25th December 1102

(more…)

25th December 1102

(more…)

“I’ve got to be thankin’ yew that much fer comin’ to see us Hepsie, we’ve been that worried over this I’ve been barely sleepin’”, Darina’s voice grated like the spinning wheel clicking rapidly between her legs.

Engin was well and truly sick of the creaking sound that damned contraption made. Lord knows Darina was at day and night, the wheel endlessly turning, her nimble fingers pulling the thread through with an soft, dusty dragging sound that made the hairs on the back of Engin’s neck stand on end. He was actually glad to get outside collecting the meager harvest they managed to get planted before it turned cold last year. Anything to get away from that confounded noise.

“Oh Darina! It’s bein’ no trouble at all. To tell yew the honest truth I’m just glad to get a bit of walk outside, I’ve been feelin’ that cooped up and Juzzy is watching Thaell for a few hours”.

Hepsie was glowing, her smile as genuine as it had ever been but perhaps a touch more radiant. Motherhood definitely suited her. Engin remembered the weeks after Aisling was born, Darina pale and wan, snapping at him from between thin lips. When she had finally let him bed her again, the skin on her belly had been stretched and flaccid, her breasts leaking milk.

He could see that Hepsie’s belly was still swollen but he thought the gentle rolls would be firm if one ran their hand along them. He could always ask Steen but he didn’t think the lad would be impressed. There were some men you could discuss these things with and some you simply couldn’t. Hepsie certainly had more energy than Darina had, had for months after. Though, Darina had eventually gotten it back. Unfortunately most of it was expended making dresses for the ladies and not nearly enough on being a good wife to him.

“Well then dearie… let me just be takin’ a little look at those ears of yers then”, Hepsie crooned reaching her hands out towards the small girl.

Aisling whined and clung to Engin’s arm, pushing herself away from Hepsie’s searching hands.

“Come on then love… it won’t be hurtin’. Hepsie just wants to be takin’ a little look”, Engin tried to pry Aisling from his arms but to no avail. She squealed and clung still tighter.

“Aisling love! Yer alright… she won’t hurt yew!”, Engin chuckled.

But Aisling was not deterred and she clung to him tightly with tiny bunched up fists and then, with a tearful sniff, buried her damp face in the crook of his neck.

He wrapped his arms protectively around her, stroking the soft hair on her head with his big, calloused hands. He had never felt anything like the downy hair that grew in patches, blonde as his own, on the crown of her head. She loved to be held like this, safe against his chest she would rub her nose sleepily against his stubbled cheek. Then he would kiss her, all over her face and neck, the warm scent of her baby skin in his nose. She was beautiful. His little girl. His Aisling.

And she loved him like no one ever had. He knew that Darina had some sort of love for him, in her own shrewish way but it was not like the soft innocent love of Aisling with her patting hands and her occasional careful smiles. She always clung to him when he had to leave, big tears rolling silently down her trembling cheeks.

“Sorry Hepsie… she’s bein a shy little thing she is”, he laughed as Aisling buried her face deeper beneath his hair. Her warm breath was tickling his neck, her hand tugging gently at his beard.

“Oh… it’s bein’ no problem Engin. I wonder whether Thaell is shy. I guess he’s still at the lyin’ about and lookin’ at nothin’ in particular stage. Though I tell yew, he’s certainly not shy about askin’ fer milk that’s fer sure”, Hepsie replied with a warm smile.

“Stop, foolin’ around Engin and let Hepsie be seein’ those ears”, Darina snapped from behind him.

“Alright love, hold yer horses”, he replied, prying Aisling’s hands from his neck and beard and holding her out so she faced him.

“Come on now Aisling, love. Hepsie just wants to be takin’ a little look an’ then yew can go back to yer hidin’. How does that sound? Will yew be good fer yer old Da?”, he asked with a gentle laugh.

Aisling replied with one her rare smiles. It had only been recently that she had learned, one day as he gazed down at her in her crib with what was possibly the most goofy grin a man had ever had the occasion to smile. She had blinked up at him and then smiled shyly. It was god’s own grace that she hadn’t copied his stupid smile, he wasn’t sure she would impress the boy’s much with that one. His heart gave a jealous ache at the though of boy’s and men in his little daughter’s future. He would worry about that later. For now he would be the only man she loved and that was the way he wanted it to stay.

“Well Darina, yew weren’t wrong. They are bein’ rather pointy aren’t they”, Hesie said, examing the tips of Aisling’s ears as she squirmed in her father’s arms.

“I haven’t been seein’ that before but Lord know I haven’ got as much experience yet as me old ma. But I shouldn’t think it’s anythin’ to be worryin’ yerself about. They’ll probably be growin’ rounder as she gets older. She’s bein’ perfectly healthy an’ normal”.

“Perhaps those old rumours about there bein’ fae blood in yer family are bein true after all Darina”, Engin teased with a wide grin at Hepsie.

“Don’t yew ever be sayin’ that Engin damn yew!”, Darina snarled the wheel grinding to a halt with a squeal of protest.

Engin turned in suprise,shocked by the ferocity of her tone.

“Yew don’t know what they been doin’ to my cousin Mable. She was bein’ born with ears like those”, Darina sighed heavily, her face pale through the haze of tiny dust particles that spun slowly in the filtered rays of summer light.

Her shoulders drooped as she continued, “But I seen what they done. She was bein’ the shame of the family. Them scars never did heal properly”.

His baby’s beautiful ears! He hadn’t thought anyone could be cruel to her because of them. He hugged her warm, heavy body closer to his chest, “But her ears are bein’ beautiful Darina… just beautiful like all the rest of her. An’ we ain’t ashamed… well at least I sure as hell ain’t. There the best damn ears I’ve ever seen that’s fer sure.

