The First Spell Weaver of Airendell: Book Two of the Airendell Chronicles (21 page)

“You can, son, you really can.  I will always try to be here for you.”  Luca assures him. 

“Yeah, I can see you mean that too.  Thank you, I like it when you call me son.  Do you mean it like a real son, or is it just an expression?” Kyle asks sincerely.

“I mean it, son, any child of Morna’s is like a child of mine.  Who she treasures, I treasure!” Luca vows.

“Thank you Luca.  I should warn you, I might like the idea of calling you Dad when I get used to being around you.  Would that be okay?”

“Yes it certainly would!”  Luca says with a huge smile on his face.  “I would be honored if you wanted to call me Dad.  You are a fine young man, so much like your mother, but I suspect even stronger in some ways.”

Kyle snorts like he doesn‘t agree with that assessment but grins at Luca.  “We better get back, Mom will be worried.”

Luca laughs and says, “I should have warned you, we can hear conversations in another room as clear as though they are right beside us.  We have very, very good hearing, sense of smell and vision.  But your mom’s vision isn’t as good as mine.  But her sense of smell is greater than mine.  Your mom can move lightning fast too, Son.”

“COOL!  But the hearing thing might be a challenge,” Kyle says thoughtfully and Luca laughs with him.

They return to the family and Morna meets them at the door, she hugs Kyle and says, “Sorry, baby, I thought I protected you better than I did.  Forgive me?”

“Nothing to forgive, Mom.  You are Aces.  Always have been.”  And he hugs her back fiercely.  He pulls back and nods toward Luca, “This guy is pretty cool too!”

At that moment Brynhold announces that dinner is ready.  Morna goes over to pick up Aiden and take him to dinner, when he shakes his head no, he looks at Morna and she hears his voice in her head, “Can Luca take me in to dinner?  I mean if he wants to.”

Morna looks at Luca, he understands immediately.  He kneels before Aiden and says, “Aiden, I will happily take you into dinner.  But I want to warn you, my skin feels very, very cold.  Even colder than your Mom feels now.  You okay with that?”  Aiden nods and Luca smiles hugely and picks him up and gracefully carries him in to dinner. 

Luca hears Aiden’s voice, “Mom shouldn’t be lifting me with a baby growing in her belly, right?”

“She’s very strong now, it is probably okay.  But I am happy to do it for her.  I like it that you are looking out for your Mom, she doesn’t take good care of herself all the time.” Luca whispers conspiratorially.

Aiden laughs and says telepathically to Luca, “She never has.  She used to exhaust herself caring for me.  Dad wouldn’t help, and she never complained, never acted like she was too tired to do everything for me.  She’s really a good Mom.”

“I know she is, but she has help now, don’t worry about that Aiden.”  Luca assures the tiny boy.

“Luca, she really loves you a lot.  Be nicer to her than our Dad was, please.”

“I will son, I promise.”  Luca says solemnly as he sits Aiden at the table.  Aideen sits beside Aiden and asks if she can help him, he nods to her with a huge smile on his face.  Then Aiden turns to Luca and telepathically asks him to sit on the other side of him.  Luca nods and happily sits beside the little boy.  Agnar sits by Aideen, Breena, and Damian are next to Agnar then Collingwood.  Morna sits between Collingwood and Nora, and finally Kyle sits between Valliant and Luca.  Nora is happily hanging onto Grandpa, Valliant finally pulls her up into his lap.  Morna giggles because it is obvious that her mate and father are in seventh heaven with her children.  She looks at Collingwood, and he seems very, very happy to see the children settling in so well with their ‘new’ bigger family.

Brynhold serves the meal family style.  There were no servants hovering over the table, which makes Morna very happy.  She looks around the table and cannot help herself as tears of joy fall silently down her cheeks.  She stifles the fleeting sense that something or someone is missing, and smiles at her family.  Aiden sees her tears first and asks, “What’s wrong Mom?” 

“Nothing is wrong Aiden.  Everything is right for the first time in nearly 600 years.  I am truly a woman blessed.  I want to say grace if everyone will indulge me.’  Everyone bows their head and Morna says, “Heavenly Father, thank you for my family, and our dear ones with us here tonight.  You have truly blessed us all, and me especially Lord.  I am now and forever, your grateful servant.  Amen.”

