Forbidden Chains
By: rainjewel
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Chid placed his hand on the window ledge, then hauled himself up, throwing his body through the opening. He landed on his feet, but his knees buckled. A tall, longhaired man reached out, catching Chid, who was hovering just above consciousness.
Allen, thought Chid, as his world went dark for a few seconds, but was shocked out of his faint by a cold whisper of steel against his neck. He recognized the hilt of the sword in the fair skinned hand. It was a knight's sword.
"Tell me who you are, or I'll slice your neck," said the Allen, whispering in the Prince's ear, "and then I'll take care of your little servant girl too!"
Chid's eyes rolled torpidly around the room, and he saw Akaro's still form, unconscious on the floor. Oh no! he thought. He doesn't know what he's doing! Chid was near collapsing. He wasn't going to last much longer.
"For Jeture's sake Allen, it's Chid, your son!" he hoarsely whispered, then collapsed in the man's arms, oblivious of the sword that clattered to the floor at his words.
The blonde-haired man turned the teenager around in his arms. He couldn't see the boy's face, just the glint of a gold earring in the pale moonlight. The boy felt strong, but so weightless. He carried the boy to the bed, lying him down so that he could see the child's face with the aid of a candle. It was Chid, the son that he loved so dearly. The man turned and looked at the cat-girl, Chid's companion, feeling guilty about knocking such a frail creature unconscious. He clenched his fists in anger at himself for using such brash tactics. He clenched his fists tighter and tighter, until blood oozed from the palm of his hands, gashed by his sharp fingernails. He wiped the blood on his nightshift, and picked up Chid's friend, laying her on the couch, since he couldn't put her on the bed with Chid. She was remarkably beautiful.
"Allen...don't hurt her," came a murmur from the bed. He looked up from the girl, turning his attention to the fallen Prince. The boy's eyes were glazed, but he looked coherent.
Allen was quickly at the boy's side, on his knees. Chid looked at curiously.
"Oh, forgive me Chid. I didn't know that it was you outside my window. I saw the girl first, and thought that you were going to rob this room. I didn't mean to hurt you or her. I'm sorry for my rash decisions—" Allen continued on, talking quietly and nobly, as a good knight should, but Chid couldn't listen any longer. He wasn't mad at Allen, for he himself would have done the same thing. He just was worried about Akaro.
"Allen," the Prince said hoarsely, "I don't think you hurt me, but please, please check on Akaro. Get a doctor or something, but don't let anyone know I'm here. They can't know." He tried to sit up, but it required too much effort for the exhausted monarch. He struggled to be upright, and Allen put out a supporting arm.
"Please, leave me to rest, but help Akaro, please...please," Chid's head fell back, worn out from his speech. The Caeli Knight gently laid Chid down, covering him with pillows, and laid a kiss on his sweaty forehead.
******
The next thing Chid remembered was waking up to a cool washcloth over his eyes and forehead.
What the hell? Where am I? Thought Chid. He couldn't place anything. The smells were unfamiliar, and so was the entire feel of the room.
"Chid, Chid, are you awake? Please be awake Chid!"
Ahh, that voice sounds so familiar, thought the Prince. Is it my mother? No, no, that can't be. She's not around anymore, unless...unless this is Heaven. He tried to tell his mother that he was so happy to see her, but his tongue felt to heavy to move, and as a matter of fact, so did his body. I must be going to Hell! He thought with alarm. I can't get out of my body! Mother, I'm here Mother, come save me, save me Mother! He opened his mouth and tried to call to her, but only a gasping noise came out. He tried again, and again, but nothing worked. He attempted to reach out to his his mother, Marlene.
"Chid! It's me, Akaro! What's wrong Allen? What's going on?"
"I don't know, I don't know! Quick girl, go get Serena, my sister. She's with Hitomi," said a new, familiar voice.
"I want to stay with him! I want—"
"Go Akaro! Go get Serena!" said the voice. Chid recognized that voice through all his panting and twitching. It was Allen.