“People wouldn’ be hurtin’ her would they?”, he choked, the last sentence catching in his throat which was rapidly closing. He swallowed loudly.

“Don’t yew be swearin’ Engin. An’ don’t yew have anythin’ better to do than be standin’ around here. Get yerself outside an’ see to those crops!”, Darina’s voice was hard but Engin thought he detected something wavering beneath and it was this that made him answer kindly.

“Alright love, I’m a goin’. I know when I’m not bein’ wanted. ‘Cept perraps by yew little one… yer goin’ to have to be lettin’ go now”.

Aisling whined, desperately trying to cling to his tunic as he set her down on the floor.

“Yew shuffle over an’ give yer old ma a cuddle then. She be sore needin’ one”, he winked at Darina who scowled back at him.

“Now don’t yew too be worryin’ yerselves”, Hepsie said with a reassuring smile, “It’s a good bunch of folk we got ourselves stuck with on this here island an’ no one would hurt her that’s bein’ fer sure. yew really needn’t be worryin’”.

“Thanks fer droppin’ by Hepsie. It’s was bein’ awful kind of yew, ’specially with yer little ‘un waitin’ at home. I know how difficult it’s bein’ to leave ‘em behind”, he grinned down at Aisling who was sitting dejectedly on the packed clay floor, her lower lip trembling.

“Oh no Engin, it’s really bein’ no trouble at all”, Hepsie replied, ” I should probably be headin’ off though”.

“Oh Hepsie no!”, Darina interrupted, “Yew must be sittin’ down fer a cold drink while be tellin’ yew who the Baroness comissioned me to work on a dress fer. Yew’ll never be guessin. It think it’s bein’ a terrible idea myself but yew know these noble folk…”

“Alright then, but just for a little while”, Hepsie replied, lowering herself into a chair as Darina began to prattle.

Engin could hear them gossiping as he strode through the door into the hot summer sun.

Lyiss tentatively gazed over at the men who were standing chatting together and warming their hands before the blazing midsummer fire. She felt awkward and self-conscious and was beginning to wish she had not come. If it had not been for Nyawe she probably wouldn’t have.

She was what they called one of they unlucky few. The girls and women who had not had a husband when they came to Mhalwae. The men where scarce and there was not much chance of making a good marriage. There was barely any choice as it was. And for woman of her status there was not one man. She would marry beneath her if she were lucky enough to marry at all. And she was sure she wasn’t, she was only plain Lyiss. Who would want her compared to the other girls? She gazed over at them giggling together and felt even more sure. Soon she would be the only “unlucky one”.

Her brother turned to her and murmured gently, “Are you really sure you want to go along?”

She appreciated his concern but she had already agreed to go along with the other girls and it would have humiliated her even more to back out at this point.

“No… it’s fine I…”, she began softly.

“Of course she wants to come along silly… don’t you Lyiss dear?”, Nyawe was suddenly beside her crowing.

“It is ever so much fun and who knows who she may dream of. To be sure I never dreamed it would be you Garald”, she chuckled throatily.

Lyiss shrank beside her, feeling more plain than ever, her dusky freckled skin fading away next to the pale glory that was handsome Nyawe.

“So perhaps we might not be putting so much faith in it after all”, she mused, “but it is a good laugh anyway”.

“Alright then Lyiss… if it’s what you want…”, Garald muttered but was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Kelgar.

“Ladies, ladies, ladies”, he cried with a flourish.

“It is I who is to be your guide and guard on this dangerous journey of yours tonight. But never fear, I will lead you valiantly to success in your mission and who’s to say by the end of the night perhaps one of you lucky ladies will be a husband richer”, he jeered with a wink.

Lyiss flushed, unable to forget that Kelgar was one of the only unmarried men on the island.

The other girls had begun to giggle helplessly.

“Yer to be our guard good sir… but yer one of them very husbands we may be dreamin’ of tonight if yer bein’ that lucky”, Maire cried boldy while Igrayne snickered beside her.

“Oh I’m not bein’ the only potential man out there for you lovely young ladies. Why just over there by the fire stands our friend Arran Barran and what a fine young man he is isn’t he girls?”

He pointed in the direction of the fire as Arran began to shift nervously from foot to foot, aware that they were discussing him.

“So I think I have a bit of competition eh?”, he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at them.

Lyiss began to feel sick and faint, the blush in her cheeks spreading helplessly over her neck and breast. Oh why had she agreed to this. She should never have come.

“If yer could excuse me fer bein’ so daft good sir but if yer to be bein’ our guide tonight then whose to be protectin’ our maidenhood from the likes of potential husbands such as yerself”, Maire cried in mock outrage while Igrayne tried not to giggle beside her.

“That’s where I fit in my dear ladies”, Nyawe chuckled stepping up beside Kelgar, “I will be your chaperone tonight”.

“So you see my lovelies… tonight you’ll be well protected”, Kelgar chuckled, “both from the dreadful beasties that be creeping outside the castle walls and the other beasty that be hiding in a much closer location”.

“A closer location hmmm…”, Igrayne mused, “perhaps we should be playin’ hide and seek and findin’ out that location. I think I be havin’ a fair idea where that beasty is a’ hidin’ I do”.

Lyiss was shocked by their brazen words. They were hinting at things she could only vaguely grasp at, things that were not to be spoken of. She was ashamed to be part of such conversation with her brother standing right beside her. She could feel his body growing rigid beside her as he flinched with embarrassment at his wife’s behaviour.

