Worries

When the warmth of the day
becomes the night
Who could sleep beneath
a strange moonlight?
No guiding star
So far from home

(Enya: I may not awaken)


Father Hieronymus was worried. He had a strange feeling something wasn't right. It started the night the litle prince was born and though nothing extraordinary had really happened, it just refused to go away. Or had nothing extraordinary happened? Father Hieronymus wasn't sure. Sometimes he felt he can't be sure about anything and that worried him even more.
He wanted to pray to the God and ask Him to lead him, show him the right way, but he wasn't the first one to get this idea. Brighid was already kneeling before the altar, her lips moving in a silent prayer.



Hieronymus didn't want to interrupt her, so he only stood back and watched silently until she turned and saw him.


"Father..." she said in such a voice, like she was saying "Help me."



"What can I do for you, child?" Hieronymus asked kindly "What's wrong?"
"Everything." replied Brighid silently.
"What do you mean?"
"I... I don't know really, it's just the place... and the queen's childbirth and..."
"The childbirth? What was wrong with it?"
Brighid looked at Father Hieronymus, her eyes like those of a frightened animal. She didn't know what to say for a while, but then she finally spoke. "The baby was born too early. And the queen's mirror broke that night - that must be a bad omen. And..." she hesistated for a moment, but than she added: "... and we're not here alone."
Hieronymus said nothing and just gave her a reassuring look.

"It's something the queen said. Just after the childbirth, when she was almost sleeping she muttered: "He's watching us." Someone is here, with us! And princess Arleen saw his footsteps... Maybe he's not human at all! Who would walk barefoot in the snow? Or be afraid of mirrors?"
"Calm down, child. This all might have been nothing but a pure coincidence. For all we know, the footsteps may have been done by Arleen herself. They are no pfoof that there is a demon with us!"
"I just thought... I was afraid that we are cursed." Bridgid said hesistantly.
"Cursed?"
"Yes... I thought... because of me and Torrin... But I swear to God, I never wanted... I never meant to..." She his her face in her hads and broke into sobs.

"That is impossible, my child. Our Lord is loving and merciful, He would never punish you like this. He knows very well why did you do it and has surely forgiven you by now. You shouldn't worry too much, my child." Father Hieronymus said kindly.
"But what if it is no coincidence? What if something bad is really happening? Even if it's not because of me and my son?"
"It definitely isn't because of you and your son, Brighid. Stop blaming yourself. Our Lord loves you. He loves all and He would protect us from every unholy being you can imagine."
Brighid looked at him, with tears still in her eyes.
"Don't worry." Father Hieronymus repeated. "The winter will soon be over and everythng will be all right."

"Thank you, Father."
"There's nothing to thank me for." he said.

After Brighid left, Father Hieronymus spent long time thinking about what she had told him. He thought of his own feelings and prayed for what he had told Brighid to be true. Or, if it wasn't, he prayed to the God to protect them from every evil.