Baby Steps

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 14th October 2020

Characters: H'riv, Jalodwyn
Description: H'riv comes to see Jalodwyn and his new niece
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 6, day 16 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Thayde

H'riv couldn't remember the last time he had been to Jade Harbor, but
a letter from Thayde had the brownrider flying to the seaside Hold on
his rest day. The technician rarely had free time from Barrier Lake,
so even just making an obligatory run to a Hold felt like a nice
little break.

After Uuketh dropped him off and then went off to find some sun, H'riv
pulled a passing apprentice by to steer him in the right direction.

He found Jalodwyn in the courtyard, and strapped to her front in a
large bolt of cloth that crisscrossed over her back, was his niece.

"Jalodwyn," he said with his easy-going, good-natured smile as he approached.

She had finally decided to take advantage of the sunshine, mostly
because both Yasha and her mindhealer had insisted upon it. She found
the warmth soothing and to her surprise, she found that she'd truly
missed the brightness and the smell of the ocean. She tilted her face
up to the sun and finally smiled with a contented sigh. About to go
for a stroll along the beach, she was surprised to hear a familiar
voice call her name. She blinked and turned, then the smile faltered.
"H'riv? What're you doing here?" Then she sighed and took a deep
breath. "Thayde sent you, didn't he?"

His grin broadened. "I would lie, but you know I can't. He accepts
that you don't want his help, but you haven't turned me down yet. So
here I am, no strings attached, just checking on an old friend and my
niece." H'riv leaned in, "And if we're lucky, she'll have her handsome
uncle's green eyes," he batted them at Jalodwyn for effect.

Before, Jalodwyn might have playfully flirted in return or cracked an
answering grin, but this time there was no return smile offered. "I
don't want to talk about him. We're fine. Besides, I've already got
the Master here reporting to him. I don't need anyone else doing that
too." She eyed him, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.
"So he told you. Did he tell your mother and father too? And all of
your siblings?" She rubbed a hand over her face. "Look, H'riv, you've
always been a good friend, but maybe you visiting isn't a good idea. I
just want to be left alone and she's not going to be a part of your
family."

"You can choose your friends but not your family," H'riv chimed. "I
don't know if he's told anyone else. I don't have to tell Thayde
anything more specific than I saw you." He reasoned. "I can be your
friend and Thayde's older brother without crossing the two. I'm not
here as a spy, I promise."

"Then I want you to promise that you won't discuss Jalotha or me with
him. Will you absolutely promise me that as _my_ friend?" Jalodwyn
shifted from foot to foot, rubbing her arms. "And not with your
family either? They can be overwhelming sometimes and I really don't
want ALL of them showing up to visit. I love them, but I can't deal
with that right now."

"Dragonrider's honor," H'riv said, making a crisscross motion over his
chest. "Were you about to take a walk down to the beach? I think
Uuketh is down there."

She paused, looking over her shoulder towards the beach and then back
at H'riv. At his promise, she visibly relaxed and nodded. "Yeah. I
figured it would be a nice day for it and Jalotha's sleeping so it
wouldn't hurt to let her get a bit of sun too." And she hadn't seen
the brown in a few turns; she liked the dragon and it would be good to
visit with him. "Come on. I guess some company wouldn't hurt."

She turned and waved at him to walk with her. She walked slowly,
taking her time, but trying to stay as much in the shade of the trees
along the beach as she could. Silent for long moments, she found
herself asking H'riv a question. "So... what did he tell you?
Everything?"

"Well, I knew already that he had been unfaithful to Enamra," H'riv
confessed as they walked. "I didn't even know you were expecting. He
just contacted me a few days ago and said you'd had a child, that it
was his, and that he hoped I could be here for you as a friend. That
is all I know." The brownrider glanced sideways at her. "If you don't
want Thayde in any way involved, why did you include his name in
hers?"

"Honestly, H'riv, I don't know," she admitted. "Up until him showing
up a few days ago, he refused to even acknowledge that there was a
possibility that she was his." She rubbed her arms as though she was
chilly, despite the warmth of the air. "I haven't been doing so great
for a while. Not for over a turn." She'd told Yasha much of what she'd
been through, but few others. "And it's been really rough so I guess
I went a little crazy for a bit. I'm seeing a mindhealer now though. "

H'riv put an arm around her shoulders in a one-armed hug as they
walked. "I hate to hear that things have been so hard for you, Jal.
I'm glad you're seeing a mindhealer, though. You deserve some peace
and happiness."

