[Almiron]

As they parted in their embrace, Azyil pulled him along, questioning how
Almiron had survived all these years and had gotten a foreign wife.

He saw Darlea trying to follow and looking anxious that she was being
encouraged to go with some of the tribe's women.  Was that Sabar's widow,
Isha?

He looked assuringly at her. "I will return soon."

Almiron then turned back to Azyil and began to tell the tale, even as he
considered what to tell his brother about dragons and dragonriders.  His
brother had obviously seen dragons and dragonriders, given his question
about Darlea. 

But, when he hit the tale of Darshan's mother killing his brothers and
their companions, they stepped through the tent flap at that point, and
Almiron immediately spotted the DragonRider sitting over to one side,
looking miserable and lost. 

"You speak tongue of dain Dragon?" Azyil asked him.

Almiron nodded.

"Good.  Can you translate for me, then?"

"Of course."  He walked over to where the rider he knew to be named H'riol
sat watching them nervously.  He sat down in front of the captive and his
brother sat down beside him.  "I am Almiron, rider of Darshan of Keldarra
Warren," he introduced himself in the tongue of the DragonLands. 

H'riol's eyes widened in surprise.  "I'm... H'riol, rider of Garoth,
formerly of Falagand Warren and now of... well...  I guess now of
nowhere." 

"You were banished with Roland.  We saw your dragon not far from here and
found your papers.  My dragon and that of my mate are watching over him." 

H'riol nodded.  "Is he?..."

"I have some healing powers.  He should recover."

The rogue rider sighed in relief.  "That makes it all worthwhile..."

"Ask him why his dragon attacked our herd," Azyil instructed.

Almiron did so.  H'riol shrugged.  "Garoth was hungry and I didn't spot
the herd girl till it was too late."

Almiron conveyed and Azyil studied H'riol with suspicion.  "What tribe is
he from?"

"He was banished from his tribe," Almiron answered.  "He has been trying
to restore his name's honour."  He didn't know that for sure, of course,
but he could hardly let his brother think H'riol to be a man without
honour.

"So, he has no tribe to return to?" Azyil asked.

"Not at the moment, no."

Azyil looked pityingly at the rider, then shrugged.  "He can remain slave
with us.  He will be well-treated."

"I am sure," Almiron answered, then explained to H'riol.

The rider grimaced.  "I've been well-treated so far, except for... what
you would expect..."

Almiron nodded.  "I will try to get you out of here, but it will not be
easy.  Until then, you must be obedient."

H'riol nodded.  "I understand."

Almiron turned to Azyil.  "He poses you no danger."

Azyil nodded.

<Pet!  Makayla's pet is having her hatchling.  Right now!>

Almiron stood.

"What is it?" Azyil demanded.

"Darlea.  She is having baby."  He strode out without further explanation.

******

"NO!" he heard Darlea scream, as he stepped into the tent.

"Calm down," Isha spoke gently in Nomadic.  "Hehran will oversee you."

"No... leave me alone!  Leave me alone!" 

"Darlea..."  She turned toward him instantly and pushed the others away to
throw her arms around him. 

"Almiron... make them stop..." she sobbed.

"Shhh, she only wants to check on baby. She thinks it is time."

"No... no... it's not time... I'm not ready..." she cried.

"Darlea, she is dain Hehran... like me..."

She looked up at him with tear-filled blue eyes, "They'll make it stop?" 
she asked, adding quickly, "It's just practice... remember like Kyven
said... practice..." 

He nodded, "They will do what needs to be done to keep you and our baby
safe." He smoothed her hair and wiped her cheeks of tears and she nodded. 
He helped her back down onto the mat they'd provided and she allowed the
woman to examine her.  Almiron held her hand tightly and kept her eyes
locked on his. 

He listened to Isha's words and translated for Darlea. "You are dilating.
There is nothing to stop it now." 

"... no..." she whimpered but he smiled at her.

"It will be fine."

"I'm not ready," she told him.

"You will not be alone.  I am with you."

She nodded and then grimaced in pain when another contraction grabbed her
without warning. She groaned in pain and Almiron spoke gently to her,
"Don't push yet... wait... breath out pain... slowly..."

She was fighting it, though, tensing up and gritting her teeth.  He knew
she would never make it through like that.  He leaned over and kissed her,
feeling the pain ripple into himself. 

******

It had grown dark while Darlea struggled to give birth to their child. Her
hair was wet with sweat and her face flushed with exertion. "I'm so
tired," she moaned. 

"You are doing good," Almiron told her, fighting his own fatigue. He was
still absorbing a great deal of her pain and fatigue as he held her hand.

She gasped as yet another contraction hit. "...nonononononono..." she
mumbled

"Tell her to push now," Isha instructed, pulling him to kneel between his
mate's knees.  He could feel that it was time. 

"Darlea, you have to push now."

"... nononononononono..."

"Push, Darlea, push!" he called to her.

She opened her eyes to see his.

"Count with me," he instructed.  "1... 2... 3..."  He could feel her do as
he asked.  "Again!" he ordered.  "1... 2... 3..."

She grunted as she pushed.  He glanced down and saw a mat of wet, dark
hair.  There were cheers and Almiron smiled at his mate.  "That's head...
one more push... just one more..." 

"Promise?" she whispered.

He nodded. "Promise."

She pushed one more time, and he placed his hands carefully under his
firstborn child as it slid out of her body.

His son squalls filled the tent as Almiron allowed the baby's sensations
to flow through their touch.

"It's over?" she asked tiredly.

He nodded.  "It's over.  Do you want to see him?"

"Who?" she asked, obviously exhausted.

"Our son, Darlea... our son."  He smiled at her and laid the boy on her
stomach.

He sat back and watched as Isha worked to help Darlea deliver the placenta
and showing Darlea the proper way to hold the newborn. 

He thought back over the past few months and their discussions of a name.
The tent flap was pulled back and Azyil walked in.  Almiron looked at his
brother and smiled tiredly.  Azyil squatted in front of him.

"You are dain Hehran, aren't you?"

Almiron nodded.

"What is your son's name?"

"Al'deamir," Almiron answered with the name he and Darlea had picked out
for a boy.

"That does not mean anything," Azyil said.

Almiron chuckled.  "It is combination of my name and Darlea's.  It is
tradition of her people."

"I see," Azyil answered.  "Well, while Isha worked here, my slave has been
making great feast, in honour of my brother, his wife, and new son.  There
is great fire even now in camp and food of all kind." 

"We will clean up and come," Almiron answered.  Then turned to tell his
mate of the plans.

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Almiron and Darshan

---

 Lynette R. F. Cowper <lcowper@indy.net>, INWO Line Editor








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