Chapter 16
Gregor awoke about eight hours later. He had had a full sleep, and he felt refreshed. Luxa was already awake, and she was bending down to feed the fireplace.
"Good morning, Gregor! Would you care for some fish? Vikus has agreed to let us dine in here, for you were still asleep. Your sisters have already eaten and gone with Temp and Daedalus." Luxa greeted him. She came onto the couch beside him and handed him a plate full of grilled fish.
"Hey, Luxa. Thanks." Gregor took the fish and ate it. He wasn't totally hungry, so he gave Luxa the rest. He never took his eyes off her as she ate it.
"You know, Hera has really taken a shine to you. I heard her speaking to Aurora about it. She says you are a pleasure to fly with." said Luxa.
"Yeah," was all Gregor said.
"It might help if you had another flier to be with. Perhaps it would do you as well as her good to bond?" said Luxa.
"I don't know if I'm ready for another bond yet. Howard lost Pandora, but he didn't bond with Nike yet." Gregor said.
"Oh, yes. That is what I have forgotten to tell you. They have finally decided to bond. The ceremony is today, in a matter of hours." said Luxa.
"Thanks for telling me sooner." Gregor said sarcastically.
"Oh, it is my pleasure!" Luxa answered, laughing. She gave him a shove and he tumbled off the couch. He returned the shove, and she kind of flipped over the side. They just sat on the floor, laughing. It was nice to have time with her, no prophecy or battles to worry about at the moment.
"Come, we must dress nicely for the ceremony. A few servants have come and brought us clothes." said Luxa. She went into one room and directed Gregor to another.
He found some silky Underland clothes, all a dark green color. There were pants, a shirt, sandals, underwear, and something Gregor guessed was a tie. He dressed quickly, and looked at his reflection into a basin full of water. He looked pretty good, but his hair was rumpled from sleeping. He slicked it back with water, and when it looked decent, he walked out of the room. Luxa was still not ready, so he sat on the couch and waited.
A sound from the other room made him turn his head. Luxa emerged, in a pale violet gown that matched her eyes. Her silvery-blonde hair had grown shoulder length, and it was down. Her gold band rested on her head, and it glistened in the torchlight. She looked beautiful, and Gregor was speechless.
"You look handsome." Luxa said to Gregor.
"What about you? You look…wow!" replied Gregor. Luxa laughed at his lack of a better vocabulary.
"Well, let us go, then. The ceremony is held in the meeting room." Luxa took Gregor's hand and they walked to the meeting room. On the way, they met up with Howard. They pulled away their hands, but he had seen. All he did was shrug. Gregor guessed he had given up telling them it wouldn't work. He was dressed in an ensemble similar to Gregor's, except his was midnight blue.
"Luxa. Gregor." He greeted them with a nod.
Gregor wasn't sure what he was supposed to say to someone who was bonding, so he just said, "Congratulations." Luxa laughed, but she didn't correct him.
"Thank you, Gregor." said Howard.
They got to the room, and Howard went up and stood on the platform. Luxa went to a seat towards the front with Vikus, Nerissa, Hazard, who was apparently doing better, and the council. Gregor wasn't sure where he was supposed to sit, but Luxa beckoned him to a seat beside her, and he quickly sat down before anyone else could notice his discomfort.
The bats weren't there yet, but along with Vikus, Nerissa, Hazard, Gregor, Luxa, and the council, Ripred was there, with Clipclaw, and Lapblood, with her "pups" Flyfur and Sixclaw. They were really too big to be pups, but still, not totally full grown, kind of like Clipclaw. Ripred and Lapblood looked bored, but the three younger rats were squeaking at each other, talking in Rat.
Gregor looked behind him, and he saw Howard's family, the fount crew, was there. Howard's parents, Susannah and York, his sisters, Stellovet, Hero, and Chim, and his brother, Kent, were there. They all looked proud, except Stellovet, who looked jealous. Gregor bet that she'd never had a bond, she was too nasty. Luxa greeted each one of them nicely, but Gregor could see the look of hatred in her eyes as she greeted Stellovet. Gregor didn't blame her.
