Well, just now, I finished my latest entry. It's here: "They that went on crutches" (the intersection of old age and disability) -- basically, I just expanded on the question I asked yesterday.

---
Morwen -- yes, her muteness is a condition of the witch's spell. But the practical consequences of that (that all the major developments in her life from that time on are decided for her by those around her, and her own desires and needs are ignored) are things that people living without the ability to speak have to deal with in real life.

(Looking at the story with a modern sensibility, I wonder how she could remain silent during childbirth ... but maybe the spell allowed her to "Arrrrgh!" as long as she didn't utter an actual word).