Spellbound
I have been working extra hard to get the last few chapters out for you all and I really hope that you all enjoy this. There is a little comedy relief at the end granted to us by our clueless but loving couple on pending parenthood.
The story idea is mine but the characters belong to Ms. Charlaine Harris. I really do appreciate her allowing me the many chances to play with her characters.
During Eric's talk with the others …
Dr. Ludwig looked at Sookie and shook her head in dismay. "I told you to relax and to not do anything that would cause harm to come to you. I told you that I wanted you to stay off of your feet for just a couple of days. I didn't think that I was asking too much of you but maybe I was. I don't know. I'm just the doctor. Maybe I didn't know what I was saying. Maybe I'd slipped into a delusional state and just imagined that I'm a doctor. Is that it? Maybe I didn't say those things to you," she added. "Maybe I don't remember what I said. Did I not say any of those things to you, Sookie?" she concluded.
Sookie looked at Dr. Ludwig and smiled. "Yes, you did," she answered. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen, Dr. Ludwig. You have to believe me. And I did the best that I could. André kidnapped me and then he attacked my husband. He had Eric down on the ground and he had made a stake from the leg of a chair. I couldn't allow André to stake him. Eric's my husband. Though I know the type of vampire that André was, I didn't expect him to throw me against a wall. And I couldn't let him kill my husband. You wouldn't have expected me to just let that happen, would you?"
Dr. Ludwig placed her thumb and forefinger on the bridge of her nose and shook her weary head. "I've been here for the past three nights working on a severely injured vampire. I've been keeping company with a girl that has been used and abused beyond imagination and now you, Sookie Northman. I have to deal with a faery princess that won't listen to reason. I don't understand why you want to make my life harder by not doing as I say."
With her voice filled with exasperation, Dr. Ludwig leaned in closer to Sookie and said, "My mother lived to be 1,564 years old. I've always wanted to live to be that age. It would be quite the accomplishment but I get the feeling that you don't see it as I do. Do you feel that at 800 years old, I've lived long enough? Are you trying to send me to an early grave? Is that what you're doing? Because if it is, you are succeeding!" she yelled.
Sookie placed her hand atop the doctor's hand and smiled. "I want you to live to be 2,000 years old and I will do my part to get you there. Don't be so upset with me, Megan. I'm sorry. I promise you that I won't do it again." She then nudged the doctor's hand said, "Come one. You know that you don't want to be upset with me." She began to stroke the back of the good doctor's hand.
"Don't try that faery mumbo jumbo on me, young lady," she said as she jerked her hand away from Sookie. "You were spotting, Sookie. That's dangerous for you; especially with you being what you are and I not knowing exactly how to treat a pregnant faery. I've done all that I can and you won't listen to me. I'm not telling you that you need to relax and take care for my health. I'm telling you for yours and that baby in there," she said as she pointed at Sookie's stomach.
The smile soon vanished from Sookie's face. She knew that she'd spotted just a bit but she didn't think that it was enough to be concerned over. She was fine. She felt fine. She'd even taken a drink from one of the vials that Fintan had left behind for her but the look of concern on the doctor's face gave her even more of a reason to take to what the doctor was saying seriously. She looked at Dr. Ludwig and said, "I'm not making light of what you've told me. I give you my word, Dr. Ludwig. I will do as you've asked of me. From this point on, I will remain in this house and in this bed."
Dr. Ludwig patted Sookie's hand and sighed. "Thank you," she said. She stood up from her seat and ran her hand through her graying, black hair. "I have to go and check on Pam. And before you ask, she's doing fine. She's healing nicely and I'm sure that she will be back to being a high riding bitch in no time."
Sookie laughed. "That's so good to hear. Will you give her my love?"
"I will do that. Now, you get some rest and I'll be back in here to check on you in an hour." Dr. Ludwig said as she turned to leave the room.
"Thank you," Sookie called out behind the doctor.
Dr. Ludwig waved her hand in the air as she left the room.
