Welcome to Gaia! ::

[Elle is now the guardian of Kudzu, a young Magical Mishap! Occasionally, I will cross post their interactions here, but for a more complete story, please check out Kudzu's journal! ]



"So soon?!" Rising from her chair, long skirt falling into place, Elle drifted to Mira's side. The girl was sweating, though she smiled still...but a single nod was enough to answer Elle's question.

Setting one hand over Mira's round stomach, Elle closed her eyes...feeling the restless movement of the child within. A smile spread slowly over Elle's face as well. She wished, for a moment, that she was overseeing the birth...but an accomplished midwife (and long time friend of Mira's) was standing ready.

"I should prepare as well, then. I'll be back soon, breath deep and relax! You have hours yet." Elle bent to kiss her friend upon her forehead, ignoring the way Mira rolled her eyes at the encouraging comment. Grinning for a moment, Elle finally turned and padded out of the warm room on bare feet.

She loved the little house, tucked away at the edge of the park. Warm hardwood floors and large luminous windows...it would be the perfect place for Mira to raise her child! Strolling across the cool lawn, Elle settled down next to the hole she'd dug in the back yard. The perfect place, and soon, the perfect guardian. The Lifeseed was almost ready!

Besides the mound of rich soil sat a heavy clockwork gear, the iron dull and dark against the verdant grass. In the center of the gear was a hole...just large enough for the seed. Elle had chosen a Jacaranda seed for the charm, since there were already many of that species in the area. They grew well here, and carried such lovely sprays of purple blooms...

Woven between the notches of the gear was a string of fine amethyst stones...stretched taut across the metal and surrounding the central seed like the lines of a dream catcher. Amethyst seemed like the perfect choice as well...it would compliment the colors of the Jacaranda tree, and was the right birthstone for the child that was already on its way.

Making sure the hole had been dug neatly, in pure soil to the right depth, Elle settled back on her heels and cleared her mind. She had learned the art of the Lifeseed only a few months back...but with any luck, it would grow to be a fine protecting spirit for the young babe. All she needed was the afterbirth to make the circle complete. A bit of life from the child, and the two souls would be bound in peace and growth!

The sunlight seemed a bit brighter as Elle opened her eyes. Blinking, she realized she'd been meditating for far longer than she intended. Glancing back, she was startled to see the windows of the cottage already fogged with warmth. Pushing to her feet, leaving the Lifeseed where it lay, she hurried back in on quiet feet.

The room smelled of lavender, spices, and lemon...the scent of herbs from the bowl of clean cloths both soothing and heady. Reaching for Mira's hand, Elle held it tightly as her friend gave one more push. "You're doing so well! Mira, I'm so proud of you!"

With a tight smile, Mira nodded...the sweat upon her brow trickling to one side as she lifted her head. With a final gasp, she settled back...panting as the midwife finally stood. "A girl child, Mira. She cries for you!" The woman's thick accent purred as she settled the babe into Mira's waiting arms. Her tiny face red and scrunched, fist waving aimlessly as though she sought something she'd forgotten.

Stepping back, giving Mira room to bond with her child, Elle lifted a clean linen cloth from the table and offered it to the midwife. "The Lifeseed is ready! If you have the-"

She was cut short by an upraised hand as the healer sank to her knees once again. Elle watched with wide eyes, but Mira seemed to understand. "That was one, lass. There is another on the way."

Stepping back to rest against the wall, Elle's eyes grew even wider. "Twins?" Her voice was faint. Sweat had suddenly found its way to her brow, as well. She had only prepared one Lifeseed...could the charm bind twins? Closing her eyes, trying to recall the teachings she had been granted, Elle scrambled for a solution. Moments later, as a healthy but tiny baby boy emerged, Elle found herself holding a wrapped linen cloth that was twice as heavy as it should be.

Taking a breath, Elle accepted it with an uncertain smile...bending to settle another kiss upon Mira's forehead, and shading the twins with fond glance. Well, either it would work or it wouldn't...at the very least, there would be a lovely new Jacaranda tree to commemorate the birth! Letting herself out silently once more, Elle glanced up at the setting sun and knelt gracefully beside the prepared soil.

Gently, she lowered the twin placentas into the ground...letting the pristine cloth fall open as they reached the bottom. Upon the life blood, she placed the Lifeseed...the iron cog just large enough to touch each side of the narrow hole. From around her neck, Elle lifted a small vial of water...ocean water, blessed by Aki and gathered under the light of a full moon. Closing her eyes as she poured the trembling drops upon the Lifeseed, Elle sent wishes of peace and protection with them.

It was done. Letting the vial fall once more between her breasts, Elle tied her long hair up out of the way and pushed the soft soil back into the ground with her bare hands. The trepidation had left her, now all that remained was the calm serenity of new hope. Eager to wash her hands and see the babes once again, Elle stood for only a moment longer over the mound of freshly turned earth before strolling back over the rolling green lawn.

Surely, by tomorrow, the sprout would show!