“Come now ladies… enough of this mindless chatter. Save the hide and seek for later when your in possession of a wedding ring. I believe it is time that you stopped speaking altogether. It begins now. I don’t want to hear a peep out of you or you’ll have to begin all over again”, Nyawe commanded with a hearty laugh.

Maire and Igrayne looked at each other in despair. Lyiss too was wondering how they could manage to stay quiet for the entire time. It would be a much less difficult feat to find seven different flowers than for them to hold their tongues for even an hour.

Lyiss felt her brother’s worried eyes gazing at her. She tried to smile to reassure him but found it all but impossible.

He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Nyawe.

“Come along now sister dear… it’s a husband we’ll be finding for you tonight”, she grabbed Lyiss firmly around the waist herding her in the direction of the other girls.

“Oh but wait… I must be getting a kiss from my own husband first since I’m lucky enough to have one!”

She thrust herself forward, all hips and breasts and lips. Lyiss watched as her brother arched his body away from his wife’s and turned his face so that she collided with his cheek instead of where she had been aiming.

“Alright ladies, that’s done. Let’s be going then”, she said loudly and turned on her heel leading them away from the fire to hide her blushing face.

For a brief moment Lyiss actually felt pity for her sister-in-law. But it quickly faded as she trotted awkwardly behind.

“Alright lads… I’ll be countin’ to three and then yew all got to be pushin’”, Noah’s voice rang out.

Steen braced his back in preparation, glad to have a distraction. It was Hepsie’s time and each moment his mind strayed over that thought he panicked and forgot how to breath. It wasn’t a pleasant sensation and so he was happy to focus his breathing on moving the heavy stones into position.

“Alright then… one… two… three… PUSH!”

“Yew need to be movin’ it a bit to the left there Sermak”, Engin’s voice whined from behind Steen, “And Arran, yer not pushin’ hard enough… put yer back into it lad”.

Steen was once again glad that he was distracted, otherwise he would have been unable to fight the strong compulsion that was growing in him. He wanted nothing more than to plant his fist right in the middle of Engin’s over-sized nose.

“Okay… now be lettin’ go… well done lads”.

“It be lookin’ a bit crooked from over here Noah… yew might need to be doin’ it again”, Engin said pompously.

Now that Steen’s hands were free he thought perhaps he would just give in to the urge. Just a little bop on the nose couldn’t do Engin that much harm and it would do Steen the world of good.

But as he turned he saw Juzzine standing a little away, gazing at them nervously, waiting till they had finished what they were doing.

His heart was in his mouth, so that he was choking on it, his tongue bouncing around as it thumped and thumped so that he couldn’t manage to say anything at all.

“Er… Steen dear… I think yew better be comin’ with me”, Juzzine said delicately.

Steen managed to untangle his tongue from the wet-meaty lump and blurted out, “Hepsie… she.. I… we… Hepsie…”

Juzzine looked shocked when she realised what he had thought, “Oh no… oh no… she’s bein’ just fine… it’s just well… yew really best be comin’ then”.

“I… the baby… the baby… what about the wee baby?!”, Steen heard his voice growing more and more high pitched until he thought he was shrieking in a rather womanly fashion and tried to compensate with a deep growl.

“The baby”, he finally settled on.

“Oh… it’s not here just yet love… it’s just… well really… yew gotta go there I be thinkin’. We sorta be needin’ yer help”.

In an instant Steen was running through the courtyard, leaving Juzzine and the men behind, scattering chickens in his haste. He ran towards the small room in the west wing where he and Hepsie were staying until their cottage was finished.

The door began to open and he skidded to an abrupt halt, and a chicken that had been desperately running before him gave a relieved squawk and toddled off to the side.

It was Hepsie, her swollen belly swaying beneath her flimsy underclothes as she waddled hurriedly through the door. Gena was following behind, feeling her way along the door frame as quickly as she could manage.

“Please Hepsie love… yew got to be comin’ back inside. Babies comin’ it is”, Gena trembled, reaching her hand around trying to find where Hepsie was standing.

Hepsie looked up and saw Steen standing rooted to the spot, unable to think straight. Wasn’t she supposed to be lying down. Steen didn’t really understand how the process worked nor did he really want to as it terrified the pickles out of him, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t supposed to happen here in the courtyard in front of anyone who walked past.

Hepsie’s face suddenly changed, her brows coming together in a ferocious frown, her lips curling down as she glared directly at him. He almost looked behind him to check it wasn’t aimed at someone else, but he felt fairly sure the only living creatures around were the chickens and he did not know what they could have done to provoke such a face.

“Yew!”, she shrieked, and rushed up to him, pounding at his chest ineffectually with her tiny fists.

“Look a what’ve yew done to me yew big ruddy fool!!”

Steen looked around in a panic, but he couldn’t see anything that was different, nor imagine how he could have been responsible.

“Yew put this thing inside me yew big damn oaf and now I got to be bloody well gettin’ it out again now don’t I!!”

Steen didn’t think he had ever heard his good-natured little wife swear before and now she had the mouth of a common fishwife.

She poked him again hard in the chest and was about to do it again when she crumpled over in pain.

“Oooooh… “, she clutched at her heaving belly as Steen hovered before her unsure of what to do.

When the contraction passed she looked up at him, the anger gone leaving behind only the face of a frightened girl.

“I don’t want to be doin’ it Steen… it be hurtin’ that much and I don’t think I got the strength to do it. I don’t want to anymore… can yew just be takin’ me home now and we forget this whole baby thing? Please Steen… can’t we just be goin’ home to our little cottage? I don’t care that it’s only bein’ half built. Please?”.

Her lower lip was trembling as she looked at him, tears forming at the corners of her eyes and threatening to spill down her flushed cheeks.

