Nightsong Chapter 17
I made Helen soak herself in the hot water in order to take away any chill she may have managed to bring on in the chilled water of the ocean. She giggled and laughed as I scrubbed her clean and then dried her off as well as possible. I swaddled her in a clean blanket and sat with her before the fire, brushing her hair as it dried. I didn't realize that I was humming until she spoke.
"That's a pretty tune, Lady Asya. What's it called?" She asked.
I thought for a moment, trying to remember the tune that I'd been singing in my head and humming aloud. "It's called Rock of Ages. It's sung by a woman in my ...in the place where I'm from called Gillian Welch."
"How does it go?"
I thought for a moment before singing the lyrics to her, trying to remember as I went along:
"Round, round, I wanna go round
wanna see the rock of ages
when my body gives out
gonna read the final pages
Oh, my mother who's gone
she told me I should meet her
Someday streets of gold
Gonna guide me on to greet her
Once my father sat down
and told me of the prophets
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
they're gone but not forgotten
Round, round, I wanna go round
wanna see the rock of ages
til my body gives out
gonna read the gospel pages
Moses heard a voice
it called him up the mountain
forty days had set
when Moses come a shoutin'
Round, round, I wanna go round
wanna see the rock of ages
when my body gives out
gonna read the final pages
Round, round, I wanna go round
wanna see the rock of ages
til my body gives out
gonna read the gospel pages
Round, round, I wanna go round
wanna see the rock of ages
when my body gives out
gonna read the final pages"
I sang, hoping the words were correct, it had been a while since I'd heard the song. I was surprised-actually, closer to shocked-when Helen sang the song back to me, perfectly, not a word forgotten. By the time she'd finished, I'd joined in and we ended in harmony. She smiled and then covered her mouth as she yawned sleepily.
"Tired?"
"Yes, Lady Asya."
"That's probably best. You'll need to get warm and to rest, that should keep you from becoming so ill again." I picked her up in my arms and carried her to the bed, and then pulling a long-sleeved chemise over her head. I tucked her carefully into the bed, pulling the heavy bedclothes over her. From the window, birds called as the sun began to set. I sat for a few minutes at the side of the bed, watching as Helen began to drift off to sleep, humming lightly the song we'd sung.
When had it happened, I wondered. When had I fallen in love with this little girl? So small, so innocent, so wonderous? I felt my heart fill with warmth, as if it would burst. I loved this little girl. I would do anything for her. For the first time ever, I wondered if this was what it felt like to be a mother.
My reverie was interupted by someone clearing their throat. Startled, I looked up to find Lord Breckon staring at me. I blushed, and moved to close the window, shutting out the night's chill. "Good evening, Lord Breckon." I said softly.
He simply nodded, and then held his hand out to me. "May I escort you to the dining hall?"
Strangely emboldened, I nodded and placed my hand in his. He pulled me to him, against his chest and my heart began to triple it's pace. I felt my face flood with heat as blood rushed to my cheeks, staining them bright red. I tried to look down, look away, but his finger pushed my chin up to look into his piercing eyes. "Thank you." He said simply.
Astonished, I could only gasp. "For..for what?"
He smiled. "For my daughter. You gave her back to me. "
I looked over at the sleeping little girl. And then back to him. "I didn't do it for you, Breckon. "
"Say that again."
"What?" I asked, confused.
"My name."
"Breckon?" I was thoroughly confused now.
"Yes!" He hissed and then placed his lips on mine.