A Witch's Quest

by Leigh Ann Edwards

  Even now, she remembered Margaret’s own eyes had filled with tears that day. As an adult Alainn realized Margaret’s tears were surely spurred by the neglected state of Alainn’s dirty face, long matted hair and ragged clothes, or maybe it was simply because she was a motherless child left to fend for herself when she was barely two years of age. At the time Alainn recalled thinking the woman was likely weeping with having all those rowdy, noisy boys to care for. Whatever the reason for Margaret’s tears, that very day Margaret had taken Alainn under her motherly wing. She had kissed the top of very matted head, given her a bath, washed, brushed and plaited her long blonde hair, and even taken the time to sew a dress for her.

  All the while the baby girl with the very red hair and sweet disposition had contently stared at Alainn while she happily sang to her, and it was perhaps that very day when their strong bond had been formed. After that day she had spent nearly every day with the Kilkenny children and even after the farrier had taken her to be raised by Morag, the old healer, Alainn had spent much time within the Kilkenny cottage. Margaret claimed Alainn had magically woven her way into the hearts of the entire family. That tiny new baby girl with the curly red hair had become Alainn’s first and dearest friend, and Molly remained so even now.

  Alainn was finally pulled from her memories, by the chatter of voices around her and she stared worriedly at Margaret. Though her swollen belly revealed she was with child, the remainder of her usual plump body was much slighter. Alainn went to her and tenderly embraced her.

  “Margaret,” she said in a voice that surely could not conceal her concern, “’tis so good to see you again.”

  Margaret gently patted Alainn’s face in a motherly gesture, and her eyes soon filled with uncommon tears. Never one given to displaying unhappy emotions, she soon ended the embrace and cleared her throat.

  “You must be half starved, the lot of you. You’ve journeyed a long way this day, you have. Now go sit at the table with your husband, Alainn. I’ll see dinner soon served,” she ordered as she clutched her back and went to the hearth to stir the stew. Alainn noticed even Margaret’s often boisterous voice sounded weak and weary. Molly went to the cupboard and collected the plates and Alainn did not comply with Margaret’s demands, but went to assist her. Soon Lily was gladly lending a helping hand as well.

  The cottage was not a large dwelling by any measure, and at the moment not only was the entire Kilkenny family which numbered fifteen, now present, but also the two older boys’ wives, plus Mac, Pierce, Lily, Killian and Alainn, as well as Father Michael. The cottage was fairly overflowing. Two crates had been set against the wall so that the smaller children could eat their meal there and allow for the many guests to sit at the lengthy table.

  As Margaret bent over to retrieve the hook to lift the large pot hanging from over the hearth, she painfully moaned involuntarily. Cook soon went to her side and took the pot from her, setting it down on the nearby stool. Molly and Cook exchanged a noticeably worried glance and Cookson looked at Alainn with concern in his expression.

  Alainn immediately closed her eyes and moved her hands before her. Soon the entire room was magically held silent and entirely still, but for Killian and herself. Killian immediately stood and went to Alainn.

  “Margaret is most certainly unwell, aye?”

  “Aye, and she’s a proud, strong woman not given to allowing herself to rest. I must assess her condition and hope to alleviate some of her pain.”

  Alainn went to Margaret and touched her hands to the small of her back, sending healing warmth through her. Then she placed her hands to her middle and to the growing baby inside her.

  “’Tis a goodly large baby boy and an unusual amount of fluid surrounds the child. Margaret’s back has been a source of pain for many years due to a condition her mother was also plagued with. Even with the many remedies Morag and I prepared for her, it caused her some discomfort, but now with the position of the child, he seems to be resting against the very location which has been the source of her misery. I also fear Margaret’s heart has been gravely weakened. ’Tis little wonder she has been faring so poorly throughout the entire time she has carried this child.”

  “Her heart? That sounds most dubious?”

  “Aye, well if a woman has a tendency toward a condition of the heart, carrying a child can sometimes worsen it and carrying many children...”

