Chapter 22
Expecting
1642-1643 - Dunnedin, Vanders
It wasn’t more than a few weeks after Gawen’s departure that Starrling realized she was with child. She was ecstatic at the thought of another baby despite it being Gawen’s and perhaps this one she could raise herself. The thought set her all a-tingle, feeling the extra flow of energy from the living being inside her.
During daily chores, she shared her news with her family of animals. Of course, they responded in the manner expected, with jubilation. Mounting Cobweb to make her daily deliveries, she chatted non-stop to him about the coming event, even though it was months away. A count of moons past put the pending birth near Midsummer. How perfect! Conceived at Samhain, to be born at Midsummer.
It was several weeks before she leaked the news to her friends at the Tavern. They were quick to show their surprise and concern and this puzzled her, but her constantly ill stomach clouded her thoughts enough that she didn’t probe further. Ale, cider and mint potion was all she was able to let past her lips during these times. Still, she gained weight quickly and, this being her second pregnancy, her condition began to show quite early on.
One evening, as she sat at the hearth in the Tavern she felt the first stirrings inside her. Just a butterfly of movement, yet the grin that spread across her face was enough to light the room. Knowing that this was just the beginning, she so looked forward to the dances the child would soon be performing inside her womb. There wasn’t much that could sadden Starrling these fine days.
Soon she noticed odd stares from people she passed and was uncertain of the reason. This was just another disadvantage to growing up in a sheltered village, for she was completely unaware just how scandalous it was being a single woman with child. In her village, it was considered a gift from the goddesses, whether there was a husband about or not. It wasn’t till she overheard whispers and caught the words “unmarried” and “with child” that she began to understand. However, this did not deter her from showing her condition proudly; if the villagers felt it was scandalous, then that was their issue, not hers. Still, she felt it prudent to increase her extra little “gifts” to her customers to avert the loss of business should they be swayed by the village talk. Amazed and disappointed, she reflected quite often on this intolerance.
It was also important to her that she keep her friendships intact and therefore, made certain to appear in the Tavern often to keep up with their lives. There were several other women in the village that were with child and she’d hoped she could blend in with them just a bit. Her favorite bar tenders and friends were quickly shown that she was proud of her condition and looking forward to the birth of her child, husband or no. From them, she received nothing but understanding and compassion and this satisfied her. With the strength of their support, she could face down anything, this she was certain.
At Imbolc, she gave thanks to the Goddess Brighid for blessing her with this child and asked that they both be healthy and that she would be well able to feed her child.
Weeks turned to months and both passed quickly. It wasn’t long before she was quite large with child. Riding Cobweb had become impossible and this nearly broke her heart, but she was no longer able to heft her bulk up onto his back. However, she continued her business and delivered her promised goods to her customers without fail, still frequenting the Tavern before heading home on foot.
In the evenings she worked on baby clothes, using fine needlework to create tiny smocks, booties and bonnets. Of course, with her weaving skills blankets were plentiful but she decorated them with soft scenes set in her artful stitches. Nearing spring, she began to think of a cradle. With her first child the cradle had been made by villagers from the branch of a sacred oak that had blown off during a storm. This child would just have to make do with whatever Starrling was able to find as she was certainly in no condition to chop or hollow out logs. She did not worry though, for the babe could easily share her own bed as long as needed. Another benefit to being without Gawen, she thought and smiled to herself.
Chapter 23
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