The Silent Highlander by Donna Fletcher

Chapter 20

Odran watched his wife talk with Dorrit by the kitchen garden. She leaned down and plucked a leaf off a plant and rubbed it between her fingers before bringing it to her nose to sniff. She smiled with delight and he was surprised to see Dorrit smile along with her. Though it was almost impossible not to smile when Elysia smiled, there was so much joy in it. A smile was also a rare sight in the clan and no doubt people hungered for it.

His wife was due praise for making her presence known to the clan after the incident in the woods a week ago. Her smile, her kind words, snatches of laughter, and offers of help to anyone who might need it had begun to endear her to the people. His wife was giving to them what she had given to him—hope. Yet skepticism remained, for the curse while dormant for now would surely strike again. His greatest fear was that it would strike his wife and his stomach knotted at the horrific thought.

“Your wife has worked wonders with your mum in such a short time.”

Odran turned to his da as he came to stand beside him.

“She is up and out of bed and looking better than she has in years. She’s even stitching again, but I think that’s because your wife shares her stitching time with her.”

“It helps Elysia as well. She misses her sisters and Mum helps fill that void of family. She truly looks forward to the time she spends with her.”

“Elysia is a kind and generous woman,” his da said with a lingering nod.

Odran said what his da hesitated to say. “The kind of person the curse would love to claim.”

His da’s nod continued to linger. “It has been quiet since your return, the defeated clans silent, and no attempt on your life. While the calm is nice, we both know something lurks and will soon raise its evil head. It’s inevitable. I am just relieved you wisely decided to spare an innocent child endless suffering and father no bairns.”

“What choice have I? We both agreed this suffering cannot continue.”

“It hurts my heart that I have failed this clan, that it will come to an end, our name forever besmirched, buried, forgotten to history,” his da said regretfully.

Odran gave his da’s shoulder a squeeze. “We do the right thing.”

“Lady Elysia!”

The two men turned at the frantic shout.

Elysia turned as well and Dorrit stepped forward toward the woman who rushed at them. Strands of her dark hair with touches of gray fell loose from her braid and worry marred her pretty face.

“What’s wrong, Edana? Is it Walda?” Dorrit asked anxiously.

Edana grabbed Dorrit’s arm, needing to lean on someone. “Aye. She has gone into labor and Glenis holds no hope for the bairn with Walda having lost the last three bairns at birth. She has left the delivery to the women, but no one will help. They fear the curse will strike them if they do.”

Elysia stepped forward. “Walda has lost three bairns upon delivery?”

“Aye, not one of them took a breath. Walda fears the same for this one and I don’t know what to do to help her. There is talk you have helped Lady Margaret heal. Please, Lady Elysia, will you help my daughter?” Edana pleaded.

“I will do my best to help her, but I cannot promise things will be different,” Elysia said, hoping otherwise. She had helped birth many bairns with Bliss. She only hoped she had gained enough knowledge to see this bairn born safely.

“Bless you, Lady Elysia. Bless you,” Edana said, tears rimming her eyes.

“Dorrit, please fetch Lendra and have her bring my healing pouch,” Elysia said and the woman nodded and went to see it done. She turned to Edana. “A moment while I speak with my husband.”

Edana bobbed her head but did not chance a glance at Lord Odran.

Elysia lifted the hem of her garment to take quick steps to her husband. She had been provided with two linen shifts and two soft wool tunics, stockings as well, but those she rarely wore, finding them far too uncomfortable. She had had to make some adjustments to the garments for them to fit, but she had shared that stitching time with Lady Margaret and had found it quite enjoyable.

She stretched her hand out as she approached her husband and he stepped forward taking hold of it. “I must go and try and help Walda deliver her bairn.”

“She has lost three to the curse,” Lord Fergus said, shaking his head. “Now there’ll be another.”

That the man surrendered to the curse so easily annoyed Elysia. “Not if I can help it.”

“Don’t give hope where there is none,” Lord Fergus warned.

“I believe hope is there for all who seek it,” Elysia said and stepped close to reach up to kiss her husband’s cheek.

Odran lowered his head and caught her lips with a quick kiss. “I have faith in you, wife.”

Elysia smiled, his confidence in her touching her heart. She hurried off with Edana.