  “What is it, Alainn?”

  “Well, it can weaken the heart so drastically it is no longer able to function properly.”

  “Are you able to do something for her by way of your magical healing?”

  “I will most certainly try, but...”

  “But?” Killian questioned.

  “But sometimes no amount of healing, and even powerful magic cannot undo what great toil and hardship have been done to a body. As you are aware I cannot manage to heal the damage Riley has done and continues to do to his body by all his hard drinking. By the same token, the toll of thirteen, soon to be fourteen children born to one woman can at times be irreversible, even by magic. Margaret nears eight and thirty years of age as well, so often when a woman carries a child later in life, it comes with new maladies and direr considerations.”

  The distinct sadness in Alainn’s tone surely alerted Killian to the true solemnity of the situation.

  “What would Cook do without Margaret? What would this family do without their mother?” Killian dared to ask as he looked first at Cook who openly adored his wife, and then at the faces of the many Kilkenny children from Cookson the eldest to wee Sheena who was not yet two years of age. Then he stared worriedly at Margaret’s swelling belly that held the unborn child as well.

  “Do you know where Danhoul is?” she asked, without having responded to Killian’s ominous queries.

  “Aye, he said he was going to settle in for a night of drinking at a nearby tavern. I’ve seldom seen him take even one drink. Have you noticed he seems to be acting altogether peculiar?”

  “Aye, I have noticed Danhoul’s odd behavior as of late, and I haven’t the slightest notion what is making him act in such a manner.”

  “Do you suppose the two of you might combine your abilities to create some type of healing spell to aid in Margaret’s malady?”

  “I believe it couldn’t hurt to attempt a healing spell,” she said as she held her hands near Margaret’s heart.

  “Shall I go retrieve Danhoul?” Killian’s voice held much seriousness.

  “For now I will see whether there have been noticeable improvements with the healing I have done thus far.”

  When Alainn was about to awaken the room filled with silent immobile people, they heard the unsteady knock upon the door. Killian opened it to find an entirely cup-shotten, Danhoul Calhoun.

  “Come in, Danhoul, sure Cookson and Margaret will welcome any friend of Alainn’s and of mine, even in your uncommonly whittled condition.”

  “Aye, well though I can’t hear your wife’s thoughts so very well any longer, I can apparently still follow her trail of magic!” he slurred ignoring Killian’s comment, and he seemed to be having difficulty standing much less walking.

  Both Killian and Alainn knew this young man was never given to partaking in too much drink and by the bleary and reddened look of his eyes and his unsteady gait, it was clear he had been drinking heartily since they had arrived at Castle O’Brien.

  “Maybe you should step outside the door so when Alainn allows the room and its inhabitants to be free of her time stilling spell, you might knock. If you simply appear out of nowhere sure it will appear somewhat disturbing for the children,” Killian suggested as he saw the odd way he was staring at Alainn.

  He signaled his agreement with his unusual but typical for him motion of raising his thumb in the air, and then swayed sideways as he staggeringly stepped outside the door.

  “What is causing his odd temperament this night?” Killian inquired, but Alainn shrugged and then simply brought the room to life once more. Alainn still
stood with her hands near Margaret’s back and the woman smiled knowingly and she breathed a sigh of relief at realizing her pain had lessened considerably.

  “I’ve charmed this water, Margaret, if you drink it now and in the morning take the remedy I will leave for you, you’re sure to be free of pain while you watch your daughter wed on the morrow.”

  “’Tis so good to finally have you back here, dear girl!” Margaret simply said as a broad, appreciative smile spread across her face.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  After they’d finished the meal, the gathering of people comfortably sat together. Alainn noted how Molly and Pierce lovingly gazed at one another. He had a broad smile on his face and her cheeks glowed deep pink when he held her hand at the table. Alainn thought back to the time in England when she’d been infuriated to learn Pierce, already betrothed to Molly, had spent time with a young harlot in a brothel. She had angrily threatened to alert Molly to his indiscretions, but he had pleaded with her to keep it concealed. At the time, Alainn had been uncertain, but he’d claimed he loved Molly, and he pledged to remain faithful to Molly if Alainn would keep silenced. Now, by the love clearly evident in his eyes, Alainn was now confident in her choice to keep the secret and happy they would soon begin a life together. Alainn prayed their marriage would be as happy as Molly’s parents’. Cook even now had placed his arm affectionately around Margaret’s waist, and she patted his hand lovingly.

