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Harper's Tale  - Friday, November 30, 2001,
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Stables
Golden dust filtering down through the cracks in the floorboards of the hayloft cloud the air in this large, airy stable. High ceiling and for the most part filled with stalls, it gives the impression of a very large space, while in truth being modest in size. Several stalls line the eastern wall, filled with runners from prize animals on down to the oldest drudge beast in the hold; each carefully tended allotment piled high with warm hay from the grasslands outside. Completing the room is a large, easily sealed door with racks of tools and equipment that didn't fit in the loft.
There are 21 stalls here.
The stables are basically clean.
On the perch are Japhet and Prolixity.
You see Note - PLEASE READ, Tack Box, Stable Staff Info Board, and Athena here.
You notice Darr asleep here.
Obvious exits:
Beasthold Grasslands Racetrack Stall#

Rilna strolls heavily into the stables, glancing at a clipboard that's somehow materialized in her hands. "Hrm. Not a single hand in sight..." she mutters darkly, moving along the stablerows, and inspecting the runnerbeasts. "Well at least they've all been fed." she harrumphs, before a nicker, and some pawing catch her attention...

From Backdraft's Loose Box> Backdraft is the one making the noise, adding a rattling kick at his empty water bucket for good measure. He paces over to his manger, and utters a long sigh. Still empty. The only stablehands brave enough to approach the stallion haven't been in since morning. Another nicker, as he spots Rilna.

Rilna strolls over, and gives her stallion a quick pat while she surveys his stall, getting more than a little irate. "Water all gone, manger empty, and not cleaned since morning?!? Shhh, easy there, laddie, I'll see what I can do, pet." Casting a stealthy glance around for Healer-types or overprotective mates, the stablemistress lets herself into the stallion's stall.

From Backdraft's Loose Box> Backdraft moves back a pace to allow his favourite human into his domain, sniffing curiously at the bulge in her stomach as she moves. Stablemistresses are also broodmares? Hmm. He settles for standing protectively at the door, and glaring at the other stalions with a lordly air. /His/.

Rilna is still muttering to herself in lively fashion, applying a few choice words to the absent stablehands as she collects the empty water bucket, and waddles down the aisle to the cistern, filling it, and then slowly shuffling towards the stall again, muttering something furthur as she clasps her free hand to her lower back. "Ahh, there we go, my lord," she informs Backdraft, slipping back into his stall and placing the water in it's assigned spot.

From Backdraft's Loose Box> Backdraft abandons his lordly posing to drink thirstily from the water, pausing now and again to offer slobbery nosings to Rilna. All by way of thanks, after all.

Rilna stands in the stall with the stallion for a long moment, eyeing the empty manger as her stomach churns slightly, the babe restless from the long haul with the water bucket. She rubs soothingly at her abdomen. "Shh, Illi, shhhh. Don't get any strange ideas." And then the feeling passes, and with a shrug, she sets out to do something else forbidden. Can't leave her poor stallion hungry... Slipping out of the stall once more, she gives the ladder to the hayloft a stern glare, before slowly starting to climb, an "Ooof..." accompanying every ascended rung.

From Backdraft's Loose Box> Backdraft leaves off his drinking to pace to the front of his stall and watch Rilna, nickering again as he divines her intent.

A few of the Stables' collection of firelizards begin to take a sudden interest in Rilna, hopping and flying to new perches near her.

Rilna pauses at the top of the ladder, a few minutes later, huffing and puffing as she catches her breath. Straightening, she enters the hayloft, and muted grunting can be heard as the pregnant woman proceeds to manhandle a haybale to the hole. "Heads!" she calls in a breathy tone, before dropping the bale down, and starting her descent.

From Backdraft's Loose Box> Backdraft whinnies as he sees the bale descend. Lunch!! Hay!! With /alfala/ in it!! Oooooh.

Rilna pauses once more at the bottom, another one of the strange tightening sensations crossing her abdomen. She shrugs it off as over-exertion, and then slowly begins to lug the hay towards Backdraft's stall, pushing it, rather than lifting it. Opening the door, she weakly shoo's the stallion back. "Back... Back now, laddy. Just let me get this... in your manger." And with a final heave, the bale is placed. She drapes herself against the wooden crib of it for a moment, before cutting the twine, and giving the stud a pat, before waddling weakly away. "I need klah..."

