Christmas Eve at the Jackdaw’s

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Katherine smiles genuinely as both her friends and clan mates Christine and Constance return back into the house.

“Christine and Constance, thank you for returning. I apologise for the disturbance earlier.”

She passes Constance a small oblong parcel wrapped in red paper.

“Constance, for you.” She looks around and says to everyone, “Forgive me, I am just going to check on the new arrival.”

Katherine took her time in the hallway whilst making her way back to where Helen had taken the child. An orphaned child?She couldn’t turn it out on to the street. She never wanted to bear a child when she was mortal because she feared childbirth too muchbut she would happily have been a mother.

“Helen, is the babe well? Can I hold them?”

[annabelle]

“Finally…Not worried about breaking the Masquerade now?” Helen says sarcastically and gives Katherine an angry look while standing in front of her.

“The baby is well, it was a little bit hungry but these creatures are hungry all the time. Let’s say Matthia’s joke might actually have saved its life and move on from this drama. Do you know how to hold them?”

She pauses for a minute, her face serious and sober.

“Now…things are simple. If you do not intend to keep it. I will. If you do intend to keep it. I will be the Godmother. I am not asking.”

[Trevor Jackdaw]

At his wife's words words Jackdaw follows Kathrine to see the state of the poor babe. If it's as Matthias suggest an orphan it will have been hungry. Life without a mother is difficult an miserable but it can mean life or death without their mothers milk. Goats milk is the next best substitute. It's what he was reared on. This would be a strain to learn if Matthias spoke the truth. ''Helen can you see any of it's memories? I would like to know if Matthias was telling the truth about it's parents. If they are deceased I'd like to know. Then we can make decisions.''

[Mrs K. Saunders]

She nods at her husband’s words. “Yes, more than anything a child needs its mother. We do need to know if he lied to us.”

She looks at Helen and sighs. “I am sorry if I cannot live up to your expectations at all times. You do not know everything about me. I do what I can. In the case of the baby, yes I know how to hold it, i have looked after many a ..well it matters not. If the child needs a family, assuming that Jack is happy then .. I will look after it. It will be my ward.”

She holds her arms out for the child.

[annabelle]

Helen simply nods at Jackdaw. There is a slight flinch when she takes the infant in her arms. Holding its little head protectively, feeling like it was light as a feather. She takes the boy to a sofa and relaxes there. Surprisingly, it is relatively calm and is not crying.

She looks at it in the eyes and penetrates softly its fragile mind. Her own mind feeling like its swimming in a little lake, crystal clear and fresh but full of senses and mixed perceptions. Full of neuron potential and power.

With an intake of breath, the memories become clearer, or at least as clear as they can be for an infant. She stares there for a while trying to make sense and then she breaks contact. She could make so many assumptions and it was wise to not announce them.

She stands up, gives the infant to Katherine “I cannot make sense out of its memories. Will try again later.”

She looks at Elisabeth “My dear, can you come with me? I need to ask you something about Oxford.”

"Katherine, will come back later and we can try making sense of the baby's mind. It's definitely not an easy task."

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Katherine cradles the baby and sits down on the sofa. She looks down at its face. “You poor lost thing. We will make sure that you are taken care of.” She thinks even though I don’t know the future for me, I will ensure a good one for you.

“If there is truly no family, what would be your thoughts be on us raising the child?” She asks Jackdaw.

[Trevor Jackdaw]

''I wouldn't be adverse to it. But I would like to be sure we are not robbing someone of their offspring before we commit to it.'' He looks at Helen. ''What is a godmother?''

[annabelle]

His question seems to cheer up Helen.

“If you both die the Godmother takes care of the child…” she grins now.

“At least this was what it meant for non-royals when I was a human. That and the occasional gifts and extra pampering and protection. It’s connected to Christianity mostly…but we can skip that part. Let’s say I will have every right to spoil the boy. Is not that bad.”

[Jerome Price]

After Christine's abrupt exit Jerome continued gently humming christmas carols old and new as an odd counterpoint to the unfolding chaos in the various rooms, falling with practiced ease into the role of voyeur. There was a great deal of material to enjoy and the heady mixture of a little alcohol laden vitae and an infant started to pull at old memories that he quickly repressed. Instead he focused his attention on the hosts and their clan-mates, recognising the rare opportunity to watch so many ticking live wires loose in a single house and a chance to gain some insights before his trip to Taunton which by all accounts would be like walking into one of England's most prestigious asylum's.

As events seemed to calm, Jerome became aware that he was actually in the room again and moves behind the sofa to Helen's shoulder. "Yes, from what little I know of you Princess Helen I am sure that the little thing would want for nothing and experience everything with you as Godmother. Perhaps we might return to the evening's festivities with a few verses of away in a manger to send this little one to sleep and perhaps even entice our Prince and her ward back from the cold outside?" Jerome begins to sing gently from behind the sofa, gesturing for those who will to join him.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little lord Jesus lays down his sweet head
The stars in the bright sky look down where he lay
The little lord Jesus asleep in the hay.

[Christine Daye]

It will be no surprise to anyone that Jerome's singing draws Christine back into the room. She joins him for the rest of the carol, nodding agreement at Helen.

...yes... Helen will make an excellent Godmother...

The lullaby nature of the carol soothes her.