Kae's Place (#15804)
From floor to ceiling, soft, natural colors cover the room, making it look like a picture it's resident has painted. Plush cream-toned rugs pad and warm the naturally cold stone floor, leaving not fingers-width of the stone uncovered. Atop the thick rugs, in the far corner of the room, rests a large bed, its mattress aparently overstuffed with rushes, and covered with several soft, smooth blankets and pillows in various shades of blue.
In the opposite corner stands a small desk, covered with neat piles of books and hides, and topped by two carefully shined wooden flutes. Decorating the wall above her workspace is a collection of paintings, both of people and of places that are near to Kaeryn's heart. Standing tall beside the desk is a wooden music stand, polished to perfection, with a book of songs help open in it's arms. Flanking its other side is a short short, filled completely with books, paintings, supplies, and other odds and ends that this harper needs to work and survive each day.
The faint scent of mixed flowers, and perfume lingers in the air.
It is a spring midmorning.
On the perch are MacPhisto, Eppie, and Piper.
You see Well-used Crib here.

Kaeryn (#7720)
With a height of about 5 foot 4, this young woman is not exactly overbearing in stature, but the confident air about her makes her seem a little taller. The strands of her golden hair flow fluidly down her back, ending in gentle curls at her waist. Bringing attention to the features of her heart shaped face, which is slightly fuller than normal, are her blue eyes, highlighted with golden flecks, that sparkle mischievously in the light. Her skin is lightly tanned and delicate, tiny freckles powdering her small nose. A mysterious look in her eyes, and the way her pale pink lips upturn in a smile make her seem even more attractive.
A simple, cotton gown of sky blue covers Kaeryn's form. Short, baggy sleeves slip from her shoulders to just above her elbows, and a gently scooping neckline circles freely about her throat, The bodice is loose, lying smoothly over her chest, and from there, the cotton falling gently across her over-swollen belly, to where it stops just above her knees. Piper, her over-protective harper blue firelizard, flutters just over her left shoulder.
A bright silver knot dangles from a fine silver chain, a mark of friendship.
A knot of blue and white adorns Kaeryn's shoulder. Two twisted chords formed into a loop and a long tail represent her ranks as a Journeyman of the Harper Hall. Within the knot is a ribbon of black and a ribbon of orange signifying her posting at Ista Weyr.
She is wearing a silver and gold braided chain bracelet with the Dolphinsinger charms.
Kaeryn seems a little paler than usual, the glow of health her pregnancy has brought to her face replaced by a look of discomfort and nervousness.
Kaeryn is 26 Turns and 18 days old.

T'rell (#5123)
A small fellow, his shoulders are broad, his hands well-calloused, and his form compact and fit. His dirt-brown eyes sparkle with mischief and humor to lend a joke to his short and wavy hair, which has become quite a remarkable shade of light grey. His features are unlined except when he's laughing and are free and mobile with his expressions, such that all his five feet and four inches of height are alight with a juvenile and contagious spirit.
A short beard is trimmed more or less neatly, the light brown-grey adding definition to a firm jawline.
A well-worn, ash-scarred wherhide jacket hangs well on his shoulders over a plain shirt, his wingrider's knot slightly frayed at the edges but otherwise neat with its bronze strand winding unevenly through the orange and black of Ista. Work trousers end at sturdy brown boots, patched here and there but with several turns to go.
One bootlace is only half-laced through the holes, threatening to trip him up; he doesn't seem to notice that -- or for that matter, much else.
T'rell is 36 Turns, 8 months, and 14 days old.

Jathen (#11583)
male Healer Journeyman and Dolphinhealer Trainee
As Jathen turns to face you, the first thing you notice are his piercing dark green eyes that lock you in their grip. They have an almost flinty appearance to them. As the initial glance wears off, you notice that he has dark brown hair that has a tendency to hang in his face. His tan forearms are laced with very nasty looking threadscores. His face remains pleasant and his look is friendly. His look is often sarcastic. He is just above average height. His arms, legs and chest are obviously muscular but he retains the soft, gentle hands of a Healer. His fingers themselves seem a bit longer than they should be but perfectly in proportion with the rest of his body. He carries himself with a very casual look. He usually gives a smile and a nod to everyone.
Jathen wears a pair of dark green weyrhide pants that are a bit too large for him, but are fastened with a fairly nice leather belt. He also wears simlpe, long sleeved, loose shirt of an off white color. On his shoulders hangs a dark brown jacket that comes down to his ankles. As he walks it swirl around him like a cape.
Jathen wears the knot of Journeyman. He is a Healer.
IC Age: 24 Turns and 4 months

