Hyth didn't bugle as she arrived over Retso Hold, she was too tired. She'd faught Thread today and now had to fly Magika to Retso. Today Magika. You'd have to choose today.
Magika put her hands to her swollen stomach as another contraction hit her. Hyth, love. I don't have much choice in the matter.
Hyth snorted as she carefuly helped the soon to be new mother off of her back. I still say you did this to spite me.
Magika moaned as 'Lady Holder' Rita approached her. Yes Hyth, I did this on purpose.
"I knew you'd be coming soon Magika." She was an older woman and the typical picuture of a kindly grandmother. She was short, slightly plump, friendly, and foster mother to some twenty or so kids at any give moment in time. She took Magika's arm and lead her inside to a bed. "And I knew you wouldn't be coming until the last minute."
Magika shrugged, in too much pain to make a witty remark. Hyth realized this and took the opportunity to continue their previous conversation. It definately looked like you were doing it on purpose that night. Hyth smiled. I don't seem to remember any reluctance.
"Hyth, love, STOW IT!" Magika groaned as the pain got worse.
Hyth lay down outside Magika's room, sticking her head in the window. Rita purposefully gave Magika this room every time so Hyth could stay.
Heaven only knows why! Rita stood outside the door, her arms full of towels and one of her foster-sons beside her with a tub of water. She could hear the shouting from where she stood. All they do is yell at each other. The young boy yawned. He obviously didn't understand why they were standing outside the room. Rita could have told him. She could have told him how stubborn the Weyrwoman of Adanuk was, how she never liked admitting she was in pain, how if she had to admit her pain she liked to do it alone, save for Hyth of course... Rita cringed as the swearing got louder. How she has the worst mouth on Pern.
Rita rubbed her foster-son's head. "Go. Just leave the water."
The boy nodded and disappeared, too tired to argue. Rita smiled watching the child go. Magika also always comes at night. I swear! The baby's probably been ready for this performance since noon, but Magika wouldn't admit it!
Rita! Hyth's voice rang in her head. The dragon's seemed to gain the odd ability to bespeak the midwife when the rider got farther along in labour. Rita thought it had something to do with their rider's pain and their feelings of concern. Either way, it meant that Rita could enter now. Magika threw a pillow at the woman as soon as she was in sight. "Where the hell were you?"
Hyth sighed. And here I thought it was queens who got difficult before their babies were born.
"Oh," Rita smiled as she began her work. "All women are just as bad as dragons. The think is that dragons are bigger and hundreds are present when their children are born. More people notice."
Hyth smiled at the Lady Holder and nuzzled Magika.
Magika couldn't help but smirk. "How come you're only nice to me now?"
It's probably because you're sending me more contradicting emotions than I know what to do with! The Sr. Queen kept talking, kept Magika talking. It seemed to help. At least we now know why I haven't flown yet.
Magika's face was covered with sweat. "What?"
The gold smiled. I'm probably the only queen who had to sit through this before she was old enough to clutch. You've scarred me for life.
Magika moaned. "Good!!"
"Magika?" Rita interupted in a quiet voice.
"WHAT?!?"
"Push." Magika did, keeping up a steady stream of swearing.
I'm amazed your kids turn out normal. They're brought into the world with more profanity than they'll probably hear in the rest of their lives!
"Hyth!" Magika didn't have the strength to think of an insult.
Hyth put her head closer to Magika. I'm here.
Magika grabbed her dragon. "Don't ever let me do this again!"
That's what you said last time.
"I mean it this time!"
You said that last time too.
Magika threw a pillow at the gold, leaving her with none.
Hyth sighed and returned the pillow.
Magika looked up gratefully, too tired to say anything. Hyth, as usual, understood.
* * * Candlemarks later, Magika re-started the conversation. "Hyth?"
The dragon lifted her head from where she'd be resting it. Yes?
"I'm gonna die."
You say that every time. Hyth didn't smile though. Even if Magika was over-stating the condidtion, thinking about the possibility of her rider's death bothered the queen.
"I'm serious."
You say that every time too.
"If I had the strength to lift a pillow..."
I'll consider myself hit.
Magika smirked, than coughed. "Since I'm not going to make it...Traeus for a boy....Ohhh...." She never got to finish her sentance.
Rita pushed a strand of brown/grey hair out of her face. "Don't finish that sentance now Magika. Traeus he is. Bad luck to finish now."
Magika sighed, relieved as Rita gave her the baby. "Good thing." She muttered as she drifted off to sleep.
Hyth smiled at the child, sniffing it. Why?
"I didn't have a girl's name." Magika fell asleep.