“Well I dunno love, but I be guessin’ there ain’t much in this here world that’s gonna be stoppin’ that wee baby from comin’ whether yew or I be likin’ it or not”.

“And if I ever knew any woman that was bein’ strong enough it’s bein yew Hepsie… yer just about the strongest woman I ever been meetin’”.

“And surely since yew been bringin’ that many littl’uns into this world yew can be doin’ it fer our own. Just think love… soon we’ll be havin’ our own little son or daughter. Our very own and we can take the wee thing back to our cottage and be startin’ our own little family”.

Hepsie was gazing sadly at the ground, all the anger gone out of her, her shoulders drooping wearily.

“Yew just got to be doin’ this one thing now and yew got to be bein’ brave fer yer old Steen and that littl’un who’s bein’ so desperate to be comin’ out an meetin’ his Ma. And I know yew can Hepsie… yer just about the bravest woman I ever knowed”.

And then she flung herself into his arms, clinging to him like she never had before.

“I’m bein’ that scared Steen”, she whispered in his ear.

“I know love, but yew’ll be alright. Yer strong and brave and from all that kickin’ I been feelin’ these last months so’s the littl’un”.

“Now give yer old Steen a kiss and be off with yew”.

He pulled her gently to him, kissing her soft lips and tried not to let in the thought that perhaps this would be the last time he ever would. He ran his fingers through her long black hair and felt her warm body pressing against his. She was strong. She was brave. They would be alright.

“Ooooh… damn… bloody hell!”, she drew away, shouting obscenities as another wave of pain rushed through her body.

Steen rubbed her arm until it passed.

“I guess you gotte be goin’ real soon then love. Seems like it won’t be too much longer”.

She nodded and allowed herself to be led away by Gena.

Darina was waiting at the door, coaxing in an uncharacteristically gentle voice, “Come on then dearie… best to get it over with. Won’t be too much longer then”.

“I love yew Hepsie”, Steen called after her.

“I love yew too Steen… ooooh”.

And then the door shut and as Steen thought of the room beyond he realised he was “bein’ that scared” too, but he was glad he had not told her.

Darina stared out the window, watching as tiny flakes of snow stuck to the frigid glass. The full moon was hanging in the sky above the spindly fingers of the dead trees. She thought the sight was strangely beautiful, but not wanting to her waste her time on silly fancies turned away to stir the pot on the stove.

Engin should be home soon, dusk had come and gone and she wondered where he was. She wasn’t sorry he was home late. Perhaps it meant he was actually doing some work for a change. The pot of stew boiling on the stove would wait and so would she. She just hoped nothing bad had happened. After the disappearance of the Sister months ago and the death of that poor peasant woman Nell, everyone was on edge.

She heard a sharp rap on the door and hurried to open it. Who could it be this evening? It wasn’t Engin, he wouldn’t knock, but perhaps the King had come to commission her for another dress for the Queen. Or even to see little Aisling again, he had been quite smitten the last time he had come to visit.

But it was not the King, but a strange man dressed in fine clothes. A large ruby hung around his neck that was reflecting blood red in the candlelight that fell on it when she opened the door. Tearing her gaze from the huge stone she looked at the man. He was not wearing warm clothes despite the freezing temperature outdoors. She was frightened that she didn’t recognise him, he was not one of the inhabitants of the ships. Was he one of Faldorn’s men? Had they managed to find Eallair here on Mhalwae somehow?

“Good evening Mistress Rawtharn”, he said his voice low, “May I ask how you are this fine night?”

How did he know her name? Had they been infiltrated so easily. Perhaps one of the others was a traitor. She must act calm, perhaps if she denounced the King they would let her off lightly and spare her and her family.

“I’m sorry but I don’t think I be knowin’ yew sir”, she replied.

“Oh no of course, we have not met. My name is Cebrien de Voire. Very pleased to make you acquaintance. I hope to be knowin’ yew a lot better very soon”, he imitated her rough speech with a snide grin on his face.

She didn’t like the way he spoke to her, nor the way he was mocking her speech. She did not think he was one of Faldorn’s men, he had a thick accent she did not recognise and his skin was very pale.

“I think you should be inviting me in now Mistress Rawtharn, it’s cold out here and it would be the hospitable thing to do”, he said again with the same chilling smile.

She clutched at the doorframe for support. She would be strong, she must be for her daughter sleeping quietly in the next room.

“I don’t think I will be doin’ that Sir deh vwah. I don’t think I’ll be doin’ that at all. I think yew should just be on yer way and go and speak wif someone in charge. My husband will be comin’ home any minute now and I don’t think he’ll be bein’ pleased to find yew here”.

“Of course”, he said with a throaty laugh, “but I still think you will be inviting me in”.

He reached out his hand to her as she stood in the doorframe. She tried to move, to slam the door in his face and throw the bolts across but she was frozen to the spot.

His hand moved up to softly stroke her face. His touch was icy, so cold her skin burned with it. His eyes were on hers and she was horrified to see they were blood red too, the colour of the ruby that hung around his pallid neck. She tried to look away but his gaze held her head in place.

“There now”, he said in an oddly comforting voice, “I think you will be inviting me to come inside after all.

He continued stroking her face but she felt as though his frigid hand was closing around her heart and squeezing tightly. His face was so close to her’s now they were almost touching. She could feel the chill of his breath on her lips, almost taste its metallic tang. She finally reached up a trembling hand to weakly push his away.

“Yes, yes… I suppose yew better be comin’ in then”, she said in a shaking voice that did not seem like her own.

Inside some part of her was screaming at her not to let him in, to take the baby and run, but that part was locked away and all that was left was the complying woman that carefully shut the door behind him.