Kaeryn sighs softly and rolls over, onto her side, looking for a position in which she can be semi-comfortable, despite the pain that is now rhythmically pulsing in her body. Clenching her teeth, she forces herself into a seated position and reaches for the bedside table, where a marked candle waits to be lit. Fumbling, she judges it's length and then manages to start a flame on its wick. She lifts an arm, signaling for Eppie to join her, and quickly scribbles a message on a piece of hide before slipping it into the small cylinder attached to the gold's leg. "T'rell," she whispers to the gold, who chirps softly, and does as instructed.

Eppie> Eppie appears, chittering anxiously, swirling around T'rell's head. A small, shiny cylinder is attached to her leg, a small scrap of hide protruding from it.

Eppie> T'rell looks up from relacing a boot. "Oh, hi, Eppie." Unconcerned, he drops the laces, half-done, and holds out a hand for her to land on.

Eppie> Eppie chitters impatiently, and drops to T'rell's hand, her tube clanging quietly as it hits against her sharp talons.

Eppie> "Hold yer runners," T'rell chides the firelizard patiently, unfastening the tube with clumsy fingers. "Hold still."

Eppie> Eppie, for once, listens, and tries to be still so the tube can be opened at the note extracted. A shreaking croon echoes in the weyr as she waits, poised to exit as soon as she's dismissed.

Eppie> T'rell finally pulls out the note, winces as Eppie's cry pierces his ear. "Ow. Hang on, let me read it, will ya?" He smoothes out the note, holding it out into the light.

Kae sighs, taking a few deep breaths, relaxing as the pains subside, for the moment, at least. She glances toward the candle, checking to see where the flame has burned down to, and makes a mental note of it.

Eppie> Eppie turns her shiny little head in the direction of the note, as if trying to read what it says. Her sharp little talons squeeze against their 'perch'.

Eppie> T'rell freezes and the note flutters to the stone floor.

Eppie> Eppie screeches loudly before leaping into the air, and disappearing, not bothering to wait for a response.

Eppie swirls down and lands on the bed beside Kae, crooning softly and pressing her head against her 'pet's arm.

T'rell strides in hurriedly, one bootlace only half-laced, looking more frazzled than usual. "Kaeryn!" he calls, then spots her.

Kae leans back against the pillows that are supporting her upper body and gives T'rell a nervous smile. "Not in the middle of thread, then?" she teases while attempting to tie a ribbon in her hair to keep it out of her face. "It's been a few minutes," she motions at the marked candle and gives him a shrug. "Jathen asked me to time the space between them, right?"

T'rell stammers. "You're okay?" He halts in the middle of the room, then walks over to Kaeryn, very nearly tripping on his loose bootlace.

"For the moment?" Kae nods her head, offering Eppie a small scritch before directing her to move from the bed. As soon as the tiny gold returns to her usual spot on the back of the harper's chair, the harper makes an effort to slide away from the side of the bed so T'rell can sit. "Jathen said they would start off slow, and," she pauses, licking her lips nervously, "happen more and more as it gets closer."

MacPhisto isn't reeeally here. Nopenope...that's just a bit of rumbling, thrumbling shadow winging in to land beside Eppie. Well, maybe not /all/ shadow, as there's a battered....harper apprentice knot? tied to one of his hind legs with a bit of purple bootlace.

T'rell nods distractedly, sitting on the bed where Kaeryn has made room. "How much time between them now?" He makes a visible effort to gather his thoughts.

"Don't know yet," Kae admits sheepishly as she looks from the candle, to T'rell, and back. "That was the first. Maybe I shouldn't have sent for you yet but, I thought you'd want to know.." her voice trails off and she closes her eyes, concentrating on breathing. "To now?" she opens her eyes and looks at the candle again, her hand reaching for T'rell's and she bites down on her lower lip.

T'rell takes Kaeryn's hand and squeezes, giving her a focus until the contraction passes. Looking over at the marked candle, he considers, and estimates. "Almost half a mark. Hey," he grins encouragingly, though his face is slightly paler than usual, "You should have some time yet. Right?"

Kaeryn's breathing continues, a little heavy, for a moment longer before she relaxes again, against the pillows, and her grip on T'rell's hand loosens, a little. "Half a mark, that's, yes, I think that means we have /quite/ a while to go," she agrees quietly, obviously not thrilled with the idea of such episodes continuing through the day.

