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Post by brimstone81 on Jan 4, 2008 19:25:25 GMT -5
Through the night Adeloth was clutching her twelfth. It was another long process, and Elisha knew this clutch would be around the same size as her last. The doubting Weyrs could not then refuse the idea of thread’s return! Not to mention, Adeloth’s flight was three months earlier then she had expected, so that possibly meant that time between flights was decreasing, and that was a sign to look to the skies. Thread or no thread, since the flight, everything was going well. Her work was getting done, her junior was growing on her, and her love life was rising like a phoenix from the ashes. There was a spring in her step, a hum to her breathing, er, that was until recently. Elisha hadn’t been feeling well, and had locked herself away in her quarters, fearing she had caught the sickness. She had even ordered V’rak to stay away because she was afraid if she could get it, then she could spread it just as easily. Not wanting to alarm any one, she didn’t tell any one but V’rak that she thought she was sick. To every one else, she was just not receiving guests. It was peculiar behavior, which probably had tongues wagging, but Elisha would rather not get any one sick.
Yet on the last day of Adeloth’s clutching, she couldn’t help but sneak down and see what the gold had laid. The first thing she noticed, with a little pang of regret, was that there was no gold egg. This clutch hadn’t produced a queen, though she reminded herself that Beynath didn’t have her three daughters in three consecutive clutches. At least she knew that she did her part to give Telgar a future. Adeloth’s great head picked up when she saw her rider, and as Elisha stepped close to the gold, the queen touched her rider with her large maw. Eyes whirled with contentment, the queen bespoke her rider, Mine, what a lovely clutch I have labored over. “Yes, it is wonderful.” She could not get over the size of it. She half expected to come down here and see maybe 15 eggs, but clearly it was double that size. And she spotted at least one very large egg that stood out. Certainly it was a bronze? She hoped ferverantly that there was at least one ranking dragon in the clutch.
Elisha counted, and recounted the eggs, she started to laugh and clapped the gold dragon on the neck, “Oh, Addie, you clever thing, you laid THIRTY eggs!” And funny how you clutch only one. The gold had been slightly misunderstood by Elisha, who thought Adeloth only meant in general. The woman didn’t rest on the comment because she was pretty infertile, in fact, she treasured her son Elirian because for all her turns with the boy’s father, it was the only pregnancy to turn out. Therefore the gold’s next words left her silent, I have not told Bristith. It was some moments before she had the courage to ask, About what? To which she was told, About your clutch, silly land crawler! The queen sounded tired then, and laid her great head back down. Elisha just stood there, not sure what to do. The last few days Adeloth had been more protective than usually lately. . . The dragons will know my great work is done. It was the signal that soon they would not be alone together.
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Post by cynath on Jan 4, 2008 20:09:53 GMT -5
V'rak was careful to give Elisha space as she requested. Besides, who didn't like a bit of quiet time? He'd been in his own Weyr, sorting over the paperwork involving the graduating Weyrlings. That all had to be fitted into a Wing shortly. He'd spoken to the other Wingleaders, their preferences being sorted out.
Mine, Adeloth has clutched, are you coming? The bronze's mind voice rumbled proudly. V'rak smiled to himself, he knew he'd get that calling soon enough.
Has Elisha gone to see her? he asked his dragon. Surely, Elisha knew, but if she'd gone down, fearing the illness... but then, what could keep the Weyrwoman from a new clutch? Not even in the sights of death would any Goldrider miss it.
Shaking his head at his own silly question, he stood from his desk. I'm coming, he confirmed. He didn't take the time to adjust the papers, just left them as they were. His boots carried him swiftly through the Weyr.
The air outside of the Weyr, once he'd reached it, was chilled, but not nearly as cold as it could have been. Bristith landed his large bronze mass beside his rider, sending strands of unruly hair everywhich way. V'rak placed a hand on the sparkling bronze hide as they both approached, a smile perked the Weyrleader's lips.
"You could have told me there was so many again," he said glancing up at his dragon.
