Flashback 14

by Schammielynn

It all made sense in the worst of ways. Aly was crying and Oswin was watching, waiting for something to happen. And I just felt my hands grow cold.

Somewhere inside of me, I felt like my wisdom had increased. I swallowed and looked at both Aly and Oswin, "You don't know; maybe the curse has worn off… and even if it hasn't, there's nothing stopping you from making the life that baby has great. Play music, be happy. I'm sure the energy you have transfers to it. Love cures lots of things. You never know."

I glanced at Oswin, who looked momentarily stunned. "She could be right."

"Really?"
"I'm not sure about her properties of magic, and there's nothing I can do to fix it… but… Love and true love and a mother's love… You'd be surprised."

"Maybe…" Aly sniffled. "I just can't let a child suffer like that."

"Well we'll be there every step of the way to make sure that isn't the case."
I laid my head on her shoulder and she put her arm around me, "Thank you, Essie."

We did exactly that. Every night we'd play classical Ozian music, and Oswin and Aly would dance while I put on the records. It was those times when I forgot about my dangerous magic. We knew the worst was looming above us with the birth of the child, but that didn't stop me from trying to lift everyone's spirits as much as I possible could.

Other times, Oswin would ask me, while Aly wasn't around, how my magic was feeling. If it was under control or spontaneous. I knew by then that any time I was upset, frightened, or angry, the ice would shoot out from my hands. It grew increasingly stronger day by day, and I often tried to forget about it while I was in lessons with Aly.

As for the war, I had no contact with Terry. For some reason, as far as Oswin had explained, his war faction hadn't settle in yet, and they weren't allowed to write until they'd set up camp. Luckily, I had Oswin, and that made it possible to track his faction.

Soon enough, Aly found out that her baby was going to be a girl. I feared this would terrify her even more for if it didn't survive, but she seemed to be staying pretty optimistic, and we decided to name her.

"It needs to be something simple, but cute."
"I like names that start with vowels," I suggested.

"Vowels? Hm…" Oswin thought for a moment. "My grandmothers name was Anna? What about that?"
"I like that!" I sat up in their bed and looked at the both of them, grinning.

"Me too." Aly smiled warmly. "Anna it is!"

Pretty soon, Anna got to be responsive to the environment. She would kick when she heard the classical music every night, and sometimes Aly and Oswin would stop to feel her in the middle of their dance. I would sit passively on the sidelines. The last thing I wanted to do was to feel Aly's stomach and accidentally ice the baby. One night, after we all listened to music and I had retreated into my room to read a book, and Aly followed me.

"Essie?"
"Hey. What's up?"
"I just wanted to check on you. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine… why?"

"I just know Oswin and I have paid special attention to Anna… erm… me.. lately, just because of the circumstance. And we haven't had a whole lot of time to make sure you're coping alright."
"Aly, I'm the last thing you guys should be worrying about."

"I'll always worry about you, no matter how old you're getting. Seriously though, you're alright?"

"Yeah. Yeah I'm alright."
"Oh! Anna must have heard your voice. She's kicking. Want to feel?"
"I-I shouldn't… the ice."

"It's just me. You've never iced me. You won't now."
"Think so?"

"Of course. I believe in you, Essie."

She guided my hand towards the bump on her stomach and I shuddered as it came into contact.

"Feel that?"

A few little nudges sent pulses through my fingertips, and for the first time in a while, it wasn't coldness I felt. It was warmth. Love. I closed my eyes.

"Anna. Hey. It's your big sister. I know I haven't said much too you, but I love you, you know that? Today, tomorrow. Everyday."
A few more nudges, and then silence. I drew my hand away, then looked up. Aly wasn't staring at her stomach or at my hand. She was looking at me with tears in her eyes.

I hugged her, chuckling a little. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry."
We pulled away and she smirked, "It's happy, proud, sappy parent tears. Don't worry."
"Well, its still tears." I sat back on the bed.
"Either way, goodnight, Essie, dear."
"G'night Aly, night Anna."

She shut my door and walked out, still smiling and still carrying those happy tears.