As soon as it was closed with a gentle click he was upon her with a growl, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in her neck. She felt a dreadful pain, mixed with an aching pleasure as she swooned in his embrace. She could feel tears pouring down her face as she moaned at the touch of his cold mouth on her hot neck.

Suddenly he had thrown her backwards so she almost fell to the floor. She looked at him blurrily in suprise. He was rubbing at his face with the sleeve of his tunic, gasping and gurgling with a dreadful hacking noise.

“What have you done you bitch”, he growled at her throatily.

She stared at him uncomprehendingly, her arms hanging useless at her sides.

A high keening noise began to come from the next room. She realised it was Aisling, wailing in terror. Some part of her understood she should do something to protect her child but her mind was clouded and all she could think was that it was strange the little girl was crying. She was usually such a quiet baby.

Cebrien cocked his head at the sound, then glanced down at her still slightly swollen belly, his face contorting in anger and disgust.

He pawed desperately at his face, coughing and spitting up great gobs of what looked like blood. That was very strange, Darina thought, very strange indeed. And she knew men didn’t always like babies but this man’s reaction was a bit over the top. He would probably be just fine if he actually held a little one in his arms. Most men were.

Then he turned and ran through the door, slamming it behind him with a thud.

Darina stood still in the middle of the room, staring at the closed door. How strange that he had left so suddenly, when they had been getting along so well. She should have invited him to have dinner with her and Engin. Oh but of course, the baby crying had upset him so much he had, had to leave. She should tell Aisling to be more quiet next time he visited.

She shook her head slightly. And goodness what a pain she had in her neck. She must have slept badly the night before. Not suprising with the way that her husband snored. She reached her hand up to rub the offending muscles and winced in pain as it came in contact with an open wound.

She pulled it back in shock staring uncomprehendingly at the blood smeared across her fingers.

Suddenly her mind was clear again and she gazed at the door in horror. She could hear poor Aisling crying in the next room, her tiny voice tinged with fear. What had she been thinking to let a strange man into the house when Engin wasn’t home. Oh God he could have hurt the baby. What if he came back?!

She rushed over to the door and slammed the bolt into place and then ran into the room where her little daughter was.

The poor thing was sobbing in her crib, writhing around her little fist clenched and her face stained with tears.

Darina bent down and carefully picked her up. As soon as she was in her mother’s arms the crying stopped and Aisling peered up at her. Her tiny face creased into a worried frown as she gazed at the blood staining Darina’s dress. She reached her little hands up towards her, as tears began to run down Darina’s face.

She clutched Aisling to her chest, her heart pounding, sobs wrenching from her throat until she could scarcely breath. The little girl whimpered patting at her chest until her mother finally stopped crying. They stayed there, Darina holding Aisling in her arms pressing the warm baby tightly to her, feeling her small fluttering heartbeat against her own pounding one until Engin came home.

“Why isn’t she bein’ the most precious little thing yew ever did see?”, Hepsie asked while making silly faces at the baby.

“I don’t know Hepsie… I can’t see her”, Gena replied softlly.

“Oh listen to me openin’ my big ole silly mouth… sorry love”, Hespie said sheepishly, “well then… the most precious darlin’ thing yew ever held, and smelt… she probably tastes wonderful too… maybe I’ll just be givin’ yew a lick little darlin’ see if yew be tastin’ like candy”

She moved towards the baby, who looked extremely concerned by this turn of events. Gena could feel her squirming in her arms and she held the baby close, resting it on her shoulder.

“She doesn’ like that sorta thing Hepsie”, Gena scolded with a quiet laugh, “she’s a neat little thing ain’t she. Didn’ like her papa’s big grubby paws on her and she certainly doesn’ want to be licked”.

There was a sharp knock at the door.

“Well who on earth could that be knockin’ at this hour… ooh I hope it’s bein’ my Steen… I could use one of his big bear hugs right now. Mebbe he can scoop me up in his big ole arms and carry me home. I’m bein’ that tired I don’t think I can even climb up into the wagon”.

She went to open the door, and Gena focused her attention on the warm child snuffling softly in her arms, its tiny face pressed into the crook of her neck. She had never been allowed to hold a baby before, people back home had assumed she was dull as well as blind and had told her no because she might drop it.

She could not believe that in a few short months she would be holding a baby, just like this one, but her own in her arms. She had to admit that after attending Darina’s labour she wasn’t feeling too confident about her own. There had been too much screaming for her sensitive ears and she could still smell the blood on her clothes, even though she had cleaned herself up. But if this was the result of such efforts then she was willing to go through them again and again, just to be able to hold her own dear sweet baby in her arms.

“Perhaps you two can be friends”, she whispered softly to the baby in her arms, and that within her swollen belly.

“Well look who it is”, she heard Hepsie cry as she opened the door to the cold.

“Well I heard that my first new subject had almost arrived and I had to ride over here and sight it myself”, to her suprise she heard the cheerful voice of the King.

She panicked slightly, clutching the baby tighter to her chest. The King and here she was covered in grime and blood from the birthing, her hair an absolute mess and her stomach so large she didn’t know how she would be able to curtsey for him.

“Can I come in or does Sir Cade who his guarding the door deem me unworthy”, he sniffled theatrically, “Please let me come in Sir Cade… it is so very cold out here and my shoes are wet”.

“Of course of course yer Highness… look at me standin’ in the doorway like a goose and blockin yer way… come in where it’s nice and warm… sort of”.

She moved out of the way and the King strode through the door. Gena thought she would pass out at the sound of his heavy footsteps, but reminded herself that she was holding the baby and willed her legs to remain steady.

