Dripping Wings
Yuugi looked over at Atemu as he sat astride Senke and attempted to contemplate the look on the Prince's face. He'd been so melancholy ever since they'd left the Divine City. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were troubled. Every time he asked what the matter might be, or if there was anything he could do, Atemu would shake his head, offer a strained smile, and direct the conversation to something mundane.
The last time he asked, Atemu said he was fine and began to talk about the weather. The time before, he had started talking about bobbles gots.
Yuugi still didn't know what the hell a bobbles got(s)? was. He had a strange feeling he might never find out. He noticed that Astarte was ignoring the both of them, Senke and Atemu alike. Many times Senke had moved closer to nuzzle her head while they walked, or give a playful nip at her hair, and Yuugi's mare would always make an awful screeching noise, and either attempt to kick the black stallion or bite his ears off. Yuugi was baffled. He knew the two had been quite sweet on each other for quite some time. Yuugi even had the strange inkling that Astarte had finally gotten pregnant.
Perhaps that was why she was so cranky...
But that still didn't explain why Atemu was so down. "Sweetheart," Yuugi started, glad that they were walking through a forest he'd never been in before. No interruptions from palace officials this time. "I know you're upset about something. If you tell me you're not, you know as well as I that it is a blatant lie. Remember your promise? No more secrets. Tell me what bothers you."
Atemu shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. "I'm probably making a bigger deal out of the problem than it really is," he started.
Yuugi turned in his saddle and gave him a stern look. He knew Atemu rarely overreacted. He couldn't afford such a luxury in his position.
The Prince looked around uneasily. "The border raids are getting worse. I know Enochnral is on the move. War is on the horizon. We can't avoid it anymore."
Yuugi turned the response over in his head. The worry seemed justifiable... "Darling, we've known this was going to come for a while. We've had another three years of relative peace. As painful as we all know this is going to be...I know what's going to come. I don't understand why you're so shaken up. You've got the one thing the Queschtal army doesn't - you've got me. They won't stand a chance."
Astarte was walking slightly ahead of Senke, and Atemu was grateful for this, because it meant Yuugi didn't see him when he slouched in on himself. He felt somehow cold under the autumn sun. That's what has me so upset, the Prince thought to himself. We will win, and in the end, it'll cost your life. Instead, he only said; "The future is never certain. I nearly lost you at Northern Reach, only heaven knows what will happen against Queschtal." They sure do. They know exactly what's going to happen.
Yuugi pulled back on Astarte's reins and forced the mare to slow her pace. He was finally allowed to see Atemu's face without turning around. "I love you," he started, "and I know your concern. But Atemu...you know as well as I do that's not it. There is something else. You've been acting like someone's about to die ever since...well...ever since we came back home from Kyanah's Hold. Tell me what's going on!" The growl of Astarte caught his attention, and he tugged a little on the reins again. "Behave," he chided as he noticed the look she was giving Senke. She snorted at him, but turned her head to look in the other direction just the same.
"Really, Yuugi, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."
If Yuugi hadn't been so suddenly angry about Atemu's obsession with this secret, he'd have wondered at the tensing of Astarte beneath him. "Damn it, Atemu! No lies! You look like you could puke at any moment! You can trust me! I thought you new that! Don't lie to me, Atemu! Why do you always look like you're about to break down?"
Atemu seemed to shrink in on himself, but he remained dutifully silent.
"Atemu, no matter what, I will always be there for you! I'll help you through whatever problem there is!"
You won't be there to help me! Atemu screamed in his mind. You'll be dead!
Yuugi watched confused as Atemu yelled in frustration, then kicked Senke into a dead run. Yuugi's jaw forgot how to remain closed. "Oh, he did not just do that! After them, Astarte! We'll show them this has gone far enough!" He whistled for Helios, who he knew was flying just above him.
She neighed in glee and ran off after the retreating from of Senke and the Prince.
The forest stretched on endlessly. Had he not been so angry, Yuugi would have enjoyed himself. He'd never been in the forests of Senah-Reh-Lahn. It was for the most part devoid of human life, but Atemu had told him that was primarily because the vast acreage was Elven hunting grounds. People were not generally welcomed, and all of the residents of Sekesha knew as such.
Yuugi and Astarte grew ever closer to their chase. The white mare was close enough to bite a few tail hairs off of Senke. Yuugi had a strange inkling that she would have enjoyed such as task, too. Helios fly by his side, just close enough to brush his wing against Yuugi's leg. Just as Yuugi was contemplating how best to grab a hold of Senke's reins, the view of the forest ahead of them seemed to change. His senses tingled with foreboding, despite the beautiful picture in front of him.
