Story continued below:

The elderly man said, in a shaky voice, “Please, kind lady and kind sir, my beloved wife is so cold and so tired. May we warm ourselves by your hearth? We were banished from our church three nights ago and everyone is so afraid to help two elderly Djinn because of the War. We have no more food. I will gladly remain outside, but please take Grandmother into your home?”

The young wife replied, “Damn those Djinn. We are not afraid of them. Please, Grandmother and Grandfather come inside. We are not rich in goods, but we love Holy Father and Holy Mother and do Good Works in their Name. My beloved husband is a wonderful doctor. I am a herbalist.”

The two householders helped Grandfather and Grandmother into their home. They removed Grandmother’s and Grandfather’s wet outerwear, sat them side- by-side on a bench close to the fire.

The doctor examined their hands and feet and announced that they had no frost bite. “Beloved get some of the ointment you made the other day and I will rub it on their hands and feet and they will be fine.”

The young wife handed them mugs of spiced honey mead. She said, “Do not talk, just drink your mead so to warm your insides. My Precious, my Husband, go to the kitchen and bring some of my little poppy seed and honey buns for our guests. The ointment is in the cupboard. I am sorry, but my pelvis has been hurting very much, but I did not want to complain.”

He hurried to the kitchen and returned with the ointment and the buns and some soft butter. He spread the butter on some buns and hand one to each to eat. Grandfather and Grandmother ate quite a few buns, as they were hungry.

The young husband rubbed the ointment into the hands and feel of the elderly Djinn. He knew that his wife was in much pain and his heart ached so very much for her.

After they were warmed and full, Grandmother turned to Grandfather with tears in her eyes saying,” Grandfather, I told you, Goodness and Compassion still lives in this World. All is not lost.”

Grandfather replied, “It is true Grandmother, it is true.”

Grandmother said, “Sweet Child, I see that it is not so easy for you to move about and you have a limp. I also see that your husband’s heart suffers silently for you. Child, his love for you could not be any purer than it is.”

The young wife said, taking her husband’s hand into her own, “Yes Grandmother, I broke my pelvis when I was a child and it did not heal properly, so one side is shorter that the other so I must limp. My pelvis is very deformed and twisted and I hate to be seen naked. But, my Husband always tells me that I am the most beautiful Djinn he ever met and he desires me. I do not see how this can be so, but it does not matter for we can make love and we are satisfied. I do know that the Holy Father and Holy Mother found me the most decent and loving husband ever. So I am thankful for my accident for I know he loves me more than he loves himself. And dearest Grandmother, I love him, but still I wish that I could give him a child.”

“It is true Grandfather and Grandmother, she is the prettiest and kindness wife in the world and I love her very much,” finished the husband. “Enough, of us. Please tell us your tale.”

Grandfather began to tell what had happened to them, “The evil Djinn had come to our village for provisions. A young officer walked into our village church where I am Pope. He said he had orders to burn the church and dispose of us. He was alone and told us that he is forced to obey orders, but he will not kill innocent children and grandparents.

‘I must burn the church, but I do not have to kill you, the orders said to dispose of you. Grandmother, go to your kitchen and pack cheese and bread. Grandfather, go and get your fur coats, mittens, hats, and boots. Bring everything back here as fast as you can.’

We followed his directions and he told us to dress and tie our food inside our coats so it would not freeze. He said to Grandmother, ‘Your scarf is not warm enough, here take mine. You must walk far from here and look for some people to take you in, your neighbors are too afraid to help.’

Then, he shooed us out the door and burned the church. As we watched the church go up in flames, Grandmother said, ‘Grandfather, he is not a bad boy, just confused.’

We have walked for three days and you are the only Djinn willing to help us.”

The young wife had big tears in her eyes and hugged Grandmother, “I am so sorry, Grandmother. It was not like this in the beginning when Lord Gabriel saved all of the Djinn. My Husband and I do not have parents or grandparent and you may stay, as part of our little family. Right, Honey.”

“Of course, Beloved. We cannot have children because of your broken pelvis, but we can have Grandparents to love.”

Grandmother and Grandfather looked at each other smiling. Grandfather said, “Grandmother, we have found them. These are the special Djinn. It is time for our Miracle.”

The young couple did not understand, at first. But, a golden light began to emanate from both of the guests and soon all the couple could see were two light forms. The young wife said, “Husband, it is the Holy Father and the Holy Mother, they are in our home.” Both bowed very deeply.

To Be Continued