“Mama, have you always been a believer in the one true God?” asks Aideen thoughtfully.

“Yes I have Aideen.  Weren’t you raised that way?  It is your father’s and my belief system. I was raised catholic myself, but I can’t say I am actually a catholic, but I am a Christian.”  Morna says with deep conviction.

“But after all you and Daddy have been through, you yet believe?  And what about those Christians who believe Daddy is damned?  Perhaps you as well, now” Aideen asks earnestly.

“They are wrong.  There is no way Lucian Michaels is damned.  God isn’t an illogical, unjust tyrant, it just isn’t possible!” Morna asserts vehemently.

“Even if I were damned Aideen, it wouldn’t matter.  I would still serve Him, because He is God.”  Luca asserts quietly.

Luca meets Morna’s gaze across the table.  Their eyes lock and hold each other for several seconds and then Morna smiles happily and Luca returns her smile.  Then Morna starts passing food around and seeing to her family’s needs.  She happily watches Aideen properly prepare her little brother’s food and help him as he feeds himself, or rather tries to.  Aideen skillfully gets enough food down him to meet his needs. 

Aideen catches her mother watching her and is pleased that Morna seems so proud of her.  She blushes and looks away from Morna and sees Luca also watching her with pride.  And she feels all the years of jealousy, resentment, and yearning fall away.  She feels at home now, at peace.  She finally feels free to live her own life, to love her man and move on to face whatever the future holds for her and her family.  She is indeed grateful to God also.

After a while, Morna notices that Nora has fallen asleep in her Grandpa’s arms.  She looks like a perfect little porcelain doll in his embrace.  She offers to take Nora to bed.  Valliant whispers, “May I come too?  I never got to do this for you when you were a wee one.” 

“Of course Father, I would be delighted.  Nora may not turn loose of you voluntarily at any rate,” Morna giggles.  Ingrid appears seemingly out of nowhere to show Morna to the child’s bedroom.  It is right next to her own.  She smiles at that thoughtfulness.  She asks where Aiden’s room is and Ingrid indicates the one across the hall.  Both within hearing distance for Morna.  She is delighted at the obvious thought and care that went into room assignments and mouths thank you to Ingrid.  Ingrid points to the room on the other side of the master suite and mouths Kyle.  Morna nods and takes Nora to her bed.  She was already wearing her nightgown since they were having a late supper, well, by the standards of a seven year old.  Morna pulls the covers down and Valliant lies the little girl in bed.  Morna tucks her in and kisses her forehead. 

Nora is mostly asleep, but says, “Mom, pray with me.”  Morna kneels by the bed and they recite her night time prayer.  “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray to God by soul to keep.”  Then Nora continues in her tiny, sweet voice, “Please bless Mom, Luca, Grandpa, Aideen, Aiden, Kyle, Auntie Breena and Uncle Damian, Mr. Agnar, and Mr. Collingwood. Thank you for bringing Mommy back.  I love you, God, amen.”  Morna kisses Nora again, and says, “Yes Lord, Amen!  Can I ask why you call Damian uncle?”

The sleepy little girl shrugs and says, “Because he is going to marry Auntie Breena, and they will have many babies.”  Morna smiles at her daughter’s words and wonders if she could possibly be right.  She kisses the little girl again and watches her for few more moments.  She has missed her little girl so much, and is so grateful to have her back. 

Nora is sound asleep when Morna leads her father out into the hall.  Once out in the hall Morna collapses in tears.  Valliant gathers her up in his arms.  “Now, now Baby Girl, what is all this about?”

“Father, it is joy, pure unspeakable joy!  Thank you for helping Luca get my children back to me!”  She hugs her father fiercely.  Then she chuckles at herself and says, “Joy and pregnancy hormones.”

“That’s alright lass.  No mother should be without her children.  Luca did the hard work, convincing Heimdall and Albreich that he could keep them safe.  He is a good man.”  Valliant says quietly.  Morna hugs her father again and agrees wholeheartedly with his assessment of her mate.  They walk back to the dining room hand in hand. 

