Frozen

Writers: Devin
Date Posted: 5th March 2009

Characters: N'vanik, Talryne
Description: Talryne is pregnant, but ends the pregnancy /between/.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 4 of Turn 5

N'vanik

Talryne

She paced the weyr. N'vanik would be back any moment. And there it
was, the sound of Loseth on the ledge. Talryne was so nervous she was
almost sick. But she had to tell him.

"Hey," he greeted as he stepped into the main room. His tone dropped
and he frowned with concern when he saw her obvious worry. "Hey,
what's wrong?"

She stopped pacing and faced him, twisting her hands together. Just
say it, she told herself. Just say it, and then it will be over with.
"I'm pregnant."

"You --" N'vanik stared. "Are -- are you sure?"

She nodded. The nervous tightening in her stomach was worse.

"But you drink the tea." He'd seen her do it often enough.

"The tea doesn't always work." She looked down at the floor. "And
sometimes ... I forget."

"Oh." His mind whirled, wondering how this would change things. They
would need to arrange for foster parents, that was for sure. He
couldn't imagine Tal taking care of a baby full time, even without her
crafting. Shards, a baby. Their baby.

Talryne looked up again. "Don't -- don't worry. I'm not keeping it."
She didn't think she'd be able to handle the responsibility, even for
the short time before the baby would be fostered. And N'vanik had
plenty to worry about without adding a baby to his life.

"Oh." N'vanik felt suddenly cold. He'd never wanted a child before,
and wouldn't have tried for one with Tal, but now that it had happened
... but he didn't dare bring that up with her. He was afraid she would
agree with anything he wanted, and it was clear that she didn't want
the baby. He did his best to put on a calm face. "Ok."

"Would you take me?" she asked quietly. "I mean, if it's ok." She
hadn't been a greenrider for over a turn, but she still thought like
one.

"Take you /between/?" His voice was amazingly steady.

She nodded, her hands still twisting. /Between/ was a little less
terrifying than it had been, but this would be a longer trip. She
didn't want to go on any dragon but Loseth.

"Alright. We'll go right now, get it over with." He'd done this for
other women, even a few he'd suspected were pregnant with his child.
It had never bothered him before. This was different, though. This was
Tal. It was _theirs_. For one brief moment, he almost told her that he
wanted her to keep it. But again, he feared that she would say yes
just to make him happy, not because she wanted it. She didn't want it.
Tal didn't want his child.

"Now?" Talryne swallowed. "Ok." She went to get her jacket, her hands
shaking as she put it on.

}:You should tell her,:{ Loseth crooned.

**No. I don't want her to know. This is what she wants. It's her choice.**

N'vanik strapped her in, keeping his eyes on the straps and not
looking at her face. Talryne was so focused on trying to be calm that
she didn't notice. He climbed on in front of her and secured himself.
"Ready?"

"Ready." Her voice shook and her arms tightened around N'vanik's
waist. Loseth took them up, clear of the weyr but not much higher.
Then they were all in the cold, total darkness of /between/. The
seconds ticked by as Loseth tried to calm the frightened Talryne and
tried to soothe his hurting rider.

A few extra seconds /between/. More than enough time for the tears to
freeze on N'vanik's cheeks.

Last updated on the May 29th 2024

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Frozen