Chapter Six: Surprise
Aaron walks into the palace with Beau and Iymp. A peaceful afternoon turns to a violent one then to a sad one. Aaron is used to seeing death and torture, but it always hurts his heart.
Feeling down Aaron decides to see how the others are going. But first, get Iolene to tend to Beau's and Iymps wounds. The blood has dried and has begun to itch their scales. Beau rolled around on sand to try and remove it. But it only caused more itching and distress on Beau's part. Iymp laughs at him quoting it is such a wild dragon thing to do.
The servants sweep after Beau's dirt as he walks through the palace. He looks back at them feeling oddly guilty. I am getting soft to humans... He admits. He sighs as they reach Lexi's room.
She stands up and smiles wearing a body-hugging qipao red and orange dress. Her pixie short hair is covered in gold clips. Her brown skin looked smooth and almost healed. But her black draconium scars remain on her back.
"Wow, Lexi... You look fancy what's the occasion?" Aaron asks surprisingly.
"Can't I look beautiful every now and then? Iolene picked out the dress." Lexi twirls showing her whole dress. Aaron quickly notices her back is entirely covered.
"Is that wise?" Aaron asks worryingly.
"Oh, I'll be fine!" She smiles as Iymp and Beau walk into the room. Seeing the dragons she stumbles back onto the bed. Her happiness turned into shock.
"IYMP WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Lexi screams with anger mixed with fear. "When you said Beau and you are going for a run. I did not expect to a BATTLEFIELD!"
They all explain to her the events in the afternoon. She sits down and drinks a glass of wine. "Well, that had a sad ending. It's nice what you did Aaron. May the deceased have peace." She raises her glass and sips.
A Knock on the door is heard as Lei can be heard outside.
"Come in Lei!" Lexi says excitedly. "Aaron is here!"
Lei walks into the room. Aaron notices he is wearing his fancier royal outfits. "Oh, Aaron there you are! None of us could find you." He then looks at Iymp and Beau noticing their scars. "What happened?"
"Where is Iolene?" Aaron asks urgently.
"She's busy at this moment. But I will get my dragon doctors on to it..." Lei looks at Beau nervously.
Half an hour later the royal dragon doctor comes over and sees the dragons. Beau growls as he hates having other people tending to him. He hates humans touching him in general. Iymp tells Beau to suck it up for now and to keep his Blue camouflage appearance.
Iymp was the first and well behaved as Lexi keeps him comforted as his front claws need the most attention.
Then came Beaus turn as he snarls at the doctor. The doctor hesitates as he was unsure of what kind of dragon this one is. Clearly saying Beau is a unique dragon he hasn't seen before. A long face with a long chin stands on four legs. Looks strong as well as being fast. His light blue scales covered in yellow and dark blue markings. Must be a mixed breed the doctor says to himself.
Beau pulls back like a reluctant horse. "Hey, it'll be alright!" Aaron comes over and grabs Beaus' chin. Beau growls as the doctor feels his back. "Look at me, Beau. He is only helping you. Like how Iolene does." As Aaron gently pulls Beaus head to face him. Their eyes connected and for a moment it felt like they saw each other's souls. Feeling ethereal like in the ether it felt so right. Beau felt calm... He felt at peace. He had never felt anything like it. He didn't understand it. Aaron strokes Beau's face whispering to him.
"And we are done! You did well with the rambunctious one. You the dragons' owner?" The doctor asks as he packs up his wares.
"No" Aaron sharply replies and lets go of Beau.
Beau and Iymp now having stitches. They will have to be checked again tomorrow. The doctor leaves as the dragons feel better.
Lei claps as he gets everyone's attention. "We must go, we are late!"
"Go where? Late for what?" Aaron is confused as ever as Lexi begins weakly to push him out of the room.
Beau is befuddled as Aaron follows close behind while Iymp has a large smile on his face.
They walk to a room they have never been in before. The door is shut as Lei knocks as Aaron with his shifty eyes looks around everywhere completely confused and feeling underdressed in his usual rags.
The doors open as Iolene screams out "SURPRISE!" Mali, Stein and Murray standing still smiling.
The room is beautifully decorated with gold decorations. A rectangle mahogany table with a dragon statue as a centrepiece. The room is a smaller dining room compared to the palaces many others. A large fireplace burns as the skies started to become cold now that the sun has set.
