Chapter 36 I need to ask you a favour.
Yes,
Charles half turned from the bookshelf where he was carefully replacing books in order.
It was his section on myths and legends,
And Rose knew it to be one of which he was particularly proud.
I don't want to disturb you.
She hovered in the doorway,
And seeing her agitation he put the last few books down and crossed the room.
You could never disturb me,
Rose,
You know that.
He indicated a chair.
Come and sit down.
Now,
What is it I can do for you?
How's Davy?
Charles had finally come to hear the tale of how Davy had gone to set his rabbit traps,
But stepped unwittingly into a recently dug foxhole,
Spraining his ankle badly,
And in the process banging his head against a tree,
Resulting in bruising and concussion.
Charles had secretly smiled at the irony of it,
And thought perhaps it would cause Davy to end his nocturnal habits.
I need you to write something for me,
Began Rose.
I need it written down for my daughter.
It's all been passed down by word of mouth,
But gets a bit muddled over time,
And I'm not even sure I'm going to see Rachel again and.
.
.
Slow down,
Why might you not see your daughter again?
Has something happened?
Asked Charles sharply.
Rose shook her head.
Just a feeling I have,
She murmured,
But if you could spare a few moments.
Charles nodded,
Already reaching for his pen and writing paper.
For you,
My Rose,
Anything,
He replied with a smile.
Now what is it you want to tell me?
I've made you something.
Oh?
Rose settled herself on the edge of Davy's bed and looked expectant.
That's nice,
She continued,
But it isn't my birthday.
Doesn't have to be to make you something,
Said Davy.
I just felt like it.
Rose smiled.
She did not often receive presents.
Offerings,
Maybe.
Thank you gifts from villagers she helped,
Although she never asked for payment and gave all she could willingly.
A jug of milk,
A loaf of bread,
A comb of honey.
But not presents,
Not the sort of thing which was frivolous and she had no need for but wanted all the same.
She had a feeling this would be just such an item.
Open it,
Then.
Davy thrust his offering into her hands.
All right,
Give me a moment.
Don't rush me,
I want to enjoy it.
Davy sighed,
Knowing when he was beaten.
He had wrapped his gift in a piece of blue cloth,
Which Rose imagined might have been a curtain in a previous life,
And tied a length of string around it,
Which was knotted several times.
Why did you tie so many knots,
She asked?
So you could enjoy undoing them.
She smiled.
Sometimes Davy understood her more than she realised.
Rose struggled with the knots until finally,
Unable to bear it any longer,
Davy produced a pocket knife,
Cut the string,
And Rose was free to open her present.
Go on,
Then,
He urged.
Wait,
I'm just savouring what might be in there.
Oh,
For goodness sake.
All right.
Rose allowed the fabric to fall away and found herself staring at a wooden box,
The most beautifully carved wooden box she had ever seen.
Like it?
Rose turned the box over and over in her hands,
Admiring the intricate carvings on the top and around the sides.
There were trees and animals,
A hare,
A fish,
The sun,
The moon and the stars,
And in the middle,
A woman holding a chalice.
It's beautiful,
Was all she could bring herself to say.
So this is what you've been working on while you've been confined to your room?
Davy nodded.
I wanted it to be a surprise,
Something special.
Her fingers traced the delicate carvings.
There was something about them which awakened a memory,
But she was unable to grasp it,
The images slipping elusively through her mind,
Like petals floating on a spring breeze.
How did you think of it?
She asked eventually.
Davy sighed.
I'm not sure.
I had some strange dreams when I was ill,
The night it all happened.
It was as if I didn't know who I was or where I was.
There was something about changing into a hare and then getting killed and.
.
.
He frowned.
It was dark,
So dark,
He continued in almost a whisper.
And I was calling out to someone.
I think it might have been you,
But I'm not sure.
And it was such a long time before I found you again.
And when I was carving the box,
All of those things seemed important.
It's beautiful.
It's for your things,
You know,
The special ones you used on the night of the ritual.
Rose nodded.
Thank you,
She replied.
Thank you so much.
Davy smiled and kissed her.
My pleasure.