“Who’s bein’ at the door at this time of night?”, Darina shouted from the next room.

“Er… umm… the King”, Hepsie replied with resignation.

Gena knew what was about to follow. Hepsie had told Darina she must be confined to bed for a few weeks, but she had mentioned to Gena that she had only given such extreme advice because she knew Darina would not follow it. If she had told her she merely needed to take it a bit easy then Darina would have ignored her completely and probably worn herself out. At least now she might be convinced to rest a little.

“I’m coming out… hang on a minute”, her voice came from the other room, “Engin help me with my dress!”.

“No Darina… yew need to stay in bed like I told yew!”, Hepsie called back.

“No, no it’s fine… I’ll be just a minute! Engin be careful!”

“Well is this the newest addition to my Kingdom”, Eallair said standing just in front of Gena.

“She’s very small”, he whispered conspiratorially with a grin on his face, “but I guess babies usually are”.

“Actually she’s quite a good size for a baby”, Hepsie said, her shoulders slumped in defeat, “She’s a perfect little thing ain’t she… look at those teeny tiny fingers n’ toes”.

Gena stood stock still, trying not to draw attention to herself.

Then she heard the door to the other room click open, and Darina come through with Engin following closely. Darina paused in the doorway and Gena had the eery feeling that the woman was staring directly at her. Her face began to grow hot with embarrassment.

“Yer Highness”, she gushed, “What a wonderful surprise… did yer come all the way out here to see our little Aisling?”

Aisling, what a pretty name, Gena thought to herself absent-mindedly and was startled when she heard Darina’s voice beside her.

“Can I be havin’ my baby then Gena”, she said, her voice low.

Gena handed her the baby and quickly walked to the opposite side of the room, hoping the darkness would hide the flush that had crept over her cheeks.

She heard everyone cooing over the baby, the King congratulating Darina and Darina bragging proudly about the newest addition to Mhalwae.

Gena was glad they were ignoring her. She was happy to stand her face turned to the window feeling a cool breeze coming through between the cracks. She was frightened that she would draw this kind of attention when she had her baby. She didn’t want any people to visit her, with their raised voices and racous laughter. She didn’t dream of Kings knocking on her door and congratulating her. She just wanted to be allowed to sit somewhere quiet holding her own baby in her arms.

Engin was so nervous he could not sit still. He sat on the chair, drumming on the table with his fingertips, adjusting the collar of his shirt, pushing the hair that fell into his eyes back into place. He looked up at the door every few minutes willing someone to walk through, to end his suffering.

He had spent the last few hours listening to the dreadful screams that were coming from the room where his wife and the other women were. It had been a long time since the cries of pain had ended and now there had not been a noise emitting from the room for almost half an hour. He thought there should be the squalling of a baby, the moaning of his wife anything to still his thumping heart, but all was silent.

He heard the door quielty clicking open and soft footsteps as Gena carefully maneuvered her way through it. In her arms lay a perfect little baby, its arms neatly folded over its belly. He could do nothing but stare, unable to believe that he and his wife had made this tiny creature.

He blinked for a moment and then stood up so quickly the chair almost crashed to the ground and he had to grip it in one hand to stop it from falling. The small person looked at him with wide alarmed eyes.

“Is… is he bein’ arright?”, Engin asked amazed, standing next to the table unable to cross the space between them.

“Yes… yes… he’s being just fine”, Gena chuckled softly, “except he’s bein’ a SHE”.

“A… a girl?”, he asked confused.

In his head he had been prepared for a boy, someone he could teach the ways of the farm, to go fishing with who perhaps would be just as bad as he. A boy who would inherit all this from him one day. He didn’t quite know how to respond to this unexpected news. He stood a couple of feet away from Gena and the baby, his arms hanging rigidly at his sides.

“Would yer like to be holdin’ the wee thing?”, Gena asked gently.

He thought she must be able to sense his discomfort, his terror that he might break this small, fragile thing that God has somehow seen fit to place in his big, clumsy hands. A boy would have been more durable, he thought, but maybe a girl was too delicate and he shouldn’t be allowed to hold her.

But Gena was holding her out to him. He stared at her not moving at all for fear he would scare her. He could not help but think she was drawing away from him, he body cowering back towards Gena’s. Of course she would be frightened of him. He was so big and ungainly and she, she was so very small and perfect.

“I… I don’t think I can”, he said, his voice trembling.

“Don’t yew be bein’ silly then… if I can yew can and she’s yer little’un”, Gena said in a no-nonsense voice that Engin thought she must have inherited from Hepsie.

“Here yew go… just put yer hand behind her head and she’ll be fine”.

And then suddenly there was warm baby in his arms, staring up at him with his own big brown eyes. Her head was bald apart from a few wispy strands of fair hair, the same colour as his.

“She… she looks like me”, he marvelled.

“Well I don’t know what that looks like silly, but I sure hope she isn’t looking exactly like yew… maybe she has some of her mother’s traits”, Gena smiled despite herself, looking pleased at her small joke.

Engin realised he had never spent any time with the woman, disliking her based on principle. He had always thought the worst because of the way he felt about Noah, but right at this moment he was so grateful for her presence he could have hugged her.

He held the little girl a bit closer so he could look at her face in the fading light. She began to squirm in his arms, raising a tiny hand in protest.

“What?”, he asked, directing the question to both the baby and Gena, “what’m I doin’ wrong?”.

The baby was now beginning to whimper and make distressed snuffling noises, gazing up at him in horror.

“Maybe yew should take her back now”, he said thrusting the upset baby into Gena’s arms, “she doesn’t seem to be likin’ me much”.

“What are yew doin’ to that baby of mine yew silly man”, he heard a voice call from next room.

