Now I Know

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th June 2008

Characters: Traelyn, Pacham
Description: Trae goes to the Weyrhealer for an answer to her suspicions
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 15 of Turn 4

Pacham gave the Weyrwoman a warm smile as he entered the room. "Good morning, Lady Traelyn. You are here for an exam, is that right?"

"Good morning. And I am," she nodded, trying to keep herself from wringing her hands nervously. Shards, it had been a long time since she'd done this. "And this exam is to determine whether or not you're pregnant, is that right?" he asked gently, unsure just how the goldrider was feeling at that moment. Some women were excited, others anxious. A few had been downright scared. Again, she nodded, her smile somewhat anxious. "I should have come to see you days before now, but I just..." Traelyn shrugged a shoulder, her expression becoming rather self-conscious. She really didn't have to explain herself to him, but in some ways she felt like she had to.

"Well, there are just a few questions I will need to ask you first, if that's all right." He sat down next to the bed with a sheet of paper and his pencil. "Why do you think you might be pregnant?"

"I'm late. And that's unusual for me."

"I see, I see," the Weyrhealer nodded, making a notation. "How late?"

"Four days."

"All right, all right," he muttered, jotting that down as well. "And any other symptoms? Unusual fatigue? Tender breasts? Spotting? Lower back pain? Headaches?"

Frowning thoughtfully, she shook her head. "None of that."

"That's fine, that's fine," he assured her. It wasn't necessarily the deciding factor. Every pregnancy was different, and she might have displayed symptoms she didn't recognize. The exam would tell. "Well, let's just check you out, shall we? Would you like one of the female healers to be present while I examine you?"

Shifting, Traelyn eased all the way down on the bed. "It's not necessary."

"Just relax. This won't take a minute," he assured her as he rinsed his hands in redwort once more to disinfect them. "So are you hoping for one outcome or the other?" the Weyrhealer asked to take her mind off of what he was doing.

"I'm not....I'm not sure," she replied, closing her eyes. "There's a part of me that wants a baby, but at the same time...." her voice trailed off. "So either way you'll be satisfied with the outcome?"

Simple answer? "Yes." Complex answer.... Almost done... "Do you know who the father might be?"

Shards. Simple answer? "Yes." Complex answer.....it could be either of them. B'ram's green eyes flashed in her mind's eye, followed by U'kaiah's dark ones. She couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine. How would she tell B'ram if she was? It had been so difficult to tell U'kaiah, and in many ways, it would be even more difficult to tell the brownrider because he knew her past. Shards and shells...

The Weyrhealer smiled through his bushy mustache. "Well," he said walking over to the basin and scrubbing his hands once more, "the examination is finished and I can tell you what I think." Pacham wiped his hands on his towel and set back on the chair next to the bed. "I don't think you are pregnant now nor were you within the last month." Traelyn's breathing stilled for a moment, then she sighed, eyes opening.
"You're sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Pacham nodded. "Of course you can go to the dolphins if you want a second opinion, but you are showing no other symptoms of pregnancy besides your period being late, and there are any number of explanations for that." Slowly she sat up. The sharp pang of disappointment shocked her, and yet the relief she felt was just as strong. "Thank you, Pacham." She gave him a polite smile that masked her true feelings. "Now I know."

The Weyrhealer gave her knee a pat. Mixed feelings were to be understood. "You just let me know if there is anything else I can do for you, all right?" With a fond wink he turned and left her to her thoughts.

Last updated on the July 3rd 2008

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Now I Know