Dragon Bride

Chapter 23 Spring Equinox

The cold weather persisted for several weeks then slowly things started to thaw. The village's attitude however did not thaw toward Karliene and she simply avoided them as much as possible. The cruel whispers and silent treatment hurt but she had her looms to occupy her time and worked tirelessly at producing cloth. On warmer days she would take her loom outside to work as the hours of daylight slowly increased. She and Unni continued to visit Fr. Peter daily to bring meals, clean house and manage his meager laundry. Fr. Peter's health had rallied slowly since St. Lucia Day and Karliene found joy in seeing his response to her herbal remedies. The mead hall was quite busy with the returning traffic from the knarrs and the warmer weather. Karliene and her sister worked most evenings occasionally cooking but mostly serving and entertaining.

"Oonagh come with us up the mountain," Karliene called to her. Oonagh struggled into her coat and rushed outside. She had wrapped her own legs but the long garters had become loose and the wrappings had loosened and were now sagging. Karliene and and Unni knelt next to her and re-wrapped the wool strips and tied the garters.

"We went barefoot yesterday," Oonagh complained.

"There's still a lot of snow up on the mountain," Unni said, "and your little feet will get cold. See even Karlie has her shoes on." Oonagh looked carefully at Karliene then acquiesced. She held hands with Karliene and her sister and walked toward the mountain. It took them over an hour to reach forested area and they stopped to eat the lunch they had packed.

"You were hungry Oona!" Unni said smiling at her cousin. Oonagh, her hunger now sated began to look around. Snow was everywhere but every so often she saw colorful wildflowers peeking through the snow. The flowers were mostly a bright yellow but occasionally where were blue flowers and delicate little white ones. Oonagh was delighted to see the flowers and picked the more numerous yellow ones.

"The yellow ones are called hestehov," Karliene whispered as she knelt next to Oonagh. Smiling she added "The blue ones are called blaveis and those little white ones snoklokke. Don't pick the white ones they are very delicate and wont make it down the hill."

"Remember what we told you?" Unni asked. She too was kneeling next to Oonagh and smiling.

"The flowers get brighter when a little girl sings to them," Oonagh said.

"The song works best when girls are pretty," Unni said encouragingly. The sisters both had their arms around Oonagh. Oonagh began to sing to the flowers:

"Blomster sma

Gule, bla

Titter opp av marken na

Vinker til Oonagh-lill

For hun ser sa snill!

Flowers little

Yellow, blue

Looking up through snow and ice

Waving to little Oonagh

Because she is so nice!"

Karliene and Unni joined Oonagh in her song. "I love early spring on my mountain," Karliene said. She stood then held out her arms and turning in a circle and repeating the song adding all of their names to the verse. "Look Oonagh, the flowers are brighter. That means you ARE magic and spring is the time of magic. Lets pick a nice bouquet of flowers for your Mom, she will be so happy." Oonagh gathered a large bouquet avoiding the tiny white blossoms then the three of them returned home. As they approached the house Karliene cut several thin branches from a pussy willow and added them to Oonagh's bouquet. Gretchen was pleased with Oonagh gift and displayed it proudly from the table.