So It's True

Writers: Chelle, Cymiri
Date Posted: 3rd October 2013

Characters: Rhosyn, Reeva
Description: The new mother pumps an old one for information.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 2 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Solieira, Gelira, Lenala

After she'd seen the dolphin and knew for sure that this was going to
happen, her first instinct was to talk to Reeva. The healer would know
what to eat, how to eat, and how to keep fit. She would know those
little things that first-time mothers would not. Somewhere in the back of
her mind, Rhosyn wished her mother was here, but that thought was quickly
squelched. Maybe Solieira might have some advice...

So she had invited Reeva to her weyr for another one of their late-night
citronade chats.

"Dear Weyrwoman. At least you always know to sweeten the task of making the
trek up here." Reeva winked as she pulled out a seat.

"It's as much for me as you, believe me." She smiled, trying to keep it
more humorous than selfish. "Well Reeva I saw a dolphin and it seems you
were right. So I think I need to know more about this pregnancy thing.
Being in a Weyr most of my life, I sort of ignored it, you know?"

One unflappable eyebrow rose, though deep down she wondered how one could
do that- even in a Weyr- unless one particularly *wanted* to do only that.
And that, in a soon-to-be-mother, was not the best news. However, that
was certainly not her place to speculate. Instead she added a soft, dry,
"Depends if you want the mere healer facts, or the personal story, Weyrwoman.
And of them, it depends *purely* which one. One is a lot more reassuring for a
new mother."

"I think I want to know more than the facts...more what it's really going
to be like and the peculiarities and... what all is going to happen with my
body and me? I mean...which of these things are pregnancy and what is normal and what
isn't and...?" So many things were changing and Rhosyn needed to get ahead
of it. She didn't like not knowing, not being prepared.

"All of it, except the bits that aren't. It's a unique time, Weyrwoman. I
had one of the easiest and one of the hardest. There's a bunch of set facts,
of course, but mostly it's going to be your own unique road."

"Well what are those set facts even?" Her tone was quite casual and
curious. Rhosyn was determined to have a clue even if she didn't want
to be a permanent mother.

"Well, let's start with 'It's awful'." Reeva laughed her abrupt, grating
laugh.

"I'm *not* going to do the 'joys of bearing life' speech, dearest
Weyrwoman. Mostly because it's codswallop. At best you are going to spend
a significant few months uncomfortably bulky, ridiculously awkward and with
no clear memory of what your feet looked like- although they will announce
their presence as much as possible otherwise."

She said nothing about the 'at worst'. Mothers didn't need to hear that
until they had to. "It is, however, a good excuse to parcel others out your
work."

"Well unfortunately I don't have any junior goldriders to help out. It's
just me and Lenala. She's doing all she can and I will work until I am unable to.
I am also taking full advantage of the candidates as best as I can of course."
Rhosyn thought it was good training for them, especially Gelira. "Reeva, would you mind
if...if I asked you to be my healer for this..journey?"

Reeva smiled a little at the list of minions, but to the question she was
perfectly serious. "Of course."

"Hmmm so when does the sickness fade?" That was a paramount concern because
Rhosyn couldn't keep doing this. She loved food and hated the idea of throwing it up.

"Shortly." Reeva sat back. "Imagine your time as consisting of roughly 3
stages. When you pass the first, unless you are exceedingly unlucky, the
sickness will clear. You may actually enjoy the second. The third will be
awkward, as your body prepares itself."

"The second is when I can fly..." she said as an aside to herself. Being
the Wingleader of the Queens' Wing, Rhosyn was infinitely familiar with
when and how long a pregnant woman could fly. Still, what Reeva was saying
was making her feel better. So the bad stuff should end soon.

"Yes, it is." For a second, a look passed over her face, mostly comical,
but containing a wince too. The second was when her own last pregancy had
started going awfully wrong, and that thought always managed to pop its way
into her thoughts if it were mentioned. "It's not the end of the world, Weyrwoman.
Relax a little. It's not even the end of life as you know it,
unless you wish it to be. This is a Weyr. You have considerable options."

"No I know.." She shook her head, copper hair moving just a bit. "I have
plans for that. I just, I know it's some time yet but I'm afraid of the labor
part mainly." Rhosyn didn't think she was going to lose it-that thought hadn't
occurred to her. After all, the thing had lasted this long. Turns of aborting
babies might have done things to her system, but she didn't factor that in. Perhaps
she should have.

Reeva's smile was kindly.

"Be glad you know me. I have good drugs. Sometimes it doesn't *feel* like
they are, but they are. Maybe you'll be lucky and turn out to be one of them
who sneeze and it's all done. Even first timers get lucky. My own dear boy decided
to make his entrance a quick and seamless one."

**Good drugs...sounds nice** Rhosyn considered the fact that she might as
well stop worrying about it. There was a long while to
go before it would even be time. And when the time came, she would deal
with it. It wasn't as if she hadn't dealt with pain before.
"Well then anything else you think I should know?"

"Why don't we see how it goes, Weyrwoman? There won't be a test later, you
know." She augmented the smile with a wink.

Last updated on the October 5th 2013

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

So It's True