Early Arrival|

[elainsie]

The pains had started during the night but Accalia dismissed them as being the false contractions other mothers had told her about. After all there was still a month to go, her baby was not due until the first month of Autumn, it was too soon for her to be experiencing the true contractions. Though uncomfortable they were not unbearable however they did make sleep hard to come by for the rest of the night, her huge belly not aiding matters as she tried to find a comfortable position to lie in.

Accalia was on the verge of falling asleep when she felt a warm wetness course down her leg, and it was this that warned her, these were no false contractions. She knew what to expect, in theory at least, had heard countless tales and it was obvious her waters had broken. But it’s too soon, this should not be happening for weeks yet, Accalia fretted, lifting herself up slowly form the bed.

Stay where you are, I will get a Healer to come to you, you are in no fit state to move, Rownith bespoke Accalia form her werycouch, the anxiety of her rider having woken her up from her own sleep. Rownith was not fond of speaking to other riders or weyrfolk but in extenuating circumstances she would, and this was one.

Accalia nodded through gritted teeth as a wave of pain rippled across her abdomen. This time it had hurt. One hand clutched at her abdomen as the other clenched at the sheets. A few hours before she had only felt one contraction every five minutes or so however now it was not only the intetnsity but the speed that had picked up.

Journeywoman Healer Gemina bustled into the room with a bevy of bleary eyed apprentices following behind. Ever since confirming her pregnancy Gemina had been the Healer she had seen and although not the most friendly of people she was most certainly competent in her Craft. She took one look at Accalia’s face, and frowned. “You’re having contractions aren’t you?” To which Accalia could only nod her head mutely, biting her lip as another wave of pain rippled through her.

“Stop standing there gawking, go change the sheets for her, and one of you, make up a calming tea,” she instructed the apprentices, all of which rushed to do her bidding as she crossed over to Accalia. “I will need to check a few things, but I’ll wait until the bed is made up. For now let’s get you up and walking for a bit. Looks like this baby is anxious to make an early entry,” the Healer gave the pregnant Jade rider a smile, though fought down her own concern at the early labour. It would not help Accalia in the slightest if she detected her misgivings.

“Will it…be ok?” she asked through labored breaths, holding tightly onto Gemina’s hand.

The Healer did not want to lie, but neither did she want t reveal the bald truth; there was a reasonable chance either Accalia the baby or both might be at risk. “We are going to do the best we can, your baby will have the best chance possible. But you must not worry Accalia, that will only cause the baby to become distressed.” Shooting a glance over her shoulder she saw the apprentices had finished their tasks, and she walked Accalia back towards the bed. Propping a pillow behind Accalia, and another at the crook of her knees, Gemina attempted to make Accalia as comfortable as possible before performing a number of tests to see if the baby was effaced and how far dilated Accalia was.

While this was going on Rownith’s triangular head bobbed in view of one of the windows watching the scene within. Accalia had not mentioned K’dran once, and yet Rownith remembered the promise Dharth had extracted from them both. Should she alert the black pair of what was happening, what could they really do but be a hindrance at this time? Nonetheless Rownith had no desire to deal with Dharth’s anger so she reached out for the great Black.

I thought you and your rider might want to know Accalia is in a great deal of pain and a Healer is with her.

[Desert]

Dharth was not pleased to have been roused from his sleep in the middle of the night. His eyes took on a smudge of muddy red and his tail-tip flicked; even once Rownith had finished her warning and the big black had touched Accalia's mind to figure out what exactly the jade meant, his irritation wasn't assuaged. Still, this was important, so he swung his huge head around in the direction of K'dran's weyr. The blackrider was in the deepest stage of sleep, and nothing short of an earthquake was likely to wake him. Dharth telepathically blasted K'dran's mind into consciousness. K'dran! Accalia has gone into labor.[/b][/color]

Rudely thrust into wakefulness, K'dran sat up sharply with his heart racing. He frowned blearily, still confused from having been abruptly pulled from deep sleep, and Dharth had to repeat the message before his rider realized what was going on. As soon as he did, the lanky blackrider nearly fell off the men in his haste. Juno fell from her niche coiled up on the pillow, blinking between before she hit the ground; she joined the throng of other fire lizards gathered inside and on the roof of Accalia's weyr, adding her voice to the crescendoing hum. K'dran was left to bumble through his ill-lit weyr, pulling on a jacket to ward off the cold, and descend to the ground as speedily as he could.

