With her last sorrowful breath she speaks the name of true love …
“Hoth”
And with that her pale fair skin so full of radiance and life turns flat and
hollow. Her eyes stare sightlessly at the ceiling and in the background two
small voices cry out for love and attention.
The midwife too lets out a small distressed breath as a single tear slides down
the side of her weathered cheek.
She turns to the doorway and motions to the Elder herb master who has helped
through the night in their struggle to save the now lifeless maid. No lore craft
or potion was enough to mend that, which with the loss of her love, was broken
asunder. He too motions to some in the hall way and several stout elves walk
into the room and bear away the body on a lien draped litter which would shortly
become the shroud of her internment into the eternities.
As the mother is born away the tiny voices sob as one …
The midwife quickly signs a farewell and brushes away the tear on her face and
then with practiced motion picks up the two bundles … the two elven girls as
full of life and radiance as to light the surrounding area. Both the fair green
sea foam complexion of their mother. One with dusty colored main and electric
green eyes, the other a dark swath of grey green hair and eyes of clear pale
blue.
Now in the midwives arms the two girls settle into their dispositions. The eyes
of the first born of fiery greens dart around the room as if to take in all of
her surroundings, while the other with an almost knowing glance drifts slowly
off into light slumber.
The body now attended too the Herb master returns to the room and stares
directly into the midwives eyes.
“What shall become of these lost souls … Brought to us in such sad
circumstances.”
The midwife stares down into the faces of her young charges, and then with a
determined look she stares back at the Herb master.
“The first shows signs of fire and life … She I shall take to the temple of
nature. The sisters there will give her the test, and if found to be worthy she
shall travel the road of nature and knowledge.
But then the old women glances away from the Herb master … her voice cracks with
emotion.
“But this one … this one shall I take as my own, though my husband and I are old
even by our kinsmen’s reckoning. The gods have deemed it that we should not
bring our own children into this world and I see this death as a sign … a new
life is given too me … for me … and so I say that we shall raise her as our own
as if she came from my own loins. My husband is now through with military
service to our lord and tends our home and fields. He and I shall spend what
time we have filling this young one with love and knowledge.”
“And the naming ritual? Did she speak to thee at all of how they would be
called?”
“Aye .. She knew the time was drawing near for their arrival and spoke of a
vision of their father holding both of them firmly and calling their names out …
Helena … and Terrenna. Though how this vision could be true is beyond my
understanding for Hoth and his nearest kin have been lost into the desert for
now gone eight months. They are surely … dead … dead by the hand of these desert
devils … “
“Very well midwife and honored one .. It shall be done as you have directed.”
And with that the midwife slowly walked out of the house of death and into the
world of life … Three hearts beating at first slowly in mourning … and then
faster with the hope of the future.
hoth@stormbringer.net
Updated Feb 2006
Copy write Scott Lindquist