Slipping her arm through Islaen's, Storm said, “Each day she lives gives us reason to hope. She has already lived longer than most thought she would. Find strength in that, Islaen. Why, she does not e'en sicken but grows stronger each day."
"But so slowly. When I hold her my heart tightens with fear for she is so verra tiny."
"She began life very tiny. T'will be a while e'er she gains much weight. Mayhaps she but gains now what she was unable to gain in the womb."
"Aye, I am certain the lads took much of the nourishment."
"She will probably ne'er be very big, certainly not like her brothers."
"Nay, of course not. I ken that but ‘tis hard to recall it when I hold her. There is so much she must fight, yet with so little."
"But fight she does, Islaen, so ye know there is strength there."
"Aye, I do, but I think I will increase my prayers too.” She smiled crookedly as she heard Morogh's angry squawl come from her chambers as she stopped before her door. “Weel, I think her brothers will see that I delay e'en praying for their wee sister. I hope she has a chance to pay them back for their greediness."
Storm stayed to help change the boys and to entertain Padruig while Islaen fed Morogh. As soon as Morogh was satisfied, Storm left Islaen with her children.
For a while she played with her increasingly active sons, putting aside her fears for their sister. Despite her pleasure in them she could not fully stop herself from comparing their plump, active bodies to Liusadh's tiny, too quiet one. It did seem a little unfair that they should get so much and Liusadh so little. The division of health and strength had not been very equal.
Placing her sons in their bed, she knelt by the crib. Singing softly she rocked them, watching them as they fell asleep. At times she wished to see them grow swiftly so that she could know the men they would become, but at other times she wished them to stay babies so that she could hold them in her arms.
Kneeling by the cradle that held her healthy sleeping sons, she clasped her hands. Her thoughts were fully upon Liusadh now, the tiny girl that clung so tenaciously to life, and she began to pray.
"Lord, Ye must be verra weary of me but I beg Ye to heed me. I thank Ye for my sons but my mother's heart cries out for more. If ‘tis greed, I beg Ye to forgive me but I pray for Liusadh, for my third bairn. God, please, I ken the value of all Ye have given me but, please, let the bairn live. Grant me but one small miracle."