I thought she wasn't supposed to be due for another month! he thought, slightly desperately, as he rushed toward the jaderider's weyr.

You humans have long been known to whelp young at the most inopportune times,[/b][/color] Dharth remarked wryly. He gaped a cavernous yawn and rested his head on crossed forepaws, letting the inner nictitating membranes slide closed. He wouldn't doze off again, not until the excitement was over, but he saw no use in getting worked up the way his rider was.

K'dran approached the brightly-lit weyr. He had to pause momentarily at the door to let his eyes adjust, but just as he was about to step through the door one of the Healer apprentices accosted him. He growled under his breath and replied: "I think I have a right to be here, since I'm the father," he told the apprentice with ill-concealed impatience. "I'll keep safely out of your way and do whatever you need me to, just let me stay."

Juno dropped down from the eaves and took up her perch on K'dran's shoulder; he as much felt the throbbing hum resonating through the spring's little warm body as he heard it. The blackrider's gaze was drawn to Accalia, taking in her pained expression.

The Healer there believes there is a good chance Accalia might not survive, or the child,[/b][/color] Dharth told him dispassionately. That is not surprising, given how early the birth is.[/b][/color]

K'dran bit his lip at the news. Might not survive? What would happen then? If Accalia died but the child survived, would he have to give it up to a foster carer? But if the child died, Accalia would likely be inconsolable; just as bad a situation, in his mind. If both died... Juno crooned soothingly when she sensed K'dran's distress and rubbed her head against his cheek.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

Accalia had tried hard to remain lucid, had wanted to be aware of what was going on around her and of the birth itself, but the pain had been so unbearable, so much worse than anything she had suffered through before, that Gemina had forced her to take the powerful tonic prepared, assuring her it would take the edge off. And it had done so, at least for a short time. But it also left her feeling muddled and although she tried to concentrate on what was being said around her, the words sounded muffled, as if they were coming from quite a distance away.

The only presence she could be sure of was that of Rownith's, the Jade dragon constantly brushing against her mind, assuring her that there would eventually be an end to the pain and the exhaustion. That K'dran was present, Accalia was completly oblivious of, her whole focus centred on the safe arrival of her child and the incessant, unrelenting pain.

Gemina however had noticed the kerfuffle at the door, a sharp retort on the tip of her tounge for whoever thought to disturb her, and had to close her mouth quickly to stop the small gasp of surprise as she recognised the man. It had been a matter of contention among the apprentices and journeyman whether K'dran would make an appearance or not, and marks had been exchanged in wager. While Gemina herself had not taken part and was generally not a gossip by nature, even her curiosity was piqued to see the Wingleader, especially consierding the hour.

There was no one in the Weyr who had not heard of the harrowing incident that had occured 6 months ago, how could anyone have missed the dragons keening, and yet Gemina had been of the personal opinion that it had been a result of Dharth's possesive and sadistic nature rather than any real concern of K'dran's. After all the man was well known through out Eden for his apathetic and unsociable tendencies.

This display of K'dran's though changed things as far as Gemina was concerned, her face taking on a thoughtful look as she studied the blackrider.

The apprentice that had blocked his pathway was either very foolish or brave Gemina privately thought. "Hallia, do as the man says and let him enter. After all he does have every right to witness this," Whatever the outcome may be, Gemina thought the last part to herself.

