A Child is Born

Writers: Ames, Suzee
Date Posted: 21st January 2019

Characters: Danrina, Bryvin
Description: Danrina dreams of the day her daughter, Dalvina was born
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 9, day 21 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Galrad, Dalvina

Danrina

Bryvin

As she lay her head on the softness of her pillow, Danrina's thoughts
drifted back to her day. Dalvina was extra active throughout the day.
Her lips curled into a happy, dreamy smile as she thought of her
beautiful, fun loving, daughter. It was hard to believe that nine
months had already passed since Dalvina had entered the world and
totally changed her life. Danrina had only glimpsed love before
Dalvina. Now, her heart was full and she understood the deepest
meaning of true love. Danrina loved her daughter with every part of
her being. Her heart loved another, but that love was so much more
complicated. Yet, her love for the man who gave her Dalvina had only
grown throughout the months. Bryvin had given her the world in more
ways than one. She no longer hid her love for him as she once had.
There was no reason to hide it.

As Danrina's eyes closed, her thoughts turned to dreams and memories.
She dreamt of the day that truly changed her life nine months prior.

~~~begin flashback~~~

She had been pacing, well waddling, the room for far too long. The
healers had suggested it might help bring the baby. They checked on
her often, but so far there was no sign that the baby was ready. It
was as though the babe was so content that it wanted to stay insider
her forever.

She ached. She felt huge. The healers had thought the baby should have
been there by now. They were anxious. She was anxious.

**Maybe a short nap would help,** Danrina thought. She waddled over to
her bed, pushed many pillows around her and tried to rest and relax.

"Ooh," she moaned, opening her eyes. She heard a sound in the room,
but it was not the sound that had woken her. She grimaced in pain as
she felt as though someone had poked her overly large belly and pushed
on it from all sides.

"Danrina"? Bryvin called as he came through the secret door into her
room. He'd been in meetings all day and the news hadn't reached him
until now. "Are you alright?"

She moaned again. "Bryvin, it hurts," she finally managed as her
stomach contracted and she felt a wave of pain. "I think it's finally
time."

Just then she heard a sound at the door. "Is is the healers? They said
they would come check again before night." Her stomach twitched again
as she felt as though someone was grasping her stomach and pushing on
it from all sides. "I think we need them," she gasped as the
contraction finally ended.

He'd knelt by the side of the bed to hold her hand while he smoothed
the dark hair from her brow. "Don't worry love," he said. "I'll get
the healers for you." His face stayed gentle but he was seething
inside. **I'll find out who decided to leave you alone like this and
make sure he sees the error of his ways.** "I'll be right back," he
said and stepped out the main door.

Once he was in the hall he made it to the landing before he yelled for
a healer.

"Yes My Lord," the man said as he hurried up the stairs. "What
possessed you to leave that young woman alone during her labor?" He
ground out and the man's face drained of color as he sputtered to find
an acceptable answer. "Never mind," Bryvin spat at him. "Get up there
now, she's in pain."

Sooner than later, they were back through the door and Bryvins
demeanor changed again. "Found him," he smiled at her and moved
around the side of the bed.

She felt the contraction coming even as Bryvin entered the room again.
Her teeth clenched in pain as her hands gripped the sheets.

"I think it's time," she managed after the contraction had passed.

"Oh yes, that it is," the healer replied quickly, realizing he should
have checked in sooner or left one of his apprentices, he quickly
remedied the situation.

"My lord, could you give her a sip of water, while I gather my
apprentices and prepare for the birth?" The healer moved quickly. He
had already sent his apprentice who had been with him to get
additional assistance when he'd heard the Lord's call.

Bryvin did as he was bid all the while with a pleasant demeanor for
Danrina's sake. He tried keeping her calm and encouraging her. But
while her eyes were closed or her face turned away the healers were
given black looks that spoke to consequences should there be
difficulty with this birth.

In a short amount of time, the area outside of the bedchamber was
bustling with activity. The healer had checked on Danrina a few times
and was monitoring her closely. He knew it would still be some time,
but there was no he would leave her side now. He had seen the look on
the Lord's face and knew he was not pleased.

Some time passed before the healer knew the baby was ready to arrive.
"It's time now," he said. The room which had grown fairly still and
quiet while waiting, burst into activity. Maids moved to Danrina's
side, while the healer called out for various actions on the parts of
each of his assistants.

He took in the mulish look on the Lord Holders face and forbore having
him leave the room. Whatever the reason, and after his prior behavior,
he was fairly certain of the reasons he was interested in this
particular birth. The healer's eyes met those of one of the other
attendants they gave a minute lift of an eyebrow like a shrug and they
didn't attempt to make the Lord leave the room.

"You're doing great sweetheart," Bryvin said with a smile and stroked
the hair back from her face.

Time seemed to move fast, then slow for her during the next few hours.
The pains were all-encompassing when they came. She could barely catch
her breath. There were moments she felt her body was being torn in
two. After a rather intense contraction, she collapsed back on the
bed, sweat dripping from her brow.

"Water," she gasped, as she felt _another_ contraction approaching.
They were coming so quickly now. She couldn't even focus. The healers
had moved into a new position, ready for what was about to transpire
in just moments. Suddenly it felt like her insides were literally on
fire.

"Okay, ready, with the next contraction you are going to push," the
healer commanded. Danrina heard but barely understood. Maids reached
for her legs, assisting her to hold them. Seconds after the last,
another contraction came. "Now, push," the healer demanded. She tried.
She truly did, but it was so hard. Was she going to survive this? It
hurt so very much.

Bryvin switched his position so he was behind her to support her and
whispered encouragement in her ear as she began pushing.

The pain was intense. Danrina knew she must have screamed, but then
suddenly it was gone. She heard a sound like a swack and then a tiny
cry.

"It's a girl," the healer said. Quickly cleaning and wrapping the
child in a blanket. He handed the babe off to one of the female maids
who brought the child to Danrina.

"Congratulations," the woman said handing the child to her. Danrina
just gasped as she gazed at the tiny face and scrunched up hands. The
baby made many little cries and then cuddled up against her chest and
rested quietly.

"A girl," she whispered, looking up at Bryvin with tears in her eyes.
"She's beautiful," she added, as she reached up to stroke the baby's
hair. She was so engrossed in watching her new daughter that she
blocked out the noises and sounds around her as the healers finished
the process and began cleaning up the area.

"She's beautiful just like her mother," he said and kissed her. Then
he looked up at the healer.

"This," he pointed at the child in Danrina's arms is my child. Her
name is Dalvina. She will be raised as a daughter of the blood. So you
make certain she and her mother recieve the very best of your care. Am
I understood?"

She was pleased that he had remembered the name they had discussed.
Danrina smiled at the man she loved. The father of her child. All was
well in her world. It may not have been what she had imagined, but she
was loved and now she felt an even greater love than she had ever felt
before looking from child to man and back again. All the people she
cared about in all of Pern were right there with her in that moment.

~~ End Flashback~

Last updated on the January 24th 2019

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A Child is Born