  Danhoul, in his unusual tipsy state, sat on a low stool entertaining the Kilkenny children by playing his fiddle. Meanwhile, Cook and his family were filling in the visitors on all the recent happenings at Castle O’Brien, and on the wedding.

  “Chieftain O’Brien has been unusually generous with telling me to take whatever extra food was necessary for our daughter’s wedding tomorrow. He actually offered the great hall in the castle for the feast following the wedding. I told him even our large family would be lost in that hulking room. But it was good of him to offer.”

  “Well you have been a dedicated cook in his castle for these five and twenty years, never missing even one day in that kitchen, to sickness or anything else, Seamus,” Margaret called Cook by his given name. She was the only one who referred to him by his actual name.

  “Aye, and maybe he’s makin’ amends for the quarrel between Mac and himself as well?” Killian suggested. “He’s likely grateful to the both of you for the many years of service to him.”

  Cook and Mac both nodded their agreement at Killian’s suggestion for before their falling out, Mac had been captain of the guard to Hugh O’Brien since he had arrived from Scotland nearly two decades previous.

  “So the wedding will take place in the castle’s garden?” Alainn directed the question to Molly.

  “Aye, the chieftain agreed to that as well. ’Tis lovely now with all the many spring flowers abloom,” she gushed.

  “It will be incredibly beautiful, Molly.”

  “Aye,” Pierce stated as he continued to gaze at Molly clearly enticed by his betrothed’s own beauty.

  Cook saw how the young man was staring at his daughter and he spoke in his usual brusque protective manner.

  “’Tis one more day before you should be lookin’ upon my daughter with such longing on your face, lad!”

  Margaret smiled at her husband, and then at her daughter and her beau, before she spoke.

  “And did you not once look at me with just such longing, Seamus Kilkenny, and surely well before we were wed?”

  His face also colored as he wisely responded, “I still look at you with such longing, Margaret, my love.”

  The entire table chuckled at their exchange and then Alainn felt herself growing reluctant for through her power of second sight she knew what Molly’s next words would be.

  “I know you won’t have long to consider it, Alainn, but you remember since I was a wee child how I loved to hear you sing. You would often sing to me. Even as an infant, Ma says you used to calm me with your lovely voice, no matter what my temperament might be. My greatest desire would be for you to sing for Pierce and me on our wedding day.”

  Killian’s eyes met Alainn’s and she felt a steady panic growing within her. She had not sung, not even one note, not since she had held and sang to their wee baby Cian after he had passed. Not even on Chieftain Hugh O’Brien’s request, or for the damnable king of England when he had demanded she do so. She would not sing for him under promise of reward or threat of harm. Molly couldn’t have known that Alainn no longer sang, and she sat there wide-eyed eagerly awaiting a reply.

  Margaret, always possessing a wise and clever intuitiveness, immediately noticed and spoke.

  “Perhaps Alainn is overly weary, Molly, with the long journey and the late hour. Sure she’s unprepared to sing before a crowd without notice or preparation.”

  Molly’s eyes clouded with disappointment when Alainn did not respond.

  “Alainn has always adored singing and never been opposed to allowing us or even a considerably large crowd, the gift of hearing her beautiful voice,” Molly argued.

  Killian squeezed Alainn’s hand and knew he couldn’t come to her defense and make the situation any less awkward without speaking of the reason for her absence from song. He would be made to mention the details of the sad and fateful day their baby died. Alainn looked from Killian, to Molly, to the strained and weary face of Margaret, and almost immediately she was filled with the certain knowledge Margaret Kilkenny would not see many more moons.

