A Snow White story by J. Hardie
?2003
AN- This story is my rendition of the famous Snow White tale with the evil Queen and the prince, and of course the poison apple, only i've added a little spin to it. Adding a bit more than the regular children's tale.
I
Odd. That was one word that could be used to describe it. Terribly odd. But as of now, people call it normal.
It had been decades since they lost the sun.
Yes, the sun in all its golden glory had been lost. For now there was only the moon, which shined endlessly. A stark white Luna for the day hours, and light blue Diana to finish the night?s candle marks.
It had been that way ever since Camelot fell. A very odd day that was, when the sun moved behind the clouds and never appeared again.
King Arthur had disappeared along with his nights of the round table. Merlin had withdrawn into the mystery from which he came, and Camelot was returned into the rubble from which it rose.
A world of darkness had emerged, leaving the land of England in a panic.
The forests became hostile, numerous unspeakable beasts entered the realm, tormenting the innocent children and burning the villages.
All under the leadership of one. A self-entitled queen, the claimer of the throne that Arthur had left behind.
The ever-beautiful Morgan Le Fay sits on the gold encrusted throne and has ever since the sun was lost. Her face never changed from its ageless beauty. But in her case, beauty was only skin deep.
She strived not to keep the darkness away, but embraced it. Influencing all forms of nature, she forces them to bend to her will.
With her evil charm and wicked grace, she could cause any man to swoon. Within her own vanity, she was convinced she was the most beautiful woman within her kingdom.
That is until she searched the remains of Merlin?s residence in the burned castle and found a special magical item?
Diana shined dimly in the night sky. Blue light gleamed on the long blades of grass that swayed in the cool breeze as a shrouded figure on horseback galloped past, following the path from the field into the mists of Sayre Forest.
Red crickets chirped into the empty air and autumn?s last colored leaves fell across the dirt path as the sound of clopping hooves came closer against the trees. The heglings scurried quickly behind the bushes, their red eyes peeking between the foliage to glance at the black horse and rider that raced through the forest.
The horse turned a sharp left from a fork in the path, and raced on at the constant beckoning of its rider.
The howls of the watchmen of the wolfen tribes echoed against the sycamore and woodworth trees, and the horse stopped abruptly in fear.
?Hi-yah! Hi-yah!? The rider called out in attempt to get the horse to move again.
The horse snorted and backtracked as the howls began again.
Low growls could be heard from behind the trees, and the horse whinnied and turned in a circle.
?Stupid fool! Hi-yah!? The rider tried again, ?Get moving! Do not think I will spare the lash on you if you disobey me!?
In recognition, the horse calmed and glanced around as the breeze blew and the howls stopped.
?Get going!?
Slowly, the four-legged beast turned in the direction, and began to trot slowly.
?Faster! You will get twice the lashes if we are not there before Luna?s first light!?
Neighing in protest, the horse picked up speed quickly to make up for lost time.
But that did not save it.
Suddenly a being leapt from a tree branch and knocked the hooded rider off the horse and onto the ground.
Frightened once more, the horse ran faster down the path to avoid the same fate.
Groaning, the rider stood from the ground, and dusted the clothing he wore off. Turning angrily towards the fleeting horse, he held up a hand, ?You have failed me for the last, Raiden.?
A strange force overcame the fleeing horse, causing a paralysis to grasp its legs and bring it to the ground. Several shadowed creatures rushed from the brush to dine on the fallen animal.
A low growling brought the rider?s attention back to his attacker.
A crouching wolfen warrior was across from him, white fangs gleaming and claws outstretched in a blood lust.
?No trespassers allowed!? the wolfen ground out, rough growls in each word, ?You are on forbidden soil.?
?What will you do to me?? the rider jested, ?Kill me and feed me to your young? I tell you that this land belongs to you not.?
The warrior stepped forward, ?The wolfen claimed the Sayre as their territory long before your existence.?
The rider turned away, bored, ?I do not believe that I should bend to the will of a dog whose relatives are dependant on mine.?
In anger, the wolfen leapt from his place and upon the hooded rider, bringing him once more to the ground.
?Let us see how you fair once your jugular is ripped from your body!? the wolfen growled, grasping the rider?s hood.
A feminine grunt of protest escaped the rider?s mouth. The wolfen blinked and pulled the hood away.