**Elsewhere on Pern**

Heracles> Jathen and Sudanna's Room
Heracles> From high gently vaulted ceiling, hang four rounded glow baskets strategically placed to best illuminate Jathen's Room. As well as long dormer windows that let in light while conserving heat as much as possible. The room is large with smoothed stone walls and floor that are cold to the touch. Several large rugs covering most of the floor alleviate the major bite of winter's chill. The rugs are thick and sumptuous. They are patterned in forest green and gold fleur-de-lis pattern giving the room a pleasant, tasteful glow. Tapestries depicting many of Jathen's favorite things hide much of the bland stone walls. One wall is taken up by a press with a mirror in the door and a scrollshelf high enough to warrant a small footstool to reach the top. Scrolls are piled high in the upper shelves some are worn and old but most of them are new and some even blank, there is a stack of that new fangled paper stuff. On the lower shelves there are many medical accoutrements as well as vials and bottles of odd herbs and liquids as well as several cups and an oiled wineskin. In the middle close to the right side of the room a large well-cared-for antique ironwood desk is covered with scrolls, and writings. In the left side of the room, a huge hammock of finely woven ropes hangs from iron rings forced into the stone walls. The hammock, attached to the walls at three places, is easily the breath and length of a king sized bed. Soft cozy looking furs are piled high on it. There is a slight chill in the room that makes the warm furs and the roaring fire seem irresistible. The scents of the Healer's art pervade the room.
Heracles> You see Jathen's Hammock here.
Heracles> You notice Jathen asleep here.
Heracles> Sudanna is here.
Heracles> Obvious exits:
Heracles> Hallway Nursery
Heracles> Heracles blinks in from ::between::!
Heracles> Heracles flashes in from ::between::, circling anxiously about, eyes a mixture of concern and jubilation, a note fastened to the leg of the firelizard, who proubly sports colours of the Keroon Beasthold.
Heracles> Sudanna looks up, startled at the appearance of an unknown firelizard in her rooms.. "Well, hello.. what may I do for you?" As her mind quickly covers any patients who may be near their time.
Heracles> Sudanna spies the note and offers an arm for the little 'lizard to land on. No amount of work is worth taking a note from a flying creature.
Heracles> Heracles spots the HealerPerson's intent, and alights quickly, although the young blue still fairly quivvers as he waits for his message to be read.
Heracles> Sudanna smiles at the blue.. "Ahh, easy fellow... " takes the note and grimaces as she reads. Grabs a writing instrument and scribbles a hurried 'I am on my way.. bringing assistants. have my own ride.' And quickly ties the note back on the shivering blue's leg. with a last scritch.. "hurry home, dear.. She will be fine." And stand, quickly gathering her equipment and writing a second note to her husband.
Willow arrives from ::between:: and drops a note in your hand.
Heracles> Heracles twitters, and then zips away again, blinking ::between:: to return to his mistress, a snatch of the Birthing Song already rising from him.
Heracles> Heracles suddenly disappears ::between::!

**Back to the Scene**

You go to the The Hitching Post.
The Hitching Post
You see a bar. But not just any bar, a Keroon-ish bar. Full of Keroon-ites. And other unsavory things like that. It has been extended since it's last incarnation, going out almost another 20 feet into the courtyard, making room for a gigantic new serving bar which runs almost the whole length of the room, easily 90 feet long. The bar has been lovingly shaped and polished, the hard wood having been stained slightly darker then trimmed in brass. Behind it, you can see new everything: glasses, silverware, dishes, and, most importantly, fresh liquor! Woo-hoo! Off in one corner is a small door leading to an office for the head Hostess and her Assistant with a sign hanging on the door that says Please knock before entering. Originating near the office door is a joyous cacophony, the result of the newly renovated game room. Along the wall abutting the hold proper are doors into the Great Hall, the Dining Hall, and the Kitchen. Also along this wall is a staircase leading up into the rooms for travelers. The other two doors in the room lead out into the Courtyard and the Runner Room, respectively. Distributed throughout the room are table, square so that they can easily be pulled together for larger gatherings.
Sitting above the hearth are fourteen firelizards.
You see Meraviglia, Rex, Menu - Snacks and Drinks, and Wine Crate here.
Maverin is here.
Obvious exits:
Great Courtyard Great Hall Dining Hall Kitchen Game Room Stairs

Rilna waddles in from the stables, a few traces of hay caught in her hair. She settles at the nearest table, the heavily pregnant woman sweating slightly, and looking a little shaky as she places an order with the nearest drudge. "Juice, please. Cold juice." She doesn't even notice Maverin, doing her best to catch her breath.

Maverin glances up from the note he's currently scratching on a scrap of hide, obviously a rough draft of something. Worry sets immedietly into his cold eyes as he notices Rilna's condition and he shoots from his chair which is sent off it's legs at the man's abrupt and forceful rise, quickly striding over to the Stablemistress. "Rilna, what's wrong? Why are do you look so... frazzled?" he questions, hurriedly.

Rilna waves a hand, still doing her best to keep up the Invulnerable Stablemistress image. Despite looking pale. "Nothing, love, nothing." she assures, sipping greedily at her juice. "There were no stablehands around, and Backdraft hadn't been fed since the morning shift..." That strange tightening sensation returns again, this time more insistant, prompting a slight grimace on her face, more of puzzlement than pain.

Maverin still isn't convinced she's fine and holds out his arms to help her out of her chair. "You don't look at all fine, Rilna," he says, ignoring her excuses which is probably for the better as he might blow-up on the Stablemistress, "I'm taking you to the Healers." Enough said.

Rilna shakes her head. "Nooo, love, I'm /fine/..." she assures, attempting a weak protest. "Just... overdid it a little maybe." But she's not really in a condition to resist, and so she does take one of the offered hands, taking a sip of her juice hurriedly, as the odd feeling returns, this time distinctly painful. A hiss escapes her.

Maverin clutches the one hand carefully and moves his other to slip behind the small of her back. "Rilna, don't argue with me. We're going. You could've overdone it yesterday as well and knowing you, overdoing it a 'little maybe' is 'a lot'. Are you able to walk or would you rather I take you there?" He's stern and not about to back down from his decision to unwillingly take her to the Infirmary.

Rilna leans up against Maverin. "Just give me your arm, and I'll make it." She's intellecutally aware of what happening to her, but refuses to admit it. It's too soon.

Maverin frowns slightly and mutters something about lazy stablehands and there's no doubting he might very well disapear later on in the week to lecture said stablehands about responcibilty and the risks of ignoring duties. "Come on, love, take it slow," he softly murmurs and silently nods to a drudge who comes by to help the two out the door.

**Travel**

Infirmary
Designed with efficiency in mind, this room is the picture of cleanliness. Beds sit along one wall, curtains hug between each, pulled back when not used, or pulled around a cot for privacy. Cabinets are hung along the opposite wall above a countertop, full of all sorts of necessary supplies. A deep washbasin is inset in the counter, kept clean as well. A locked cabinet hangs on the back wall, the key kept in the constant possession of the Master Healer posted at Keroon. There are several chairs in the room, most set alongside the beds, though a rocking chair sits off in a quiet corner.
To the southeast, you see two people.
On the perch are Tarius, Hisoka, and Puck.
You see Iriandel and Examination Room here.
You notice Katenya, Tish, and Kliara asleep here.
Maverin is here.
Obvious exits:
Healer Living Quarters Great Hall Great Courtyard

Sudanna walks in from the Great Courtyard.