Sookie closed her eyes and settled deep into her pillow. It pained her to know that she wouldn't be standing at Eric's side when he took claim to André's seat tomorrow night. She wanted to see the faces of their enemies when he did what needed to be done to make sure that their world would remain fair and free for them all. And she hoped that Godric and Shiloh would stand with them as they vowed to. She didn't want to have to kill them. They needed them. Eric needed them.
"Hey," Amelia said as she stood at the door.
Sookie opened her eyes and turned to face the door. She looked at Amelia and waved her in. "Hey, Amelia," she said as she propped herself upon her pillows. "How are you feeling?"
Amelia took the chair next to Sookie's bed and shrugged. "I'm as good as expected. It feels funny being able to walk around or to not be afraid." She glanced over her shoulder and said, "I finally escaped the watchful eye of Marco. I was so glad that he went to the bathroom."
Sookie laughed because she knows how it is to be under the watchful eye of Marco. He's the best bodyguard to have ever existed. He never lets his charges out of his line of sight if he can help it. "He's the best of the best," Sookie stated. "But he can be a bit much at times."
"Yeah, he is." Amelia looked at Sookie and sighed. "I just came in here to tell you thank you for all that you've done for me." Tears glistened in her eyes. "Your people have been so good to me. I could've died if it hadn't been for you and those around you. I could've died," she whispered.
"But you didn't," Sookie replied. "You're here and you're safe."
Amelia nodded her head as she looked down at the floor. She tried to smile but the smile didn't come. She sighed and figured that it would come back in time. She looked up at Sookie and asked, "Are you going to be okay?"
Nodding, Sookie said, "I will be."
Amelia's eyes travelled to Sookie's stomach and they settled there. She'd noticed the previous night that Sookie looked pregnant but tonight she looked a whole lot pregnant. A lot more pregnant than she did the last time she'd seen her and she'd wondered how it happened. She's known that all vampires are possessive and stake claim to what they believe belongs to them and she'd seen the vampire that's Sookie's husband. He looked powerful and fearless and there was no way that he'd allow someone else to get his wife pregnant; not the princess of the faeries. And she could tell that there is no way that Sookie, the princess of the faeries, would've cheated on her husband. She seems to be too much in love with her husband to even think of lying down with another being. Though she didn't know those things to be true for sure, Amelia had a gut feeling that the vampire and the faery loved each other too much to betray one another. It just wasn't possible for that to happen.
So, she wondered, how did it happen?
Sookie smiled at the girl's thoughts. When she'd first found out that she was pregnant, she wondered how it could have happened. It was an awful feeling to think that you are the only one in love. To want to hold that person in your arms for all of the days of your life while he seems to want to be rid of you; it's the worst pain in the world. It's heartbreaking and disheartening. But to finally realize that the pregnancy happened because both of them are in love with each other and have always been in love with each other, makes the wonder even more wondrous. To know that the magic only helped it along makes it all worthwhile. And it's all because of love.
"Love," Sookie answered simply. "It happened because of love."
Amelia looked up at her and asked, "Love is that powerful, that strong?"
"It is," Sookie said as she nodded. "Plus I have a little something extra to go along with mine but love makes anything possible, Amelia. You just have to believe it. I do."
And Amelia knew that to be true. Being in their home, the vampire and the faery's, she knew that she was surrounded by it. Every being that resided in that house was surrounded by love and she knew that it was because of the faery. And it was good … almost.
Sookie smiled at Amelia and took the girl's hand into hers. "Now," she said. "What has you awake at this time of the night? Are the nightmares getting worse?"
Amelia shook her head no. "Dr. Ludwig gave me some stuff to take last night after Copley left and I haven't had but one bad dream. My nerves are still on edge but I'm good." She then leaned in and whispered to Sookie. "I sense a few extra voids downstairs. I was just wondering … I just wanted to know if … if I'm safe. I wasn't sure if maybe they'd sent some vampires after me."