The forest had turned greener than anything he'd ever seen. It seemed even the air had acquired the green growth hue of new life. The sunlight looked like gold falling through the leaves. The grass was so green it was nearly blue.
His stomach did a flip-flop, and it caused all of the acid inside to squirm in a way that burned. It's an illusion. It's a bad, bad illusion meant to kill...
Atemu threw one of his hands in front of him and black shadow energies raced out and arched up. As it spread wide, it pulsed eerily with a red-green glow. Atemu was making a shield. Yuugi nearly choked with fear. He wouldn't! He's planning to go through it! Whatever magick made this, it's potent and powerful. It could kill him! Yuugi threw his hand out as well and added fuel to the burning black fire that now encircled them. Good thing, too, for the moment they crossed the threshold of the illusion, Yuugi found they were no longer running in a forest. The white outside of the shadow shield coalesced with strange spears of light that reminded Yuugi of shooting stars. The part of his sight that recognized energies noticed just how sharp they looked. This place would cut anyone to ribbons. Who would place it here? Why?
Finally, after excruciating minutes of running and holding up a shield that was getting constantly attacked, the image of the forest was on the outside of their shield again. Yuugi and Atemu both lowered their shields.
Finally! The Prince had stopped running! Yuugi readied himself to jump him if he had to, knock him to the ground, and pin him there until he spewed answers.
"Halt, intruders! Prepare to beg the Goddesses for mercy!"
Yuugi's heart caught in his throat. Helios hissed loudly as he landed on the ground. Suddenly, out of a million different directions, arrows tipped with a silvery fire headed their way. Atemu was still slightly in front of him. He'd get hit first. I may be angry at him, but they're not going to take him away from me! Yuugi summoned both of his Gifts and created a new shield. When the arrows finally hit the shield, they burned into ashes and fell harmless to the ground.
Yuugi's shield was a light shield, primarily. He could see properly what was on the other side. Blurred figures moved back and forth as if they were attempting to confuse him. You'll never be able to hide those spears from me. One of those figures, a mage or Gifted without a doubt, thrust his energy spear right into the shield.
Yuugi's heart sank when it started to penetrate. That's not possible! How can it penetrate? The energy of my light shield should be burning that energy spear into nothingness! He forced more power into his shield, attempting to buy himself some time to think. Perhaps burning the attacks away is not right. I need something more solid. Shadows were solid, when forced to be. Shadows could snuff just about anything. Yuugi narrowed his eyes and concentrated. To the outside of the shield, he added a thick layer of shadows. The next layer he allowed the light that he had used to sink down, then he added another new layer of shadows, then another of light. I certainly hope a four-layered shield is enough to stop them. The figure with the spear kept pushing, but Yuugi could feel that the figure was now trying very hard. It was a person, he saw, and a male at that. A bead of sweat dripped down the man's brow.
Yuugi kept his hands raised, never daring to let the shields down.
The swirling images outside of Yuugi's shield finally stopped moving, and a regal voice spoke. "We now see you, strangers, and accept your prowess. Lower your shields and explain why you have trespassed into our lands."
"Not until I have your word nothing within your lands, or anything beyond these lands in your control, will harm us," Yuugi stated.
Another person seemed to nod to the male that had nearly penetrated Yuugi's spear, and then they replied. "You have my word."
Yuugi knew how good someone's word was worth in Japan, but he knew people had different morals in this land. Knowing he'd have another berserker rage if anything happened to them, he dropped the shields.
A land of silver and green lay on the other side.
The figures Yuugi could now make out as men and women. They wore robes that were swirled with silver and silver-green. They blended into their landscape almost painfully well. Some of them had their hair pulled half up, and Yuugi could see their ears. Oh, man, these are the Elves. I was close to demolishing all of them. I'm sure that would have gone over very smoothly.
"State your names!" The male Yuugi had first identified barked.
"Tis I, Prince Atemu of Sekesha!" Atemu replied. "I come to speak with your Queen, the Great Lady Asarnyah-Nah-Leah."
The 'head' Elf did not look in the least convinced. "We see no reason to believe you, human. Reveal your proof."
Yuugi watched in shock as Atemu revealed his glorious pale gold wings. They were an aching and beautiful contrast to the silver of their surroundings.
"And you? Creator of the one shield I have never been able to penetrate?" The Elf addressed Yuugi.
Yuugi revealed his wings, much to the confounded surprise of all those watching. "I am the last Assai Yuugi, the Betrothed of Prince Atemu of Sekesha."
