You're Not Alone In This pt 1
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: Avery, Paula
Date Posted: 20th August 2015
Characters: A'kades, Lenala
Description: Lenala has some unexpected news for A'kades.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 24 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Rhosyn; Part 1 of 2
Lenala came back from the infirmary, still reeling with shock. She just couldn't believe it. Not her! She never thought of... her train of thought was cut off when she reached her weyr. She went out to the ledge, where Vilarth was sunning herself. She was already showing the signs of being egg-heavy. She rested her head against Vilarth's neck.** Call Volaith's rider to me, please,** Lenala said. She had no idea what she was should do now and she felt it was not a decision she could do alone.
A'kades was talking with one of the weyrlingstaff assistants about the firestone bags for the next day's drill. The assistant had been overseeing a group who had made several mistakes in sorting, and he still seemed anxious that he was going to be punished. The bronzerider was trying to walk the line between emphasizing that he needed to take responsibility for the group and not terrifying him into speechlessness.
}:Vilarth's rider needs to see you,:{ the bronze dragon interrupted.
"Make sure _they_ refill the bags with a better grade, but check every one before you tell them they're done," he said.
The assistant nodded and scurried off.
**In her weyr?** the bronzerider asked, and got confirmation. As he headed over there, he felt a surge of protectiveness. Was something wrong with Vilarth? Or with her rider? He knocked on the door. "It's A'kades," he called.
"Come in," Lenala called. With a last scratch to Vilarth, she walked to meet him.
He stepped inside and kissed her on the cheek. "How are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm pregnant," the words just rushed out of her mouth.
He was in the process of stepping back to sit down when she said it, and stopped mid-step. Lenala, pregnant? He hadn't expected those words to come from the goldrider. He'd thought as a fellow dragon rider she was taking precautions. That if he was going to have another child, he'd talk with the woman about it, and they'd have to try for it. To have it just said was astounding.
"How do you feel about it?" he asked her, taking her hand.
"I'm shocked. I thought I was being careful. I never thought of having children. When Rhosyn had hers, I swore to never have one, it looked some painful," Lenala replied, babbling in her nervousness. "I mean, only time I've missed taking my morning tea was Turnover..." she blushed.
His old holder feelings warred with his slowly-gained understanding of weyrlife. He still considered children to be an important blessing and something to aspire to - look at his love for his own. But at a Weyr, sometimes having the child wasn't the right choice. He knew the reasons why a female rider or Weyr resident wouldn't keep the child. If he'd heard Lenala was pregnant by someone else, he would have considered it her choice and not thought about it more. But hearing
that this was _his_ child...
He suddenly felt like there wasn't enough air. Judging by what she said about never thinking about it, he assumed she didn't want it. "What are you going to do?" he asked, fighting to keep his voice calm and neutral.
"I don't know," Lenala said with desperation. "I never thought what would happen if I did accidentally get pregnant," she clung to A'kades' tunic, wishing to be held and assured that everything would turn out all right.
The dark-skinned man started stroking her hair to soothe her. "It doesn't have to be only your decision. I'm happy to have as much influence as you want me to. You're not alone in this."
Last updated on the September 7th 2015