MacPhisto thruuuuumble-chirps an affirmative, then manages a slightly sheepish look. Not supposed to be here, right...Nher just had a hunch he should come in, you see. She's good like that. But now back to being quiet...

"So try to relax," T'rell advises, trying to appear so himself. "Have you sent to Jathen yet?" He glances up at MacPhisto for a moment, then does a double-take. "Do you have a brown?"

Kae presses the fingers of her other hand against her cheek to wipe the few spots of sweat that are touching her brow. At T'rell's question, she looks confused, and glances around. "Brown? No.." her gaze falls on MacPhisto and she shakes her head, "If memory serves me correctly, that would be Nher's...Mac?"

T'rell chuckles, watching the brown for just a moment before he touches Kaeryn's golden hair lightly. "I guess he got curious."

MacPhisto straightens, chest puffing out as he once again thruuuummmbles an affirmative. And then settles back down, blinking at Kae, eyes sqirling sloooowly. At least she's smart enough to knoooow...and stay put, at that.

"Oh, Jathen, no, I haven't," Kae suddenly realizes the question that was left unanswered. "Should I so soon, there isn't much he can do yet, is there?"

T'rell taps Kaeryn on the shoulder as if trying to get her attention as he aimiably suggests, "Hey, I've got an idea. Let's send a note to Jathen."

Blinking slowly, Kae studies T'rell, the look on her face seems to show that she's considering what to do with him. "There's hide on my desk," she nods her head in that direction and shrugs. "/You/ write it, Eppie will find him."

T'rell locates the hide and rises from the bed, again very nearly tripping on his loose bootlace. "Okay," the rider starts, unstoppering an ink bottle and dipping a pen. "Jathen. All well here. Would like to invite you to dinner. Reply by tomorrow," he reads, the pen's motion blocked from Kaeryn's view.

Kaeryn clears her throat and gives T'rell an icy stare, "You might want to add that *you* will need a healer soon, because a pregnant woman is going to hurt you." A tugging at the corner of her lip is the only sign that she *might* be joking.

MacPhisto chiiiiiirrbles a warning to T'rell. Pregnant lady....messing with pregnant lady nooooot good. Not good at /all/.

T'rell glances back at the woman who seems to be threatening him with a very guilty expression. "Oh. Right." He clears his throat, again dictating with his back to Kaeryn. "Send healer for possible injury caused by harper." He nods to himself. "Sound good to you?" He makes a last notation, replaces the pen in its holder and stoppers the bottle before he hands over note he's written.

Muttering under her breath, tone sounding *most* displeased, Kae closes her eyes and takes slow, deep breaths, attempting to relax her body enough to rest it between pains. As the note is offered, she glances at it, nods her head, and lifts her arm, calling Eppie over. "She'll take it to him."

T'rell nods, returning to the bed with a contrite air. "What can I get for you?" He hovers, standing on his bootlace without having noticed.

"First, you can tie your boot so you *don't* need a healer," Kae suggests, sounding much like a mother already. "Juice, or water, or something cold?" she requests, her voice much softer. "I'm already hot, so I can only imagine.."

T'rell looks down at his untied boot sheepishly. "Forgot about that." He sits down on the edge of the bed, wrapping the unlaced length around the ankle of the boot just to keep it out of the way. "I'll be right back," he then promises as he rises and heads for the door.

"Thank you," Kae calls out as T'rell wanders out the door, her eyes slipping closed again for a moment of peace, quiet, and relaxation, perhaps?

MacPhisto isn't saying much of anything, at the moment. Well, at least nothing audible. Interesting thing 'bout his rumbling, you see.

T'rell disappears through the door, closing it after him; several minutes later he returns, balancing three full pitchers dripping with condensation and three mugs on a tray. "Okay, we got redfruit juice, water and some kind of melon punch, I think," he announces, placing the tray down. "Have you heard back from Jathen?"

Eppie suddenly disappears ::between::!

Eppie> Jathen's Room

Eppie> Eppie appears, crooning softly, a scrap of hide clutched in her shiny gold talons.

Eppie> Jathen looks up from where he lays on his hammock and takes the scrap, "Hmm...whatcha got here?"

Eppie> Eppie releases the scrap of hide, it's scrawled note reading 'Kaeryn experiencing contractions, 1/2 candlemark. Please advise.' into Jathen's opened hands.

