Birth of a Bastard

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 5th July 2017

Characters: Yriadha, Bryvin, Torinya, Mesmir
Description: Yriadha gives birth.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 2 of Turn 8

Yriadha

Bryvin

Yriadha knelt on bed, swaying back and forth as another contraction
seized her. She breathed through it with a groan and felt her daughter
blot her brow with a cloth. As it eased, her head drooped. "Is he here
yet?"

Torinya mopped at her mother's face again as the midwife checked her
progress. "Not yet, Mother. I sent the message." Why Yriadha had
insisted on coming out to their old cothold for the birth, she
couldn't guess. Torinya's mouth tightened. It would have been better
if she'd not borne the child at all, especially considering the
rumors. According to talk, it was one of many guards, the Steward, or
even Lord Bryvin himself. Her mother had never said and Torinya knew
better than to ask. She had only known about the child after her
mother could no longer hide her growing belly.

"I need..." She caught herself before she said his name. "... the
Healer, shaffit. " Yriadha growled out the curse as another
contraction struck her. Her hands tightened on the headboard until her
knuckles whitened. "Needs to be here...he promised. " She panted
softly as she bore down, her hair sticking to her face where it had
escaped her braid. "The child comes soon..."

Mesmir was not used to being dragged through the halls and out of the
Hold but when the person dragging him was the Lord Holder, he went
along with it. He liked his job and so he didn't question, just
clutched his bag and went with it.

"When we get there you go inside and deliver the child. Then come and
tell me the condition of both the mother and child." Bryvin hustled up
to the door and pulled the man to face him. "You don't say anything to
anyone else. Do you hear me? No one else."

"Yes, My Lord," he affirmed. Then he knocked on the door of the cot.

Bryvin stepped back into the shadows and out of sight.

The door opened and Torinya's strained face peered out, then relaxed
with relief. "Thank Faranth that you're here. The babe is coming very
soon." She stepped back and ushered the Healer in as quickly as she
could.

Yriadha swore viciously, something she would have regularly never done
in mixed company. She panted and glared at the healer. "Where the
fecking blazes have you been?" A contraction seized her and she bore
down, straining. Torinya moved quickly to mop at her face and
supported her from the side.

"Do _not_ push!" he ordered immediately. He ignored her outburst and
turned to pull his bag open. He quickly washed his hands in redwart.
He knew the woman of course but he didn't let anything cross his face.
Not the knowledge of who had brought him or who he was attending.

She snarled at him, panting. "I need to push, shaffit!" She ignored
Torinya's gasp at her language and glared at the Healer.

"No," he said, "Not until I can check the baby's position." He was all
professional capability now that he didn't have an angry Lord hauling
him into the outskirts of the Hold. "You must try to calm down and
save your energy for the birthing." He was very experience and didn't
seem at all surprised by the language.

A half smile curved the corner of his mouth as he looked at the other
woman. Then he flipped up her shift and ran his hands professionally
over her belly. "Hmm," he said and then felt the beginnings of another
contraction. "Relax," he said, "and breathe."

"I know how to birth a child." Yriadha snapped, gripping the headboard
until she felt a creak of protesting wood. "I'm breathing..." She
growled as another contraction rippled through her and she felt the
familiar burning pain of crowning. She gasped and
lowered her head, feeling sweat trickle down her brow and neck.
Torinya mopped at her face again, offering a sip of water that Yriadha
refused.

"Good," he said with a thin smile and inserted two fingers into her to
check the cervix. "You're almost ready," he said after a moment, "but
I have to turn the baby. It's coming the wrong way. Lay on your back."

Yriadha's eyes opened wide with alarm. This child _had_ to be born and
be born healthy. With Torinya's help she laid back, gritting her
teeth. Another contraction hit her and she cried out with the effort
not to push, instead gripping the pillows under her head and tearing
them with her grip.

"I'm sorry," he said as he pushed slowly but firmly to turn the child
as the contraction eased. He knew she wouldn't be comfortable but it
was necessary for a healthy birth. He could feel when the next
contraction started. "One more," he said "We're almost there. Blow out
your breath that will help you keep from pushing."

Breathing through clenched teeth, she exhaled with a shouted, "I'm
going to pull his balls over his head for this!"

Torinya gasped. "Mother!"

"Oh, shut up!" Yriadha snapped and then relaxed as the contraction eased.

Mesmir smirked wondering if the 'him' involved could hear through the
walls for he doubted the man had left entirely. "Got it," he smiled
broadly at the woman as the baby moved into the correct position.
"Next contraction you push."

With relief Yriadha allowed Torinya to help her back into the
squatting position. She gripped the bed frame once again, breathed and
when the next contraction came, she pushed with a guttural cry of
effort. Torinya supported her shoulders as she bored down through yet
another contraction and another, the efforts coming faster. Sweat
streamed down Yriadha's contorted face as she felt more pressure;
gripping the headboard as though she could break it, she cursed and
strained then felt a sudden release. Gasping, she leaned against her
support and looked down. "The child..is it alright?" Her voice was
hoarse, but she suddenly laughed in triumph as she heard an infant's
thin, protesting wail.

The infant's howl increased in pitch and his arms stiffened. "He's
fine, A strong boy for you," Mesmir smiled as he pronounced it loudly.
He used a finger to clear the little ones mouth and then an aspirator
for the nose. Then he wrapped the bundle after quickly checking him
over and handing him to the younger woman.

"Lie back," he ordered. "While I clear the after birth."

Yriadha laid back and held out her arms. "Give him to me." Her voice
showed her exhaustion, but her face glowed with satisfaction. A son!
She had had another son! Her mind swam with possibilities for her
newest child even as Torinya handed her the child. He had a shock of
dark hair and his eyes were dark like her own, but shaded with the
newborn blue of all babies. Yriadha bared her breast and with the
confidence borne of experience, helped him attach. The child grunted
and with eager suckles, drew upon her. Yriadha stared at the child
while the healer did what he needed. "He's perfect."

Torinya looked down at her newest baby brother with hidden skepticism.
He would have been perfect had he not been a bastard, something that
her mother would never have permitted from her own children. She was
wise enough to hide her distaste at the entire situation. **Perfect if
you'd never had the child.** "What will you do with him? He'll be
nothing but a weight on your position now. He's a b..."

Yriadha turned her head towards Torinya as her eyes narrowed.
"Silence, girl. He'll be the best of all my children." Her glare
silenced her daughter and flushing in embarrassment and shame,
Torinya's gaze lowered in submission. " Yriadha looked down at the
child at her breast and whispered for only the infant's ears. "One
day, my son, you'll be a Lord."

Mesmir didn't even give a hint of his reaction to the woman's silly
claims. But his eyes grew thoughtful as he remembered who it was had
dragged him from the Hold this night.

He finished his business and made the usual suggestions to an
experienced mother. Then he looked at the other woman. "Come find me
should she begin bleeding too much."

He left the small cot and began to trek back to the Hold and his warm
young wife and bed. It wasn't long before a familiar figure found him.
"It's a healthy boy," was all he said and continued on his way.

Last updated on the September 1st 2017

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Birth of a Bastard