She stiffened at first, then accepted the hug. "That'll take some
time. Jalotha, though, she makes me smile. She's amazing and I didn't
think I'd ever _want_ to be a mother, you know. Being tied down and
such, but she makes me really happy. And I've got a good friend here
who's really helping. She gives me a good kick in the butt when I need
it. She loves Jalotha too. But it's hard here. Everyone whispers and
I'm not married, so it makes it worse. And then there are rumors about
me and Yasha. Those are kind of funny, but it doesn't make it easier.
" She looked up at H'riv. "It's my fault so I've got to live with it."

"Aye, but it's not your fault alone." H'riv murmured, placing blame at
Thayde's door as well. "You could try a different location? Go to
Sunstone, it's beholden to Barrier Lake."

That brought a soft snort. "I was sent here by Thayde. He wanted me as
far away as possible. So I'm probably stuck here. Besides, they've got
a good pod here and there's a chance I might find another partner once
I'm cleared to go back to duties. And I've got a good friend. " She
shook her head. "I'll manage, H'riv." She spotted Uuketh and finally
smiled a bit more. "What have you been feeding him? He's got a bit of
a paunch." It was an old joke that finally brought a soft chuckle.
"Can't keep him out of the feeding pens?"

H'riv snapped his fingers, playing along with the joke. "_That's_ why
he didn't catch Kapera's gold."

Uuketh turned his head to survey the woman as she approached and then
he lifted his wing, as if to show off the lighter, sandy brown of his
belly.

Jalodwyn offered a wide smile at the big brown and approached,
ducking under his wing to pat his belly. "Gotta get that under
control, big guy." She turned to H'riv. "You? As a Weyrleader? Faranth
forbid. No one would be able to take anything seriously if _that_
happened." There was a wiggle at her back and she shifted. "Hold on.
Uuketh, can you keep your wing up to give me some shade?" Completely
comfortable around the big dragon, she carefully undid that baby's
wrap and pulled her into her arms. "Well she's not wet or messy. She
may just want to eat." She looked up at H'riv. "You mind stopping for
a bit?"

"I would never hinder a little lady from her lunch." H'riv said,
gesturing for Jalodwyn to sit if she wanted, while Uuketh continued to
provide shade with his wing. He could not help but look at the baby
curiously to see if there were any familial similarities.

Jalodwyn settled and leaned back against Uuketh, unwrapping the baby
with a deft hand. She was small, but had a shock of dark hair that
stuck out in random bunches. "Are you hungry, little bit?" The baby
yawned and flailed her little arms, blinking up at her mother with big
dark eyes. The shape of them were identical to her father's as well as
the nose, but her mouth was an echo of Jalodwyn's full shape. Jalodwyn
looked up to see H'riv looking at the Jalotha and she arched her brow.
"She looks just like him, H'riv." She paused, considered him for a
moment and slowly offered the child in her arms. "You can hold her for
a little bit. If you want."

There was a strong resemblance to Thayde, H'riv thought as he reached
out and took the warm little bundle into his arms. With the amount of
siblings he had, it wasn't the first time he'd held a niece or nephew.
This one felt special though, probably because he and Thayde were only
a Turn apart in age, so they had always been a tight pair. "Hello
little one," he cooed, stroking a solitary finger over one perfectly
round, smooth cheek. "You did good, Jal," he said looking up at the
dolphineer, "she is beautiful."

That brought a beaming smile to Jalodwyn's face, a look of motherly
pride that couldn't be denied. "She is. And she's healthy. I couldn't
be more proud of her."

Jalotha blinked up at H'riv and the little brow furrowed, looking so
much like Thayde when he frowned that it could have been amusing. Her
little arms waved up at the unfamiliar face and she gave a little coo.
At the touch against her cheek, her little mouth opened and she
turned head, searching and immediately latched on to the side of his
finger. Jalodwyn laughed softly. "Looks like she's hungry after all."

"Back to mama then, Jally-girl, I'm afraid I can't provide any food."
H'riv said as he passed the baby back to Jalodwyn.

Jalodwyn took her daughter and pushed her shirt aside to begin to
nurse. Jalotha latched on greedily, bringing another chuckle. She
stroked her fingers over the dark hair and then looked up at H'riv.
"Only Yasha's watched me nurse before. No one else has held her
either." There was an old familiar, crooked smile. "Guess I'm getting
a little better."

H'riv returned her smile. "Baby steps."

Last updated on the November 11th 2020

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Baby Steps