Darina! He had been so focused on the baby he had not even asked how she had fared. Now he hastily walked towards the other room, leaving Gena to comfort the baby.

He stood awkwardly in the doorway. His wife was talking to Hepsie who had a grave expression on her face. She looked exhausted, her face pale and drawn, her red hair clinging damply to her clammy face.

He grinned stupidly unsure of what else to do.

“Are yew arright Darina?”, he turned to Hepsie his brow crinklilng into a worried expression, “Is she arright?”

Darina looked up at him and smiled wanly. He glanced at Hepsie and saw she was staring at him intensely, a severe look on her face.

“Yes she’s bein’ fine”, Hepsie answered before Darina could open her mouth, “but she’s lost a fair amount of blood and that means she’s goin’ to be needin’ lots of bedrest in the next few weeks”.

“Which means”, she continued, “yer goin’ to have to take over a lot of the housework while she takes care of the baby. And yew can start by gettin’ some firewood fer that there stove of yers. Yew don’t be wantin’ that baby girl of yers to get cold then do yew?”

“Now, I’ll be leavin yew two fer some alone time. Yew need to choose a name fer starters. We’ll get the baby cleaned up while yew rest a bit Darina”.

She gave Engin another meaningful look and carefully shut the door behind her.

Hepsie could hear Gena behind her as she cheerfully asked Darina about the dress she was making. The wheel was clicking rapidly between her deft hands and Hepsie had to admit that Darina was indeed a skilled seamstress.

Darina snapped at Gena by way of an answer and Hepsie sighed softly. Darina was always being mean to the poor girl. She thought it was some misguided form of jealousy or resentment that Gena, a blind girl had managed to do just as well as her in life. She knew Darina was one of the people who considered Gena to be a useless burden on their small society. But if she only opened her eyes a little, Hepsie thought Darina would realise that Gena worked just as hard as the rest of them, often even harder in some attempt to prove herself worthy.

She sneaked a look at Gena though she always felt a bit ashamed to do so, like she was stealing something from the girl. It was one thing to look at someone when they could meet your eye back, but to look when they could not know, that felt somehow rude. Gena’s misery at Darina’s snippy comments was written all over her pale face. One of the affects of never having been able to see herself, Gena’s moods were always easy to read. Hepsie found this endearing, Gena was so open and desperate for affection, she could not help but give it freely.

She bent over the steaming bucket, glad to plunge her cold hands into its warm depths. She had always liked washing the dishes and it was exceptionally pleasant on such a frigid winter day. She thought that Darina’s little house was a tad to cold, especially since Engin had not collected enough firewood to warm it properly.

“He had better do it soon”, she mumbled to herself. That baby wasn’t going to wait for firewood.

Hepsie and Gena had made the journey to Darina and Engin’s house in a wagon, since Gena was so far along. They were staying with her until the baby came, making the tiny house extremely cramped. Hepsie thought she would be very glad to get back to her little room on the ship with Steen.

She shifted her weight. Her ankle was aching severely with the cold. It seemed to finally be healing and she could hobble about on it now without a stick, but it was still causing her a lot of pain. She had resigned herself to the fact that she would be limping for the rest of her life.

And she thought irritably, not only was her ankle aching, but her back too. She did not know how the other two women were managing to carry the weight of their babies. Her belly had barely begun to swell and already she was beginning to feel exhausted. Maybe that was due to the little one inside her spending the majority of the night kicking, or as Steen like to call it barn-dancing. It certainly felt like it was dancing and as she had repeatedly lovingly scolded it there was not room in there for such shenanigans.

Darina heaved to her feet and began to rub her neck and back.

“I tell yew what”, she drawled, “my neck be achin’ something terrible today… and me back… don’t even get my started on that”.

Hepsie felt a little sheepish for complaining about her pain in her head. She could not imagine what she would be feeling like when she was as far along as the other women.

“Ooof… and it sure be painin’ me today… feels like the little blighter is trying to win a kickin’ competition”.

She rubbed her belly thoughtfully, with an odd expression on her face. Hepsie turned to stare out the window.

“Looks to me like we might be gettin’ some snow today then, what with those black clouds gatherin’ out there on the horizon”.

There’s lots of sticks out there perfect for firewood too, she thought to herself.

She heard a scraping noise, and then some fumbling as Darina suddenly pushed herself out from behind the spinning wheel.

“Are yew alright then there Darina”, Gena asked kindly.

“Of course I’m bein’ arright you stupid girl”, Darina spat back at her.

Hepsie was surprised by the venom in the women’s voice. She knew Darina could be mean but she was not usually so cruel.

She turned to look at her in time to see the older woman’s face contort into a grimace of pain.

“My goodness”, she cried out of breath, “I don’t think it’s supposed to be feelin’ like that”.

She cried out loudly and clutched at her large stomach.

“Hepsie!”, she almost screeched, “I think there’s bein’ something wrong with the baby… it’s painin’ me so much”.

She clenched her teeth and Hepsie could hear her breath whistling through them in ragged gasps.

A large smile spread across Hepsie’s face.

“Now yew just be breathin’ then Darina love… there’s bein’ nothin’ at all wrong with yer baby. It just wants to come and meet yew now is all”.

She wiped her hands on her apron and began to hobble across the room.

“No… No! I don’t think it should come now… I’m not sure I’m bein’ ready for it… I’m arright now… it’s not hurtin’ so much anymore… I… aaaagh!!!”

Darina leant her head back and howled as another contraction hit sending waves of pain rippling through her body.

“Of course it should be comin’ now love… it’s been bakin’ inside yew for well and truly long enough and it wants to be seeing this big ole world now”, she couldn’t help but grin wider at the thought of the first little Mhalwae baby to be born.

