First Time for Everything

Writers: Chelle, Eimi, Jelena
Date Posted: 9th April 2013

Characters: Parale, Parme, Ioven, Venrys
Description: And the baby is coming.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 3 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Telemon; Pt 1 of 2

She'd been having a bit of heartburn for most of the morning. Grunting,
she'd managed to get everyone fed but now Parale found herself leaning
against the counter, trying to catch her breath. It took a bit of time,
and she found she couldn't straighten up. Not moving, she found it was
easier just to stay still. At least it was until she found herself standing in
a puddle. Looking down, she noticed the wetness on her legs and skirts. Knowing
what that meant, she stopped moving and looked around. "Venrys?
Venrys?? Her tone had just a bit of anxiety in it.

**But I didn't _do_ anything!** the little thought with some nervousness
at the tone in her step mother's voice. Contritely, she walked out of
her room, wondering just what Syren had told Parale. "Yes?"

"I need you to go get Parme okay? I need you to get her now. And...go tell
your father." The midwife was the priority though. If they needed the
Master Healer, they would get him but she wanted to try to do this on
her own. Moving out of the kitchen, she went to clean herself up and
change into a sleeping gown before Parme came. She'd clean up the
floor later.

"What should I tell them?" Venrys asked, a little confused now that she
understood she wasn't in trouble.

"I'm having the baby, honey," was all she could get out as she shuffled
toward the bathing room. Venrys shouldn't be gone long so Syren would
be fine in her room long enough for Parale to clean up and change.

The young girl's eyes grew big, and she trembled slightly. She knew
this was serious. Standing and staring for only a moment, she turned
and ran to find her father first. He'd know what to do.

It was slow going to get out of the sticky clothing and to get herself
into the water. The contractions were there, but they weren't serious
yet. It did feel good to get into the warm water to clean up, though.

"Parale?" her husband called when he reached their quarters half a
candlemark later. He knew enough about babies to not worry too much
this soon into the birth, and so he took the time to clean up his work
station and speak to his master about the situation before coming.
"Venrys should be on her way with Parme now. Are you all right?"

"Aye I'm fine." She had changed into a gown and was rocking back and
forth in the chair with her eyes closed, counting the contractions when they
came. It was soothing and it kept her from getting into the bed. At the same
time, where the baby had come down, it was harder to walk since she could feel
it pressing.

"Are you thirsty? Shall I see if the kitchens have some ice?" Parme
might already be prepared for this, but Ioven hated just standing by and
watching. This certainly was different from when his first wife was in
labor. Then, he couldn't be pried from her side...

"I am thirsty but I don't really want any ice. What I need..." To be honest,
she didn't really know. She really hoped Parme would get here so at least
someone knew what they were doing. Opening her eyes, she remembered
what Telemon had said. She was having this baby a little later than some.
What if something went wrong? Her eyes got a little wide as her thoughts
went down an unsafe path.

Ioven could see the change in her face. "What? What is it?" Was it
another contraction?

"I just..." She looked quite unsure. "Do you think we should tell
the Master Healer I'm having pains just in case? So he knows? Is he even
here? What if he's not here?" Her panic didn't become full blown fear just
yet, but there was a chance if it did, she would distress the baby.

"Pains are just part of having a baby, Parale," Ioven said, laying
a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "There's no reason to believe
that Parme can't handle the whole birth."

Sighing, she kept her breathing regular through conscious effort. "It's
just... remember when he was talking about all those risks and my turns
and..." Parale was finally realizing she was about to have a child-one of her
own. Everything was going to change now. "If something happens, you'll go get
him right?"

"Of course, as soon as Parme asks me to, I'll be out that door at
a run," he promised. "But there are plenty of women who have children
your age and older without a single problem. The risks may be higher,
but they're still not as high as all that." Ioven truly didn't know
for sure, but he saw no reason to scare her any more than she obviously
was. "You're going to be _fine_," he said with calm conviction.

When Venrys had come to her door with the news of Parale's condition,
Parme had quickly gotten her things together and called her daughters.
Talma would be a great help and Meshel could mind the little ones. As
Meshel took Venrys by the hand, she followed Talma and Parme as they
strode towards Ioven and Parale's home with long, calm strides. It
wasn't long before Parme knocked on the door firmly, before entering.
"Parale? I'm here, dear," she called out.

"We're here in the back!" came the laboring mother's answering
call. Now that Parme was here, she did feel better. She wasn't alone.
And Ioven would get the healer if it was needed. And there was a
Master Healer to call.

Replying quickly to the call, Parme sent Meshel and Venrys off to
check on Syren and entered the room with her oldest daughter, greeting
her friend with a professional smile. Hopefully this was going to be
an easy birth, Parale really needed something to go well, didn't she?

Last updated on the April 11th 2013

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First Time for Everything