Being Pregnant as a Weyrling

Writers: Ames, Emma
Date Posted: 18th February 2014

Characters: H'vack, Ameala, Fitchan
Description: The Weyrlingmaster explains what will happen for the pregnant weyrling moving forward
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 12 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Solieira

He knew it was time. He had to talk to them both. He'd already spoken
to the girl many times, and his staff had made adjustments, but it was
time he truly made sure the pair of them knew what was to be expected.

H'vack waited for them to arrive in his office so this meeting could begin.

Ameala had gotten the summons and knew Fitchan had as well. She waited
just outside the Weyrlingmaster's office until he arrived. She wanted
them to enter together.

"I'm here," Fitchan called out as he approached. "I had to rearrange some
jobs."

She breathed a sigh of relief. She knew the Weyrlingmaster had been
kind and fair, but he was also no-nonsense when it came to matters of
the weyrlings and the Weyr. She was worried about what would take
place during this meeting. She knew they couldn't take Ingoth away
from her, but she didn't know what else might happen.

Turning, with Fitchan by her side, she made her way to his office.
When her knock was answered by a brusque, "Come in."

Taking a deep breath, she entered with Fitchan.

H'vack looked up, knowing the pair should be arriving soon. "Good, you
both made it. We have much to discuss. Sit." He gestured to the chairs
in front of his desk. He eyed the girl, noting that she was starting
to show more now, though someone might mistake it for just extra
weight if they didn't know better.

Fitchan held out the chair for Ameala, the tenderness in her eyes for her
alone. He still couldn't believe that he was finally going to become a
father.

Ameala took the seat, smiling tenderly up at Fitchan. Then she turned
her eyes to H'vack, wondering where this meeting would go.

H'vack shifting some hides on his desk, looked at the pair, and then
cleared his throat.

"I've met with Ameala a few times already, though most of her needs
have been met by the rest of the weyrling staff up until now." The he
paused and looked to Fitchan. "We have yet to have a meeting. I'm glad
you could join us. There is much to discuss related to Ameala and
Ingoth's training as well as the babe she carries."

He pulled a hide out of the stack. "I've been receiving basic reports
from the healers on your progress Ameala. From what I've read, all is
going well?" He looked to her.

"Yes," she nodded, "the healers have expressed that the pregnancy is
going as they would expect."

H'vack nodded. "And from what you and they have surmised you should
deliver...?" He waited for her to reply.

"They are expecting that the baby should come near the very end of
month 8," she replied, glancing over at Fitchan.

"Right, that's what I've read as well. The healers have done some
calculations for me and they surmise you should be safe for most
training and even travel, including learning to go /between/ until
late month 6." H'vack explained. "We are expecting your class to have
their first jumps /between/ at the beginning of month 6, so you should
be able to join us for that." He paused, waiting to see if either had
anything to ask or add before he went on.

"When will it be too much?" asked Fitchan. "The healers, well, they don't
really know what sort of things a weyrling has to do, and I only know from
Ameala."

H'vack nodded towards Fitchan. It was a good question and one that a
concerned father _should_ ask. He appreciated that about the man.

Looking at the hide from the healers and considering the information
from Ameala, he responded. "She _will_ be able to make her first jump
/between/ and graduate to senior weyrling, which I'm sure you'll both
appreciate," H'vack started. Then adding to that he continued, "After
that, however, I would not take any further changes with her and
Ingoth going /between/ again as we would be moving into a later part
of her pregnancy and it could be more dangerous for her and the babe."

He looked to the pair of them again, "She will be able to continue
with basic classwork and lessons, as long as the healers deem her
healthy to do so, but she won't be participating in any of our flying
lessons after that point. Not only do we not want them to accidentally
find themselves /between/, which becomes part of most of our lessons
from that point forward, we also don't want Ameala to fall from the
back of Ingoth as she gets bigger with the child. We'll assign her
other duties to do while the weyrlings continue the rest of their
training." He paused, waiting to see if either had any comments or
questions for him yet.

"So, I _will_ get to graduate to senior weyrling and be able to live
with Fitchan again?" Ameala asked, eager to know that they could once
again be together.