  Danhoul, who remained sitting on the floor amidst no less than five small Kilkenny children, also stared up at Alainn with concern.

  Alainn and Killian were startled when this time Danhoul froze time to allow Alainn a moment to consider her friend’s request.

  “I thank you, Danhoul. I see you have now admirably perfected stilling time.”

  “I would not dare to say I have perfected it, but I have managed it for now. Perhaps in my drunken condition I am more capable than when sober.” He smiled a lopsided smile, raised his thumb upward again and then pushed the wispy hair from his eyes.

  “Perhaps you could take Molly outside of the cottage. You might simply explain the whole truth of it, that it is too difficult for you to sing. There you’d be alone with Molly should your emotions overcome you. Sure she’d understand when she knows the reasoning. She’s a kind friend and a caring young woman,” Killian suggested. “Or I could inform her if you’d rather?”

  Alainn inhaled deeply several times.

  “I thank you, Killian and you as well, Danhoul for wanting to shelter me, but I must do this, for Molly, and Margaret for I fear it is unlikely in her failing state, she will live to see another of her children wed. Molly’s day must be as she desires it, and perfect in every way.”

  Killian held tight to her hand and as she stared at Molly’s face bright and eager to hear her reply, she nodded to Danhoul to release time.

  “I’d be dearly honored to sing at your wedding, Molly.”

  Molly quickly embraced her, and the entire group around the table cheered. Margaret nodded to Alainn in gratitude, closed her eyes and smiled a sad smile, and Alainn was well aware the woman knew her time was short.

  The wedding was lovely. The warm spring sunshine shone beautifully in the tranquil castle garden, and the fragrant aroma of the abundant flowers filled the air. Molly was a vision of youthful radiance in her fitted blue gown with wide full sleeves, as she walked on Cook’s arm toward a nervous, but handsome young Pierce MacArthur. Mac, Cook and Margaret smiled proudly at their children as they were wed, and it warmed Alainn’s heart to see the spirit of Pierce’s own mother standing adoringly looking at her only child, though she’d been gone from this earth since he was only a wee lad.

  The thought comforted Alainn as she sat where she had a clear view of Margaret’s own loving motherly face. Even though she was saddened by the knowledge Margaret would soon be gone from this life, Alainn knew without question she would ever remain here beside her family and loving
ly watch over them.

  Alainn’s knees trembled as she stood in her flowing pale pink gown and began to sing, but Danhoul who played a familiar romantic Celtic tune on his fiddle paused briefly, nodded his support, then gestured his unusual motion where he held his thumb upward. It always cheered her for she’d never seen any other person do so. She had once questioned him regarding the unusual gesture and he said it was called a thumb’s up. She pondered if it might be something often done in the future. She saw Killian’s broad warm smile encouraging her, and his warm eyes calmed her.

  Her voice had wavered on the first few words, as she attempted not to dwell on the precious wee child she’d held in her arms when last she’d sung. But as she looked at Margaret bravely smiling at her beloved daughter, well aware there would be little time left with her family and that she’d perhaps never know or live to see her unborn child, Alainn valiantly persevered throughout the entire song.

  Molly had tears in her eyes as she looked at her while she was singing and she sang even more clearly and tenderly for the young girl on this joyous day, for she believed soon she would know cruel heartache at losing her loving mother for the two women were undeniably close.

  After the wedding ceremony was completed, even before the banquet feast had begun, Alainn hastily left the castle gardens and went directly to the healing chamber to find her own mother.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Mara had surely been entirely taken aback when Alainn had raced into the chamber and nearly flung herself into her mother’s arms. She tightly embraced her and clung to her with a desperation Mara had never seen in her always strong and courageous daughter. Mara patted Alainn’s long hair plaited and tied back beautifully entwined with pink ribbon the same color and fabric as her gown. The tears streamed down Alainn’s cheeks as she continued to hold tight to her mother in a way she had never done before.