Rilna leans up against Maverin, hissing slightly as another contraction hits. Except that it's not a contraction. It can't be. She's got three more weeks to go. Oblivious to the Healer, she still manages to insist that "I'm fine... although they'll probably stick me on bedrest, or some such nonsense."

Sudanna sweeps in, eyes taking in the room.. almost by rote she notices where everything is situated and turns with a smile to the couple before her. "Hello.. I am Sudanna, journeywoman midwife. The Hall received a call.. May I assume.." A nod and grin to Rilna, 'that you are the patient?" As she speaks she is already settling in, scrubbing up and emptying her pack of all sorts of paraphenalia.

And it's Rilna's turn to be ignored by the larger man beside her. Sudanna is instead turned to. "She came into the tavern with a sweat and she's having abrupt pains I'm associating with the baby but she seems to think she's fine. Please tell me Rilna's not going into labour this early." Maverin's voice is controlled and calm but his face is more pale than usual and he doesn't look like he wants to let go of the Stablemistress with the bubble of a belly.

Kiriya stealthily and gracefully stalks in from the Great Courtyard.

Kiriya saunters at her usual wide-stepped gait into Keroon's infirmary, striding right over to the basin to redwort as is her habit when she enters such a place. Quickly finishing with her scrubbing down, she glides over to the bedside, having been notified this is a birth. Of course she's interested; she's specializing in midwifery. Glancing over at Sudanna, she nods and says, "I'm ready, Danna, ma'am."

Sudanna says, "This is Senior Apprentice healer Kiriya, also from Ista. She is here to help you as well." Another gentle smile and a nod to them both. "How about you change to own of those oh-so-charming gowns and save your pretty dress for another time? I'd like to take a look and see exactly what is going on. When is the babe due?"

Amabel walks in from the Great Courtyard.

Rilna continues to lean into Maverin, for comfort as well as for support. "The babe is due in three sevendays," she intones, before detaching to get into the wonderful, wonderful gown. "And I remember you," Kiriya gets a weak attempt at a glare. "You were the one who told me about this whole mess."

Lapis Lazuli blinks in from ::between::!

Maverin looks around from something to grab hold of as he's forced to detatch from Rilna, ending up simply standing there looking fairly shaken but forcing himself to stay calm. At Rilna's comment and glare towards Kiriya, Mav rolls his crystaline whirls. "Stop your blabbering, Ril, and get in the gown. You'll have your time to reflect on the first infirmary visit later." Grumble.

Sudanna says, "Now, how about your names? It's always easier when I know who I am helping out." Another smile, not to humiliate her patints, but to gently lead them back from hysteria to the business at hand. "And Kiri can help you get changed if you like, amabel, can you get a tray set up with all my equipment.." Points to her pack .. and then we will need warmed baby blankets, warm water and wash cloths as well.""

Amabel rushes into the infirmary, panting slightly. Head nods to the Journwywoman. "Sorry I'm late," she says, removing her coat and heading straight for the redwort. "I got here as soon as I could." Apprentice quickly washes her hands and then nods to Sudanna's instructions, grabbing a clean tray and picking up the pack. She arranges the equipment on the tray and then starts towards the cabinet, filling a bowl with fresh water and heating it for later. Blankets and washcloths...green eyes scan the cabinets.

Kiriya rolls up her sleeves, which slip lazily down her arms after repeated shoving up to her elbows, and finally accedes to rolling them up just above her elbows to leave her red-stained hands and forearms freed for work. "Here, uh... Rilna, right?" she asks of the mother-to-be, holding out a gown. "Just put this on. I'll help you, if needed," she kindly offers as she takes her position around the cot.

Rilna snorts at her mate from behind the privacy screens. "I'll blabber to who I please, Mavs. This is all your fault anyways.... Oooh." Her rant is cut off by a sharp jab from her abdominal region. Probably for the best. "I think I've almost got it," she assures the Healer, determined to change clothing herself, although she /does/ manage a polite enough nod as she takes the gown. Emerging a few minutes later, she waddles back towards the group. "I'm Rilna, and he's Maverin. The father." Who really ought to try this some time, if her tone is anything to go by,

Sudanna grins at the mother-to-be's tone, having not only heard it before, but used it.. "how fast are the pains coming and has your water broken? Three sevendays isn't really too early..' But a critical eye studies the th narrow hips of the pregnant woman and inwardly sighs. "Is this your first child?" yes, questions, but she does need the information.

"She had a son many Turns ago," Maverin informs from the chair he's managed to find, rising to his feet as Rilna comes out from behind the curtain. Sit or stand? Stand. Fidget. Poor guilty Maverin. It's, of course, all his fault. Yup. Poor guilty out-of-place Maverin.

Amabel finally locates the blankets at least, and begins to warm them. She checks on the water, making sure it doesn't get too hot; it'll be needed eventually. She then continues her quest for washcloths, locating them in another cabinet. She places them near the tray and smiles warmly towards the soon-to-be parents. "I'm Amabel, Healer Apprentice...from the 'Reaches." See, she's polite.

Kiriya chuckles and offers the attending journeyman, a.k.a. Sudanna, a warm smile. Quickly, she grabs a few towels from a cabinet or two, and spreads them 'round the floor, so as not to get the floor all messied up and such; don't want to get an infirmary (of all places!) all dirty. She spreads some towels on the bed as well for the same reason, making sure to put them in all the right places so the cot doesn't get messy either. "Okay, towels are spread," she notes aloud, then goes to help Amabel with her task.

