Authors note-

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy my story. I'm having a lot of fun researching the medieval period and I hope I do justice to bringing this world alive. For anyone interested, I'll include some historical notes at the end of the story.

Since this story is an entry into the Open Novella contest, I aim to meet all deadlines with frequent updates.

As many of my characters are Gaelic, some of their names may be tricky to pronounce so as those characters are introduced, I'll include a phonetic reference at the beginning of those chapters.

Names-

Fiadh- Fee-ah
Tualla- Tool-ah

Scotland- 786 AD

Fiadh dropped to her hands and knees, digging her fingers into the packed soil in front of the hearth as another scream tore from out of her. When the pain subsided, she clutched her swollen abdomen. "Something's wrong," she said between pants. "It's too hard." 

In the fire's glow, Dena could see beads of sweat gathering on her sister's forehead. She pushed the hair back from Fiadh's face. "You can do this," Dena said with more resolve than she felt. "You're strong." 

But Dena had helped enough women to know Fiadh was right. She'd been in labour for the best part of the day now and things were slowing down. But it was more than that. Even without sharing her sister's gift of sight, she could feel it in the air; something heavy, almost suffocating.

Trying to make her sister more comfortable, Dena grabbed some straw, placing it under Fiadh's head. As Dena got up to get a bowl of water, Fiadh rolled onto her side, revealing a crimson stain spreading across her skirts.

Fiadh didn't have much time. Seeing her sister exhausted and growing weaker by the minute, Dena had never felt so helpless.
Her hands shook as she filled the bowl. She took a deep breath to steady herself before returning to Fiadh's side. Using a damp rag, she wiped Fiadh's face, hoping the cool water would offer her some relief. 

"What's wrong?" Fiadh asked, her voice weak and hoarse.

"Nothing," Dena replied, forcing a smile. Fiadh had always been the strong one. If Fiadh didn't have much time left— Gods! How that thought pained her— Dena had to be strong for her. She wouldn't cry, not now, not in front of Fiadh.

"I'm dying." 

Dena couldn't hide anything from her. How could she when Fiadh had been blessed with the gift of sight? Unable to admit it out loud, Dena nodded while staring into the fire.

"And my baby." Fiadh ran a hand over her bump. "I can feel her dying too." 

"Yes," Dena said, her voice almost cracking. "She'll die if she's not born soon." 

"The lake," Fiadh said.

"What?" Dena set the bowl down, confused. 
"We have to get to lake Dìonach." 

Dena's mind raced. Although she'd witnessed the rituals many times before, she'd never been the one to perform it. Would she even be able to? 

Fiadh grabbed Dena's wrist and stared at her with a fierce determination. "We have to do this." 

Nodding her head, Dena got to her feet, brushing the straw and dirt from her tunic. The journey ahead would take at least an hour and Fiadh wasn't in any state to walk.

Dena made her way to a fenced-off section at the back of the room. A few chickens roosted up high. She walked by the pig, goats and sheep. She reached up, grabbing a yoke and traces from above the cattle pen and fitted them over the head of her strongest oxen. She led him to a small wooden cart outside the house and secured the traces to it.

Back inside, she gathered some blankets and rags under one arm, then used the other to hook Fiadh's around her shoulder, hoisting her to her feet.

Once she'd made Fiadh comfortable on the cart, she tugged on the reins, the cart jerking into motion as the oxen pulled behind her. "We will make it," she whispered.

***

Dena breathed a sigh of relief as they crested the final hill. The lake glistened under the stars and crescent moon. Spanning the width of the valley, the surrounding hills completely sheltered it from the world around them. A small wooded area to the right reflected off the water's surface, but Dena didn't have time to appreciate the beauty of the view.

She glanced at Fiadh who'd managed to sleep most of the way. Although she looked pale, she seemed so peaceful. 

Choosing the safest path down, Dena steered them to the water's edge, stopping beside a large stone protruding from the ground. The image of a woman holding a flame with a goat at either side of her carved into the rock. The goddess of the lake.

"We're here," she said, gently shaking Fiadh awake. Fiadh's eyes fluttered open. Weak and burning up, she struggled to sit unaided. Dena helped her to undress, stripping her bare. She removed her own cloak and shoes before lowering Fiadh into the shallows, the cool water soothing her aching feet.

"Brigantia," Dena called out. "Daughter of—" 

"No! You need a gift," Fiadh told her. "The gods require an offering." 

Dena nodded, cursing herself for forgetting such a crucial step. She hoped she hadn't offended the gods and they would be merciful and forgiving. 

Correcting her mistake, she reached to her collar, fumbling to unclasp her torque necklace. A gift from her mother that held significant importance; the more significant, the more pleased the gods were.

"No," Fiadh said, shaking her head. "That won't be enough." 

