Helping Hands

Writers: Heather K, Suzee
Date Posted: 26th September 2011

Characters: E'ril, Tavia
Description: Tavia get's some help washing her lifemate.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 6 of Turn 6

Tavia

}:I itch mine:{

**I'm coming my love** said Tavia. Her shift in the Weyrwoman's office
didn't start until afternoon so she had plenty of time to give her
beautiful Sawauth a nice bath and oiling.

She walked out into the outer weyr to see the green land on the ledge.
"How was the sun?"

}:Very pleasant:{

Tavia nodded at the thoughts of a very handsome brown that had been
sunning with her on the heights. "Mmmhmm," she mused. "I'll meet you
down there," she said and pulled her pot of oil and bag of sweetsand
from the shelf.

After the turnover storms she'd moved to a lower weyr with easier
access so it wasn't long before she walking across the bowl toward the
weyrlake. She dropped the sand and pot on the ground realizing that
she was just a bit uncomfortable. She smiled at the sight of weyrlings
doing the very same thing.

Her hands went to the small of her back and she stretched backward.
That got her thinking, this was going to get more difficult before it
got any better.

"E'ril," she'd called as she waved at the bluerider.

"Yes, dear," E'ril called out in response not sure if it had been one
of his weyrlings that called to him or someone else. He hadn't bothered
to look.

}: It's Sawauth's. She could use some help.:{ Dawenth filled him in and
looked over his shoulder in the direction of the green and her noticeably
pregnant rider.

"Oh," E'ril replied simply as he dropped his brush in the sack of sweetsand
and made for the lake shore. "Tavia, how are you? You're looking...pregnant.
Something I can do for you?"

She smiled at the weyrling assistant. "I'm ok right now but... well,
it's only going to get harder. Right?" Sawauth came gliding out of the
lake and she reached for her sand and brush. "Do you think I'll be
able to get some help from the candidates and weyrlings?" She didn't
want her lovely green to suffer because of her condition.

E'ril laughed and replied, "Of course. Why didn't you ask sooner? I'll help
you a bit today and then when we're done I'll be sure it gets put into the chore
rotations. Don't worry, I won't stick any of the more awnry ones with you."

She felt just a little silly about the whole thing actually. She
hadn't even thought about needing any help until very recently. She
shrugged a shoulder. "I just didn't think about it before now." Then
she acknowledged his other comment. "I appreciate that."

Glory had popped in as she usually did when Sawauth had her bath and
began industriously washing her head with a small brush. "Well she's
enthusiastic with her help at least," she giggled.

E'ril grinned and chuckled at the little gold. "She's cute. A proper little
queen though isn't she?" He waded back into the water and rejoined Dawenth.
He had thankfully just finished his washing so the blue was free to
just observe. "So how is being pregnant treating you? That belly just
sort of crept up on you it seemed. I've seen you around the Dining
Cavern at dinner. All of a sudden it was just there."

"Well you're right," she smiled. "It does seem to have happened a
little fast." She looked down at her belly. "I'm getting a little
awkward but I'm still flexible enough to do what's needed for now."

She scrubbed reaching up as far as she could when she got a hitch in
her side. One fist pressed into the side of her abdomen near her hip
as she bent slightly to the side.

When E'ril saw the stretch and the look of discomfort on the greenrider's
face, he rushed over. "Whoa, whoa there, mama. Why don't we just focus on
the lower half of her, hm? I'll have some of the kids finish her up when
you're done. This way you can say you did your part." The last thing he
wanted, or needed, was for a pregnant rider to pull a muscle on his watch.

"Yeah ok," she said feeling distinctly embarrassed that he'd seen her.
She still felt strong but now she had to acknowledge that her shape
was unbalancing her and putting pressure in places she hadn't even
known she had places.

Taking note of her disappointed face E'ril changed his tone. "Hey, this is
only temporary, remember? You won't be this ungainly forever. The baby will
come and you'll get your body back. You'll see. That's what I hear happens to
you gals anyways." The bluerider didn't have much experience with pregnant
women. He had all brothers and he didn't see their families much so pregnancy
wasn't a field he had much experience in.

She gave him a sunny smile for his understanding. Maybe it was his
working with the weyrlings that mad him more sensitive than some of
the other blueriders she'd known. "Thanks," she said. She was seeing
people from a whole different perspective. Some who'd never spoken to
her were stopping to talk now that she was obviously pregnant. Of
course she didn't mind it was just the way people saw her.

"I know things will come back it's just now and then next couple of
months that I'm worried about."

"I can only imagine and even that's uncomfortable. You have earned my
respect. Any woman willing to go through all of this trouble for a
child is a hero in my book." As one who worked with children on a
daily basis E'ril knew they weren't all just over dramatic and messy.
Some kids were just downright pleasant and he supposed there was
something to be said for parenthood. "Do you have a name for him or
her?"

"Oh well, I've been making lists and trying them on to see how they
sound. But it's hard when you don't know if it's a boy or girl.
Besides, the father and I need to discuss it."

"Hm, I suppose not knowing the sex would make it hard. You could
always go traditional and combine your name with his. Or maybe if one
of you have a name that's been in the family for Turns that you want
to pass down. _Or_ you could let the little one grow up and name
themselves," E'ril joked, a playful smirk on his face.

"Somehow, I don't think that's the best idea," she grinned back at
him. "I just wish I knew whether it was a boy or girl. It would be
easier to plan."

"I can only imagine. You can't prepare for much. Don't know whether to
get dresses or extra britches..." E'ril stumbled off into thought for a
bit. Again, he realized he wasn't sure what having a baby really entailed.
He break his momentary silence by stepping back and taking a look at Sawauth's
hide. "Looks like you've done about all you can here. Let's let the young ones
finish her up hmm?" Before Tavia could answer he whistled to a pair of boys
chatting on the shore. After setting the two boys to work and gestured for
the greenrider to lead the way back to the beach. Dawenth stayed in the water
to supervise and keep the green company.

She chuckled. As a rider of a fighting dragon, she wouldn't be allowed
much time off and probably sooner than she wished she'd have to give
the child to it's foster mother. After carrying it under her heart for
so long she was beginning to see why some mothers were so torn by the
process. "Well, I'm sure the foster mothers have all that figured
out." She smiled without hinting at the conflict within.

"Thank you," she pointed toward the boys. "This really helps. Sawauth
is very patient with me but I really feel bad making her wait. }:I
love you mine!:{ **And I love you,** she returned with equal
certainty.

"It's nothing. Just helping out. It's sort of my thing," he smiled and shrugged.
"But I am serious about getting some kids to help you out. I'll let
you know what
makes it onto the chart or you let me know what works for you and Sawauth."

Last updated on the October 15th 2011

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