Jade eyes blinked back at him, and soft features faced the wolfen?s own angular ones.
The wolfen slowly pushed himself off of the rider. The female rider.
The man-like wolf chuckled, ?A female? A human female out this late without an escort? Or are you a harlot out for her rounds??
The woman?s eyes flashed dangerously, ?Do not tempt me.? She stood up, long blood red hair flowing around her shoulders, ?I am not one to be trifled around with.?
The wolfen looked at her in strange admiration, ?What is your name??
The woman smirked, ?Morgaine. Lady Morgaine of Eldermyre. And you? What does your wolfen tribe call you??
A slow hesitant look came over the wolfen?s face, ??a-R?ch??
She smiled slowly, and walked over to the wolfen, ?Then, ?a-R?ch?, I have a proposition for you.?
?a-R?ch??s ears pointed forward, and his eyes narrowed, ?What would that be??
Her long cloak swished around her as she circled him like a hawk, ?It would be a fair wager, if you let me go.?
?I?m listening.?
Placing her palms together, the young woman closed her eyes and a green light engulfed her hands.
?a-R?ch? moved back cautiously. He didn?t like the scent of the woman Morgaine. Something about her seemed?evil.
The light faded around her and she opened her eyes.
Walking over to the wolfen, she opened her palms, in which a silver pendant now shined.
?What is that?? he growled
?A gift. I know what you think of ?a-R?ch?, I know of what you want.?
His ear perked again, ?What is it that I want??
?Power. The power over your own tribe. The power to control and to dominate and to live with the thought that none is greater than you.?
?a-R?ch??s eyes gleamed at the thought, ?Will that pendant allow it??
?All of it. And you can have it??
He gazed at her curiously, ?What is it you want in return??
She giggled, ?A steed would be nice.?
The wolfen nearly drooled at the fair deal, and he leapt towards her for the pendant, ?Done!?
She quickly sidestepped him and waved her finger chidingly, ?For this gift there is more to the price.?
?Anything! Anything!? ?a-R?ch? pleaded, his furry clawed hands reaching for the silver item with strange writing, his mind reeling at the very thought of what he could accomplish with it.
Satisfied, she handed the pendant over to the greedy wolfen, pulling her hood back over her face, ?Now, where is my steed??
~~~~~~~~
It had taken a while for ?a-R?ch? to steal a horse from his tribe. Essentially, he had to convince his leader that the horse was too sick for it to be food, considering the fact that it would have meant death if his tribe knew he was helping a human.
But he had gotten the steed. A rare breed too. A nearly silver horse that ?a-R?ch? had said was born a unicorn but because of its young age, had yet to grow a golden horn.
She didn?t care for the little details. As soon as she had Rhonoa, she jumped onto her back and coaxed the horse into a run out of the Sayre Forest and onto the path that led to the ruins of Camelot.
As she had expected, there were several men in armor sitting on large boulders. They stood abruptly as she approached.
She dismounted Rhonoa in mid-trot and rushed over to the men.
?Lady Morgan,? one said, bending low.
She waved her hand dismissively, ?Do you have it??
They nodded, and smiled as she did.
?One of you, tend to my horse. The rest of you shall lead me to it.?
With more submissive nods, one of the three men walked over to Rhonoa while the other two escorted Morgan further into the ruins.
?What happened to Raiden, Milady?? one asked
Morgan snorted, ?A stupid animal. I got rid of him. I met a wolfen in the Sayre and was able to bribe him into giving me a new and better horse. She is faster, and far more obedient than Raiden ever was.?
?A wolfen??
?Yes, very gullible he was. Very soon I shall have his allegiance and the allegiance of most wolfens in the Sayre.?
The armored guard leading her lit a candle and stooped low to open a metal door amongst the burned rubble left behind from Camelot?s fire.
?It took us a while to dig for this. It leads into the catacombs of the castle. We have some men down there guarding it for you in Merlin?s quarters.?
?Ah, yes,? Morgan sighed, ?Merlin had a secret residence under the castle. I?ve only seen it once, but I know the way.?
Taking the candle from the guard, she lifted her skirts and slowly stepped down through the door. She held the candle in front of her and began to walk down the familiar catacombs.