* * * Magika and Hyth atayed at Retso for another two-sevendays, until they were sure the baby was helathy and doing fine. Rita once again reassured Magike that she knew how to take care of a child. Magika once again went over how she wanted Traeus treated. Rita smiled. She got the same speech from every rider, Magika's was just longer.
Magika sighed as she mounted Hyth. "I hate leaving them."
Hyth was sympathetic. I know. The gold dragon didn't leave. She knew Magika needed a minute.
The Weyrwoman just sat watching the hold for a moment or two. "Rita knows what she's doing."
Of course she does.
"I'd probably just screw it up." Magika had decided. "Let's go."
I don't think you'd screw it up. Hyth used her powerful back legs to push herself into the air. She spred her massive wings and climbed higher and higher.
"I need to think that, love." Magika broke character and let a single tear fall down her cheek. "If I didn't, I couldn't leave." The tear froze to her face as Hyth disappeared between.
* * *
Ten turns later..."Gah!" Magika grabbed his arms and lifted him off the ground. "Gotcha! Where did you think you were going?"
"Traeus smiled broadly at the Weyrwoman. "Magika! I didn't see you!"
"Of course you didn't." Magika let the child down. "I snuck up on you."
Traeus pulled on Magika's arm. "Teach me!"
Magika smiled and ruffled her son's hair. He doesn't look much like me. Magika thought as they walked along the halls. Traeus weas tall for his age and had a slender build, but that's where th esimalarities between mother and son ended. Traeus had strawberry blond hair with bright green eyes and freckles. At the momen he also had a black eye. Magika knocked him in teh shoulder. "Where'd ya get the black eye?"
Traeus clenched his fist and muttered. "Garren."
"Garren?" Magika was surprised. "He's four turns older than you!"
"I could have taken him."
Too bad he didn't get the father's personality too. Magika glared upwards as Hyth wasn't present.
"Mom!" Traeus ran to Rita and hugged her. "Look who's here!"
Ow. Hyth seemed to feel her rider's pain. That's hitting below the belt.
He doesn't know. Magika smiled and greeted the Lady Holder. "Rita."
"I have the tithes in my office. Come with me Weyrwoman." Rita directed Magika into a small room where she promptly shut the door on Traeus, who was attempting to follow them in.
Magika smirked and waved at her son as the door closed. "Jeez. He's gotten big."
"He's ten turns in two days." Rita handed over a bag of marks.
"I know." Magika did a quick count of marks before handing half the money back. She never accepted full tithes from Retso Hold, too many dragonriders owed Rita too many favours.
"Why not just come on his birthingday?" Rita accepted the money. She used to argue, but Magika, and the other female riders of Adanuk, insisted.
"Too obvious, but I do come bearing gifts." She lifted a tiny, moving bundle.
"As always. What is it?"
"A ferilon." Magika lifted the odd creature. "It's just a baby right now."
Rita raised a brow. "A what?"
"Ferilon." Magika saw the Lady Holder's wary look. "Don't worry, it shouldn't grow more than 3' long."
Rita picked up the tiny creature. "Mystic?" The mysterious Keeper of the Warren was often Magika's source for odd creatures.
"Close." Magika smirked, refusing to reveal her secrets.
Rita watched the Weyrwoman leave with a bemused look on her face. The ferilon curled up in her hands and went to sleep.
"What's that?" Traeus entered, curious as ever.
Rita tried to hide the creature, but gave up. "It's your birthingday present. I suppose you can have it now." She handed the tiny creature to her foster-son.
"Cool!" Traeus rubbed it's head and examined it closely. "What is it?"
"A ferilon." Rita prayed he didn't ask any more question as she was out of answers.
"Cool!" Traeus repeated. "Is it a guy or a girl?"
Uh-oh. "Ummmm....." The Lady Holder stalled. I have a 50/50 chance... "Girl."
Traeus hugged the creature. "I'm going to call you Mays." He put the newly dubbed ferilon down and took off down the hallway, Mays close behind.
Cute. Rita smiled. I think they're going to get along fine. She heard a loud crash of breaking glass and winced. I'm not. "Traeus!!"
* * * Almost five turns later... Mays cocked her head and examined her master. The 3 and a 1/2 foot long creature was thouroughly confused. Traeus was perched 10ft up, trying to get into his window. The ferilon sat down, batted her wings and chirped once.
Traeus started at the sound then looked down at his pet. "Come on. I can't carry you. You'll have to get up yourself."
Mays gave him a look which clearly asked what the hell he was doing sneaking into his room at this hour of the night.
