Killian went to Alainn, he softly touched the tears on her cheeks in understanding, and then closed Mac’s eyes.
“Did you know Mac offered to marry me once?” Alainn whispered.
“What? When? He is...he was old enough to be your father.”
“Aye, he was being chivalrous. It was when you were betrothed to Mary and he learned I carried your child. He was simply being kind to me as always. He didn’t want me to face certain shame or to be alone. He was a good man.”
“Aye, he was a great man. I’ll take care of what must be done for Mac.”
“’Tis doubtful Pierce will be able to make the journey to see his father laid to rest even if his condition has improved,” Alainn determined.
“I know Mac had once said he would like to be returned to his homeland to be buried by his wife. But more recently he said he would remain here even after death for he had spent nearly as much time in Ireland as Scotland, and he knew his late wife would understand,” Killian claimed.
“They are together now; I have seen it so.”
“That is a comforting consideration, Alainn,” Killian said as he looked down at the large body of his dear friend.
“Go now, Lainna, I know you must go see to Margaret. Be cautious and we will all welcome your return, my love.”
“You will need to make haste Alainn for in your absence if I am to remain here to tend those who are ailing, you will need to make it there and back before the pain in my head renders me useless to anyone,” Danhoul urged from where he stood in the doorway.
“Perhaps you should journey with my wife, Danhoul?” Killian proposed.
“No, there are those who remain in need of healing and I trust Alainn won’t tarry in returning.”
Alainn kissed her husband, nodded to Danhoul, closed her eyes and vanished.
Alainn appeared outside Cook’s cottage and she peered inside the small window. She caught Mara’s attention straightaway. Alainn heard her mother suggest to the midwife that perhaps she might take a reprieve and that she would stay with Margaret for a time. Molly’s eyes had filled with deep uncertainty when she saw the midwife leave the chamber.
Alainn took the opportunity to climb through the open window and Molly started disbelievingly at seeing Alainn there with them.
“Alainn, how...what...?” She stopped mid-sentence as Alainn went to her and held her tightly. The younger girl sobbed into her shoulder and Alainn tenderly brushed back a red ringlet before she moved from Molly. Mara left her position by the bed and allowed Alainn to go to the woman.
Alainn placed her hand to Margaret’s middle and she immediately opened her glazed eyes.
She put her hand on Alainn’s in relief and then emitted a painful moan. Alainn touched Margaret once more and magically eased some of her discomfort. She assessed the position of the baby and then urged Margaret to lie on her side and with some difficulty and assistance from Alainn and Mara, it was finally accomplished. Alainn held her healing hands to Margaret’s back and tears of relief flowed down her cheeks.
Alainn concentrated on easing away some of Margaret’s intense pain and as soon as she managed it, she sensed the babe making progress. Margaret continued to hold her hands to her chest which disturbed Alainn as she was aware the woman was experiencing gripping pain across her chest as well. Alainn glanced at Mara with deep concern on her face and Molly’s own face grew paler with each moment’s passing. Alainn motioned for her young friend to come with her and they stepped outside the chamber together.
“Molly, it would surely be best if you were to take a short time away to go speak with your father. Who minds your wee siblings?” Alainn tried to make her voice remain calm and to take Molly’s mind off of her mother’s pain.
“My brothers’ wives have taken the younger children to their cottages. We thought it best to have it quiet for Ma when it has been such a lengthy labor. Da is at our cottage with Pierce, for you’ll know he’s recently recovered from the fever, but still remains too weakened to return to work in the kitchen.
“It grieves him to see Ma in such discomfort, yet today he told Ma he would like to be here with her for the birthing this time. She would have no part of it. She said since he has only just recovered from the fever he’s liable to have a relapse should he look upon her birthing a child. She also said she had brought the thirteen of us into the world with only women around her, that she would do so with the fourteenth as well. She wishes to shelter him, too.”
“Go get your father and tell him I said he must come with no debate about it.”
Molly’s face filled with trepidation.
“The fresh air will be welcoming to you, and you might see to Pierce’s condition as well. I am pleased both he and your da are much improved now.”
“As am I, Alainn. I was so fearful I would lose them all,” she said with tears in her voice as she glanced through the doorway at her mother.
“Go now, Molly.” She once more attempted to make her voice sound calm.
As soon as Molly was gone, Alainn closed the door, magically locked it, and went to Mara. She quickly took Mara’s hand in her own and then whispered and placed her other hand before her and moved it about the room. Soon Margaret was frozen and time was stilled. When Alainn was confident Mara wouldn’t be affected by the stilling of time, Alainn released her hand.
“The baby is large with broad shoulders, far too large to be delivered and although Margaret has capably delivered thirteen children, I am most certain this child will not be born.”
“I suspected as much,” Mara agreed.
“What is it you intend to do, Alainn?”
“If I do nothing, they will both die, for Margaret’s heart has already been gravely weakened. The strain of her laboring will soon take her life. I hope to keep time at a standstill long enough to slice through the womb and remove the child.”