Rats squealed around her, and scurried about, their feet splashing against the water that collected on the floor from the damp ceiling. One rat latched itself on her foot, and she looked down, disgusted and attempted to shake the rodent off of her.
Using its better sense, the small rodent climbed off and scuttled into the darkness behind.
Sighing, Morgan pulled her hood down and walked again along the passage. Voices floated into her ears, and laughter caused her to frown.
They had not been tampering with it, had they? She shook her head. Those guards were worth nothing.
She followed the voices into a small room within the catacombs. Two guards sat inside, and the laughing ceased as she entered.
?Where is it?? she asked simply.
They trembled slightly, knowing the dangerous tone of her voice.
?Where is it?? she asked again, setting her candle down on a night table.
The guards looked at each other. There was a pile of old books and flasks behind them. The one guard closest to the pile reached behind him and pulled out a long cloth-covered piece.
?There is a note inside that was left behind to you, Milady.? He sputtered out, handing it over to her.
?Wonderful. Leave me.? Morgan commanded
?Are you sure-?
?Leave me!?
Without another word, both men scampered out of the room.
Morgan closed the wooden door behind them, and unclasped her cloak. Throwing, it aside, she rushed towards the cloth-covered piece and long red nails began to tug at the twine that held it together. When the ropes finally gave way, she carefully began to peel the cloth back to reveal what it hid.
Her eyes sparkled in the dim candlelight.
A silver encrusted mirror lay beneath, tiny jewels along the sides and one large ruby embedded on the top.
She stood up and placed the mirror on the night table against the wall.
Her fingers ran along its edge and paused against the glass as she looked at herself.
She had no doubt that she was beautiful. She was. Her hair was unique, no color like it. It was long and full. Her eyes were of the purest jade, her skin was pale and unblemished, and her lips like the reddest rose petals. She was the perfect embodiment of a woman. Men did her beckoning, and beasts knelt at her feet.
Now it was time to make sure that it would always be so.
?Mirror, mirror on the wall, I have questions, will you answer them all??
A mist appeared as her reflection faded and that of a mask appeared, its eyes slanted downward and its mouth formed the words of reply,
?I am here to serve you, Morgan Le Fay, what questions have you to ask me today??
A slow smile appeared on her face, ?Do you know all, mirror??
The mask reflected her smile, ?I?ve seen the future, I?ve seen the past, I know of the first, I know of the last.?
?Then mirror, I do ask this. Who is the fairest one of all??
?There are many beauties in England, ever fair from the foot to the hand. In the rush to find the fairest there is no delay, for that one is the Queen, Morgan Le Fay.?
Morgan clapped her hands gleefully, ?And that way it shall stay??
The mask frowned, ?Well-?
?I will always be the most beautiful of all women? No woman shall make the men swoon as I do??
The mask hesitated, ?Are those all the same question? Please ask one, that is my suggestion.?
Red fingernails pointed impatiently at the mirror, ?I know you are not dim-witted. Those are all the same, yes. And I shall make sure you return into sand if you do not answer them!?
The mask gulped visibly, ?For now the fairest is Milady from foot to hand, and your reign will reach across the land. But a time will come when the winter is long, and years later, your male suitors gone. A fairer young woman will appear; her manner is kind, sweet and sincere. Morgan Le Fay will no longer be, the fairest and most beautiful Queen.?
Jade eyes narrowed, ?What do you mean? Of whom do you speak??
?On winter?s eve, a babe will be born, the mother will die, and her house will mourn. This one will be different, all will know, for this babe?s skin will be white like snow. And through her life, that way it will stay, and she herself will dethrone Morgan Le Fay. Arthur will be found, his knights returned, the sun will come back with its glory undeterred.?
Morgan jumped up abruptly from her seat, ?Are you saying some maiden is going to dethrone me? Morgan Le Fay? I could kill her in a heartbeat before she stepped foot out of her cottage.?
?Kill her you may try but it will be in vain, she will live, so no satisfaction will you gain.?
?Is someone trying to protect the girl before she is born? Who? Tell me who!?
The mirror was silent.
Morgan leaned back, ?It?s Merlin?s doing isn?t it? He is trying to stop me by allowing the child to live. I thought I imprisoned him long ago. He should not be able to tamper with anything.?
The mask in the mirror looked at her hesitantly, and still did not reply.
?I ask you mirror, how is Merlin doing this??