Rilna continues to waddle, and once again latches onto Maverin's arm. They aren't getting her onto one of those cots without a direct order. Nope. A nod, and she fills in a few details as she leans against the father of her child. Who's apparently forgiven, as long as he's there to be clung to. And as long as another contraction doesn't occur. "That's correct. Seventeen turns ago, to be precise /His/ father was a good bit /smaller/." Okay, perhaps Maverin isn't entirely forgiven after all. He should have suddenly aquired a jockey's build, dangit! "And the pains...?" A hiss, as another one intrudes, before an attempt at a wry smile settles on her features. "Well, they're getting closer... say seven minutes?" It's between five and ten. "And no, the waters haven't broken."

Sudanna nods and makes a few mental notes.. "Okay Rilna, what I need from you now is to get on one of the cots and let me take a look. You don't sound like things are too far along, but I want to see for myself." Another patented midwife smile.. "Ama, Kiri.. could you two help settle her? Maverin, you can sit beside her and hold her hand if you wish." And if she lets him.

They /are/ getting Rilna onto one of those cots. Maverin does his own latching onto Rilna but makes to move towards the cot, assuming Rilna will be going along for the walk. One step at a time, the first being moving /towards/ the cot. Later they can attempt to get the Stablemistress to sit /on/ the cot.

Amabel nods at the instructions, walking to Rilna's side. She points to the cot and smiles warmly. "Right there..." Apprentice then heads to the cot ahead of the Stablemistress, smoothing the furs and pillow. She grabs more blankets to place next to it, checking on the other blankets and water on the way back. Ama waits patiently for the soon-to-be mother to take her place on the cot.

Kiriya helps settle Rilna as Sudanna asks, giving her gentle reassurance as she works to finalize all the preparations before she begins to concentrate on the BIG PICTURE. After dipping a cloth in cool water, she gives it to Rilna, saying, "Put this on your forehead whenever you're beginning to feel feverish." She then swiftly takes her place near Sudanna.

Sudanna looks at Kiri and frowns.. "Sr. Apprentice Kiriya, please stay with Rilna and make sure she is comfortable. If she needs a cool cloth, you are certainly more capable of handling it then she is at this moment." A nod to Ama as well. "Now then, Rilna may I check your progress?"

Rilna gives the cot a distasteful look, but does as asked. She /is/ slightly outnumbered. "Should've taken a page from Jaysann..." she mutters, but continues forward, before stopping at the cot, and settling with an immense (pun intended) dignity. Maverin is still held onto, although she transfers her grip to his hand, rather than his arm. With the grip that she's developed from working around runnerbeasts, the Healer may end up treating some broken fingers by the end of this little episode. A slight nod for Sudanna, followed by a resigned comment of "Oh, aye, poke away, Journeywoman."

Maverin braces his arm to aid Rilna as she positions herself on the cot, carefully watching over her and often giving the Healers busily hurrying about /his/ Stablemistress a wary glance-- besides Sudanna, that is, due to her experience and the few Turns she has over the other Healerites. He is quite aware of Rilna's grip's capability and winces slightly as his imagination runs ahead to the near future and the state his fingers might be left in. He in return holds her hand, idly supportingly rubbing his thumb against her much smaller hand he's bound to take a good doseage of pain from.

As Danna prepares to do her internal check, she catches sight of the big man's grimace. "I am also a bonehealer, so if your hands do get damaged, I can easily set them afterwards." A sly grin as she looks to Rilna.. "Good, okay, you know the position I need.. so here's what I am going to do.. As soon as your next contraction is over, I'll do a fast internal and see how far along you are. That will tell me what is really happening and what may be coming next."

"Oh. Yes, will do," the senior apprentice replies with a nod towards Sudanna, and totes the cloth, plus a bucket of ice water, to a chair near the bedside, and promptly sits down in it, bent somewhat over the cot. "Is there anything else that needs to be done before we proceed?"

In ordinary circumstances, Amabel would have been amused by Rilna's obvious reluctance to occupy the cot, but these aren't really ordinary circumstances - for her, anyway. Apprentice-girl nods at the Journeywoman, positioning herself near the Stablemistress, green eyes darting around in alertness. She's ready, yep.

Rilna shifts uncomfortably into the requested position, nodding at Sudanna over the small mountain of her abdomen. "Right... Right." she agrees, eyeing Kiriya and her compresses. No need for those just yet. And right on schedule, the woman goes into a contraction, this one a good bit sharper than previous ones. "Ooooohhhh..." Maverin's hand is clamped onto, although not with her full strength just yet.

Maverin frowns slightly as Rilna is put through another contraction and sends Sudanna a 'can we get this over' look that's more of a plead for Rilna's sake than anything. He emits a long sigh and returns his gaze to the Stablemistress on the cot beside his lean frame.

Arora , with the grace and lithness of a feline, saunters in from the Great Courtyard.

Sudanna hand rests lightly on the stablemistress's swollen abdomen, nodding and counting silently. "Next time one hits, I'll have you try a new breathing technique i developed that helps with controlling the contraction." And may save a few little bones as well. "Okay, here I go.." Contraction at an end, midwife does a fast and smooth check and looks up grinning. "Okay, you are a bit small, but fully dialeted. The baby being early can only help both of you.. When you are ready, I can break your water and speed things up.