Hallia gave a quick glance to K'dran, trying to hide the trembling, before dipping her head and darting back into the room. At any other time Gemina would have been fighting to smile but not now. The truth was things were not going as she would have liked. Accalia was laboring too hard for so early on, the timing was all wrong, and Gemina deduced from the size of Accalia's abdomen and the premature labor that her intial suspicians may have been correct. Accalia was carrying more than just the one child. With a sigh, the Healer left Accalia's side for the time being, there was little anyone could do for a while, and approached the balckrider.

"I think it best if you know the truth, Wingleader K'dran. " She pushed back her dark hair as she spoke quietly to the man, rubbing the back of her head as she continued. "I am very concerned for Accalia and her babies. And yes, I say babies because I believe there is more than one. This situation with even one is dangerous, with two....well it's just that much worse. This is too much for me alone, and once I finish talking to you I will send for a Master Healer from the Healer Hall. We still have some time, but already Accalia languishes and we need her as strong as possible for the birth." The journeywoman met the blackrider's eye wondering just what was going on behind that impassive face of his, did he care that Accalia might die? That their children may not survive the birth?

[Desert]

Although the news that the chances weren't good came as no surprise, that fact didn't make it any easier for K'dran to accept. The habit of keeping his emotions to himself was too long-ingrained to allow his expression to slip from its mask of sleepy indifference much, except for a faint wince. He was surprised by the Healer's belief that there was more than one child. "I suspected as much," he sighed, absently stroking Juno's soft hide. "And if there was anything I could do, I'd offer my services." He grimaced again and shook his head.

Do you still have enough of a fixation to lend a hand here? he asked Dharth. Though since the black's vigil had relaxed some of late, K'dran privately thought Dharth had lost interest; it was disheartening.

It depends.[/b][/color]

K'dran was mildly surprised that the black hadn't already divined what his rider was planning. At the very least, mind-speak the Master this woman has in mind to summon from Healer Hall. If you're feeling particularly motivated to ensure the survival of your fixation, maybe even get the Healer here faster. Not that he really expected Dharth to do more than wake the Healer and tell them they were needed at the Weyr.

The big black pondered for a few moments, tail flicking pensively. K'dran had exceeded his expectations in the amount of interest he showed in Accalia -- the man was actually requesting his help to do something! With a soft grunt, Dharth heaved himself to his feet. Tell that Healer she need not drum the Hall,[/b][/color] he commanded. The black behemoth soon lifted off, rising just above the canopy before blinking between.

The shock of Dharth actually humoring him broke though K'dran's mask, which dissolved into a rather dumbfounded expression. "Dharth has just gone to fetch the Healer," he told Gemina. "He should be back in a few moments."

The big black reappeared dangerously close to the ground in the Eastern Healer Hall's landing courtyard, and lifted his massive head to peer at the Hall itself. He found the Healer in question and jarred her awake with a thought. Healer, you are needed in Eden Weyr.[/b][/color] He waited for her to gather her wits after being roused to abruptly, and sent into her mind what he'd picked from Gemina's thoughts.

Considering she'd been rudely awakened by a dragon voice in her mind, she managed to gather her implements and meet Dharth outside in a remarkably short time. Though since it was still dark, the black's shadow-colored body was nigh on impossible to see in the murky pre-dawn; Dharth impatiently grabbed some of the Healer's tunic in his teeth and pulled her to where he was crouched on his belly. A none-too-gentle boost got her on his shoulders. Hold on tightly,[/b][/color] he warned just before leaping into the air. Thankfully she'd been a-dragonback before, so didn't panic when he took her between.

Once again, he emerged from the void very close to the ground, though a few beats of his wings made the landing smooth enough not to dislodge his passenger. K'dran had stepped out of the weyr when a mind-touch from the black alerted him to their return, so he was able to held the masterHealer off Dharth's back. He turned to peer into the wheeling eye looming above, mostly calm greens. "That was unexpected," he remarked wryly.

