Chapter 26
The month of October served as a recovering period for everyone following the horrific events in the previous month. Halloween had arrived and in the afterlife, Meinrad and Ishild, with their daughter and the dwarfs held their own celebration for the night of spooks.
The dwarfs promised to not overdue on their drinking and instead, some played with their instruments and others danced with Meinrad and Ishild. Runa and Oda took turns watching over Leofflæd.
Some of the dwarfs were being mischievous as usual, pulling harmless pranks on one another and scaring each other silly.
Meinrad frowns at this behavior, but Leofflæd seemed to be enjoying the dwarfs' crazy playfulness.
The celebrations ceased when midnight tolled and November arrived. It was nearing Christmas again and Meinrad feels dread, he didn't want to go back to the mortal world as it would mean missing Leofflæd's first Christmas.
"I say we have our own Christmas celebration," Helmold declares one morning, "It will be early, but at least Meinrad will not miss out on Leofflæd's first Christmas."
Meinrad and Ishild loved the idea and Meinrad prepared a special present for his daughter. Day and night, he worked hard on making it.
He made a musical box with a porcelian horse and rider. He modeled the rider after Ishild and the melody was of 'Silent Night'. The key was painted gold and he finished his finest work on the eve of Thanksgiving.
Meinrad tested it, it worked perfectly and he takes it into his hand and carries it all around.
The dwarfs had prepared a feast with big turkeys and the finest wines they ever made. Ishild, with Leofflæd strapped to her chest, was pulled out of the preparations and met with Meinrad.
He shows the music box to both of them. Ishild oohed at the sight of the magnificent creation and Leofflæd reaches for it. Meinrad turns the key and the box begins to play 'Silent Night'.
"Oh, Meinrad, you are a genius," Runa comments on her adoptive son's masterpiece.
Leofflæd smiles at her present and Meinrad says to Ishild, "Play it at night, it will give her good dreams. Pretend it is me singing to her."
Meinrad then ties a string around the key and slips it over Leofflæd's head. She cooes and plays at the key. The music box finishes its melody and it goes silent.
Then the festivities began. As before, there was eating, drinking, and dancing. "We should do this more often when we are here," Hartwig said to Runa, his wife.
Meinrad and Ishild danced for awhile, but Ishild noticed that something was troubling her husband. "What is wrong?" she asks.
He walks away from the dancing and so did Ishild, following Meinrad. He stops and stares at Ishild. "For the longest time, my heart feels heavy. It's not of love, but something else, almost like grief," he explains to her.
"How long have you felt this way?" Ishild asks, touching his face.
"All my life I believe, I should've told you this sooner, but I thought I would feel relief when I passed Lucifer's test or when Leofflæd was born. I still feel that grief, nothing seems to cure it," Meinrad explains to Ishild.
Ishild did not know what to think of Meinrad's situation. She experienced times when she felt at her lowest, even in the afterlife.
"I wish I had an answer, but I just don't," she replies and Meinrad exhales a breath.
Then, out of the blue, snow began to fall. This was actually normal as their home in Austria would have the first snowfall around this time.
Leofflæd was curious of the tiny white flakes and flails her arms around, wanting to catch one.
Then, a bell began to toll the midnight hour. "No!" Meinrad cries out, "I don't want to go back, not yet!"
He craddles his daughter in his arms and embraces Ishild. "Listen Meinrad, you will be gone for some time, but not forever," Ishild said, but Meinrad shakes his head.
The bell tolled three times already and Meinrad's image began to fade from the afterlife.
"We will be gone for at least 35 days," Helmold said before he went back to the mortal world.
"35 days, they will go by in a flash," Ishild said to Meinrad and he presses his hand to his eyes. Ishild then plays the music box one more time for him to listen.
The bell tolled another three, but Meinrad ignored it as the music box played wonderfully. Leofflæd then yawns and falls asleep in her father's arms. "I love you, my sweet," he said in her tiny ear.
He hands her over to Ishild and they share one last kiss before the final toll and Meinrad had returned to the mortal world.
()()()()()()()()()()()
Meinrad wakes up and stands to his feet. He thought he was still holding Leofflæd as it felt like it, but she was not there.
His heart was still heavy with the grief. What was this grief? He had no idea as he had everything he could wish for, Ishild as his wife and a daughter, but why was his hear heavy?
It was something Meinrad would have to find out someday, but right now, he and the dwarfs had to prepare for this year's Christmas.
From the author: I know it's short, but I want to finish this story while it is still winter. I honestly still believe that Christmas happened yesterday as it is still fresh in my mind.
What is this grief Meinrad is feeling? You might have to figure it out yourself or wait until the very end. See you soon!