Allen will help me. He has too. He's a Heavenly Knight. That has too mean something, thought Chid. He began to calm down, but his breathing was still coming in ragged breaths.
"Chid, it's Allen. Calm down. I'm right here and I won't let anything ever happen to you. I pledged that the minute you were born. Come on Chid, I know you can pull through this," said Allen. Chid felt the washcloth being lifted off his hot face or a second, but then it was back, extremely cool and comforting. Allen was sponging his face. Chid began breathing normally. I'm going to be okay. Allen's here, he told himself, Akaro...was here. Where did she go? I remember that she was hurt. What happened to her? Chid had to know.
"Allen..." Chid opened his eyes. He looked up directly at Allen. A golden halo surrounded his face, but he couldn't quite make out the expression that painted it. All of a sudden two other figures joined it. Black, strawberry striped hair flooded his vision, but then short, curly, silver hair and big blue eyes replaced it.
"Chid, it's Serena. I'm here to help. Please stay calm," the girl leaned closer to Chid's face, looking into his eyes. She was so close Chid was sure she was going to fall on him. He closed his eyes and felt his body tense, anticipating her fall. None came.
"Shh...Chid, relax. It's okay," said Serena. He opened his eyes after a moment's hesitation. "I'm was looking to see if your pupils are dilated. They aren't. Actually, I don't think there's anything wrong with you. Akaro told me that you hit your head yesterday, and I think that you had a concussion, and it somehow effected your stamina."
Chid looked at Akaro, who was leaning over him, smiling. Her emerald eyes were shining so brightly from unshed tears. He prayed that they were happy tears.
"What about you, Akaro? Are you alright?" Chid asked. He remembered her limp body on the floor.
"Yes Chid, I'm fine. It was just a little bump on the head. Allen didn't hit me too hard," said Akaro. The words came out a little tightly, but she put on a smile. Serena had a small frown on her face, and Allen looked like a broken toy.
"Hey Allen, it's alright. I know that you didn't recognize me, and especially not Akaro," said Chid. Allen blinked his eyes and opened his mouth to speak, but closed it. His face trembled, but swiftly he regained his composure. Chid felt a pang of guilt, and made a promise to himself to not bring up last night too much. The Prince then shut his eyes in fatigue, but quickly reopened them as hunger made an abrupt entrance into his stomach. "I think we should get Chid some food," said Serena, as if reading his mind, "and then he should rest for a couple days to get his energy back. Then I would think that he would be as good as new," she smiled at Chid. Chid looked at her dreamily, but quickly put a hand on his stomach as another pang of hunger attacked him.
"I'll be right back, boy. I'm going to get you some breakfast. I hear that Fanelia has fine chefs," said Allen. He beckoned to Serena, and both left the room. Akaro looked upon him adoringly.
"Are you sure you're okay after last night? I know that Allen is pretty strong," the Prince smiled weakly at his comment. He remembered all to well Allen's strength, especially when the knight was in a killing mood. Akaro let a thin smile grace her face.
"I'm doing fine, I told you. I'm slightly muddled at why Allen attacked you so viciously. From what I've heard he's not usually so brash. Oh well. I forgive him, I guess."
Chid closed his eyes, too tired to give a response. I don't think I'll make it to breakfast. Hunger gnawed at him almost unbearably. I think my body's telling me otherwise. "Chid—I can hear your stomach growling. I'd go and check on your breakfast, but I can't leave this room, and as a matter of fact, neither can you."
A door opened, and Chid opened his eyes. Allen was standing there, a bowl of steaming liquid in his left hand, and a glass of orange juice in his right. Chid tried to sit up, but he couldn't manage very well. Akaro helped him a little, which was much to Chid's dismay. He wore a small little scowl when Allen made it over to the bedside. Serena was no where to be found. Chid made a quick prayer that he could eat his own breakfast.
