Forbidden Chains
By: rainjewel
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Chid blinked his eyes, and his surroundings slowly came into focus. He could tell he was lying on his back, and the smell of chemicals permeated his nostrils. He sat up and leapt to his feet. The room was dark, but he could make out the faint shapes of glass beakers and measures. Where am I? he thought. The answer came in a flash of white. Feathers floated down all around him, and he felt a cool presence in the room. He turned around, tensed and ready for battle. Folken Lakur de Fanel stood right in front of him, smiling, his wings outstretched in all their ghostly glory.
Chid smiled in delight at the man's appearance. Why am I so happy to see the man who destroyed my kingdom? he thought. He momentarily frowned, then smiled again. For some reason, he couldn't be mad at Folken for something that seemed to be so long ago. It wasn't that long ago, his logical mind screamed in protest, but Chid ignored it. He felt his wings unfold, but instead of the pain he expected, it felt like a flower opening its petals for the sun. Chid's blue eyes sparkled with wonderment. Folken laughed deeply, his deep voice caressing the air.
Chid walked up to the larger man, grinning widely. Here they are Folken, just like yours, he thought. Folken reached out and put his hands on the boys shoulders and the two began to rise into the air. Chid was amazed. Folken's wings weren't moving, and he knew his weren't. Chid looked up and saw the ceiling of the place rushing towards his face. He brought his arms up around his head to protect himself. Folken stop! he thought.
Chid felt warm sunshine on his shoulders. He was floating in the middle of the sky, and Folken had a light grip on his elbow. He put his arms down in wonder. Why didn't we hit? he thought. Chid gave up on asking questions. They weren't of any use, because he knew he couldn't talk. He looked down at the ground to see where he was, but bright sunlight blinded him, and he cried out in pain, covering his eyes with his arms.
Chid felt his feet touch the ground. He uncovered his eyes, and quickly looked around. I, I know this place, he thought. Women and a few men hustled quickly by, carrying baskets of commodities. It's the Palas Marketplace, he realized. Chid felt a hand on his arm. He looked up and saw Folken motion towards a dark alleyway. The man's wings were gone, and so, Chid realized, were his.
Chid walked towards the entrance of the back street and looked down the darkened path. A young woman sat at the far end of the road, her back against the wall of a sandy building. She held a baby in her arms, and it was cooing. The girl had pale golden hair that shimmered in the darkened street. A glimmer of recognition flashed in his mind. It's Eries, he thought with astonishment. His aunt looked only 15 rotations old or so. He quickly ran to her side. Wet streams of grief flowed down her cheeks. Chid wiped them away with his gloved hands. Eries looked up at him, her eyes huge and filled with sorrow. Chid felt Folken's cool, yet warming presence by his side.
Eries slowly lifted up the child and placed it in Chid's hands. Chid lifted the baby, and it giggled and cooed at his face. Chid placed a hand on it's forehead, and smoothed the baby's black tuft of hair. The baby closed its eyes and sighed, drifting off to sleep. Chid smiled in delight.
Chid turned to Folken, and lifted the baby to the great man, who was staring blindly at the wall. Folken slowly turned his head towards him, and Chid saw a tear trickle slowly down Folken's right cheek. He shook his head slightly and looked back to the wall.
Chid looked at Folken for a second, his thoughts confused. He then lowered the baby back down to Eries, but stopped. The baby was gone. All that Chid held was a satin blue blanket. Chid's mind shut down, and so did his body. He froze right where he was. He couldn't think.
Eries slowly lifted her arms to Chid, and took the blanket from his unmoving arms. Chid watched her, paralyzed. She sighed, wiped the tears from her face, and then folded up the blanket. Chid's stupefied mind suddenly came into action, but his body was still immobile. Oh Jeture, the baby, the baby, oh no, he thought. Where did it go? I have to find the baby! Folken, please help me find the baby. I can't move! Help me help me! Chid tried to move, but his actions were futile.
Eries slowly rose from her seat in the alley and walked to then end of the back street. She turned left, then was gone. Chid's body sprung to life the minute she was gone.
What is she doing? The baby! Where is the baby? his thoughts screamed. He quickly took off, running down to the end of the alley. He turned left and saw her retreating back, walking faster then a normal human could. He stopped in shock, but quickly began running again.
His feet pounded the soil in a steady rhythm He was gaining on her. The baby, the baby, must find the baby, he thought. The chant ran continuously through his mind, connecting with the beat of his shoes. People whizzed by him in blur. He was running faster then he had ever thought possible.
Chid was only a few footsteps away when he heard a soft, whooshing sound behind him. He felt strong arms encircle his waist, then he watched his feet leave the ground as he was lifted into the sky. Folken, no! he screamed inside his head. He watched Eries become a tiny dot on the ground, then gentle clouds surrounded him.
Chid twisted his body around in Folken's grasp. He felt Folken gently loosen his grip to let Chid turn. Folken, the baby! We have to go get the baby. Folken, you don't understand, the baby, the baby! She doesn't have the baby! Chid cried in his mind. He looked up at Folken's face, and saw nothing but a sorrowful look in his eyes, his face empty, save one single streak from a tear.
