Historical Setting, 629 C.E. The Farm in the Vosges Mts.
Not two days have passed, when Brandell and Gaia return and with them Hannah, sharing a horse with that Avar, Vizsla. On one hand it is such a good thing to see how Hannah is joyful. She is always so measured in her observations but now she is in love. Never has her happiness been exposed for all to see. But now we’ve been depending on her stoic detachment in dealing with our fears. Ana is in need of a medical fix not more tears from her children.
I’m waiting outside the creek cottage now where Hannah is with Ana. As is his nature, Vizsla is also uncomfortably present inside the cottage. I’m pretty sure Ana doesn’t want him in there for this mother/daughter, doctor/doctor moment. I suggest he wait outside with me. Hannah says he is needed in there. I ask Ana. She sends me to bring some herbs to get me out of the way. Vizsla refuses to come along with me so I am going alone up to the herb garden on the hill.
In the herb garden I gather up what I can from sweet smelling lavender. And I know the chamomile makes a soothing tea. I add to it some yellow flowers, and pink flowers to make a nice bouquet. My hopes and my silent prayer is for Hannah to find that our fear is only a little pebble, easily removed.
I tap on the door of our cottage like a young lover with a bouquet in hand, hoping she will come smiling to me and open the door. I wait here for someone to answer the door to my own house. It’s Hannah who finally comes.
Looking into the room, there is Ana laying on our bed and Vizsla is using a needle and thread to end the surgery. Some rags with blood are carefully laid around Ana’s exposed breast. The three traditional bowls for cleansing are on the hearth, still steaming. I think the surgery is completed.
Hannah slams the door closed, pulling me outside with her. She takes the bouquet. She is angry. I’ve never known her to be angry. Hannah, whose very nature is control is snarling at me.
“Papa, how could you be so stupid to bring this from the herb garden!
Did you learn nothing in your long life? We need an abundance of violet leaves and wound wart.” Footnote
Hannah is grieving. In my defense, “Hannah, herbs and their uses change with time.”
Footnote: The 17th century ”Culpepper’s Color Herbal edited by David Potterton, with recent Pharmacognostical oversight, (London, New York: Sterling Publishing Co. 1983) p 48 and p 169
(Continues Thursday, August 1, 2024)
Lazarus Ink 