"Here's your breakfast," said Allen, he set the bowl down in Chid's hands, and gave the orange juice to Akaro to hold. "I'm sorry, but I have some duties to attend to this morning, and I can't miss them. I hope that Akaro will look after you." The Knight through a charming smile at Akaro. She gave him a numb look. He got up, grabbed his uniform from its hanger and walked quickly to the door. He tossed a look at the two over his shoulder. "If there's any trouble, Serena will be with Hitomi. I think Akaro that you will be able to find her easy enough. I know that Hitomi can keep a secret. I'll be back before the sun sets." And with that he left the room.
Akaro turned back to Chid, orange juice in hand. He noted that her face bore a look of disgust.
"Do you not care for my father?" he asked. Akaro looked away from him, staring out the window at the forest.
"I truly don't know. Last night he was the perfect gentleman, and was a wonderful person to be around. Today he's a...well, he's...flirtatious? I don't know the word for it," she said. She slowly looked at him, expecting him to say something, but he didn't make a reply. "You'd better eat your oatmeal before it gets too cold," she said finally.
Chid looked down at his lap. The bowl was still steaming, and he could smell the oaty smell of the oatmeal, and the sugar and cinnamon that was mixed in. Very carefully, he lifted up the spoon in his left hand, scooped up a small amount of the hot cereal, and put it in his mouth. It tasted very good. He slowly let the goop ooze down his throat a little before he swallowed. Ha! Breakfast is not as tricky as I thought it would be! He thought to himself secretly. He continued to eat a little bit at a time.
"You know, you're right. Allen is what I like to call a Ladies Man, if you catch my drift. As you know the story, my mother, Marlene, fell in love with him, and I'm their, love child," he was amazed at how easily he could talk about his brazen father. "Well, anyway, during the Great Gaean War, my Aunt Millerna fell in love with him, and I think he became infatuated with her, but only because she reminded him so much of my mother. At least, that's what I've come to as a conclusion.
There was also rumor about him falling in love with Hitomi Kanzaki, that girl from the Mystic Moon who married Van. I'm referring too the King of Fanelia of course, whose castle we happen to be in right now."
Akaro shot him a look that clearly stated "I'm not stupid," and put her hand out that held the orange juice.
"Would you like some orange juice?" she asked. Chid took the glass, and tilted it too his lips. The cool liquid poured down his throat. It was nice and sweet. Allen must have added some sugar or some sweetener to this. He could feel some of the orange juice dribbling down his chin and neck. It was icy cold. He lowered the glass and wiped his chin. Akaro took a handkerchief from a small pocket on her dress, and mopped up the sticky mess on his neck and chest, blushing slightly. Chid looked down and noticed that he didn't have a shirt on.
"Where did my vest go?" he asked, " I didn't know that it had been missing. I guess I'm not very observant."
"I couldn't tell you. At the time I was unconscious due to your playboy of a father," said Akaro. Her tone was sweet and neutral. She didn't mean any bitterness or teasing to come from her comment. It was merely a statement.
"Yes, I suppose that's what he is. He's a good person, though a little backwards, I dare say? Well, I suppose not. He just loves grand old nobility. He's extremely chivalrous, and perhaps a bit chauvinist because of it. But he has a very good heart, and will put his life on the line for the one's he loves." Chid was starting to feel fatigued by all this talking. The breakfast had energized him, but now he was rapidly tiring.
Akaro noticed how his blue eyes were starting to dull. His body was sagging against the headboard of the bed, although he as making a valiant effort to stay energized. She could tell that he detested the idea of having to be looked after.
"I think you need to get more rest, and I-," she faked a wide yawn, seeing Chid's grumpy look, "need to take a nap too, and you know I won't do that until your fast asleep."
Chid was satisfied that he wasn't being looked after. Hey, Akaro's tired too, that's all right then, he thought to himself. He lowered himself down onto the pillows, with some of Akaro's help. He acted grumpy about it, but he was grateful that her small, sure hands were helping out. Akaro pulled the covers up to Chid's shoulders. He looked at her sleepily, and mumbled his thanks. The last thing he remembered was looking at her smile.