1303 - A Two in One
Praaven was still stuck in a deep winter as the year began. Olyff was grateful that Pipa was two years old now and had the understanding of why she couldn't wander outside like she used to last year. The snow was thick and blowing under the crack of the front door which made Olyff develop a new routine of sweeping it away every morning.
CW: mourning a baby
It had only been a full month now since they had to witness the death of their youngest child, Cyneswith, and every day was a challenge for the couple. The cold winter made them stay inside more and Olyff felt like since she couldn't keep her hands busy her mind wandered more than she wanted it to, often finding herself weeping when entirely alone.
Pipa was her saving grace though as she continued to learn more words and she was soon keeping up conversations with her mother and father. She was one of the only reasons why Byrhtnoth and Olyff smiled during their grieving process, along with the anticipation of another child growing inside the mother's belly.
CW over.
But as the first month of the year came to a close Olyff's new baby was on the way. She felt a bit guilty for not being excited for its arrival, swept away in grief than anything else, but the time was now and she endured labor once again with her husband by her side.
Byrhtnoth reminisced on him thinking of calling a midwife last time his wife was in labor but with their low funds and freak weather happening outside finding a midwife would be a lost cause and so he found his bearings and was a rock for Olyff that night. With their bedroom being on the top floor, only accessible by ladder, they were certain they were shielding Pipa from the graphic nature of childbirth.
She heaved and pushed and before they knew it another baby girl was introduced into their home. They wiped her clean and listened to her gurgling first cries echo through their bungalow. As Olyff held her in her arms she couldn't help the tears rush down her cheeks. It was a strange sensation to hold another baby in her arms after losing one not too long ago but she looked at her husband, who was secretly wiping away a tear himself, and asked him with a shaking voice,
"What do you want to call our new baby girl?"
He softly sat down beside his wife, gazing at their newborn before quickly deciding,
"Linyeve... I like that name."
"Me too, so Linyeve you will be," she agreed. Linyeve began to wriggle her arms in front of her face and did her first yawn which had the parents 'aww' out loud. This was a sudden reminder to both of them that life moved on, no matter how tough the loss, and so they put all of their attention to the newborn in front of them.
Byrhtnoth asked to spend some time with baby Linyeve and Olyff was happy to fulfill his wish. She was planning on having a bath after her third labor and she was happy to mind Pipa as she did that. She got the water warm above the fireplace and soaked in the wooden bathtub while Pipa rolled around her now shriveling apple, asking about all of the noise she heard upstairs.
Once Olyff felt adequately clean she took Pipa into her arms and climbed up the ladder to their bedroom. There the two met Byrhtnoth rocking Linyeve in his arms as she slept and the parents introduced Pipa to her new baby sister. She was in awe and couldn't stop trying to pronounce her name. One other thing she kept saying was "pretty baby girl" and the pair couldn't get enough of it.
The parent's bedroom was upstairs but overlooked the kitchen and front door, making it handy to care for their newborn baby upstairs while also watching after their oldest daughter downstairs.
With this new privacy that they were still getting used to they found themselves getting far more comfortable with spontaneous intimacy, always welcoming a cuddle or more especially when the snow wouldn't stop falling from the sky.
And before they knew it Olyff was suddenly with child again. They both joked that the new extension to their home was working a little too well but Olyff was ready to care for another child, even after the loss she experienced just three months ago. Just as the snow began to melt into sleet her belly began to grow and only continued to expand as they welcomed the spring months.
Whether it was the prolonged frost or Byrhtnoth's lack of skill in handywork their various basins began to spring leaks. The bucket outside, which they used for washing the babies and cleaning dishes, could barely contain water anymore and so Byrhtnoth got some spare wood and nails out and hammered away.
Soon after that was fixed the bath started creaking and letting out a leak too making Byrhtnoth groan in annoyance before getting back to work again. After some testing for leaks after hours of fixing up the bath he muttered under his breath,
"Anything else, Watcher?"
The Watcher chuckled but spared them anymore repairs to do for the year and Byrhtnoth breathed a sigh of relief when nothing else seemed to break in the coming months.
The parent's grief slowly faded in time with the blooming of the spring flowers and Olyff was happy to have her hands busy again in their garden. Pipa continued to be actively curious and "helped" Olyff with the plants while Linyeve was a calm and quiet baby, often sleeping and just being content in her first six months of life, leaving more time for Olyff to do her farm chores.
With how much care Cyneswith needed last year Olyff had forgotten how many things there are to do around the farm and she felt a twinge of guilt wash over her knowing her husband took on these tasks last year. There was always eggs to collect, animals to feed, crops to water, dishes to clean and clothes to scrub no matter what day of the week it was. She pushed her guilt aside and focused on the present, she was fulfilling her housewife role with pride.
Byrhtnoth was delighted to have his full attention back to fishing during the day and spending time with his family at night. It had become a weekly occurrence for him to now visit the market throughout the warm months and sell a large portion of what he angled in from the rivers and lakes of Praaven, not forgetting to pay any taxes to the King along the way.
But time with his children was one of the best gifts of life he experienced. It made his heart warm to come home and hear Pipa chatter away at what her and her mother did that day before chasing her around the home and playing with her before her bed time. Linyeve was the opposite for him, a little moment of tranquility to soothe his healing heart.
He couldn't help but feel a tear form in the pit of his eye when he saw a beautiful scene one morning. His wife was minding Pipa and he overheard her ask,
"Mammy, why is your belly getting so big?"
"Your baby brother or sister is growing inside," explained Olyff, "put your hand on it."
Pipa inquisitively placed her small hand on Olyff's curved pregnant belly before jumping back slightly and exclaiming,
"It moved!"
"Yes, the baby did a kick!" beamed Olyff before her daughter clapped with excitement. This is what life is worth living for, thought Byrhtnoth to himself before entering the room and kissing both of them goodbye as he left to go fishing.
And with that life carried on smoothly. They welcomed every season with plans and said their farewells with bountiful progress; before they knew it the frost began to settle in again.
The dormant plants were dusted with icy snow and it was only Beauty who wandered the snowy farm land throughout winter. Although Byrhtnoth was honoured to provide for the family through fishing this year he was happy to help his heavily pregnant wife again with some home chores and playing with the children.
Linyeve was starting to slowly grow into her personality as she was close to her first birthday but her father couldn't help but feel like Pipa was his current favourite. He couldn't help but smile from ear to ear with every joyful squeal Pipa echoed throughout the bungalow and Olyff always watched on with content as she rested near the crackling fire.
Olyff's term was over and their second baby of the year was on their way! Excitement filled her chest as she experienced her first contractions and she ran to tell her husband what was happening. The motions of labor were becoming routine for them and Olyff handled every birth like a professional.
Once again a baby girl joined the Chapman family. This little tyke had the faintest and most delicate blonde baby hairs on her head and the parents both agreed on a suitable name, Eddida.
Eddida wriggled gently and presented a toothless smile to her mother and father as the first snow began to fall outside. Things felt peaceful and right again and the couple felt whole as they were ready to step into a brand new year with three babies.
No comments:
Post a Comment