Hawk howled out loud with grief when he saw that his wife was hurt. There were many bruises across her belly, and her one eye was swollen shut. Who would dare hurt his soulmate, he thought with rage, I shall kill him with my bare hands!
Many emotions claimed Hawks mind and heart, as he tried to calm himself down, and focus on Nessa bringing his babe into the world. He took her hand in his calloused one, and brought it to his lips. Hawk was known for his strength and courage, but at this moment he felt vulnerable and lost. He choked back a sob, and dropped to his knees next to the bed where Nessa lay.
"My heart." He whispered hoarsely.
"Hawk, please don't leave me ever again." She begged, as another pain seized her.
Hawk swallowed, as the guilt traveled through his heart and twisted it, and he closed his eyes tight for a second. When he opened them again, they were filled with tears. "I'm not going anywhere Nessa." He said in a broken voice. "I will never leave you again!"
Nessa screamed again, as another pain ripped across her belly.
"Push Nessa, push as hard as you can, the babe must come out!" Dora yelled, and threw Hawk a knowing look.
Hawk narrowed his eyes, not understanding what she was trying to tell him, until he saw all the witches cry around him, and shake their heads with grief. Only then did he realize that Nessa was in danger.
He jumped to his full height, and yelled at Dora, "Step aside!"
Dora did as she was told, and Maya and Hilda, gathered around Nessa, just in case they were needed.
"I see the head, push Nessa, push as hard as you can!" Hawk said, totally in control of the situation. He was not going to let anything happen to Nessa and his child. "Again Nessa, one more time, come on Nessa, you can do it, push!" He yelled.
Hawks broke out in sweat, and his heart thumped wildly. Why wasn't the baby coming out, he wondered, terrified that something was wrong.
"Nessa, push one more time, as hard as you can, you can do it! I know you love this child just as much as I do, and Nessa, if you gift me this child, I will place my life in your hands to command for as long as I shall live! I promise you this! Push Nessa, push!" He cried, his voice was deep, and sounded tortured.
Nessa saw all the emotions and love in her lovers eyes, and wanted nothing more than to gift him this child. Ignoring the ripping sensation of her skin, and all the pain that seized her, she pushed with all her might, and heard the witches cry with excitement, and nearly fainted.
Hawk prepared for the birth of his child, this was it, he thought, terrified of the whole experience, scared that something might go wrong. It was well known that many woman die during delivery.
The baby's head slipped out, and Hawk prepared himself to recieve her. Putting out his arms, he placed his hands close to the opening, when quickly, the rest of the baby slipped out, and fell into the arms of her father. The witches cheered and clapped their hands, and hugged each other, doing a witch dance from all their excitement.
Dora, Hilda, and Maya, looked at each other, trying to hide the grief in their hearts, that would soon befall Hawk. They knew that Nessa's recovery was slim to none, she had lost a great deal of blood, and the witches were left with no hope.
Hawk did not notice anything wrong was about to happen, he was overjoyed with his beautiful baby girl, who looked at him, as if she already knew he was her father. Everything inside Hawk came to life, and reached out to this baby, and the baby too, every cell in her body prepared for the Fay connection, that branded them father and daughter to all eternity.
Hawk closed his eyes, and allowed the connection to take place. He had heard the wonderful feeling one would feel during the miracle connection, but he never thought it would be this powerful, and that he would feel this way. When the connection was complete, a surge of feelings engulfed him, and he cried out loud, unashamed that he had an audience who watched his every move.
Cradling the tiny bundle against his muscled chest, he could not hold off his emotions anymore, and he released them all with a rush, opening his mouth, and tilting his head upwards, "aaaahhhhhhhh" he cried with passion, and all the witches cried along with him.
"Hawk we must cut the umbilical cord quickly, and try to save Nessa's life!" Dora yelled hysterically.
Hawk's whole life crumbled in front of him when he heard Dora's words. He handed his baby over to Hilda who was waiting next to him, with silent tears gliding down her face, and when she took the child, she smacked it's bottom, and the babe let out a piercing cry that echoed throughout the castle. It would be the first of many coming out of this spoiled little princess, who will capture the hearts of every single person who gazed upon her.
Hawk was handed a knife, and he quickly cut the cord, and stepped aside so Dora could remove the afterbirth. His eyes never once leaving his wife's, her face creased with pain, and Hawk noticed at that moment the spark leaving Nessa's one eye that was open, and then she passed out unconscious, but not before she whispered his name, in a tortured, painful voice.
Hawks heart leapt from his chest, and he sprung forward, and hovered over his soulmate recklessly, and begged her to wake up.
"Nessa wake up my heart! We have a baby girl, she looks just like you, and I promise you that You will be my queen, and I will build you a castle to live in, and I shall worship the ground you walk on, wake up Nessa!" He yelled in a broken tortured voice, as fear gripped him with unrelenting force.
The witches started to wail around him, and decided that this would be the perfect time to adopt Nessa's GOD as their own, and start praying! they had heard about the many miracles that her God had preformed, and if HE helped Nessa stay alive, they promised to believe in him, and worship him for the rest of their lives.
