Alice in Love and War by Ann Turnbull

Author:Ann Turnbull [Turnbull, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781406361469
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: 2014-10-15T16:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

The cries and groans woke Alice towards dawn. Nia! She was up instantly, aware of doors opening and closing, footsteps up and down the stairs, women’s voices. They had known that Nia was near her time and had managed to get a room in a house where a good woman lived: a widow, well used to helping women in childbirth.

Nia was already on a bed with a clean sheet under her, the eagle stone tied to her left thigh. The window was closed and herbs had been burnt in the room to ward off infection.

“Lisi!” gasped Nia. She struggled up on her elbows and arched her body in pain. Candles shone near by, illuminating the slick of sweat on her forehead.

Alice went to help her. “Don’t be frightened,” she said. “Lie down. That’s right. Raise your knees.”

Bronwen came in, and the two of them rearranged the pillows behind Nia’s head and tried to soothe her. Alice winced as a cry broke from Nia; it was hard to see her friend in pain. She took a stool and sat beside her, stroking the damp hair back from her face.

The widow and Rhian appeared with more candles, hot water, soap, cloths, a ball of twine and a knife.

“Now, now,” the widow said to Nia, “you must let go of this fear. It’ll tighten you up so that the child can’t come easily. Will you drink some of this? Your friend has made it for you.” She passed the cup of raspberry leaf tea to Alice. “Does she understand a word I say? I’ve had nothing but Welsh from her since it started.”

“She understands,” said Alice. She held the cup to Nia’s lips. “Sip this, Nia. It’ll help ease the birth.”

Nia sipped obediently. Then her teeth clamped shut and she groaned as another pain began. Alice held her hand.

“I’m glad Bryn’s not here, fretting,” said Bronwen.

All the men were absent, camped in the field outside a great house near by. The house was garrisoned for Parliament, and the Royalists’ siege had already continued all day and half the night. The women could hear the roar of cannon fire and distant cries of men and horses, and smell the smoke, even in this closed room.

What a time and place to give birth, Alice thought. No wonder Nia was frightened.

The widow promised Nia there was nothing to be afraid of. “Babies come when they will,” she said. “And all is going well. Your pains are coming closer together now. We must pray it won’t be long.”

But the labour was slow. Alice continued to talk to Nia and murmur encouragement as the hours went by. She felt she was doing nothing, but the widow assured her that the three of them were essential.

“Friends and sisters are what she needs most,” she said.

While Bronwen helped the widow, Rhian hovered anxiously.

“Sit down,” Alice advised her. “Talk to Nia about home. Talk in Welsh.”

For a long time, nothing seemed to be happening except the relentless pains that frightened and exhausted Nia.

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