"Claire, time to come in honey. Dinners ready." Aunty Mary called.
"Coming!" Claire called back over her shoulder add she finished arranging the flowers over her mother's grave.
A girl with black hair and bright green eyes pulled a face, sighed and walked back into the small cottage that was home.
Claire came in first removing her boots then washed her hand diligently as Mary bustled contentedly in the kitchen.
Soon the older woman came through to place a hot pan on the table, she couldn't help but notice the discontented look on the young girls face.
"Do you miss her?" she asked. The girl jolted out of her own thoughts and looked up almost confused.
"How can I miss someone I have never known? I'm not even sure why you get me to make her grave sure so pretty." She frowned again turning her head to look blankly out of the window.
Mary sighed. Had been already been 10 years she this girl and her mother arrived here? At first, she could only admonish the woman for using such magic, with a child at that! but the truth soon became apparent and desperation had dictated her actions.
Magic is dangerous. Badly done magic even more so.
Mary watched the girl eating absent-mindedly for a while then spoke.
"She is your mother. She gave everything for you to be safe here. I know you can't understand that now. And i pray you never will but you will respect her as long as I live."
The girl just rolled her eyes to the speech she had heard so many times before.
With an sigh Mary continued.
"Would you like to hear the story of when you both came here" Mary couldn't help but chuckle at the speed of change in the child's attitude. Now wide-eyed with hope and nearly jumping out of her seat in anticipation.
"What? really? oh yes please. "
"Yes. make me a cup of tea and I'll tell you everything I know."
How long had Mary put off this conversation? Always promising to tell the child when she was older. Alas, she should not out it off any longer.
A few minutes later they were settled on a small sofa. Mary still amused at the child's keenness for this knowledge that was yet unknown to her.
"Now where to start. hhmmm. The day you arrived I had been painting the fence. It was a beautiful spring day, much like today. As you know it takes a long time to get the fence done properly first you need to sand it down, then.."
A polite cough next to Mary served as a reminder that she was not here to talk about it to prepare fences.
"Oh yes." She looked at Claire apologetically. "Well, you can imagine my upset when I heard thunder and what seemed like lightning. "
"Lighting comes first Mary" the child smiled up at her thinking herself more knowledgeable.
"Not when magic is involved child." Mari paused for a moment allowing that sentence to sink in. The child's face dropped then slowly glowed with awe and wonder.
"Magic? but I thought..."
"Many things in this world are not what you have been told child. " Mary's face darkened. "Magic is real. Those that know it have been hunted down and controlled and all knowledge suppressed."
"but..."
"Listen now. Questions later. OK?" Mary tapped the child's nose affectionately and smiled at Claire's obedience, even when she was clearly bursting with questions. She will have many more to add soon enough.
Mary took a moment to remember what she was saying then continued her tale.
" Oh yes, the thunder. I was very put out at first, thinking I would have to start painting again another day. Then confused, when I looked up the sky, to see not a cloud in sight.
It was only then I realised the order of things. Of thunder and lightning."
She winked at Claire. "And considered the direction they had both come. The woods. So careful I went. and I tell you I was glad I already had my overalls on cause the branches..." another small cough.
"Ah. Yes, well, I clambered a little way into the woods when I found you both. I tell you, child, it was not a pretty sight. Your mother, so she managed to tell me, had been taught some magic from her mother but she had used such an advanced spell with no practice. It was a surprise you were both not torn to pieces.
But there you are safe and sound cradled in your poor mother's arms." A soft smile grace Mary's lips recalling the first time she had seen the girl.
"I'm sure you are not interested in the pains I took to get you both into my home and look after you both." Mary huffed looking unimpressed at the child giggling at her aunties frustration. "I'll tell you now miss Claire, raising a baby is hard enough without...." She paused. Shook her head slightly and with a small upturn of her lips continued again. Claire was curious but held her tongue eager for any more Mary was willing to offer.
"You were so helpless and your mother so injured. It's a miracle either of you survived at all. I've told you your mother lived long enough to nurse you till you were about 1 year old. She was so strong for so long but she knew her time was coming and she used the last of her life to protect you."
"Protect me?" Claire burst out "I thought you she died peacefully."
"She did die in peace, my child. " Mary embraced the girl and continued in a stern voice "but she could never have done that if you were in constant danger as you were. "
Claire pushed her Aunt way slightly to look up at her confused.
"I don't understand... I.. why did she need to protect me? " Mary felt pity for the girl in her arms and the mother that had given her all to protect her. But the truth was everything comes to an end. Mary stroked the girl's hair out of her face and looked deep into her eyes. There were many hard truths for this child to still learn.
"My dear. This world is unfair. There are those with power and those that seek to control it. Those with the greatest gifts are not always treated as they should. You, my dear and your poor mother are treasures and there are so few good people strong enough to protect you as they should. Your mother used the last of her strength to cast a spell on you."
The child gasped.
"But spells do not last forever. It is time for you to learn the truth of this world and see what this old witch can teach you. Let us see if you can be protected a bit longer Yes ?"