"Nessa! Nessa!" Hawk yelled hoarsely, "wake up! I need you, we all need you, wake up Nessa!" Hawk yelled breathlessly, dropping his head on her breasts, and crying his heart out.
Nessa could hear Hawk, she could feel his pain, and wanted to tell him that she didn't want to leave, but she could not hang on anymore. She could feel her heart slowly easing away, and she called out his name.
"Hawk," she said in a faint whispered, it was all that came out of her mouth before her head rolled to the side, and her breathing came to an end.
Hawk raised his head and looked at his woman, panic prickled up his spine, his heart tightened and twisted, and he howled with grief, like a wild animal in the woods. His piercing wail echoed throughout the walls of East Wick castle, just as the MacAlister's crashed the door open, and they raced through the corridor, and reached the room, where they found Nessa held in Hawks arms ready to take her last breath.
They all filed in the room silently, filling the huge room all the way around. And they dropped to one knee, out of respect. Lidia was the last to walk in the room, and William reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, knowing that she was dieing a thousand deaths, watching her baby girl almost lifeless in the arms of the Fay.
Hawk moved to the center of the room, and everyone pushed back to give him space, as he dropped to his knees and cradled possesively the love of his life in his muscled arms. He cried his heart out, wailing loudly, unashamed of the weakness that he showed. He kissed every inch of her face, and decided that he wanted to marry her before she died. He wanted to give her this one gift, before she left him.
"Nessa, heart of my heart, wake up, marry me! I love you and want to make you my wife!" He cried hoarsely, knowing that he waited too long to marry her, but now he must hurry, and do it, so he could give her this one last gift. "Wake up Nessa, marry me my love."
Nessa was far away, and barely heard his cries, but when she heard him tell her he wants to marry her, she struggled to come back, even for a few minutes, until they get married, so she could give him a lasting gift.
Stirring weakly in his arms, her eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at him. Hawks heart stopped pumping blood, he commanded someone bring him a knife. He was going to marry his soulmate if it was the last thing he did!
Hilda handed the knife to Dora, and Dora kneeled down besides Hawk, and waited for his instructions. Hawk held out his palm, and said, "slice my skin open, and be quick about it!"
Dora hesitated only for a second, before she did as was ordered. Blood seeped through the opening, but Hawk ignored it, and ordered Dora to do the same with Nessa's hand. He gently took her hand and placed it in front of Dora.
"Do it!" He ordered sternly, knowing there was no time to be wasted, Dora followed orders, and sliced Nessa's palm. Once her job was done, Dora pulled herself up, and walked away, her heart breaking in two, at what was about to take place.
Hawk grabbed Nessa's bleeding hand in his, and mixed their blood together.
"I Hawk, Fay of Fay world, take thee, Nessa MacAlister princess to the Druids, to love, to hold, and to cherish, till," he had to swallow a sob, before he continued, "till death do us part. You are my queen and I shall worship you. Please Nessa," he cried out loud, "say to me your vows, and gift me with the words of love, and allow me to cherish you as my wife!" He pleaded, as tears rolled down his handsome face.
Not one soul in the room was not touched by the Fay's beautiful words. They knew how much Hawk adored Nessa, and if anyone had any doubts, his words sealed their faith in him, leaving them with no doubt.
There was silence around the room, and every single person was in tears. Lidia was held tightly by William who was her rock, as she cried out loud for her baby girl.
"I Nessa MacAlister, take thee, Hawk, Fay of Fay's, to be my husband," her words were barely a whisper, and everyone leaned in to her what she was saying. "To love and obey," Hawk unable to hold off anymore wailed out loud, releasing his pain, that had tortured him, and crippled his heart. But Nessa continued, wanting to finish the handfasting before GOD took her, "to cherish and honor, till death do us part." She whispered her last words with force, and looked up into his eyes, "come closer husband and seal our vows with a kiss." Nessa's breath was a mere whisper.
They were handfasted before witnesses, she was now his wife, and nothing and no one could change that, nor did anybody want to. She belonged to him now, even if it were for only a few minutes.
Hawk felt her spirit giving up, "ahhhhhhhh!" He wailed loudly, bringing his lips to hers. Kissing her with all his might, savoring her lips on his, pressing against her mouth, wanting her back, demanding that she live! "Nessa!! He screamed hoarsely, come back to me!" He demanded, as he squeezed his wife in his strong arms, and buried his face against her neck and wept.
Hawk closed his eyes and rocked Nessa back and fourth in his arms, she tried to say something, but lacked the strength. Hawk leaned his ear closer to her to hear what she might say, but she lay quietly in his arms, and he did not feel her breathing. She was gone!
"Oh no Nessa," Hawk cried, don't leave me, don't go!"
I was late writing this chapter because today was my birthday, and my family and extended family threw me a birthday party, And I am going to ask for a birthday present from each and everyone of you! If you want, please hit the vote button, and give me your vote! It would be the best present ever from all of you.
Thank you kindly for your votes, and your loyalty, for supporting me throughout this journey. My storybook does not end here, I will continue with Abby's love story before I end this book and start the next. Do not lose faith in this ending tonight, I too felt the pain and loss of Nessa, but remember the light at the end of the tunnel, and the rainbow after the storm? ;)
Xoxoxxoxoxxoxo xoxoxoxo