Haithiara was slaving away over the scrolls again once more as she did every afternoon. Her eyes scanned the plethora endless scrolls that listed events of what happened before a threadfall was starting, and events that would forever change the fate of their little Weyr. All she could figure out was that thread was going to fall sometime soon, and that was all that they would have to go by. It had been forever since the last fall had came! People didn’t even believe that it was coming; yet, they wouldn’t allow the preparations to go without being done. They were all precautions incase something did fall. Hai knew it would, there wouldn’t be dragons if it wasn’t for thread. Of course, she was of the firm belief that many people knew that there would be a fall. They simply didn’t act on it.

It was as she surveyed the scrolls that she heard the chatter and excited whispers of drudges rushing through the halls. Her brows furrowed deeply, a frown upon her face as she pushed her chair back forcefully. Those girls… They should know better than to go rushing down the halls without any respect for those working! She usually wasn’t on to bark commands and orders; today, she’d make an exception. At least, that was what she was thinking as she approached the door, her footsteps harsh upon the ground as she pushed open the door with a strong swing, catching wind of the words that were spoken before being interrupted.

“… can’t believe the Queen…” the girl startled at the appearance of the Weyrwoman, and gulped audibly by the look in her eye as she stared at her.

“What about my Queen?” she demanded to know as she stared at them, her hands balling into fists at her side as she fought back the worry that threatened to overcome her. If there was something wrong with Ludieth…

“She’s on the grounds, Lady-” the young woman was once again cut off. This time, it was by the Weyrwoman running down the hall at a full sprint. The woman giggled softly, turning towards her friend. “You’d think that she wouldn’t be so worried about her own dragon clutching! She’s acting as though thread is falling at her heels.”

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Ludieth! How are you feeling, my love? The Weyrwoman felt the nerves clutching her stomach as she raced down the stairs and through the halls. She nearly barreled into a few people; however, everyone just seemed to smile and move out of her way. To them, it was all understandable. To her, she couldn’t believe that her dragon hadn’t told her.

~I would have told you soon mine, but the first egg hasn’t even come yet!~ The Great Queen rumbled in her throat as she watched her rider push through the hatching ground entrance. She simply watched her for a moment, feeling the ripples of pain traveling down her body as she focused upon breathing and keeping herself steady. She would have a long push up ahead.

“But I would want to be here with you, love.” Haithiara whispered as she touched her dragon’s paw once before giving her some space. She ignored the whispered words that it would take all day and that she shouldn’t coop herself up with her dragon. It would take the whole Weyr collapsing to get this woman away from her dragon!

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It took nearly 16 candlemarks for the poor Gold to clutch her eggs, and on the sands, 14 eggs rested, nestled in the hatching ground sands. It was eight in the morning, and Hai hadn’t yet caught a moment of rest. Her queen, however, appeared to be sleeping soundly upon the grounds, her sides still heaving from labour as the Weyrwoman walked around, gently placing her palm upon an egg, touching it softly with a feather light touch.

~You won’t break it mine, you can touch it, but only you.~ there was a faint growl in the Queen’s voice as an eyelid cracked open, revealing swirling blue eyes.

Hai laughed softly as she placed her palm upon the egg and contented herself with that brief touch before walking towards the side of the sands where she had a blanket stretched out upon the ground. It was cooler over there, and she felt horribly tired as she sat herself down and watched her dragon peacefully.

There might not have been a Queen egg, but it was the most beautiful clutch she had ever seen.