Arora slides through the closed door, sauntering slowly along the far wall, where she then takes a stand. Reason for being here? Simple, she's Keroon's Headwoman - sworn to greet all newcomers to the hold. Oh, and she's also the older stablemistresses friend... Peering over the crowd gathered around Rilna's bed, her eyes widen and her face blanches. Ewww. That looks .. dirty. Still, she's here now - may's well present herself. "Heya m'dear... Just think.. Soon you'll be able to woo the lads again.." A grin to Maverin. "Or, at least, your lad.. Leaving all the others sweet'uns to me."

Rilna nods, and looks up at Maverin, giving her best attempt at a reassuring smile. Unlike him, she's done this before. Over his shoulder, she spots Arora, mouthing a "You're late," in the direction of the Headwoman. Someone's not exactly in the mood for humour, although she does seem a little relieved to have another familiar face around. Two of those, to three Healers. The odds are getting better. A nod for Sudanna. "Break the water? Speed things up? Do I /look/ like I want this to take longer?" she queries, a slight edge to her tone as the contraction passes.

Sudanna nods and looks to the apprentices.. "Please, bring the tray over here and let me have the proper hook.." and please wash it in redwort is added silently. "Now, Rilna, next time a contraction starts, try this.. two deep breathes, then a slow, light pant breath.. hee, hee, hee, hee, hee.. breath and repeat til the contraction ends.. okay?"

The headwoman's cheeks flush slightly at the silent comment from her friend. Stepping away from the wall, she comes forward when the healer introduces the breathing patter to Rilna. "Aye.. We've practiced this, remember Ril?" she whispers, stepping ahead to slide in closer to the bed. Rora smiles faintly at Maverin, wondering silently how he's holding up. "How's she doing?" she then asks Sudanna, biting her lip worriedly.

Maverin returns Arora's look with a slight frown. Rilna's holding up better than he is and it's quite obvious as his jaw seems perpetually stressed like her were clenching his teeth together, his jaw only relaxing when Maverin decides to chew on his bottom lip a bit, his hand still clenched in the Stablemistress's grasp.

Kiriya gets up and brings said tray over to the redwort basin, scrubbing the implements vigorously with the red-hued herb. Bringing the tray over to Sudanna, she sets it down gently, adding, "Hope you've got everything you need right there. Wouldn't want to have to take an extra trip, of course." Chuckle. She settles in her chair at the bedside, awaiting further orders. Crossing her legs, she gives a slight sigh, but a happy one; another life is about to begin, another Turnday observed.

Rilna reaches up to grab for Arora's hand with her free one. Another set of fingers to break! Another nod. "Oh, aye, yeah... I've heard of those. Arora," A toss of her head towards the Headwoman. "Pried a scroll off of the Healer on them, in one of her helpful moods." Although whether Rilna actually read it is another matter. And then another contranction takes her, both hands clenching down even harder. "Ahhhh! ShardsofFaranth'seggitHuuuurts!" she bites out, before attempting to settle into Danna's prescribed breathing excercises. Whoosh in, whoosh out slowly, and then a panting, sweat starting to spring to her forehead, and the real work yet to start.

Sudanna takes the simple tool from Amabel and quickly breaks the ofending waters.. "Good.. that's right.. pantblow, pant blow.. " Soothingly as she hustles for clean towels.. "The next contractions will get much stronger... But don't push yet.. keep the breathing going..

Arora winces as her fingers are caught within that vice grip. "Ouch!" she exclaims. "Not so hard! Those fingers have to be nimble in order too.." She glances at the others gathered around. "Write up accounts.." Really... Ahem. Grimacing, she then bites back any more cries of pain - as Rilna is surely going through more than enough for all of them. Speaking of the Stablemistress, Rora tut tut's at the state of the older woman's hair. "My my.. We most definitively have to do something about cleaning you up after all of this is through.. Have you ever thought of dying your hair?"

Maverin crosses his eyes momentarily, obviously wishing the Headwoman hadn't joined the group. "No one's touching Rilna's hair with dye!" So now Maverin's speaking for the Stablemistress, or maybe he's just overprotective of /all/ of Rilna, including her scalp? He returns to watching Rilna and allowing his fist to be used as a pillow. Squish.

Kiriya notices the sweat on Rilna's forehead. To give her the cold cloth or not? She decides on the former, and gently puts the cool cloth to Rilna's forehead, hopeful that her discomfort will be quelled at least a /bit/ by the coolness of the rag against her skin. Meanwhile, she's wiping her /own/ forehead from all the work. "Whew! Okay, now..." She leans back a bit in her seat, waiting for the next barrage of orders from Sudanna, gathering every bit of energy as is possible.

Rilna huffs and puffs and pants her way through the last of the contraction, before falling back to the pillows, a glint coming to her eyes. Amusement? At a time like this? Of course. "Mavs... don't bite Arora's head off," she cautions, with a deceptive mildness. "She might like it too much." She's no youth, so innocence can flee. "But I /do/ like my hair the colour it is," she admits, briefly releasing Maverin's hand to brush some from her face. The temporary respite doesn't last long though, as she's latched on within milliseconds of another contraction starting. She doesn't even seem to notice the placement of Kiriya's compress, huffing and puffing like a drowning man would grasp at a lifeline. No pushing is started, but she's starting to want to...

Sudanna sweeps the room with her eyes, and notes that all is in readiness for the impending birth. A curt nod to the apprentices.. the towles and linens need changing, her manner suggests. "Okay, another quick look.. and....." her head disappears and reappears.. "Rilna? Listen to me... The baby is trying to crown, but there /may/ be a problem." Suddenly the healer's voice shifts from gentle camaradierie to a more serious, somber tone. "You aren't very 'broad', in the pelvis and this baby looks to be a decent size. The delivery will take a lot of work. I need you to work with me, alright?" She speaks directly to the Stablemistress, the rest of the people in the room recede into the background.