“A Caesarian birth? I have of course heard it is possible, but the mother nearly always dies in such instances.”
“Aye, often from blood loss, but if time is stilled and Margaret is held frozen in time, her blood does not actually flow and her heart does not beat. Time will be suspended and I believe if we do this now the child and Margaret may have a chance.”
“What might I do to assist you?” her mother asked.
“After I make the slice and remove the baby, and cut the life cord, I will tend to the baby. I must ask you to remove the afterbirth and to tend to the stitching required to mend the wound. I will attempt to hold time at a standstill here in this chamber and take the child to the kitchen to warm him and to revive him for I am unsure what stilling time will do to him when he goes from within the womb to outside of it. I will magically heal Margaret’s wound and her heart and pray they will simply have some time together, though limited it will surely be.”
Mara nodded her agreement and Alainn took her charmed anelace from her pocket. Mara made certain they had all the items necessary for the surgery. Alainn then whispered magical words of enchantment and inhaled deeply before she began.
She made one shallow slice, but her hands shook nervously as she attempted it, so she called upon her magic. She let go of the dagger and simply used her magic to direct the next slice which also freed her hands for capably removing the boy-child. He appeared pink and healthy and undeniably large. He did not cry and Alainn was uncertain if it was because time was stilled or because he would not live. Mara began her task at hand while no blood poured from the wound in the frozen state.
“Can you not seal it by way of your magic as well?” she queried.
“If you mend it with thread stitches first, I will then attempt to magically charm the sealed wound. For now I must take the child to the other chamber and hope to revive him, but keep time at a standstill here. If I am unable to accomplish it, the stitching you do may be all that keeps Margaret from losing her life’s blood.”
“Pray you can accomplish it. I will use what magic I am able to summon as well in order to ensure the
outcome is favorable, Alainn.”
She nodded to her mother in gratitude and left her to her task.
It took all Alainn’s will and concentration for the child to be in an area which was not frozen in time, and to keep the other chamber stilled.
Alainn placed her hands to the newborn and felt his body warming and his blood flowing. She tried to keep her mind from the day she had attempted to make health and life radiate through her own wee son, Cian so many months ago. She was relieved to hear Margaret’s babe begin to cry and then to kick and wriggle fitfully in her arms.
“Oh you are a large strong wee babe, aren’t you? You’ll be as big and tall as your da one day,” she cooed to the child as she wiped him clean, swaddled him and took him back to the chamber with his mother.
She was pleased to see Mara was cutting and tying the thread having closed the sizeable wound. She wiped her hands as Alainn lay the baby at Margaret’s breast. Alainn took one more moment to magically seal the wound, then placed both of her hands on Margaret’s heart in hope of offering some level of healing. With Margaret freed of the pain, and the child no longer placing extra stress upon her body, Alainn sensed marked improvement to her heart’s condition.
She released time and both women smiled as Margaret appeared undoubtedly confused when she felt the babe suckling at her breast. She kissed his head and stared down at the small pink line upon her belly and the ever-stoic woman began to weep and sob in earnest.
“Whatever magic you have accomplished this day is surely God given, Alainn for it is as I always suspected, you are an angel come to earth; I swear it to be truth. How much time do I have with my babe, Alainn? Tell me plain for I sense you know well enough. Whatever time I am allowed I assure you, it is a gift. I did not think either of us would live through this day and I had lost all hope of ever looking upon my child’s sweet face or holding him in my arms.”
“I cannot determine the exact amount of time, Margaret. I was not able to heal you entirely. Even with magic that is not a possibility. Your time will not be years as I would wish to declare, but I now believe you will see your babe reach one year upon this earth. You will live to see your first grandchild for Molly carries a child even now, though it is certain even she isn’t yet aware of it. You will live to learn that Lily will carry Cookson’s child, that he will become a father. Molly will bear a boy-child and Lily a girl.”
Margaret smiled at the thought of the many blessings she would witness in the time she had left before she would go to the beyond.
“If you allow others to assist you no matter that it is not something easily accepted on your part, that is also sure to buy you more time as well for your heart will not be unduly strained.”
“Then I shall listen to your wisdom and cherish every day, dear girl, each and every precious moment.”
“I must go to Pierce now for I must deliver word on his father’s passing.”
Margaret’s eyes filled with sadness upon hearing the solemn tidings.
“How uncertain this life is. Mac was always the strongest man in such sturdy health, and I in the past months thought each day might be my last. Today I had resigned myself to that bitter truth, and yet I live to see my child, and apparently a grandchild as well, and Mac is disallowed that great blessing.”
“Although he will not be here in physical form, I assure you his spirit will be here and he shall see.”
Once more Margaret smiled a grateful smile.
“I trust in you and your unusual magical abilities, Alainn and if you say it is so, I shall believe it without question. I will never believe you are a witch, for you are an angel in my eyes.”
Alainn smiled at hearing Margaret’s loving words.
