It doesn't always work

Writers: Emma, Paula
Date Posted: 25th July 2006

Characters: Rigella, Demalia
Description: Rigella goes for Demalia to get her unwanted pregnancy aborted.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 10 of Turn 3

After long consideration, Rigella had decided to abort her pregnancy. As a healer apprentice, she knew several ways to do it. There were herbs that could kill the foetus. Unfortunately, those herbs were dangerous, they had side-effects on her and if they didn't kill the foetus, they might cause malformations or other birth defects. A trip to /between/ was safer and easier compared to that. The only problem was, where to find a rider to take her. Her sister was first one to come in her mind, but Naerigga was so young and she didn't want any family members involved. Then she remembered Demalia. Rigella knew the young greenrider from her candidate-classes and knew that she already has experience of the matter. So, she went to seek her. She found her from weyrlingwing staff's office.

"Hi, Demalia, do you have a moment?"

"Sure," replied the other girl shoving the hides she'd been copying records onto aside. "What's up?"

"I need a favour from you. I have this little problem..." Rigella's voice trailed off. The healer in her still protested against whole idea.

"A favour? That sounds serious." Demalia flashed her a smile. "Sit down and have some klah and tell me all about it."

Rigella did as she was told. "Look, I need to arrange little trip to /between/ for..someone," she said carefully.

"I see," said Demalia carefully. "This someone, is she. is she expecting?"

"Yes, and she wants to get rid of it," Rigella replied.

"Does he, the father know?"

"No, I...She hasn't told him," Rigella said.

"Rigella, it's not you?" Demalia had caught the slip, whether it was intentional or not.

"Yes," she admitted, hiding her face behind her hands. She felt like breaking down to tears.

"Oh Rigella," Demalia came around and put an arm around the girl. "It's not easy, I know. I had to make the choice myself not too long ago."

"I know, I was at the infirmary then, remember? That's why I thought you would understand," Rigella replied.

"Then you know how hard it can be. But don't you think you should tell him first, whoever he is?"

"No, he doesn't have to know. Noone has to know but you, me and the healer who confirmed it," Rigella said quietly.

"If you're sure." She studied the other girl for a moment. It hadn't been an easy decision for her, but when that sharding bronzerider had shown no interest in her or the child, she felt that there had been nothing else to do, but take that trip.

"I'm sure. In my current situation, I need a baby as much I need an extra hole in my head," Rigella said grimly.

"I'll help you then." It did vaguely cross her mind to wonder why Rigella hadn't asked her sister, but then perhaps this was something she didn't want Naerigga to know about.

"Thank you, Demalia, I owe you a one."

Demalia forced a smile. This was not going to be easy.

~*~

Tapheth landed again. Rigella was still shivering from the coldness of /between/. She was trying to listen her body, but it felt quite normal. Even the mild craps she had had for few days were gone. From what she had seen, the /betweening/-abortions were instant.

"Are you okay Rigella?" asked Demalia. She hadn't been and had rushed to the infirmary straight after.

No pain, no bleeding, nothing. "Yes, and I shouldn't be", Rigella replied to the greenrider's question. Of course, nobody knew how it worked, no healer had ever found out the mechanism that caused abortations in /between/. And sometimes it didn't work, babies got born even when their rider mothers went /between/ regularily during the early pregnancy.

"Do you, do you want me to try again?" she asked gently. To go /between/ a second time, to make sure.

"No, not now. I need to reconsider this," Rigella said. There were still the certain herbs. But part of her, the healer, didn't really want it, didn't want to kill the baby.

"Well let me get you the infirmary then, let them check you out."

"Okay," Rigella replied. How on Pern she was going to tell this to Birigundi?

Last updated on the July 26th 2006

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

It doesn't always work