+- World of Pern (https://pern.second-pass.net/forum)
+-- Forum: High Reaches Weyr Boundaries (https://pern.second-pass.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=133)
+--- Forum: Nabol Hold (https://pern.second-pass.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=113)
+--- Thread: [G] [C] 739.11.4 | At Long Last (/showthread.php?tid=4289)
739.11.4 | At Long Last - Jimeridan - 04.Nov.18
Despite having been around for the births of many, many children — he had ten younger siblings and eight children of his own, not counting stillborn, and a good many more nieces and nephews — Jimeridan never failed to spend the entire labor waiting in restless anticipation. This one was right on time, within the projected week, and he had awoken that morning to Haleah informing him to call her Healer. He’d spent the past too many hours rushing around trying to make sure everything would be ready for the new baby, checking there would be multiple nurses handy — just in case — and that everything would be set for Haleah to relax once the baby was born. She was a good wife, and a good woman, and Jimeridan didn’t want to put undue stress on her.
Still, even though Haleah was on her third pregnancy, the first two had been uneventful, and she was still young and in good health, Jim couldn’t help but worry about her and the child. He’d seen enough go wrong to never take the birth of a child lightly, even though sometimes it seemed so very routine after so many turns. Jimeridan had learned turns ago that it was better if he just let his wife and the Healers alone and project his energy on more useful things — like triple checking that absolutely everything was ready for a new baby.
The Lord of Nabol was checking with the head cook for the third time that his wife’s favorite meal would be ready for her this evening if she were in a mood to eat it when a drudge rushed up to inform him the child was born, Haleah was fine, and it was a son. A son. Jimeridan stared at the woman in disbelief for a few seconds before rushing off to find his wife and confirm the news. A son. Every single one of his eight daughters was dear to him and Jimeridan would admit to himself he would arrange someone’s downfall if one of his daughters asked, but he was a Lord and he needed a son, an heir. And finally, finally, he had one. Of course, he didn’t want to get too ahead of himself, babies were fragile, and anything could happen, but still! A son! He wanted to yell in excitement, but contained himself. He had an image to maintain, after all.
In no time at all Jimeridan had reached Haleah and their son, carefully sitting down on the bed next to her to congratulate her and meet the baby. As soon as his son made a noise, Jimeridan was even more smitten with the tiny boy. He was already planning on getting all of his daughters who were married and lived outside of the Hold home so they could meet their brother. And all the other relatives too, Jimeridan wanted to show off his beautiful, perfect son to everyone. In fact, why not do just that? He was Lord of Nabol, after all. As he curled up next to his wife, talking with her quietly, telling her how wonderful she was and how proud he was of her, Jimeridan decided two things. The first (with Haleah’s input, of course), was their son’s name — Jaleahridan, which Jimeridan felt suitably followed the pattern of names of Nabol lords, including his own, as well as acknowledging the boy’s mother. The second was that he was going to celebrate his son’s birth with a Gather. Jaleahridan would, if all went well, be Lord of Nabol one day, and the Hold should know him as early as possible. He wanted the people of Nabol to love his son too; perhaps not as much as he did, because Jimeridan did not think that was possible, but they should care for their future lord and be invested in his upbringing. Besides, it gave an easy excuse for all his relatives to set time aside to come visit. Yes, this was an excellent idea, and Jimeridan began outlining his plans for the Gather in honor of their son’s birth to Haleah, who gave a tired smile at his enthusiasm and let him talk.