As dusk turned quickly into nightfall, the
worry lines along my mother’s brow and cheeks turned into fearful fretting.
This time she did not wait until I went to bed before pacing the floors, the
soft thudding of her feet echoing in the air as she walked back and forth in
front of the window, pausing from time to time and gazing outside into the
midnight black night. An owl, no doubt
calling out to another of it's kind, hooted quite loudly and as it echoed in
the night air, my mother jumped, her eyes closing as a single tear slid down
her flushed cheek, her hand clutching her wedding ring and twisting it over and
over. "Mama..
Is daddy okay?" I softly asked, my own mismatched blue and green eyes
darkened by this time with worry as well, the feeling in my stomach growing
stronger, knotting up my inner muscles as I clutched my wicker chair, watching
her pace. Turning to me slowly, she exhaled once, slowly..
and nodded, but her eyes told another story. She felt
the same premonition I did, although hers was probably more informed and warranted
then mine, as I had been kept in the dark for the most part of the details of
my father's work for the resistance group.
"Aye Jolena,
I'm sure he's....fine." she said, as she quickly walked over to me and
scooped me up into her arms, clutching me to her in a way that almost seemed as
if she was trying to protect me from something. Walking to my bed, she quickly
disrobed me and placed me in my ruby red nightshirt which was my favorite even
though it was quite worn from so much use. My father bought me that nightshirt
last year from a trade caravan, knowing it was my favorite color and gem and I
wear it more often then not to sleep in. Placing me on the straw mattress she
wrapped me up in the patch quilt she had made for me when I was just a babe.
"It's time for bed, little one. All good little girls who wish to have
adventures in the morn should be sleeping now.” she said as she bent over and
kissed my forehead tenderly. Gazing up
at her with concern, I nodded slowly. I smiled and didn't argue, knowing that
on this eve was not the time to argue about my bedtime, wanting to comfort her
somehow and thinking this would be the best way I could do so. "Alright
mama, kiss daddy for me when he comes home and make sure to wake me before he
leaves tomorrow so I can eat breakfast with him.", I said. Smiling slightly, she nodded to me and
whispered in my ear "I love ye Jolena, go to
sleep now and may Ronan bless your dreams.”
She left my room slowly, glancing back at me once as she blew out the
candle illuminating my room. I closed my eyes, trying to sleep as I listened to
her pacing begin once more. I prayed
silently to Lorminstra, the Goddess of life, to keep
my parents safe. I drifted off to sleep, wishing my father would come home from
his trip soon as he was very late already.
As suddenly as I fell asleep, I was taken
from it by the frantic whisperings of my mother, "Jolena.
Jolena wake up!" she said as she shook my
sleeping form and I groggily opened my eyes to gaze up at her. The frantic look
on my mothers face brought me to my senses rather quickly however as I saw
moonlight glistening from the tears streaking her face. Glancing over my bed
onto the dusty floor of my room I noticed she had already loaded a backpack
with a few items for me. The corner of my rogue doll sticking out of the edge