“You shouldn’t encourage her,” his da cautioned.

“I don’t need to. Her kindness and courage are boundless and infectious as well. I hope both spread.”

“You’re asking for a miracle, son,” his da cautioned again.

Odran watched his wife keep quick steps alongside Edana. “I got my miracle, Da, when a wee woman popped behind me to shield herself and I will spend the rest of my days making sure I keep her safe.”

Elysia entered the cottage to find Walda rubbing her large stomach and groaning in pain while an older woman waved a blackthorn stick over her in an attempt to ward off evil.

Not all women had first agreed with the way Bliss approached childbirth, though after so many bairns were born safely and so many mothers survived childbirth, there hadn’t been a single woman in Clan Loudon who would give birth without Bliss’s help. Bliss had helped birth bairns since an early age and the many experiences had led her to find ways that would benefit both mother and bairn during and after delivery. She had taught Elysia so that she would be prepared to help her sisters when the time came. And that time would come sooner for Elysia than she had expected.

“My lady, you’ve come to help. Bless you!” Walda called out.

Elysia approached the bed. “I will do my best to help you, Walda.”

The old woman with the blackthorn stick shook it at Elysia. “The curse is a plague on our clan and will claim the little one before he can take a breath.”

Tears filled Walda’s sad eyes and strands of her dark hair clung to her sweat-drenched face.

Such fearful words and predictions did Walda little good. “The help I need will arrive soon. Edana, you may stay to help.” She turned to the woman with the blackthorn stick. “You may take your leave.”

“You are young and have borne no bairn. What do you know of births?” the old woman demanded.

“Willa, mind your tongue. You speak to Lady Elysia,” Edana cautioned.

“Lady or not, she has no experience having birthed no bairn herself and hopefully she never will,” Willa said with a stern eye at Elysia.

The door flung open and a large man, his thick muscled arm taut from gripping the latch so tight, hesitated for a moment, then hurried to the bed.

“Walda,” he said, going down on one knee beside the bed and taking his wife’s hand.

“All will be good, Stiles, Lady Elysia has come to help me,” Walda said with a hopeful glance at Elysia.

“She is too young and knows nothing about birthing bairns,” the old woman complained, shaking the blackthorn stick once again at Elysia.

“You will show Lady Elysia respect, Seanmhair,” Stiles admonished.

Willa shook the branch again. “She tells me I can’t stay and help at my great-grandchild’s birth.”

“You did not make Lady Elysia aware of who you are,” Walda said.

Stiles stood and shot his grandmother a stern look. “You will address Lady Elysia properly and do as she says.”

A pain gripped Walda that had her crying out and had her large husband turning pale.

“Time for all to leave,” Elysia ordered and looked to Willa. “You may stay if you wish, but you will put that blackthorn stick aside and not use it again.”

Willa wrinkled her face, ready to argue, but a threatening glare from her grandson forced her to hold her tongue and do as Elysia said.

All turned as the door opened and Lendra entered.

“The soon-to-be father is leaving,” Elysia said, turning a smile on him.

“I will be close by, mo ghràdh,” Stiles said and kissed his wife’s cheek. He looked to Elysia. “Walda and I are grateful for any help you can give us, my lady.” He then turned to his grandmother. “Watch your tongue with Lady Elysia, Seanmhair, or I will suffer Lord Odran’s wrath.”

Elysia didn’t understand why Stiles would suffer for his grandmother’s biting remarks but evidently the old woman understood since she paled and acquiesced with a nod.

Walda moaned in pain as soon as the door closed.

“Let’s get ready for this fine lad or lass to be born,” Elysia said with a smile.

* * *

“It’s been hours.She’s ready. Get her on her feet,” Willa ordered.

“She stays abed,” Elysia countermanded. “And if I see you go for that branch I will see you put from this room.”

Willa grumbled. “You do her no good.”

Elysia ignored the old woman. “Lendra and Edana, help Walda to sit up, and Walda raise your knees.”

“She needs to stand to deliver the bairn,” Willa argued.

Again Elysia ignored the woman as she adjusted the blanket over Walda’s bent knees.

The door opened and Glenis entered, her eyes going wide. “What are you doing? Why isn’t she standing so the bairn can slip out?”

