After three weeks past her dew date for delivering the baby to the world, she had started to panic, what if the child was… gone… No she reassured herself, the baby was only lazy, after all she could feel the baby’s mind and heart!

The day was dawning, or it was supposed to, the sun was blackened and the people feared it as an evil omen, the Elves too could sense that this was no natural phenomenon as their own Aura surged, it felt stronger and yet uncontrolled. Tay even opted to stay home to keep her own secrets safe, unsure how this surge in her Aura would effect her Magic, not that she left the safety of the Manor and teh Greenhouse often.

With a yelp, one of the villagers, turned to see Cetcily grab hold of her pregnant belly. Theo, the Healer, was just ahead of her, hearing the commotion behind him he immediately knew the signs as sure as he knew that the sun would return to normal given time! Her water had broken; she was going to have the baby.

Theo had become overly protective of Cetcily over the last few months, and living in a mansion up on the cliff where the sea’s waves shattered upon the steep of it, she was now home. He called her his daughter and took care of her as such; he had accompanied her down the cliff before the moon had dipped below the horizon, the day's work to proceed as normal... But not today! He rushed her back home, it only took about ten minutes’ walk from the Village square.

Ordering about an Elven woman that he taught the arts of healing, to help and assist him, Tay, she brought what he requested – lukewarm water, towels, and blankets. But fear for her friend and the baby kept her from of any real help to Theo.

Snow had started to fall outside, the first signs of winter… But it did not even occur to the scrambling Healer and Elf Aid what the white flakes where as she ran up and down fetching the Healer what he asked for, his final request being a glass of whiskey before he had her assist him in getting Cetcily as comfortable as she could possibly be.

He focused his Aura to his hands, and naturally his Aura was that of wind and water, Theo's hand glowed a soft blue-green and Cetcily could feel some of the birth pains vanquish. After all the man was a Druid a human who practiced 'Magic', or at least in its simplest form of pure energy manifested into an Aura. Theo too could feel his Aura denser, stronger than ever before!

“Thank you Theo!” Cetcily said more out of breath than she thought she would be… Suddenly she gave another earth shattering screech.

“The baby’s coming, Cet!” He called her by a nickname he gave her.

“Tay, let her hold your hand! She’s going to need it and, well, try not to scream yourself?” He advised Tay. This would be her first time helping to deliver a baby. Again Cetcily screamed, it echoed through the mansion and even nearby villagers that still stood in fear watching the Eclipsed Dawn was distracted for the moment.

“It’s coming, Cet, push!” He ordered her and she obeyed! More screams where heard and a yelp from Tay, whose hand Cetcily wash squeezing so hard that, Tay was sure her hand would break.

Soon the baby’s head crowned and Theo gently carefully guided the baby out. Cetcily’s breathing was heavy and labored, she had also finally let go of Tay’s hand so that Tay could help Theo clean the baby. What she didn’t notice was Theo’s worry for her.

“Tay get baby cleaned and warmed!” He ordered.

“Theo? What’s wrong?” She asked with such worry, the pain she had gone through masked the pain she must have felt now.

“The baby, is fine, but you’re going to bleed out at this rate!” He focused his Aura again healing her, a grey streak forming in his night sky black hair from the effort to keep Cetcily alive. Tay standing just behind Theo while tormenting thoughts plagued her mind!

Cetcily could feel the life draining from her, before her eyes closed she wished she could see the sun shine through the Eclipsing darkness, it be a hopeful sign... instead she saw the first snow fall for winter.

“Her name will be Asha; Daughter of Heaven, Sister of Night, she’ll be the Dawn!” Cetcily said before she completely embraced the deep sleep. Tay looked down at the baby girl in her arms, and all she could think was that it was her fault... her fault...

Hours passed before Theo felt it save to ease treatment for Cetcily. Taking over from Tay, Theo was amazed at the baby girl in his hands, her silver eyes, her pale fragile skin same as her mothers, but the features that struck awe in him that had Tay fear the baby some and would have others shunt her about, was the two lumps just behind her ears, beneath her skin still, that would clearly grow out to be horns, she had smooth silky scales that lined her sides and part of her neck that he knew would one day be as hard as diamonds and razor sharp as well. And her shoulder blades he could feel the bone that would one day protrude her skin… When he could not tell. She was beautiful yet, he could feel her Magic already stronger than any other Elf’s even her own mother’s. Could this be because of the Eclipsing Dawn?

Either way, he was thankful for whatever the cause was for the Aura, without the boost he was sure he would have lost Cetcily, and the girl would have been motherless! Instead he was now able to hold a healthy baby girl in his arms, and feel proud that he was able to safe her mother!

He let his thought wonder as he let the baby girl sleep close to his chest, for her to hear his rhythmic beating heart, which seemed to calm the girl some. “Sleep tight, little Asha.” He whispered her name to her.