Eppie> Jathen takes in a deap breath, rolls out of his hammock skillfully, and goes to his desk and turns over the hide to write on it, 'Someone send an over sized firelizard to pick me up! I'll be in Ista Courtyard! Keep her in bed with her back propped up and have hot water and plenty of towel waiting..' He wraps the hide up and holds it out to the firelizard.

Eppie> Eppie chirps, taking the hide into her talons again, and disappears ::between::.

Kaeryn licks her lips again, and holds out a hand, "Redfruit juice, please?" She shakes her head at T'rell's question, as she waits for the refreshing drink, and gives him a nervous grin, "Not yet, but soon?"

Eppie blinks in from ::between::!

T'rell is startled enough by Eppie's return that the redfruit juice he's pouring sloshes. With a wry chuckle, he wipes the outside of the mug and hands it to Kaeryn, sopping up the rest on the tray with a napkin. "Guess I'm a little jumpy," he admits."

Kaeryn's jaw snaps tightly closed again, and she inhales a short, sharp breath through her nose, as the pain comes again. The blankets beneath her become very useful, as her fingers curl around them into fists.

Eppie appears, dropping the scrap of hide into T'rell's hands, it's responding note saying: 'Someone send an over sized firelizard to pick me up! I'll be in Ista Courtyard! Keep her in bed with her back propped up and have hot water and plenty of towel waiting.'

"We're supposed to keep you propped up," T'rell reads. "I'm going now to pick him up. Uh," he casts about, his gaze settling on the first firelizard he notices. "Send one o' them if you need help, we'll be back before you know it." He gives a nervous wink that was supposed to be reassuring, and strides out.

T'rell strides purposefully east.

Kaeryn tries to relax as T'rell strides out the door, but her breathing grows more and more harsh as she battles the pains that are running through her body. Breathe in. Breathe out. Clinch and unclinch fists. Breathe in. Breathe out. Slowly, the pain subsides and she glances over at the candle. "A third of a mark, now," she says quietly to herself as her eyes slips closed again.

Ista Hold Main Courtyard

Jathen shields his eyes from the grit of the landing dragon as it lands and tightens his pack to himself.

T'rell waves to Jathen, arranging the straps to accomodate a second person. "Morning," he calls down in greeting. "Thanks for being available."

Jathen nods, slowly and steps up to the dragon, "Uh huh...don't mention it...No matter how much I hate to admit it, dragon transportation is better..." He sighs.

T'rell reaches down to help Jathen up, dangling between straps and ground -- but it usually works pretty well. "This firelizard oversized enough for ya?" He grins crookedly.

Jathen smirks and lets the man give him some help up, "I suppose this will do..." He says with a reproving look on his face.

Watching the candle, Kae waits, knowing that she should have a little time before the onset of the next set of contractions. As the wick burns further and further down the candle, she tries to concentrate just on breathing, staying calm, staying relaxed.

"You know how these work?" T'rell hands back a set of straps, kept spare for emergency passengers.

Jathen nods slowly, "You tell me. I'm not a dragon rider, I'm a Healer.."

T'rell efficiently passes the straps around the healer, giving him a taut loop to hang on to and steady him. "Just hang on tight -- these're rarely needed anyway," he assures Jathen... yeah. "And if you're unsteady, you can hang on to me instead. I won't be falling off anytime soon. All set?"

Jathen nods, "Ready, willing, and hopefully able."

T'rell calls back, most of the sound stolen by the wind, "Count to three!" With a quick hand signal, the world disappears.

Sejith lands with a light thump of dust, and folds his wings.

T'rell unfastens his straps quickly, moving at efficient-speed as he turns back to help Jathen get his own. "Watch the landing... Sejith, help out a bit, will ya?" The dragon lowers himself closer to the ground, cocking a foreleg out to provide an intermediate landing.

Jathen nods and half slides half falls, landing on the dragons leg and then hopping down to the ground, panting and white.

T'rell gestures toward the cavern. "She's in her room. I sent a drudge in with the water and towels," he adds, his nervousness beginning to show.

Jathen nods slowly and tries his walking again...

T'rell holds open the door to Kae's place for the healer, starting to fidget slightly now that he's no longer walking.

Kaeryn relaxes, her breathing slowing again, as another set of labor pains passes. A few of her curls have managed to escape the braid she'd tried to force them into, and are sticking against her sweaty face. She closes her eyes and rests her head against the wall. She moves her hands to rest gently against her stomach, to wait.

"Kae?" T'rell calls softly into the candlelit room.

