They made short work of the rest of the wraiths once the wing appeared to
add it's firepower to the battle.  From long practice Minty and Kirimith
slotted themselves into the formation and began flaming wraiths again. 
Though she'd had to sit out of wing practice in recent days because of her
advancing pregnancy they fell easily into the pattern that had been
drilled into them for so long. 

*Once learnt never forgotten.* Kirimith told her as she maneuvered under a
larger wingmate to char the remains of a wraith that wouldn't lie down and
die in a decent fashion.  

*These wraiths are strange.* she continued as one of the flapping grey
shapes avoided her and headed towards one of the soldiers below them.
*Very strange...*

Minty was still puzzled by the behaviour of the three wraiths that had
been shadowing Carie, but she put it to the back of her mind until the
battle was over and the last of the wraiths had been charred to black ash.

 <..>

>"I was worried that ye'd be hurt." He said once she got to the ground.
>"Ye and e'baby."
>
>"We're ok, though I'd like a hot bath." She said with a smile, and hugged
>her mate.  "I heard about Kaylin.  Is he all right?"
>
>"Aye, he's fine." David said, "Te'medical staff are taking care o'him." He
>smiled, and kissed her forehead.  "Let's get ye home..."

"And you?  I heard you took a fall from dragonback.  Are you OK?  Do you
need to see a healer?"  Her voice and eyes were anxious as she searched
for signs of cuts or bruising to his face and neck, but she relaxed a
little when he shook his head. 

"Can Kaylin and Kirimith keep no secrets?"  he chuckled quietly.

"Not when they know how much I worry about you."  she answered softly. 
"And Kiri worries about you too.  She's puzzled at not being able to speak
to you the way she could before you disappeared, and she thinks something
dreadful is going to you if she doesn't watch over you like a broody
queen.  Frustrated mothering instincts I guess.  She'll be less likely to
worry about you when the babe comes and she can help me to watch her."

*Him!*  Kirimith said in a firm voice.  

*Her.* Minty said just as firmly

She laughed and wagged a finger at the midnight blue dragon, then had
to explain the joke to her puzzled mate.  For all the problems that
David's telepathy had caused him in the past, there were times when it had
been useful and she experienced a mild regret for it's loss.

<..>

Carie's queen circled to land not far from them, close by the dragon of
Marrid's wingleader.  Minty reluctantly pulled herself from David's
encircling arms and walked towards the pair.

"I just have to talk to Carie for a minute or so. There was
something really strange going on with the wraiths that were attacking the
soldiers."  she said thoughtfully "I just want to make sure that he knows
about the weird behaviour of some of the other wraiths."

<NRPG Chris.... Not knowing where you're going with this I'll leave any
conversation to you :) >  

<Later - their apartments>

Minty sighed contentedly as she relaxed in the warm, scented water that
filled the deep tub.  The steam rising from surface filled her nostrils
with the faint fragrance of lavender, evoking memories of warm spring
days, blue skies and the soft singing of thrushes. She quickly washed the
dust of the day from her skin and hair then slid downwards.  Resting her
head on a small pillow at the end of the tub she luxuriated in the still
scented water.  Then with a sleepy smile she allowed her eyes to flutter
closed and she drifted.....

<..>

The cooling water made her shiver, and woke her from her light doze. 
David was seated on the edge of the tub watching her distended stomach
with fascinated eyes.  She smiled as she watched him, then took his hand
and placed it gently on her stomach so that he could feel the movements of
the babe inside her.  She saw the wonder in his eyes as he felt his baby
move under his careful fingers. She'd lived with the kicking for so long
that she'd forgotten how much of a miracle it truly was the first time
she'd felt it.

"She responds if you touch just here."  she said as she moved his hand to
the right place on her skin.

*He!*  "He!"   Kirimith & David admonished at the same time.

"Kirimith persuaded you."  she accused him with a sigh.  "I'd hate for you
to be disappointed love."

He shook his head.  "Kaylin be sure 'tis a boy." he told her  "He says he
be able t' hear t'e hatchling dreaming.  Mebbe ye should accept what t'
dragons say?"

"Ye'll catch your death o' cold ef ye stay soaking much longer."  He said
as he stood up and held out his hand to help her from the water, wrapping
her in a fluffy towel as she stepped from the tub. 

She stood with closed eyes as he gently dried her damp skin.  It felt good
to feel his hands on her body again after all this time.  

"I missed you while you were gone."  She sighed softly and looked up at
him with huge violet eyes.  "I missed you so very much." she said as she
took his hand and led him towards the bedroom.

<Much later>

She tossed restlessly for a long time, trying to relax enough to allow her
to rest.  The baby had been more active than usual tonight, and it's
kicking had kept her awake long after she had exhausted the methods that
usually had her sound asleep. David's gentle snores from the other side of
the bed hadn't exactly helped either, just emphasised how tired she was
... and how awake.  

Finally she gave up and slipped silently from the bed.  Maybe reading for
a while would help.  Or she could wash the supper dishes... she hated
waking up to a sink filled with dirty plates and cups.

Tugging the belt of her robe tightly around her nonexistent waist, she
headed for the kitchen.