"Yes," H'vack replied, "if that's what you desire, you will be able to
do that as you will be assigned your own weyr at that time."

Fitchan reached out to gently squeeze Ameala's hand at that news. Knowing
that it wouldn't be too long before they could be together again, and that
he'd be able to help her when she needed it, instead of relying on the
kindness of strangers meant a lot to him.

"What sort of things will she get to do," asked the technician. "We've
waited for this baby for so long, and now neither of us would risk anything
happening to him or her."

"Mostly it will be ground work, perhaps even working in the kitchens
on non-thread days. It can't involve heavy lifting, so transport and
things are out. If you'd prefer I'm sure we could arrange to have you
work in the infirmary on a daily basis instead of the kitchens. You
would of course help in the infirmary on any Thread days. You'll
attend classes as long as you are able. The ones that don't involve
dragonriding, flying or /between/ of course. We'll have you make up
all those lessons at a later date once the baby is born and you have
been cleared to return back to duties," H'vack finished and waiting
for a response from Ameala on which duty she would prefer.

"I think I'd rather work in the kitchens on most days. I'm not all
that good in the infirmary," Ameala replied. She always tried and had
learned many skills since coming to the Weyr, but cooking and kitchen
work had been much easier for her.

"Alright then, I think that part is settled. I'll speak with Solieira
and let her know that you will be spending more candlemarks in the
kitchens. You will need to reduce the time you spend working on those
tasks so you get enough time to rest, but we'll leave those specifics
up to you and healers to decide how much time you can actually work
each day," H'vack stated. He waited to see if either had any more
questions.

Fitchan reached out again to gently squeeze Ameala's hand. The news that
she'd be in the kitchens, with plenty of people to fuss over her and make
sure she didn't over exert herself as she got nearer to her time. "What if
the healers say she needs to rest completely? Who'll look after her dragon
then?"

H'vack thought that over. It didn't happen often in his experience.
"Well, we can hope it doesn't come to that, but to be prepared, I will
have some of the current candidates and some of the retired riders
step up to offer what assistance is needed. Ingoth will be taken care
of. I'll see to that if it comes to it. I've already prepared a few of
the candidates for assisting Ameala, as she _will_ need help moving
forward. They will be ready when the time comes."

"That's good to hear, I, we don't want anything to go wrong with this, for
any of us." Fitchan glanced at Ameala, "Do we, love."

"No, we don't," Ameala replied, "Thank you for being so accommodating
to the situation and to us, Weyrlingmaster."

He just nodded and replied, "It's part of the job, Ameala. We want to
keep all our riders and dragons safe and healthy. It's not going to be
easy these last months for you and Ingoth, but we'll work together to
make sure everything is taken care of."

"If there is anything I can do," Fitchan said. "I mean it, for Ameala, for
the baby or Ingoth."

H'vack nodded to that, "Well, if you can spare the time to make sure
Ingoth is getting bathed and oiled, that would help alleviate the
burden on the other candidates and weyrlings who will have to step up
to help. Ameala can show you what to do. Perhaps you can work on the
higher parts as Ameala progresses while she focuses on staying on the
ground. In the meantime, just be there for her. I know that's what she
really needs from you." H'vack actually gave them both a hint of a
smile. He appreciated their love and care for each other. It wasn't
something he'd had nearly often enough in his own life.

"Otherwise, Ameala, it's back to classes and training for you until we
go /between/. Then we'll really make the modifications to your
schedule and training. _And_" H'vack added as he started to stand,
"Don't cross any boundaries between the two of you until then. You've
managed to restrain yourselves this long. Let's not ruin things when
we are finally this close. Got it?" This time it was the more stern
taskmaster talking, making sure they both understood that while they
may soon get to be together, _now_ was not the time.

Ameala nodded. "Understood, sir." She looked over at Fitchan with a
hint of a smile as she too prepared to leave the weyrlingmaster's
office.

Much as he'd like to cross some of those boundaries... It had been so long,
and now with a baby on the way, well it seemed that it would only be for a
few more sevendays, then he could sleep with his love in his arms all night
if they wanted, and maybe more. "Yes sir," he replied, with a special smile
for Ameala.

Last updated on the February 22nd 2014

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Being Pregnant as a Weyrling