Arora shrugs. She had only been suggesting... She gives a pouty look to Mav, and then replaces it with a quick grin at Rilna. "Well, all I know is that you most certainly need something done with your ..." Her words trail off when she hears the healer's statement. "Problem!?!" she exclaims, reaching at Maverin's arm with her free hand. "Did you hear that?! Tell her she must be mistaken!?" She doesn't need any problems! The last 'problem' she had sent her running from Paradise and... Oh.. wait.. She meant a problem for Rilna. Well, that's just as bad! "What do you mean, problem?"

At almost the precise moment Arora is reaching out at his arm, Maverin is falling three times more pale than he already was. "Problem?!" is bellowed and a passing drudge is heard dropping a tray outside the infirmary door. "Faranth, of course I heard!" is shot at the Headwoman, her title fully disregarded as the man is about ready to demand a wine flask by this point. He gives Rilna a stare and his free hand clenches the cotside. "You didn't tell me there could be /problems/ with this!"

Rilna falls back on her pillows again, lying there and breathing heavily. "Problem?" she asks in a quiet voice, a little bit of fear in the tone. For all the stablemistress's bluster, she /knows/ she's not invulnerable. "Yes... yes, of course, what do I need to do?" Her grip on the hands of her friend and her mate tightens a bit, seeking reassurance. And Arora's reaction didn't offer much of /that/ commodity, nope. Maverin is stared at. "Well, I thought you knew... All the fussing and everything..." intones the woman weakly, before returning her gaze to the Healer.

Sudanna glares at the man and the friend.. "It's not something you can plan on, I assure you. Now, either the two of you will control yourselves in this infirmary or I will have to ask you both to leave." The healer may be small, but she can stand tough when it comes to her patients. "Rilna.." attention now focused back to the mother-to-be, "I want you to try and relax as much as possible. I am going to ask you to drink a cup of willowsalic and chamomile. it won't affect the baby, but the combination may help you to relax and loosen your muscles a bit more and ease the pain a bit as well." And every little bit will help. Motions over to the apprentices and waits for the drink while she keeps one hand on the abdomen and keeps eyes contact, reassurances in her own.

Arora is about to snap a shout back at the man, but instead, she holds her tongue and releases his arm. Wouldn't do for the Headwoman to be kicked out of the Hold's infirmary, now would it? What would the people think?! Therefore, she takes a deep breath, exhaling in similar fashion to Rilna's pants. Sliding her hand out of her friend's tight grasp, she exchanges the sore appendage for her right hand. Time for those fingers to endure the older woman's crushing grip.

Maverin takes a deep breath. He /is/ calm... well... slightly. An apologetic tip of his chin towards his chest sends the once excited Maverin back into his silence and he watches Rilna, cupping his other hand over their joined hands. "I assumed it was because of how much we knew you'd strain yourself or how old we are," Maverin explains to Rilna. Note the '/we/' in that last part?

Rilna nods, and rests on the pillows, her normally regimentally neat hair spilling across them in a tangled mess. Arora's right, on that score at least. She continues to pant, although soft moaning can be heard underlying, as she nods at Maverin's words, although the mention of her age causes her to dig her nails into his palm when the next contraction strikes. 'We' isn't good enough, apparently. "What's taking the tea so sharding loooong?" she whimpers. Drugs. Give. Me. Drugs.

Kiriya *has to leave. Parents said so. Bye,
Kiriya goes home.

Sudanna takes the mug from one of her apprentices and hands it to the headwoman, let her be some real help.. "It's still fairly warm, sips are alright.. take it slowly. And age isn't a factor here. Women have healthy children well into their fifties. Usually it's only a major factor if their have been many children. The problem here is a simple matter of size. The baby is a bit bigger then Rilna's body would normally be comfortable delivering. But.." A reassuring smile to the mother. "We will do our best to make sure all goes well."

The headwoman looks as though she's about to lose her lunch. Women. Children. Fifties. Oh, dear Faranth, please let her never forget to take her green stuff! Rora never, ever wants to experience the pain and ... degradation, (or so she assumes) that her poor friend is going through.

Maverin winces and holds his breath to refrain from cursing or something or the sort. Who knew a Stablemistress could be so revengeful. ... Wait a minute. "How much longer?" Maverin manages to calmly question. "Is anything happening? Where's that tea?! Anything else we should give her?" A tranquilizer? As the tea arrives, Mav is quick to keep an eye on how quickly and how much the Stablemistress consumes at one given time, considering the Healer suggested taking it slowly.

Rilna sips from the mug, as slowly as she can hold herself to, having the urge to gulp it all down as quickly as possible. Can't they just make an injection of the stuff? She catches Maverin watching, taking a pointedly large swallow just for his benefit. It's barely safely down the esophagus when another pain strikes, this one the worst yet. Arora may count herself fortunate to be minding the tea, as the older woman sits bolt upright in a spasm of pain. "Just get it /out/ of me!" she bites out, gripping Maverin's hand with almost enough force to pop joints.

Sudanna gently places both hands on the woman's abdomen and massages.. lightly, just enough to ease the tightness.. "As soon as I safely can, Rilna.. the baby's not crowning just yet and when the tea is drunk, it /will/ help.." Another nod to the now terrified looking friend. "She will be fine.. it's just going to be a less-then-perfect delivery. Okay Rilna.. As soon as /you/ can tell me the medicine is working, we will have you start pushing.."

Arora watches and listens, for once, not saying much of anything. Instead, she allows past memories wander through her head - memories of times when she could have quite likely ended up in the same situation as poor Rilna here... This causes her to ponder even more, deeper thoughts. Maybe it's time for the headwoman to take a change of pace?

