Authors note:
Just a few things I'd like to say please.
First of all, thank you for showing interest in this story, I really appreciate it.
As stated before in comments, from now on I will be submitting these chapters individually. And because I've got most of the story already written out I will be able to get the chapters to you quicker. Also, if someone has a suggestion, which I'm open to, and it follows along with the story, I might consider it and put it in.
Ok folks, because Hawke's over there with his arms crossed starring at me, giving me that, 'get on with it' look, I will bow out and let him take over, before I do though; Thank you all for taking the time and reading this story. It been a fun challenge. Bows to Hawke and gives him the stage.
Elayne Hawke
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Chapter 6: The Proposal
When they headed to where their clothes were, he gave her a towel, and they dried off and got dressed. After they dropped off their stuff at his house, she started walking down the path to the main house, but he grabbed her hand and told her to wait. He gave a loud piercing whistle and a few minutes later Midnight came running up. He helped her up on Midnights back before he got up behind her, holding her in the front of him, one arm around her waist and the patting Midnight, and they headed to the main house.
Elayne turned around and looked at him, "don't you use a saddle with him or even a bit?" she asked curiously.
Hawke looked at her and shook his head. "I never use a bit, and the only time I use a saddle is when I have to go a long distance. But around here, no. I've had Midnight since he was a colt. We understand each other, I allow him his freedom, as long as he stays within the boundaries here. He's a good horse, I'm proud of him, he's family." Midnight turned his head to look at them, and Hawke reached out and petted him. "Oh and one more thing, I'm the only one that he allows to ride him, he throws everyone else off, so please, don't try and get on him without me here. I wouldn't want anything to happen to that pretty little neck of yours," he teased her before kissing her. When they got to the house he jumped off and lifted her down.
He went over to the bucket sitting by the corral gate and grabbed a couple of carrots, handing one to her. Midnight walked over to them and Hawke gave him his, and petted him, telling him thank you for the ride. The horse nudged him, putting his head on Hawke's shoulder. "I love you too buddy. Will you let Elayne give you a carrot?" Midnight looked over at her, sniffing along her body, then raised his head to look at her again. Hawke encouraged her to give the carrot to Midnight. He accepted it and nudged her with his head. Hawke watched the interaction between Midnight and Elayne amazed by Midnights acceptance to her. She scratched the horse the same way Hawke did, and she thanked him for the ride also.
She started to turn to walk away, but before she could Midnight put his head on her shoulder like he did with Hawke, she looked at Hawke unsure what to do. "Tell him you love him. He's accepted you as part of me." The horse bobbed his head up and down as if he agreed. Elayne did as Hawke said, and after she gave him another carrot the horse backed away, but not before he nudged Elayne's face. She turned to look at Hawke, and she caught him staring at her in wonderment. They heard a whistle behind them and they both turned around to see their parents staring. Bryce commented on what a beautiful horse Midnight was, asking if that was the same horse that he had won, Hawke nodded.
Bethany came over and grabbed Elayne's hand, the two girls taking off but not before she went over and gave her family a hug. She stood there for a couple of minutes looking at him, then she grabbed Bethanys hand and smiled at him before both girls disappeared into the house. Unconsciously Hawke put a hand to his chest, feeling an ache.
Shrugging it off, he turned to his mom and the Cousland's, expecting to get a lecture from at least one of them but what he saw instead confused him. They were all staring at him curiously. Shaking his head he turned to his mom and asked her if he could talk to her alone before he asked the Cousland's the same thing. In all their eyes he saw a spark of something, expectance? 'What the hell is going on here,' he thought.
Then it dawned on him, and he groaned, did they knew what he wanted to ask? Well since they all ready had it figured out he decided to just go for it. He motioned for them to follow him away from the house. He all of a sudden he got really nervous, not sure how to proceed, this wasn't the way he had it in his head. He looked at each one, saw acceptance in their eyes, even from Bryce who was grinning.
"You all know what I want to ask don't you," he asked incredulously. They just stood there watching him. Sighing, he looked at his mom and asked, "mom, may I get the family ring please?" Then he turned to the Cousland's and looked both Bryce and Eleanor straight in the eye, "Sir, ma'am, I'd like permission to marry your daughter." And to Hawke's astonishment Bryce said yes. He went and sat down even more dumbfounded, not sure what to say or how to respond. "How, how did you know?" They all sat down around him. It was his mom who answered.