“I will speak with Pierce and then I must make haste back to Castle O’Donnel, for there are others at our castle that remain in need of my assistance. I know not what you and Mara wish to tell others of your baby’s birth, but I trust most everyone will simply be most relieved that you and your babe are well.”
“Aye, wee Seamus will be a treasured son and a great comfort to his father throughout his life, I am certain.”
Alainn embraced Mara who smiled at her daughter with pride in the woman she had become because of her magic and in spite of her magic. She then kissed Margaret’s cheek and the new baby’s head.
“I will send Cookson your love,” Alainn whispered, hearing Margaret’s thoughts.
“God speed, Alainn!” Margaret called out to her.
“Go with love, my daughter,” Mara whispered.
She climbed out the window and glanced back inside long enough to see a very relieved Cook enter the room and stare happily at his wife and his new son.
Alainn stood outside the small cottage and inhaled deeply. She knew she must attempt to calm herself in order to make her magical journey back to Killian. She had left Pierce and Molly holding tight to each other and clearly overwhelmed with so many mixed emotions. They had all three wept together when she had alerted them to the unexpected loss of Mac, and in relief in knowing Margaret and her baby boy had lived through this trying day. She had told Pierce that Mac’s final thoughts were of him and that she was to tell him how dearly he loved him.
Alainn had explained her urgent need to immediately return to Castle O’Donnel, but as she prepared to leave them she beamed at the two young people who were so dear to her. She had been unable to keep from informing them of the happy news she had learned through her premonitory abilities. She smiled at the recollection.
“You might consider naming him for Mac.”
Through tear filled eyes they had looked at her with distinct confusion.
“The baby boy you now carry, Molly, for I inform you he shall be born precisely upon the same date as your father, Pierce.”
“I carry a child?” Molly seemed disbelieving and she immediately placed her hand to her belly. “I am not aware of that, my courses are surely not yet late.” She seemed to be considering it and spoke on, “Aye, maybe a day or two, well perhaps nearly a week...how could this have happened so soon?” Always of a modest nature and given to being easily embarrassed, Molly’s face flamed as she attempted to calculate in her mind the time of her expected monthlies. Because Pierce and Molly had only been married a few short weeks, this was obviously uncomfortable for her.
Pierce looked at Molly and she at him, and both their faces filled with mingled joy and uncertainty.
“Are you certain, Alainn?” Pierce questioned.
“Entirely certain.”
A peculiar expression crossed Pierce’s face.
“What is it Pierce?” Molly asked. “Is it that you are sorely grievous because of your da, or are you displeased regarding the child with it being so soon after we were wed?”
“Nay, my sweet Molly, I’m certainly most pleased. ’Tis only my father often used to say when a person went to the beyond they were simply making room on earth for a new bairn, for the next generation to make their mark. It would seem he was correct about that as with so many other things.”
She embraced them both and left them holding one another as she stepped into the cool night air. She knew she had tarried longer than she might have and she thought of Danhoul’s certain pain in being separated from her and of Killian’s fretfulness waiting for her return. Using her magic to be transported was always best accomplished if she dwelled upon a pleasant location or a person who brought much peace or happiness. She thought of her Killian’s appealing face and of their shared bedchamber and she wished herself back to him.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Whenever Alainn was transported either from one time to another, or even from one location to another there was always a certain amount of disorientation that accompanied the supernatural journey. The degree was apparently directly related to her present emotional state. If she was distraught or displeased, fleeing a perilous situation or there was an unusual urgency involved, the dizziness was often most unsettling.
Although Alainn knew
it was imperative she return to Castle O’Donnel straightaway, she had not expected this journey from one location to another to be so markedly unpleasant. Often there was a mild humming, a whooshing in her ears, a flashing before her eyes as though she were traveling at a speed that might be unnerving. Usually it was only for a limited time and then she quickly recovered.
This time Alainn felt her head throbbing painfully, and her stomach becoming putrid. She felt the overpowering sensation that she would soon spew. Her ears seemed to be filled with a disturbing thunderous sound and blackness surrounded her. She fought to right the debilitating dizziness, but she felt as though she was being suffocated. She willed herself to simply think of Killian, of being back with Killian, once more, but even as she was attempting it, she felt a heavy weight upon her chest that stifled her and she gasped for air. She knew she was slipping into a state of unconsciousness and the notion terrified her, for if she was being magically transported and she was no longer alert, where would she be taken? It was her last muddled thought before she succumbed to the darkness that surrounded her.
When Alainn awoke she was lying upon the ground and she shivered at the cold hard rock beneath her. As she attempted to sit, she felt every part of her body protest her movement. She felt it was surely comparable to drinking wine in great excess and falling asleep upon the cold stone floor of a castle. Her head pounded as she strained to look at her surroundings. The terrain was rocky. Everything appeared to be varying shades of black or grey, for there was entirely no color. As she painfully managed to stand, she looked overhead toward the grey sky and found it was filled with dark clouds that completely covered the sky. All around her was mountainous rock and craggy cliffs. She could see no grass or trees, no birds or animals and no other people.
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