Twin Birthing

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 9th January 2020

Characters: Ninaine, N'call, D'hol
Description: Ninaine gives birth to twins
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 24 of Turn 9

Ninaine

N'call

D'hol

It had been Luneth who had first realized what was happening,
summoning the Healers with urgency before Ninaine had noticed the
first trickle of wetness down her leg. The dragon's thrumming had
helped to ease Ninaine's initial panic; it was too early, nearly a
month before she was due, but as the Healer's reminded her as they
helped her to the infirmary, it wasn't unexpected that they would do
so.

Now she leaned against a Healer, breathing through her teeth with
every rippling contraction that made her belly spasm. "Did anyone call
for him?" She panted through a break in contractions. "He said he'd be
here." Ninaine grimaced at another contraction, squeezing the poor
Healer's arm until her knuckles whitened. The curtain twitched open
and she looked up, but it wasn't N'call. "Please, someone get him! He
promised!"

~*~

}:Your eggs come,:{ Haloth announced and N'call jumped up out of his chair.

"I have to go," he said to D'hol as he spun for the door. "The babies
are coming. I'm sorry sir, but I promised I would be there."

Whatever D'hol was about to say about the upcoming Threadfall stopped.
He exhaled, torn between understanding N'call's predicament and the
Weyr's need. "N"call, wait. We have Thread in the morning. We'll need
you here. Fresh and rested. I know how important this is for you, but
we're stretched thin right now. Can you be back before Thread falls?"

He rounded on D'hol about to retort but threw his hands in the air
knowing his Wingleader was right. "I'll be back," he said. Then he
looked D'hol in the eye, "in time. I'll be here."

D'hol knew N'call's meaning immediately, grimaced, but didn't press
especially in front of the rest of the wing. "Fresh and rested,
N'call. We all depend on it. Good luck with the birthing, but get your
ass back here the moment you can. I need you as my 'Second this Fall."

"Yes sir," he said and was gone before another word could reach him.
The next few minutes were a blur but before he knew it he was through
the blackness of etween and jogging down the corridor toward the
healers shrugging off people and bawling her name "Ninaine! Nina
where are you?"

Ninaine cried out, straining with effort, then slumped slightly
against the Healer holding her upwards. Sweat already sheening her
brow, she panted as the contraction eased, then lifted her head at the
familiar voice. "N'call?" Her voice broke with relief, "Here.."

At that moment a healer stepped in his path and placed hands on
N'call's chest. "Rider! You can't got in there yet."

Anger blossomed in N'call, which was highly unusual for the young man.
"Look," he said in a warning voice. "I just flew half way across the
planet. _You_ are not keeping me out of my weyrmate's labor room!" His
voice rose to almost a roar.

"Sir," the young man said placatingly. "You will get in here but we
need to change your clothes and was your hands."

"Arrrrrrrrgh," he growled in frustration. Then he raised his voice and
shouted. "I will be right there Nina! They're making me wash."

Ninaine gritted her teeth through another contraction. "Hurry!" She
breathed through the contraction, then slumped, panting. Faranth, it
seemed like it would never end! "Please! They're coming!" The
contractions were coming faster and she recognized the burning in her
nethers.

N'call pushed his arms into the clean gown they gave him then rushed
into the room. "Nina," he smiled. "I got here in time." He grabbed her
hand and bent to kiss her cheek.

"It's about fecking time!" She howled, even as she turned her face
towards him. Panting, she bore down, gripping his hand in hers. She
was relieved and strengthened by his presence and the clasp of his
hand in her own.

"Here comes the first one..." The healer looked up. "Keep pushing,
Ninaine. The babe is coming."

"I AM pushing!" Breathing through her teeth, she strained, felt a
sudden burning pain and then with another cry, a release from the
painful pressure that gripped her.

N'call's arm went around her back to support her as she curled up to
push. "You're doing great," he grinned at her.

A thin wail was heard as a small, red-faced infant was lifted. "A boy,
Ninaine!" The small babe waved tiny hands as it screamed out a
complaint, and was quickly taken by the healers to be swaddled after
the cord was sliced.

He couldn't keep the grin from his face and kissed her on the temple.
"Brilliant," he breathed in her ear as he gently smoothed her hair. He
never once flinched or let go of her hand.

"A boy..." Ninaine panted out with more than a hint of triumph. Though
N'call already had a son, she'd been raised that bearing sons was a
triumph for both mother and the pregnancy. She gave a lop sided smile,
than groaned again, leaning against N'call for support. The other
child was coming quickly; she recognized the coming pressure. Still
listening to her new son cry as he was examined and bathed, she
gritted her teeth and held on to N'call.

Straining, she choked out a cry, tightening her grip on her weyrmate
as she writhed, struggling against her exhaustion from the labor to
bear down against the contractions. "Never again." She whimpered. "Not
doing this again..."

"Whatever you say sweetheart," he agreed easily. Not believing a word
but refusing to challenge her on the statement. After all these turns
he knew better than that. "You're doing great," he said and kissed her
again.

"I'm so tired..." Ninaine panted. "I want to stop now." The Healer
looked up at her, but then back down to the emerging child. Another
contraction rolled over her and she clutched at N'call with a cry and
then a long grunt. Another thin wail was heard as Ninaine slumped,
face sheened with sweat.

"Another boy!" The Healer held up the infant who appeared much smaller
than the other child, but was quite a bit louder. "N'call, would you
like to assist with this one's cord and bathing?"

He kissed Ninaine again and squeezed her hand lightly. "You rest
sweetheart," he said and stood nodding to the healer. "What do I do?"

Ninaine laid back, panting and completely exhausted as the Healer
instructed N'call in tying and cutting the cord of the baby. She
vaguely felt the later contractions and held out her hands. "I want my
baby...babies..."

Once the cord was cut and the babe wrapped, N'call picked him up and
brought him to Ninaine, laying him carefully in her left arm. Then he
went back for the other and stood by her bed holding him, looking down
into the tiny face. "You did good sweetheart," he said.

With a proud but groggy smile, Ninaine looked down at her little son.
"Two boys. I gave you two boys." She sighed, resting her cheek lightly
on the downy head. "Our sons." She looked up at N'call. "They're
beautiful."

"Just like their mother," he said and leaned down to give her temple a
soft kiss.

Last updated on the January 18th 2020

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Twin Birthing