That would ruin the surprise, Bristith grumbled back, moving away from his rider to settle beside his Queen. V'rak did likewise, stepping closer to Elisha, slowly to test her reaction. If she really had caught the sickness she might be reluctant to let him near.
"Congratulations, Adeloth," he praised the Gold, smiling first up at the dragon before her rider. |
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Post by brimstone81 on Jan 4, 2008 20:52:15 GMT -5
Adeloth crooned at the compliment. Of course a queen never tired of the duties to her. Especially when they popped out thirty eggs at a crack. Adeloth was a much healthier shade of gold now that she was resting after her eggs were laid. Once again, Bristith had claim to one of the best clutches Telgar had ever seen. Adeloth felt pleased with him as a mate, and her eyes whirled happily to see him, though he was probably the only dragon she'd let near her clutch.
Elisha was still mulling over Adeloth's comments. It was still possible that she had meant the dragon clutch. Standing there on the sands she had not felt sick, so perhaps it had past, yet she did not fling herself in her weyrmate's arms. She didn't want to make him sick if she was still contageous. She smiled at V'rak, "Once again our pairing has created quite a clutch, eh? Can the other Weyrs still dispute the sign on threadfall, do you think?"
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Post by cynath on Jan 4, 2008 21:08:52 GMT -5
V'rak did not expect any such action from his Weyrwoman... she wasn't always the outwardly affectionate person. Fine by him. Blue eyes shifted to the eggs. He began counting the ones he could see.
"Have you counted?" he asked, he'd counted up into the 20's. Wow. He looked to Elisha again, mulling over her last phrase for a moment. "I'd say no, but they aren't getting the clutches like we are..." he answered thoughtfully.
As happy as he was about the clutch, he was worried about Elisha. She didn't seem sick, but she'd barrachaded herself in her Weyr. Thus came the switch of topic, "Are you feeling okay?" he asked. It wasn't meant to be an invasive question, but one full of genuine concern.
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Post by brimstone81 on Jan 4, 2008 22:01:01 GMT -5
"I counted thirty even." She answered him simply. Elisha was eager not to talk about her condition, but would have been happy to converse about the topics of state. He seemed little concerned about such a topic, and answered her shortly. He didn't elaborate or hint that he wanted to talk about the other Weyrs. No, he wanted to talk about her. Something she wasn't up for, but she felt she couldn't really avoid it. It almost scared her, and almost thrilled her to see him looking at her with such genuine worry written all over his handsome features. She bit her lip, how could she pretend that nothing was the matter? She had been feeling better, so she could just say she was fine and not to worry about it.
But he deserved more. V'rak deserved better. She took a deep breath, "Honestly, I'm feeling fine right now, but the last few days I've not been well. I've had little appetite, I've been throwing up, I've been bedridden and sleeping a lot. I think I have the sickness, so I couldn't jeopardize you. Nor the rest of the Weyr. It's not like I wanted to, but I needed to concentrate on getting better. I had to come see my Adeloth so I left my-our- weyr." Although the past few days she had kept him out and in his own Weyrleader's weyrs so it was more like hers again. Mine. Adeloth sounded irritated and impatient, You forget to tell him why you have felt bad. I did! The sickness, it's contageous, Addie. Not true! You are getting egg heavy. Tell him.
"I'm getting egg heavy." She said automatically, but even as she said them, the realization hit her. She stared off and repeated softly, "I'm getting egg heavy..."
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Post by cynath on Jan 4, 2008 22:22:59 GMT -5
V'rak was a patient man, and he listened silently until she'd finished. "Did you go to the infirmary?" Of course, she hadn't. That would raise alarm. She'd just holed herself up in the Weyr. Worry etched his face, almost making him look older. Worry was not a good look for V'rak.
He noticed the discussion between rider and dragon and he was silent once again, watching the pair, blue eyes flicking between dragon and rider. He didn't like that Adeloth was interrupting... that usually meant bad news. His gaze turned slightly suspicious until she spoke again, the words obviously Adeloth's and not Elisha's. He frowned, digging for a meaning. It only took him a matter of moments to understand the meaning.
