A Difficult Queen (1 of 2)

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 1st November 2010

Characters: Hygalia, G'nir
Description: Hygalia's Genith finally Clutches!
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 6 of Turn 5
Notes: Part 1 of 2

G'nir

**But love, he won't hurt them,** Hygalia told her gold sternly as she
watched her nudge another soft shell into place with her giant snout.

}:I don't know him,:{ Genith protested fiercely as she positioned
herself to lay another egg.

**You didn't know the last one, either, but you let him come. And you
know Nirreth,** the Weyrwoman reminded her, her eyes flickering up to
the the bronze on his perch. **You let him in. Why not his rider?
Nirreth would not have bound himself to G'nir if he were not a good man,
now would he?**

}:Maybe he can come when I'm finished,:{ the gold replied.

Hygalia sighed as she watched another mottled egg slowly slip onto the
Sands. G'nir was missing everything, and she felt terrible about it.
Genith had always been a difficult queen when it came to Clutching, and
if it were possible she was acting even worse now that she was a Senior
Queen. She was dreading the next few sevendays...

}:Look, I made another one,:{ Genith said with satisfaction, expecting
that her rider should now admire the fruit of her labor.

It gave Hygalia an idea. **Good,** she said, standing up. **I will
just have to go find G'nir and tell him about it.**

}:You will not,:{ Genith said, turning her head towards her rider.
}:I'm going to make another one soon.:{

**And I'll just have to go back out and tell him about that one too,**
Hygalia thought with a shrug as she began climbing the stairs.

}:I won't let you,:{ the gold hissed, turning her head towards her rider
with her eyes all a swirl. }:You must stay here and watch me!:{

Hygalia stopped on the second landing, turning around to face her gold.
"And how are you going to stop me, hmmm?" she asked aloud, crossing her
arms across her chest. "What are you going to do, haul your massive
body up these stairs after me and squeeze yourself through the door,
plopping eggs here and there as you go? These are his eggs to, and if
you won't let him watch, then I'm just going to have to report
everything that's happening to him."

If dragons could stop their feet like a rebellious teenager, the gold
would be doing so now. }:Fine, he can come,:{ Genith yielded, knowing
she had lost, but certainly not liking it. }:Nirreth, call yours to
come.:{

"I'm going to the door to meet him, but you will be able to see me the
whole time," Hygalia said, much more gently.

G'nir was pacing back and forth in the corridor outside Hatching Cavern.
He was almost vibrating with anxiety. This was his and Nirreth's first
clutch after all and he was not even allowed to see it. He had heard
about difficult queens but this was ridiculous. He was relying on
Nirreth's
narrating and the bronze was not very good with numbers. He was,
however, describing the eggs quite flourishly. G'nir wanted to see them
with his own eyes. He was ready to scream.

When he was finally allowed in, an apologetic Weyrwoman was there to
greet him. "I'm so sorry. She is being especially difficult. I think
it's Clutching in a new place and being the Senior Queen is going to her
head. But don't worry, we're not even half way through, I'm sure."

"I've waited this day so long and she keeps me away?" G'nir sounded
indignant. His eyes fell on the Sands. "They are so beautiful, so
precious," he sighed.

"I know this is your first Clutch, G'nir, so I should probably remind
you that her mood effects mine," she said, keeping a very politic smile
on her face. After the fight she just waged with the gold on his
behalf, she didn't want to hear complaints from him. He was lucky to be
there at all. "There are a few rules I think you should be aware of if
you ever want to see the Eggs again, though."

"Oh? What are those?" G'nir asked, schooling his voice to diplomatic
neutrality. He did realize that he better be polite and compliant or
Genith would chase him out again. That was her right.

"To start with, you should acknowledge her politely, and praise the eggs
she's laid, but then don't say anything too loud for a while. And sit a
row behind me at first. You need to make her forget you're even there.
It won't take but a few eggs before she'll feel comfortable enough for
you to move up next to me. I'll tell you when." Hygalia wondered how
the Weyrleader would handle following instructions from her.

G'nir just nodded and approached the Gold cautiously. He resorted to his
most polite Lordly-manners. "My duty to you, Lady Genith. I am greatful
you allowed me to your magnifient presence and allowed me to witness
this grand occasion. Your eggs are the most beautiful I ever seen and I
shall
guard them with my life," he bowed deeply.

The gold rewarded his bold declaration with a hiss before turning her
attention to nudging each egg once more, both to reassure herself and to
warn the new-comer that they were _hers_.

"Sit down," Hygalia said softly, pointing to the row behind hers. It
wasn't the greatest welcome Genith had ever given a rider while
Clutching, but it wasn't the worst either. "She just needs to settle
down and then she'll start laying again."

"Yes ma'am," G'nir replied. "How many eggs so far?" he asked with silent
voice so not to disturb the crouchy Gold. He tooked the indicated seat.

"Sixteen, I think." Hygalia just _hoped_ that wasn't half way through!
45 would be incredible. 40 would be decent. 35 would be embarrassing,
but less than that a disaster. She had as much to prove as G'nir in
this first Clutch.

"All ready?" G'nir didn't think it had been that long, but then he
didn't really know how long it took from queen to clutch.

"She's been doing this a while," Hygalia said with a slight smile.
"Those first few did come out rather fast, though."

G'nir nodded. "Are we going to celebrate when she's done?" he asked.
Well, he was anyway, although it would be nicer if she was there too. "I
have a special vintage reserved just for this occasion."

"I'd like to," she sighed, but knowing the likelihood was slim. If
Genith was being this fussy now... "We'll see how she feels when it's
all done."

"Okay," he said and settle back to watch in silence. It truly was
marvelous spectacle. Nirreth was hoovering protectively, but not too
close, even he kept a respectful distance.

Last updated on the November 7th 2010

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A Difficult Queen (1 of 2)