hadriel | ❅ Eleven (Text)

It's no wonder you were in such agony! The head is the hardest part for women to push through, but in your case, the size and shape was at least doubled.

(Anyone would be shocked to give birth to something so large. But Sansa could see a positive side to a baby being so protected. Infants are so fragile and many die in her world, but within the pearl, they could grow a little more before they were exposed to the open air.)

Do you feel used? (Ah now that is a feeling she understands.) If I hadn't escaped my first betrothed and my husbands, I would have been pregnant at a young age. That can be dangerous.

(Oh she understands that feeling. She would love to be married and in a relationship like the one her mother and father had shared. Then having children wouldn't be a chore!)

I do. I've thought about having a large family.

It is? I had no idea. I actually don't know much about my body. I used to think we evolved from humans, were better. But the more I learn, the less sure I am of that.

Would you be able to tell me more? There are very few women where I'm from. I've met two of them.

[It was quite efficient, Seel had to give her that. Allowing more growth to happen, protected, and he certainly enjoyed not having to breastfeed. Human infants were so fail and required so much protecting. Still, he had found it hard at times to view his child not as a human baby.]

At first, yes. I threw a fit, I smashed a giant vase. I hope it was expensive. I thought I was doing my life's work. Turns out I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing so I could be blackmailed and ordered into marriage.

I love Swift I do. I love my life. I do not like being conned however.

Why is it dangerous to be pregnant so young?

How large a family do you want?

I can tell you how human women give birth, but I don't know how that applies to your race. Based on the size of the pearl you indicated, your task seems harder in one aspect. The baby can move or be facing the wrong way entirely in human births. That can be dangerous to both the infant and the mother.

(Breach births are feared by all women in her world. Sansa smiles at the next words, laughing softly before she grows solemn again.)

If I had known my first betrothed, I would have never ridden South to marry him. The same applies for the next two. I believe women should have some idea of what they are getting into. We can't expect men to protect us or to do right by us.

The body isn't done growing when the mother is young. She may have a harder time holding the baby for the entire pregnancy and giving birth to them.

I used to dream about having the same size of family I had growing up. I have three true blood brothers and one sister.

I had never thought about it that way. The baby can move and face the wrong way? There's a right way for it to come out?

[Because let's face it, Seel skipped biology, he was too busy making out with his boyfriend. It was almost too bad they were texting, Sansa couldn't hear the giant snort Seel let out.]

You don't need men to protect you. Protect yourself. You know how to use a knife or a gun?

And your betrothed, was he really that bad?

Yes. A baby should come out head first. If they are turned so that their feet come out first, that is called a breach birth. The baby can become stuck or even suffocate. Midwives will feel inside of a woman to determine how the baby lays and sometimes they are able to turn them. But not always.

(Sansa knows from her experience with her mother and some lessons from their Maester.)

I can use a sword and I can shoot arrows. Lord Maedhros taught me those skills.

The first? Yes. He was a monster.

Edited 2018-08-15 03:07 (UTC)

The baby starts breathing while still inside?

[Sorry Sansa. Seel was horrified.]

I had one of the physicans try something similarly on me, checking inside to ensure the pearl was alright. He was a moron.

[because clearly Seel knew all, right? Poor Phlaar probably told everyone about how conceited Seel was after that.]

Idiot tried to put me on bedrest. What did he know. I assume such things are common in humans?

Well if you ever get your hands on a gun, let me know. I can teach you how to use it.

Sometimes. If it is taking too long for them to be born or a chord becomes wrapped around their neck, they can suffocate.

(That is the right reaction.)

They might've been checking the shape. Can a pearl be broken?

(Guess who would have been fussing over Seel and the pearl?)

Yes. Very common. Especially near the end of a pregnancy. Bed rest is enforced unless a woman has to work for some reason.

I would appreciate the lessons. From what I remember from my last world, guns are...loud?

[No wonder humans died out. Seel tried to keep the look of horror off his face and at least managed to restrain his thoughts so he didn't say them out loud.]

Is that common? For women and babies to have such trouble in birth? My species are still learning what's possible and what isn't.