Traeus smiled. "It's past curfew. If mom catched me out she'll kill me." He smirked, the spitting image of his real mother, "especially if she finds out where I was." He laughed as the ferilon jumped to his arms. "I've never met such a bunch of suckers. And I've never won so many marks in one night!" He patted the pouch he wore at his side and it jingled quietly.
The ferlion creeled, laughing as well. She quickly jumped to the window and opened it. Traeus climbed in after her. He quickly hid his marks with all his other gambling winnings. He then put his well worn gambling dice back in their place as well. The old dice had been a gift from Weyrwoman Magika. She'd caught Traeus gambling and had nearly thrown a fit. Traeus smiled. At least in public. As soon as the two of them were left alone together the Weyrwoman explained the fine art of gambling to him properly and gave him her dice.
He flung himself onto his bed and crossed his arms behind his head. "She'll be here tomorrow, Mays. Three days before my birthingday, like always."
The ferilon yawned, curled up beside him and went to sleep.
Traeus continued to stroke her head and talk to her, even though he knew she was asleep. "I bet she does know who my real mother is. I bet she knows that my real mother is a witch for abandoning me. I bet that's why she'd so nice to me." His hand still resting on Mays' head, Traeus fell asleep.
Rita blinked back tears as she watched her foster-son. She's not a witch Traeus...she's not. I wish you could understand.
* * * "Hey kiddo." Magika ruffled his hair. "I heard some interesting things about you this morning." She winked knowingly.
Traeus grinned broadly. "You did?" He knew Rita would be suspicious, but he couldn't help grinning. To him, Magika was one of the greatest people on Pern.
"You did?" Rita was less enthusiastic.
Magika grinned. "It was all good news, don't worry."
"Really..." For some odd reason Rita didn't believe her.
Magika laughed and followed Rita into her office. Traeus waited patiently while they conducted their business. He didn't even bother to listen in on their conversation. When Magika left the room, she was very surprised to see him sitting patiently with Mays' head in his lap. "Hey." She covered her inital shock with a smile. "Waiting for me or Rita?"
"You." Traeus smiled and stood up. "Wanna talk?"
"You do. Let's walk." They walked out of the Hold hallways and into the large field just outside. Mays ran after butterflies and bugs and such while Magika and her son picked a nice spot and sat down.
"So," Magika laid back and watched the clouds rolling by. "What do you want to talk about?"
"You." Traeus saw the Weyrwoman stiffen. He thought it was because she had the information he wanted. It never crossed his mind that she was the information he wanted.
"What about me?" Magika tried to cover her reaction by relaxing and yawning. "I'm pretty boring."
"About what you know." Traeus tried to be serious. "And I don't think you could ever be boring."
"You'd be surprised." Magika's smile faded and she sat up. Gods, he knows.
Good, she knows what I'm getting at. Traeus smiled with satisfaction. "So are you going to confess or do I have to weasel it out of you?"
"Are you disappointed?" Magika stared at a flower, not wanting to make eye contact.
"Of course I am!" Traeus wondered how she could even ask that question. "Just leaving me here...no idea where I came from..."
"You weren't exactly expected." Magika felt like she was going to cry. Was I that obvious? How did he figure me out?
"I figured that." Traeus snorted. "If I screwed up like that I'd at least keep the kid. Not pawn him off on someone else."
"Do you really think I could have kept you?" Magika choked on tears.
Traeus' mouth worked, but no sound came out. "You?" He finally managed to talk.
Magika was taken back. "Yeah..." Damn! She swore, realizing she's screwed up. "You said you knew!"
"I knew you knew, not I knew you!" Traeus snapped at her.
"How was I supposed to know that?" Magika glared at him.
They suddenly realized how stupid they sounded and shut up. They looked at the grass, flowers, Mays, the sky, anywhere but at each other.
"So you're the one who brought me all those presents." Traeus finally guessed. "And that's why you visited so often."
Magika nodded. "Yeah."
Another long pause. "I never expected you." Mays returned to her owner and Traeus began to stroke her head and back. "You were so...well...great."
A half-smile crossed the Weyrwoman's face. "Guess I'm not so great now."
Pause. "Why?" Traeus couldn't understand himself. He just found out that his idol was his mother, why wasn't he happy? Why didn't she keep me?
"Because I couldn't."
"Why?"
Magika sighed. "I'm not the mothery type." The Weyrwoman stood up to emphasize her point. "If I had been taking care of you, you wouldn't have made it to your first birthingday, let alone your fifteenth!"
