Forbidden Chains
By: rainjewel
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"Akaro, Akaro, wake up," whispered a voice. Akaro rolled onto her back, but kept her grip across the Prince's chest. She slowly opened her eyes and blinked until her vision cleared. She saw Shail's tall, slender figure towering above her body. A cool hand touched her shoulder.
"Akaro, are you awake?" he asked. Akaro sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Yes, I'm awake. What's the matter?" she asked. She smoothed her dress and combed her hair quickly with her fingers.
"Chid's been mumbling in his sleep quite a bit, sometimes moaning. Come see," Shail said. He slid his hand down from her shoulder to her wrist and pulled her slowly from the bed. She stood up and turned to face the bed. She felt Shail drop her wrist.
"I don't hear anything," said Akaro. The two waited for a few more minutes. Chid remained motionless in the bed. Shail turned and plopped down on the couch. He rubbed his eyes and face with his hands. Akaro sat down beside him.
"Oh well. I'm sorry for waking you up," said Shail, mumbling through his hands.
"No, that's alright. I should be watching him anyway, not napping," said Akaro. She sighed and leaned against the back of the couch.
"Well I was sleeping for a little while too. His moaning woke me up," said Shail. He leaned back and put his feet upon the bed.
"You don't look like you've slept in days," said Akaro. She blushed a little, fearing that she had insulted him. Shail threw her a reassuring smile.
"It's alright. I can handle it. It gives me a chance to collect my thoughts, try to remember things," he said.
"Oh," said Akaro, "What kind of things?" Akaro bit her lip. I shouldn't have said that, she thought. Shail looked at her quizzically.
"My past," The Fanelian Prince said guardedly. "Oh well, I might as well tell you, because your certain to start figuring things out anyway," he said. His voice was laced with controlled bitterness.
"No, that's all right, you don't have to tell me anything," she said quickly. The last thing Akaro wanted to do was make Shail mad. Shail made no acknowledgement of her statement.
"Haven't you wondered how I could possibly be 18? Van and Hitomi are only 25," he said quietly. Shail removed his feet from Chid's bed, and turned his body towards her.
"What? That's not possible. Your parent's would have only been 7 rotations old when you were born," said Akaro. She looked at him confusedly.
"Exactly my point," said Shail. He sighed and continued. "About 8 rotations ago, I was found in the palace gardens of Fanelia, emaciated and unconscious by Hitomi."
Akaro gasped softly. This was brand new information to her ears, and it hit a little too close to her own heart. Shail looked at her with his deep blue-violet eyes, then continued with his tale.
"I had no recollection of my past. I still don't. Hitomi and Van took me in and nursed me back to health. They pondered over my extreme resemblance to Van's deceased older brother, Folken Lakur de Fanel. I've seen his pictures, and they've shaken me to the bone," Shail said. His voice was becoming slightly unsteady and was weakening. Akaro was shocked. Shail always seemed to have such great control over himself.
"I've never seen this...Folken Lakur de Fanel. I've heard about him though. He came to Freid 10 rotations ago. I never saw him," she said. Her voice trembled. Let's just pray that he doesn't ask me about my history.
"Yes well, Hitomi and Van took me in, and I was adopted. I have been Shail Folken de Fanel ever since. They named me after him. How strange," he said. He smiled amusedly.
"Shail," whispered Akaro hesitantly, "How do you have Draconian blood if you and Van aren't blood related?"
"I knew you were going to ask that," said Shail. His eyes filled with sorrow. "I don't know why I have Draconian blood coursing through my veins. I could be completely Draconian for all I know.
When I was first brought here, I didn't even know that I had wings. One day, when Lorallee was about 3 rotations old or so, she fell out one of the castle windows. I impulsively dived after her, and wings sprouted from my back. I couldn't explain it, and neither could anyone else." Shail closed his eyes, remembering.
"Palas..." Chid moaned from the bed. Akaro shot up from the couch, and knelt by Chid's side. Shail joined her. The two waited for a few more minutes, but Chid didn't say anything. Shail seemed to be very tentative. Akaro knew that he was waiting for a response. Akaro took a deep breath and spoke.
"I know how you feel," said Akaro. Shail looked at her acidly.
"Please, don't say that at all," he said neutrally. His eyes looked wounded.
"My first memories start in the Freid castle. I was raised by the entire collection of servants. No one knew where I came from, or if they did they didn't say anything. I was brought here when I was 3, that's all I know. I have no family whatsoever, and know nothing of my past, so don't tell me I don't know how you feel," said Akaro hotly. She glared at Shail, stood and turned her back to him. She could feel tears of bitterness flooding her eyes. She wasn't going to let them fall.
"I'm sorry. I had no idea," said Shail. He stood and put his hands on her shoulders.
"I know. I'm not angry with you. I'm angry with the fact that I don't know my own origins," she said. She shrugged off Shail's comforting hands and turned to face him.
"The baby! Where's the baby?" said Chid loudly from the bed. Shail turned from Akaro and knelt beside the fallen Prince. Akaro knelt as well. Chid moaned.
"Do you think we should wake Serena?" asked Akaro. She placed a hand on Chid's arm to soothe him.
"No," said Shail, "Let's wait a few more minutes."