?He knows the future as do I, but know Milady, his spirit did not die. He will be freed, by the maiden unseen.?
?Unseen? Show me her! I want to see what she looks like!?
The mask stared at the eccentric woman, ?I cannot-?
?I know you can! Don?t play me for a fool!?
?Merlin does not allow me to-?
Her fist pounded against the glass, ?Do not tempt me, mirror. I can break you and create another that will obey my orders.?
The mask winced at the thought, and disappeared in a swirl of mist before the mirror shimmered and showed a emerald green meadow, and in the midst of it, a silhouette of a young girl could be seen jumping in glee.
Morgan eyes reflected the image as she leaned closer to get a better look.
A zephyr blew across the meadow, and through the girl?s hair, causing it to flutter behind her in the direction of the wind. Small animals hopped around in unison with the girl, and did not seem to mind her presence.
?Why can I not see her face?? Morgan asked, ?Why is not the picture completely clear??
The scene faded away and the mask reappeared, ?It is not within my realm to do as you ask, for I am not to be part of your evil task.?
?Are you telling me that you cannot show me a superior image of this ?maiden???
The mask nodded, ?It is Merlin?s will that I tell all I see, but an accomplice to evil I shall not be.?
Morgan chortled, ?Very smart of the old fool. I no longer need you mirror. Your answer in rhyme annoys me, so be gone.?
The mask obediently vanished and allowed the mirror to reflect Morgan once more.
Carefully, she picked up her fallen cloak and put it back on before recovering the mirror with cloth. Taking the candle from the night table, she headed out of the room and back through the catacombs until she reached the open door from which she entered.
?Milady, did you get what you searched for?? one guard asked as he helped her out.
Morgan nodded, ?I left it there in Merlin?s quarters. I want two of you to retrieve it along with all the books and journals.?
?Where shall we bring them??
?Bring them to my castle. I expect them there in two days time.?
?Is that all, Milady Le Fay??
Morgan sighed as the blue moon on the horizon began to brighten, ?What is north of here??
?The Forest Flagr?ns is straight north and the Lake of Umbra is just before that. They?re said to be enchanted.?
?I doubt that. The nymphs and merpeople guard it well from outsiders. How do we gain entrance through there??
?I do not know. The borders are well protected. Perhaps if you were to strike a bargain with Queen Titania??
Morgan waved her hands and turned to the guard that had taken Rhonoa, ?Never mind. Bring me my horse.? She turned back to the other guard; ?I have another assignment for you.?
?Yes??
?I want you and your men to go to every village in the kingdom and demand a record for every child born on winter?s eve.?
?But Milady, that could take months! Winter?s eve is but a few days away!?
?I do not care. Send your men by three?s if necessary. I expect a report soon.?
The guard sighed and bowed low as Rhonoa was handed over to her and Morgan climbed onto the horse?s back, then without a farewell, proceeded to ride the horse in the direction from which she earlier came. A rumble of thunder came from above and the guards hurried to fulfill their orders before the rain came pouring down.
Luna shined brightly amidst the storm clouds in the dark blue sky, and a howl could be heard in the distance. The trees swayed and the forests were silent. A period of mourning overcame all in the Sayre as the distinct feeling of evil rippled through. The balance that was once there disappeared, and the once green trees shriveled up, becoming black and crippled. The foliage became dry, and the creatures scurried about.
A once wolfen warrior stood proudly on a branch, the fur on his back hiked up in a motion of challenge. His paws gripped the side of the tree, the claws digging into the black wood. A flash of lightning illuminated his features, his muscles had grown, and the light showed that the wolfen was not being supported by the tree branch, but instead was poised on the side of the tree. Lightening flashed again, and his eyes shined white as his fangs gleamed. A silver pendant around his neck glowed as it swung from its chain. He lifted his head up towards Luna and let loose a howl of dominance and power before he leapt off the tree and onto another, heading further into the forest.
And so set the stage. Morgan Le Fay?s men went off to all the villages, having each one keep a record of every birth from winter?s eve until spring. The forests grew darker, and the wolfen race, fiercer. It was no longer safe to venture through any forest without any protection. Little by little, small kingdoms were overthrown and added to the vastness of Morgan?s empire. She ruled with an iron fist and little patience, though she waited the day eagerly when the report of the baby?s birth reached her ears. She read through Merlin?s many books, taking in the secrets and concoctions he had written. Repeatedly, she visited the Forest Flagr?ns as Viviane, regularly checking on Merlin?s condition within his prison. Although she talked to him, he never replied, leaving her to wonder exactly how he was able to communicate to the outside world without leaving his prison.