<..>

Two hours later she sat back tiredly and admired her handiwork with a
sense of satisfaction.  The dishes were washed and tidied away, all the
counter tops sparkled, the cabinets were spotless, she could see her face
in the gleaming tiles, and she could have eaten from the floor tiles if
she'd had a mind to.  

And best of all the exercise had helped to deaden the dull cramping that
had been plaguing her for the last hour or so! 

There!  Now she'd be able to sleep in tomorrow morning without thinking
guiltily about unwashed dishes. She rinsed the dishcloth one final time
and hung it over the drainer to dry. She was just reaching out to snap off
the overhead light when she felt something go 'ping' inside of her
followed by a strange sensation as warm liquid began seeping down her
thighs. 

She looked down at the puddle of clear fluid that was spreading across her
nice clean kitchen floor and gasped as she realised that this was finally
it.. the waiting was over and soon her baby would be born.  

<..>

"David.  Wake up love."  shivering with excitement she shook his shoulder
and grinned at him as he opened sleepy eyes to stare at her
uncomprehendingly.  "I have to go to the med centre."

"Wha...." he mumbled, still half asleep  "Be ye sick?"

"No." she giggled happily, then drew in her breath as another contraction
rippled across the stomach. "The baby's coming...."

"Wha....." he threw back the covers and leapt from the bed.  "Now?"

"Well soon anyway."  Minty said  laughing as she watched him hop around
the room with both feet in one leg of his pants.  "Slow down or you'll
hurt yourself."  She pushed him backwards onto the bed once more and
guided his feet into the proper openings. 

"Kirimith's waiting to fly us down to the green."  she told him as he
buttoned his pants, grabbed her hand and began towing her towards the
dragon's bedchamber.  "You have time to dress..."

He boosted her carefully onto Kiri's back, pulled his feet into the first
pair of shoes that came to hand and then climbed up behind her.  He
encircled her with with gentle arms just as another contraction ran
tightly across her abdomen.

"Oh!"  he exclaimed in surprise.  Then he dug his heels into Kiri's sides
to urge her towards the ledge. 

 <..>

Kiri launched herself into the air on upswept wings, trying to ease the
transition to flight for the sake of the precious burden she carried. She
banked gently towards the med centre and landed as lightly as possible so
she didn't jolt her passenger too much.  David slid to the ground as soon
as the dragon came to a halt,  and without waiting to help Minty rushed
into the med centre to summon someone to care for her.  

She grinned as she slid awkwardly to the ground and followed behind him at
a much more sedate pace. The poor man didn't seem to know if he were
coming or going.

*The hatchling does however.*  Kirimith reminded her.  *He is definitely
coming.*

"Come on Araminta. Let's get you somewhere warm and see what's happening
with this baby shall we?"   an orderly asked as he helped towards a bed.
"How strong are the contractions, and how close together?" 

<Later>

"That was a good, strong one!"  The staffer told her as she felt the
contraction sweep across Minty's stomach.  "It shouldn't be too long now. 
Are you sure you don't need any pain relief?"  

Minty clutched at David's hand until the contraction had subsided, but she
shook her head when the staffer asked her about pain relief once more.  

"It doesn't hurt."  Minty panted as she tried to fight an overwhelming
urge to push. 
 
The woman gave her an odd look but accepted what she said.

<..>

"Push love."  David urged as he brushed her sweat-dampened hair from her
forehead and willed her onwards.

"Just a few more pushes and the baby will be here."  a woman's voice
assured her.

*He's almost here Minty.*  Kirmith said in her head.  *Your hatchling
comes...*

*I think I already know that my sweeting.*  Minty sent dryly as another
contraction took her breath away.

<..>

Strong hands propped her up, and David's voice shouted instructions from
far away.

"PUSH.  That's my good girl.... last one Minty... he's here...." 

Using the last of her dwindling strength, she gave one last tremendous
heave the sank back against the pillows.  There was a slithering
sensation, a distant tugging and then the highpitched wail of a newborn's
first cry.

<..>

David's face was full of pride and wonderment as he held the baby up for
her to see. "He's perfect." he breathed quietly  

"He?"  she felt a momentary pang of disappointed, then she looked at her
son's face and sighed happily.  "He's beautiful.  Just like his father." 

She kissed the child's soft head and held him close and smile of
contentment trembling on her lips. The child opened sleepy blue eyes and
gazed up at her, then turned his head to nuzzle at her breast.

"He's hungry I think...."  She opened the gown she wore, and the baby 
turned eagerly, sensing the nourishment.  His tiny rosebud mouth latched
onto her nipple and he began to suckle contentedly. She stroked the peachy
skin of his cheek with a tender finger then, with a loving smile, Minty
sought David's eyes.

"I'd like to name him Zael."  she said softly

submitted by

Araminta, Kirimith's rider
 


-- 
Mint,  the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  Unassigned            Caliban, Lute's human  Dragon Lands  
Lillith the Mage    Broken Lands    Minty, Kirimith's rider    Dragon Lands                  
Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands

ICQ #5814808
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/5902
http://www.dragonfire.net/~Mint/

PGP Public key: http://www.dragonfire.net/~Mint/Mint.asc