Silenced prevailed amongst the small group that surrounded them. The head Elf cleared his throat, and finally allowed the light spear in his hand to finally disappear. "Welcome to Elendiah, friends. I am Galorain-Leh-Roh. Please allow us to escort you to the Queen." He looked around at some of the sulking faces of the other Elves. "We weren't expecting you to come in from the south side. We have mainly green youth in this area. They can be...overzealous at times."
Yuugi wondered about this Galorain's own involvement, but he supposed the Elf probably got caught up in the infectious excitement of a large amount of people suddenly out for blood.
Astarte started to walk before Senke did. Yuugi managed to get in a nasty glare at Atemu that clearly said 'we'll continue our little discussion later.' Atemu flushed, but remained quiet.
xxx
It was a full two hours later till they finally reached the first signs of civilization. Most of the party had stayed behind to continue their guard duties, but a few had followed. Yuugi was making light conversation with one of the women Elves that was walking next to Astarte. The mare seemed extremely pleased as the Elf woman, Shelain-Deh-Enah, if Yuugi remembered correctly, kept running her thin fingers through Astarte's mane.
"Training, you say?" the Elf asked. "What training could we offer you? Elves use primarily cold light, you know. Humans haven't had that Gift for nearly eight thousand years."
"I'm not sure myself," Yuugi admitted. "One of my tutors at the palace is a Myste Elf. She said that my healing Gift is akin to the Elven form of healing."
Shelain-Deh-Enah looked up at him. "You don't tire?"
"Never."
She seemed to think to herself for a moment. "Well, perhaps there is something our scholars here will be able to teach you. You know...I'm surprised your Sacred hasn't been helping you train."
Yuugi looked at her puzzled. "How do you mean? How could she?"
The Elf looked shocked. "They're intelligent creatures! Goodness, they're nearly as magickal as unicorns. She has a vast amount of knowledge she was born with. Why haven't you ever asked her?"
"Well, I can't," Yuugi fumbled. "I've never been able to. I don't have telepathy."
"No mind speech?" the Elf wondered. Then her bright face seemed to become even brighter. "Oh, we'll be able to remedy that. You'll be having conversations with your Sacred in no time."
Yuugi's mind started to real. I'll be able to talk with Astarte? "Will I be able to talk to Helios, too?" Yuugi looked over to the Sun dragon that was lazily walking by Astarte on the other side.
"Certainly! You'll be able to get information from all kinds of other animals, too. If you need a bird's eye view from above, you can use birds, hawks, or whatever else is up there."
Yuugi put his hand to his head. "Wow." I'll be able to talk with Astarte. I'll be able to talk with her! He suddenly felt ridiculously giddy.
The Elves, as Yuugi had come to learn, lived both on the ground and up in the trees. Enormous houses the size of mansions had been strung up between multiple trees, and the walkways that stretched out created a maze of catwalks. Strands of silver seemed to hang off of everything.
And the lights! Lights of every color! Blues and silvers and yellows and greens, and they lit up the land of Elendiah brighter than the moon, as night had finally descended. Yuugi and Atemu found themselves having to dismount and climb into a lift, so that they might see the Queen. Her home rested far above the city, and her view if the stars was rumored to be the best on the earth.
The lift did not rise on ropes and pulleys. Yuugi realized, after they'd started to rise, that it was a cloud-like silver dust that elevated them. Yuugi thought back to the first month he'd been in Sekesha, and how Atemu had summoned a dragon's blood fruit across the room on that same silvery cloud. Gods, that seemed like forever ago...Yuugi suddenly found himself stuck with a case of nostalgia for the old days. Things had been so much simpler then. He was seventeen when he first came to Sekesha. Now he was twenty one, nearly twenty two years old. Time really has flown by...
The lift stopped, finally, in the highest area of the trees. The only way these places could be stable, aside from the trunks that were larger around than the biggest redwoods California had to offer, was by magick.
The palace of the Queen was a welcoming sight. It seemed to hover within the trees of Elendiah, with steps that were long lengthwise and short height wise. Spiral towers framed the structure, and the giant entryway of purple-heart wood doors boasted a warm welcome.
Atemu placed himself at Yuugi's side, much to Yuugi's surprise and slight chagrin. He sure had nerve! Running off like that, then acting as if nothing were wrong! "Do not bow," he whispered in Yuugi's ear. "Only give a polite nod. That is the custom between royalties. Only nobility and below bow to their superiors."
Yuugi filed the information away. "You're in big trouble," he whispered back. "Don't think I've forgotten anything. You just wait until we're done with this, you'll rue the day you ever uttered your first lie-" Yuugi's threat was cut off when Galorain-Leh-Roh spoke up.
