She began to sing in her gruff and croaky voice. A voice that sent shivers down the assembled people.



Baby sweet dreaming so still
Of dear old Hamburg town
Never knowing all this time
Of the curse I shall bestow
Far away you travel will
To a land across the sea
Language so different be
No German shall you hear



Never before had such a curse been invoked. The parents wailed and fell into each others arms and their tears fell to the floor. They cried so many tears that they flowed outside and they collected into a pool. To this day this pool is known as The Wailing Pool. The assemblage howled and beat their breasts. . How could this happen to their adorable Mara?



But, just then the fifth midwife who had not yet given her blessing stepped forwards. She represented the compass point up. She waved her hand and with a soft spoken “quiet” had an instant hush fall over the Meeting Hall. Suddenly there was an expectation that just maybe things might be all right.



Aaliya moved towards the cradle. She appeared to float on air as she moved, such was her grace and beauty. Once at the cradle she began to sing in a soft melodious voice, like the voice of an angel.



Cursed you are and cursed shall stay
For this I cannot alter
But soften blow of curse you have
Your spirit there will settle
And all around love will grow
And turn the curse to blessing



Instantly hope returned in the Meeting Hall. It would appear that the horrid fate of their beautiful baby Mara had been altered. That they would eventually lose her was now ordained but she would not suffer a cruel fate.