18. Miracle of Life

"Mother!" cried Morgause in delight as she skipped about on the plush grass, "See what I can do!"

Lornán and Ygraine sat with their backs to the broad trunk of an enormous tree in the gardens of the monastery, enjoying its plentiful shade, "I am watching my darling girl," laughed the Duchess affectionately, her proud face gleaming indulgently.

The young child ran up to her mother and placed a small stone in the palm of her hand, "Hold it up high," she commanded solemnly as her little legs scurried back over the grass so that she sat cross legged, facing the two women, twenty or so paces away.

Screwing up her face in concentration, Morgause stared hard at the stone, her eyes suddenly glowing a deep golden colour as the pebble twitched slightly on Lornán's outstretched palm, before rising slowly into the air. Ygraine watched on in fascination as the little stone crossed the distance between them, finally being plucked out of the air by the triumphant child and waved merrily aloft for all to see.

"Well done Morgause!" enthused Lornán, clapping her hands together delightedly, "How you have been practicing!"

"Ingrid has been giving me extra lessons," said the child, beaming happily at her mother.

"Truly, that is most remarkable!" breathed Ygraine in awe, "Such command of the elements at so young an age."

"I am five whole years old Aunt Ygraine!" exclaimed Morgause indignantly.

"Quite right," laughed the Duchess, "You are positively ancient – now, come and sit with me for a moment."

"Do you have a gift for me?" the child squealed, jumping into her mother's lap.

Smiling, the raven haired woman pushed the wayward tangle of golden curls out of her daughter's eyes, drinking in her closeness for a moment, "I do not have one gift for you… but two."

Morgause's eyes lit up in delight as she fidgeted impatiently, her hands clutched together tightly between her knees. With great reverence, Lornán removed the silver bracelet that hung from her right wrist and carefully took her daughters arm and slipped it on to her wrist instead.

"It's beautiful," whispered the girl, running her fingers gently over the silver markings, "What do these symbols mean?"

"One day my love you will grow to fit that bracelet… and on that day I will tell you all you wish to know," promised her mother earnestly.

"What of my second gift?" asked Morgause, peering around as if to spy the mystery present.

"Your second gift you must be patient for," the Duchess replied with a knowing smile, "for it is not yet ready to be seen."

"What do you mean?" questioned the young child quizzically, inclining her head in confusion.

Slowly, Lornán spread her fingers out over her belly, "You are to have a little sister."

A great look of joy flooded Morgause's face and she placed her little hands over her mother's in awe, "Is she to come and live with me at the monastery?" she whispered.

The smile on Lornán's face faltered slightly and she patted her child gently on the cheek, "I think not my love… but we shall come and see you as often as we can and you can teach her how to command the elements as well as you," she said soothingly, drawing her daughter into a warm embrace, "Now, our time is up I fear… would you run and fetch Nimueh so that we may bid her farewell?"

"How do you know it will be a girl?" asked Ygraine quietly as they watched Morgause obediently skip across the grass to fetch her guardian.

"Just as I knew Morgause to be a girl… it is the same with this child," she replied, unable to tear her eyes away from her daughter's retreating back, "I cannot explain it."

"Does it…what is it like?"

"Like?" she asked, looking in confusion at her Queen.

"The birth, what is it like?"

"Why do you ask?" questioned the Duchess, searching Ygraine's face in puzzlement. The Queen did not answer, dropping her eyes quickly to her hands which tore fervently at a plucked flower head. Sudden realisation dawned in Lornán's eyes and she grasped excitedly at the Queen, "Do you mean… are you with child?"

A slow smile spread across Ygraine's features, her eyes glowing brightly, "It is early," she confirmed with a nod, "But Gaius confirmed it this morning."

Lornán clapped her hands together in delight, "This is truly the most wonderful news!" she cried happily, "We shall be mother's together!"

Caught up in the intoxicating excitement of the Duchess, Ygraine laughed merrily as they brushed the grass from their gowns and made their way toward the stone walls of the monastery. It seemed that the sun had never shone brighter, nor had the grass looked greener to the two women as they walked arm in arm, the journey of motherhood lying invitingly before them…