Let it stay so,[/b][/color] the black replied testily. He jumped agilely back into the air and glided back to his couch, leaving K'dran to reenter the weyr. Once more, he leaned against the wall with arms crossed over his chest, watching the goings on with an expression of disinterest. Juno had her little head pressed into his cheek, trying to soothe the turbulent emotions she sensed radiating from her human.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

"Your black will get her?" The Journeywoman Healer asked rather incredoulousy. The surprise was written all over her face, from the raised eyebrows, to the rather perplexed set of her features. Gemina felt a moments worth of worry for the Master Healer, just how would she react to the black's presence, but then reassured herself that Riona was a plucky woman and would no doubt take it all within her stride. Although starting to get on in Turns she had been amidst enough drama to keep a cool head even when presented with the most unlikely of scenarios. No Riona would be fine, and hopefully she would know what to do to save Accalia and her children.

And as stated by K'dran, Dharth had delivered Riona to Accalia's weyr, and although Gemina gave a quick glance over at the older Healer, the woman seemed more intent on making her way to Accalia's bedside than being fussed over. "What's happened so far?" The woman asked in her soft, yet commanding voice, and Gemina rushed over to Riona's side, beginning to explain the onset of the premature labor.

=-=-=-=-

Rukbhat was high in the sky by the time Riona deemed Accalia ready to deliver the first of what they had all come to believe were twins. They had tried their best to keep her energy levels up, giving her a variety of concotions and another mixture to help with the contractions but Riona was doubtful as to whether the jade rider would be able to push one baby out, let alone two.

"Finish this up, and then we will get you to push Accalia," the Master Healer cradled the younger woman's head, as she dribbled a small amount of the mixture down her throat, Accalia staring up at her from a pale and sweaty face, her eyes bloodshot and sunken.

Finally the entire mixture was swallowed, with only a few drops having been spilled, and Riona gave the command for Accalia to start to push.

=-=-=-
The second child, a girl just like the one that had arrived first, had come more easily and one of the apprentices took the second baby to join the first, making sure the baby was breathing and wiping the small body with a cloth. Gemina supervised the care of the two babies, while Riona finished up with Accalia, delivering the afterbirth and cleaning things up. "You did well Accalia, and now you have two beautiful daughters."

However her brow met in the middle as she noticed the volume of the bright red blood on the cloths between Accalia's legs. "She's haemorrhaging. Gemina please make up the drink to contract her uterus, we have to stop this before she loses too much blood."

However Accalia heard none of this, had barely been aware of the birth of her two daughters, instead following the command to push until told to stop, before collapsing back onto the pillows. She felt so tired, so dizzy, if only she would be allowed to fall asleep and not wake up for a very long time.

Gemina did as the elder woman instructed passing the cup to Riona before approaching K'dran again. "Despite being small and early both your daughters are doing remarkably well. Congratulations Wingleader." The Healer gave a warm smile which quickly faded. "Unfortunately the same can't be said about Accalia. We are doing our best to stop the blood flow, but only time will tell whether she responds to the tonic or not. If she does not, there is every chance she will not make it. I am very sorry," the woman's eyes conveyed her sympathy to K'dran as she fought the instict to place a hand on the man's shoulder.

[Desert]

K'dran looked on anxiously. As the hours dragged by he stayed in the weyr, unwilling to leave. He comandeered a chair and slumped into it, though despite the fact that his eyes were heavy and were burning dully, he stayed awake. Dharth maintained telepathic silence; about the time Accalia was ready to push out her babies, the big black was digging into a snack from the feeding pens.

Juno remained coiled around K'dran's neck. He continued running his hand absently across her soft tri-colored hide, both of them taking comfort from the mindlessly repetitive motion. Every time Accalia cried out, the spring would croon in sympathy and rub her head against K'dran's cheek. Toward noon, the blackrider sent her off to hunt up food for herself, though she only left her human's side reluctantly. K'dran himself forewent lunch, ignoring the pangs of hunger.