Chid placed his hands on Folken's chest, pushing himself away from the man. Chid knew that Folken had no intention of letting him go. Folken shook his head sadly, and his arms became limbs of iron once more. Chid tried to slip through Folken's arms and fall towards Gaea. I have wings, I have wings, let me go! Chid began beating on Folken's chest like a child, for he had no sword. Folken let out a sigh, and hugged Chid close to his chest, like a father might have his son. Chid let out a gasp of surprise as Folken readjusted his arms so that they held not only Chid's torso, but his arms as well.
Chid screamed with all his might at Folken, though he couldn't form words. Folken, you don't understand, let me go, let me go! I'll do it myself, he thought frantically. Chid tried to lift his arms in a futile try to rid himself of Folken's iron grip. This only led to Chid getting extremely exhausted. He went limp in Folken's grip, and his head fell on the man's shoulders. Folken, you should have let me gone. I needed too. Eries has a child, and it's gone now, and it's all my fault, he thought weakly. He closed his eyes in defeat. He felt like a small child.
No Chid, you didn't lose anything, anything at all, whispered a voice inside Chid's head. It was Folken's voice, the voice that Chid had never forgotten. Chid's eyes snapped opened, he dared not to look at Folken.
You can hear me thinking? he thought experimentally.
Yes, came the voice.
Why didn't you tell me you could! Chid snatched his head up and looked Folken straight in the eye, glaring with fury. The man's eyes remained impassive, though the sorrowful look had passed. Chid waited for a reply, but none came, only a numbing sensation oozed into his mind, making it difficult to think.
Folken, what are you doing? Don't do this—please don't do this! I want to help Eries. Her baby's gone, Chid thought, his eyes closing. Folken, stop. Please, I have to talk to you. We have to find the baby. Chid's head fell on Folken's shoulder once more. No, Folken, please don't. No, no, no...
"No!" yelled Chid, "We have to go to Palas!" Chid felt hot, searing hands on his body.
"Chid, calm down, Chid," said a voice.
"No! We have to go back! Let me go!" said Chid. He furiously brushed the hands away.
"Chid! It's Akaro and Shail! Stop it! We're not taking you anywhere!" rang a voice.
"Huh?" said Chid. He opened his eyes. He was sitting up in his bed, and Shail and Akaro were on either sides of him. Shail grabbed his shoulders and forced Chid to lay down. He didn't resist.
"Hey buddy, it's okay. Just a dream," said Shail. He released Chid from his grip and stood up. He looks so much like Folken, thought Chid.
"What's going on?" Chid asked. His body began shaking all over. Akaro covered him with the blankets, then sat down on the edge of the bed. Her hand lazily stroked his hair.
"Everything's fine Chid. Nothing's wrong," said Akaro. She looked at Shail. "Shall I go get Serena, or shall you?"
"No, I'll go get her. It'd probably be better if you stayed and calmed him," said Shail. He stretched his limber frame, then turned and walked out the door.
"Chid, what was your dream about?" asked Akaro. She could tell that it had frightened him.
Now she's going to think I'm a child. Great. These past couple of weeks have been wonderful.
"Nothing much," Chid said. He saw the accusing look on Akaro's face and decided to retell his dream. After all, she was the one person who he could relate too and not feel stupid.
"Interesting," said Akaro when Chid had finished.
"What do you think about it?" he asked tentatively.
"I..."
Shail and Serena walked through the door, cutting off Akaro's words. Chid stared at the two blankly. Great timing, he thought absently.
"Hello Chid," said Serena smoothly. She placed a kiss on Chid's cheek. He saw Shail lean against the doorframe.
"Hello Serena," said Chid. "Serena, where's Allen? I haven't seen him in a little while. I want to see him."
"He's on his way back from Asturia, remember?" said Serena. She sat down on the couch.
"Oh yes, that's right. I forgot," said Chid. Why is Serena here? he thought.
"Okay Chid, I want to look at your wings, see if there is anything wrong with them. Unfortunately, I know nothing in the wing department, so Shail's going to take over. We want to see if your wings are the same as a regular Draconian's might be," Serena said. Her voice came out mechanical.
Chid felt his heart skip a beat. What are you worried about? he thought angrily to himself. He sighed and sat up in the bed. Akaro rose and sat down by Serena.
"Alright. What do you want me to do?" he asked Shail. The Fanelian heir stood up and walked over to the foot of the bed.
"Well, for starters, I want you to spread your wings. Do you now how to do that?" asked Shail.
"Uh, maybe. No, not really," said Chid, blushing slightly. Gods! I feel stupid, he thought.
"Operating your wings is no different then operating your arm or leg. Just think to yourself, 'I want to spread my wings' in a sense," said Shail. "I know that sounds cheesy, but in simplistic terms, that's how it works. Soon it'll become second nature to you." The tall Prince rested his hands on the edge of the bed.
"Okay," said Chid. He closed his eyes. Wings, he whispered in his mind. At once, he felt the cool, tingling sensation in the middle of his back. Not like the pain before. No, this feeling was the same as when Folken's hands had healed him.
