Elly Kedward's Curse

[Tweek]

This story is from the comic "The Blair Witch Project", the one with Heather on the cover. Adapted from Cece Malvey's Wood Witch Said.

There's some interesting information in this one. Read on:

My great-aunt saw that the curse was mine and taught me all the wards she had learnt, though it would not be enough. It beats at me, and when I dare not let it in, it takes what's mine.

Seven babies lost to me before birthing. One husband gone to terrible sickness. Another dead on the battlefields of Spain.

To lead the curse away from those I love, I take a position caring for the children of a widower called Crandall in the town of Baltimore in America.

But the Crandall house is burned, the family dead. The curse has followed me here.

In a village called Blair, a man by the name of Bowen sells me a little house and plot of land for a year's sewing and eggs.

I can feel the strength of the woods here. What's in there calls to my curse.

Here, I thought, I could fight it back.

To be continued...

[Tweek]

I suppose the townsfolk thought me coarse and a little strange, but my sewing was fine, and for a full fifteen years, I did not harm a soul.

I was happy to do my part when we fought the English. Happier still that we had won. But the men -- those who came back -- had lost much. There were new rages in them.

It began so simply. I barely noticed the curse pushing at the edges of my skin. It had not gone away. It had only waited.

[Tweek]

They were only trying to scare me. But I was afraid they would anger it. I imagine their story started as an explaination for being out so late at night. They would not hear me explain.

I had never thought of myself as a witch. I only ever wanted to keep the curse away.

They came upon me with all manner of abuses until my head and belly felt ready to split. I saw a bone from my ribs come out through my dress, another from my arm. I could not bear their eyes upon me. And all the while, the curse clawed at my mouth and other parts -- I dared not speak in my defense, lest it get in.

At last I am too weak, and it comes like birthwaters rushing out of the world and into me. It washes the pain out.

Now that I welcome it, the curse lifts me away from the suffering of my flesh and teaches new ways and patience. It promises I'll have again the babies and husbands lost to me. And more.

They did not send more children for a long time.

But I know patience.

[Sz]

More

[twana]

hmm .. I'm now starting to believe Wood Witch Said may be canon to the tale at ellykedward.com, which is totally canon.