Dargalore's Will

A MOTHER'S CHILD




In a manor with well kept lands and cared for people, a woman in her early twenties rocks near the kitchen hearth, keeping warm as she knits.

Her long brown hair was loosely braided and it fell over the front of her shoulders.

The woman sung softly under her breath, her focus on her work. It was late at night, and it was the only time the kitchen was quiet. The breakfast shift would wake soon, but for now, all was calm.

It had so far been a hard winter, with its raging storms and blizzards constantly harassing the manor. But there was more than enough grain stored away, and that was all that mattered.

She finished another row and began another. Her project was almost finished. She had scoured the manor for the softest material, for this one project. The young woman was so occupied with her work, she didn't hear the footfalls of another person as they walked toward her.

"Darla, what are you doing here? You need rest, not running yourself ragged." the person exclaimed.

Darla lips tugged into a small smile. She knew that voice anywhere. She stopped her knitting and smoothed a hand over her swollen belly.

"My apologies Mrs. Gavin, but I could not sleep, the babe is a strong kicker."

"It will be a boy then, I have had my share of boys." Mrs. Gavin replied. "And they were all mighty kickers."

Mrs. Gavin was a portly woman which was to be expected as she was head cook. She and her husband had had a whole litter of strapping boys, but not a single girl. She tried to come off stern, but she was a kind and considerate soul.

Darla laughed, the tinkling noise that always brought joy to the manor's staff.

"Did you not say that it would be a girl not a day past?" Darla smiled. "You just need to accept the fact you won't know the gender till its born. You know for some babes gender flows like water from a pitcher. Only the will of Dargalore can decide."

" Ach, you and those Gods of yours. Don't know how you can stand thinking Gods control what happens to you. Madness." Mrs. Gavin chided gently.

Darla tried to get up, and succeeded with Mrs.Gavin's help. "Up you get now dear, let me walk you to your chamber."

As they walked down the quiet halls of the manor, Mrs. Gavin tried again as she had before to reach the girl.

"If you just say who the babe's father is, you could get some land or coin. You could be better off than the simple maid you are now Darla. You know our Lord would make it fair for you, he takes care of his own. Even if it was a stable lad, you could still get coin for your babe's future. " Mrs. Gavin implored her.

But Darla only shook her head. They had arrived at her room, and Darla eased open her door. She turned back, and caught the cook's eye.

"About what you said before about religion, I just want you to know that everyone needs something to believe in." Darla's eyes held a conviction that Mrs. Gavin had never seen before.

With a stunned head cook outside her room, Darla gently closed the door and went to bed.

On the fateful moonlit sky on the night you were born, tragedy struck at the manor. Most women have given birth without a hitch, but complications arose that the healers could not help. Try as the healer did, your mother could not be saved. When those in the manor heard the news, all was silent except for the tears of all who loved the gentle maid.

Their tears faded, as they realized that her child lived through the night. You, lived through the night. And they once again knew that new life came from old.