The Changeling

Chapter IV- Baby Bridget

Piercing blue eyes looked straight into mine, darkness surrounding us.

    "Siofra," a voice called, but I couldn't tell from where. It called my true name again and again. No one but my mother knew my true name, even my father didn't, somehow. So who was this calling my name?

    The darkness got thicker, and the voice became more demanding and desperate. I had an urge to run to it, to find it. But all I could see was darkness, and when I tried to scream, nothing came out of my mouth.

    I woke up in a cold sweat, startled by my dream from the night before. I felt that same sense of longing, but stronger this time, and I began to remember fragments of the dream when I awoke.

    I went down the hallway to the shower, wanting to wash the dream off of me. The warm water surrounded me and filled me with some sort of comfort. I don't know what I'd do in a world of only cold showers, nothing good would come of it.

    I blow-dried my thick blonde hair straight, but just moments after brushing it and smoothing it, it already looks wind tossed and messy. I give up on maintaining it, and wash my face. I got bored of wearing any makeup but mascara, despite the fact I used to take comfort in it at home.

    I put on some dusty green jeans and a flowy embroidered blouse. It was starting to warm up outside, nothing compared to the south, but day by day it got warmer.

    A call disrupted my thoughts, "Sophie, come quick, a baby is on the way!" Bébinn called up to me.

    "Coming!" I called, and quickly grabbed a jacket and my phone, slipped on some shoes and ran out the front door, following Bébinn in her wake.I hopped in the car, and she spreads down the dirt roads.

    "The mother and baby seemed all healthy last time I checked, but the mother is a little superstitious, mind you."

    "Superstitious? In what way?" I asked, curiosity betting the best of me.

    Bébinn just shook her head and sighed, "You'll see." and kept driving, quickly, farther away from the sea and into more farm lands.

    We came to the house, and it looked a bit like Bébinn's, but much more rundown. It has sheep wandering around in the front yard, and a man was waiting for us outside.

    "Come! Hurry! The baby's comin'!" The young man called, obviously nervous.

    "Don't you worry about a thing Mr. Higgins, we will have your baby out in no time."

    Well, we can only hope, I thought to myself as I followed Bébinn into the house. A extremely pregnant woman was standing in a long, dirty white nightgown, leaning against a white washed wall.

    "Mrs. Higgins, why don't you come to the bed, I'll help you," Bébinn half offered, half demanded, leading the women towards the bed.

    The woman nodded, and put all her weight on her. I began to boil some water and get the items I knew Bébinn would need out of her bags. She had explained her process to me, and her herbs and such she relayed on. To be honest, I was much more interested in modern medicine than just herbs and such, but Bébinn explained the chemical properties of all the herbs along with her explanation of why she used them, which only made me more confident in her abilities.

    For the most part, I left the two women alone, as they screamed at each other. When it got closer, I aided Bébinn more, and cut the cord and helped the women with the second birth. Surprisingly enough, Bébinn was right in not taking too long. 3 hours after we arrived, I washed and bathed the beautiful baby girl. 

    "She's beautiful," Mrs. Higgins signed, holding her baby in her arms. Then she frowned deeply, and panic began to spread across her face. "Since it's almost Beltaine, do you think there's any chance of the baby becoming a Changeling?" Her worried eyes searched both mine and Bébinn's face.

    "No, but if you're worried, don't overlook the baby, and call me if you think something has happened to it," Bébinn soothed her. I stood there dumbfounded, What in God's name are they talking about?

    "Her name shall be Bridget," the mother announced, as she did so her husband walked into the house and begun fawning over the child. As he did, Bébinn and I packed up all the items we brought, and left the couple alone with their newborn.

    As soon as we got into the car, I couldn't help myself. I blurted out, "What's a changeling?"

    Bébinn sighed, "It's nothing really." obviously trying to avoid my question, but I couldn't help but persist.

    "But Mrs. Higgins thought it was something."

    "Mrs. Higgins is rather superstitious," She said, and then glanced at me, "but, if you must know,  a changeling is the product of a sort of swap done by the fair folk where they replace a human baby with a fae baby. She was concerned about this, because we are so close to Beltaine, when it is said our worlds are closer than ever."

    I frown, even more confused than before, "Why would someone -  fair folk- swap out their baby? Or take a human baby? It makes no sense."

    "It's just superstition," Bébinn said, dismissing me.

    I couldn't help but think about it. First of all, who are the fair folk? I assume that they are some sort of fairies because of how Bébinn said fae, but that's just confusing. Why did Mrs Higgins believe in them? Why did Bébinn know exactly what to prescribe to prevent this from happening?

    I shook my head, trying to rid it off the swirling, intrusive thoughts that wouldn't leave me be.

When we got home, it was already the late afternoon. I was exhausted to say the least. I went upstairs and took my second shower of the day. I heard Bébinn call to say she would be gone for some arrends, so I decided to explore the house a bit, and try to find some fun.

I wandered around until I found an old guitar, hidden behind the couch. I pulled it out, and smiled at my new found treasure. This is exactly what I need.

I began to play and sing, rather loudly, feeling comfort with the familiarity.

Woot woot! I have written and planned quite a bit lately, but- I also have no idea what I'm doing, so be prepared for that. thanks for reading!