Not What She Wanted
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, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 21st January 2016
Characters: Kapera, Liishawe
Description: Kapera has a problem.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 20 of Turn 8
Kapera was ten whole days late in her cycle. She'd also noticed a growing sense of queasiness around food. Neither were good signs. But itshould have been impossible. She was on the teas! Still, it was clear enough that she found herself going down to the Infirmary in the early evening, hoping the Healers would tell her it was...stress, or something.
She pushed open te Infirmary door and looked around for someone to make an appoointment with. "Hello?"
A door down a hall opened and a silver-haired, blue-eyed journeywoman stepped into view, leaning on a cane. "I'm available, goldrider," she said with a polite nod. "Please come in."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Kapera," she said unnecessarily as she stepped in the door. She was feeling unexpectedly nervous as she sat on the chair. "I'm having some concerns..."
The journeywoman shut the door securely. "A good day to you, Kapera. I'm Liishawe. Please pardon me while I pace; it helps keep my knee somewhat limber. I assure you I am listening carefully." She started shuffling back and forth, left leg moving stiffly. An old injury, perhaps. "What are your concerns?"
She watched the journeywoman pace with curiosity. "I received my teas several months ago and have been taking them reliably. But now I'm 10days late on my cycle and I just haven't wanted to eat. I'm afraid..."
"Ten days, is it? I'm assuming your cycle is very predictable if you can be so exact. Have you noticed anything else? Frequent urination, tenderness or a prominent showing of veins in your breasts?" Liishawe asked. "Were you sick at all in the past two months or so? Some medications can interefere with the effectiveness of the teas, I'm afraid."
"Urination and tenderness," she said after a moment. "I haven't been sick enough for medicine since I came to Dolphin Cove. At Dragonsfall I had a cold air problem," she added.
"Ah, climate change can be a shock even if the visit doesn't last long." The journeywoman asked a few more questions, then said, "The symptoms are matching up, but to be completely certain, I would like to palpate your stomach and give you a brief internal exam. I'll go wash my hands and get some redwort on them while you change into a gown and lie down." She nodded to the appropriate cabinet before limping to the door. "I'll knock with my elbow when I get back."
"Yes ma'am," Kapera said.
She undressed herself and wrapped the gown around her finding herself unexpectedly nervous. There was a reason she'd only come into the Dolphin Cove infirmary for herself when picking up the teas. After the last few times she'd been in one as a critical patient, she'd found that being in one to be examined made her anxious. Her heart would race and her breath would catch. And now as she waited, even though rationally she knew the worst that was wrong would be a confirmed pregnancy - and she could deal with that herself - she found herself beginning to feel short of breath, to want to run out the door and never come back.
Liishawe returned soon enough, carrying a small bottle of redwort. After palpating Kapera's stomach, she anointed her hands another time performed the internal exam as gently as possible, talking to Kapera to keep her distracted. When finished, she said "You can sit up now, dear," and began washing her hands in a basin in the room. "Well, all the signs are pointing to it. Your tea wasn't as effective as hoped." She paused, and then asked with more gentleness, "Are congratulations in order, or should I ask you to come back for after-care?"
The goldrider closed her eyes as she heard the verdict. She was silent for a long moment. "I'll need the after-care," she said in a small voice, devoid of all usual liveliness.
It wasn't that had had to decide what to do - for she knew the answer, had known what she'd do from the moment she walked in - nor was she regretting its necessity. But having to come back to the Healers afterwards was the part she didn't like.
"I see," Liishawe said without judgement, dried her hands, and returned to the bedside. "Would it be untoward of me to offer you a hug before I step out to let you dress?" Naturally, there were women who never wanted children, but that didn't mean going between was necessarily an easy choice.
Kapera didn't say anything, but nodded, her body language continuing to be small and drawn in. The older woman's compassion was very touching to her. It was a moment of connecting as a person that not all of the healers at Windswept had had.
Liishawe hugged the goldrider in a grandmotherly fashion, rubbing her back soothingly. "Come back as soon as the process begins. We'll help you, and then I can give you another blend of tea that will hopefully prevent this from happening again," she said kindly after a few moments, and stepped back out to let Kapera dress.
"Thank you so much," the goldrider said. "You've been a great help."
"I am happy I could be of assistance," the healer said, and shut the door.
Last updated on the January 27th 2016