The Proud, and Terribly Late, Papa (1/2)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 30th December 2020
Characters: Saidrene, Kapera, Saibra, K'ran, Zehva
Description: It takes some unexpected help when Saidrene goes into labor to get K'ran's attention.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 6, day 1 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Ashela, Lanniya
Succulent. Tender. Spicy. Juice.
Saidrene groaned in delight as she nibbled on the spiced wherrybite while simultaneously reaching for another from her plate. For the last fortnight she had been craving spicy - the hotter the better. Today was no different and since the healers had put her on bedrest due to the swelling in her feet and ankles, the treat had been delivered to her by a drudge from the kitchens.
}:You're even making me hungry.:{ Ashareth said, thinking that she would go get a wherry herself.
**It's sooo good.** Saidrene sighed, licking the traces of the spices left on her lips.
At this point in the pregnancy, food was her only comfort. She couldn't really go anywhere or do anything and she was far too miserable to try and sleep. Most nights she spent huffing and puffing as she tried to find some way to sleep on her side.
Some time passed after the eating of the spiced wherry before Saidrene heaved herself to her feet to go and relieve her bladder, which felt as if the baby was jabbing at it with its feet.
"Ugh, I'm paying for that spicy wherry now," Saidrene groaned as she put a hand to her sternum. "How can something so good be so bad?" she mused outloud as she paced a little, trying to get the pain to subside.
The ache spread from her sternum to her pelvis, causing her to gasp a little as she stopped walking and grabbed on to the nearby wardrobe to steady herself.
}:Are you okay?:{ Ashareth asked.
**I just feel... I don't know... funny.**
}:Should I get Rogueth's?:{
**No, I don't think so. I think it's just what I ate.** Saidrene said.
The greenrider soon found herself on her knees beside her bed, gripping the colorfully woven blanket that adorned it until her knuckles were white. **Get K'ran. Get K'ran right now!**
Unfortunately for Saidrene, Quinneth had risen and led males on a merry chase towards the mountains, and Rogueth had gone off in pursuit. He was locked with Quinneth and did not hear her calls to him; the mating lust and the distance rendered him unnoticing.
Riyanth noticed Ashareth's agitation on her ledge, and reached out to the green. }:Ashareth? What is wrong?:{
}:Where is Rogueth's rider? Mine needs him.:{ Ashareth said as she anxiously dug her talons into her weyrledge.
Riyanth took a moment to assess the situation, then replied, }:Quinneth rose. Rogueth caught. They are flying.:{
"He WHAT?" Saidrene roared when Ashareth relayed the message. Here she was in labor with his child and he was somewhere in the weyr bedding another greenrider? She had the mind to go find the flight room and yank him out of there by his hair but another contraction sent her back to her knees.
**Well I can't do this alone!** she howled mentally. **I want my mom, Ashareth, I want my mom. NOW!**
}:My rider wants Chioneth's rider right now,:{ Ashareth said in a pleading tone to Riyanth. }:I think she is clutching.:{
}:It will be all right, Ashareth. Tell your rider that,:{ Riyanth soothed, exerting a calming influence towards the green dragon. }:I am getting Chioneth now. Her rider will come for yours.:{
Riyanth reached out to Chioneth next. }:Chioneth? Ashareth's rider is clutching and requests your rider. Soon. She is agitated.:{ She included some of the green's emotional impressions with her message.
Last, she let Kapera know that Ashareth's rider was in distress and she was reaching out for Chioneth's rider, so that her rider was not surprised by another gold and her rider appearing. The Weyrwoman responded to that by dropping her hidework - it was boring anyway - and getting a passing worker to run to the Infirmary to tell them to send someone to Saidrene's weyr to help her to the Infirmary and also to get ready for a delivery. Then she headed down to the Weyrbowl to wait for Saibra.
Saibra's face was wreathed in a smile as Chioneth landed in the Barrier Lake's Weyrbowl. "We have a baby on the way?" she asked Kapera as she leaped down from Chioneth's neckridge and strode over to the other Weyrwoman.
"You have a grandchild coming," she confirmed. "Sorry for the short notice, I hope Riyanth didn't pull you two away from anything too important."
"Nothing I couldn't dump on Ashela and Lanniya," Saibra said with an unrepentant smile.
Kapera laughed. "Privilege of being a Senior and a concerned mother, I gather."
When they arrived in K'ran's weyr, Zehva had already shown up and helped Saidrene into the bed, which had been stripped of everything except its white sheets.
"Mom!" Saidrene groaned, temples soaked with sweat.
Saibra went to her daughter, smiling, as she stroked a hand over Saidrene's hair. "You can do this, Saidrene."
"No," the greenrider shook her head. "K'ran isn't here. He won a flight."
There was a decided amount of heat behind the word 'flight' that made Saibra's smile widen. "I know, that is quite inconvenient but you can still do this." She leaned in a little closer, speaking so only Saidrene could hear. "Your son or daughter needs you right now. Only you can do this."
"You're almost completely dilated, so we still have a bit to go." Zehva informed Saidrene after checking.
"A bit? How long is that?" Saidrene demanded.
"A couple of candlemarks, maybe more."
Saidrene flopped her head back. "_Candlemarks_." How was she ever going to make it that long? Her mind went back to K'ran - she was going to kill him.
Last updated on the January 14th 2021