"Welcome, my Lords, to the palace of Queen Asarnyah-Nah-Leah, the Great Lady of Elendiah." He opened the doors, bowed, then cleared the way for them. Atemu looked like he was walking to the gallows, and Yuugi nearly gloated. Let him feel guilty. He should think about how awful he's been.
The Queen was a tall, willowy Elf with pale gold hair like corn silk. "Come, my Lords," she called from her platinum covered throne. "Elendiah welcomes you!" Vines of silver and platinum covered the walls and ceilings. Lights of blue and yellow glowed from sconces that imitated calla lilies. Yuugi realized calla lilies, while used for funerals in the world he came from, were a symbol of the goddesses here in this world. It was a refreshing change.
Yuugi and Atemu approached the throne. Queen Asarnyah-Nah-Leah nodded her head in acknowledgment. Yuugi and the Prince nodded their heads at the same time in reply.
"Tell me, Great Prince, why do you come before me tonight?"
"I ask for you assistance, ally of Sekesha. A war threatens our life, our home, and our future. My Betrothed, the last Assai left, is in need of your expert training. Otherwise, the Goddesses are sure that this war will wipe out all that exists within our borders." Atemu knew how this comment would affect the Elves as well. Under the Treaty of Evensarh, it was decided that Sekesha would leave the Elves alone in their homeland, surrounded by the Ribbon Barrier. The Ribbon Barrier was what he and Yuugi had passed through, the first and last line of defense for the Elven borders. If those borders were breached, it was Sekesha's duty to protect them, as Elendiah was completely surrounded by Sekeshan territory. An attack on the Elves was an attack on Sekesha. However, in turn for the protection, if ever the current ruler of Sekesha was in need of Elven aid, the Elves were required to oblige their request, so long as it was within reason. (The paperwork that listed 'within reason' went on for nearly forty pages. Atemu had tried to read it once, but simply gave up, opting to ask Isis for answers if he ever needed to.)
Atemu's statement threatened not only Sekesha's existence, but the Elves' as well.
The Queen nodded at him. "We will offer all that we can. Please, stay a while, sleep, dine with us tomorrow, and take your leave when you must." She nodded once more, and Yuugi and Atemu did likewise. At this, their escort from before gave them over to someone else, who showed them to a room within the palace. Yuugi steeled himself for a fight, if he needed to have one, and allowed the door of their room to slam shut.
Atemu winced.
"Talk to me," Yuugi hissed. "Tell me why!"
The Prince looked so helpless as he stood there, his head hung low, his shoulders slouched, and his from somehow shorter. "I can't..."
Yuugi walked up to him, grabbed his shoulders tightly, and looked up into that pained face. "Why? Why are you shutting me out!"
Finally, Yuugi dropped the last straw. Atemu broke down before him and started to cry. He fell to his knees and began to cry into Yuugi's chest. "I'm not, I'm not!" He repeated as hot tears spilled down his face. "Please, Yuugi, please, I can't tell you. I just can't...It would kill me."
Yuugi's anger flooded away. Even when Senke was on his deathbed, Atemu hadn't been nearly so...so...filled with utter despair.
Yuugi sunk to his knees and wrapped Atemu up in what he hoped was a comforting embrace. "It's...it's okay. Really." The arms around his chest squeezed more tightly. Why does he act like I'm a life-line that's about to die out? "Atemu...who's going to die?"
The Prince sobbed. "Please...I can't..."
Yuugi was, by now, so confused he wasn't sure how to make sense out of any of it. This has more behind it than just worry over the war... "I'm here. Don't worry. I'll never leave you. I'll...I'll wait till you're ready to tell me, okay?"
The tears ceased, but the hug remained as iron as ever. "I can't lose you," Atemu whispered, the sound broken.
Yuugi caressed Atemu's tear stained cheek. "You never will. No matter what happens. If I die, if you die, if anything-anything at all!- nothing will part us, Atemu. My heart will always belong with you. And with my heart is my life."
The Prince's body trembled a bit, but he finally loosened his hold just enough to look Yuugi in the eye. This is worse than the way he looked at Northern Reach, Yuugi thought despairingly to himself.
Atemu ran his hands softly over Yuugi's face. They traced his eyebrows, touched his forehead, smoothed over his cheek, and indulged in the feel of Yuugi's lips. "Make love to me tonight?"
Yuugi nodded, then leaned in for a kiss. It was soft and tender, and a blatant invitation for Atemu to take over and do what he willed. He needs the control this love making can give him tonight. At least it's something that I can offer.
The Prince lifted him up off the floor and gently set him down on the bed. Yuugi placed his hands by his head on the pillow and released control. Atemu leaned down and devoured him in a kiss, and initiated love making that would last for hours.