I suppose a pearl can be broken, if it's not formed correctly or if there's trauma to the hostling. I've never seen it happen but I haven't been around any besides my own birth.

[Seel would have been very sorry for running his mouth and being a nasty asshole during his hosting and birth. Hormones made him worse than usual and he had no control over his mouth. It was a miracle Swift was still with him.]

Phlaar--that's the physician Swift's family uses, was convinced that I was exhausted and needed utter quiet and rest. It was bullshit. All I needed was an infusion of energy. I was fine. Humans must be very fragile.

[Translation: Seel did too much and was so exhausted and so tired he couldn't physically stand up, his entire body was shaking and he almost went into shock, He was white as a sheet. But yeah, he was 'fine'.]

Yes, guns are significantly louder than what you are used too. But a lot more deadly.

Edited (forgot to add words so sentences make sense) 2018-08-19 02:34 (UTC)

Even when a birth goes well, it isn't easy. There is blood and pain and the mother can still die unexpectedly. But heirs are necessary for families to continue. Women have no choice but to do their best and abide by the orders they are given.

(She will never be as pliable and trusting as she once would have been. Sansa refuses to carry the child or children of just anyone.)

If you were feeling weak, that is reason to rest. Think of the child you carry in those circumstances. Would you push them to continue on when they feel fatigued?

(That isn't fine, Seel.)

I don't want to use them unless I have no choice. But I do want to be prepared for situations of that nature.

I admit I don't know much about births and have only been through it once but I don't think it's ever easy. Hara can die just as easily as Wraeththu can though, I imagine.

[He didn't respond to the other parts. Heirs. Duty. That hit harder home than he wanted it too.]

No of course I wouldn't. I'm not used to lying around though.

[He didn't like it one bit.]

Death can happen in less stressful circumstances. We are all rather weak; our bodies aren't made of armor and we need our blood to survive. Giving birth is always a messy, bloody affair.

(She feels the pressure of having an heir too. But she won't marry someone she doesn't love. Never again.)

Neither am I. Short walks wouldn't be taxing, I shouldn't think. If the weather is right, you could even swim in that state.

I never knew how it was for humans.

[If only she could hear him scoff at that.]

A short walk. I would feel like an invalid.

I think unpleasant covers it nicely.

In a way, your body has been restricted in that state. You are not far from being an invalid in the final days.

I don't enjoy it.

[Wow Seel, state the obvious?]

But I suppose what you said makes sense. It's hard to accommodate two individuals in one body for very long. Restricted is a good word.

What - who - comes of it makes it worthwhile for most parents.

(It's one of those grin and bear it type of situations. Or scream and bear it.)

Only temporarily. Though the early morning and late night feedings might make you feel restricted too.

[Seel doesn't respond to the texts for close to fifteen minutes.]

I suppose it does.

I never had feedings with Azriel. He ate when I ate. Harlings grow faster than humans.

[And that still screwed him up to think about. That his baby didn't stay a baby for long. It might look young, but wasn't.]

What became of him? If this is a difficult subject, we can speak of something else.

(It's hard to sense emotions from text, but the pause concerns her.)

It's difficult, but Swift wont even talk about it with me. I suppose texting you is as good as anything.

My son and his lover were abducted from our home, raped and tortured for months. I haven't gotten to see him yet. The healers won't let us in. But...from what I gather, he's not in there.

I am happy to read if it would make you feel better to speak of it. (Saying something or typing it can be therapeutic. She has relied on that method for most of what has happened to her. Each time she repeats what Joffrey, Cersei, Baelish and Bolton did to her, her pain and fear lessen.)

How horrible. (She pauses, grimacing, imagining far too easily the state of the victims.) Do you mean he isn't responsive? His state could change if he saw you.

Thank you. It might help.

[Maybe one day he'd tell Sansa exactly what happened to him, how a stupid child had walked into a den of monsters and when they were finished with him he wasn't sure what of him was left. He knew he was broken, but unlike Sansa, Seel didn't talk about his own trauma, he just let it fester.]

Maybe. I think the trauma was too much, too long. He's just retreated. Before I came here I was thinking of picking out paintings to rotate. At least he'd have something to stare at....

❅ Eleven (Text)

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