He looked up as Gemina approached him. His facade of indifference had slipped enough for some of the worry that was tormenting him to show; as he was given the news, instead of looking even more distressed as perhaps the Healer expected, his expression smoothed out completely. He sighed heavily and looked at the ground for a few moments, inky bangs obscuring his eyes, before looking back up at the journeywoman. "All right. Thank you for all you've done," he said. K'dran's voice was mostly level, though there was an edge to it that would have been hard to catch for someone unfamiliar with the blackrider.

Now K'dran was torn. He wanted to go see his daughters, but he was afraid to at the same time. If Accalia died, no doubt the twins would go to a foster carer; most of the weyrfolk were as wary of him and his dragon as his wingriders, so he wasn't sure if the fosterer would let him spend time with his daughters as he wanted to. If that was the case, he didn't want to form that initial bond, only to have it broken again so quickly. Plagued by those uncertainties, he didn't make a move to go to the two baby girls, though he knew the Healer would think worse of him for that hesitation.[/size]

[elainsie]

Gemina hesitated, realising K'dran had all but dismissed her, but reluctant to just walk off and leave the man alone. She could read the dejection in his posture, had seen the fleeting concern in his eyes and was quietly pleased by it. On some level he did care, by the shell he had stayed in the weyr the whole time, and if that was no proof then nothing was.

The Healer approached the apprentices, and picked up the first tiny bundle, K'dran's first born, from the male apprentice who had been keeping a watchful eye over her. "Hallia, have you finished with the second baby?" Gemina asked of the girl, receiving a nod of the head in reply. "Good, I want you to make sure she is wrapped up snuggly and then bring her over to Wingleader K'dran."

With only a few long steps she was back over to where the blackrider sat propped up in the chair. "This is your first daughter, just look at the eyes on her." The Healer's glance flicked up to K'dran's face where the same hue was reflected. If anyone had thought to doubt the paternity this was all the proof needed to still wagging tongues.

Hallia approached Gemina, and the Journeywoman stood back so K'dran's second daughter could be presented to him. "And this is your other daughter. The two are identical." Gemina added, as she shifted the slight weight of the first baby in her arms. "Do you wish to name them now? Or would you like to wait a while?" Gemina wondered if the pair had discussed names, wondered if K'dran would indeed name them at all should Accalia not make it. "Would you like to hold them?" She asked gently, not wanting to push the man but reading something in those peculiar eyes that he had passed onto his two tiny daughters.

While Gemina spoke to K'dran, Riona was busy trying to staunch the flow of blood from Accalia. The young woman had lost conciousness from the loss of blood, and while the flow seemed to have been reduced, Riona was not confidant enough that all would be well just yet.

[Desert]

Once Gemina had walked away, K'dran had dropped his head back down, propping it up with the of one hand. It was Juno's chirrup that made him lift his head again, and what caught his gaze was his own eyes peering at him. His breath hitched as he stared at the first, then switching his gaze to the second twin. They both had black hair to go with their pale eyes -- so his daughters would take physically after him. K'dran swallowed around the lump forming in his throat.

When the Healer offered to let him hold them, at first he hesitated, his eyes flickering over to Accalia's pale, still form. Juno creeled encouragingly; between the eagerness he sensed from the flit to have a look at the new babies and his own ill-suppressed emotions, he soon capitulated and held out his arms for the twin girls.

K'dran cradled them gently while a smile tugged unbidden at his lips. Juno leaned over from her perch on his shoulder to give the infants a closer inspection, and after a few moments she straightened up with a satisfied creel. K'dran chuckled. "So I can keep them?" he asked the flit wryly.

He let his fingers rest lightly on the tiny palm of the firstborn, and the infant's hand closed firmly over his fingers. The tiny smile that had quirked his lips spread a bit. By this time he'd mostly forgotten about Gemina's query about naming them, too absorbed in the moment.

