Sleepy Hollow - 1696
Mary placed an arm around my shoulder, 'Is everything alright, Elizabeth?' she asked as we made our way towards the edge of the forest where the Wildes's cottage stood.
'Samuel Wright was asking about Goody Linder's child.'
Mary turned pale, 'And what did you say?
'I told him she never was with child, that it was a simple stomach infection.' I reassured her.
She looked relieved, 'Good. But I fear this may only be the beginning, Elizabeth,' she said sadly before continuing, 'Hester Davies's child is to be due soon and I can only hope that the same complications wont occur with this birth. For you know only too well what this could lead to.'
The unspoken word eager to slide off the tip of her tongue hung in the moist morning air. Nothing was ever said of the child that had been born that night. Deep down in my cowardly conscience I made myself admit that I was relieved that the child had not survived for fear of what could have happened as a result of it becoming known to the public. Once an ordeal like the accusation of witchcraft spread through a village high on suspicion and scorn, anyone and everyone was a suspect punishable by cruel torture followed by a certain death at the end of the rope.
'It will all be alright, Mary,' I tried to reassure her, 'This was not a disfigurement caused by sorcery, merely an ailment that took place while the babe was inside.'
'Pray let it be that, Elizabeth, for our very trade puts us in grave danger.'
The Wildes's cottage stood on the edge of the east side of town. A small modest dwelling isolated from the rest of our towns people whose farms lay scattered alongside each other. The two story home stood tall against the dark outline of the surrounding forest, the scent of Mary's physick garden wafting sweetly around us as we crossed the threshold and entered the low beamed front room. Dried herbs harvested last summer hung in bunches from the ceiling, brushing against my head as I entered the room and knelt by the hearth to add more wood to the weakening flames.
'Elizabeth?' called Mary gently from the work table where she prepared her brews and cordials, 'Would you kindly go to the garden and pick some nettles?'
I rubbed my poor blistered hands, 'What are you preparing?'
She added a handful of juniper berries to the motar and looked up at me, 'A cordial to strengthen Hester's blood so that she's strong for when the babe comes.'
I walked outside into the sweet scented garden and gathered a handful of nettle, carefully wrapping my skirt around my hand so as not to be stung. The crumbling stone fence enclosed an abundance of plants awaking from their long winter slumber. Most of the herbs would not be ready until May and would then have to be carefully tended to.
Mary stood by the hearth stirring the sickly smelling herbal mixture. She took the nettle from my hands and began to pluck the leaves of the stems, quietly singing to herself, hardly wincing as the nettle stung her hands.
'That'll be her right now,' said Mary when Jack answered the light knocking at the door to let Hester Davies into the house.
'Mary, Elizabeth,' said Hester shyly and let Mary lead her to a cushioned seat by the hearth. Only a year older than myself, at seventeen Hester had already been married for a year and was now expecting her second child. Married in haste to her cousin Elijah Davies when her widower father died, Hester was reduced to pious duty to her husband and often beaten when things did not go to his satisfaction. She showed the countenance of a scared rabbit as she sat looking around the room nervously holding one had to her mouth.
'Have you got the toothache?' I asked softly, biting my lip as I saw her eyes cast down, staring at the patched rug at her feet. Mary looked up from the brew and gave me a sympathetic look. 'Hester?' I asked again, knowing full well that it would soon be revealed as a result of her husband's hand.
'No, Miss.' She mumbled quietly, 'Tis nothing.'
Mary who had been pouring the pale green cordial into a phial left the phial on the table and stood beside Hester. Lifting a cool pale hand to Hester's face she removed Hester's hand and examined the busted lip and sighed, Hester looked away in shame.
'I'll give you a salve for the swelling.' Mary sighed and went to collect the cordial from the table, 'You must take care, Hester, your babe is due soon and you must rest. If Mr Davies is in a foul temper slip some Valerian into his drink,' she said, producing a small phial of dark brown liquid from the folds of her dress, 'It is sure to have a calming affect and keep his rage at bay.'
Hester took the two phials and they disappeared into the folds of her skirt. She smiled weakly and nodded at Mary and me
'Take care now,' called Mary as Hester walked down the path, 'Send for me as soon as the pains start.' She called after Hester.
When I awoke that night Mary stood by my bed shaking me gently, fully dressed with her bag of medicines in one hand, Jack standing beside her holding a candle. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and sat up.
'Elijah Davies was just at our door, Elizabeth, the babe has come early and Hester has gone into labor.' she needed to say no more as I roused myself and was left to get dressed.
Outside the wind howled and the rain hit our faces as we walked quickly, almost running. Approaching the Davies's cottage we saw that all lights had been lit and neighbors had gathered as we pushed through the crowd. Elijah Davies led us upstairs to the room where Hester lay on the four poster bed, Goody Curbain and five young women from the village standing around her in the crowded room. Hester was quiet; she lay with her knees drawn up to her chest, beads of perspiration glittering on her brow.
Mary turned to Goody Peters, 'I'm going to need you to heat some water, and if possible, see if you can find some animal grease.' She laid a reassuring hand on Hester's brow.
Time passed slowly in the badly lit room, the women sat around gossiping amongst themselves. Hester gripped Mary's hand and screamed before once more sinking back to the mattress. Panic arose in me, remembering the night Goody Linders died as I once more saw the deformed child in my mind. Hours went by and the pains began to increase, one after the other leaving Hester breathless.
'May the seven directions guide this work, may it be pleasing to my grandmothers, the ancient ones. So mote it be.' I muttered, remembering the chant my own mother had used. Mary cast me a reproving glance, noting that the women in the room had stopped talking and were looking to me. 'Amen.' I said in order to disguise the chant as the Lords prayer and stop loose tongues wagging.
Finally with one last push, the child was brought into the world. Mary held the babe, struggling to see the baby in the candlelight. Her face creased into a frown and hesitated.
'What is it?' I whispered, is there anything wrong with it?' Mary shot me a fleeting look as she quickly cut the cord and swaddled the child.
Hester's aunt, Goody Curbain rushed to our side, 'Let me see,' she smiled and reached for the new born.
Mary held the babe in her arms and made no more to let go, 'Please Ma'am, its better if…'
The old woman glowered at Mary and pulled the child from her arms. I closed my eyes and waited as the old woman began to unwrap the swaddling. The women who had been watching the proceedings gathered around her as she held the child outstretched in front of her. I grasped Mary's hand and watched in horror as the tail like stump that protruded from the child's lower back came into view.
'This child is of the devils spawn!' screamed Goody Curbain, thrusting the wailing child into my shaking arms. The women crossed themselves, their cries of woe bringing several of the men to the door.
'What in God's name is going on?' cried Elijah Davies as he strode into the room, red faced from the drink, 'Has my child been brought into the world?'
'This child bears the markings of the devil! The devil has been brought amongst us!' Echoed the cry of Goody Curbain.
The child was snatched from my arms by Elijah Davies whose face twisted in disgust as he beheld his child. Hester sat up in bed, 'Let me see my child!' she begged, 'Is it a boy or a girl? Let me see!'
Mary looked at her with tears in her eyes, 'Tis better if you don't, dear.'
A/N: This installment of the story is dedicated to pumpkinpuss who read and reviewed. Hope this story is alright and hope to hear from all you fanfiction writers soon – whether it's good criticism or bad. Yes, Ichabod will be in the story as soon as I get this part of it out of the way. Well now I'm going to go update my vampire story, Trapped in Deaths Embrace. Best wishes.
xXxSugar, Adieu.
PS; TWO more days till Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End comes out! (I live in Australia so it may be a different date for you). Bring on Jack Sparrow!!!