Traeus glared moodily at her feet. Magika sighed again, she crouched down in front of him. "Do you hate me now?" Traeus glared at her, ready to quickly answer yes. "Don't answer so fast, you might regret it, because if you say yes I'm leaving and never coming back, ever." Traeus closed his mouth as Magika continued. "Do you really hate me for leaving you here? With Rita? Is she that bad? Or do you think you could have had a better life. Do you know that it would have been better? Maybe I was doing what I thought was best for you. Maybe I wanted to make sure you'd be raised by the best mother around. Maybe I just wanted you to be safe, away from danger. Weyrs are a lot bigger than Retso you know. Picking fights could have got you in a lot more trouble. Do you really hate me? I came back, many times. I taught you most of what I know and showed you a lot of things you couldn't have seen anywhere else on this planet. I was your friend, I watched out for you, I loved you. Rita loved you. She cared for you better than I ever could. She filled in the gaps I left out. Twenty minutes ago that was enough. For fifteen turns...that was enough. Do you really want more now? Was that such a bad life?" Magika paused for a breath. "Do you really hate me now?"
Traeus looked at her, confused. It wasn't a bad life...he'd been happy. But on the other hand she had abbandoned him...to someone she knew was going to take excellent care of him. He may have never had a real mother, but he had Rita ... and Magika in a way. Traeus realized something about the Weyrwoman that day, something that let him forgive her any imagined or real crimes against him. He realized that although Magika was self-confident in almost everything...she just didn't get the family thing. He remembered someone telling him something about her being an orphan herself...growing up a drudge somewhere. She understood practically everything about the world and how it worked, but she just couldn't be a mother, not by herself anyways. Traeus thought of Rita, his foster brothers and sisters and he kinda felt sorry for her and her understood why she did what she did. "I don't hate you Magika."
She grinned and Traeus couldn't help himself. Something about the way Magika smiled was infectious. "Good." She stood up and stretched. "Because crouching like that was killing my legs."
Traeus laughed and started walking with Magika back to the Hold. He remembered all the good times he'd had with the Weyrwoman and was beginning to think that being her real son thing wasn't so bad. "So, what'd you get me for my birthingday, mother?"
Magika swatted him. "Don't call me that."
"Okay, mom." He smirked as Magika glared at him. "You didn't answer my question. You always get me something." Traeus remembered his ferilon. "Mays!!!" The creature came running.
Magika laughed. "A trip."
"A trip?"
"Yeah. To the Warren."
"The Warren?"
"It's run by Mystic an old friend."
"So I get a trip to a Warren?" Somehow this didn't seem like the best present.
"Yeah," Magika grinned. "And anything you impress there you get to take home."
Traeus stopped dead in his tracks. "Impress?" The Weyrwoman and ferilon kept walking, leaving him a few paces behind. "Magika!!"
The Weyrwoman was grinning broadly as she mounted Hyth. "C'mon. We're gonna be late. The Hathian clutch will hatch any second now."
"I haven't been Searched! What's a Hathian? What if I'm not cut out to be a dragonrider." Traeus climbed on behind Magika with a little bit of help from the queen and her rider.
"A Hathian is a dragon and you don't need to be searched."
Mays leaped into Traeus' arms and Magika waved to Rita who was standing in her window watching them leave. Magika'd explained her plan to the Lady Holder earlier. "But what if I'm not cut out to be a dragonrider?" Traeus insisted as Hyth leapt into the air.
"You're my son! Of course you're a dragonrider!" Magika grinned as Hyth prepared to between. "Besides, you'd be the first of my children not to."
Traeus wrapped his arms tighter around the ferilon as the darkness pressed around them. "Children?" He asked when the reappeared again. "As in plural?"
Let's just say Magika did the producing of babies for me. The giant gold dragon landed in a massive construct Traeus could only assume was the Warren.
"What?" Traeus was thouroughly confused as he was hurried off the dragon and into the waiting arms of a surprised Mystic.
"What?" The Caretaker was equally as confused.
Magika waved and both her and her dragon disappeared again, avoiding the question.
Mystic sighed. "Nice to see you too Magika. It's been a while. Care to stay for dinner?"
Traeus looked at the woman like she was crazy. Mays squaked at her.
"Suppose you're a candidate huh?" Traeus nodded. "Thought so. Come on then. Let's get you and your..." She examined Mays. "...whatever settled."
"Y'know Mays," Traeus thought out loud while he was walking. "I think that there's a lot about Magika I don't know."
Mystic smiled. "I think there's a lot about Magika that's best not known."
* * *
Traeus is a candidate at Mystic Dragon's Forest/The Warren.
Mays is from The Ferilon Farm. (link up later...when I get on the other computer)
Background from Enchanted Backgrounds.