Well, K'dran, are you going to name the little whelps or not?[/b][/color] Dharth asked impatiently. The scorn in his dragon's mind-voice broke the seemingly magical moment, and K'dran looked back up at the Healer. "Ah, I guess I'll name them now," he said uncertainly. The blackrider glanced back down at his daughters as he pondered. "Kaliara... and Adria," he decided at length. "At this point, there's no telling them apart, so I guess figuring out who's who can wait a little while." He chuckled weakly.[/font][/color][/size]

[elainsie]

Gemina had shooed Hallia away once the babies had been placed in the blackrider's arms, and she herself had taken a few steps back allowing the Wingleader his moment with his newborn daughters. It was rather touching to see the smile that crossed his face, in that moment he was just like any other father revelling in the new life he had helped create, as opposed to the apathetic black rider that the Weyr regarded him as.

The Healer nodded her head as K'dran named the girls, "Both are beautiful names that will surely serve them well throughout their life." Gemina was pleased to notice he had followed traditional Weyr custom in the naming, using part of his own name and that of Accalia's for both the girls. "Is there anything else I can do or get for you? The babies will need feeding soon but I was hoping we might have been able to wait a bit." Her glance over at Accalia's form was more than enough to suggest what it was they were waiting for, but the Healer gave a resigned sigh. Even if the twins mother survived she would most likely be too weak.

"Perhaps we should look for a nursemaid?" She phrased the question delicately, not wanting to dash any hopes but also having to be realistic about the current situation. The babies would need food, and soon, and Accalia was in no position to fed them at the moment.

Riona washed her hands in redwort, satisifed that the bleeding had stopped. As long as no infection set in, and the bleeding did not start up again, if Accalia regained consciousness the Master Healer felt sure that there was hope for the young woman's life. It seemed so cruel that she may die considering the effort she had gone to deliver the children, and yet Accalia would certainly not be the first new mother to travel such a pathway. It was an unfortunate situation.

[Desert]

Juno clambered down K'dran's arm to perch in the crook of his elbow, right next to the second-born. The spring curled her tail about her paws, and as the tip lightly brushed the baby's hand, the infant curled her little hand around Juno's tail. A slightly indignant creel was Juno's only response; she nosed the child's hand with her muzzle, but gave up as a bad job trying to remove the chubby fist, so she put up with it. K'dran chuckled at his fire lizard's dicomfiture.

Dharth, back sunning on his couch, tilted his head in the draconic version of rolling eyes. If the result of all this was to make K'dran turn all soft and sentimental over a pair of squirmy, wrinkled pink things then perhaps this wasn't the best idea. The man had surprised him by getting so deeply involved -- he'd expected K'dran's interest only to last until birth, then when the mess started and the shrieking babies emerged, he would become disenchanted with the whole ordeal. But apparently Dharth had overestimated how far much the apathy had tainted K'dran's personality. A pity.

If K'dran sensed the derisive thoughts of his dragon, he completely ignored them. Not much could ruin this surreal moment as he gazed upon the two tiny beings he had helped bring into the world. He'd never put much stock in the old adage "the miracle of parenthood," but now he was beginning to understand what it meant.

But, when Gemina mentioned a nursemaid, it brought the blackrider back to reality. He looked up at Accalia again, and some of his earlier misgivings came back when he saw her still white face. It would undoubtedly be a blow to lose the person he'd come to think of as a friend, but it would be a double-blow in that he'd have to give up his daughters to a foster carer. He looked back down at the twins and heaved a sigh of resignation.

"If that's best," he replied quietly. Juno looked up at K'dran, her eyes flecking with purple when she sensed his distress, and crooned softly up at her human.[/color][/size]

[elainsie]

"It would only need to be temporary," Riona joined Gemina by K'dran's chair, having overheard the last bit of the conversation. "I believe that as of now Accalia will recover, though she will be required to remain in bed for an extended period of time. The labor and birth were quite taxing upon her, and the loss of such a large amount of blood did not help. I will remain with her here until I see that she wakes up and nothing untoward has occurred. But for the time being it would be best for both your girls if we get someone to nurse them." The Master Healer looked between Gemina and K'dran, before settling on K'dran.