“I told her, but she refuses to listen to me,” Willa complained. “I try to hold my tongue because my grandson is one of Lord Odran’s warriors and will be made to suffer for my remarks, but it is difficult when I see what his wife does to poor Walda.”

“It is good some of the women came to me for help. Move aside,” Glenis ordered. “I will see to Walda.”

Walda grabbed her stomach and let out a scream.

“Move out of the way,” Glenis demanded. “She must get on her feet for the bairn to drop.”

Elysia wanted to cover her ears against all the noise. She hated voices raised in shouts and anger, but it was the sound of Walda’s suffering that broke through it all and had her shout herself.

“GET OUT! THE BOTH OF YOU! NOW!” Her arm shot up and she pointed to the door.

Glenis and Willa stared at her, their mouths hanging open in shock.

The door flew open and everyone jumped, including Elysia.

Odran barely fit in the open doorway. Anger glared in his green eyes and his jaw was set tight. “DO NOT MAKE ME REPEAT MY WIFE’S ORDER OR YOU BOTH WILL REGRET IT!” He stepped aside, his heated glare letting both women know they had better hurry.

Glenis lowered her head as she rushed past him. “Forgive me, my lord.”

Willa took slower steps. “I am sorry, my lord. I worry for Walda and Stiles. I beg you, please let me stay.”

Odran looked to his wife. “Your decision, Elysia.”

“You will stay out of my way and not utter a word,” Elysia ordered.

“Aye, my lady,” Willa said and moved away from the bed.

“I will be outside. If needed I will remove her,” Odran said to his wife, then looked to Willa. “And none too gently.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Elysia said and another scream had Elysia turning to the woman and her husband hurrying out of the cottage.

Walda’s screams worsened and Edana took hold of her daughter’s hand to hold tight and fought the tears brimming in her eyes.

Elysia kept calm and focused as Bliss had taught her to do and, most importantly, she encouraged with a soothing voice. In no time the bairn slipped with ease out of Walda, but no cry was heard.

“Not again!” Walda cried. “No! No! Please no!”

Edana lost the battle with her tears. They flowed freely down her flushed cheeks. Willa cried softly, going to the bed to help console Walda. Elysia saw none of it, she was too focused on the tiny lad who laid lifeless in her hands.

“Lendra, a blanket on the table,” Elysia ordered, as she tied the cord, then cut it.

Lendra did as told making a nest of a blanket on the top of the table. Elysia hurried the bairn there, her mind racing with things that Bliss did when a bairn did not breathe upon entering the world. Sometimes the mouth needed to be cleared and the nose and she used her tiny end finger to do as she had seen Bliss do. Then she turned the bairn on his side and gently massaged his back, then turned him on his back and moved his tiny arms and legs, while Walda continued to wail in sorrow.

The door flew open once again, though Elysia paid it no heed. Stiles stood for a moment staring at Elysia working on the bairn. He shook his head and went to his wife, Edana and Willa moving aside. Walda dropped her head on her husband’s chest and continued to weep.

Odran had entered behind Stiles and stepped to the side, watching his wife ignoring everyone, focusing only on the bairn. She was doing everything to force the bairn to live, but all there knew the curse had shown itself again, claiming the tiny lad.

Elysia remembered one more thing that she had seen Bliss do. She lowered her head as she hooked her end finger into the bairn’s mouth to gently force it open, then sent a soft breath into him. She rubbed his little chest lightly, then sent another breath into him, and repeated it a few times, not giving up just as Bliss had done.

Please. Please. Let the lad live, Elysia silently prayed as she worked on him.

The lad suddenly let loose with a wail that shocked Elysia and shocked his mum silent. His little arms awoke with life and he waved them about. His tiny legs joined in kicking forcefully while his wail grew stronger and stronger.

“A warm, wet cloth, Lendra,” Elysia shouted and the woman hurried to get it.

Elysia’s heart soared with relief and joy as the little lad continued his cries of protest as she wrapped him in the blanket, though he calmed when she cleaned his face and head with the warm cloth.

She lifted him into her arms and turned to his parents, her smile wide. “He’s a strong one.”