Blue eyes stared at Elisha for a moment, all else tuned out. She was "egg heavy". Pregnant. For a moment it was just stunned silence that stretched between them, having both come to the same realization. Obviously she hadn't known until now either.
The Weyrleader recovered first, strong arms pulling her against him in a gentle reassuring embrace. Of course, this was a great news... at least he did faint like he had when Jannike's mother had told him that she was with his child.
Silly woman thought she had the sickness~!
A smile curled his lips as he looked up at Adeloth. Sometimes, their dragons knew them better than they knew themselves.
Mine, Bristith's hot breath caressed V'rak's cheek, You are happy? the bronze inquired, the mind voice rumbling in amusement.
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Post by brimstone81 on Jan 4, 2008 22:40:11 GMT -5
Elisha giggled, and allowed him to hold her. She was going to have a baby, what joy! Elirian had been her greatest happiness, and partly due to because she didn't think she could have another baby. Now she and V'rak were going to be parents together! She smiled brightly, glad it was with him and not some one else. How could she have not known? She was too worried about being sick to noticed she missed her courses, though it must have only been one... She wasn't very experienced in being a mom, but now she knew and she couldn't be happier. She was glad that V'rak appeared to be very excited to be a father again. She didn't know what she'd do if he wasn't ecstatic.
"Isn't it wonderful?" She giggled to him. She'd have to be very careful though, since she'd be worried about loosing the baby. The queenrider was already thinking about getting a basinet for her weyr. Of course she'd keep the baby with her for the first few sevendays at least. She didn't have a lot of time, but she'd like to have him or her while they still stayed where she put them. Yes, there was the business of choosing a foster mother-but oh! she was getting a head of herself. "Do we tell every one or keep it to ourselves?"
Of course she knew that it would only be a matter of time before the entire Weyr found out. There wasn't much the Weyrleaders could keep a secret for long. A baby especially. She wondered if it would be a girl or boy- I don't know. I just know you clutch. Well, that was that. A boy might please V'rak and would be able to more impression options, she thought, while a girl might be a treat for her to dress up in cute clothes and give advice to in turns to come.
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Post by cynath on Jan 5, 2008 19:55:48 GMT -5
V'rak didn't answer his dragon's rediculous question. His smile should be enough to answer that well enough."Wonderful is an understatement," he chuckled softly, planting a soft kiss against her forehead, his arms relaxed in the embrace, simply holding her.
He just hoped it wasn't another Jannike!
He didn't give it much thought, but a boy might be nice. It would save him the arguements with a girl over Impressing since he was so opposed to girl's riding anything but a Gold. A trivial matter to worry about later.
"Either way, I doubt the secret will last long. You know how fast word spreads around the Weyr," he chided with another smile. There was always at least one who figured things out before news was announced.
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Post by brimstone81 on Jan 7, 2008 4:08:08 GMT -5
Elisha laughed, no, there was no such thing as a Weyr's best kept secret. Even now, there was probably some one who over heard them come on to the sands. Elisha couldn't get over the fact that she was going to be a mother again! Elirian will be excited too! The Weyrwoman turned to look at Adeloth's clutch again in wonderment. So many eggs! Would they have enough candidates? Hatching time was always the most exciting time of the turn. Now with two queens, and with thread approaching, there would be even more to celebrate! Of course, there would be a call of candidates. Addie's babies needed choice/ She mused, "You know this means a large Search, right? For all our weyrbrats, we need more candidates, especially if these numbers keep hitting 30."
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Post by cynath on Jan 14, 2008 20:56:22 GMT -5
V'rak's smile nearly mirrored Elisha's. He tried to shove any thoughts of Jannike to the back of his mind. Any relation to another child and Jannike might just freak him out a little. He turned back to eggs again, one arm still drooped lazily around the Weyrwoman.
"We might start scaring off Weyrling masters," he chuckled in agreement. Bristith shifted closer to his Queen again, settling down and folding his wings at his massive sides. As smug as a bronze could be... |
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