Chapter 7: A very special gift.
The next morning he found himself awake with her draped over him. Her head on his chest, arm wrapped around him and her leg draped across his lower waist. He tried to untangle himself from her while trying to not wake her, instead she just snuggled up tighter against him. Finally unable to wait any longer he put his face to hers and told her he'd be right back. She reluctantly let go with a cute pout, and he made a beeline to do his business. When he walked back to the room to throw on some pants, she was laying there with open groggy eyes, she asked him for some water as she got up to use the washroom.
He walked to the kitchen to fetch both of them some, set the glasses on the table, then added more wood to the fire and stoked it with the few remaining coals. Once the fire was going again he grabbed the glasses and went to his room. He noticed her eyes were closed, and he hoped she had gone back to sleep but when he put the cups on the side table her eyes opened. Once she was in a sitting position he handed her one of the cups. She pulled the blankets back enough so he could lay down beside her. After getting in bed with her, he brushed the hair from her face, leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"How do you feel," he asked with concern in his voice. She reached across him and set it her cup down beside his after she emptied it. She then looked at him and put her lips to his and kissed him with all the passion she could, when their lips separated both of them were breathless.
When their breathing and hearts had slowed down she looked at him. The love he felt and saw in her eyes overwhelmed him with feelings. He groaned, pulled her into his arms tightly, "l love you Elayne," and kissed her again.
After what seemed like ages, they came up for air, she tightened her arm across him, settled her head against his chest listening to his heartbeat.
"I'm fine Hawke, what happened to me last night? Why did I freak out that way?"
"You had a panic attack, your body and brain just couldn't take the extra information that your father told you. If he was here right now I'd punch him." He said aggravated.
She leaned on her elbow staring at him with a grin on her lips, "if my father was here right now with both of us half naked and you laying beside me in your bed, you'd be getting more than a punch."
He couldn't help but chuckle, "I'm sure your right, but I'm a big boy, I can handle myself."
"That you are," she grinned as her hand started rubbing his chest before becoming serious. "Father said that I had died, and you almost died, what did he mean by that?" He felt her tensing up against him, and he stroked her back until she relaxed again.
"Elayne, what I'm going to tell you might cause you some discomfort, I wish it didn't have to, but I need you to process this now instead of later when I'm not around. I want you to stay calm, if it makes you feel better, keep your hand against my chest and feel my heartbeat until your hearts beating with mine like it is now, if it starts to become too much, okay?"
She nodded and waited for him to continue. "When that arrow hit you the tip was literally against your heart. I didn't realize that it had actually punctured through until your brother started pulling it out and blood started bleeding faster, and I lost you for a second. When I saw the puncture I told your brother to stop, so I could repair the wound before you bled out, while I was in there I started massaging your heart and was able to get it beating again. When I had that part of you healed and with my sisters and your brothers help I was able to heal the rest as the arrow came out. After I came back from the healing I didn't realize how much I was drained, how weak my body was, until I got ready to stand up, and I almost lost consciousness. But because I was so focused on you, my determination and my feelings for you kept me strong enough until Bethany gave me a couple of potions."
He felt a wetness on his chest, her body shaking, he tipped her head up and saw that she was crying. He put his arms around her and pulled her up to him, "Elayne," he said gently, "look at me, please baby." It took some time, but he was finally able to get her to look at him.
When he saw the tears in her eyes his heart literally broke. He put his mouth to hers, and she opened for him. He showed her the warmth, love, and passion he felt for her. He tried to show her what life would be like with them together for the rest of their lives. He poured his heart and soul into the kiss and tightened his grip on her, vowing to never let go, where he went she went.
After a while they parted, and he looked in her eyes, "I love you Elayne Hawke, I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want to feel you in my arms every night before I go to bed and every morning I wake up. I want to see those beautiful baby blue eyes staring at me each time. I want to give you the world, make you the happiest woman alive. You mean everything to me and I can't wait to show you everyday just how much. I want to be one with you in every way possible."
"I love you too Arik Hawke. I want us together forever. More than you'll ever know," she whispered as she snuggled up to him. Unconsciously he lay there rubbing her back, thinking, sliding his fingers up and down her, ever so lightly.
He felt her squirming under him, when he looked down at her, she was laughing, "Hawke stop it, your fingers are tickling me."