Rilna nods, and gulps down the rest of the tea, and the watchers may disapprove as they may. Lying back on her pillows, she attempts to focus on the humming of her firelizards as a distraction, the steady ripples of contractions occuring with more pants and whimpers and attacks on the hands of her support group. At last, with the contractions starting to dull, instead of sharpen, she nods. "Let's do this, then..."

Sudanna says, "Alright.. with the next contraction, I want you to take two deep breaths and release them slowly.. then one more and holding it.. bear down.. firm and steady, don't push too hard.. till a count of ten. And Rilna, make /all/ the noise you want. Do that two more times and then pant like a canine and stop.. til I say.. 'Again'." Pauses and studies the woman.. "Understood?"

Rilna nods, and readies herself as one for battle, taking a fresh grip on the most likely numb hands of Maverin and Arora, her focus narrowing in to settle on Sudanna's coaching. She waits for the next contraction, and breaths deeply, her muscles tensing with the strain of not crying out. And then it's time. "Eeeeeeyaaaaaahhhh" she grunts, pushing steadily downwards with the single though in her head consisting of 'Get This Kid /Out/!' Another push, another howl, and then it's back to the safe haven of panting. Panting she knows.

Sudanna says, "Good job.." Is offered from the healer as she watches the steady progression of the babe's head. An anxious eye is cast to the tray.. needle is theaded, numbweed and mosstea at hand.. "Alright.. it won't be easy, it will hurt and I will end up stitching you, but this last push should do it. I see the baby's head.. Now.." She lefts her head to /really/ focus on the mother, "when I say /stop/ you MUST stop pushing. That's when I check for a cord about the baby's neck. Alright?""

Arora's eyes widen, and her mouth stretches into an 'o' of pain again. Still, no sound escapes. Instead, she bites her lip, hard, and nods to her friend.

Maverin flinches against the already-death-grip upon his numbing hand and looks to Sudanna after the torture is nearly through, himself lightly panting. "Her head?" Maverin echoes the Healer, managing a slight smile. That's /his/ little girl approaching her new world outside the captivity of her mother's womb.

Rilna's face is glistening, and her hair clings damply to her face. The normal reaction of wincing at hearing about 'stitching' is subdued as the end is pronounced to be near. "Okay," she manages, in a weak tone that still manages to be strangely intent. And she waits for the next contraction, now almost looking forward to it. The firelizards' song ups an octave, and a couple more blink in to settle in corners.

Arora certainly could go for a Flaming Faranth's Fire at this time... Her brow is also beaded in sweat, though she dabs at it with her sleeve every so often. "I must look a mess," she mumbles, however, the words ring hollow.. She's too worried about her friend to /really/ worry about her appearance.

Sudanna says, "Good.. let me know when you are ready." She pauses, wtaching the stablemistresses color and judges her strength. A bit concerned, she whispers to an apprentice to get a glass of red wine and herbs at the ready. There will be bleeding and red wine with herdbeast stock is a wonderful supplement. "Ready when you are, now."

Rilna nods, and marshalls her strength for the final attack. And then the contraction comes, she holds a long breath again, and again, and then bears down, a near-scream tearing free from her as even the herbs of the tea fail to mask the feeling of forcing a watermelon through a gap the size of a cantaloupe. Her grip tightens on the hands nearest her. And you thought it was strong before. But still, some trace of sentient thought remains, as she waits to hear if Sudanna will stop her.

Maverin seems more worried now than he was earlier as Rilna becomes more verbally expressing her pain. "Is everything going fine?" he asks Sudanna, softly, clinging to Rilna's hand with either of his. He groans slightly and removes one hand to rub his temple. Sympathy pain in the form of a headache, or simply a stress headache?

Sudanna watches, and waits.. intent on the deliver of the head.. and.. "Stop!" is shouted as head is cradled lovingly in her hands.. A quick flick of her finger.. yes, cord is about the neck, but loosely and no harm is done as it is slipped over the not-really-tiny head. Poor babe is looking a bit battered for it's time being pushed through a too-small space. Rotating the shoulders take a bit more effort then usual, her hands slippery with the expected but not really wished for blood.. "Now, one last easy push... Bear down and let go.. Easy, though." Looking at Maverin.. "Fine, hard but fine.. " And back to Rilna..

Rilna cuts off in the middle of the push, looking worried, until Sudanna's tone reassures her. She whooshes out her held breath, and pushes again, feeling the blessed sensation of /movement/. "Come /onnnnnn/" she encourages her almost-born. "Come /ON/!"

Arora tightens her grip right back; not that Rilna is noticing, or anything. She casts a worried look towards Maverin. "She's going to be ok, right?" she whispers.

Maverin matches Arora's glance with his own look of worry. "Sudanna says everything is fine and so I'm trusting Rilna will get out of this alright," he murmurs in return, turning to watch the Healer for more signs of problems or relief.

Arora has disconnected.
Arora's head wobbles a bit before finally coming to rest upon her chest. G'night sweetheart!

Rilna *chuckles. She fainted?
Maverin *beams.

Sudanna eases the babe from it's tight spot.. a loud *pop* is heard as /she/ is released from her too small space.. a good-sized healthy beauty, lungs already in full function as her cries display. Amabel hurries over with the warm water and washcloth and deftly cleans the little one's face as Danna turns to Rilna.. "Congratulations, you have a /very/ healthy daughter. She's a bit 'beat up looking' right now, but absolutely /no/ permanent damage." A swift few knots on the cord and a knife flashes, severing the baby from her mother. wrapped in warmed blankets, Danna motions for Amabel to hand the child to Rilna.. her work isn't done just yet.

Rilna sinks back on the pillows, a positively dumb-looking smile already forming on her face as she recieves her daughter, smiling up at Maverin, a pair of tears forming in her eyes. "She's beautiful," she intones, not caring one whit that to other eyes the newborn might look a little less than perfect. "Our daughter, Mavs. Illianne." And yes, there's still afterbirth and stitching to attend to, but...!

