Bearing Gifts for the New Mother

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 1st March 2014

Characters: Rhosyn, Lenala, U'das
Description: Visitors Come Calling
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 6, day 15 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Briata, K'sedel

Lenala

You just didn't go to see a mother and a newborn without a
gift so U'das had a wrapped package under his arm when he knocked.

Rhosyn was by herself in the infirmary, a privilege accorded to the Weyrwoman. She was
comfortable and would be in her weyr in a few days so they said. Still, she
couldn't help but watch as the little face moved under her fingertips. She had
made a beautiful thing. To her chagrin, she wasn't sure still who else had
made it too, but that was of no consequence. The baby was hers. Looking
up when she heard a shuffle, she supposed someone had come.

"Hello, Rhosyn. Do you mind visitors?" U'das asked with wide grin.

"U'das...well no." She spoke softly so as not to startle the infant, but there was a smile on her face.
She was glad to have this done with. No more worrying. She was safe, Orlaith
was safe, and the baby was safe. This Weyr was still hers. And now it belonged
to a precious little being too. "Come in."

"How are you doing?" U'das asked. Walking in, he pulled himself a chair next to the bed. "Here's little
something for you two," he gave the package.

"Ah tired, but well enough. They fed me so.." She grinned and was genuinely glad to see the old
rider. Taking the package with her free hand, she began to slowly open it. "You shouldn't have."

"Of course I had to. Now, can I hold the baby?" U'das answered and asked hopefully.

"Okay come here." Rhosyn waited until he was close enough. Quietly and slowly, she handed
over the little bundle. There wasn't much to be seen just yet. There was a head and closed eyes and a
small mouth, followed by a small nose.

"Aw, she's so cute. She has your nose," U'das inspected the little face, holding the baby with expertise of a
many time father and grandfather. And like everyone who saw a newborn, he was
instantly looking for resemblance to parents. Of course, in this case, he wasn't
sure whose likeness to look from the father's side.

There was another knock and Lenala's head peeked in. "Oh, you already have visitor."

"It's okay, it's just U'das. Come on." She thought it actually might be easier for
Lenala if there were someone else. That way, she wouldn't be expected to hold
the baby. Rhosyn herself wasn't too comfortable with the whole thing, but it
was _hers_ so she would do at least that much. Picking at the sweets from the
package, she popped something into her mouth.

"I brought you flowers," Lenala said, stepping in.

"Hello," U'das greeted with a nod.

"Well that was nice. What colors?" She wanted to make quite a show of Lenala's gift to
show how much she appreciated the thoughtfulness. Rhosyn was wont to overpraise
Lenala for small things sometimes when it was an area she meant to encourage
the other woman in. Moving away from her previous selfish ways meant definable
progress. "Oh look at the pinks!"

"You're welcome,and congratulations." Lenala smiled. She took the compulsory glance
at the baby in U'das' arms before starting to place the flowers on to a vase. She was
quite happy to let U'das hold the baby.

"So, what did you name her?" U'das asked.

"Her name is Nisheyl." Of course it wasn't exactly an easy name, but it was hers. It was
also growing on Rhosyn. "It was the best I could do, given the circumstances."
She shrugged, not focusing on the lack of a certain father issue for very long.
"Either way, it'll allow for some fun nicknames probably."

"It's a good name. She probably ends up called Nisha or something," U'das said.

"Nisha is pretty nickname," Lenala put in.

"I was thinking Sheely would be good but we'll see what she ends up like. Either
way I think Briata is going to have her hands full." Rhosyn watched her while she
was in U'das' arms and had a momentary pang. She couldn't allow herself to cling,
though. Orlaith and the Weyr came first. That was why fosterparents existed.

"Sheely sounds pretty too," Lenala commented. Nobody had ever called _her_ anything but
Lenala.

"Briata is very competent, she'll handle it," U'das said and
placed the baby back to bed next to Rhosyn.

"I know." Still, there was a difference when you raised your own children and when someone else raised them.
They wouldn't treat them the same, teach them the same things. It was different
for Rhosyn from when she was at the hold than when she had been sent to the
Weyr. "She'll be Briata's daughter, though, not mine-know the things Briata
wants her to know-not me."

"You are her birth mother, and always will be. Nothing can change that. Like all
Weyr brats, she'll have more than two parents. There are worse ways to grow up,"
U'das said gently.

"It's okay...I understand it and I understand why. My dragon and my Weyr are my priority. And
also if anything ever happened to me, the little bit will be cared for. I
just...it wouldn't be the same, you know?" Rhosyn had accepted it and tried not
to think about it. It was necessary and the plans were in place and it would be
done. "Lenala, is everything okay with everything?" She would have to take a
sevenday or so to recover before she could get back to anything. During that
time, the other goldrider would have the full run of the Weyr except the Wing.

"Everything is fine, don't you worry, Rhosyn," Lenala replied.

Settling back into the bed, she was content to watch U'das with the baby. He was a good grandfather
figure. It was hard to remember that if this baby was K'sedel's, its own father
could be just as old. Rhosyn smiled to herself and closed her eyes for just a
moment, imagining what it could be like if she could have things as she wanted.

Last updated on the March 15th 2014

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Bearing Gifts for the New Mother