Hedwin The Hawk by A. Richardson©2005

I was driving along on the country lane between Carmel and Rhosgadfan, with Caernarfon Castle and a rough sea on my left, when I saw a crow attacking a Hawk. They twisted and plunged in the air , but that crow didn't give up, following and lunging viciously whilst the Hawk desperately tried to flee. This gave me the idea for this Christmas tale. It's not a thriller, nor a crime story, but the story of a proud creature, born of a race of lionhearted birds, who sets the theme of peace and love at Christmas. His name is a play on the words Hedd Wyn which was the title of a film, is pronounced Heth Win, and which means White Peace. I almost called this tale Bird of Pray when I noticed that solitary chapel on the roadside wilderness only some 30 feet from the two birds.

Hedwin was born high above the quarry in the mountains of North Wales. Of his two brothers and one sister Hedwin was the smallest as well as the eldest. His mother often despaired that he'd never learn to fly properly because he was so much slower than the others, but some two months after they were all airborn, Hedwin finally made his first successful flight across Caernarfon , down towards Porthmadog, and finally back home to Fron, squinting as he flew. You see Hedwin had a slight problem with his sight.It caused him to squint so that he could get a better view of the ground below. Unfortunately, it also caused him to see small creatures as blurred images which was a disaster for a bird of prey. If you think of an aircraft whose tracking system has gone awry , then you can imagine how difficult it was for Hedwin to get from A to B successfully, let alone catch small mice or moles way below, when all he saw of them was a blurry blob. As he grew in size, he also grew in nature, making friends with the most unlikely creatures. His favourite friend was a lizard who often joined him to sit on a rock in the sun. Hedwin was a faithful and loyal friend too. When his sister saw the lizard she flew down to grab it wityh her beak, but Hedwin saw her coming and lunged between them both, just in time to save his friend. His sister was furious, but she had great respect for her brother, so when he explained that the lizard was his friend, she agreed that it would be left alone in future.This set the scene for many future changes in the behaviour of Hedwins' family. Changes which were caused by the caring, peace-loving side of his nature.

In the winter of 1989 the snow fell even more heavily than usual across the area. There were drifts so high along the roadside that very few vehicles could get through. The sheep on the hills were becoming short of food since their owners, the farmers were unable to climb through the snow to bring them any. All the wild animals were at starving point, and this meant that many of them took chances which they would not otherwise have done. Many mice and rabbits made their way to villages in search of mans' left-overs. Wild cats rummaged amongst the bins, desperate for something to eat. Hedwin and his family were no better off. They were forced to seek sustenance in areas where they could be more easily seen or attacked , as well as searching across a much wider area. It was on one of these searches that Hedwin, squinting, and freezing so badly, with the weight of snow settling on him that he could barely keep his wings moving, noticed what looked like a dinner for his whole family , moving slowly below him. He circled, then circled again getting lower and lower as he kept his eye on his prospective dinner. A snowy black movement which his squinting eyes told him was probably a duck or wild cat heavily encrusted with snow and increasingly unable to maove. Just what he needed to help his family. He took careful aim, then lunged, shooting swiftly to spike his prey before it could escape.At the last second before his beak would break into the face of the creature, he slammed his wings backwards in a desperate effort to avoid it. "Oh No", he cried with the eery sound only a hawk or Buzzard can make when expresssing sorrow or despair. " I cannot eat this creature, it needs my help".

The creature had trudged just one step too far. It was exhausted, and fell into the snow drift beside Hedwin.Clad in thick snow, with barely a tiny amount of its black coat showing, lay a small child fast becoming too ill and frozen to stay alive. Soon the snow would cover it. There was nothing anyone could do . It was just too far away from human habitation. Hedwin called the call of pain and despair which only a true country person can understand. A call which can be heard for many miles. As he called he held the child's coat in his mouth and dragged, taking rests every few minutes. The struggle was horrific, the weight of the child and the snow were wearing him out too soon. Across the mountains his sister and father heard him. Knowing he was in trouble they flew to his aid. Noone would believe what happened next, but it did. The three of them took a hold of the childs' coat and flew/dragged it towards the village. Often the child seemed to be walking as its legs dragged along on the ground. The strain on the birds was great indeed. Worse than anything they'd ever experienced before, especially since they were weakened by not having eaten that day. They managed to bring the child to the first cottage on the edge of the village, but noone seemed to be about, although in the distance they could hear the sound of singing.The voices were of children singing Christmas Carols as they went from house to house. Hedwin bravely went up to the window, knowing that he may be shot at, such is the nature of man, and he banged with his beak on that glass until a face appeared. A man came to the door of the house.He shouted waving his fists at the brave bird, but Hedwin held his ground , and stood above the bundle of snowy black that was the unconscious child, flapping his wings furiously and pulling at the childs' coat.

Frowning, the man came forward,beginning to understand, as he recognised the shape lying in the snow beneath his feet. He bent down and picked up the child , hurrying into the house, yelling to his wife as he moved.The worried birds waited by the front door, which had been left open, because, hungry though they were, they were more concerned about the life of such a small child. They wanted to know it had survived, so they stayed where they were. Such a long time later there was movement again and the man stood before them. " I know birds cannot understand the language of man, but I'm thanking you anyway," he said, as he laid a feast of food before them. You have brought the true spirit of Christmas into our lives this day. From now on noone from our village will seek to harm you or your family. If you are ever in trouble let us know and we will try to help you.

Then, almost as if he could hear Hedwin thinking, he said, "The child's alive. He's always been an adventurous six year old, but this time he just went too far." With that he left the threesome to eat their fill. They ate as much as they needed , but saved some, which the mans' wife wrapped in a bag for Hedwin to take home to the rest of his family.

Hedwin became a symbol of the peace and pride of his people and of the people of Wales. A valued member of the community set so high above the sea amid the snow topped mountains of Eryri.

I do hope you have enjoyed this Christmas Tale.