Sudanna is glad mother and father are distracted... she has her hands full with redwort, numbweed and sadly, /major/ stitching. Packing her with mosstea, she is cleaned, wrapped and finally settled. "Now, I will be leaving you with t\several packets of herbs. I want you to take them every 4 hours. And /now/ I want you to drink this." She holds out a deep goblet of the red wine/herdbeast stock/herb mixture. "I'll also leave a skin of this for youa s well. One goblet twice a day." Danna places the ingredients on a nearby table. "Now Rilna, can you focus long enough to lieten to me?"

Maverin swallows the lump in his throat and bares a smile nearly as dumb as Rilna's as he crouches down to greet his baby girl. "Oh, Rilna, she's more than beautiful," he coo's quietly, reaching hesitantly out to handle her fragile-seeming fist with his million-times-bigger palm. She might be a rather big baby to be inside Rilna but to Maverin she's still miniscule and sweet.

Rilna's fatuous expression remains as she cradles her newborn with an ease of both practice and instinct. And then she manages to pry her eyes away from Pern's newest citizen, to focus on the Healer. "Yes, I'm listening," she intones quietly, gently rocking the baby, who is peering at this strange new world with the unfocused blue eyes of new life. "Herbs every four hours, and the wine twice a day?"

Sudanna says, "Good, but there is more... " A deep breath and a steady gaze. "You lost a lot of blood." Thanks to the apprentices quietly bustling about one might never know.. "and you need rest. lots of it. Quiet and peace. just you three." She smiles now. "The stitches will need attending to, but the healers here will handle that. If /anything/ feels 'wrong' or unusual.. call me, okay?""

Maverin manages to also pry his eyes from his child and frowns slightly towards Sudanna. "Will we be fine to take her back to our quarters or should she sleep here over the night?" he wonders, still crouched beside his small family.

Sudanna says, "Normally we ask that new mothers stay here for two days. And where she has more need of a healer at hand, I will insist on that. But, depending on how she is feeling, and Rilna I will leave it to you to be sensible about this.. you can go home with the promise to continue rest and quiet for at least two sevendays."

Rilna nods, doing her best to look sober and attentive. And sensible. One hand reaches up to gently trace a finger along the line of little Illianne's jaw, revelling in the softness of her skin. "Two sevendays... I understand." And right now, she might just agree to it. Although, even as tired as she is, she can't resist a little bit of a tease, smiling up at her mate. "I think Mavs will see that I'm sensible, right my love?"

Sudanna chuckles, relieved to see that Rilna is recovering as well as she is. "Good then. I should go, I am sure S'keagan and Vioreth think I have decided to stay indefinitely, never mind my husband and daughters." A last look at the now smooth and rounding face of the little precious girl. "I wish you nothing but happiness with her Mav, Rilna. And please, don't hesitate to call me for any reason. The little blue lizard can find me again, I am sure.

Rilna's smile turns grateful as she turns to look at Sudanna again. "Thank you," she says simply, her normal distrust of Healers quite vanished. Although it's rather hard to dislike /anything/ at the moment.

Maverin smiles softly down to Rilna and nods. "Don't I always?" He briefly studies his daughter some more before turning to Sudanna with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Sudanna," Maverin comments and rises to his feet, "We'll be in touch."

Sudanna says, "Good then.. Be well.." As she grabs her pack and heads out the door, she turns.. "And /try/ to keep the visits from friends down for a few days. alright?"

Rilna is beaming with delight as a tiny hand curls it's self around the tip of her finger. An absent nod at the journeywoman. "We'll /try/..." she offers.

Amabel goes home.

Sudanna walks to the Healer Living Quarters.

Rilna cradles the little baby girl, cooing softly to her as Illianne buttons her eyes, exhausted after the hard work of being born. "Oh Mavs..." sighs her mother, weak and tired, and with her hair a terrible mess, but perfectly happy all the same. "I can't believe she's finally /here/. Illiane. Our baby." She's said that before.

Maverin smiles and brushes a hand against her forehead. "Yes she is, love," he whispers and leans to kiss her brow. "You should sleep soon. You've worked hard."

Rilna smiles up at Maverin, and reaches up her free hand to hold his head in range while she gives him a gentle kiss. "Oh, but it's worth it..." she sighs, drifting away even as she picks up her goblet of the doctored wine the Healer left for her. "I think we made ourselves a very fine baby." she avers, sleepily drinking the concoction left for her.

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Message 4 of 4 on *ICKeroonity (#18075):
Date: Fri Nov 30 23:25:30 2001 CST
From: Maverin (#22543)
To: *ICKeroonity (#18075)
Subject: New Arrival!

Rilna really did it this time! Pregnant and about to burst within the next few sevendays, the Stablemistress decided it would be fine for her to carry feed to her runnerbeast since it hadn't been done by another stablehand and as luck would have it, it caused her too go into labour!
Healer Journeywoman Sudanna as well as Kiriya and Amabel were luckily at hand and within a few hours, even Headwoman Arora was present for the birth of Maverin and Rilna's child.
The birth was rough and in the end Rilna and Maverin were handed a beautiful baby girl they dubbed Illianne, Sudanna ordered Rilna to be stuck with plenty of rest and -no visitors- for the next two sevendays if not more, and Arora was out on the floor with Mavz needing to have his hand looked to after the hours of torture the two endured when Rilna got her hands on them.

So, congratulate both parents on their daughter, Illianne, Rp about Maverin's grumpiness towards the stablehands for not having kept Rilna far from any heavy objects, and don't expect to see much of Rilna for the time being.
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