300 Years Earlier

"Come on, Mary, I see a second head of a child coming," the midwife said, her eyes wide with disbelief.

She had never witnessed such a miracle in her 45 years as a midwife in her village. She was in awe as the head became visible, but the face was blue as Mary pushed out the child. The midwife knew this was not good, but she kept quiet because she did not want to worry the mother. She has dealt with this before, and the child usually had the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. Sadly, only a few of these children survived.

The midwife was glad she brought her daughter to care for the firstborn child, who sounded healthy as she stretched her lungs.

"Hold on, Mary, stop pushing," the midwife said calmly.

"Is something wrong?" cried Mary.

"Just hold on," the midwife told her as she unwrapped the cord from around the child's neck. Unfortunately, it's too late. The lack of oxygen took the child's life.

"Okay, Mary, you're good to push again."

Mary barred down with all of her might and birthed her second child with the placenta following.  She laid back, relieved that the immense pain was finally over. Exhausted, she closed her eyes till the midwife's daughter placed one of her two children in her arms. The crying stopped immediately as the child began instinctively to suckle her mother's breast.

The midwife tied the second child's umbilical cord while she spoke a charm over the child. Then, she cut the cord, wrapping it with string from a bow.

"May the woman who cannot bring her child to maturity have the strength that encompasses her being, and may her child watch over the one who loves her all the days of her life till the end of time when all will be revealed at her death."

Little did the midwife know that the charm touched the living twin sister, not the mother.

THE END