Gunnilda comes home

Gunnilda found Alwy in the bedroom, walking to and fro in the dawn light with baby Gytha on his shoulder.

“She’s sleeping, Alwy,” she sighed. “You can stop walking now.”

“Well, I don’t know but I guess she might be,” he said softly. “I can’t see her little eyes to be sure.”

“They’re good and closed. You spoil her, Alwy.”

“Well, I don’t know but I guess it makes me and her both happy, so I don’t mind.”

“You and your babies,” she sighed. But she would tell him about the next one another time. After what she had left behind at Nothelm castle, she didn’t have the heart to make any such announcements now.

“What happened, Gunnie?” he asked as if he had read her mind. “You look real tired and worn out.”

“Well, she had her baby. Oh, hallo, Wynn,” she said when she saw Wynna standing in the doorway in her nightgown. “Come in, honey.”

“Did she die, Ma?” Wynn said as she crept inside.

“No, no, Wynnie. She’s not so bad. Her baby is real bad though. He’s that small, and don’t suck.”

“It’s a boy?” Alwy smiled hesitantly.

“It’s a boy, and they call him Cynewulf for her father, who was an Earl’s son. But he’s so small, Alwy, he just about broke my heart. I did nurse him a little, because Her Grace’s milk hasn’t come in yet, but it was hard to make him swallow. He just doesn’t want to live, I don’t think. He looks real tired and weary of life already. He’s so small you can hold him in your two hands. You could almost hold him in one of yours, with your long fingers, Alwy.”

“You look real sad, Gunnie,” Alwy frowned.

“It does make me sad. Let me hold that girl for a while. I want to remember what a good, solid baby feels like.” She took Gytha from her father’s arms and continued. “It’s his parents that make me sad. His mama doesn’t believe anything’s wrong with him, because my Lady Gwynn was real small too, when she was born. But his papa knows. Her Grace don’t remember, but Gwynn wanted to fight, and this boy just wants to sleep. His Grace already sent a man to fetch Egelric, because I guess they want him to be his godfather, and they want to have him baptized right away.”

“So he can go to heaven when he dies?” Wynna asked.

“That’s right, honey. Alwy, I guess I have to go over there and stay a while to nurse the baby. It won’t be for long, I don’t think. But can you help me take all these kids over there before you go to work? I don’t like to make the boys walk in the snow.”

“Well, I don’t know, Gunnie, but why don’t you just take Gytha and leave the boys here with me and Wynn? I guess Aelfie can come up with her baby and watch ‘em while I’m working.”

“I guess Aelfie would like that, too,” she snapped, “lording it over my kitchen and my kids and my man.”

“Oh, Gunnie,” Alwy giggled. “You’re jealous, that’s what Githa says.”

“You like that, too, you vain old gander.”

“Well, I don’t know but I guess I never thought I would have a fine woman like you jealous over silly old me. But you don’t have to worry. I don’t like Aelfie that way. Besides, she’s not even pretty like you.”

Gunnilda chuckled wearily. “You’re a more clever man than you let on, Alwy, that’s what!”