"Also I think once we get the nursemaid in here you might want to grab something to eat and have a rest yourself. It has been a long night, and part of a day, and I did not see you leave once. You will be no help to anyone if your exhausted and lacking energy," she chided the Wingleader as if he was a small boy, but the smile she gave him took the sting out of her words. "That is of course if you can tear yourself away from your two little daughters. It's quite amazing how much they take after you," the Master Healer comented idly.

[Desert]

Riona's assuranced made the blackrider relax. He nodded in agreement while relief visibly eased his expression, though that couldn't stop the two infants in his lap from drawing his gaze back down.

"You're right, I really should get a bite to eat," he admitted. His stomach felt like it was clinging to his spine, and was panging with hunger incessantly. He was loath to leave the two tiny babies, but his own body's demands needed to be satisfied. It would also give the Healers a chance to get things in order and find a wet-nurse. "Though at the moment I won't be able to get to sleep."

He glanced back up at the two Healers, and reluctantly held up the babies for one of them to hold. Juno lit from his arm and swooped out the door with a business-like chirp, as if to assure the Healers that she'd make sure K'dran ate something. He rolled his eyes slightly at the flit's antics, but obediently followed her out.

The blackrider spotted Rownith nearby. Well, the jade seemed relaxed enough, so it seemed like Accalia would make it after all. He took a deep breath and trudged off toward the mess hall, accompanied by a restlessly swooping fire lizard. After having stayed by K'dran's side for the whole ordeal, she had a lot of pent-up energy that she was using up now in a series of dizzying aerobatics around her human's head.

When he got to the mess, unlike many new fathers who would go about yelling to the world about his new offspring, K'dran collected his food and ate it in his usual subdued silence. Dharth was glad that at least his rider retained that much dignity. When he caught that thought from the black's mind, K'dran merely rolled his eyes. Life was bound to be interesting from now on between the blackpair.

Once he was finished inhaling the high-piled plate of food, K'dran wavered just outside the door of the mess hall. He wanted to return to Accalia's weyr and see how his daughters and their mother were doing, but he didn't want to get in the Healers' way. Fardle it, he thought to himself, and set off resolutely toward the jaderider's weyr.

Once he arrived, he leaned uncertainly into the door, trying to ascertain if it was all right for him to enter. Since no one immediately turned him away, he sidled into the room and took up the chair he'd vacated to go eat. Juno stayed outside to sun herself on the roof -- within reach, but not cooped up inside since her human seemed well enough on his own for now.[/color][/size]

[elainsie]

Some hours later......

It was night time once again, Riona having drifted off in an exhausted sleep by Accalia's bedside when the jaderider finally opened her eyes. It was with alarm she looked down at her stomach not feeling the characteristic movement of the baby within, her hands clutching at her still enlargened abdomen. She felt a dull aching within, but aside from that...nothing. It's ok mine, you are better now. But we were all worried about you for sometime. You went into labor. At least that was what I think the Healers said, it is a rather unusual term. Rownith reached out for Accalia's mind, as much to comfort herself that she could hear Accalia again as to reassure her rider.

Groping for the memory of what had happened she remembered the fogginess from the drugs, the command to push, and relaxed a little against the pillows, Rownith adding her own reassurances now that her rider was finally awake.

So her baby had been born, but where was it? Her eyes darted to the spot near one of the windows were she had set up a crib in expectation for her child. Accalia tried to sit up on the edge of the bed, tried to swing her legs so they could reach the floor, but even doing that much left her exhausted and she sat limply on the edge.

It was then Riona's eyes snapped open a perplexed look on the older woman's face. "You're awake. But what in the name of Faranth are you trying to do. Lie back down, you'll only do yourself harm trying to pull such a stunt." The Healer helped Accalia back into the large bed, tucking a fur around her.

"My baby, is it ok?" She asked, trying to stop the woman fussing over her but to no avail.

The Healer gave the woman a smile that reached her eyes, "Of course they are. You have two beautiful daughters. But as I told their father, you'll be no use to anyone if you do not look after yourself. Babies require a lot of work and they will need a healthy mother to take care of them."

