Grandmother Axemaiden (Patreon)

Ever wonder how grandma got the news that she was a grandma and how she reacted?

"Axemaiden!" a woman calls from across the road.

Ravinder adjusts her rucksack, makes eye contact, and nods.

"Letter came with the caravan for you!"

With a grunt, she rushes across the road, weaving around a particularly slow horse and rider. She takes the thick envelope from the woman's hand and slips her a gold piece for the trouble. Ravinder can't remember what the lady's name is, but thinks she's one of the new guards.

"Lucky I found you in town," the guard says. "We thought you'd already moved on."

She nods curtly. "Got supplies."

When Ravinder doesn't continue or say anything else, the guard looks around awkwardly for a moment before saying goodbye and making herself scarce. The letter has her full attention. She'd recognize her son-in-law's ridiculous handwriting anywhere.

She smiles, wandering to a less crowded spot of town to read it. Finding an old barrel to sit on, she opens and unfolds it…

Ravinder,

I've started this letter about twelve different ways. I tried jokes, long lead-ups, and even grand emotional scripts. So, on this final attempt, I guess I'll just ask you…

How would you feel about being a grandmother?

Ravinder blinks. A what? She reads the lines again to be sure. Sure enough, she's not just seeing things. How? When? Her boys had never spoken to her about children before. She never pegged Kip as the fathering type, even though she was well pleased with how he had grown over the years.

She shakes her head and continues to read…

I know we never had a formal discussion about this, but something happened. It feels like fate, though it is a tragedy as well. A child lost their mother this season, and we cannot find their family. We found them in the woods, north of home, very early in the morn on the 10th day of Spring. The poor thing was hours old, probably born just the evening prior, and chilled to the bone. The mother was long passed.

The babe has a strong drive to live, and they're thriving. We searched everywhere, wrote to every town within reach, and no one knows of a missing person with child.

We can't part with this kid.

We want a family, and we feel that we've waited long enough, done all we can, and now it's time to do right by this little one. Right by us, too, I suppose.

The Twinflowers have been wonderful help. You'd be so proud of me, I learned how to change a diaper! It…took a few tries, but I can almost manage without gagging.

Ravinder snorts. For a soft city-dweller, he'd really grown a pair. She's proud, though. This was big for him. And what makes her even more proud is the clear excitement in the letter, the joy of caring for a new life. She smiles, remembering when Dov was born. He changed her about as much as her dear husband had. She had never really decided before she met him if she wanted a family, but when that man walked into her life… She smiles wider, but there's a sting of longing in her heart.

With a deep breath, she continues to read…

You should see your son holding such a tiny baby. I never thought I could love Dov more than I do, but seeing how careful he is – how much he frets – I can't put to words how it swells my heart.

I need you to see it in person. Please.

I realize your last visit wasn't that long ago, and that your routes and schedules are important to you. I'd like you to be here and meet your grandchild. And I won't hide that I'd value your wisdom on parenting. I feel scared as I am happy, and you've always known what to do for us ever since we all found each other.

She huffs a laugh. "Daft boy," she mumbles. Ravinder decided the moment she read the word 'grandmother' that she was going.

The rest of the letter is more about this little baby – every little detail – how they yawn, what their cries sound like, how sleepy they get after they eat. Her boys are smitten with fatherhood. She always quietly thought that her son would make a loving parent. She's glad he inherited his father's soft nature. It makes her curious to see whether this new little one will take after one of her boys, or what traits they'll bring from their birth parents.

She reads the second part of the letter penned by Dov. Like her, he doesn't have much to say and is also fixated on the babe. Though he includes a drawing of the little one – a rough sketch of them swaddled and sleepy.

Her grandbaby.

With a deep breath, Ravinder collects her supplies and heads out to her camp in the woods. She'll make short work of the journey home by finding a ride with a caravan or merchant. Anything to hold that child in her arms sooner.