Jathen frowns a little, "Kaeryn, how're you holding up...?" He askes his a slow soothing tone as he sets down his pack and takes out a jar of redwort.

"T'rell," Kae's voice is filled with relief, face echoing the emotion as her eyes are opened and she spots the healer that has come. "Jathen, good day," she tries to be her usual pleasant self. "As well as can be expected, I suppose. Down to a third of a mark between now, I *think*."

T'rell crosses to the nearest glowbasket, uncovering it just a smidgeon to give the room a more steady, dim light. Keeping out of Jathen's way, he takes a seat on the foot of the bed to give the woman a quiet reassurance.

Jathen ahs, "Good woman..." He smiles slowly, as he gets clamps out from his pack and a pair of scissors, "Alright...you ready to do some work for me, Kaeryn. T'rell, I know 'riders have more brains than that. Go hold the woman's hand and let her have her revenge on you..." His smile turns into a grin but quickly is disappears.

Eppie croons encouraginly from her perch on the harper's desk, where several pitchers of steaming water rest, as well as bowls and towels.

The harper takes another deep breath and nods her head to give Jathen an affirmative in response to his question. "As ready as I can imagine I'll ever be, considering," is her shaky answer. She bites down on her lower lip and closes her eyes for a moment, focusing.

T'rell snaps his fingers quietly. "Shells. I figured as long as I kept out of kicking range..." He trails off even as he rather quickly moves to the side of the bed where he can be of more use. He's already incurred enough of Kaeryn's wrath this morning.

MacPhisto's bass rumble lightens, the brown's croon of encouragement joining Eppie's. Rumble-thruuuumble-thruuum...and so on. Hey...least she's being quiet? And fairly cooperative...

Jathen nods, "Alright...alright...Now where'd I put that manual...Ya know you're going to mess up the first time ever doing this..."

Kaeryn turns pale, if it's possible for her skin to get even lighter, before she realizes that the healer is joking. He is, right? Breathing in. Breathing out. Breathing in. Breathing out. Her hand finds T'rell's, and she squeezes it, tightly, as her eyes meet his for a quick moment. "This is it," she whispers, licking her lips nervously and moving her gaze to the candle, knowing another set of pains should be soon to follow.

T'rell glances at Kaeryn to see her reaction to Jathen's tease, then blandly replies, "Maybe a drudge has a spare copy."

"Ow," the rider complains softly. "No fair anticipating," he tells Kaeryn, taking her hand in both of his in hopes of loosening her grip at least until the next contraction hits.

Jathen smirks for an instant and lifts the sheet up over Kaeryn's knees, "Alright Kaeryn...It's all up to you now. I'm just here to help. Okay...now I want you to give me just a little push..Just a little one for starters..." He pauses, "Now...push for me here..."

As if on command, another set of contractions hits Kae's body, and, after a quick practiced breath, she pushes, squeezing T'rell's hand even tighter as she does.

T'rell stops joking as he looks on in concern, giving a good sturdy grip back. With a free hand, he pushes Kaeryn's wisps of stray curls back from her face.

Just keep on tru-- thrumming, rather. Which is what MacPhisto does, eyes whirling faster.

Jathen nods slowly, "Alright...stop...relax..." He looks up at her face, "Does everything feel normal to you?" Alright, alright. Stupid question but most mothers know if something's wrong.

Kae stops as the pain does, though her breathing continues to be short for a few more moments. Lifting a hand to wipe the sweat from her brow, she pushes back on her hair as well, and nods her head, "I don't think anything is wrong. It *hurts* but..." she lifts her shoulders in a shrug, showing she knows that is to be expected.

"More juice?" T'rell offers, all trace of joking put aside now, his dark eyes reflecting only his concern.

Jathen nods and smiles, "Wonderful..." He pats her knee comfortingly, "You're doing a wondeful job dear..." He sighs, "I'm going to need a drink after this. He wipes his own brow with a towel from his pant pocket.

"Please?" Kae replies, turning her eyes to Jathen to make sure he's no objections first. While she waits for the juice, she closes her eyes and rubs her hand across her stomach.

T'rell refills Kaeryn's mug and hands it to her. "Redfruit, melon, or water?" T'rell offers Jathen. "I'll save the stronger stuff for after, how's that?"

Jathen nods, "Perfectly alright I suppose..." He shrugs and then shakes his head, "No, no...nothing for me right now..."

Kae can't help but laugh and she gives Jathen a grin, "He made a special batch of, well, /something/, for today."