When they get back, Breena has made a rainbow above the dining room table and is telling the story of how she got Morna to teach her how to do it in her sleep.  Nearly everyone laughs because it is a long standing joke about Morna talking in her sleep.  Morna laughs and says, “Yes, we got into quite a bit of hot water for developing and weaving non guild approved spells.  My goodness, if they could see some of the other spells I have figured out how to weave over the years they would all faint in their mead.”  Morna and Breena laugh heartily at this inside joke.

Kyle looks at Morna and says “What else can you do Mom?”

Morna looks uncomfortable, and squirms in her chair.  “Most of my magic is defensive and offensive in nature.  I can do some parlor tricks, and some healing, but nothing on the magnitude of Luca or Breena.  And Aideen is the strongest healer of us all, unless I am badly mistaken, and I rarely am mistaken about a Spell Weavers strengths.” Morna says thoughtfully.

“Mom, you are a warrior right?” ask Kyle.

Morna meets his eyes.  “Yes son, I am.  I have unfortunately had to kill many beings in my life times.  But I never kill if I can keep from it.”

“No duh, Mom!  I know you.  You wouldn’t even offend someone if you could make a point without it.  I can’t imagine you would take any life if there was another option.”  Kyle asserts.

“Thank you Kyle, your confidence is gratifying.  I hope I deserve it.”  Morna says sincerely.

Agnar laughs loudly and says, “Don’t let that humble exterior fool you boy.  Your mom is as dangerous as any being can be.  Thor, the thunder god gives her a wide berth.”

Morna snorts and says, “Don’t fill my son’s head with nonsense.”

Kyle looks to Luca for the truth and Luca nods.  Kyle understands, his mom is truly a fierce warrior.  He has always respected his mom, but now he has a new level of respect for her.

Aiden taps the table and when Morna looks at him he asks, “You are not a good healer?”

“Sorry Aiden, I am not the strongest healer.  I think it’s because my life’s mission is to defend and protect our Guild and humanity.  Breena’s and Aideen’s missions are to heal.  As a Spell Weaver, Luca was a much stronger healer than me, but still a very strong warrior.  Now he is still an equal pairing of healing and defending.  Why?”

“Back at Alfheim, Collingwood offered to try to heal me, but when I asked him if you might be able to do it yourself, he said possibly.  I was just wondering if you could.”  Aiden tells Morna telepathically.

“I am not a good enough healer right now, baby, to heal you.  Maybe someday, but Aideen, Breena or Luca would be better for the job than me.  Especially Aideen.  She is an excellent healer.  She is a Spell Weaver of the First Order and a world class surgeon back in the human world.”  Morna tells her son honestly.

Aiden is thoughtful for a few minutes, then he asks, “Mom would you mind if I asked Aideen or Luca to heal me?  I wanted to wait for you, but I am growing impatient now that I know I could probably be restored to better health.  I get tired a lot Mom, way more than I used to.”

“Aiden, honey if you are getting tired more easily, that isn’t a good sign.  We should act now.  Do you want to ask her or do you want me to ask her?”  Morna asks softly.

Aiden looks at his oldest, and newest sister, “Could you heal me Aideen?”

Aideen starts crying and hugs her little brother.  “Aiden, I would be honored to try.  Tomorrow, I will examine you.  I want Brigid to come assist with that.  And then we can decide what spells might work best.  But you understand, I may not be able to heal you completely, right?  Cerebral Palsy is very tricky, and I understand that you have a seizure disorder too.  Daddy, we might need you too, you seem to know your way around a brain very well, and you are so precise in your spells.”  Aideen turns back to her brother, “We may want to take you to Chicago for tests.”  Then she looks at her parents, she is very excited by the prospect of helping her little brother, “Can we do that?”

“Yes,” says Luca confidently.  “I was planning to take Morna back for tests anyway.  We could do them all at Brigid’s clinic.  Valliant, George and Damian could come along to help me with the protection detail.  Agnar, would you stay and protect the other children?”  Agnar nods.  “Brigid and Aideen can come as the healers, and whoever else you might need from our group.  Yes, we can do it.”  Luca assures them calmly.

Aiden asks Luca, “Could my brother and sister come with me?”

“Sure son, if you want Kyle and Nora with you, we will just bring enough people along to protect them all.  Don’t worry, now that we know who our enemies are, we are better able to defend ourselves against them.”

“Wonderful!” says Morna.  “Luca and I will see to all the arrangements.  As soon as we can set it all up, we will go to Chicago.”