More Than Was Expected

Writers: Eimi, Erin Smith
Date Posted: 23rd August 2006

Characters: Milroy, Chupsin
Description: Milroy and Abrigi see the Healer concerning her pregnancy, and get a bit of a surprise.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 13, day 8 of Turn 3

Milroy had made arrangements to meet Abrigi at the Healers just after the nooning meal. He rushed to get there ahead of her, as there was a matter he wanted to address with the Healer before Abrigi got there.
Entering the infirmary, he looked around for Chupsin, who had been looking after Abrigi.

"Ah, Lord Milroy! You are a bit early today, aren't you? Is everything all right?" the healer asked as he set his hide work aside so he could devote his full attention to the Lord Holder's son.

"Yes, there was a matter I wished to discuss with you, and did not want to upset Abrigi. She's gotten awful... *large* over the past few sevendays, and I want to make sure nothing is wrong." At that moment, the lady in question entered the Infirmary.

"Milroy how are you, my love!" She hugged her spouse briefly. "Did you get here early so you two can talk about me behind my back?" She smiled at Chupsin. She tried to tolerate the man, who was her healer, but something about his demeanor struck her as being odd. Still, even she had to admit that he was a good Healer. "Good day, Healer." She greeted.

"Good day, Lady Abrigi," Chupsin said with his smoothest grin. "Lord Milroy and I were just dicussion his concerns about the baby's development. But really, sir, there is no reason to alarmed. I would wonder if your wife's stomach _wasn't_ growing."

Abrigi sighed, looking at her belly. "But should I be this big? I look like I'm due any day, but it's still a good six sevendays." She looked up, fear apparent in her eyes. "What causes such a large baby so soon?" She started towards the examination room, preferring not to discuss her child in public view.

"Every pregnancy is different m'lady," Chupsin said as he lead her into the room. "You may be pregnant with an especially large child. Of course, the other alternative would be that there is more than one in there."

Abrigi stepped behind a curtained area to change into the infirmary tunic. "More than one?" She queried. "I don't know if we're ready for more than one!" She stepped from behind the curtain.

Milroy grinned. "We can have a boy and a girl, my dear." He admired her, even in her infirmary tunic. There was just something beautiful about a pregnant woman, and the fact the babe was his added to it.
Abrigi hopped up onto the cot, laying back and unconsciously rubbing her stomach.

"Well, I don't want to promise anything. So let's just see what we can see." Chupsin pulled out an instrument he could use listen to her heartbeat. He liked to start with the mother first. "Have you been experiencing any strange pain or discomfort? Any bleeding or sickness?"

"No. I can eat whatever I want, when I'm actually hungry, and not get sick at all. I swear that babe is propped right on my stomach. As for discomfort, well, nothing out of the ordinary I suppose. I can't seem to get comfortable for the life of me, and I don't remember the last night I slept through. There's an awful lot of movement in there as well." She quipped, as her sides visibly moved from the baby.

"That sounds normal to me," the Healer assured her as he listened to her breath. "I recommend heat to help your back. Feel free to soak in the tub as long as you like. It won't hurt the baby at all."

Abrigi nodded, trying to stay quiet so the Healer could better hear the baby. Milroy smiled. "She spends so much time in the bath she shrivels up like a fruit left outside." He often wondered about that phenomenon. Fruit shriveled from lack of fluid, people shriveled from too much. He waited, wondering why Chupsin was taking longer than usual to listen to the baby. "Is everything okay?"

"Hmmm. I think so." He reached out and began felling around the ladies stomach, trying to feel where the baby was at. "Forgive me, Lady Abrigi, but if I remember right, you were complaining about the severity of your morning sickness when it first hit, were you not? I seem to remember we were a bit concerned about that."

Abrigi nodded, groaning in remembrance. "It was awful. The first 3 months I was pregnant I *lost* weight. But now I'm more than making up for it. Why?" She would have been more concerned by the Healer's query were it not for the baby's strong kicking in response to the healers prods. "Shard, Chupsin, how many feet does that little one have to kick with?"

**Four?** "It is _possible_ lady that you are carrying more than one baby. Now, I am not saying you are for sure, but considering the severity of your pregnancy symptoms, it is certainly possible. You began to show a bit earlier than we expected, your morning sickness was actue, the baby seems to be constantly in motion, you have trouble sleeping perhaps more than a usual pregnancy, your larger now than most would be at this stage of pregnancy. Is there a history of twins in your family, Lady?"

"M...more than...one?" She started hesitantly, then remembered the final question. "Not in the Bloodline, but on my mother's side. My grandmother had twins, and so did one of my cousins. Does that sort of thing run in the family?" Milroy said nothing, but the grin on his face was pleased as a father watching his daughter Impress Gold.

"It can. Identicle twins happen purely by chance, but fraternal twins, twins who are not identicle, they can run in families," the Healer nodded. "I am not promising that is the case, but it is possible. If it were earlier into your pregnancy I would suggest traveling downriver to the coast and request dolphin confirmation, but at this stage, I would not risk it."

Abrigi nodded, still looking nervous. "Wow. I... I don't even know what to say..."

Milroy filled in for her, considering the practical implications.
"What are the risks to Abrigi and the children? Is the birth going to have to be through surgery, or can she birth them naturally? Will they be small?" He didn't want to risk losing his wife or their children.

"Don't worry, Lord Milroy. Women have been givng birth to twins since time began and were just fine." Of course, there was always a risk of something going wrong, but there was with every birth. Things were just doubled with twins... "The babies will probably be small at first, since they are trying to share a small space, but they will grow normally and more than make up for it, I assure you."

"Thank you very much, Journeyman." Abrigi stated, sitting up with some assistance.

Milroy smiled. "That's good to hear." Abrigi headed back behind the curtain to get dressed. Milroy walked over to Chupsin. "Thank you very much for everything you have done for Abrigi and myself. If there is ever anything you need from me, just let me know."

Chupsin gave the Lord Holder's son a sickeningly sweet smile. "Thank you, Lord Milroy. I will keep that in mind."

Last updated on the August 25th 2006

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More Than Was Expected