"The Fated Night" | Nichole, Sibeal, Eilish, Juniper
Twenty years earlier…
There was an echoing click clack in the marble halls of the Maire Glaisian healers. A tall woman wearing a long flowing blue gown walked down the halls, checking to ensure each room was in order before making her way to her chambers. Her flaming red hair against her pale skin made her appear almost otherworldly as she walked through the darkened halls, lit only by soft moonlight and candles.
She came to the final room which was one of the entries into the grand Maire Glaisian library. She walked into the room and checked all the little nooks and corners for a wayward student lost in studying. No one tonight.
Sibeal turned to leave when she heard a light rustling sound near the drapes by the bay window. She frowned and stepped forward. “Now, I know you want to study, but even the best students need rest. Tomorrow we will be watching a surgery so--
A bloodied hand reached out and grabbed her arm. “Sibeal…”
Sibeal gasped as a young woman close to her own age collapsed on the floor. She was with child, and looked as though she was about to bring the new life into the world, but unlike most mother’s about to give birth her hands were covered in cuts, her simple linen dress had rips and tears, some oozing with blood. Bruises had formed on her neck.
Sibeal crouch on the ground next to the woman and brushed back some of the woman’s light blonde hair.
“No.” Sibeal gasped and stared down at the delicate features of another Maire Glaisian healer. “Eilish!”
Sibeal checked her for any clue as to what had befallen her best friend. As she did she heard a whimper behind the draperies. She leaned across Eilish and pulled back the curtain to find a little girl sitting on the floor, her knees pulled up to her chest, tears rolling down her light brown cheeks. “Nichole!”
The child’s eyes were wide with fear.
Sibeal stood. “Shh, Nichole, come with me. We will go bring more help for your mother.”
“No…” A desperate whisper sounding from Eilish.
“Don’t… don’t tell anyone we’re here.” Eilish took in a shallow breath. “No one can know we’re here.”
Sibeal took Nichole by the hand and led her back to Eilish.
“Eilish, what happened to you? Where is Da--”
“Dairiun is gone. His people came back for him like we feared and…” She gasped as a strong contraction came, and began to pant. Once the contraction subsided she continued. “Please, Sibeal. Save my children. They’ll come back for them, just like they did their father. Nichole… Nichole…” Eilish’s gaze falls on her daughter “she is like you Sibeal… she has the same gift, and… and you know the dangers that brings.”
Sibeal watched and shook her head. “Enough, Eilish. I’ll keep you hidden but you must let me help you. Now, let me.” Sibeal stopped short as Eilish reached up and held her arm in a painful grip.
“Sibeal. I’m dying. I know I am. You can save the child inside me or you can save me, but not both.”
“What are you talking about, labor isn’t that--”
“Sibeal! Listen.” She pulled Sibeal closer. “On the mountain I tried to stop them from taking Dairiun. They stabbed me and threw me. They thought I died right then, but I treated the wound as best I could, but… I’ve been in labor since, and bleeding. You know what that most likely means.”
Sibeal’s eyes reflected the grave manner of Eilish. “Yes, the placenta is coming off the wall.” She frowned. “You walked all the way here.” She didn’t phrase it as a question, she knew. “Let me see the wound,”
Eilish groaned and rolled onto her back. Sibeal’s heart jumped. How had she been able to survive the journey with a wound such as this?
“Alright, try to stand and I’ll take you to the nearest healing room. I’ll perform the surgery.”
Eilish nodded in silent agreement. Sweat pouring down her face.
It took longer than Sibeal wanted to get Eilish to a healing room. Blood dripped onto the floor, and Eilish’s color was going from her natural pale complexion to a ghostly gray.
“Momma?”
Sibeal looked down to see Nichole holding her mother’s hand.
“Yes, darling.”
“When will the baby be here?”
“Soon. Very soon.”
“Then can we find daddy?”
“Daddy will…” Eilish gasped but continued on. “Daddy will find us.”
Nichole stared wide-eyed as Sibeal brought out the instruments she needed. “Momma…” Her voice was shaking with uncertainty.
“Nichole, listen. You know, I told you Momma learned how to help people in Maire Glaise, how the skill of healing is very special.”
Nichole nodded somberly.
“Well, this is that place. Sibeal will teach you just like Mommy was taught…” Her eyes started to roll into the back of her head.
Sibeal spoke in a sharp tone. “Eilish. Don’t you dare.”
Eilish slowly blinked and seemed to focus again. “Sibeal… please… promise me you’ll keep them safe. Promise me…”
Sibeal’s lip quivered but she forced herself to sound calm. “Of course, Eilish. I will.” She saw the pleading look in her friend’s eyes. “I promise.”
Eilish gave a faint nod then looked over at Nichole again. “I love you, Honey. My Nichole. Someday… someday you’ll understand. Someday, when Elyon wills… we will meet again…” She began to convulse.
Sibeal knew she had to act fast or she’d lose both mother and child, and that wasn’t an option. She would have rushed Nichole out if she had time but for now she worked around the child.
Nichole watched, wide-eyed, then suddenly a calm expression came over the child’s face, and she gently stroked her mother’s hair. “It’s alright mommy, shhhh. You’re safe.”
Sibeal worked quickly, her fingers flying as she hurried with the operation. She completed it in record time, as she pulled the baby out into the world she looked over at her best friend. She would never get to see her new child, her new baby girl, on this side of heaven. Tears flowed down Sibeal’s cheeks as she wrapped the newborn into a soft blanket.
She then carefully handed the baby to Nichole. “Nichole dear, can you sit very still for a moment and hold your new baby sister?”
Nichole nodded reverently and held out her arms.
“There you go, hold her just like this and don’t let her fall. Good girl.”
Sibeal hurried over to a supply closet and brought out a white sheet. As she pulled it down from the shelf, she swayed and almost passed out. She put a hand to her lips to suppress the sob welling up in her throat. After taking a moment she forced herself to look calm and quickly unfolded the sheet and spread it over Eilish’s cold pale body. “Good bye, my friend.”
Then she turned, took the newborn baby in one arm and grabbed Nichole’s hand with the other and marched out of the healing room. In that short walk to another small room she’d come up with part of a plan, now it was time to see if it could be executed. She woke up a young messenger who stood still looking half asleep. “Tell the Melawyn siblings to meet me in the Northeast gardens…”
---------------------------------------------------------The End------------------------------------------------------
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