Before the birth of her daughter, she thought she could have had a
wonderful new life there in the village. She was beginning to wonder if the
growing feelings she had for the Innkeeper would ever cease their rumblings
and she looked forward to his nightly visits with such delight. But now she
wasn't sure any longer. This new being, this tiny creature that she now had
to look after and love and cherish... It did not help that everything
except for the nose (that could have only come from her) seemed to have
once belonged to her dead husband. The color and curl of the hair, the
sparkle in her eyes that were that ever-changing green. She hoped it would
darken no more.
As she stood over the cradle one evening, watching over her baby, the Innkeeper stepped in. He stood in the doorway for a moment or two and just watched her. His gaze traveled up from the crown of her dark hair down her slender white form encased in a light green nightgown. His eyes traced the embroidery at the hems that just brushed the tops of her beautifully shaped feet. He wanted so much to left them off the dusty floor and place a kiss on each toe before he moved up to her ankle. Ever since she had been brought to the Inn so many months ago she had haunted him, this queen who he desired and wanted to have beside him for the rest of his life. The tiny box had been sitting on a shelf for many weeks now but he felt it only proper to allow her time for the connection between mother and child to grow undisturbed. But now after so many days had come and gone.
He stepped forward and she looked up. He smiled, first at her and then the child, and for a few moments no words were spoken. They really weren't needed. She stood beside him and they gazed at the tiny baby. He turned to her and searched for the ring in a pocket that suddenly seemed as deep as a well. He began to ask her what he'd wanted to for so long but she turned her eyes up to him and he stopped. She looked back to the child and seemed to be lost in thought. Did death want her to remain alone with this child for the rest of her many days? Would she be able to love another without feeling the press of guilt upon her consciousness and heart? She felt his hands on her shoulders like that cold winter night that seemed so long ago. He kissed her forehead and she knew her answer. She broke the kiss and raised herself on her tiptoes, her mouth now level with his. He pressed his lips to hers and she felt the cool band slip over her finger.
Yes. she could feel this again.
The baby girl in her crib below them gurgled. The Innkeeper laughed and scooped her into his arms. She nestled there and reached for her mother. She was so happy. The three of them, a new family. One that would surely stand the test of time.
Time would soon have its say in that matter.
As she stood over the cradle one evening, watching over her baby, the Innkeeper stepped in. He stood in the doorway for a moment or two and just watched her. His gaze traveled up from the crown of her dark hair down her slender white form encased in a light green nightgown. His eyes traced the embroidery at the hems that just brushed the tops of her beautifully shaped feet. He wanted so much to left them off the dusty floor and place a kiss on each toe before he moved up to her ankle. Ever since she had been brought to the Inn so many months ago she had haunted him, this queen who he desired and wanted to have beside him for the rest of his life. The tiny box had been sitting on a shelf for many weeks now but he felt it only proper to allow her time for the connection between mother and child to grow undisturbed. But now after so many days had come and gone.
He stepped forward and she looked up. He smiled, first at her and then the child, and for a few moments no words were spoken. They really weren't needed. She stood beside him and they gazed at the tiny baby. He turned to her and searched for the ring in a pocket that suddenly seemed as deep as a well. He began to ask her what he'd wanted to for so long but she turned her eyes up to him and he stopped. She looked back to the child and seemed to be lost in thought. Did death want her to remain alone with this child for the rest of her many days? Would she be able to love another without feeling the press of guilt upon her consciousness and heart? She felt his hands on her shoulders like that cold winter night that seemed so long ago. He kissed her forehead and she knew her answer. She broke the kiss and raised herself on her tiptoes, her mouth now level with his. He pressed his lips to hers and she felt the cool band slip over her finger.
Yes. she could feel this again.
The baby girl in her crib below them gurgled. The Innkeeper laughed and scooped her into his arms. She nestled there and reached for her mother. She was so happy. The three of them, a new family. One that would surely stand the test of time.
Time would soon have its say in that matter.