"Don't fear," Sookie assured her. "You are safe here. No harm will come to you. You are a halfling. You are of my people and I will keep you safe."
Amelia frowned. "What does that mean … that I'm a halfling?"
"It means that you're part faery. It means that you are an exceptional being. It means that you will do amazing things in this lifetime … if that's what you want," she added.
Amelia stared at the princess as her mouth fell open from surprise. "How?" she asked.
"Someone in your family, most likely your mother, slept with someone of our bloodline and you are the product. For you to be halfling, just like Maggie, you're both more powerful than you know. Your powers just haven't had a chance to come to the surface. And because of the trauma that was done to you, it may take a little longer for yours to come in."
Amelia didn't seem to hear any of what Sookie said because she asked, "My mother cheated on Copley? So he's not my real father?"
"I don't know," Sookie answered. "It's possible for him to be your father … if your mother was a faery. What was your mother's name, Amelia?"
"Mari (mah-ree)," she answered. A slow, sweet and almost smile appeared on her face as she repeated her mom's name. "Her name was Mari. She was so beautiful and so smart. That's what Copley has always told me. He told me that her beauty would outshine the beauty of others. He said that no other woman has ever compared to my mother. And her smarts; he said that she was the most intelligent woman he'd ever met. He used to tell me that she was the reason he was so successful. He said that she used to be able to tell when he needed to buy and sell certain stock or that she'd tell him which businesses for that time would be more lucrative. My … Copley always said that mom had a head for business."
Sookie began to laugh as she remembered her cousin. "Mari was my grandfather's sister's granddaughter. You are my kin," she said as stared at Amelia.
Tears fell from Amelia's eyes. "Wow," she replied. "And Maggie; is her mother a faery?"
Sookie shook her head no. "I've met her mother and Maggie's mother isn't of our people. She's too weak. She's easy to manipulate. Now with Maggie, I'm certain that her mom may have been with a full blooded faery."
Amelia almost smiled once again. "I've always thought that Maggie's mom was a little flighty," she said. "It's really nice to meet you."
"Same here, Cousin," Sookie replied. She soon squeezed her eyes closed and a whimper of discomfort escaped her. She gripped the sheets tightly in her hands as the pain slowly subsided into nothing.
"Are you okay?" Amelia asked. Her voice was filled with nervousness. She jumped up from her chair and asked, "Should I go and get the doctor?"
Patting her stomach, Sookie said, "No. I'm okay. It's just that I'm at the mercy of this child right now."
Amelia sat the edge of her seat and said, "I heard Dr. Ludwig talking to Marco earlier tonight about the meeting that's going on for tomorrow night. She said that you have to be there but she doesn't want you to be there. She's concerned about you."
Sookie sighed as she tenderly caressed her belly. "I know and I am but I very seriously doubt that Eric will want me to go. After what happened tonight, he's not going to want me anywhere near any other vampires that he doesn't trust. And for once," she said as she winced once again. "I agree with him. I'm not going to be able to go. When Dr. Ludwig says that I need to stay in bed then I am going to stay in bed."
"What kind of meeting is it?" Amelia asked.
Sookie glanced at her cousin from the corner of her eye and said, "It's nothing that you have to worry over. We're going to take care of everything." She began to breathe slowly as she closed her eyes and caressed her belly. "Good boy," she whispered. "Good boy."
"Sookie?"
"Yeah?" she said as she rolled her head in Amelia's direction.
"Does it have to do with what happened to my friends … to me?"
"It does," she answered.
Amelia looked down at her hands and nodded. "I figured as much."
She wanted to forget what they'd done to her. If she could just forget what they'd done to her, she would be fine. She could go on with her life and never look back. She would never have to see Copley Carmichael again. She could move far away and her life would be just fine but she couldn't do that. She had to think of her friends.
"Do you have to tell them what happened to me?" Amelia whispered.
"I do," Sookie answered. "But I also have to show them."