Tears rolled down Walda’s cheeks as she took her son in her arms and Stiles fought the tears that pooled in his eyes.

Edana and Willa let their tears flow freely only this time they were tears of joy.

Walda smiled and sniffled back her tears, staring in disbelief at the tiny bairn in her arms. “We have a son, Stiles.”

Stiles finger faintly touched the lad’s cheek as if he had to feel for himself that it was true. They truly did have a son.

The little bairn yawned wide and cuddled contentedly in his mum’s embrace.

“He’s exhausted from all his hard work,” Willa said with a laugh filled with relief and everyone laughed with her, releasing their own relief.

“Lady Elysia,” Walda said, quieting everyone. “I am forever grateful to you for breathing life into our son.”

“I didn’t breathe life into him, Walda. I just helped him to take his first breath. He is a strong bairn and will do well,” Elysia assured her.

“Whatever you did to get our son to live, we are eternally grateful,” Stiles said.

Elysia needed no praise and kept her focus on what needed to still be done. “I am sorry to chase you and my husband out, but I need to finish with Walda. If you could give us a little time, then you can return and sit with your wife and enjoy your son.”

“Aye, whatever you say, my lady,” Stiles said and kissed his wife’s brow. “I’ll be waiting right outside.”

Lendra and Elysia saw to Walda while Edana and Willa saw to cleaning and dressing their grandson before wrapping him once again in the blanket. Then both eagerly took turns holding him. When the bedding was changed and Walda was washed and in a fresh shift, her son was returned to her arms.

“Your mum and Willa should be able to advise you from here on, but if you need me for anything, just send for me,” Elysia advised.

“Again, my lady, I don’t know how to thank you,” Walda said. “The sheer joy I feel holding my newborn son would not have been possible without you. You are a true blessing to our clan.”

“Thank you, Walda. Now rest and enjoy your son,” Elysia said and turned to see that Lendra had everything ready to go. “You did well. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Bliss would be proud of you,” Lendra said.

Her words touched Elysia’s heart. It was Bliss who saved the little lad today, for Elysia would not have known what to do if Bliss hadn’t taught her.

“Lady Elysia.”

Elysia turned to Willa standing close behind her.

“I am a stubborn woman who does not always mind her tongue. I deeply regret the way I spoke to you. What you did today to save my great-grandson was remarkable. Walda is right. We are blessed to have you and maybe, just maybe, you are strong enough to break this evil curse that claimed Stiles’ mum—my precious daughter and only child—and his da and has kept our clan prisoner for so long.” A smile returned to Willa’s aged face. “Now I must go get my grandson, he no doubt paces outside the door eager to join his wife and son.”

“I have a sister inflicted with the same tongue problem,” Elysia said with a grin.

Willa’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Dare I hope you found a cure for it?”

“Unfortunately no, but I can say that I love my sister Annis just the way she is.”

Willa smiled. “You have a good soul, my lady, and I apologize now for any future words that may spew from my untamed tongue.”

Elysia chuckled as Willa hurried to the door, tickled at getting a glimpse of what Annis may be like when she aged.

Stiles rushed in as soon as his grandmother opened the door and was at his wife’s side in a few rapid strides.

Elysia slipped out, giving the couple time with their son.

“I will be at the keep, my lady,” Lendra said as soon as they stepped outside and saw Lord Odran there waiting for his wife.

Odran welcomed Elysia with outstretched arms and she eagerly drifted into them and rested her head on his chest.

He tightened his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, though he would have preferred her lips, but she appeared exhausted and in more need of his chest to rest against than his lips.

“You did well, wife. Tongues begin to wag already. Every woman will want you to birth their bairn.”

A sudden yawn caught her response that would have given all praise to Bliss, not her.

“I am sorry, Elysia,” Odran said.

She raised her head. “Whatever for?”

“For not giving you any bairns when you would make such a loving mother,” he said, his voice filled with regret.

Elysia didn’t know what to say. She thought to tell him he had no reason for regret for she carried his bairn, but now was not the time. When would it be a good time? A question she often asked herself. She would wait, but she had to tell him before she could hide it from him no more, especially with how often he saw her naked.

One thing, though, that was proven to her today was that she would trust no one but Bliss to deliver her bairn safely.