Aaron doesn't even react to it as he feels even more Disoriented. "Um... Surprise... for... who?" That is all he could ask.
"This isn't awkward at all..." Mali whispers and coughs.
Iolene walks up to him excited. Wearing a beautiful purple silk gown. It is a combination of both Aquarius and Lan-Se styles. Her gold hair is done into a bun clipped with the dragonfly accessory Aaron got her.
"You silly newt! It's your birthday!" Iolene hugs him as he looks around at everyone. Not reciprocating the hug. He had no idea what to do... He didn't even remember his birthday.
"My birthday?" Aaron trying his hardest to recollect memories of his past. And then it hits him like an emotional avalanche. His loving mother gave him a wooden toy knight as a gift. He was ten when he received it. Painted light blue and covered in shell embellishments like real knights. The helmet even had the fancy feather on top. He played with it every moment he could. Aaron dreamt of becoming a knight like the legendary Sabreal. Little realising bastards cannot be knights. Especially ones who are outcasts from society. His father Lord Caspian saw to that...
Remembering broke Aaron's heart. It would be the last birthday celebrated as his mother would pass away a few months later. Following to live as a neglected kennel hand and then sold into slavery. He must have told Iolene the date as he doesn't even mentioning that.
"Aaron are you okay?" Iolene says worryingly as she wipes hair out of his eyes. Then another memory comes back to him.
It was a beautiful day the sun was shining as two young voices can be heard. Iolene and Aaron managed to sneak away from the priest again. Sitting in the meadow outside of Watersgate.
"You didn't have to lie to me you know!" Iolene yells at him as she walks away from him. "Your name is Aaron!? Not Sabreal! You know me but I can't know you!?" Iolene stops turning around placing her hands on her hips trying to look intimidating. Her golden eyes glowing with intensity. For an eight-year-old girl, she knows how to get angry.
Aaron chases after her desperately. Thinking he has lost a friend. "I- I'm sorry... Okay... I didn't want to lie. It's just... You don't get it... I tho-"
"I thought we get each other!" She answers back. "PLEASE IOLENE LISTEN!" Aaron in frustration decides to spill his life.
"My name is Aaron. I have no last name... Even though I am the son of Caspian Lord of Watersgate. I am not claimed. My mother was a noblewoman shamed for having me after the affair. She was the only person who loved me... People and dragons knew me... They avoided me like I'm some kind of monster." Aaron wipes his faces as he couldn't stop the tears from falling.
Iolene walks to Aaron as she remains quiet to let him speak. Her anger eased as Aaron had no choice to tell her everything. Even if Aaron knew that his friendship with her could be short-lived.
"Then mum got sick and died. She warned me that my life will get worse. They chucked her body in the ocean like she was nothing as I watched. I get beaten and starved. I lived on the streets... Until one day I decided to see Lord Caspian. He wanted to execute me... As he put it... Get rid of the problem. I begged for my life. The priest said they needed a new kennel hand and so I was given a lifeline."
"Oh..." Iolene gasps as she walks to Aaron as he collapses crying, hugging himself for comfort. She hugs him and lets him cry. Her pain is not the same as his. At that moment she realised she didn't understand, she knew very little of the world and what she found could be cruel. "I'm so sorry..." She whispers to him. It was all she knew to say...
It was Aarons birthday when that argument took place. That night Iolene after dinner she snuck him a piece of cake.
"Oh! I- I'm fine!" He says as he fake smiles. But it looked genuine enough to fool everyone. Except for Iolene... She gives him a sad look and cups his head with her hands.
"You want to talk?" She asks kindly. As she turns around happily and tells everyone to enjoy themselves. They want a quiet moment between the two. Mali looks on as he was thinking to go, but it was clear they wanted to be alone. He turns around and talks to Stein.
Iolene and Aaron head into the room next door as they hear muffled talking and roaring on the other side.
"I'm sorry Aaron I thought you would like it... Really..." She played around with her hands nervously. "After everything and events happening now. I thought..."
"No Iolene really love the fact you remembered my birthday! I didn't even remember that it's my birthday..." Aaron sounded so defeated. He sits on a nearby chair. His emotions uncontrollably stir as he processes them all. "As a slave... Birthdays don't exist... You are to serve others, that is your purpose. Nothing more... I forgot about a great many things. Even about myself..." He sighs as he stares at his hands. Remembering the trauma of his past it looked as if his hands are covered in blood.
