Beautiful and Perfect (1/2)

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 25th January 2007

Characters: Nialyn, Birigundi
Description: Nialyn finally gives birth
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 26 of Turn 4

Birigundi

Nialyn started awake, eyes flying open to stare out into the darkness of her weyr. Her heart pounded, her blood roared in her ears, rushing throughout her body. Then her abdomen tightened suddenly, and she cried out softly in surprise before stuffing a fist into her mouth. Shards...not again. How many times would this happen to her before the labor was _real_? Before all this aching pain had a purpose and an ultimate end?

Clutching the sheet more tightly in her other hand, she squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the uncomfortable ache to pass. Unconsciously Nialyn reached for Birigundi, who was sound asleep beside her. Burying herself against his warm, hard body, she tried to find comfort in him--in his presence. And it helped her emotionally, but certainly not physically. No man could ever help ease that part of it. But it was enough for her that he was here beside her, silent and strong.

Shards... How could she learn to sleep alone after this?

She drew in a sharp breath suddenly, this time not even making an effort to stifle it. Faranth...water. She was lying in water! "Biri!"

"Hmmm?" he grunted, his mind not easily stirred to consciousness.

"Shard it, wake up!"

"What?" His eyes slowly opened. "What is it, Nia?"

Could he not feel the water? Her heart was pounding again, but this time, it was because of her anxiety. Her wonder. "My water just broke. Right now." Her face was filled with a terrified joy.

"Oh..." As he shifted to look at her he did notice a slight dampness on the sheets. This wasn't a dream, was it? "Oh... shards... All right... And any pain?" It was amazing how _numb_ he felt. This was really it, and yet he felt nothing...

"It's just uncomfortable. Achy." Nialyn struggled to sit up. "But it's happening, Biri! It's happening..."

"Well, then, let's get changed and we'll walk up to the infirmary." He was just so sharding calm! Birigundi had been sure when the moment truly came he would panic like he did before. But he felt nothing.

~~~

Birigundi had felt numb, almost outside the whole process. Though he held Nia's hand, rubbed her back, whispered words of encouragement and kissed her brow softly, part of him felt like none of it was real. Like it really wasn't happening. Even after candlemarks of feeding her chips of ice, he perceived it all through a veil of detachment. Was the ice from the mountains? Was it made here at the Weyr? As he mopped her forehead and supported her as she pushed, he was more interested in where the ice had come from than the scene unfolding before him.

And it wasn't just the little things that intrigued him. He was fascinated by the sudden change in Nialyn. She had always seemed so needy. Weak even. He didn't mind that, actually. It had made him feel wanted, useful, protective. Birigundi _liked_ being strong for her and caring for her. But here she was, after candlemarks of labor - and he could now have a totally new appreciation for that word - and she had kept going. She had _kept_ pushing! He would have given up long before! Where did that strength come from? It was as mysterious to him as the ice chips that had suddenly appeared.

Suddenly something new entered the scene. Something loud and wailing and purple and bloody. It just didn't seem _real_, even as Nia grabbed his arm and strained to see it. Someone asked him a question. The cord? Yes, there was a _cord_ attached to it! Like some kind of weird electrical device you'd find a technician tinkering with. His detached self hadn't seemed to have lost his sense of humor, for he wondered as he took the scissors in hand if the thing would stop screaming the moment he cut it, just like he was cutting off the power. It didn't work that way though. It continued to scream as the Healer wiped it off, crooning to it softly. Bundling it in soft cloth, the healer than turned and laid the squeeling thing in his arms.

"Congratulations, Papa. Here's your baby," the journeyman proclaimed proudly.

**Your baby...** Biriguni looked down into the purple, distorted face. It was ugly. It was gorgeous. **My baby...** "I have a baby..." he whispered, feeling himself come back into himself like a rush of wind. "I have a baby..." He looked down at the face, then up at Nia. This had come from her. This was the child that he had felt kicking and twirling in her. This was what he and Nia made together that first night so long ago. It came from her, but it came from him too. "Nia," he whispered, his face full of confused awe and wonder. "Nia, look, we have a _baby_."

Last updated on the January 29th 2007

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Beautiful and Perfect (1/2)