But Dena didn't have anything else to offer. Nothing. Except for…

A lump formed in her throat, making it difficult to swallow. That sacrifice would see her family struggle. But what choice did she have? After all, she was asking for her sister's life and if that's what it took, then she'd pay the price.

Guilt churned in her stomach as she stepped out of the water. Her arms suddenly heavy as she uncoupled the cart from the oxen. Pulling out her scian, a long dagger from her belt, she waded into the lake, waist deep and held the blade against the animal's neck. 

"Brigantia, daughter of Dagda, guardian of the lake, goddess of magic, healing and protection, hear me. Accept my offering and exchange one life for another." 

In one clean motion, she slit open the throat. The ox panicked, thrashing in the water as he fought for breath. As the beast grew weaker, Dena held onto him in an attempt to offer him some comfort. Blood poured from the wound, staining her clothes. Unable to support his weight any longer, the ox collapsed, his head submerged, and finally, his body stilled. 

A gust of wind sailed through the air, rustling the reeds and sending fresh ripples across the lake's surface. Her prayer had been heard.

Fiadh screamed out in pain. Dena rushed to her side, taking hold of her hand. Relief flooded through her. Everything was going to be alright. 

Labour soon picked back up with contractions coming every few minutes. When Fiadh positioned herself into a crouch, Dena knew she was ready to start pushing.

Fiadh rocked her hips and focused on her breathing. She gritted her teeth with each contraction, making deep guttural sounds as she bore down. 

Panting, Fiadh collapsed down into the water. "I can't do it. It's too much." 

"You've done the hard part," Dena encouraged. They'd come too far for her to give up now.  "Look…" She took Fiadh's hand and placed it between her legs. 

A tear slid down Fiadh's cheeks as she felt the baby's head crowning.

"See? Just a few more pushes." 

With a renewed determination, Fiadh got back into position and pushed as hard as she could. A few minutes later, a baby girl was born into the world at the exact same time the sky lit up.

Dena gently pulled the newborn from the water, cradling her as Fiadh stared up at the heavens in a trance-like state. She followed her sister's gaze. A ball of yellow light  dominated the dark sky, outshining everything else, including the crescent moon. 

"What is it?" Dena asked. This had to mean something. This couldn't be a coincidence. 

"A star." 

Dena had never seen such a star, but before she could ask anything else, the tiny infant wriggled in Dena's arms, whimpering as she tried to nuzzle her own fists. She smiled at the tiny bundle. With red hair and rosier cheeks, she looked just like Fiadh. Placing her on the new mother's chest, Dena couldn't help the overwhelming sense of pride she felt once the baby latched onto the breast. 

Fiadh hooked her little finger in her daughter's hand and kissed the tiny forehead. "Tualla, that's your name." 

The two women sat on the banking together, marvelling over the new addition when something caught Fiadh's attention. From the wooded area by the lake, a doe stepped out into the clearing. The air around them buzzed, the breeze disappeared and everything fell silent. 

Brigantia?

The doe approached them, sniffing the newborn as she slumbered at her mother's breast. 

"Thank you," Dena said, not sure how else she could convey her gratitude. The deer blinked at her before turning back to the mother and child.

Fiadh kissed the tiny cheek before handing Tualla to Dena.

Taking her into her arms, Dena couldn't ignore the gut feeling twisting her stomach into knots. "Fiadh, what's wrong?" 

Fiadh stared back up at the star, as if it held all the answers. "The future holds much uncertainty for our people. War will be coming. From the clans in the north, from the Saxones in England and from across the sea." Fiadh turned to Dena, then smiled at her child with both sadness and adoration. "Tualla has an important part to play. She'll be strong and independent. Her enemies will be allies, and her allies, enemies. She will face difficult decisions but she can bring us peace." Fiadh reached for her sister's hand. "Promise me that—" 

"Fiadh! No! Why are you talking like this?" But she already knew the answer. 

"It's my time."

She'd only asked for one life to be saved. "You knew! You knew all along!" Dena couldn't hold back the tears any longer. "How can you give up so easily? After everything we've been through tonight?" 

"It's the will of the gods," Fiadh said, her voice breaking. "Make sure my daughter knows about her destiny, that she'll bring us peace." 

With one last sad smile at her sister, Fiadh turned to the deer and gave a small nod, accepting her fate. Fiadh's eyes rolled back, her body went limp and slumped to the ground. "No, no, no." Dena rushed forward and cradled Fiadh's head in her lap. Through her burning tears, she locked eyes with the doe. "Save her!" 

The doe's ears twitched as she stared back at Dena. Whether Brigantia felt remorseful or indifferent, Dena didn't care. She just wanted her sister back. The deer turned away, heading back from where she came.

"Please!" Dena pleaded but the doe kept walking until the woodlands engulfed her.
 
Left alone in the middle of nowhere, Dena held both her dead sister and newborn niece as her wails of grief echoed through the valley.