Elsewhere, in the north, a different question was raised?
Eber Village
Moans of pain reverberated through the village from the small house. Outside, several neighbors and common folk stood, peering into the windows at the family inside.
In the house, five young children sat on the floor by the small fireplace. They huddled together as they watched their nursemaid and their father watch the village midwife. The midwife cared for their mother who was drenched in sweat and crying out in pain. They cringed as each contraction hit their mother, causing her to writhe despite the strong hold their father and nursemaid had on her arms.
?The baby is hurting her!? the father cried out, ?Can?t you get it out??
The midwife frowned and shook her head; ?I can?t do anything until I see the head.?
?Push, Anna, push,? the father coaxed
?John?? Anna mumbled, and her eyes glazed as she cried out again.
The midwife peeked under the blanket that covered Anna, ?She?s tearing. We have to get the baby out now.?
John?s eyebrows scrunched together, ?What do you mean? How can you be so calm while my wife is in pain??
The midwife ignored him and stood up, calling to the nursemaid, ?Get me that pot of water from out of the fire and some towels.?
The nursemaid nodded and leapt up to do as the midwife asked.
John frowned, ?What will the water do? Do you even know what you are doing to my wife??
The midwife did not skip a beat as she helped one of the children with the pot of hot water, ?I don?t appreciate being questioned, John. I?ve done my job perfectly for thirty years without loosing one mother. And believe you me, I?ve seen worse than your wife. I?ve seen bleeding and a mother who needed to be sewed back together after her tenth child. Believe me, Anna is in good hands.?
The nursemaid came back, and handed the towels to the midwife before heading to the fireplace to pick up the pot of steaming water.
?What?s your name?? the midwife called to the nursemaid.
?Jane.? She said as she lifted the pot with a piece of cloth to keep the handle from burning her.
?Hurry over here, Jane.?
The young nursemaid carried the pot over to the midwife.
?Jane, take a towel and dip it into the water and place it on Anna?s brow. It should help ease her.?
Jane did so, and the midwife pulled the blankets down so she could see Anna?s large belly.
Anna cried again, ?It hurts!?
John squeezed Anna?s arm in consolation before the midwife took one of his hands and placed it below Anna?s belly button.
John looked at her in confusion as she laid a soaked towel just below his hand.
?This will hurt her. She is trying too hard, but the child is not responding. If we do not get her to at least push its head out, Anna will die along with her unborn.?
The children by the fireplace whimpered at the notion.
The distinct sound of tearing flesh could be heard, and Anna writhed in the horrible pain.
?Come on now, Anna,? The midwife urged, ?Try and focus.?
?Push, Anna!? John commanded, his mouth next to her ear.
?I can?t?? she cried out
The midwife stood patiently, ?Anna, Anna, you have to do this. I have never lost mother nor child, and I don?t intend to start now. Think of it, Anna, if this child were a boy how he would help John in the fields and on the land, supplying food for the other villagers. And if it a girl, how beautiful she would be, helping in the house and dancing in the grass amongst the purple lilies and sunflowers. Imagine how this child will turn out, Anna. Focus on the child rather than the pain.?
A small smile formed on Anna?s lips.
The midwife turned back to John, ?Push right there, John, it might help guide the baby.?
All the neighbors began to murmur, ?Will she die??
?Come on now, Anna, push,? the midwife coaxed.
Several long minutes passed as Anna closed her eyes tight and pushed, ignoring the searing pain in her lower half. Sweat glistened on her forehead as she strained herself.
The midwife looked under the blankets, ?I see the head! A little bit more, Anna, and I should be able to pull it out.?
Anna obeyed silently and grit her teeth as she pushed again.
The midwife placed her hands under the blanket and felt around for the baby?s shoulders, ?I?ve got it!?
Anna sighed in relief and raised her head to see as the midwife pulled the baby out from under the blanket and into the air.
?It?s a girl,? John said getting up to hold the baby.
The midwife looked again under the blanket, ?She is an inch torn. We need someone to sew her back together.?