"Sweet Jeture," whispered a female voice. Chid opened his eyes. Akaro and Serena sat on the couch, dumbfounded. Akaro reached out and stroked a few feathers. Chid shivered at her touch.
"They look fine," said Shail absently. He was wearing a distant expression on his face.
"How well can you operate them, Chid?" asked Serena softly. Her voice sounded like that of an awestruck child.
"Chid, flap your wings at me. Don't try to get out of the bed, just flap them," said Shail.
Chid flicked his wings. It was as natural as flicking his wrist. A light gust of air blew through the room, sweeping papers and fallen feathers across the room. Shail smiled as the air glided across the room and kissed his face, making his shiny black hair blow back from his face.
"How was that?" asked Chid. He grinned. To move his wings was an exhilarating experience. It gave him that sense of freedom that he held so dear.
"Very nice," said Shail, "Now, see if you can curl your wings." Chid looked blankly at him.
"I don't think I understand," said Chid. Shail sighed and took off his black tunic. He stood up and backed up from the bed. Shail looked at Chid's wide eyes as his own great white wings filled the room. Shail flicked his gaze at Serena and Akaro. Serena had the look of a child in a candy shop, and Akaro's expression was still staring in wonder at Chid.
"Alright Chid. Now I just want you to mimic my actions," said Shail. Chid watched as Shail's wings curled around his body.
"Whoa," Chid breathed. He let his wings arch around his torso. It was like curling his arms around his body.
"Exactly. Now, I don't think you have enough room to do this, but you can make an attempt. Here, watch," said Shail, smiling. He took a few more steps towards the bed, then snapped his wings behind his back, like a butterfly might do. Chid saw Shail grimace as his wings hit the wall.
"Doesn't look like you have enough room either," said Akaro, grinning at him.
"That's what happens when you have big wings," said Shail. He spread his wings so that they took their regular position.
Chid slowly moved his wings back, careful not to let them hit anything.
"Is that good enough?" he asked Shail. Shail nodded in response.
Shail led Chid through a series of "tests" having him move one wing at a time, proving the Prince's abilities with his wings. Chid felt himself rapidly tiring, no matter on how exhilarating the wings were.
"Okay," said Shail, "That's enough. When you start feeling better I'll teach you how to use them."
Chid retracted his wings slowly, feeling them disappear, closing like a flower at the day's end. He leaned against the headboard, too tired for words.
"Thank you Shail. That was absolutely fascinating," said Serena. Her face was aglow with the delight.
"Shail," said Chid with great effort, "How was Lorallee able to lift a dragon cub? I know that I could lift one, but I'm still confused on how Lorallee was able too."
"Well Chid, your wings are basically superhuman in strength," Shail said. His words had an edge to them. He doesn't like discussing this, thought Chid. I hadn't noticed before.
"Akaro, Serena, would you come here?" Shail asked. Chid looked on as the two women left their seats from the couch.
"What are you going to do?" asked Serena, picking a feather up off the floor. She stared at it in wonder.
"I'm going to lift both of you up," said Shail simply. Chid saw Akaro shoot him a troubled look. Chid smiled in reassurance, though he felt...jealousy? Is that jealousy? thought Chid. He shook the feeling away.
"I don't know if that's a good idea," Chid heard Akaro say.
"Don't worry about it. I can lift both of you," said Shail. "See Chid, I can lift both of them off the ground." Chid watched as Shail scooped Serena in one arm and Akaro in the other.
"I can see that. What does that have to do with your wings?" said Chid evenly. Don't feel jealous! he yelled at himself.
"Well, I could fly for quite along time, holding both of them. It would be a lot more harder to walk the same distance holding both of them off the ground the entire time," said Shail. With that he rose into the air, his wings flapping gently. The air sent shivers through Chid's body.
Serena gasped as she was lifted into the air, but a huge smile lighted her face. It's nice to see her be happy, thought Chid. She has been so professional and cool since I got hurt.
Shail gently eased the two women back to the ground. Akaro, Chid could see, was trying to hide a smile of delight for his benefit.
"Thank you Shail," said Serena. She bent over and handed Shail his tunic. He took it from her and smiled in response. His wings quickly disappeared, leaving a small shower of feather's falling from his figure.
Akaro ran over to Chid and hopped on the bed. She gave him a large hug, encircling her arms around his neck. Chid was shocked at her boldness, but hugged her back.
"You'll love it Chid. You get to break the bonds of gravity. You have total freedom," she whispered in his ear. She dropped her head and rubbed his shoulder with her cheek.
"You really think so?" he asked, not really expecting a response. Akaro gave one anyway.
"Oh yes. You know, I'm slightly jealous that I can't pick up and leave like you can," she said.
"Then I promise to take you wherever you want to go," Chid said softly. He shot a glance at Shail and Serena. Serena was gathering up feathers, and Shail was putting his shirt back on.
Akaro sighed and leaned her head against Chid. Why is she doing this? he thought. But Chid didn't really care. He just loved having someone to hold onto.