"Brisse... love... it'll be all right.  Easy love, you'll be all right," 
Dan'yar said quietly as she continued to retch.

His hand stoked her hair as he supported her.  When she finally recovered, 
he picked her up and carried her from the cavern.

"You are going to see the healer, love," he told her in a tone that would 
brook no argument, nor did she even try.  "We're going to find out once and 
for all what's wrong with you."

<Are you all right?> Tymor asked.

<I'll be fine, dear.  Dan'yar is taking me to see the healer.>

He carried her the whole way, until they came to the new medical center and 
refused to let her go until they were shown to a room and G'abril came in. 
She sat and listened while Dan'yar explained what was going on, and then 
the healer asked Dan'yar to leave the room.

She could see he didn't want to leave her, but she gave him a weak smile 
and told him she would be fine.

"I'll be right outside the door if you want me love," he told her and then 
went to wait. 

G'abril asked her to explain her exact symptoms, when they had started and 
so on.  He then asked about her cycles and Brisse grew more alarmed.  But 
she'd just had her period!

He handed her a cup and sent her off to the bathroom to provide a urine 
sample.  After that, he took a blood sample.

He then went to the door, opened it and asked Dan'yar to come back inside.

"I'm going to go run a few test," he told the rider.  "So why don't you 
stay in here and keep the lovely young lady company until I get the 
results."  He stepped out.

"Are you okay, love?" Dan'yar asked as he moved to sit on the side of the 
bed next to her.

"Oh Dan'yar!  He... he was asking about my cycle and stuff.  You don't 
think...?"

"Shh.  We only have a few minutes to wait to know for sure.  Don't panic 
yet.  Actually, don't panic at all.  We'll get through whatever it is, 
together, love."

He slipped his arms around her.  She settled into them, needing the 
comfort.  They sat quietly, him rocking her gently, until the door clicked 
open and G'abril stepped in again.  He was carrying a small vial of a blue 
liquid.  Brisse saw Dan'yar's eyes go wide.  What was wrong.

G'abril sat down in the chair next to the bed, putting him on her level.  
"Do you see this vial, Brisse?  This is a pregnancy test.  It turns blue if 
you're pregnant."

She sat stunned for a moment, till she felt Dan'yar squeeze her shoulder.  
"Pr-pregnant?  But, my period--"

"Wasn't a period," G'abril said.  "Some women spot a bit.  That's all it 
was.  You're pregnant, Brisse."

She began shaking then, and Dan'yar drew her closer.

"Brisse," G'abril said quietly, "I know you have objections, but if you 
can't handle this, please consider an abortion.  Having to carry, deliver 
and raise the child of a rape isn't something you should feel you have to do."

Even in her shock, she knew she couldn't do such a thing, and shook her head.

"Unless it could be Dan'yar's...?"

They both shook their heads.  That was impossible.

G'abril considered for a moment.  Something seemed to occur to him.  "Wait. 
Your dragon had a mating flight a couple weeks ago, didn't she?"

Brisse nodded, wondering where he was going.

"And B'rand's Rook won?"

She nodded.  "Why?" she sniffled.

"It could be B'rand's, then?"

So profound was her shock that she stopped shaking, staring at the healer, 
remembering the mating passion she had shared with B'rand.  "Y-yes, it 
could be."

"Oh, gods!" Dan'yar groaned.

She turned to look at her lover.  "I'm sorry.  What... what do I do?"

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Brisse and Tymor

---
|   Lynette R. F. Cowper  *  Official INWO Rules NetRep & Goddess    |
| http://www.io.com/~lcowper  *  lcowper@io.com  *  lcowper@indy.net |
|  "If people never did silly things, nothing intelligent would ever |
|                   get done."  -- L. Wittgenstein                   |