?I can sew stitches, miss.? Jane piped up, standing to get her needle and thread.
The children all stood up from the fireplace and stood around their father as he held up the baby for them to see.
The villagers clapped outside before they dispersed to their own homes.
John held the baby over to Anna so she could see, ?Look Anna. A girl, a baby girl.?
It was a first for them. Anna had given birth to nothing but boys, and now she had the satisfaction of seeing her own girl.
Anna smiled and lifted a finger up to the baby, ?She?s so beautiful.?
The midwife handed over a small knife to John so that he could cut the baby?s umbilical cord. He did so and handed the unnamed child back to the midwife who began to clean it off with a towel.
Anna groaned and a sudden clear and round mess fell on the floor from beneath the blankets.
John?s voice was filled with trepidation, ?What is that??
The midwife chuckled, ?It?s your sixth child and you still do not know the birth procedure? It is normal. Just clean it up, you can throw away the placenta.?
One of the children?s noses scrunched up as he looked at his young sister, ?Why is she all white??
The midwife smiled, ?All babies are like that. It will fade as I clean her up.?
The child watched as the midwife carefully wiped at the baby?s delicate skin, ?It?s not coming off. She?s still white.?
The midwife frowned and her eyes narrowed as she looked at the baby carefully, ?I do believe that is the natural color of her skin.?
Jane looked over the midwife?s shoulder, ?She?s not albino, is she??
The midwife shook her head, ?She?s got black hair, and lovely blue eyes. I?d say this is the fairest baby I?ve ever seen in my life.?
John smiled, ?I really don?t care either way, as long as she?s healthy and obedient.?
Anna smiled too at her enlarged family before her brow wrinkled suddenly and her smile turned upside down. A small gasp of pain escaped her lips.
All eyes turned to her, and John was immediately at her side, ?What?s wrong??
She didn?t answer, and his eyes moved down to see the growing spot of blood on the blankets near her abdomen.
The midwife quickly pulled the blankets away to find the source, and a wound could be seen on Anna?s right hip. She placed her fingers around the area so that she could feel near Anna?s womb, and her shoulders slumped. Slowly, she took off her white cap and she turned to look at John and the rest of Anna?s family,
?It seems as though the stress of this baby was too much for Anna. She?s not only torn, but she?s ruptured something else. It?s bleeding through the skin.?
?Can?t we stop it?? John asked
The midwife shook her head, ?I?m not sure. Maybe we can if we sew her up quickly and place heavy blankets on her to stop the flow? but we?ll have to act soon.?
?Well then let?s go! Jane, you do the stitches.?
The entire house hurried about the fallen woman; pressing numerous cloths on her wounds after sewing them to stop the internal blood flow. They were able to stop it at times, but the inner wound did not close and the blood began to leak out again.
Visibly, Anna got weaker and weaker. The blood having gone from her face to her wound left her face extremely pale. She winced at the pain, and consciously grasped a fact that her husband of thirteen years couldn?t.
The midwife took John by the upper arm and led him outside. She fiddled with her fingers as she looked at the tired man, not knowing in what order to put her words.
?John,? she started, ?I?m afraid that we?ve done all that we could for Anna right now. She?s? very tired, and I don?t think that her body will hold out. I?d get a doctor, but the nearest one is two villages away.?
?What are you trying to say?? John questioned.
She sighed, ?Anna will not live to see the morning.?
John did not get angry, as she had expected. Instead he took in a deep breath, and nodded in understanding. He turned from her and walked silently back into the cottage.
He sat down next to the bed that Anna lay on, and held her hand. Anna?s glazed eyes looked up at him and she smiled before closing her eyes. Silent tears ran down his face as he leaned his head down to touch hers. They stayed like that until John fell asleep. He awoke to the crying of his five sons, and the whimpering of his baby daughter. Jane stood at the corner of the room, looking estranged, and the midwife sat opposite of him, her cap on top of Anna?s blankets and her hand on Anna?s forehead.
?She?s gone, John. She passed a few moments ago,? was all the midwife said.
John became aware of the cold hand he held and he gentle placed it next to his dead wife. He stood and left the house, knowing he had to tell the others of the need for a burial.
Jane looked at the dejected midwife, ?You did the best you could miss, I?m sure he appreciates it.?
