Historical setting: 589 C.E. Ana’s cottage in the Vosges Mts.
So here we are blest on this new morning of forever having the consummation of the promise borrowed from the dream, beautiful and new with terrors fading, fears washed nearly away in bright morning light and the ever-flowing cool of the mountain spring always filling the well.
Thank you God.
I mention it. “We could have a marriage of our union now, with promises and blessings and all.”
She answers, smiling, “That surely could shatter a pirate curse, In fact it already has. So, Laz, if we make a marriage of our promises aloud, I would promise you the sun and all the stars.”
“You can promise that? I was only thinking I could promise you a roof.”
“A roof? I promise you all the wonders of creation, and you only promise to lay a heap of thatch over my head?”
“Well, Ana, I would promise you the endless heavens where the sun and the stars dangle so playfully these days, but you already have that– you are that — the full canopy of love, the all of heaven.”
“Of course, Laz, That is what love is. And we are talking about love are we not?”
“We are.”
“Well then make sure you tell God it is about more than a roof.”
“Dear God, thank you for this blessing of forever love.”
One of the birds fledged here on top of the wall was carried back to Annegray by the servant monk; and now here it is, returning again to its mate. There is a message attached.
“Fr. C. requests you both.” And so we will go.
Ana supposes someone has a medical need. She prepares her kit with fresh herbs and cleans and sharpens the little blades we were using to scrape the inks.
As for me, I suppose the father will take Ana aside and ask her if she is well as he no doubt wonders if I am an intrusion in her solace. His plan may be that I stay at Annegray, particularly if Ana says she doesn’t want me here. But I also know they have need of someone to help with building a scriptorium from the part of the ruin where they gather.
So we go with medical kit and a bird in a cage, and the saw I borrowed from the tools at the monastery.”
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 