Tears fell from Amelia's eyes. "What do you mean 'show them'? I don't understand."
"Because I am the representative of our people, I have the ability to show what André and his cohorts did to you and your friends. I can do that just by simply holding their hands," Sookie answered. "I don't have to be there to show them. A reputable member of the council can meet with me and I can show them what they need to know … what they have to see."
Amelia's shoulders began to shake from the crying that she was doing. She didn't want anyone to know what she'd been through. It was horrific and it's the type of stuff that nightmares are made of. The very idea of knowing that she was so close to dying is what scared her the most … and knowing that the man that she's always known as her father would allow it happen to her. Out of everything that happened to her, knowing that her dad betrayed her is the worst. But she couldn't let it stop her. She was going to make it. It was going to take some time but she was going to make it.
"I know that one day, I'll get past this," Amelia began as the sobs slowly began to fade away. She looked at Sookie and said, "I know that I won't let this get the best of me. I won't let this break me."
Sookie took Amelia's hand into hers and said, "It won't. You're so strong and so brave. You will do great things in your life."
Finally smiling through tears as she looked up at Sookie, Amelia said, "I know and that's why I have to go the meeting in your place. I have to tell everyone what was done to me. I may not be able to let them see it but I have to go so that you won't have to."
Sookie frowned as she sat up in bed. "You can't do that," she warned. "They will learn of your gift …" She then laughed. "And even if they learn of your gift, you will be safe. Eric can pass an edict to keep you safe from harm. You and Maggie." She laughed at her own forgetfulness. They don't have to fear anymore. She looked at Amelia and asked, "Are you sure that you want to do this?"
Amelia answered with a resounding yes. "I have to. Those girls, Cecile, Elizabeth, and Connie, they were my friends. I know that you can show the others what you've learned but I, I can tell them of what they did to us. I can take them to where we were held. I think that's why I'm still alive. I think that I'm supposed to tell them what happened."
Sookie couldn't believe that she was in the presence of such strength and determination and by a halfling. A girl, that for all of her life believed that she was a mere human with a little extra that is willing to stand before the supe world and tell them what happened to her and her friends. "Are you sure that you want to do this?"
"I am," Amelia stated.
"You astound me," Sookie replied. "Now, you won't have to do this alone. My cousin, Claudette, will be with you. I'll take you through the steps of what you will have to do so that they will actually see what happened to you but we will only do that if you want to."
Sitting tall in her seat, Amelia asked, "Do you think that's best?"
"I do," Sookie answered. She folded her hands in her lap before speaking again. "Because you are not exactly known in the supe world, being and working with Claudette will make it easier for the others to believe you. So, yes, I do believe that it's best that she's with you."
"Okay," she answered. "I'll do it. I'll do whatever it is what I have to do to show them what happened to us."
The room suddenly fell quiet and Sookie could tell that there was something more that Amelia had to say. But so that she would stay out of the girl's mind, she raised her shields and waited. It almost tickled her to see how nervous Amelia was; especially after all that they've shared in the last couple of days. She was about to tell Amelia to speak up but she didn't have to. The girl decided to speak up on her own.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for all that you've done for me. I was feeling so lost and alone. The entire time that I was being held captive, I kept thinking that I wanted to go home to Copley; regardless of what he'd done to me. I was just going to go through my life believing that it was a mistake and that he was being coerced into doing what he'd done. I pretended that it never happened. I think that's what kept me alive."
Amelia began to laugh. "I kept wishing that I had macaroni and cheese and my dad. I wanted to wake up in my bed and believe that all of what happened was nothing more than a bad dream. I wanted my fantasy to be my reality. And I feel that if I gave into what was really going on, I would have died. You saved me. You and the others saved me. Thank you."
Before Sookie knew it, she was wrapped in Amelia's arms. She stroked the girl's head and rocked her back and forth. "It was our pleasure," she replied. "Whatever you need from us, we will give. You have our support."
"Ahem," Eric said from the door.
