On Maja's tracks

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Mari was living in a quiet little town, almost a village, with her husband. Their little house was almost outside the town, with a small garden surrounded by a white fence. Behind the house was a river going through the whole town, singing joyfully under the bridges of stone. Mari and Tarsi were not rich, but they were not poor either. They managed quite well to go their way through life without struggling too much. They were quite happy but there was something they wanted more than anything else: they wanted a child. Mari had had several miscarriages and now it was impossible for her to have a child. More than once in the evening, as they were resting near their little fire, their gaze would wander to the cradle in a corner, a cradle that Tarsi had made himself when they were expecting their first baby, and sometimes, as he was dozing to sleep in his bed, Tarsi would hear his wife crying softly next to him. He knew she was feeling guilty, that she thought she couldn't have babies because the Lord judged she wouldn't be a good mother.
So one morning, during their breakfast, he looked lengthily at his wife and then said suddenly:
"Why don't you go see the witch?"
Mari started and looked at her husband in disbelief.
"The witch? What for?" she asked.
"To ask her for a baby."
Hope showed on Mari's face, for only for disappearing almost at once.
"No... she would never..."
"Mari... you have to try," Tarsi said softly. "If you don't try, you will regret it for the rest of your life."
He stood up and put in his wife's hand the little purse with all their savings.
"Go and give her that. She won't refuse."
Mari remained motionless and then tears invaded her eyes as she looked up at her husband.
"You are so good to me," she whispered and no one could have mistaken the love in her eyes.
Tarsi gently smiled and kissed his wife before leaving for work. Mari put on her best clothes - nothing could be beautiful enough for the woman who could maybe give her what her heart wanted so much - and went to town to see the witch.
The witch's shop was on the village square, in the darkest corner, small little shop that nobody noticed except when they had business there. The witch herself was a discreet woman always clad in black, for she was in mourning - but nobody knew for whom. Nobody had ever seen her in other clothes than those mourning ones. Her vocation never had been of being a village witch, but she was good with plants: soon her skills had been required and her reputation was quickly built.
She was rather surprised to see Mari coming to her shop - though Mari had always been polite when meeting the witch, she had never required her services, being herself quite skilled with plants.
"Good morning, Mari," she said, wondering why she had come here.
"Good morning, Rena," replied politely Mari.
The witch noticed immediately the clothing and she felt flattered that Mari would care to the point to put on her best clothes to come see her.
"How can I help you, Mari?" she enticed gently.
The look Mari turned toward her was troubled.
"I want a child, Rena," she said softly. "And I would give you everything I have to have a child."
Rena remained silent. She knew, like everybody else in town, how badly Tarsi and Mari wanted a child. She knew what Mari was feeling for she had herself a daughter named Rebecca, a daughter she loved more than anything else. Her silence lasted so long than Mari lost hope and she bent down her head.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I thought maybe there was a way..."
She headed to the door; the calm voice of Rena froze her on the spot.
"Mari. My powers are limited, you certainly know that..."
"Yes, Rena, I know that. But..."
She shook the head.
"What a fool I am," she whispered for herself.
"Nevertheless I think I can do something for you."
Mari couldn't believe her ears.
"What did you say?"
"I think... I think I can give you a child."
"Rena! Swear to me... I mean... tell me it's not... tell me it's true. Please... please?"
Rena had a soft smile and for the first time Mari noticed how gentle was her smile.
"Take this seed, Mari, and take good care of it, for it is the only one I have and if you lose it, it will be lost forever. Take this seed and receive what your heart yearns for..."
Stammering thanks, Mari tried to put her little purse in Rena's hand, but the witch refused it.
"No, Mari. I know what it is to wish for a child. No money can ever grant that. Keep yours, you will need it for your child. Go now!"
Caring the seed as if it was her own life, Mari hurried home, where she planted the little seed. She wondered how she would explain the situation to Tarsi, but her own faith was so great that his husband believed too and to her side, he watched the seed in its pot.
To be continued...