A rush of wings pulled Gregor's attention to the door. Eight bats swooped in, Nike, Aurora, Hera, Euripedes, Queen Athena, Hermes, and two Gregor didn't know. Nike went to the opposite side of the platform that Howard stood on. Queen Athena, Hermes, and the two unfamiliar bats went to a different section, but Hera, Aurora, and Euripedes came and sat by their bonds, or in Hera's case, half-bond.
"Hello, Gregor!" Hera greeted him cheerfully.
"Hey Hera, how's it going?" asked Gregor.
"Well, it goes well. I have had a wonderful sleep, and am now completely energized!" Hera fluttered her wings happily, brushing one of the councilmember's face. "Oops, sorry, I am sorry!" she apologized when the member turned and faced her grumpily, but when she turned back, Hera made a face at her, and fluttered her wings in agitation. Gregor, Luxa, and Aurora caught the gesture and laughed at Hera's obvious annoyance towards the council. Gregor knew Luxa and Aurora felt the same way, and he supposed he did as well.
Vikus stood up and called for silence, "We are here today to witness the bonding of a much respected young man, Howard, and a bat princess, Nike." He said. Gregor looked down at Nike and Howard. Howard was smiling at his family, and Nike was, supposedly, squeaking something to Hera and Aurora, because they were responding. Their sounds were too high-pitched for human ears, so Gregor couldn't hear. Then she turned to her mother, Queen Athena, and squeaked something at her as well.
Vikus made a gesture, and Howard and Nike moved toward each other, claw and hand out. They locked them together. Howard was supposed to start.
Nike the flier, I bond to you
Our life and death are one, we two
In dark, in flame, in war, in strife
I save you as I save my life
Then Nike responded.
Howard the human, I bond to you
Our life and death are one, we two
In dark, in flame, in war, in strife
I save you as I save my life
They kept their claw and hand locked for a few moments after, and as they pulled away, everyone clapped. The two were beaming, and when Gregor looked over at Luxa, she was too. Nike and Howard were perfect bonds.
Gregor remembered him and Ares on the same stage, saying their vows. Only it had not been a particularly happy occasion, because the council was about to arrest Ares for breaking his bond with Henry and for treason. Still, Gregor had cherished the time he spent bonded with Ares, and he still felt like he had broken his bond when he had caused Ares's death.
Then he thought that that could be him and Hera up there, celebrating a happy bonding, and not a matter of life and death bond. He could have another flier to trust to save him whenever he needed help, and he would do the same. Gregor thought this sounded great, but he still wasn't sure if he was ready for another big commitment yet.
A voice brought him back to reality. "Isn't it time for a feast?" It was Ripred. At his call, everyone poured out of the room to the High Hall. They would eat there because there were so many of them. Luxa, Gregor, Aurora, and Hera went up on the platform with Nike and Howard.
"Congratulations!" Hera said.
"Thank you!" Nike and Howard both replied. Luxa gave Howard a hug, and Howard laughed over his shoulder to Gregor. Gregor laughed too, Luxa hardly ever hugged Howard.
Hazard and Vikus gave them a wave as they passed on Euripedes. Luxa, Gregor, and Howard mounted their bats and flew out of the room to the High Hall.
"So Gregor, when are you and Hera going to bond? You've been spending a lot of time together." Howard said. Gregor shrugged, not wanting to hurt Hera's feelings by saying he was not yet ready to bond.
Hera sensed his insecurity, though. "It is fine, Gregor is still healing from the loss of Ares." She said. Gregor was glad Hera understood.
They landed at the doorway to the High Hall. Howard and Nike went in first. Gregor, Luxa, Hera, and Aurora were about to follow, but Clipclaw rushed up to them and stopped them.
"I've just found out something really important!" she cried.