Sebastian's Mate (Book 1)

Act 28: Swords, Moors, and Midwives

Aided by Louisa's control over the winds, the journey took little time, and the trio approached their destination a little before dawn. Ciel had fallen asleep shortly after they had begun and remained sleeping soundly in Sebastian's arms as Louisa began to recognise her surroundings.

"There is a cottage close to the site of my old home. The woman that lives there is a friend." Said Louisa.

"A friend?" queried Sebastian.

"She aided me when I was here last. I could not pace her then, but now with my memories fully restored," Louisa stopped and hovered, "we are here."

They descended slowly and quietly. As they landed, a woman appeared in the doorway of the cottage.

"Welcome, daughter of Typhon." She said reverently.

"Margaret, I am just Louisa."

"My dear, there has never been anything 'just' about you; now, as you stand in all your glory, you are magnificent," Margaret replied.

As Louisa walked forward and embraced her, Sebastian smiled, revelling in the adoration that his beloved had received. As Margaret was released from the embrace, she turned to Sebastian.

"Malphas; welcome protector and mate of Typhon's daughter."

"Margaret; your perception has not waned I see. I did not realise you had stayed with the family."

Louisa looked from one to the other. Sebastian saw her confusion. "You were far too young to remember my last visit to your family. Margaret had not long delivered you into this world, and your father had not yet moved to this location."

Margaret spotted the bundle in Sebastian's arms. "Bring the child inside before he catches a chill."

Louisa and Sebastian returned to their human forms and followed Margaret into the cottage. Sebastian laid the still sleeping Ciel on the bed while Margaret found clothing for Louisa. As she helped Louisa dress, Margaret asked Sebastian about the child that laid on her bed.

"Your current master, I assume?"

"Yes, and Louisa's cousin."

"He is the Earl's son?"

"Was, he is the Earl Phantomhive now. He called on me after the death of his parents."

"He has given his consent to the two of you?" Asked Margaret, clearly as wary of the son as she was the father.

"He has his struggles with us, but yes, he is not his father."

"Good." She replied, clearly relieved. "Assuming you have come for the sword and to fulfil your promise to Typhon, he would be safer if he remained here with me. I can keep him hidden, as I have hidden this place these last years."

Ciel, who had woken during the conversation, sat up, and spoke sternly, "I will not be left anywhere, this is as much my responsibility as it is theirs." As he contemplated the conversation that had preceded his response, confusion crept into his voice, "if the place is hidden now, why was it not hidden when Louisa and her family lived here?"

Margaret smiled; she liked his directness and curiosity. "I simply did not know how back then. I was just a healer, a midwife, with greater perception than most humans."

"A witch." Stated Ciel, there was no judgement in his voice, and Margaret responded "yes, if you like, a witch. It allowed Typhon to find me when they realised that Jayne, Louisa's mother, was with child. I stayed to help care for mother and child and became part of their family."

Margaret stopped and caught her breath. The memory of the day the Order came for the family was still fresh in her mind. If she had not been held up with that difficult delivery, if she hadn't stopped to collect herbs on the way back, then all might have been different. She wiped away a tear and continued, "it was the reaper that came for Jayne's soul, he told me how to protect the site. He said that people needed to believe the place was cursed, that doing so would be important when you finally made your way home. It is why Jayne's body was never buried. Over time the story spread, and I was able to cast the spell he gave me to hide the place completely."