Homage To The Witch

ALASKA

*Two Years After The Birth Of Daciana*

LUCY AND MICHEAL HATI

They both walked into Agatha's home.

They had come to pay their homage, and thanks again for the successful birth of their daughter.

Also they wanted to ask her if they would be able to concieve again.

It was a futile, a lost cause, but they still decided to try their luck.

Who knows maybe the gods would have mercy on the and bless them with another.

So far, so good, their daughters were doing fine.

Daciana was already a year and some months, and growing strongly.

Ruby on the other hand was already 5 years old and she was doing fine.

Still the inquisitive and playful child she was.

Something interesting had happened though on their way here.

Ruby's vision had started again.

Visions she rarely explained why, or what was to happen.

Her visions were mostly clueless, so the both of them had not taken it too seriously.

Well, their daughter Ruby had begged them not to leave.

She had clung to her mother's lap and cried, begging her not to leave.

This was so unlike her, and after consoling her and giving her some money, she had freed the hem of her mother's clothing, albeit reluctantly.

She had watched them leave, enter the carriage, and even when they had turned back to look if she was still watching them, she had indeed been standing behind, waving slowly and solemnly.

She would be fine, that was for sure.

She and her sister had been left in the care of their aunty Helene, and get children.

They would definitely be fine, and nothing would happen to them, or so they thought.

"Welcome." They heard Agatha say, immediately they entered the tent.

It was as if she had been waiting for them, and removing their shoes they proceeded to exchange pleasantries with her.

She knew the reason they had come though, as this was not the first time they were paying their yearly homage, and not wasting time they dropped the bags offering and things they had brought in front of her.

"The gods say thank you."

"We also thank the gods too." They both said together and smiled.

Agatha didn't say anything to them, and in a bid to clear the awkward silence, they began to talk about how blessed the gods had been to them, these past few weeks.

Success in their business, and peace in their home, and they slowly eased the conversation so they could reveal the main reason why they had actually come.

For some time Lucy would speak, and then Micheal would speak, and they kept on repeating this routine, chattering and talking endlessly.

In all this though, Agatha said nothing, and just kept listening to them.

They didn't note it as strange, instead they kept on talking.

Maybe it was a good sign, they both thought...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

AGATHA'S POV

Why did they have to come today?

Why did they leave their home and come today?

Why? Why? Why?

They had come to pay homage and greetings to the gods, just like they did every year.

Bearing foods, fruits, meat, coins, vegetables and a whole of things, they had come fully prepared today.

After receiving them with a sad smile, even though they didn't notice, they had began to talk.

She listened as they kept on talking, even inquiring about whether they could birth another child and Agatha's heart squeezed the more.

Why did bad things always have to happen to good people?

The Dark Mist of sorrow was currently seeping in their soul.

It was no longer hovering over their heads, and this only meant one thing.

Danger was near.

It was so close.

The gods had not given her the reason why death of all things would befall this good couple.

They had given her no reasons at all, and worst of all, they had prohibition her from saying anything.

If it wasn't worse.

"Great one. Thank you, thank you so much." The husband said.

"Micheal right?" She finally called out, saying something, anything.

Honestly she didn't even know what to say.

The pity that was currently consuming her, pity for these souls was making it difficult for her to utter anything.

"Yes great one." He answered with a wide smile.

"What was your last question?" She asked him, even though she had heard him quite well.

"We wanted to ask the gods, if we can concieve again. After the birth of Daciana, we decided that we would like to have a boy. Our own son one day. Don't know of that would be possible. Can the gods do this for us? Can they grant us this one wish?"

"I'm sorry Micheal, Lucy, but I don't know. And on this matter the gods are actually not saying anything." She said obviously lying, watching their faces fall solemnly, and her heart squeezed again.

There was no way they could ever think of giving birth, when danger was this close to them.

For all she knew, despite the fact that the gods hadn't revealed anything to her if they were going to face the danger today, Agatha had it in the back of her mind that since it was inevitable, then it would surely happen today, or sometime during this week.

It was no longer something that was far.

The ritual they had performed some years back, had done well in prolonging the inevitable, but now nothing could be done.

"So we're just going to be with Daciana and Ruby?" The lady, named Lucy ask and Agatha nodded.

She watched as they both turned to each other, and placing their foreheads on each other's, squeezing their hands gently, they talked slowly to each other.

She could tell they were assuring each other, and trying to be there for each other.

They were such a loving couple, there was no argument about that.

"Thank you wise one. We would like to take our leave now." The husband spoke up after some minutes, a sad smile on his face.

Nodding and asking for each of their hands, Agatha said some prayers of safety for them, and thanking her profusely and genuinely for everything she had done for them, they left.

As they left, Agatha wept and prayed again silently.

She prayed for their souls, and for the lives of their innocent little daughters.