A Difficult Time Of It (Part II)

Writers: AL, Ames, Suzee
Date Posted: 15th August 2013

Characters: Meledei, T'nom, G'rion
Description: Elleth clutches, but it's not an easy one.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 12 of Turn 7

T'nom

Breakfast was followed by lunch. The afternoon crept on. Elleth had
laid fourteen eggs but she had stated there were still more. She had
lain two or three at a time and took long rests between. Finally, as
afternoon began to creep toward evening, she stirred and created two
more cradles. "Looks like more coming." Meledei called.

T'nom had spent the day beside Meledei, getting them food, holding her
hand, doing whatever he could. The process had been long and slow.
He'd watched as the golden dragon strained with each new egg. His
thoughts often drifting to the child Pierka carried that was his while
he watched the birth of the eggs.

It had been a long day with lots of waiting, so when Meledei called
out again, T'nom had to jostle himself awake. He hadn't even realized
he'd begun to doze while they waited. He turned his eyes to Elleth,
wondering if this process could go on for more than one day.

Elleth crouched down, another egg slowly brought out into the world.
All the eggs were very large, some even larger than the first she had
lain. The gold dragon eased over and began the process again. This
egg took longer. She heaved, she breathed, she sighed, she strained.
Nervousness crept up and Meledei asked more than once if she was all
right. The dragon assured her and there was no panic in her voice,
but the rider couldn't help but be concerned.

It came finally, an abrupt entry and with it pain. It wasn't long but
it was sharp and startling. "Elleth!"

}:I'm all right.:{ The gold assured her, though she added, }:That
hurt.:{ Her long neck twisted and she began to lick at herself.
Meledei frowned and though she wasn't panicking, she couldn't hide the
worry in her voice. "T'nom...would you get a dragon healer please?"

}:I'm done.:{ Elleth assured her rider as thoughts about more eggs
that might cause more pain crossed through Meledei's mind.

Meledei turned to count the eggs. There were sixteen. It was as the
Weyrleaders had said, but Meledei didn't care. She ignored them for
now and continued to stroke her golden lifemate.

}:I'm all right.:{ The gold assured her, though she added, }:That
hurt.:{ Her long neck twisted and she began to lick at herself.
Meledei frowned and though she wasn't panicking, she couldn't hide the
worry in her voice. "T'nom...would you get a dragon healer please?"

}:I'm done.:{ Elleth assured her rider as thoughts about more eggs
that might cause more pain crossed through Meledei's mind.

Meledei turned to count the eggs. There were sixteen. It was as the
Weyrleaders had said, but Meledei didn't care. She ignored them for
now and continued to stroke her golden lifemate.

_That_ sent him scrambling. Something was clearly wrong. His heart
racing, T'nom darted out of the hatching sands and hurried to where
the dragonhealers were located.

"We need a dragonhealer for Elleth. Now." He called as he came rushing in.

G'rion picked up his bag designed for just such emergencies and ran
toward the hatching sands. "What's happening," he asked the
bronzerider.

"Elleth. Eggs." T'nom started, catching his breath only for a second
before turning and trying to drag the dragonhealer with him.
"Somethings wrong, but I'm not sure exactly what it is."

The healer ran all the way to the cavern then slowed to a slow stroll
as he approached Meledei. He bowed to the Queen. "Do you know what is
wrong Meledei?" His blue lifemate was outside the cavern not daring to
move past the bronze guarding the queen.

"She's bleeding." Meledei pointed toward the rear of her dragon where
the gold was gently licking herself. Ichor marked her tongue and she
paused long enough to settle one jeweled eye upon the dragonhealer.

T'nom having followed, stood off to the side, watching. He could see
exactly what Meledei was referring to, but he didn't want to
interfere.

**Taldeth, you might have to let the other dragon in. He's here to
help,** T'nom told his lifemate.

Taldeth gave a slight rumble of discontent, but responded, }:_If_ he
is needed, I will let him in.:{

It wasn't usual for a dragon queen to ichor but it did happen and
G'rion knew exactly what to do provided Elleth would cooperate. But he
scanned the sand and it didn't look like she was finished. "Is she
done?"

"With the size of those eggs, I don't think she could have held
anymore and not burst. Yes, she's done." Meledei knew Elleth had
become egg heavy a little earlier than last time - now she knew why.

"Alright," he said and slowly approached the queen. On examination he
could see a tear that would need a few stitches. "Don't worry ma'am,"
he said to Meledei, "It's not bad. Looks like the eggs were just a
little difficult for her to pass. But I'll get her fixed up in no
time."

After that statement all his kind words and praise were for the lovely
gold. Some redwort, numbweed and a strong few stitches and she was
going to be just fine. "The ichoring has stopped but she should rest
undisturbed." he said when he was finished. That went without saying
since she'd just laid her clutch and wouldn't likely be moving from
the sands until she had to. "But I want to see her again after she's
able to leave the cavern. Alright?"

"Yes, of course." Difficult? That had been an understatement.
Meledei couldn't help but wonder if even a larger gold wouldn't have
had trouble with them. "Thank you, I appreciate your help."

"You're very welcome," he smiled, "and congratulations." With that the
healer turned and carried his tools with him out of the cavern.

Last updated on the August 18th 2013

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A Difficult Time Of It (Part II)