T'rell nods and instead pours a mug of water for himself, grinning down at Kaeryn. "Haven't tasted it yet."

Kaeryn takes a long drink from the juice and hands the mug back over to T'rell, quickly enough. Not taking chances. Candle is forgotten now, with the pains coming closer and closer together. She takes a deep breath and lifts her shoulders up and drops them again, forcing herself to relax while she can.

Jathen looks about the room and starts rocking back and forth on his heels, "Just say when, Kaeryn..."

Kaeryn takes another sharp breath, and nods her head at Jathen, signaling that another one has begun. Her fingers curl, once again, around the sheet beneath her and she resists the urge to push again until instructed to do so.

T'rell replaces the mug on the nightstand and quickly squeezes Kaeryn's hand again to give her a distraction. "How much longer, do you think?" he directs the question to Jathen.

Jathen settles back down at the foot on the bed but not before grabbing the whole stack of towels and placing them beside himself, "Alright...now...push for me Kaeryn. Hard. Push hard.." He says again in his soothing quiet voice.

Jathen obviously ignores T'rell's question as he concentrates.

Taking a *deep* breath first, Kae squeezes T'rell's hand hard, and pushes with all of her might, only backing off enough to draw in another breath when necessarily. Her eyes are tightly closed and her face is red from the concentration and effort.

Jathen sighs, "Alright, alright...rest for a second and when you're ready again push..." He smiles slightly.

T'rell raises his eyebrows, about to comment, when his hand is very nearly squeezed off and he winces. He takes a deep breath to calm himself before trying to be any sort of support for Kaeryn again; then he strokes her hair lightly. "Still doing okay?" he mutters softly, not really able to think of anything better to express his worry for her.

Kaeryn opens her eyes, and leans back again, trying to relax her body enough so they pain will go away, however unlikely that may be at this moment. Ready again, she leans forward and pushes again, and she clinches her jaw.

Jathen gets down to concentrate again, "Alright, alright... I gotta head down here..." He starts taking inventory, "Beautiful...and we got shoulders..." He looks very relieved.

T'rell rests a gentle hand on Kaeryn's shoulder in what's supposed to be a calming gesture; however, at the announcement of the child's appearance, he tenses as well.

"Can't.." Kae has to stop pushing, as she gasps for air, and leans back against the pillows again, tears beginning to fill her eyes, both from the pain and excitement.

Jathen smiles, "It's okay...it's okay Kaeryn...just one more big push..."

T'rell leans over to kiss Kaeryn's forehead, keeping a firm grip on her hand. "Sure you can," he encourages in a near whisper. "I know you can."

Kae wipes her hand over her eyes and forehead, takes a deep breath, and begins to push again, this time harder than before. A look crossed between pain and determination covers her face, and she screeches slightly.

T'rell watches the healer searchingly, waiting for an announcement. If he could push for Kaeryn, he would, but instead he has to settle for whispered encouragement.

Jathen lifts the baby up in his arms and deftly flips clamps around to clamp the cord down, "It's a beautiful girl..." He picks up the scissors and offers them to T'rell, "Dad?"

Brencia (#16352)
A tiny pink face, each attribute a miniature replica of the features of her mother's face, from the little button nose, to the tiny pink lips which seem to show that this darling girl knows something no one else does. Her eyes, a simple brown, mimicking her father's, complete with the sparkle of mischief that is ever present in his. Hair, the little of it that there is, is a light shade of brown, with tiny curls that are pressed against her scalp. Ten tiny pink fingers. Ten tiny pink toes. Perfection in all it's tiny-ness.

Tears roll down the harper's face at the announcement, but, try as she might to lean forward and see the new baby, she resigns to leaning against the pillows, breathing heavily, and waiting. "A girl," she whispers softly.

T'rell blinks in bewilderment at the scissors. "A girl?" he asks, taking the tool without an ounce of comprhension as to what he's supposed to do with them.

Jathen gestures to the appropriate spot on the cord, "Right there if you will..." Damned tradition but oh well...

Acting under something of an influence of shock and amazement, T'rell slowly and carefully places the scissors at the spot indicated and cuts. All the while, he watches the tiny newborn girl.

"She's healthy?" Kae asks of Jathen, her voice a tired whisper. To T'rell, she asks, "Ten fingers, Ten toes?"

