Delenn let a faint smile appear on her lips as she placed a small blanket over Ayann. She was finally asleep, and although the blanket was less than adequate, Delenn hoped it would provider her with a small measure of comfort as she slept. Not that Delenn believed that Ayann would sleep for long. She had just lost her mother, and Delenn was certain that any sleep Ayann got this night would be fitful and terror-strewn at best. Her father, thank Valen, was Anla'shok. The Anla'shok, while Minbari, were not directly involved in the conflict. Delenn had made sure that their position was steadfastly neutral. Their orders were to aide the refugees that littered the streets of devastated cities, and nothing more. Delenn could not risk the schism growing greater if the Rangers got involved in the fighting. The guard around Delenn was the one exception. The Anla'shok had insisted upon it, because she was with child, and vulnerable. And, because she was Entil'zha, and they had all sworn their lives to protect her.

Delenn took the opportunity, while Ayann was asleep, to walk down the corridor filled with the injured that had been brought to the temple for what little aid they could be given. Seeing her filled many of them with hope, even though seeing the brutalization that had been inflicted upon her caste was surreal and made her feel sick. She wandered that seemingly endless corridor for hours, offering words of encouragement and kindness. She found blankets, and brought them to the children. She helped the people who could barely move drink some of the precious water that came to the temple through the underground springs. But she knew it wasn't enough. For every person she might give a moment of comfort to here, there were at least twenty more on the streets of Yedor, struggling for their lives.

Several hours later, Delenn felt a hand on her shoulder. It was the temple doctor, Verrenn. "Delenn," he said gently, "You have not stopped this since you got here. I appreciate that you want to help these people, but you need rest." Delenn tried to protest, but the kindly elder man stopped her. "Do not question me in this, Delenn. You have never been one to look after yourself. Do you remember that time when you were perhaps only 6 cycles old? You came down with a disease, and could barely move from your bed for a month. When you were feeling better, I told you and your parents that you should not be too active for at least a few weeks, lest you would fall ill again. Yet you were so happy to be able to move about again that you wouldn't stop bounding about everywhere you went!"

Delenn smiled fondly at the memory. Those were simpler times. Delenn often found herself wishing that she could once again be surrounded by times that seemed as simple as those. "Alright," she said, "I will rest."

The elder man smiled, and helped Delenn up from where she was sitting. "Please, allow me to escort you to your bed." He led Delenn to a small corner of the inner sanctuary that had been converted to beds for the more seriously injured, and for the healers who needed their rest. Before Delenn settled down, she turned to Verrenn.

"Verrenn, you have known me for many cycles."

Verrenn gave an amused grunt. "For Valen's sake, Delenn, I've known you since the day you were born."

She smiled, and continued. "That's why I was hoping to find you here. You've been a great friend to my family." She looked around to make sure no one could hear them. "I need you to do me a favor." Her hand moved over her unborn child. "I need to give birth to my child. Soon. Things have been set in motion, and I cannot carry my child any longer."

Verrenn looked shocked. She wanted him to induce labor? When all he had were the barest of first aid supplies? But the look on Delenn's face told Verrenn that she had made up her mind, and nothing he would say would sway her from her course of action. "Delenn, it is not my place to judge, but are you sure this is what you want? We have few supplies. It would be a difficult birth, at best."

Delenn let a gentle smile cross her face. "I have complete faith in you, old friend."

Verrenn still wasn't convinced that this was a good idea. "Delenn, I haven't had a part in your pregnancy so far. I have no idea how your... transformation... will complicate things. And even if I did, we still don't have the necessary supplies here."

"But the Whitestar does," she insisted. "The Whitestar also has my current medical files in the datasystem."

Verrenn could see that whatever had convinced Delenn that she had to give birth early must be very important. He had little choice in the matter. Delenn would not be persuaded. "Very well. I will agree; but reluctantly, you understand? But," he pointed to the makeshift bed, "not if you don't get at least 12 hours rest." Before she could protest, he held out a hand to forestall her. "If you don't rest, your body won't be able to handle this Delenn. Besides, I'll need at least that long to look over the files. I'll send one of the Rangers for them. As soon as I'm sure you're asleep." He gave her a stern glance. Delenn realized that it would be best to do what he said. She settled down, and immediately felt the stress of the last long hours manifest itself, as fatigue seemed to radiate from every bone and muscle she had, and some she didn't know she had. Quickly, she fell into a deep sleep. Verrenn watched over her for a time, then left to find a Ranger to retrieve the data.

After Verrenn left, a figure stepped out of the shadows. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop. He had tried to keep from hearing the entire conversation. As with the rest of the reservations he had where Delenn was concerned, he wasn't particularly successful. In fact, he had heard most of it. He wondered, why did she feel she needed to have the child prematurely? Why was she so adamant? Then he heard footsteps coming down the corridor.

Before he could be caught standing over his mentor's sleeping figure, Lennier cast his eyes downward and hurried out of the inner temple.