

Saibra shook her head, "There's another green coming in with a -"

"That wasn't a suggestion, ma'am." W'ser's brown eyes bored into hers with concern.

She sighed, but knew the Weyrdragonhealer was right. She was done. "If you need me..."

W'ser smirked a little as he escorted Saibra by the elbow to the door, "We won't."

Saibra looked up at the brownrider and returned his smirk, "Aye, I hear you." So far W'ser had proved to be one of the few men of rank around Dragonsfall that was truly competent at his job.

Trudging to her weyr, Saibra made straight for the bathing pool. She'd forgotten in the Turns since she'd had Kaibren how exhausting the first trimester of pregnancy could be. Tossing her soiled clothing in the hamper, she lowered herself into the water with a little smile. With the time difference between Dragonsfall and Dolphin Cove, by the time she got cleaned up and got a little something to eat, R'enh would be in the midst of Threadfall.

}:The last of the sweepriders have reported in, minimal burrows.:{ Chioneth reported to Saibra.

**Good.** That meant the infirmary was treating the last of the injured as well.

By the time the Weyrwoman left the bath her fingers had wrinkled considerably, and it was well to the point of evening meal. Dressing warmly against the usual chill, Saibra sent for food rather than going to the Dining Cavern herself. She would eat and climb into bed, and if all was right, she would wake sometime after midnight to R'enh joining her....

}:Saibra. Saibra.:{ Chioneth's voice was firm and urgent, startling the Weyrwoman from her sleep.

Sitting up in the bed, she cast about her dark weyr for signs of something wrong, and although she could see nothing, she could feel Chioneth's agitation.

**Is it Kaibren? Saidrene? What's the matter?** Chioneth wasn't the type to wake her up in the middle of the night for no reason.

}:It is Mnoranth's rider. He isn't... responding. Apparently there was a complication in Threadfall and -:{

**Take me to Dolphin Cove!** Saibra hurried into a thick pair of riding leathers and her heaviest riding jacket.

}:But what about your egg?:{

The gold's question caused Saibra to pause for a moment. What should she do? If R'enh was dying.... **The trip /between/ isn't long and I'm wearing my warmest gear.**

When the gold pair arrived over Dolphin's Cove the watchdragon gave a surprised, but welcoming bugle. Saibra could feel her heart hammering against her ribcage as Chioneth made a quick landing in the Weyrbowl. She all but spilled off of her dragon, in her mind imagining the worse, imagining the way K'fel had looked the day he'd died...

Fear lent her speed as she dashed into the infirmary and looked around for signs of the Dolphin Cove Weyrsecond. An apprentice pointed her in the right direction, to a bed surrounded by a curtain. Drawing close to it, her fingers poised to draw the material aside, she heard a voice.... Aishara.

<<"Aishara," he said trying to open his eyes and gently squeezed the
hand holding his. "How long have I been out?" This time he didn't try
to move but simply held still so he didn't cause that stab of pain to
return.

"Long enough. Long enough for me to finish my part of the Fall and
cause us all concern," Aishara replied and tried blink away the tears.
She was so relieved to see him back to consciousness.

"Oh sweetie," R'enh said. "I'm sorry I worried you." He lifted his
good hand from between hers to cup the side of her face. "Don't cry."

The look in R'enh's eyes as he looked up at Aishara was a look that Saibra had only ever seen when he was addressing _her_, to see it directed at someone else was... More than she could bear.

She'd always known about Aishara, they were riders after all, but _seeing_ the connection that R'enh had with another woman unnerved her, because Saibra had been lulled into thinking that there was something special that he shared only with her. Brushing tears from her cheeks, Saibra turned quietly and made her way back out to Chioneth.

}:Leaving so soon?:{ Chioneth questioned in a puzzled tone.

**Yes. Take me back to Dragonsfall.** Saibra pulled herself up onto her lifemate's neckridge. **Dragonsfall and the people there are my home now. I need to remember that.** There was nothing for her at Dolphin's Cove.>>

The chilly air of Dragonsfall felt welcome to her flushed cheeks as Chioneth swooped in a slow circle down to their ledge. Saibra felt numb inside, empty. She'd done it. She'd given her unborn child's life away, for what? A man who had a "special girl" at every Weyr in the South? She raised a trembling hand to cover her eyes as she knew what the next couple of days would hold for her, and it was nothing but heartache.

Last updated on the July 19th 2016

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Nothing But Heartache