Amelia stood up quickly as she released Sookie. Out of sheer instinct, she stepped closer to Sookie. She wanted to run to the other side of the bed but it was just too far for her to go. She knew that in time, she wouldn't be deathly afraid of vampires but for now, she was going to have to take baby steps. She closed her eyes and slowly moved away from the bed but not too close to Eric either.
"I won't hurt you," he said to her.
"I know," she whispered. "I'm just nervous. I'm sorry."
Eric shook his head. "Don't apologize to me, Amelia. You don't owe me one. It is I that should apologize to you."
"Why?" she whispered.
"Because of what happened to you and your friends," he said. "I apologize for what my brethren did to you. I apologize for your anguish and we will make it right."
Sookie looked at Eric and beamed with love and admiration. She'd never admired or loved him more than she did at that moment.
"Thank you, Mr. Northman," she said.
Smiling, he said, "Call me Mr. Eric."
Amelia smiled.
"Eric," Sookie scolded.
"It was a joke, Sookie," he said. "She can call me Mr. Northman."
Laughing, Sookie said, "Eric."
"You can call me Eric," he said.
"Okay," Amelia whispered. Turning back around to face Sookie, she asked, "What am I going to wear to the meeting tomorrow night and what time am I to be ready?"
Sookie glanced quickly at Eric before returning her attention to Amelia. "Don't worry about that right now. I'll call Claudette in the morning and let her know of our plans. I'm sure that she will take you shopping for a formal gown. And once you two return, we'll go through what it is that you will have to do at the meeting, okay?"
Amelia nodded and smiled. "Okay," she answered. "Goodnight, Sookie." She leaned down and kissed Sookie's cheek.
"Goodnight, Amelia."
Amelia turned to face Eric but her eyes remained on the ground. "Goodnight, Eric," she said.
Stepping away from the door, he said, "Goodnight."
Before leaving the room, Amelia looked up at Eric and asked, "Would you help me with something, Mr. Northman?"
"If I can," he answered.
Looking down at her hands, she asked, "Can we talk about it tomorrow after the meeting? It won't take long."
"Sure," he said.
"Thank you," she said as she hurriedly walked through the door.
"Where have you been?" Marco called out as she stepped out of Sookie and Eric's room. "I am supposed to be guarding you. You are not to leave my sight. Come," he ordered. "Let's get you back in your room."
They never heard her answer because Marco had her and they were gone.
As soon as Amelia and Marco disappeared, Eric closed the door. As the security latch locked into place, he undressed. He wanted to know what the girl was talking about when she said that she was going to the meeting but he was going to wait until he was in bed and holding his wife in his arms.
And that's what happened. As soon as he had Sookie in his arms, he asked her what was going on. "What was the girl speaking of, Sookie? Why is she under the impression that she is going to go to the meeting tomorrow night?"
Snuggling into her husband's arms, she said, "Because she is. Eric I can't go with you. Dr. Ludwig said that because of what happened tonight, I need to stay in bed for the remainder of the pregnancy and because of that, Amelia is going to speak before the council. She is going to tell them what happened to her and the other girls. And it's what's best. Claudette will be with her and because of that, she will be able to show them what happened."
Eric fell quiet and thought of what his wife told him. Any other time he wouldn't want a human standing in for Sookie but he knows that now, there is no chance of the girl being turned away. They have control of the seat. He also knows that the girl won't be in danger of having her gift being used against her will. He can and will pass and edict on her behalf. He will also do the same for Maggie. And since Claudette is able to show the girl's memories to another member of the council, the others will be a lot more willing to take the girl at her word. False memories won't come through.
"It is an excellent plan," he said as he kissed the back of Sookie's head. He then inhaled and asked, "Why are you on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy?"
Sookie shifted so that she could be facing Eric. She leaned in and kissed his nose. She rested her hand on his chest and said, "Now, don't you get all upset with what I'm about to say. It's not at all as bad as you'll think that it is. Just know that as long as I remain off of my feet, I and the baby will be fine."