She turned to Gena, “Gena love… I’m going to be needin’ yer help now… how about yer go and check that the beds all ready fer Darina while I be helpin’ her into the room?”

Gena stumbled to her feet, her heavy belly pushing the table out of the way as she scrambled to help. Hepsie could see she was nervous and guessed by this she had never been present at a birth before. Hepsie thought this rather sad, that the other women back in their old home had shunned her so much she had not even been able to attend a birth. Well it was a good thing she was here so she knew what to expect when her own baby came in a couple of months.

Another shriek came from Darina who was doubled over in pain beside the spinning wheel.

She looked up pleadingly at Hepsie her hands holding her belly, her face terrified and drawn. Hepsie had seen the look before on the face of every first time mother.

“But Hepsie it hurts too much… it aaagh!!!”.

“I don’t… I don’t think I can Hepsie… maybe I’ll just be gettin’ in yer way with my fumblin’”, Gena had jumped almost a foot in the air startled by the last scream.

One hand was clasped to her chest which was rapidly rising and falling, and the other raised weakly in protest.

Hepsie wanted to laugh, stuck here with these two novices in the art of birth but she managed to suppress it. Maybe she should have asked one of the other women along. It was too late for that now. They would just have to make do.

“Yew”, she said to Darina, “Don’t yew be silly… of course ye can have this baby… and anyway… whether yew like it or not baby is comin’ so are you going to let me help yew lie down or not?”

“And yew Gena”, she said, “Yev got two hands I see so yer perfectly capable of helpin’. Now get in that room before I make yer!”

Eallair walked up the hill admiring the finished structure of the first house built on Mhalwae. It was not a big building but it would be enough to house the Rawtharn’s and his first new subject due to be born in a matter of weeks.

He could see already the soil in front of the house had been tended in preparation for a small garden perhaps. He assumed this had been done by the lady of the house. From what he could tell Engin Rawtharn was not a man who appreciated work. He hoped that Goodwife Rawtharn would turn out to be different.

He raised his hand and knocked confidently on the the carefully crafted hardwood door. It was a relief to him to have some of the peasants moving into houses, the approaching winter and the number of babies due soon were of great concern to him. The space on the ships was limited and having some of the peasants moving to houses would definitely give them more room.

He heard a small groan and movement inside, then footsteps coming towards the door. Darina opened it wide, her large belly poking first through the door-frame.

He saw a flicker of surprise cross her face and then it was replaced by an extremely wide grin. Eallair was sure that he could see almost all of the teeth in her mouth. It was nice to be welcomed like this though. He could tell Goodwife Rawtharn must be a congenial woman if she could smile so broadly at a first meeting.

“Yer Majesty!”, she cried, “Yew’ll be forgivin’ me if I don’t be curtseying fer yew won’t yer… I’m afraid if I get down I won’t be getting back up again till this here baby is being born”.

“Of course, of course”, he grinned, “we would not want that would we, then I could not ask you the favour I have come for. But first of all tell me, how is that little… or should I say big baby of your’s?”

Darina smiled again, looking down at her swollen figure. Eallair thought her smile now seemed somehow warmer. And there were definitely less teeth involved.

“Well I believe it’s being quite fine Yer Majesty, judging by the amount of kicking it be doin’”, she laughed fondly, “the little mite is gettin’ so bad these days I think it wakes up Engin with it’s kicks they’re that hard!”.

Her huge grin came back again, “But I be forgettin’ me manners Yer majesty! Would yew like to come inside this little house of mine… yew said yer had a favour to be askin’ me”.

She opened her arms wide, gesturing to the inside of her small house with obvious pride.

“Yes, yes… I will come in, thank you Goodwife”.

He gazed around the small tidy house. The floor had been neatly packed with clay and it was evident Darina swept it frequently. He spotted the object he had come to enquire about sitting in the corner, next to a barrel with a small candle burning brightly atop it.

“Can I be offerin’ yer somethin’ to drink Yer Majesty, yew can sit down while I fetch yer somethin’”.

“No, no”, he protested, “I am fine. By the looks of it you are the one who needs to be sitting Goodwife. How about we sit at the table and I tell you why I am bothering you on this fine autumn day”.

He winked at her and they went to sit at the table. Darina heaved herself into the chair, barely squeezing her enormous girth under the table.

“Now, the reason I have come, is because I have heard from some of the other folk that you have a talent that I could well make use of, and also the means to apply it”.

He turned to the left and Darina’s eyes followed his gaze to the spinning wheel that stood there, beside a chair with a basket of material and threads neatly tucked beneath.

He saw from her face that Darina was obviously confused about what he wanted.

“I’m not sure I’m completely undestandin’ Yer Majesty here. Are yew wantin’ some tapestries mended? Or perhaps a new outfit… I have not made any of these thins’. I mostly been sewin’ dresses to be honest”.

“And that”, he said triumphantly,”is precisely what I am wanting”.

“You see I have a little secret which will not be a secret for very much longer”, he winked at her conspiratorially, “the Queen will be needing very soon some larger dresses, particularly in the region of her stomach”.

He laughed heartily, “And I can tell you it is not because she has been eating too much candy”.

He saw a look of surprise and then something like gratitude mingled with glee at being the first to know of the approaching addition to the Royal family.

“And yew be wantin’ me to make a new dress fer her”, Darina said slowly.

“That is precisely what I am wanting from you Goodwife Rawtharn! I will provide the material and of course you will be payed a decent sum of money”.

He went on to describe exactly what Madlenka wanted while Darina listened intently wondering how best to exploit this opportunity.