Unexpected (2/2)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Eimi, Dana
Date Posted: 18th November 2005
Characters: Birigundi, Nialyn
Description: Nialyn has something to tell Birigundi
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 15 of Turn 3
A thick, heavy silence stretched between them as Birigundi's fingers began absently tracing along the skin of her arm again. This time it was more of a nervous fidget than a trick of seduction. **Pregnant?** But it had only been that one night! And morning! His eyes traveled to her stomach. It was a very nice stomach. Soft and milky white, he remembered. And from that one experience, could there really be a baby, a _life_ hidden away in there? "Pregnant..." he whispered to no one in particular.
Nialyn nodded slowly, somewhat relieved that he hadn't stopped touching her altogether. "Yeah..." Shards, but this was unexpected. This had never happened to him before!
At least, not that he knew of. Losing a baby was easy enough for a greenrider. It was entirely possible he had impregnated a woman before, but he had never had to stare the possibility in the face directly. "You know for sure?" he asked, still trying to pull all his thoughts together enough to form an opinion on the news. She shook her head. Shards. She couldn't tell _anything_ by just the sound of his voice. She risked a look at his face. "But I... I missed... Shards." A lump began to grow in the back of her throat -
but _why_ it did, she didn't sharding know. "Hey hey, it's... it's nothing to cry about..." he put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder reassuringly. At least, he didn't _think_
it was something to cry about.
Birigundi's mind finally began working logically again. Really, was this something to be upset about? In the long run, how would this truly affect him? Only as much as he wanted to be affected! It's not like they were in a Hold and she could expect him to _marry_ her. It wasn't as if this could in any way stop him from standing on the sands. It wasn't as if he had to be faithful. And besides, he liked kids! What would be wrong with having one he was semi-obligated to spend time with?
The more Birigundi thought about it, the less intimidating the prospect seemed to be. "It's all right, Nialyn," he said, his voice a little more confident. "Don't worry, it will all be ok."
Would it really be, though? She knew the ways of the Weyr well enough to realize that her being pregnant with his child would hardly affect _him_. He was a Candidate - he'd still be able to stand. If he was studying a craft, he would still have the time and energy to devote himself fully to it. Her pregnancy wouldn't affect his time, his life.
But it would affect her. Her life, her relationships with her mother, her friends. And the young men who sometimes came up to her...they would shy away from her now.
She'd seen it happen before. To other girls.
And she'd been fool enough to think that that would never happen to her
- until she _wanted_ a child, of course. She'd been fool enough to stop taking the herbs that prevented this kind of thing from happening.
If Nialyn really was pregnant with his child, he wasn't obligated to stay with her. He wasn't even obligated to help her through. And she didn't know enough about him to know what he would do when they really _did_ know.
The lump in her throat grew and she bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep herself from crying. She didn't want to sharding seem _weak_ to him. "Yeah," she managed to whisper. She didn't seem so sure. Maybe she didn't _want_ to have a child. Maybe he should think about it too deeply until he knew for sure what she wanted to do. "You know... you don't _have_ to keep it... if you _are_ pregnant that is. I mean... I would understand. And it happens all the time here in the Weyr. Unless you want to keep it." "I don't..." **know _what_ I want to do...** "I need to see the healers first...before I," **we?** "decide what should happen." Nialyn shifted closer. "But Birigundi, I..." Now she lifted her face to his, her blue eyes flickering. "I don't want to go alone." The words came out in a whisper. "Oh, no no," he reassured her quickly. "I wouldn't leave you to go alone." Looking down into her eyes he thought of his mother. She had been alone. He had no memories of his father what so ever. He was too young to remember him, too young to miss him. But his mother had missed him. She had missed her lover, her provider. And she was left to raise Birigundi alone. How could he even consider leaving this girl alone now? "No, Nialyn, I promise... no matter what the healers say... I will help you. I might not be here all the time, but I wouldn't leave you alone."
Last updated on the November 18th 2005