Iolene sits on the chair next to him and grabs his right hand and squeezes it tight. With her other hand gently grabbed his chin to face her. Her gold eyes staring into Aarons mutated gold eyes.
"I was so scared of what could have happened to you... Where you went... If you were safe. I thought I never was going to see you again." Iolene tried her hardest to hide her tears. Eventually Knowing well she is bad at it and tears to stream down anyway. She remembers the morning when Aaron disappeared so clearly. Iolene realised it was only her who cared about him.
Her hand squeezed tightly as Aaron begins stroking Iolenes arm. Eyes still locked together. "Aaron... You are allowed to be happy! Don't let your past define you now. Lord Caspian isn't here... You are not in Dominus Sahara. You are here in Lan-Se reunited with me. You have friends now who care about you. Today is your birthday and we want to celebrate your day!"
Then it got quiet as they remained to stare at each other for a minute. Aaron didn't know what to say. He lets go of Iolenes hands and wipes tears off her face. Lightly chuckling at her as she laughs shyly moves her head away. Her heart pounds fast as she felt lightheaded.
"Thank you, Princess..." Aaron says sweetly as Iolene chuckles.
Iolene scoffs playfully "I'm not a princess... I am an Empress!" As she looks down on the floor chuckling. One day... Reclaim the home that was taken from me and my family. She stands up and pulls Aaron arm to get up.
"COME ON! LET US HAVE FUN! And besides! Lei got something for you. Give me a moment! I will be right back!" Iolene runs out as fast she could and quickly comes back with Lei carrying a package, Wrapped in basic brown fabric.
Lei passes it to Aaron as Lei says happy birthday. Aaron unwraps it and sees that it is clothes.
"Thank you, Lei!" Aaron says gratefully. His heart skips beats as he unfolds the outfit. Comes in two pieces, a long dark purple blouse with lavender flower designs. He then grabs the pants pure black with matching lavender patterns.
"It's so fancy!" Aaron says breathlessly. He strokes the soft silk, Aaron so fascinated he couldn't stop feeling it. His clothes are usually rough and coarse. His simple iron armour and rags are all he needed, but this is something else.
"It is called a noble hanbok in basic terms. It is what my people wear North East of the Blue Empire. It has layers as you can tell! But don't worry I will help you get changed." Lei says as he smooths Aarons wild hair. Lei glad that Aaron didn't realise it was one of the outfits he never uses.
Iolene claps excitedly. "You are going to look so handsome!" She then stops and laughs awkwardly. "Handsomer... You are already handsome."
Aaron smirks "You think I'm handsome?" He looks at Iolene intently as she blushes and rolls her eyes. Not giving an answer. She then quickly shuffles away and exits the room.
Lei sighs in frustration as door slamming is loud and annoying. He then turns to Aaron as he looks at Aaron trying to figure out what clothes start and ends. Lei grabs the clothes nervously, he could easily ask a servant to do this. But Iolene is right he is handsome. Tall easily six-foot, tanned skin, black hair, lean yet has defining muscles showing his strength. His face has a strong jawline that made Lei jealous and attracted.
Lei's heart beats fast as he sorts the outfit on the table. Aaron begins to undress only leaving his loincloth. It's not the first time Lei has seen him like this. But it always made his heart flutter. Lei composes himself as he passes Aaron the first layer.
"Lei are you okay?" Aaron asks kindly as he puts it on.
"I'm fine!" Lei fake laughs as he helps Aaron put on the second layer. "Today is your birthday, so let us have fun!"
Aaron all dressed with the final touch by brushing Aarons wild hair. It has grown so much since Lei first met him. He had very short hair back then. As many humans in the Orange Empire are shaved bald.
Lei walks into the dining room first announcing Aaron's presence.
He enters the party as Iolene sings happy birthday to him. Everyone giving kudos to Iolene as she cannot sing. Aaron tries his hardest not to laugh as her voice is very flat.
Beau stands around confused as he doesn't even know what a birthday is. Iymp happily explains to him in dragon tongue. Beau had no idea such a thing existed... He looks at the group of people chatting and having fun. Beau felt envious as his father mother, brother and sister, never celebrated birthdays.
Stein and Mali remain close as they watch the party from a distance.