Accalia's dark eyes widended, and her mouth formed a small 'O' of surprise. "Two? I had twins?" And then a rather sheepish smile spread over her face as she reclined against the pillows. "I should have guessed as much. I was so big, and twins run in my family." Not only was her mother an identical twin, her eldest sister also had twin boys. "Do I get to see them?" Accalia asked anxiously, craning her head in the direction of the crib but not getting even a glimpse for her troubles.

"Only if you promise to remain in bed," the Healer warned as she made her way to the crib and placed one girl in each of her arms. "This one is Adria, she was born first," Riona said as she placed the elder of the twins in Accalia's left arm. "And this one is Kaliara. K'dran named them." The second baby was placed gently into Accalia's crooked right arm.

"They are so small," She said incredulously, as she stared down at the sleeping forms of Adria to Kaliara, her heart feeling so full as she gazed down at her babies. It had been worth every minute of agony and heartache for this moment, to cradle her daughters in her arms. The she remebered what Riona had said and her sparkling eyes met the older woman's. "You said K'dran named them, was he here?"

The Healer nodded. "The entire time. We eventually forced him to bed, but that was only a few hours ago."

"I see," her voice conveyed her surprise at the news but privately she was pleased. "He chose very nice names, I'm rather impressed."
[/size]

[Desert]

K'dran hadn't gone back to his own weyr willingly, but by the time the Healers finally drove him out around sunset, when he got to his weyr he was tired enough to pass out the moment he reached the bed. Still, he'd posted Juno back with Accalia, so he'd know when something happened.

The sping had been lounging on a shelf near the bed, and when Riona started talking, she was roused from her doze. The spring creeled a cheery greeting to Accalia and hopped down onto the jaderider's shoulders, giving her cheek a quick rub with her head before the flit jumped into the air and blinked out of sight.

Juno reappeared just above K'dran's head and dropped onto the thatch of black hair, uttering a piercing whistle to wake the blackrider. He groaned sleepily and rolled over, nearly squishing Juno before she scrambled out of the way. She walked back onto his chest and patted the blackrider's face repeatedly with one wing. Her incessant chirps finished waking him up; K'dran's pale eyes cracked open to frown blearily at the spring. "Huh wha?"

Juno sent him the image of Accalia holding the two babies and chirruped proudly for fulfilling her task. He grinned at Juno and scratched her chin fondly. "Thank you, Juno." It was the work of a moment to pull his boots on, and he scaled down the tree much more gracefully than he had the night before.

A few minutes later he peered around the door to Accalia's weyr. "A little flitter told me you woke up," he said, grinning, as Juno swooped into the room with a happy creel.[/color][/size]

[elainsie]

Riona nodded to the blackrider as he entered the weyr, "I think I will take my leave now seeing as you appear alright. Though I will have Gemina give you a look over in the morning, and if anything should change be sure to fetch either myself or her." The last part Riona directed at K'dran, trusting the blackrider to look after Accalia more so than the rider herself would.

"Thank you for all your help," Accalia spoke as the woman prepared to leave, though her eyes did not deviate from her daughters' faces.

"It's what I do," she gave a small smile. "Take good care of those two girls, I want to see they have put on lots of weight next time I come to Eden. Good bye Accalia, Wingleader K'dran." And with that the woman walked out of the weyr, leaving the two parents alone for the first time with their babies.

Accalia finally tore her gaze away and looked up at K'dran. She felt rather awkward, as if the addition of their children had changed things between them yet again. "I was told you stayed here the whole time. " She finally spoke, "Thank you for that. Although I imagine it was a rather greusome site." Her pale cheeks colored at the thought of just what he had seen. Perhaps if she had been well enough she would have forced the man out of the room, but there had been nothing she could have done.

Pushing back her dark hair, she cradled the girls closer to her. "Riona also said you named them. What made you choose Adria and Kaliara?"