Mama Knows

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 9th December 2020
Series: The Hallmaster's Ladies

Characters: Thayde, Aydrisia
Description: Aydrissa comes to talk to Thayde after H'riv's visit Where; DCW-DH
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 8, day 16 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Enamra, H'riv, Jalodwyn

Thayde

**Well, at least that is over with.** Thayde thought as Jalodwyn left
his office. Her project had been approved and he hoped that being able
to focus on it would make her somewhat happier at Dolphin Cove.

Stretching and thinking that the rest of his day should be much
easier, the Hallmaster was busy pouring himself a cup of klah when he
heard a throat clear behind him. Turning, he froze in place and nearly
dropped his cup.

"Mother?"

Aydrisa stepped into the office, a thin smile on her lips. "Was that
Jalodwyn?" She knew for a fact that it had been. The woman had rushed
by her without a comment or even a glance, despite the fact that she'd
known her since Jalodwyn had been a child. There hadn't even been a
greeting from the other dolphinner. "She looks rather thin, don't you
think?" She closed the office door behind her firmly. "I thought it
would a good idea to come and talk to you, Thayde. I haven't seen you
in a few months."

"I hadn't noticed," Thayde said in regards to Jalodwyn's weight. He
looked at his mother suspiciously as he reclaimed his seat. "It's
usual for us to go some months without visiting." He wasn't buying
that this was a simple visit. "So tell me, what brings you, Mom."

She stood behind one of his chairs, her fingers stroking over the back
of the seat. "H'riv came to see your father and I. He brought a woman
he is seeing at Barrier Lake and she told us some rather distressing
news." She arched a brow as she looked at Thayde. "Why is it that
H'riv's young woman knew about our grandchild before we did?"

Thayde's mouth fell open. That had been the last thing that he
expected from his mother. What woman was H'riv seeing? And how did she
know about Jalotha?

**I'll kill him,** Thayde thought of his brother.

"Mom," he sighed and left his chair to go and put his hands on her
shoulders. "I'm sorry, it wasn't that I was trying to keep Jalotha a
secret from you, but until recently, she and Jalodwyn were at Jade
Harbor. Jalodwyn doesn't want me to have any part of Jalotha's life...
Can you blame her?"

"We didn't even know she was expecting, Thayde. That's exactly

what you've been doing... keeping it a secret. Why didn't you tell
us? It didn't matter if she was at Jade Harbor. It doesn't matter if
you're not married. Your father and I would have wanted to know. "
Very real irritation and hurt bloomed in her eyes. "And why wouldn't
she want you involved if the baby is yours? Explain what exactly is
going on here, Thayde."

Thayde sighed in frustration. "You sound like Enamra right now." He
took a seat in one of the guest chairs on the opposite side of his
desk and gestured for his mother to do the same. "When Jalodwyn came
to me and said she was pregnant, I didn't believe her. She seemed
angry and vindictive, so I assumed she was just trying to get back at
me. Then when we were on Fleet Duty together, she ambushed me and had
one of the dolphins confirm her pregnancy. I still didn't believe her,
that it was mine, it could have been anyone's! So when we got back to
the Hall and I was promoted as Hallmaster, I transferred her to Jade
Harbor to keep the peace here between me and Enamra."

Aydrisa sat beside Thayde, listening quietly until he finished. She
sighed and rubbed her temple, taking it all in."So Enamra knows about
it. Well, that can't be easy on her at all. So, if you transferred her
and doubted that the child was yours, why is she back here now and how
are you and Enamra handling this situation? Is the baby yours,
Thayde?"

"Jalowyn's story never changed when she went to Jade Harbor, no other
father showed up. I went after the baby was born to offer financial
support, or whatever she needed, but she made it very clear that I
would never be allowed to be Jalotha's father. I was content to leave
it at that, I mean, what else could I do? Then H'riv shows up one day
and tells me that no one will work with Jalodwyn, she's being turned
down for jobs, not allowed to work on her master project, and people
were calling Jalotha the bastard baby.... So I had them moved here, at
least here I can make sure they're being treated fairly." Thayde
sighed as he circled the question of Enamra. "Things with Enamra
are... not very good right now. We're talking, some, at least but...."
He shook his head. "It's not good."

"Oh, Thayde." Aydrisa sighed again, shaking her head. "How do you
manage to get into so much trouble? And you and Jalodwyn used to be so
close. And of course it's not good with Enamra. You surely can't
expect it to be; she's so young. Older married women would struggle in
this situation. I would be furious if your father ever did something
like this; even though I love him, it would be very hard to forgive
him if I had to see the evidence of it everyday." She leaned back in
her seat. "I understand why you brought Jalodwyn and the baby here. I
really do. She's far too talented to be wasted and it's not the fault
of the child for its birth.What are you planning to do and when can I
see my granddaughter?"

His eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean? I'm not planning to do
anything. I'm just trying to keep afloat here, Mom. If I push Jalodwyn
any further she'll run off with Jalotha and I'll never get to see her.
Also, if I show too much interest, Enamra gets more jealous, and I
don't know if I mentioned it, but she was Searched. What if she gets
tired of dealing with all of my baggage and goes to the Weyr?"

"Searched? Sweet Faranth." His mother stared at him in disapproval,
her lips thinning. "Thayde, the last time you let the shells fall
where they would instead of acting on a problem, you got into _this_
one. I know you, son. I know you're not going to be able to stay away
from a baby that you know is yours. If you don't find a solution to
resolve this, the solution will find you and you might not like the
results." Her lips pursed in thought. "Why don't you let me talk to
Jalodwyn and Enamra? Maybe I can help sort this mess out."

"What will you even say, Mother? If I pursue a relationship with my
daughter, I could lose Enamra, or cause Jalodwyn to take Jalotha away
completely. If I do whatever I must to keep Enamra, I fear I will wake
up resenting her one day for not letting me have Jalotha in my life."

"Well, you certainly don't need either of those things. Enamra seems
to be a sweet, kind young lady.Perhaps she'll come to understand or
you could give her a child, you know. Have you..." She gestured with
her hands. "Please tell me you've at least consummated your marriage
by now."

Thayde's stressed countenance cleared for a moment as he laughed.
"Yes, Mother, trust me, the marriage is now _well_ consummated." His
eyes grew a little somber. "She was pregnant," he held up his hand
before she could protest, "we were going to tell people but... She
wasn't pregnant very long when she took a fall and lost it."

Aydrisa's face fell. "Oh, I'm so sorry. No wonder this is hard on her.
To lose a child and then be faced with another that she didn't give
you. I'm so very sorry, Thayde." She reached out to lightly grip his
hand. "Is there nothing I can do?"

"Mom, I don't know if there's anything anyone can do. I have made an
impossible situation for myself." Thayde said putting his hand over
hers.

"It's not impossible. Just difficult. Perhaps all three of you need to
come to an understanding. It's not unheard of and there is a child
involved. Your child. It wouldn't hurt to try."

"Jalodwyn won't even entertain the thought. The minute I even mention
Jalotha she freaks out and threatens to take her away." Thayde shook
his head. "You can talk to them if you want, I mean, you will with or
without my permission."

"Well, Jalodwyn certainly." She agreed. "But if you're uncomfortable
with me talking to Enamra, I suppose I can respect that. For now."

"Enamra doesn't have a mother to talk to, she might would appreciate
having someone she could talk to," Thayde said, relenting.

"She may at that. I'll speak to her, Thayde." She squeezed his hand.

Thayde pulled his mother into a hug. "Thanks, Mom."

Aydrissa returned the embrace. "Always."

Last updated on the January 13th 2021

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