The day had dawned bright, clear and warm, which was a relief from the rains of the past few days. The going was slow due to the mud and the muck, but she did notice the flowers that were beginning to bloom, and her thoughts wander to that one particular place of blue flowers, and she has to smile. At one point she had walked for a time prodding the bosk along as Rook and Gabe pushed on the back of her main wagon, trying to get it out of the mud. It had tipped precariously for an instant, broke loose of the mire that it was in, righted itself and began to roll.
Once she was ensconced once more on the seat, she drifted off into the land of her memories again. Tug had enjoyed his time with Ba'atar and his brothers, as always, and had returned like a proud little warrior with Rook carrying the meat that had been sent. His first words had been "Tal Wench, One brings meat for your belly!" She had almost groaned as she had gone from Mama to Wench again, but she said nothing. He had climbed up to sit beside her on the platform where she was resting, and began to tell her of his adventure with "the men" He even allowed her to hug him and rest an arm around him as he talked. He stopped mid-story to look at her and ask how she was feeling, which surprised her. Assuring him that she was fine, he had nodded then told her that 'Atar had told him that he was supposed to watch over her and make sure that she did not do something foolish as wenches often did. She was going to kill that man, truly kill him.
Rook had sliced some of the meat up, and the girls had grilled it over the fire until it was nice and rare. Bread from the previous day was toasted up, slathered with butter and served with it. It was a meal fit for the Ubar, and they all enjoyed it immensely. It was a nice break from jerkey and tabuk or the occasional prairie vulo. She had laughed as she watched Tug eat like someone twice his size. Skies this child was growing, and she was already thinking of the trading and bartering she would have to do for new clothing for him. From time to time he would look at her and proclaim...."Eat wench, eat!" This was met with the slightest roll of her eyes but she did eat. In fact, she probably ate too much and was uncomfortable later in the evening. Once his hunger was sated, the boy slowed down and crawled back up beside her, leaning into her side and swung his legs as he asked for a story or a song.
It was Rook that had regaled them all with a story of a larl hunt that he had been on once. The larl in the story was uncommonly large and wise, and the hunters were brave and strong, and Tug held to every word that came from the man's mouth. Had the story not been so exciting, he might have fallen asleep, but stayed awake right to the very end when the hunters outwitted the wily larl, and arrived back in camp with the pelt and the claws as proof of their bravery. When his mouth opened with a huge yawn, she had nudged him and told him it was time to sleep, and thankfully he did not put up a fuss, but only asked for a song.
Gabe had lifted him down,then her and walked with them back to Tug's wagon, helping her up inside. Once inside she had helped him to undress and crawl into his furs. Suddenly she was Mama again and not wench, when he yawned again and asked for a song. She had gathered him up as best she could in what was left of her lap, and began to sing softly to him.
Close your eyes, Have no fear,
The monsters gone, he's on the run
and your mama's here.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Boy,
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Boy,
Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way, it's getting better and better,
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Boy,
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Boy,
Out on the ocean, ship sailing away
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we'll just have to be patient
Cause it's a long way to go, a hard row to hoe
Yes it's a long way to go, but in the meantime,
Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you while you're busy making other plans,
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Boy,
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Boy,
Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way, it's getting better and better,
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Boy,
Darling, darling, darling, darling Tug
Goodnight Tug, see you in the morning.
That dark head had dropped to her breast, and by the end of the song he was fast asleep. Perhaps it was the emotions from being pregnant, or maybe they came because she realized he was no longer her baby, but as she sat there rocking him gently, humming, tears fell down her cheeks. To her, this was the most perfect love that existed, that unconditional love between parent and child.
Finally she had eased him down, tucked the furs in around him and lay that old, wooden kaiila into the furs with him. As her fingers trailed gently over the carved animal, she thought back to the one that had carved it. Yes, she had been blessed with love and friends, and each one was a treasured memory to her.
Leaning to kiss the top of that little dark head she whispered to him..."I love you my beautiful son."
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