But first, with her meager belongings packed, she kneels among the trees and prays to the gods who no longer listen. It's quiet and simple, just like any word she speaks. She prays to the soul of the mother, thanks her, and honors the life taken for the life saved. Then she prays to Hayat, thanking him for her grandchild and asking that he bless their mother in her next life. She asks for Casimir's mercy and Dragomir's blessing over the little one.

With little fanfare, she leaves as quietly as she arrived, taking a ride among a merchant caravan for the promise of her labor and protection – the same that she will promise to her grandchild.

The days go by much too slowly for Axemaiden's liking. At least the merchants prove to be better company than anticipated. They give her space, saving chatter for camp, something she usually would rather merely listen to than join, but she's compelled to speak of her new grandchild. A soft smile and a swell of pride take over her when everyone cheers and congratulates her.

She thinks about the little one each night. Re-reading the letter and gazing at the sketch her son made.

What will they call you, little one? Who will you grow to be?

The moment she's dropped off in Stonebrook, Ravinder takes off through town, ignoring the greetings of all she passes. Her heart is beating so hard. When was the last time she was so taken with emotion and excitement? She passes the Twinflower clinic and spots the family on their porch. Sparing a moment to wave, their oldest son calls out and makes a show of waving both his hands back at her. It makes her smile and shake her head.

That one will be trouble when he's older…

Once she sees the house, she drops her things and rushes to the door, nearly knocking hard like she normally does. What if she wakes the baby? She hesitates, fist raised, and then she hears a faint cry – a tired and unhappy little wail.

Her heart swells. It's a sound so sweet she thinks she must be dreaming. Rapping her knuckles on the door, it opens quickly, and her son greets her with a tired smile. Kip smiles at her from a rocking chair by the fireplace, a little bundle in his arms. A fussy bundle.

"Was a long night," Dov says.

She nods as Kip gets up and walks to the entryway to greet her. He wears that grin, despite how sleepy he looks, the one that says he's up to something. Swaddled in thick linens, a little face peeks out at her – eyes growing wider and wider as grandmother comes into focus. The fussing stops as the babe studies her.

She swallows hard, emotion stirring in her chest.

Kip holds the baby out to her. "I want you to meet your grandchild – little Ravinder Northbreaker."

Did she hear that correctly?

She pauses as she's reaching out, giving her boys a questioning look.

Dov nods once, and Ravinder takes her grandchild into her arms, the grandchild who bears her namesake.

They coo at her, reaching up, suddenly happy.

Tears fill her eyes as the love in her heart overflows.

They're so little, so little, but they feel so heavy in her arms – like she's holding the entire world. Those big eyes…the nearly bald head, little fingers, and chubby cheeks.

Slipping back into mothering is surprisingly easy for Axemaiden as she carries the little one back to the chair and sits, rocking as she gazes into their eyes. An old tune her own mother used to sing comes to mind, so she hums it. Little Ravinder gives her a wobbly smile and grunts, reaching up towards her face, but happily settles on clenching her proffered finger instead.

"Strong grip," she muses, looking at Dov.

He hums an agreement. "I wanted to carve a little axe fer ‘em to hold 'n' chew, but Kip's worried 'bout splinters."

Axemaiden nods. "I'll show ya how t'make somethin'. Need hard wood, won't splinter. Ya got any maple er birch?"

Dov nods. "Course."

She looks down at her grandbaby. "Inna few years, we can teach 'em how t'use a real axe…"

A worried look immediately takes over Kip's face. "A few years? Shouldn't we wait…I don't know…several?"

Ravinder smiles, not answering, knowing it will push his buttons. "I'll tell ya all 'bout trees if ya want," she tells her grandchild. "Yer papa might be a better teacher, though."

The baby gurgles at her, eyes blinking heavily as they begin to fall asleep.

Looks like she'll be staying a while. The call of her long-gone people to roam the land will need to wait a while, as it did when Dov was born. She will remain for a time to ensure that her wisdom in child-rearing is passed down to her sons. When they no longer need her, her travels will continue. Perhaps, though…she'll make a point to visit more often from now on…