Starrling's Flight
Chapter 26 - A New Resident
1643 - Dunnedin, Vanders
Starrling awoke in the wee hours of the morning, feeling as if someone else shared the cottage with her. She peered around in the darkness and saw nothing, yet still there was an undeniable “presence.” Laying her head back upon the pillow and staring at the ceiling she focused on the feeling. In her trance-like state she could feel arms around her, very warm, soft and loving arms. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and the happiness of childhood suddenly surged through her veins. A quick intake of breath brought her out of the trance yet the arms were still tight around her, comforting, motherly. A single tear of bliss crept from the corner of her eye and drifted silently until it hit the pillow with a very soft ‘plink.’ The smile still played on her lips and the presence did not fade, but only became stronger. She knew she was not alone and she knew she was being protected, but knew not from what. She floated in the lovely white arms that held her in a cocoon of safety and time passed without notice.
The sun rose unnoticed as Starrling’s attention was still on her protectress. Sweat beaded on her forehead and a cool white hand left its place around her body and reached up to smooth her damp brow, but returned to its position of embrace before too long.
***
Aengus awoke at his usual time and rose to begin chores. He always started the day with a visit to the cottage and this day was no different. Whistling a merry tune, origin unknown, he placed his groggy kitten upon the sleeping pallet.
“Ye stay here, Icklesnitch,” he commanded gently. “Mistress has been tired lately and needs not your annoyance.” He scritched him behind the ears once before he left, closing the barn door behind him.
Looking across the yard, the cottage gave the appearance of being uninhabited. No smoke rose from the chimney, no activity within, causing a slight frown on the boy’s face. His legs carried him quickly to the door without hesitation or thought. He placed his palm upon the wood as if to feel life inside. A gentle push was all that was needed and the door creaked a bit on rusty hinges. A fleeting thought to fix that was replaced with a sickness in his stomach when he saw Starrling lying upon her cot. She looked poorly but he noticed the smile upon her face.
“Mistress?” His voice croaked and barely came out in a whisper.
“Aye, my Heartling. Do not fear,” she spoke as if in a dream yet he could see she was fully awake. “I am to give birth this day…’tis a wondrous day, is it not?”
His face went white and he had to force a gulp in order to find a voice to reply. “Aye, ‘tis most wondrous.” He moved quietly into the cottage. “What shall I do?”
A soft chuckle was her first reply. “Ye must not worry, child,” she tried to send comfort in her words. “I am well tended by the Goddess herself.”
Aengus looked around the room in wonder. He saw no one, yet he could see that Starrling was lying very still, and terrible calm. He tried to gain strength from her demeanor as he trusted her so very much. Moving to her side at the cot he took one of her hands. It was quite warm and damp, as was the rest of her body and her shift clung to her.
“Is it time for me to prepare the herbs, or…anything?”
“Aye, lad, ‘twould be well to do so.”
He had received her instructions again just a few days ago and they were fresh in his memory. He busied himself at the cauldron, stoking the fire and pouring water from the bucket. All the while, she paid him no heed, but alternated between staring at the ceiling and closing her eyes against the pain. But even in pain, he noticed her face was serene and unlined. It frightened yet comforted him at the same time. She was in good hands…he hoped. He turned reluctantly back to his task.
The strong fragrance of violets and lavender was almost overwhelming to him but a glance to Starrling showed him that even the scent was bringing peace to her. Brewing the potion for the few minutes as he had been instructed felt like a lifetime. He wanted to be helping, to be doing something! At last he felt the brew was at its correct strength and dipped some into a small cup. Carefully balancing the vessel across the room, he offered it to her. She was unable to sit up unaided; he gently lifted her shoulders up to allow her to sip. The elixir had an immediate effect in easing her discomfort and she was smiling gently as he eased her back onto the cot.
He placed the empty container near the cauldron and moved about the cottage collecting the items they had prepared for this moment; clean linens, blankets, and swaddling cloths for the babe. His hands shook so that even the simple task of opening a trunk was a major undertaking. Despite her teaching and encouragement he felt ill prepared for this day.
All preparations made, he sat near her and gently held her hand. He was most frightened for her safety and the child’s. He had urged her to allow him to fetch the midwife but she had been adamant that no stranger’s hands would touch her or the babe. Aengus watched every movement she made, examined every muscle twitch in her face and continued to hold her hand through it all. Several hours passed and he pushed away both feelings of hunger and of fatigue in order that he be able to concentrate fully on her needs and her progress.
***
For Starrling, the passage of time was irrelevant. She was intent upon the task at hand, and a most rewarding task ‘twould be at that. She drifted between pain and rest, the embrace of the soft white arms never leaving her. Her body was wet from exertion and occasionally an overwhelming feeling of fatigue would engulf her. It was at these low points that the embrace became stronger, more reassuring and was enough to urge her on. The waves of pain were growing stronger and more frequent and she knew that it was near time. A quick glance towards Aengus told her that he was as jumpy as a rabbit in the company of wolves. She lovingly squeezed his hand and offered a weak smile.
“’Twill not be long now, my dear,” she offered encouragement to him, yet the result was just the opposite. A huge gulp of air seemed stuck in his throat.
“I know not what to do.”
“What ye are doing now is fine and well, sweetheart,” she offered him a weak smile. “I will let ye know what is needed and when, trust me please?”
“Aye, Mistress, I have never not trusted ye.”
Oh, how she loved this boy! She smiled and turned her attention back to the ceiling, feeling the pull of the warm white arms again.
Minutes or hours passed, they were unsure which. Starrling breathed harder as the pains came sharper and closer together.
“Help me up,” she instructed. The boy very nearly lifted her entire weight off the cot where she crouched, hanging on to the edge and leaning into Aengus. “’Twill be soon now,” she panted. He nodded silently and held her from behind, supporting her beneath the arms. He held her closely and prayed.
***
The animals in the yard surrounding the cottage seemed to grow quiet for quite some time. Cobweb raised his head and sniffed the air. Dragonbreath and Mistletoe pawed at the cottage door. Ceiteag and Besaig perked their ears and Icklesnitch slept the afternoon away, oblivious to life around him. The sun was past midway in the sky when the silence was cut by a child’s cry.
***
Aengus, pale as a ghost after witnessing Starrling’s amazing accomplishment, helped her back into her bed. She held the swaddled babe close as she allowed herself to slip into just a few moments of rest. One last look to be sure they were both settled and Aengus began the task of cleaning up. When the child had first come forth, he had thought something terribly wrong with it for it’s head was covered in a thick membrane. He had panicked but Starrling, in all her wisdom and calm had removed the caul and caused the child to breathe.
“Worry not, Aengus,” she whispered weakly. “’Tis a special thing to be born like that, with a caul.”
“A … a… caul?”
“Aye, this child is blessed by the Goddess and she is destined for grand things.” She nursed the child at her breast while she rested.
He was still shaken but took some comfort in her explanation and went on about his duties. As she had instructed him so carefully in the days preceeding, he took the afterbirth and the caul outside. He placed them in a hole that he had previously dug at the base of the old oak tree and covered them with the loose dirt, tamping it down afterwards.
Returning inside, he mixed the next collection of herbs for Starrling. Berries and berry leaves, milkwort and nettle went into the fresh water in the cauldron. He glanced over to mother and child quite frequently as he went about his work. Starrling was dozing, a slight smile on her face while the child nursed half-heartedly. All were weary from the day’s experience. But a new resident lay peacefully in the tiny cottage known as Starrling's Nest.
Chapter 27 (coming soon)
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