The Birth

Sprint Official 18:00 11/30

She was innocent and her purity shone in her dark brown eyes. The apparition spoke to her as she held her hand in front of her face to shield her eyers from the brightness. She questioned the being but, did not refuse the request, odd as it was. She did not think of the consequences or how her betrothed might react. She did not think about how fulfilling the request would alter her own life, or those around her. She did not know what the repercussions might be for centuries to come.

Her betrothed was not angry, he did not rail at her, he determined that he would just set her aside and let the villagers know it was his failing, not hers. He did not want to tarnish her reputation or her prospects for another match.

A few days later he came to her, begged her forgiveness for his unbelief and assured her that their marriage would take place as planned. He would be a father to her unborn child without reservation, or recriminations.

Then the edict came, they were required to travel to another village far away for the census to be conducted accurately. The journey would be long and arduous. She packed carefully, adding dried fruit, bread, dried fish, water and cheese for the two of them and grain for the donkey. She packed warm clothing and swaddling clothes in anticipation of her Babys' birth, for she was great with child.

Darkness fell as they reached their destination, and they swiftly approached an inn to secure lodging for the night. The innkeeper apologized but he had no room, the city was full due to the census. They tried another inn, then another, all were full. Finally at the fourth attempt the innkeeper, a kindly older woman, told them they could stay in the stable with the animals, at least it would be shelter and she refused to accept any payment.

Her betrothed created a soft place to sit cushioned with hay and covered it with a spare cloak. They ate the food she had prepared and talked of the coming days. The babe moved and she put her hand on her swollen belly to reassure the little one that all was well. The man asked if she was well and she reassured him, as well. The child went still, then the pains she had been hiding grew suddenly stronger and she gasped.

Maybe she wasn't well, after all. The pains grew stronger still and closer together. The man realized that the time was now. The babe was going to be born right away, perhaps even that night.

He rearranged the hay and made a place where she could lay. He asked if she needed help, perhaps from the lady in the inn. She nodded, breathlessly as she waited for the pain to ease. He went quickly to the door of the inn and begged for assistance. The woman agreed and followed him back to the stable.

The innkeeper was surprised to find that her help was not necessary, as the babe had already made his way into the world. He lay in his mothers' arms not making a sound. His mother looked at his face in adoration and smiled,