T'rell gradually smiles as he counts... "...nine, ten... yep," he nods to Kaeryn with the beginnings of a very proud grin, "Ten of each, and all right where they should be." He looks back to Jathen, sobering just a touch. "She's healthy, isn't she?"

Jathen nods satisfactorally and quickly cleans out the sqwauling infants mouth, eyes, nose, and ear and buddles it up in all off the towels, "Healthy! With the lungs on this child! Ow..." He gets a loud ear full of the child, "Here's another one for the Harpers..." He walks over to Kaeryn with the babe, being exta careful to support the child's head, "Healthy isn't the word...My ear'll be ringing for the rest of the day." He lays the babe on Kaeryn's chest, walks back to his pack and comes back with a pick little baby bonet and puts it lightly on the baby's head. There. He goes about tending Kaeryn and cleaning her up, "T'rell, go tell some drudges to change the bed and not to disturb Kaeryn."

T'rell caresses Kaeryn's cheek lightly even as he nods to the healer, only reluctantly tearing his gaze away from mother and new daughter. "Anything else?"

Jathen nods, "A good stiff drink..." He pauses, "For me..." He smirks as he uses the hot water to clean the mother up.

As the baby is placed against Kaeryn's chest, the harper's tears are wiped away and kisses are planted all over the face of the little girl. "Welcome to Pern, Brencia," she whispers softly in the ear of her little girl. "Of course she has the lungs of a harper," she nods with proud approval of her daughter's vocalness, "Both of her parents /are/ harpers, after all." To T'rell, she gives a look more affectionate than any she's ever given him, and the looks back to her babe, who's fingers have already wrapped around her mother's own.

"That I can take care of right now," T'rell suddenly grins, reaching into his jacket to produce a flask. "In honor of Brencia." He puts it on the stand nearby Jathen, returning Kaeryn's look with a broad smile that expresses just about everything he's never put into words. With a start, he pulls himself away, striding toward the door with a bounce to his step.

T'rell strides purposefully east.

Puddles> T'rell heads toward the hall, only to bump into George. "Well?" the old drudge demands; and the rider nods proudly as he relays Jathen's orders. With a whistle and a smile, old George beckons and immediately two women enter with fresh bedding, bustling toward Kaeryn's room.

The new mother helps the babe find what she's looking for, a breast to suckle, and turns her teary blue eyes to Jathen once again. "Thank you for everything, Journeyman Jathen," she offers her gratitude, her voice shaking with emotion. "She's so perfect and, obviously..." she shrugs slightly and gives the healer a grin. "Thank you."

A pair of women enter the room holding fresh bedding, and a tray of food. "Bedding for now, food for later," one of the ladies clucks as they wait for the healer to finish his job so they can do theirs.

Jathen shrugs as he stands, "Just doin' my job, Kaeryn...think nothing of it..." He reaches his pack and cleans himself off before putting all of his things away in his pack, "Honored I could be of assistance."

"If ever I," Kae pauses, her eyes meeting T'rell's as he returns to the room, "we can do anything for you," she leaves the offer open.

T'rell follows the drudges in, moving to Kaeryn's side. "George sends his best to you and Brencia." His voice softens as he says the girl's name, reaching a fingertip to just stroke the child's fine hair. "Absolutely," the rider seconds the offer to Jathen. "Just ask. Please."

Jathen gets a twinkle in his eye, "Hmm...a couple rides adragonback wouldn't hurt, but I won't pry you away now, T'rell. You're needed here." He shoulders his pack.

T'rell glances to Kaeryn even as he offers in all seriousness, "I can take you back to the Hold, Journeyman. It's the least I could do."

Kaeryn smiles, causing tiny wrinkles to appear around her eyes, and nods her head, once again, to the healer. She reaches out a hand to T'rell, even after his offer to the Healer, "Look at her," she whispers to him.

Jathen shakes his head, "No, no..." He tuts and looks to the women standing there, "Well, what're you waiting for. Change the poor woman's bed!" He says exasperated and picks up the flask T'rell had set down, poor himself a fairly large glass and walks out, "G'day..." He makes a quiet retreat.

T'rell nods, sinking to sit on the bed next to Kaeryn and their daughter. "She's incredible," he breathes. "You're incredible." Of course, he sat down just as one of the women was about to start removing the sheet, and she scolds him until he rises again.

Kae quietly watches as their little one hungrily eats, her eyes closed, oblivious to the world around her. Kae brushes her finger over her chubby, wrinkled little face, and sighs softly. Brencia pulls away, apparently having had her fill, and the new mother lifts her eyes to meet T'rell's, "Want to hold her?"