His body stiffened as he closed his eyes and waited to hear what she had to say.
"Well, when Dr. Ludwig examined me when we returned home, she noticed that I'd been bleeding … but just a little," she hurriedly added. "But I'm fine now. The bleeding has stopped and I had a drink of some the faery elixir that Fintan gave to me. I've only been feeling a few pains in my belly but they've all but faded into nothing. It's mostly kicking that I feel now."
He opened his eyes and stared at her. Through clinched teeth, Eric said, "I should've taken my time with him. I should've removed each nail from this fingers and toes with silver, needle nosed pliers. I should've taken a silver drill and removed each of his fucking teeth. I should've pierced every inch of his flesh with silver tacks. I should've …"
Sookie shook her hand as she chuckled at her husband's antics. "You did what needed to be done. He needed to die quickly and you saw to that. And I'm fine."
Though he was angry, he agreed with what she'd said. He began to brush the strands of hair from her face. "I can postpone the meeting until you feel better," he offered.
"No," she said. "You take that seat and claim it as your own. This is your fate, my dearest love. Leading our world, this is what you are meant to do. Your ideals are what our world needs. This is you, Eric. This is your chance to show them what we can do … what you can do. Oh, how I wish that I could be there with you but do not worry. I will be fine and when you return home, I will be right here waiting for you."
He kissed her deeply as her faith in him surrounded him, filled him with undying love. He'd wanted more but knew that because of what happened earlier, he would be just as grateful with the kiss.
Sookie enjoyed the kiss just as she's always enjoyed his kisses but tonight, the baby wouldn't let her enjoy them too much. She winced as she rolled over onto her back. "This child is kicking me to death," she said.
Eric placed his hand on Sookie's belly and felt as the baby kicked his hand. He closed his eyes as his son kicked his hand. Never in a thousand years did he ever imagine that he'd have a son. "Amazing," he whispered.
"Isn't it?" she asked.
He looked up at his wife and said, "I've never met a more astounding creature in all of my existence. You are the beginning and the end of me, Sookie Northman." He then placed his head on her stomach and closed his eyes. And just as he did, there was another kick.
Sookie's eyes widened. "Oh my," she said. "With the way that this child is kicking me, I would think that he's almost ready to make an appearance."
Eric sat up quickly as he stared straight ahead. "Is it time?"
Shaking her head, Sookie said, "I don't think so. I'd think that if it was time I'd be in pain. At least some but not too much. I've never had a baby but I'm sure that it's not going to be that difficult." She looked at Eric and asked, "Do you remember what it was like for your wife?"
He shook his head no. "I only remember that I had sons."
She shrugged her shoulders and said, "Maybe that's how it is then. You don't know what's going to happen until it comes out. I've watched some videos on the internet and there was excessive screaming but I chalk that up to the fact that the women were of weak spirit; screaming, crying, and a lot of swearing. It could've been because they were human."
With a frown on his face, Eric asked, "Have you spoken with any of your human friends about what it's like to have children? Did Claudine mention any pain?"
"No," she said. "None of the humans that I socialize with have children. I've seen them with children and they always speak of how they'd love to have them at some point in their lives. It seems to be a most joyous occasion. Claudine didn't seem to have any problems. She mostly complained about having swollen ankles; which she never really had. She was moody most times but other than that, she was the same as she ever was. As a matter of fact, she looked very happy to be pregnant. I've seen other pregnant faeries and they appeared to be quite happy as well. Not one complaint from any of them." Sookie began to nod and said, "I'm sure that there isn't much pain. Claudine would've said something. She was notorious for being a great complainer."
Eric thought over what Sookie said and decided that she was making perfect sense. Even if there is a little pain, he's sure that his wife can handle it. She's a very strong woman. He looked at her and said as much. "You can do this. You are a strong woman. I'm sure that you will be just fine."
She leaned over and kissed him and said, "I'm sure that you're right. Having this baby will be a walk in the park."