The Hall's Twins

Writers: Kaysea, Jane
Date Posted: 6th December 2008

Characters: Teene, Tayette
Description: Teene is pleased to finally meet Tayette's twins.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 13, day 3 of Turn 4

"Oh, you have them out today," Teene said catching sight of the tavern
harper's wife and their twin babies. "How are you getting on with them,
Tayette?"

"It's tiring," Tayette replied with a smile, "but I wouldn't be without
them," she said determinedly. "You're Teene, yes? I've seen you around
with Geni."

"Yes, that's me. I help her with the children." Teene smiled. "But not
this morning. Harper classes and Geni's keeping the little ones to
herself until the midday meal." Teene sighed. "Such a selfish woman,"
she complained with a laugh. "She even had the nerve to tell me to go
out and do something I had been wanting to do for ages."

"Something you'd been waiting ages for? And what would that be?"
Tayette asked with a smile.

"Visiting these two!" Teene said with more laughter. "The Hall's twins."

"Oh?" Tayette's smile widened. "Is that what you call them?" she
laughed lightly. "Well, permit me to introduce you, this one is
Haryette, and this young fellow is Tayhar." she said, pointing from one
baby to the other.

"They're so beautiful - and asleep." That was a bit of a disappointment
because she wouldn't be able to have a cuddle. "Is it fun having two at
once?"

"Fun?" Tayette's head rocked back as she laughed lightly, "Sometimes I
wouldn't call it fun, but overall, I love having them. And I wouldn't
go back to a life without them, but there are days when I wish they had
come one at a time. As for them being asleep, it won't be long and
they'll be wide eyed and wide awake again."

"Wonderful!" Teene intended to hang around to see that. "Are these your
first babies?"

"Yes, first and only." Tayette answered, "And you... You look after
Causton and Geni's brood, but do you have children of your own?" she
asked, watching as Tayhar stretched in his sleep.

"Do you think he's waking up?" Teene asked hopefully, peering at the boy
twin. "No, I don't have any of my own. I haven't found a man I would
want to marry, yet." She looked away from the twin long enough to smile
at the older woman. "I know I'm getting old to marry for the first time
but I'll make up for lost time when I do. I want lots of children. A
huge long family of them."

"I wouldn't call you old." Tayette laughed softly, "And besides, I can't
talk, look at how old I was when I found out I was pregnant. You're
never too old, it seems."

"Your later-in-life babies are quite reassuring," Teene admitted,
half-apologetically. "It makes me think I can afford to wait for
somebody special."

"I'm just grateful Hartam came along when he did, or this may never have
been my lot in life." she smiled indulgently, "Hartam and a certain
green rider and his dragon," she laughed softly in memory.

Teene looked questioningly at the older woman. "What did the green
dragon have to do with it?"

Tayette laughed softly, "What green dragons are famous for... mating
flights. And the effects they have on those outside the Weyr."

"Oh, my. Really?" Teene laughed again. "That must have happened before
we got here. I suppose it caused all sorts of troubles around the place."

"Some...most were able to contain themselves, but...well Hartam and I
had been friends for a while before hand." Tayette qualified her words,
worried Teene may get the wrong idea.

Teene's kind heart made her pat the other woman on the shoulder. "I'm
sure you and that very nice man of yours were always going to make a
wonderful couple."

"I'm glad you think so," Tayette smiled in answer, "because for a while
there, we didn't. Especially after I discovered I was pregnant." She
didn't even wince at the memory now, so happy had he made her since.

"With twins!" Teene said in delight. "Was he thrilled?"

"Erm, I wouldn't exactly say thrilled, you have to remember, both of us
thought babies were the least likely thing that would happen to us - ever."

Teene thought that any man she married had better be thrilled by twins,
or any baby, because she'd seen them being born and it wasn't a fun
thing to do. "Because you weren't married?"

"That - and - well, we both thought we were too old, and I..I had
trouble conceiving before and didn't think I could." Tayette wasn't sure
why she had revealed so much to the younger woman, maybe it was just the
fact she was so easy to talk to?

"These are extra special babies, then," Teene said, admiring them once
more. "I'll probably be as old as the hills by the time I start my
family." She whispered to the older woman: "I think people regard me as
a bit fussy about getting married."

"They do?" Tayette's brow rose in question, "How so?"

"Because I'm waiting to fall in love; and for somebody to fall in love
with me, which may be more of a problem as time goes on."

"Ah..." Tayette nodded and smiled, "Believe me, I know what you mean."
She waggled a finger at the younger woman, in warning, "When you least
expect it to happen, it will. Believe me. I can tell you from experience."

"Oh, I'm waiting for exactly that. I've moved halfway across the
Continent, and still ... nothing." Teene chuckled. "Though anybody
could tell you I'm not the sort of woman to give up hope. Now," she
said peering at the babies. "I think your son is definitely waking. Do
you think I could sneak a cuddle before he notices I'm not his mother?"

"Of course you can." Tayette smiled, as she reached into the
perambulator and scooped Tayhar into her arms. "He's growing more each
day, I hope you have a strong back - you'll need it with his weight."
She laughed softly, bestowing a kiss on the babies forehead as she
passed him to Teene.

"Oh, he is a good weight, now," Teene agreed, cradling the babe and
smiling at the sleepy-eyed boy. "What a sweetheart."

"He has his moments..." Tayette smiled widely, but her attention was
quickly taken by Haryette waking. "They're either asleep at the same
time, or awake at the same time. I don't seem to be able to spend time
with them separately, though I guess it doesn't matter too much right now."

"Perhaps they'll always be like that," Teene suggested. "Don't they say
twins are 'specially close?"

"I suppose so..." Tayette nodded, reaching in to pick Haryette up.
"I've never had any experience with twins before, or much to do with
babies either, for that matter."

"I've had a lot to do with babies," the younger woman said, her
attention still focused on the babe she held. "But no twins before
this. You're very lucky, Tayette."

"Yes, I am." She nodded, replying softly. "And not just because of the
babies."

"Well, that's how it should be," Teene said happily, assuming that the
older woman meant her relationship with the journeyman harper.

Tayette merely nodded in response. She truly was lucky, and she was
sure Teene would be eventually, as well.

Last updated on the December 13th 2008

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The Hall's Twins