T'rell nods, awkwardly reaching to hold the child; he eventually gets the ends straightened out, and she wriggles in his arms and screws up her face as he grins down at her.

Kaeryn leans back, resting her head against the wall, neck supported by the pillows, and watches Father and Daughter get acquainted. "Hard to believe that we actually have a daughter, isn't it?" she comments softly as she continues to adjust her position, *trying* to find a comfortable one.

"Yeah." He breathes. "Are you alright?" T'rell's glance passes over Kaeryn's pale, tired face even as the drudges somehow manage to change the bed without chasing her out of it; though they certainly chase him around enough.

Kaeryn nods, tiredly, "It's just going to take a while for the pain to subside, I'm afraid. I suppose I'll spend the rest of the day in bed, since I doubt I could really stand anyway." As the watches the pair together, she opens her mouth as though to say something, but closes it before words can come out.

T'rell cradles Brencia naturally, murmuring occasionally to her as she squirms; finally, she stretches, yawns, and settles into her father's arms, leaving the rider with a positively enchanted look on his face. "Can I get you anything?" The women have finished with the bed, now, so he sits back down next to Kaeryn. "Did Jathen say how long you should stay in bed?"

Kae shakes her head in negation, her clear blue eyes moving from Father to Daughter, back to Father again. She takes Brencia's tiny hand into one of hers, and presses the fingertips of her other hand against T'rell's cheek, both done in a gentle, loving manner. "This is the most wonderful day of my life," she whispers, to both of them.

T'rell gathers up the sleeping Brencia so that she rests in one arm, putting the other around Kaeryn's shoulders in a gentle embrace even as he gives her a light kiss. Unable to come up with words, he just breathes into her hair.

Kaeryn curls up against him, her head resting against his, and feels herself relax, both outwardly and inwardly. "I've been an artist all of my life, but, never did I imagine created anything so, perfect," she mumbles, proudly.

T'rell never even took off his jacket in all that; no wonder he was sweating. (Sweating? Him? At the birth of his daughter?) As Brencia stirs in her sleep, he shifts her gently back to her mother. "I couldn't have dreamed anything or anyone more perfect," he tells Kaeryn, his eyes taking in the both of them and, perhaps, referring to the both of them. "I..." He shakes his head, words catching. "I can't even express..."

As their daughter is slipped back into her arms, Kae adjusts her positioning so the little one can continue to sleep in her arms. Her gaze lifts from Brencia to T'rell, and she just studies his face, quietly.

T'rell strips off his jacket, hanging it over the back of a chair. Finally, too, he notices his bootlace, only half-laced still but at least not dangerous; he pulls off the boot (phewie) to air out his feet while he takes care of it. "So now what do we do?" He pauses, one lace caught between thumb and forefinger as he starts to pass it through the hole in his boot.

"I guess we'll just have to figure that out," Kae pauses, looking, again, at the baby sleeping in her arms, and quietly adds, "together."

T'rell gives a crooked grin. "My sister should be ready to come in a couple of days, if you still want." Weaving the laces up to the top really takes very little time; he could have done it easily during Kaeryn's wait, if he'd thought of it. "I can take a trip up there tomorrow and make the arrangements."

"Sounds like a good idea, I guess," Kae agrees quietly, without looking up. "The quilt?" she half-asks, not really completing the thought, but getting her point across, as she removes the towels that are covering Brencia and pushes them to the end of the bed.

"Ah." T'rell strides across to the crib, where his old quilt, now Brencia's, lies waiting. He brings it back to Kaeryn, perching again on the edge of the bed. "Welcome to the outside world, Brencia," he tells the sleepy child.

Kaeryn gives T'rell a shy smile, which is somewhat out of place under the circumstances, and wraps their daughter in the soft quilt, allowing her to continue sleeping. "Guess this makes us family now, doesn't it?" she whispers, slipping her fingers into T'rell's hand, entwining them with his.

T'rell nods with a smile, eyes twinkling. "Well, if you need it official, this'll sure do." Suddenly, he puts out his hand, gently taking Kaeryn's hand and shaking it lightly. "Welcome to the family." He nods, then does the same softly, almost in miniature, to Brencia. "So what'll *your* cousins say?"

Kae yawns tiredly and slips down under the blankets of her bed, Brencia in her arms. "They'd say they're glad to have two new people to know and love," she replies quietly, as her eyes close and she drifts off into a peaceful sleep.

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