"Hawke, it was your actions yesterday. Your dad always lectured you ever since your power showed itself to never reveal it to anyone no matter what." Hawke nodded. He remembered those lectures, had heard it every day, but that still didn't answer his question. "When you came back with Elayne yesterday something had changed within you when you were around her. We all saw it. Hawke, I'm your mother, I know you. The way you would look at her spoke volumes. There was pure love in your eyes, the fact that you brought her here with her family told me so much."
Eleanor took up the next part, "Elayne has even changed, our daughter who's more of a tomboy than a lady, has started to wear makeup more, has wanted to change her style of clothes. There are other little changes she's been doing that's odd behavior for her. Like your mom knows you, we know our daughter and all of this started happening after that night when you two first met."
Then Bryce spoke up, "it was yesterday that confirmed it for us. What you did to save our children, like your mother said, you've been lectured and warned about revealing your power to anyone no matter what. You exposed your magic, you risked freedom to save them, you risked your very own life to save them, especially with Elayne. Bethany told us how you healed Elayne, everything that happened, and you're refusing to let her go. The healing that you did almost killed you, didn't it?"
He shook his head, "it's a little more complicated than that but it would have been worth it to have her live, I might not of been around but at least she would be. I'd give my life, my soul for her," he said with a lump in his throat.
"That right there is the reason we say yes, that, and you make our daughter happy, truly happy. You're a good man Arik Hawke, you're the kind of man that we would be honored to have in our daughter's life," Bryce said.
"But we've only just met, how could I know for certain let alone you, that would be crazy, plus I'm a mage, one who's not even part of the Circle." He was stunned by their words.
Leandra leaned over to him, taking his hand. "Yes, you're a mage, your magic revealed itself at the young age of four, according to your father, we believe you're the youngest that its ever manifested itself in. You have had magic in you almost all your life, and you've never once used it except for practice. Hawke you are a rare person, your magic is rare, you're fathers' not the only one that's told you this, Caleb has too." He gave her a sharp look, warning her off, but she shook her head. "Son, the time for secrets is over, you're going to be part of their lives too. Wasn't the major agreement of your training to not train anyone else?"
He shook his head, "no. The deal was that I never reveal my training, in fact it would be best if I kept it a secret if I could. But your right, they are about to become family. I'll have to apologize and explain to Caleb the next time I see him."
Running his hands through his hair he looked over at Bryce and Eleanor. "I'm a battle mage, with some arcane warrior training. When my father couldn't teach me anything more with magic, and I took an interest and exceeded all training in swords my father took my training one step further. He had an old friend train me. Please don't ask me anything more for I cannot tell you. It's not that I don't want to, but I can't, at least not until I can talk to him. It was part of the agreement for my training and I cannot betray my teacher."
Both Bryce and Eleanor looked at him in shock, but then Bryce nodded his head after thinking about it. "Of course, some of your moves the other day had a different fighting style than I've ever seen. Arcane warrior, so you've had an elf training you," Hawke grimaced but nodded. "You really are a special person. Hawke, your secret is safe, and we promise we won't say or ask anything about it, but I hope someday you can tell me more. I'm truly impressed and deeply honored that you would allow us to know."
Bryce changed his stance, becoming more serious, "young man, do you love my daughter? Will you do everything in your power to make her happy? Will you stand with my daughter no matter what happens?"
Hawke looked at them stunned and sat down hard. Yes, this was what he wanted but to actually hear it? "You guys know how crazy and insane this all is, but I can't deny the pull, the feelings I have being around her, a bond that's been pulling at us since we first met, and it keeps getting stronger and tighter the more time we're together. I feel like I've known her my entire life, my heart literally aches for her, even more with her not being right beside me. I know for a certainty that she's my other half, she completes me, she's my soul mate." He looked at his mom who had tears in her eyes, "is that even possible?" He looked over at Eleanor, and she even had tears in her eyes also. Everyone was crazy, but he knew without a doubt, crazy or not, Elayne and him were meant to be together, and he'd never give her up.