The midwife didn?t blink, ?I?ve failed. I?ve lost a mother.?
?But the worst can happen to anybody. It wasn?t your fault.?
?It doesn?t matter. I?m supposed to ensure the birth of a healthy baby and survival of the mother.? She got up, glancing shortly at the baby in Jane?s arms.
?Where are you going?? Jane asked.
The midwife shook her head, ?Some far place. Maybe a quiet village. I?m old, and have been a midwife a long while. I promised myself that if one life be lost, be it mother or child; I was no longer able to do my duty? no longer fit. I shall burn my cap, and fade away.?
Jane did not stop her as she left the room and the cottage, and hearing the neighing of the midwife?s pony through the thin walls, Jane knew she would not see the old woman again.
The tiny baby in her arms yawned and Jane looked down at her with a soft smile. Despite the saddening circumstances, Jane could not help but have her spirits lifted at the attention of the unnamed child.
The five boys who once stood together at the opposite corner of the room, gathered around Jane to look at their new sister.
?She?s so small,? Adam, the youngest, said.
?She?ll grow in time.? Jane answered, ?You?re going to have to look after her, Adam. You?re her older brother.?
Jeremiah, the oldest, grimaced, ?She?ll be hanging all around us, wanting to do the things we do. She?ll be an annoying one, I can tell.?
As if hearing the insult, the baby?s face scrunched up in a movement to cry.
?Uh-oh, I bet she?s hungry. Judas, do you think you and Toby can go out onto the farm and get some milk from the cows? If I can find a skin for her, it should suffice well.?
The two boys nodded and ran out to do as they were asked.
Jane nodded to remaining boys, ?Why don?t you go outside? I don?t think this room is the best place for you at the moment.?
As they left, Jane walked over to the bed, and took the seat that John had previously occupied. She stared at Anna?s body in remorse for the baby who would never know the wonderful woman whom she would have called ?mother?.
?You were a good woman, Anna.? Jane said, ?Never treated me any different, even if I was the nursemaid for your boys. You and John? I was always so jealous of you. You had a wonderful man, and probably still do have his heart. You knew too. You knew how much I?ve always cared for John, yet you still asked me to work for you. God, the things I could have done to your family if my conscious let me. You have six beautiful children. Five boys and one girl, one lovely girl. She will take after you so much. If John lets me, I will gladly watch after her. I wonder what John will name her. I?ve always fancied the name Katherine myself. But he will name her after you I believe.? She sighed, ?I hope you find peace wherever you are now. I will always be in debt to your kindness.?
Carefully she placed two fingers onto her lips and placed them on the body?s forehead.
?Would you really like to look over her??
Jane jumped slightly and turned around to face John, ?I didn?t expect you to be back so soon.?
John shrugged, ?There?ve been some lists. Apparently the Queen wants a record of every child born. There will be a burial for Anna tomorrow morning, and they plan to give an air to both the baby and her tonight.?
Jane nodded. If John had indeed heard all of her confession, he didn?t act like it. She kept quiet. Whatever was said, was said. She couldn?t take back anything now.
John walked over to her and picked the child from her arms, ?I suppose I have to name her now. You think Katherine will fit her??
A pink hue came over Jane?s cheeks, ?I said I?ve liked the name? but she don?t look like one to me.?
?You?re right.? He began to rock the baby in his arms, a far-off look came into his eyes, ?Anna always liked the sea, from the stories she heard. We never went there though. I always promised her.? He paused, ?What about Anemone? Anna fell in love with that name the first time we heard it.?
Jane smiled, ?I like that. We could always call her ?Anney?. It is the perfect tribute to Anna.?
John nodded, ?Let?s go outside. This room holds too much gloom for me.?
Together they went outside, leaving the house cold and empty as a few white flakes began to fall outside, welcoming the coming of winter.
As the night ended, the sounds of horns could be heard in the distance. There were three separate airs. The first was for the celebration of Anemone?s birth, which came at great costs. The next was for Anna, who sacrificed her life for the child. The last was for the midwife, who had lost her faith in herself.
So these people afore mentioned live separate lives, far from each other. But soon all their destinies will be intertwined as events ?both forseen and unforeseen- occur nearly two decades into the future.
******
Well that's it for now... Let me know what you think. The next 6 chapters should be posted soon since they're already written.